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Nicky Rod and Kade Ruotolo shine on Day 1 of inaugural CJI tournament – Craig Jones Invitational Highlights

Nicky Rod and Kade Ruotolo shine on Day 1 of inaugural CJI tournament - Craig Jones Invitational Highlights Day 1 of the Craig Jones Invitational delivered some exciting finishes and a few shocking upsets as the festivities…

Day 1 of the Craig Jones Invitational delivered some exciting finishes and a few shocking upsets as the festivities officially kicked off in Las Vegas.

Nicky Rod was undoubtedly the star of the show, scoring a pair of rear-naked chokes against Max Gimenis and Owen Livesey to punch his ticket to the semi-finals of the Over 80kg bracket. Rod will face Adam Bradley on Day 2 after Bradley earned split decisions against Kyle Boehm and Bellator prospect Pat Downey.

Nicky Rod lands the FIRST finish in CJI history pic.twitter.com/Zly6y1zsVK

— BJJotter (@JiujitsuOtter) August 16, 2024

Joining Rod and Bradley on the other side of the semi-final bracket are Inacio Santos and Fellipe Andrew, who worked their way to the penultimate round with a series of hard-fought victories.

Perhaps the biggest shocker came in the Under 80kg quarterfinal when reigning ONE welterweight submission grappling world champion Tye Ruotolo suffered a decision loss against Levi Jones-Leary. Ruotolo got his tournament off to a great start, tapping out decorated wrestler Jason Nolf with a kneebar in the third round.

Tye Ruotolo taps Jason Nolf!#CJI pic.twitter.com/66ZzwB9GmM

— MMA Mania (@mmamania) August 17, 2024

Facing Jones-Leary nearly five hours into the show, Ruotolo struggled with his guard while Jones-Leary fished for a heel hook throughout the match. In the end, Jones-Leary’s aggressiveness was enough to snatch a unanimous decision win, depriving us of the opportunity to see Tye Ruotolo square off with his twin brother and fellow ONE world champion, Kade Ruotolo.

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ONE World Champion Kade Ruotolo fights his way to craig jones invitational under 80kg semifinal

Kade Ruotolo was able to get the job done on the other side of the bracket, locking in a nasty straight ankle lock with mere seconds left in the opening round against ADCC gold medalist Matheus Diniz.

Ruotolo went on to dominate Tommy Langaker in his quarterfinal match, earning a unanimous decision against the Norwegian BJJ star. In the last 14 months, Ruotolo has bagged three wins against Langaker with two of them coming under the ONE Championship banner.

Kade Ruotolo will meet Andrew Tackett in the semifinal contest after the young American bested Nicky Ryan and Eoghan O’Flanagan via decision.

Check out all the action from Day 1 of the CJI, including full results and the updated brackets for Day 2 below:

Over 80kg first round Results:

Nicky Rod def. Max Gimenis via submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:45 of Round 2.
Owen Livesey def. Mahamed Aly via unanimous decision (29-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Adam Bradley def. Kyle Boehm via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Pat Downey def. Luke Rockhold via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-25, 30-26)
Lucas Kanard def. Victor Hugo via submission (heel hook) at 1:10 of Round 1
Inacio Santos def. Pedro Alex via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Fellipe Andrew def. Daniel Kerkvliet via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Joao Gabriel Rocha def. William Tackett via unanimous decision

Pat Downey is just playing with Rockhold atp pic.twitter.com/6BHBAKzuFK

— BJJotter (@JiujitsuOtter) August 16, 2024

Luke Rockhold and Pat Downey started to slap box during their match#CJI pic.twitter.com/Qn8qOnng50

— MMA Mania (@mmamania) August 16, 2024

Over 80kg quarterfinal Results:

Nicky Rod def. Owen Livesey via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:41 of Round 1.
Adam Bradley def. Pat Downey via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Inacio Santos def. Lucas Kanard via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Fellipe Andrew def. Joao Gabriel Rocha via unanimous decision

Under 80kg first round Results:

Tye Ruotolo def. Jason Nolf via submission (kneebar) at 4:16 of Round 3
Levi Jones-Leary def. Roberto Jimenez via submission (inside heel hook) at 1:53 of Round 1
Lucas Barbosa def. Kenta Iwamoto via unanimous decision
Jozef Chen def. Andy Varela via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 29-27)
Kade Ruotolo def. Matheus Diniz via submission (straight ankle lock) at 4:43 of Round 1
Tommy Langaker def. Renato Canuto via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
Eoghan O’Flanagan def. Magid Hage via submission (outside heel hook) at 1:41 of Round 2
Andrew Tackett def. Nicky Ryan via unanimous decision (30-24, 30-24, 30-25)

Under 80kg quarterfinal Results:

Levi Jones-Leary def. Tye Ruotolo via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Lucas Barbosa def. Jozef Chen via submission (knee crush) at 3:34 of Round 3
Kade Ruotolo def. Tommy Langaker via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
Andrew Tackett def. Eoghan O’Flanagan via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)

Craig Jones kisses Gabi Garcia during CJI weigh-Ins faceoff: ‘You crossed the line’

Australian grappler, Craig Jones has confirmed his intergender grappling match against veteran Brazilian submission ace, Gabi Garcia is off…

Australian grappler, Craig Jones has confirmed his intergender grappling match against veteran Brazilian submission ace, Gabi Garcia is off ahead of tomorrow’s invitational event – after the former controversially kissed her during yesterday’s face-off.

Jones, a dominant grappling star, will go head-to-head with the ADCC World Championships tomorrow, as he hosts the Craig Jones Invitational grappling event – with two division winners landing themselves whopping $1,000,000 grand prizes for their respective successes.

Craig Jones kisses Gabi Garcia during CGI face-off

As for Garcia, the 38-year-old Porto Alegre grappling veteran was supposed to face off with Adelaide native, Jones in an intergender grappling super fight at the invitational event across the weekend, however, following a controversial moment at yesterday’s staredown, in which Jones forcibly kissed the Brazilian – the bout was cancelled according to Jones.

Reacting to Jones’ controversial stunt, Garcia claimed the Australian grappler had “crossed the line” with his actions – before the outspoken Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu star appeared to reveal how their super fight match was now officially off.

“Fights cancelled,” Craig Jones said of the matchup. “I guess Brazilians can’t take a joke.”

A four-time ADCC world championship gold medal winner, Garcia has also competed in professional mixed martial arts competition – as recently as 2018.

Taking on Barbara Nepomuceno at Rizin 14 in Japan, Garcia turned in an impressive opening round keylock submission win to improve her unbeaten professional record to seven straight fights.

Joe Rogan Is Now What He Once Opposed Says Craig Jones: ‘You become The Man’

Joe Rogan was once a piece of counterculture, but now, at least according to Craig Jones, Rogan is now…

Joe Rogan was once a piece of counterculture, but now, at least according to Craig Jones, Rogan is now the man.

Joe Rogan

The popular talk show host Rogan hosts the biggest podcast in history with millions of monthly listeners. He began his career as an actor and a comedian. The UFC has worked closely alongside Rogan who has been one of their broadcast professionals for decades, even while MMA was outlawed.

Craig Jones

The Australia-born Jones is one of the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu grapplers currently active. He has twice earned silver in ADCC, the premier organization in submission grappling. But recently, he started his own event with tons of impressive talent competing.

Craig Jones Invitational

The CJI and ADCC 2024 will both be hosted on the same weekend and both in Las Vegas. For the CJI, there are a million dollars in prizes to be won. But, Joe Rogan is not happy with this setup. Rogan, who sponsors the ADCC, wasn’t too happy about the clash and mentioned his frustration on the podcast.

The Australian Jones recently talked about his experience on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, where he faced some pushback from Rogan himself. Jones was there to promote his new grappling tournament which he started to boost athlete pay in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Jones, however, thinks the conflict is necessary to push for better pay for athletes. He pointed out that Rogan, who built his career challenging the system, might not see why shaking things up is important. He is looking to set a new standard for athlete compensation.

In an interview with TheMacLife, Jones explained:

“That’s the thing with Rogan, right? If you build a career fighting the man, ultimately if you become successful enough you kind of become the man… He didn’t really grasp why we had to do it this way and cause a conflict. There has to be a conflict.”

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’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.

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.

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.

Gabi Garcia admits she used PEDs in her career

Gabi Garcia has come clean as she admitted she has used PEDs in her career. Garcia is an MMA…

Gabi Garcia has come clean as she admitted she has used PEDs in her career.

Garcia is an MMA fighter but is more known for her grappling career as he is a member of the IBJJF Hall of Fame. However, she often has been accused of using PEDs, and speaking in a recent face-to-face interview with Craig Jones, Garcia has admitted to PED use.

“Come on. 34 years in this sport. I use for like a long time,” Garcia confessed.

Many have thought Garcia has used PEDs in her career, but she has never admitted it until now. Although she admitted it, she didn’t say when she did or if she still is using it. But, that no doubt helped her in her MMA fights and grappling matches.

Garcia is 6-0 and one NC as a pro MMA fighter and last competed in 2018 when she picked up a submission win over Barbara Nepomuceno.

Gabi Garcia set to grapple Craig Jones

Gabi Garcia and Craig Jones are set to grapple in a highly-anticipated matchup at The Craig Jones Invitational on August 16-17, 2024.

Garcia vs. Jones will be the marquee match of the event, and Jones broke the news while he was on The Joe Rogan Experience.

“I signed this maybe an hour and a half ago. It might be one of the biggest events in sporting history… The most decorated female athlete of all time, GG [Gabi Garcia] has put pen to paper to face me at my own event. One hundred percent gonna happen. We signed this contract earlier,” Jones said (via BJJee.com)

“I’ll take her on. I feel good. I probably won’t train for her, I’ll be planning this damn event… I won’t train that hard. I’m happy she is doing it, though. We’ve been talking about this for two and a half years. Feels like an arranged marriage or something,” Jones added.

It is an event that both have talked about making happen and later this month it will finally happen.

Tony Ferguson offered grappling match against Charles Oliveira on a future UFC Fight Pass Invitational card

We may not know when Tony Ferguson will step back inside the Octagon, but it sounds like we could…

We may not know when Tony Ferguson will step back inside the Octagon, but it sounds like we could see him hit the mat before then.

According to ‘El Cucuy,’ he was offered the opportunity to roll with former lightweight world champion Charles Oliveira at a future UFC Fight Pass Invitational event.

“Was offered a grappling match against good ol’e Charlie Olives AKA Chuck for @UFCFightPass Invitational,” Ferguson wrote on his Instagram stories.

With UFC Fight Pass Invitational 7 scheduled to go down on Wednesday, May 15, Ferguson was likely offered a spot on a yet-to-be-announced card.

Their potential grappling match would serve as a rematch of sorts after the two stepped inside the Octagon against one another at UFC 256 in December 2020. Oliveira earned himself a unanimous decision victory, handing Ferguson his second-straight loss.

Tony Ferguson convinced he can still compete at the highest level

Since then, Tony Ferguson has grown his losing streak to near-record-breaking seven-straight defeats. Following his latest loss to Paddy Pimblett at UFC 296, fans, pundits, and even UFC CEO Dana White called for ‘El Cucuy’ to lay down his gloves for good.

Unfortunately, Ferguson has failed to take the advice of his peers, remaining convinced that he can turn things around and get back to the version of himself that once rattled off 12 straight wins in what was the most talent-rich division at the time.

As for Charles Oliveira, ‘Do Bronx’ is fresh off a split decision loss to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300 last month. With the loss, Oliveira will move back down the lightweight ladder, paving the way for Dustin Poirier to step up and accept a fight with the division’s top dog, Islam Makhachev.

Still, Oliveira is sitting as the No. 2 ranked contender in the division, meaning one big win could put him right back into the title picture. However, ‘Do Bronx’ recently suggested that a move up to welterweight could be in his future.