The Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) is a sensational grappling-focused event with numerous world-class grapplers competing against each other. Among them is ONE champion, Mikey Musumeci. The grappling phenom was apparently set to take on one of the UFC’s greats, Alexander Volkanovski.
Craig Jones recently dropped a bombshell that has the combat sports world buzzing. In a revealing interview on the Lex Fridman Podcast, Jones disclosed an audacious plan that almost came to fruition: a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu match between Volkanovski and Musumeci.
“We were trying to get [Alexander Volkanovski] a grappling match at the CJI. I won’t say the reasons it fell through, but we were setting one up with Mikey Musumeci. But we couldn’t get it done… It would have been awesome,” said Jones via Lex Fridman Podcast.
This revelation comes on the heels of another bombshell from Jones. He previously announced an attempt to secure a match between UFC lightweight legend Charles Oliveira and BJJ icon Marcelo Garcia. Clearly, Jones isn’t afraid to swing for the fences regarding match-making.
This potential clash of titans was slated for the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational (CJI), a high-stakes grappling tournament offering a jaw-dropping $1 million prize. The CJI, scheduled for August 16-17, aims to revolutionize athlete pay in the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Craig Jones Talks About Controversy With Joe Rogan
The CJI has already caused quite a stir in the grappling community. Its million-dollar prize purse has lured many former ADCC champions away from the prestigious ADCC World Championships scheduled for the same weekend. Jones’ tournament isn’t without its critics, though. Joe Rogan, a longtime ADCC sponsor, expressed frustration about the conflicting dates during Jones’ appearance on his podcast.
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Jones, however, remains unapologetic about his disruptive approach. In an interview with TheMacLife, he revealed that in order to establish something great, chaos needs to exist. And having the dates coincide does just that.
“That’s the thing with Rogan, right? If you build a career fighting the man, ultimately, if you become successful enough, you kind of become the man… He didn’t really grasp why we had to do it this way and cause a conflict. There has to be a conflict,” said Jones.
As the grappling world eagerly anticipates the CJI’s debut, fans can’t help but wonder what other surprises Jones has up his sleeve. Whatever happens, one thing’s for certain: Craig Jones and his million-dollar tournament have injected a much-needed dose of excitement into the world of competitive grappling.
Also Read: The Real Reason Alexander Volkanovski Is Picking Alex Pereira to Win at UFC 303
