New format for CJI 2 revealed, Craig Jones to compete in super fight – BJJ Beat

Welcome to the BJJ Beat! On this recurring function, we’ll sort out the largest information from the skilled grappling scene, and roll all the things up in an simply digestible and acquainted jiu-jitsu format.

Heat Ups

CJI 2 strikes to workforce vs. workforce event format for 2025

The second Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) occasion was beforehand introduced for August 2025, which additionally teased a significant format change. Extra particulars have since been introduced, with CJI 2 as an alternative having their million greenback event shifting to an analogous model as Kazushi Sakuraba’s “Quintet” promotion.

“Grappling is boring. Stalling is boring. Individuals being afraid to be submitted is boring. For CJI 2, we’re mixing this up,” Craig Jones mentioned on his announcement. “We’re going to do 8 groups battling for one million {dollars}.

“Final time we came upon who the 2 greatest athletes on the planet had been. That was Kade Ruotolo and Nicky Rod, and we paid them each one million,” Jones mentioned. “Now we’re gonna discover out who’s the very best workforce on the planet. ATOS, New Wave, B-Workforce, Checkmat, Gracie Barra, tenth Planet, no matter groups, and let’s see who really is the very best workforce on the planet. Quintet-style, final man standing.”

Jones, who confronted Gabi Garcia in a pleasant inter-gender match at CJI 1, additionally teased his participation within the occasion.

“Workforce vs workforce is probably the most thrilling type of grappling and that’s what’s gonna be the majority of this present, however we’re additionally going to have just a few loopy super-fights,” he mentioned. “I received’t be combating a lady this time, though the man has many female attributes, however that has but to be introduced. CJI 2, Workforce vs. Workforce.”

Jones, who likes to poke enjoyable at his former teammates, hilariously included New Wave on the potential listing of groups in his announcement. It appears greater than possible that the Gordon Ryan and John Danaher backed workforce would once more boycott the occasion like they did the primary CJI. It’s additionally value declaring that Craig Jones and his workforce already has expertise on this format, because the “B-Workforce Bulls” received Quintet 4 in 2023. B-Workforce beforehand fielded a line up with Jones, Nick Rodriguez, Jay Rodriguez, Nicky Ryan, and Jozef Chen.

Quintet’s workforce grappling occasions has all the time been an entertaining format, because it provides workforce methods and virtually ensures enjoyable outcomes by matching up folks on totally different sizes. The most effective issues in Quintet occasions is the possibility to see just a few BJJ stars wipe out a number of opponents and even complete groups. Mix that with the highest expertise coming in because of the $1 million prize, plus the CJI alley (or pit) that encourages continued motion, and this present already appears primed to provide numerous leisure.

My solely gripe could be that whereas workforce grappling virtually ensures enjoyable outcomes, it’s the normal event format that determines the very best of the very best with a single winner. Maybe CJI is barely doing this in 2025 since there received’t be an ADCC till 2026, however completely departing from that format would depart their rival promotion as just about the only group that can — a minimum of in concept — decide the very best grapplers on the planet.

It stays to be seen if there might be a girls’s event for this occasion, however Ffion Davies was beforehand concerned in a super-fight on the inaugural CJI occasion, the place she dominated UFC star Mackenzie Dern. Ought to they select to go the identical route, the largest match up CJI can guide from a sporting perspective is a super-fight towards Adele Fornarino, who exploded as a star at ADCC 2024 by profitable double gold because the smallest competitor. Davies and Fornarino had been among the many greatest standouts from that very same CJI vs ADCC weekend and are the consensus two prime pound-for-pound feminine grapplers right this moment. From a pure BJJ standpoint, it’s positively the match as much as guide.

Talking of Fornarino…

Drills

Adele Fornarino advocates for higher pay, ditches IBJJF no gi worlds

There have been just a few large names lacking from the latest 2024 IBJJF No Gi World Championships. ADCC and WNO champ Adele Fornarino was one among them, and he or she broke her silence, saying her absence was because of the absence of pay from IBJJF.

“To my core, I’m a competitor. Sitting on the sidelines at this yr’s No-Gi Worlds was an extremely powerful resolution. Many individuals requested me why I didn’t compete, and I wish to share my reasoning,” Fornarino wrote on Instagram.

“My theme for 2024 was professionalism. A part of being an expert athlete is understanding your value. I’ve actually struggled with this all through the years, usually under-valuing myself for the love of competitors. I now see how detrimental that’s for myself, different athletes, and future ones (particularly females).

“I’ve deep respect for the IBJJF and their position in rising jiu-jitsu right into a sport the place being a ‘skilled grappler’ is an actual profession path,” she continued. “At present, IBJJF No-Gi Worlds gives no monetary incentive for black belt athletes. The athletes who’ve spent a decade or extra educating lessons and dealing facet jobs to afford their competitors bills. The athletes who’ve devoted their lives to their craft. The athletes who now convey eyes, cash, and status to the foremost competitions. Changing into world-class isn’t free. Those that obtain that degree ought to be appropriately rewarded for his or her dedication and ability.

“I wish to reiterate my love of IBJJF and all they’ve achieved for this sport all of us love. We might not be the place we’re right this moment with out them. Seeing occasions comparable to The Crown, and Gi Worlds the place athletes are financially rewarded for his or her efforts is thrilling to see however there’s nonetheless progress to be made,” Fornarino defined.

“I’m not saying that I’ll by no means compete at IBJJF No-Gi Worlds or comparable occasions, however 2024 has been a transformative yr for my profession, and I selected to make use of this second to advocate for a constructive shift—one that can profit this era and people to come back.”

Craig Jones, Ffion Davies and others additionally beforehand advocated for a similar issues, even earlier than CJI was launched as a protest to ADCC and its low pay. Seeing an analogous assertion from Fornarino solely exhibits that the potential CJI berth I discussed earlier makes much more sense.

Transfer of the Day

Cole Abate rips Shinya Aoki’s knee

No Gi World Champ Cole Abate heel hooked Shinya Aoki of their latest BJJ bout. As we famous earlier, this was all the time a suspect match up from ONE Championship, and it ended up being fairly predictable.

Aoki, now 41 years previous, was once more overmatched and have become resume fodder to yet one more BJJ star. ONE Championship has repeatedly booked him in mismatches, the place Aoki predictably misplaced to BJJ champions like Kade Ruotolo, Mikey Musumeci, Garry Tonon and now Abate.

Rolls

BJJ GWOAT Bia Mesquita goes 3-0 in MMA, UFC subsequent?

Bia Mesquita — a 16-time world champion throughout ADCC, IBJJF gi and no gi — is now 3-0 in her MMA profession. All three bouts occurred in 2024, and he or she closed out the yr by submitting Fernanda Araujo at LFA 198.

After remaining good and profitable all three bouts by rear bare choke, will the UFC come calling quickly? Mesquita will possible desire a quick observe to the large leagues, as she is going to flip 34 in April.

Cooldown

Polaris adapting CJI guidelines for future occasions

The most important grappling promotion in Europe is tweaking their ruleset, with Polaris asserting that they’re taking a web page off of CJI. For super-fights, Polaris will now have three five-minute rounds and a 10-point should system for judging.

Each promotions are additionally set to have workforce grappling highlighted on their subsequent occasions.

Polaris Squads are again, with the promotion asserting a promising Polaris 31 occasion on February 8, 2025 that can host a stacked North America vs. Europe card. Extra grapplers might be introduced quickly, however the present line up is as follows:

Polaris 31 battle card

Workforce Europe Jozef ChenMateusz SzczecinskiOwen JonesEoghan O’FlanaganSanteri LiliusTaylor Pearman

Workforce North AmericaJacob CouchPJ BarchKieran KichuckJason Rau

Tremendous-fightsHelena Crevar vs. Anabel Lopez – Polaris light-weight title

Evaluation

To shut issues out, listed below are different attention-grabbing BJJ tales you may need missed:

Youngest ever IBJJF world champion! – Cassia Moura went from blue to black belt in underneath a yr, then set a brand new document by profitable the IBJJF No Gi World Title at simply 18 years previous.
In the identical occasion, adorned Olympic wrestling champion Helen Maroulis received her BJJ debut.

BJJ brawl! – Wrestling champ turned professional grappler Pat Downey, who dominated Luke Rockhold at CJI, dominated all his matches (at blue belt!), solely to get disqualified within the finals for getting in a brawl.

‘I’m a rat!’ – Mikey Musumeci continued to commerce barbs with Gordon Ryan about steroids.

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