The Craig Jones Invitational returns to Las Vegas for its highly anticipated second edition, taking place August 30-31, 2025, at the Thomas & Mack Arena. After the massive success of the inaugural 2024 event, CJI 2 promises to be even bigger with a revolutionary team-based format and star-studded lineup.
Event Format & Schedule
CJI 2 introduces a groundbreaking eight-team tournament format in partnership with Japan’s Quintet promotion. The event runs over two days:
- Day 1 (Saturday, Aug. 30): Doors open 7 PM ET, preshow 8:30 PM ET, matches begin 9 PM ET
- Day 2 (Sunday, Aug. 31): Same schedule as Day 1
How to Watch
The entire event streams live and FREE on the B-Team Jiu-Jitsu YouTube channel, with embedded streams available on FloGrappling’s website.
Prize Money
- $1 Million Team Tournament: The winning team splits this historic prize
- $100,000 Women’s Tournament: Four elite women compete for the largest prize in women’s grappling history
- Individual Show Money: All athletes receive guaranteed appearance fees
Complete Team Rosters
B-Team Jiu-Jitsu
- Coach: Nicky Ryan
- 66kg: Ethan Crelinsten
- 77kg: Jozef Chen
- 88kg: Chris Wojcik
- 99kg: Nicky Rodriguez
- +99kg: Victor Hugo
New Wave Jiu-Jitsu
- Coach: John Danaher
- 66kg: Dorian Olivarez
- 77kg: Mica Galvao
- 88kg: Vagner Rocha
- 99kg: Giancarlo Bodoni
- +99kg: Luke Griffith
Team Atos
- Coach: Andre Galvão
- 66kg: Diego ‘Pato’ Oliveira
- 77kg: Ronaldo Junior
- 88kg: Lucas ‘Hulk’ Barbosa
- 99kg: Kaynan Duarte
- +99kg: Felipe Pena
10th Planet
- Coach: Eddie Bravo
- 66kg: Geo Martinez
- 77kg: PJ Barch
- 88kg: Richie Martinez
- 99kg: Keith Krikorian
- +99kg: Nathan Orchard
Pedigo Submission Fighting
- Coach: Heath Pedigo
- 66kg: Mason Fowler
- 77kg: William Tackett
- 88kg: Andrew Tackett
- 99kg: Eoghan O’Flanagan
- +99kg: Nick Rodriguez
Team Americas
- Coach: Greg Souders
- 66kg: Gavin Corbe
- 77kg: Deandre Corbe
- 88kg: Elijah Dorsey
- 99kg: Taylor Pearman
- +99kg: Pat Downey
Team Australia/Asia
- Coach: Lachlan Giles
- 66kg: Levi Jones-Leary
- 77kg: Roberto Jimenez
- 88kg: Lachlan Giles
- 99kg: Izaak Michell
- +99kg: Max Gimenis
Team Europe
- Coach: Faris Benlamkadem
- 66kg: Magomed Abdusalamov
- 77kg: Tommy Langaker
- 88kg: Fabricio Andrey
- 99kg: Adam Wardziński
- +99kg: Kaynan Duarte
Women’s $100,000 Tournament
- Helena Crevar – Polaris and WNO Champion
- Adele Fornarino – 2024 ADCC double gold medalist
- Ana Vieira – Multiple-time world champion
- Sarah Galvao – Rising star and daughter of Andre Galvao
Craig Jones vs. Gable Steveson Supermatch
The event features a highly anticipated grappling match between host Craig Jones and Olympic wrestling champion Gable Steveson. This cross-discipline superfight brings together elite athletes from different combat sports backgrounds, with Steveson making his submission grappling debut against the Australian submission specialist.
Tournament Rules
CJI Rules: Three five-minute rounds with UFC-style scoring. Submissions end matches immediately. The slanted pit walls can be used for any technique, keeping action continuous.
Quintet Format: Eight-minute matches where winners advance to face the next opponent. Draws eliminate both athletes. One competitor could potentially defeat an entire opposing team.
Team Breakdown Analysis
Favorites: New Wave enters with the most ADCC credentials, while B-Team has home advantage and deep submission expertise. Team Atos brings veteran leadership under Andre Galvão’s coaching.
Dark Horses: Pedigo Submission Fighting has been making waves with their aggressive style, while 10th Planet’s unorthodox approach could surprise traditional grapplers.
Regional Pride: Team Americas features wrestling powerhouse Pat Downey, Team Europe showcases European technical excellence, and Team Australia/Asia represents the growing global grappling scene.
Las Vegas Grappling Week
CJI 2 coincides with the IBJJF World Masters Championships and Jiu-Jitsu CON, making Las Vegas the epicenter of the grappling world for the final weekend of August.
Why CJI 2 Matters
This event represents the evolution of professional grappling, combining elite competition with mainstream accessibility. The team format adds strategic depth while the free streaming model ensures global reach. With $1.1 million in total prize money and the sport’s biggest names, CJI 2 is positioned as one of 2025’s most significant grappling events.
The combination of established legends, rising stars, cross-discipline competition, and the innovative team format promises an unforgettable weekend that could reshape how we view professional grappling competition.
Mark your calendars for August 30-31 – CJI 2 is set to deliver another game-changing weekend of world-class grappling action.
