Every athlete and team competing at CJI 2
View a full and updated list of grapplers and teams competing at CJI 2 on August 30-31 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Following a wildly successful, blockbuster inaugural event in 2024, the Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) is set to return to action for its second event in late August 2025.
Once again, the event will take place at Las Vegas’ Thomas and Mack Center, but unlike last year, CJI 2 will have a team-based grappling competition similar to Quintet or Polaris Squads. Eight teams of five grapplers will compete for a $1 million grand prize. Of those eight teams, five will be representing some of BJJ’s most prominent affiliations, while the other three teams will be region-based squads. Additionally, each team has been given a wildcard slot for an athlete who doesn’t meet the criteria of their team.
Matches at CJI 2 will take place in the pit and under CJI rules, with mat-side judges scoring each contest in the event it does not result in submission. Consistent with the Quintet format, winning grapplers will stay on the mat and face opponents until they are defeated. The team with the most victories at the end of the head-to-head matches is the winner.
The event will also feature a match between Craig Jones and Olympic wrestling gold medalist Gable Steveson. UPDATE: The superfight between Jones and Steveson has been cancelled. Steveson withdrew from the match due to injury.
CJI 2 will additionally feature a four-woman bracket with $100,000 in prize money on the line.
Below is a complete list of grapplers set to compete at CJI 2. Check back often, as this list will be updated regularly.
Teams and athletes competing at CJI 2
10th Planet
- 66kg – Geo Martinez
- 77kg – Alan Sanchez
- 88kg – PJ Barch
- 99kg – Ryan Aitken
- +99kg – Kyle Boehm
- Coach: Eddie Bravo
New Wave
- 66kg – Dorian Olivarez
- 77kg – Mica Galvao
- 88kg – Vagner Rocha
- 99kg – Giancarlo Bodoni
- +99kg – Luke Griffith
- Coach: John Danaher
B-Team
- 66kg – Ethan Crelinsten
- 77kg – Jozef Chen
- 88kg – Chris Wojcik
- 99kg – Nick Rodriguez
- +99kg – Victor Hugo
- Coach: Dima Murovanni
Team Australia/Asia
- 66kg – Fabricio Andrey
- 77kg – Kenta Iwamoto
- 88kg – Lucas Kanard
- 99kg – Declan Moody
- +99kg – Belal Etaibari
- Coach: Lachlan Giles
Team Americas Misfits
- 66kg – Gavin Corbe
- 77kg – Deandre Corbe
- 88kg – Elijah Dorsey
- 99kg – Taylor Pearman
- +99kg – Pat Downey
- Coach: Greg Souders
Team Europe Misfits
- 66kg – Owen Jones
- 77kg – Pawel Jaworski
- 88kg – Paul Ardila
- 99kg – Charles Negromonte
- +99kg – Marcin Maciulewicz
- Coach: Faris Benlamkadem
Atos
- 66kg – Diego “Pato” Oliveira
- 77kg – Ronaldo Junior
- 88kg – Lucas “Hulk” Barbosa
- 99kg – Kaynan Duarte
- +99kg – Felipe Pena
- Coach: Andre Galvao
Team Daisy Fresh
- 66kg – Max Hanson
- 77kg – Dante Leon
- 88kg – Jacob Couch
- 99kg – Michael Pixley
- +99kg – Brandon Reed
Superfight: Craig Jones vs. Gable Steveson
4-woman $100,000 bracket:
- Helena Crevar
- Adele Fornarino
- Ana Carolina Vieira
- Sarah Galvao
