Grappling superstar Craig Jones has been making waves with his plans for a massive $1 million jiu-jitsu tournament dubbed the “Craig Jones Invitational” (formerly known as the BDCC). The event will take place on August 16-17 in Las Vegas and will stream for free on YouTube, an unprecedented move in the grappling world.
Jones stated that each of the 32 invited athletes will receive $10,001 just to show up, in addition to the $1 million prize for the overall winner of each 16-man division. This is an unheard-of payout structure for a grappling event.
While many top grapplers are likely weighing their options between the CJI and ADCC, one surprising name has thrown his hat into the ring – popular podcaster Lex Fridman. Fridman, who earned his black belt in 2018, has a background in competing but is better known for his research work and his podcast featuring long-form interviews.
In a tongue-in-cheek comment on social media, Fridman expressed interest in competing at the CJI, should he receive an invitation. While it remains to be seen if Jones will extend such an invite, Fridman’s involvement would certainly add an intriguing storyline to the event.
Other notables who have committed to the CJI so far include the Tackett brothers. All eyes are on athletes from teams like New Wave to see where they will choose to compete. The landscape of high-level grappling could be shaken up significantly depending on how the athlete invitations shake out.
