In a surprising yet oddly fitting twist in the ongoing BJJ soap opera, Craig Jones has finally explained why he walked away from B-Team Jiu-Jitsu—a team he helped found—and what lies ahead for the Aussie grappling icon. During a revealing interview, Jones shared his reasons with typical dry wit and disarming honesty.

“I Just Needed a Break”

Craig didn’t sugarcoat it. After years of competing, building a brand, and mentoring some of the best grapplers in the world, he was simply burnt out.

“I’m kind of forcing myself to take a break,” Jones said. “I don’t think I would’ve taken a break unless I forced myself to. So I’m trying to step away from it all. Trying to relax a little bit.”

He compared his departure to a classic disappearing act:

“I’m basically the dad that went out for milk and never came back. That’s what I’m going for. Just vanish for a little bit.”

The End of B-Team—Or Just the End of His Role?

Jones made it clear that B-Team itself isn’t dead—just evolving. The decision to step back was a personal one, and he emphasized that the younger generation, especially Nicky Ryan, is now taking the reins.

“It’s not like we had a falling out,” he clarified. “It’s just that the team’s moving in one direction, and I’m moving in another.”

Still, his departure triggered harsh comments from his longtime rival Gordon Ryan, who celebrated it as the removal of “poison” from B-Team. Craig, unsurprisingly, couldn’t care less:

“I refuse to read [Gordon’s post] until he learns how to use paragraphs. I look for the cliff notes. I don’t even know what he means half the time.”

So What’s Next for Craig?

Craig’s future plans revolve around CJI 2 (Craig Jones Invitational), set to take place August 30–31, 2025, in Las Vegas. He says this will likely be his last competitive event.

“I think this is it. I’m retiring after CJI 2. But you know… if I get bored, I might come back.”

Beyond that, he’s focused on running future CJI events, which are gaining serious traction thanks to their innovative formats and cash incentives. He’s also passionate about growing his Guardian Project—a nonprofit initiative to bring jiu-jitsu and education to underprivileged communities in Peru.

He’s also planning to coach MMA full-time, including working closely with UFC champ Alexander Volkanovski and rising star Jack Della Maddalena.

“That’s really where I want to focus next. Helping guys like Volk and Jack in their careers. I think I have more to offer from the sidelines at this point.”

Legacy Mode Activated

Craig Jones isn’t leaving because of scandal or failure—he’s stepping back at the top of his game. Whether he comes back or not, his influence on modern no-gi jiu-jitsu is already cemented.

But as Craig said with a smirk,

“It’s not goodbye forever. It’s just… see you after I get that milk.”

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