Craig Jones has become one of the most recognizable figures in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, known for his high-level competition results, outspoken personality and influence on grappling’s business side. 

The Australian black belt has competed and medaled at the ADCC World Championships, held titles in multiple promotions, and launched his own million-dollar invitational tournament. 

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In 2025, he will headline the Craig Jones Invitational 2 (CJI 2) in Las Vegas, competing in a super fight against Olympic wrestling champion Gable Steveson.

Here are five key things to know about Craig Jones as he prepares for one of the year’s most talked-about matches.

Craig Jones Is a Multiple-Time Polaris Champion

Jones won the Polaris 205-pound title in 2018 and the 185-pound title in 2018 and 2019, cementing his place among the sport’s top no-gi competitors.

Craig Jones Twice Reached the ADCC World Championship Finals

Jones earned silver medals at the ADCC Worlds in 2019 and 2022, facing elite opposition and helping raise the profile of Australian grapplers on the global stage.

Craig Jones Submission Record Is Among The Best In The Sport

With 63 wins and 51 of them by submission, Jones is known for finishing fights. His most common finishes are the rear naked choke and inside heel hook, each accounting for 27% of his submission victories.

Craig Jones Co-Founded The B-Team Jiu-Jitsu

After departing the Danaher Death Squad in 2021, Jones formed B-Team in Austin, Texas, with other high-level athletes. The team hosts and is a CJI 2 competitor.

Craig Jones Created CJI To Increase Athlete Payouts

In 2024, Jones launched the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational with an eye on growing the prize money for Jiu-Jistu competitions. The event awarded $1 million to winners in two weight classes.

Craig Jones Invitational Schedule

The first day of the event is set for Saturday, Aug. 30 and concludes on Sunday, Aug. 31. 

CJI 2 Day 1 Schedule

Doors open at 7 p.m. ET with the preshow starting at 8:30 p.m. and the first matches at 9 p.m.

CJI Day 2 Schedule 

Doors open at 7 p.m. ET with the preshow starting at 8:30 p.m. and the first matches at 9 p.m.

How To Watch The Craig Jones Invitational 2025

The CJI 2 is streaming live on the B-Team Jiu Jitsu YouTube account for free. The embeded YouTube stream will be available to watch on the FloGrappling website. 

What Are CJI Rules?

CJI rules are an attempt to make grappling as accessible for fans of MMA as possible, so the matches follow the same time and scoring format as bouts in the UFC or other organizations. Three rounds of five minutes each where a submission ends the match at any time. CJI matches also happen in the pit, a slanted walled surface that aims to keep action continuous. The pit walls can be used for any submission or technique that you can think up.

What Are Quintet Rules?

The matches at CJI had scoring but if they follow true Quintet rules for CJI 2, those scores won't be necessary. In Quintet rules, any two people from each team begin the match and compete against each other. If no one wins by submission, the match is declared a draw and both are eliminated. If someone does win by submission, they stay and take on the next member of the opposing team until they either get submitted or compete to a draw. It's possible one person can go through an entire team by themselves. If both teams end up with everyone eliminated, there are traditionally tie-breaking criteria around penalties and aggression to help determine a team winner.

It has been confirmed that CJI 2 tournament matches will be eight minutes long. It remains to be seen what, if any, other changes that CJI 2 makes to the Quintet system.

What Are The Teams For CJI 2?

Here are the team rosters for the Craig Jones Invitational

10th Planet

• -66kg: Geo Martinez
• -77kg: Alan Sanchez
• -88kg: PJ Barch
• -99kg: Ryan Aitken
• +99kg: Kyle Boehm

Coach: Eddie Bravo

New Wave Jiu-Jitsu

• -66kg: Dorian Olivarez
• -77kg: Mica Galvão
• -88kg: Giancarlo Bodoni
• -99kg: Luke Griffith
• +99kg: Vagner Rocha

Coach: John Danaher

B-Team Jiu-Jitsu

• -66kg: Ethan Crelinsten
• -77kg: Jozef Chen
• -88kg: Chris Wojcik
• -99kg: Nick Rodriguez
• +99kg: Victor Hugo

Coach: Nicky Ryan & Damien Anderson

Team Australia/Asia

• -66kg: Fabricio Andrey
• -77kg: Kenta Iwamoto
• -88kg: Lucas Kanard
• -99kg: Declan Moody
• +99kg: Belal Etiabari

Coach: Lachlan Giles

Team Americas

• -66kg: Gavin Corbe
• -77kg: Deandre Corbe
• -88kg: Elijah Dorsey
• -99kg: Taylor Pearman
• +99kg: Pat Downey

Coach: Greg Souders

Team Europe

• -66kg: Owen Jones
• -77kg: Pawel Jaworski
• -88kg: Paul Ardilla
• -99kg: Charles Negromonte
• +99kg: Marcin Maciulewicz

Coach: Faris Benlamkadem

Team Atos

• -66kg: Diego Pato
• -77kg: Ronaldo Junior
• -88kg: Lucas Barbosa
• -99kg: Kaynan Duarte
• +99kg: Felipe Pena

Coach: Andre Galvão

Pedigo Submission Fighting

• -66kg: Max Hanson
• -77kg: Dante Leon
• -88kg: Jacob Couch
• -99kg: Michael Pixley
• +99kg: Brandon Reed

Coach: Heath Pedigo

Women's $100k Bracket

CJI will hold its first women's bracket for $100,000, featuring four of the best in the world competing in an open weight bracket. They will be:

• Adele Fornarino
• Helena Crevar
• Ana Carolina Vieira
• Sarah Galvão

Top Ranked Grapplers At CJI 2

Based on the most recent FloGrappling World Rankings from Aug. 4, these are the top grapplers that will be competing at CJI. Each is listed with their most recent weight class ranking, except Mica Galvao, who is ranked No. 2 in Flo’s pound-for-pound ranking. Here is the list of top-ranked competitors at CJI. 

• No. 2 Mica Galvao - Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu - 77KG
• No. 1 Diego Pato - Team Atos - 66 KG
• No. 2 Fabricio Andrey - Team Australia/Asia - 66 KG
• No. 3 Dante Leon - Pedigo Submission Fighting - 77 KG
• No. 4 Deandre Corbe - Team Americas - 77 KG 
• No. 9 Ethan Crelinsten - Team Americas - 66 KG  
• No. 10 Max Hanson - Pedigo Submission Fighting - 66 KG 
• No. 13 Owen Jones - Team Europe - 66 KG 
• No. 6 PJ Barch - 10th Planet - 88 KG
• No. 9 Jozef Chen - B-Team Jiu Jitsu - 77 KG
• No. 12 Elijah Dorsey - Team Americas - 88 KG 
• No. 3 Ronaldo Junior - Team Atos - 77 KG
• No. 5 Chris Wojcik - B-Team Jiu Jitsu - 88 KG
• No. 6 Jacob Couch - Pedigo Submission Fighting - 88 KG
• No. 8 Charles Negromonte - Team Europe - 99KG
• No. 10 Ryan Aitken - 10th Planet - 99KG 
• No. 14 Paul Ardilla - Team Europe - 88 KG 
• No. 15 Taylor Pearman - Team Americas - 99 KG

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