Nicky Ryan will participate in the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational (CJI), opting out of ADCC despite having received an invitation. Reigning ADCC female champion Ffion Davies, along with ADCC US Trials winners William and Andrew Tackett, have also chosen CJI over ADCC. Former UFC Champion Luke Rockhold is another notable participant.
Nicky Ryan commented on his decision, saying:
“I’ve officially withdrawn from @adcc_official to enter the @cjiofficial. It’s really hard to say no to a chance to win a million dollars and I truly believe that I can get it done. @mojassim80 and @adcc_official have done a great job of growing the sport and getting a lot more spectators to attend these events. You guys will definitely see me in more ADCC events in the future, but for now, I’m gonna take my chances at @cjiofficial. Both of these events are a great thing for the sport and I’m excited to see the future. At the end of the day, if you’re truly one of my supporters, you should be happy for me getting the opportunity to win the biggest cash prize the sport has ever seen. I’ll see everyone in August.”
The CJI will take place in Las Vegas, the same weekend as ADCC, featuring two 16-man brackets with each champion receiving a million-dollar prize. This initiative emerged after Craig Jones announced his decision not to compete in ADCC 2024, criticizing the event for its prize money. Despite being the world’s most prestigious no-gi grappling tournament, ADCC offers only $10,000 for winning a men’s weight class, an amount unchanged for decades.
The Craig Jones Invitational aims to make a bold statement against ADCC, evident in its timing and location. The event will be held at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, the same venue that hosted ADCC 2022. Scheduled for August 16th and 17th, 2024, the final day of CJI coincides with the first day of ADCC. In addition to the million-dollar prizes, Jones announced a guaranteed purse of $10,000 for every competitor, providing a significant incentive for elite grapplers to participate.
With more stars expected to announce their participation in the coming weeks, the grappling community is buzzing with anticipation. The CJI’s impressive roster and substantial financial rewards raise questions about the future of ADCC and its ability to retain its position as the premier no-gi grappling tournament. Who will be the next big name to join CJI, and how will ADCC respond to this new challenger? The grappling world eagerly awaits the answers.
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