In a breaking announcement, Brazilian jiu-jitsu fans have reason to cheer as Craig Jones and Luke Rockhold are gearing up for an electrifying clash at Israel Fight Night 1 this coming September. With both athletes boasting impressive pedigrees, this matchup promises to be a treat for fans.
Luke Rockhold has already dipped his toes in the world of BJJ competitions. In 2019, he faced off against Jones’ teammate, Nicky Rodriguez, in a BJJ match at Polaris 12. The encounter saw Rodriguez secure victory via decision.
The unique twist to this upcoming bout is that it will unfold within the confines of an MMA cage, a revelation confirmed by Craig Jones himself. This structural variation adds an intriguing element, particularly considering Rockhold’s experience grappling within a cage during his MMA career.
Hints of this impending showdown surfaced earlier when Jones alluded to a potential face-off with Rockhold during a recent episode of the El Segundo Podcast. However, the anticipation reached a crescendo when Jones took to Instagram to formally announce the match. His caption humorously read:
“Never in the history of combat sports have 2 dime pieces of this caliber locked horns. I’ve often been told I need Jesus in my life, what an opportunity to hit Jerusalem in search of him.”
It’s worth noting that Luke Rockhold transitioned away from his MMA journey post a Fight of the Night duel with Paulo Costa at UFC 278. His foray into bare-knuckle boxing at BKFC 41 against Mike Perry also made headlines, albeit with an unfortunate TKO loss.
Now, Rockhold is set to embrace the grappling realm, engaging in a duel against the seasoned black belt, Craig Jones. The Australian grappler has already established his prowess on multiple platforms, making this matchup a significant highlight for the BJJ community.
While excitement brews for this event, another aspect of the BJJ sphere takes the spotlight. Gordon Ryan, often hailed as the premier No-Gi grappler, is drawing attention to a perceived double standard within the BJJ community.
Ryan recently highlighted the disparate reactions toward his honesty about steroid use compared to Craig Jones’ alleged promotion of coke usage.
In a pointed Instagram post, Ryan underscored the inconsistency by stating:
“Someone being honest about taking steroids in jiu-jitsu. Internet – he’s an a**hole. Someone being honest about taking ster0ids and being a coke head. Internet – he’s the man. What a role model.”
