In a candid and emotionally raw interview on the Jits and giggles podcast, ADCC silver medalist Jacob “Jay” Rodriguez has broken his silence about the controversy that led to his sudden removal from B-Team Jiu-Jitsu, clarifying widespread online rumors and shedding light on the personal toll it has taken.

Clarifying the Rumors: “AI Was Not Involved”

Rodriguez addressed the source of the controversy head-on, refuting the internet’s more extreme speculations.

“Pretty much everything aside from one thing which was like screenshots on my phone… of people,” he explained. “AI was not involved,” and there were no “cameras set up.”

Despite downplaying the nature of the incident, the backlash was swift and decisive.

The Call That Changed Everything

The news of his expulsion came during a late-night phone call from teammate Nick Rodriguez, who told him to contact B-Team co-founder Craig Jones.

“Nick told me to call Craig and I was like okay… told me I was banned and then it’s one AM I’m half asleep so I was like okay,” Jay recounted.

What hurt the most, he says, was not being given the chance to share his side of the story:

“I pretty much like wasn’t really ever able to like explain myself and then when I was able to explain myself to some people they’re like oh yeah it’s like it’s just he said she said.”

Collateral Damage: The Business of BJJ

The timing couldn’t have been worse. The fallout coincided with the launch of the Craig Jones Invitational (CJI)—a major event with significant financial backing.

“They have a lot of stuff going on with CJI and whatnot… imagine if CJI were to lose some like sponsors from CJI it’s a lot of money to lose.”

Although Jay says he understands the team’s business considerations, the impact on his personal and professional life has been severe:

“Putting my career on pause… it’s frustrating at times.”

Blacklisted in Austin

Since the incident, Rodriguez claims he’s been effectively blacklisted from training at high-level gyms in Austin:

“I can’t train in Austin specifically… anywhere worth going to. I think like I’ve reached out to there’s really like a handful of gyms that I would train at… but they’re just kind of like timid or whatever which I understand… from like a business perspective.”

The situation has left him without any training for months:

“I don’t train at all… for like the past… for like maybe two or three months I think… so yeah no training at all that was really difficult.”

Silver Linings in Exile

Yet amid the chaos, Rodriguez says he has experienced personal growth and a shift in mindset:

“I’ve overcome lust… I’ve been able to detach myself from jiu-jitsu… it’s good to be a good person and not just have… myself and Jacob I’m not just J-Rod.”

Much of that change, he says, comes from a newfound religious faith:

“Religion honestly… having someone to like no don’t do that right oh yeah you’re right.”

He’s also taken time to focus on physical development, addressing a long-standing size disadvantage in competition. Previously walking around at 185 pounds, he often faced opponents significantly heavier:

“With all the downtime I’m not training so I’m not doing any cardio so I’m just able to eat a disgusting amount of food… and lift,” he said, clarifying that he remains natural despite bulking up.

Reflecting on Missteps

Rodriguez acknowledges his early attempt to address the situation publicly was a mistake:

“The first video I posted was so bad and like I had no like professional like PR advice… it was super… vague and just kind of allowed people to just kind of fill in the blanks with just their imagination.”

The Road Ahead: Uncertain but Hopeful

While Rodriguez has received offers to compete again, he’s hesitant to jump back in without proper preparation:

“It’s probably not smart of me to… do a competition if I’m… not able to have like a full camp.”

For now, he’s focused on personal healing, family, and faith—holding on to the hope that this chapter is temporary.

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