The grappling world is buzzing with anticipation as Craig Jones prepares to drop his second annual invitational bomb on the combat sports landscape. After the inaugural CJI sent shockwaves through the BJJ community in 2024, CJI 2 is shaping up to be an even bigger spectacle. Here’s everything we know about what promises to be the most talked-about grappling event of 2025.
The Basics: When, Where, and How Much
CJI 2 is locked in for August 30-31, 2025, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The venue choice isn’t accidental – this is where big fights happen, and Craig Jones clearly wants his event to feel like the main event it’s becoming.
The prize pool remains at the eye-watering $1 million mark, continuing Jones’ mission to prove that grapplers deserve serious money for their skills. With over 5,000 tickets already sold, the event is tracking to be a legitimate spectacle.
Format Revolution: Teams Over Individuals
The biggest change from CJI 1? This year’s event ditches the individual tournament format for a team-based Quintet-style competition. Eight teams of five grapplers each will battle it out, bringing a completely different dynamic to the competition.
The confirmed teams so far include some absolute powerhouses:
- B-Team (Craig Jones’ own squad)
- New Wave (the Danaher Death Squad evolution)
- 10th Planet (Eddie Bravo’s rubber guard army)
- Atos (Andre Galvao’s San Diego empire)
- Daisy Fresh (the Midwest underdogs)
- Three regional “Misfits” teams covering different geographic areas
Recent Roster Drama
The past few days have brought some significant lineup changes. Levi Jones-Leary had to withdraw from Team Misfits Australasia due to injury, with Kenta Iwamoto stepping in as his replacement. These last-minute switches are part of the territory with high-level competition, but they keep fans on their toes about who’s actually showing up.
Helena Crevar was recently announced as the first confirmed female athlete for CJI 2, marking an important step in the event’s evolution. Taylor Pearman has also been featured prominently in recent promotional content.
The Gable Steveson Wild Card
Perhaps the most intriguing matchup brewing is Olympic wrestling champion Gable Steveson’s submission grappling debut against Craig Jones himself. Steveson plans to leverage his size advantage under rules that favor aggression and initiation – a fascinating clash of wrestling dominance versus submission expertise.
Streaming and Access
Staying true to the original CJI philosophy, the event will stream live and free on the B-Team YouTube channel. This accessibility approach was a huge part of CJI 1’s success and continues to differentiate it from other major grappling events that hide behind paywalls.
The Bigger Picture
CJI 2 exists in a fascinating moment for grappling. Gordon Ryan announced his retirement in 2025, John Danaher is possibly stepping back, and Andre Galvao is teasing a competition return. The landscape is shifting, and CJI 2 sits right in the middle of these seismic changes.
The event also comes as UFC BJJ is introducing PEDs testing (currently only IBJJF tests champions), and various contract controversies are highlighting the business side of modern grappling. Craig Jones has been vocal about contract structures and athlete treatment, making CJI 2 as much a statement about the sport’s future as it is a competition.
Watch all CJI Updates on B-teams YouTube channel
What’s Still Unknown
Several key details remain under wraps. The complete rosters for each team haven’t been fully revealed, and the specific rules modifications (if any) are still being finalized. The bracket structure and how team eliminations will work also needs clarification.
The Stakes
Beyond the million-dollar prize pool, CJI 2 represents something bigger – a test of whether grappling can sustain major, independent events that prioritize athlete compensation and fan accessibility. The first CJI proved it could be done once; CJI 2 needs to prove it’s sustainable.
With ticket sales strong, social media buzz building, and the roster drama keeping everyone engaged, CJI 2 is tracking to be the grappling event of the year. Whether it lives up to the hype remains to be seen, but Craig Jones has already succeeded in making it impossible to ignore.
Mark your calendars for August 30-31 – this is shaping up to be unmissable.
