Craig Jones implies he will join Team New Wave for CJI 2
Craig Jones hinted that he will replace an injured Dan Manasoiu to compete on Team New Wave at CJI 2.
There looks to be a major shakeup at CJI 2.
The team-based, Quintet-style competition is rapidly approaching, and one of the top teams has lost its heavyweight competitor due to illness. On Tuesday, ADCC veteran “Big” Dan Manasoiu announced that he had contracted Lyme disease and, as a result, has withdrawn from the competition and will not be able to represent Team New Wave in the +99kg division.
Manasoiu posted a statement on Instagram.
Shortly after Manasoiu announced his withdrawal from CJI 2, tournament organizer Craig Jones posted a video indicating that he could be stepping up to replace Manasoiu on Team New Wave.
Notably, Jones formerly trained under Team New Wave’s head coach, John Danaher, as a part of the famed Danaher Death Squad. In 2021, the squad had a less-than-amicable split, with Jones forming the B-Team while Danaher, along with his top student Gordon Ryan, formed Team New Wave. Both teams existed simultaneously in Austin, Texas, and have spent the past few years enjoying a tense rivalry.
However, with Team New Wave transitioning to Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu and the B-Team ending due to Jones’ impending retirement from the sport, the door is wide open for Jones to rejoin his former team – and all signs point toward him having reconciled his relationship with Danaher.
It’s worth noting that Jones is likely joking about his involvement with Team New Wave. As the event’s promoter, he could be engaged in a conflict of interest if he competes for a team with prize money on the line. What’s more, while he’s undeniably an elite grappler who can still hang with the best of the best, he has competed infrequently over the past couple of years and hasn’t been in training consistently in the weeks leading up to CJI 2.
If Jones isn’t joking and he does join Team New Wave, he could potentially face a number of his former students and training partners on the B-Team.
Jones is currently slated to face Olympic wrestling standout Gable Steveson in a superfight at the event.
