Matheus Diniz Stops The Craig Jones Hype Train in ADCC 88kg Final

Going into the final it looked like Craig Jones was going to score a clean sweep in the 88kg division. Matheus Diniz had other plans.

Sep 29, 2019 by Hywel Teague

Matheus Diniz Stops The Craig Jones Hype Train in ADCC 88kg Final

Going into the final it looked like Craig Jones was going to score a clean sweep in the 88kg division. Matheus Diniz had other plans.

The Australian submission machine had scored three submissions in three matches and was riding a wave of confidence that only comes via tapping out everybody in front of you.

Matheus Diniz is no average opponent, and the Brazilian was coming into the final after strong wins over three-time No-Gi World champion Josh Hinger and two-time IBJJF World champion Gabriel Arges.

Diniz on top of Jones in the final. Photo: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

If anybody was suited to play spoiler to Jones’s submission-focused style, it was the rock-solid Diniz.

With four-time ADCC champ Marcelo Garcia in his corner, Diniz stuffed Jones’s attacks and was able to secure the win via a takedown in the second overtime period.

This is the second time Diniz has beaten Jones this year, and both times the takedowns proved the decider.

“He knows his game well, Craig is so dangerous,” said Marcelo Garcia after the match.

“I am really disappointed in the final because I had to play the rules,” said Diniz, emotional in victory. “I got to adjust a lot. I had trouble passing his guard. ADCC there are no easy matches. Now I need to train to win the Worlds, I want this one really bad, I wanted this one since I was a kid.”