New Format, More Details On CJI 2 Revealed – BJJ Beat [UPDATED]

Welcome to the BJJ Beat! On this recurring function, we’ll sort out the largest information from the skilled grappling scene, and roll the whole lot up in an simply digestible and acquainted jiu-jitsu format.

Heat Ups

CJI 2 strikes to staff vs. staff match format for 2025

The second Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) occasion was beforehand introduced for August 2025, which additionally teased a significant format change. Extra particulars have since been introduced, with CJI 2 as a substitute having their million greenback match transferring to an analogous type as Kazushi Sakuraba’s “Quintet” promotion.

“Grappling is boring. Stalling is boring. Folks being afraid to be submitted is boring. For CJI 2, we’re mixing this up,” Craig Jones stated on his announcement. “We’re going to do 8 groups battling for 1,000,000 {dollars}.

“Final time we discovered who the 2 greatest athletes on the earth had been. That was Kade Ruotolo and Nicky Rod, and we paid them each 1,000,000,” Jones stated. “Now we’re gonna discover out who’s the very best staff on the earth. ATOS, New Wave, B-Staff, Checkmat, Gracie Barra, tenth Planet, no matter groups, and let’s see who really is the very best staff on the earth. Quintet-style, final man standing.”

Jones, who confronted Gabi Garcia in a pleasant inter-gender match at CJI 1, additionally teased his participation within the occasion.

“Staff vs staff is essentially the most thrilling type of grappling and that’s what’s gonna be the majority of this present, however we’re additionally going to have just a few loopy super-fights,” he stated. “I received’t be combating a lady this time, though the man has many female attributes, however that has but to be introduced. CJI 2, Staff vs. Staff.”

UPDATE: Extra particulars have been revealed about CJI 2. Whereas Quintet created teams like “Staff Polaris” with varied stars from totally different gyms, Craig Jones says CJI 2 received’t permit “tremendous groups” and can have “actual groups solely.”

Groups might be composed of 5 members every, and “every staff can have one wildcard draft choose.” Staff members can even be from varied weight lessons, just like what ADCC makes use of: 66 kg, 77 kg, 88 kg, 99 kg and +99kg.

Jones, who likes to poke enjoyable at his former teammates, hilariously included New Wave on the potential listing of groups in his announcement. It appears greater than possible that the Gordon Ryan and John Danaher backed staff would once more boycott the occasion like they did the primary CJI. It’s additionally value mentioning that Craig Jones and his staff already has expertise on this format, because the “B-Staff Bulls” received Quintet 4 in 2023. B-Staff beforehand fielded a line up with Jones, Nick Rodriguez, Jay Rodriguez, Nicky Ryan, and Jozef Chen.

Quintet’s staff grappling occasions has all the time been an entertaining format, because it provides staff methods and virtually ensures enjoyable outcomes by matching up individuals on totally different sizes. Top-of-the-line issues in Quintet occasions is the prospect to see just a few BJJ stars wipe out a number of opponents and even complete groups. Mix that with the highest expertise coming in because of the $1 million prize, plus the CJI alley (or pit) that encourages continued motion, and this present already appears primed to supply quite a lot of leisure.

My solely gripe can be that whereas staff grappling virtually ensures enjoyable outcomes, it’s the normal match format that determines the very best of the very best with a single winner. Maybe CJI is simply doing this in 2025 since there received’t be an ADCC till 2026, however completely departing from that format would go away their rival promotion as just about the only real group that may — not less than in idea — decide the very best grapplers on the earth.

It stays to be seen if there might be a ladies’s match for this occasion, however Ffion Davies was beforehand concerned in a super-fight on the inaugural CJI occasion, the place she dominated UFC star Mackenzie Dern. Ought to they select to go the identical route, the largest match up CJI can guide from a sporting perspective is a super-fight in opposition to Adele Fornarino, who exploded as a star at ADCC 2024 by successful double gold because the smallest competitor. Davies and Fornarino had been among the many largest standouts from that very same CJI vs ADCC weekend and are the consensus two prime pound-for-pound feminine grapplers at the moment. From a pure BJJ standpoint, it’s undoubtedly the match as much as guide.

Talking of Fornarino…

Drills

Adele Fornarino advocates for higher pay, ditches IBJJF no gi worlds

There have been just a few massive names lacking from the current 2024 IBJJF No Gi World Championships. ADCC and WNO champ Adele Fornarino was one in every of them, and she or he broke her silence, saying her absence was because of the absence of pay from IBJJF.

“To my core, I’m a competitor. Sitting on the sidelines at this yr’s No-Gi Worlds was an extremely powerful choice. Many individuals requested me why I didn’t compete, and I wish to share my reasoning,” Fornarino wrote on Instagram.

“My theme for 2024 was professionalism. A part of being an expert athlete is figuring out your value. I’ve actually struggled with this all through the years, usually under-valuing myself for the love of competitors. I now see how detrimental that’s for myself, different athletes, and future ones (particularly females).

“I’ve deep respect for the IBJJF and their function in rising jiu-jitsu right into a sport the place being a ‘skilled grappler’ is an actual profession path,” she continued. “Presently, IBJJF No-Gi Worlds presents no monetary incentive for black belt athletes. The athletes who’ve spent a decade or extra instructing lessons and dealing aspect jobs to afford their competitors bills. The athletes who’ve devoted their lives to their craft. The athletes who now convey eyes, cash, and status to the most important competitions. Turning into world-class isn’t free. Those that obtain that stage must be appropriately rewarded for his or her dedication and talent.

“I wish to reiterate my love of IBJJF and all they’ve achieved for this sport all of us love. We might not be the place we’re at the moment with out them. Seeing occasions resembling The Crown, and Gi Worlds the place athletes are financially rewarded for his or her efforts is thrilling to see however there may be nonetheless progress to be made,” Fornarino defined.

“I’m not saying that I’ll by no means compete at IBJJF No-Gi Worlds or related occasions, however 2024 has been a transformative yr for my profession, and I selected to make use of this second to advocate for a optimistic shift—one that may profit this technology and people to return.”

Craig Jones, Ffion Davies and others additionally beforehand advocated for a similar issues, even earlier than CJI was launched as a protest to ADCC and its low pay. Seeing an analogous assertion from Fornarino solely reveals that the potential CJI berth I discussed earlier makes much more sense.

Transfer of the Day

Cole Abate rips Shinya Aoki’s knee

No Gi World Champ Cole Abate heel hooked Shinya Aoki of their current BJJ bout. As we famous earlier, this was all the time a suspect match up from ONE Championship, and it ended up being fairly predictable.

Aoki, now 41 years outdated, was once more overmatched and have become resume fodder to yet one more BJJ star. ONE Championship has repeatedly booked him in mismatches, the place Aoki predictably misplaced to BJJ champions like Kade Ruotolo, Mikey Musumeci, Garry Tonon and now Abate.

Rolls

BJJ GWOAT Bia Mesquita goes 3-0 in MMA, UFC subsequent?

Bia Mesquita — a 16-time world champion throughout ADCC, IBJJF gi and no gi — is now 3-0 in her MMA profession. All three bouts occurred in 2024, and she or he closed out the yr by submitting Fernanda Araujo at LFA 198.

After remaining excellent and successful all three bouts by rear bare choke, will the UFC come calling quickly? Mesquita will possible desire a quick monitor to the massive leagues, as she’s going to flip 34 in April.

Cooldown

Polaris adapting CJI guidelines for future occasions

The largest grappling promotion in Europe is tweaking their ruleset, with Polaris saying that they’re taking a web page off of CJI. For super-fights, Polaris will now have three five-minute rounds and a 10-point should system for judging.

Each promotions are additionally set to have staff grappling highlighted on their subsequent occasions.

Polaris Squads are again, with the promotion saying a promising Polaris 31 occasion on February 8, 2025 that may host a stacked North America vs. Europe card. Extra grapplers might be introduced quickly, however the present line up is as follows:

Polaris 31 struggle card

Staff Europe Jozef ChenMateusz SzczecinskiOwen JonesEoghan O’FlanaganSanteri LiliusTaylor Pearman

Staff North AmericaJacob CouchPJ BarchKieran KichuckJason Rau

Tremendous-fightsHelena Crevar vs. Anabel Lopez – Polaris light-weight title

Assessment

To shut issues out, listed here are different fascinating BJJ tales you might need missed:

Youngest ever IBJJF world champion! – Cassia Moura went from blue to black belt in beneath a yr, then set a brand new document by successful the IBJJF No Gi World Title at simply 18 years outdated.
In the identical occasion, embellished Olympic wrestling champion Helen Maroulis received her BJJ debut.

BJJ brawl! – Wrestling champ turned professional grappler Pat Downey, who dominated Luke Rockhold at CJI, dominated all his matches (at blue belt!), solely to get disqualified within the finals for getting in a brawl.

‘I’m a rat!’ – Mikey Musumeci continued to commerce barbs with Gordon Ryan about steroids.

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