Tag: CJI

Video: Mackenzie Dern is Submitted by Ffion Davies with an Armbar

Ffion Davies Submits Mackenzie Dern CJI ArmbarUFC athlete Mackenzie Dern was taken down and submitted by Ffion Davies during their match at the Craig Jones…

Ffion Davies Submits Mackenzie Dern CJI Armbar

UFC athlete Mackenzie Dern was taken down and submitted by Ffion Davies during their match at the Craig Jones Invitational hosted in Las Vegas this past weekend. Millions of dollars were awarded to the winners of the event, but Wales’ Ffion Davies took the headlines with her impressive throw and grappling work.

Ffion Davies

The Welsh-born Ffion Davies is carving a name for herself as being one of the all-time greats in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Ffion Davies has achieved remarkable success in grappling competitions. She won first place at the ADCC in 2022 and secured the top spot at the IBJJF World Championship in both 2022 and 2023. In the NOGI category, she claimed first place at the IBJJF World Championship in 2018, 2021, and 2023. Additionally, she succeeded at the IBJJF European Open in 2019 and 2020, as well as at the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals in 2019. Davies also took first place in the UAEJJF Grand Slam in London in both 2019 and 2020.

Ffion Davies

Mackenzie Dern

The American-Brazilian Mackenzie Dern is a UFC fighter but comes from an incredibly decorated background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Mackenzie Dern has an impressive list of achievements in the world of grappling. She secured first place at the ADCC Championship in 2015 and also won the IBJJF World Championships that same year. In the NOGI category, she took first place at the IBJJF World Championships in 2015. Dern continued her winning streak by claiming first place at the IBJJF Pan American Championships in both 2015 and 2016.

Mackenzie Dern

Ffion Davies vs. Mackenzie Dern

Despite her background in grappling, the UFC’s Mackenzie Dern was out of her element when it came to rolling against Ffion Davies at the CJI. In the second of their meeting, Davies tosses Dern with a very impressive head and arm throw, then angles to achieve a perfect inverted armbar forcing the tap.

See the highlights below:

Mackenzie Dern on Craig Jones Invitational Money: ‘I couldn’t say no’

Mackenzie Dern on Craig Jones Invitational Money: 'I couldn’t say no'Mackenzie Dern’s decision to forgo competing at this year’s ADCC tournament in favor of the Craig Jones Invitational came…

Mackenzie Dern on Craig Jones Invitational Money: 'I couldn’t say no'

Mackenzie Dern’s decision to forgo competing at this year’s ADCC tournament in favor of the Craig Jones Invitational came down to one simple motivator.

The CJI will make its highly anticipated debut this weekend (August 16-17) in Las Vegas featuring some of the biggest names in the BJJ game, including ONE world champions Kade and Tye Ruotolo, Renato Canuto, Tommy Langaker, Nicky Rod, and former UFC middleweight titleholder Luke Rockhold.

CJI
CJI

Also featuring on the card will be a pair of intriguing superfights. Craig Jones squares off with nine-time world champion Gabi Garcia in a crossover match while former ADCC champion Mackenzie Dern meets defending ADCC gold medalist Ffion Davies.

Mackenzie Dern at CJI

Originally, Dern was planning to compete at this year’s ADCC tournament, but as the old adage goes, money talks.

“The biggest motivation was the purse and that they were going to pay the women’s fight such a good amount for a super fight,” Dern told the Beasts With Brains podcast. “So, for me, I was going to do ADCC. I already have that title, and then to have my UFC fight scheduled so close, I didn’t think it was fair to pull out of ADCC if anything were to happen.

“I made that clear with Craig: I need to have a backup if I leave. I have a good relationship with ADCC. I’m so supportive. But, it’s at T-Mobile Arena and, like I said, the money is the same as it was 10 years ago. To get this amount of money for a women’s fight, I couldn’t say no” (h/t MMA Mania).

Craig Jones poaches Mackenzie Dern and other ADCC stars with promises of a higher purse

ADCC will also go down this weekend in ‘Sin City,’ but without many of its top stars after the CJI swayed competitors to its tourney with promises of a higher purse. The ADCC only pays its champions $10,000 despite bringing in millions in revenue.

On the other hand, Jones will pay everyone competing at the CJI $10,001 with $1 million going to the winner of each bracket. Because of that, Jones managed to poach numerous ADCC champions and other high-level grapplers to his inaugural event.

The CJI will emanate from T-Mobile Arena while ADCC heads to the Thomas and Mack Arena across town.

CJI