Two weeks ago, the highly anticipated clash between ADCC and the Craig Jones Invitational finally took place. After months of hype, trash talk, and internet drama, fans were eager to see which event would come out on top.
What led to this epic showdown?
It all started with a few heated exchanges on social media. ADCC, known for its prestigious grappling tournaments, and the Craig Jones Invitational, a rising star in the jiu-jitsu world, couldn't resist taking jabs at each other online regarding grappler pay. Craig took on the challenage and found a misterious private funder who gernerously gave 2-3 million USD. Not sure many people in the world would give away 2-3 mil, let alone give it to Craig Jones The tension escalated, and before we knew it, a showdown was set.
What I loved
The CJI Alley was genius. The idea to use a slanted wall similar to karate combat was an absolute gamechanger for grappling. My biggest issue with Jiujitsu tournaments is the amount of time spent resetting the position or grapplers using the boundaries to rest.
The alley walls ensured the action was non-stop and very minimal referee involvement. I expected it to be used more but given the short time to stratigise with the walls we saw them act as a perfect barrier.
I hope to see more tournaments use this style of matt barrier and if this got down to the amateur tournments I think it would be great for the sport.
Who emerged victorious?
After a series of intense matches, surprising upsets, and jaw-dropping submissions, the winner was finally crowned.
The result? Well, its probably easier to say CJI was the more enteraining event but overall jiujitsu won. Considering more talent go showcased from both tournaments and more unknown names are now very well known, anyone who is interested in grappling won.
The success of the rivarly now gives more way to greater prize money for athletes on both sides, more sponors for tournaments and athletes and overall a greater product.
What can we learn from this rivalry?
Aside from the thrilling competition, the ADCC vs. Craig Jones Invitational showdown taught us a valuable lesson: never underestimate the power of a good rivalry.
So, whether you're a die-hard fan of ADCC, the Craig Jones Invitational, or just love a good showdown, this event had something for everyone. It was days to remember, filled with epic battles, unexpected outcomes, and plenty of drama both on and off the mats.
What's next?
Given the sport of grappling has continued to grow year on year, I can only imagine we will have more of these rivalries and bigger shows. I'm hoping the publicly available numbers from CJI bring in a new crop of sponsors and would love to see a CJI every year. I would also love to see ADCC lean into the rivalry more and consider changing with the times, by updating the ruleset or mat area.
What do you think?