Craig Jones recently voiced his concerns regarding the stagnant growth of prize money in the sport, despite its increasing popularity.
In a discussion with The Mac Life, Jones pointed out the diminishing real value of prize money due to inflation, particularly highlighting the unchanged payouts from events such as the ADCC:
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 conversation also touched on broader economic trends, likening the situation to “corporate America” where the disparity between work and compensation continues to grow.
The example of dynamic pricing by companies like Wendy’s was brought up, leading Jones to comment:
Wendy’s deserves it, FloGrappling doesn’t.
I don’t think us athletes do either.
The idea of unionizing was suggested as a possible solution to advocate for better prize money and overall compensation for athletes in the grappling world.
However, Jones humorously noted the potential hurdles:
The average grappler couldn’t spell “union”.
Jones’ comments highlight the need for more substantial financial incentives for competitors…
Especially in prestigious tournaments such as the ADCC – where there is no appearance fee, and athletes compete solely for prize money.
