The world of professional grappling has been shaken by a controversial clash between two prominent figures: BJJ black belt Seth Daniels, CEO of Fight2Win and ADCC organizer, and renowned grappler Craig Jones. The conflict arose when Jones organized his own Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) on the same weekend and in the same city as ADCC 2024, a move that Daniels did not appreciate. According to Jones, Daniels sent him a death threat through a social media private message, promising to end Jones’ life if he threatened his business or family. Daniels wrote:
“You need to realize I’m not Mo (Jassim). You have attacked my work and sh*t and everything I’ve done in the past 5 years. If you attack me, my family or my family like your cunts are doing to Mo, I will f*cking kill you. I’m not saying this lightly, I will end your f*cking life.”
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This incident prompted Jones to bring up a past mishap involving Daniels within the BJJ community.
In a previous instructional video from his “Fight 2 Win System” series on BJJ Fanatics, Daniels unintentionally choked out his female demonstration partner, Brittney Elkin, while showcasing a counter to a low single-leg technique. The video took an unexpected turn when Elkin passed out due to the technique’s effectiveness. Daniels’ reaction to the incident was perceived as unsympathetic; he laughed and exchanged amused looks with his student after she regained consciousness, sparking a debate among martial arts enthusiasts about his perceived insensitivity and recklessness.
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Despite the backlash, Elkin issued a statement clarifying that she held no ill will towards Daniels and even found humor in the situation. However, she later left a comment on one of Craig Jones’ videos, hinting at a possible change of heart. Faced with huge backlash, Daniels eventually expressed regret for both incidents in a social media post before deactivating his account:
The Exodus to CJI
The controversy has led to a significant number of ADCC athletes opting to compete at CJI instead. The appeal is undeniable: CJI offers a guaranteed $10,001 and a staggering $1 million in prize money. Jones has been vocal about his concerns regarding the stagnant growth of prize money in the sport, despite its rising popularity. In a recent discussion with The Mac Life, Jones highlighted how inflation has eroded the real value of prize money:
“Well technically, due to inflation the ADCC prize money is diminished. $10,000 is worth less today. I didn’t want to rub it in that bad, but I think I will.”
The feud between Seth Daniels and Craig Jones has brought to light critical issues within the grappling community, from the financial sustainability of major events to the fair compensation of athletes. As the dust settles, the community watches closely, awaiting the next moves of these influential figures and the potential long-term impact on the sport’s future.
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