The war between ADCC and Craig Jones Invitational is just heating up and Gordon Ryan has certainly chosen his side.
In a series of social media posts, Ryan blasted Jones on a personal level for his perceived association with Ukrainian nationalists.
Ryan’s post, which featured an image of Jones holding an Azov Battalion flag, has ignited debates.
Craig Jones recently traveled to Kyiv, Ukraine, to conduct a masterclass for more than 250 people in a small sports recreation center. His visit came shortly after one of the heaviest bombardments the city had experienced since the war began. Jones aimed to support Ukrainians through combat sports, particularly BJJ, which has become increasingly popular in the region.
Jones explained his motivations on social media, stating, “I’m here to support these people the only way I know how, through Jujitsu — and I’m not very f***ing good at that — but I can strangely sell-out a seminar.” His efforts raised approximately USD 11,000, which he donated to individuals on the frontline, helping them purchase necessary supplies for their defense.
During his visit, Jones not only conducted seminars but also traveled to the front lines in the partially Russian-occupied Donetsk region, sharing the harsh realities of life in Ukraine through his social media platforms. He emphasized the resilience of the Ukrainian people and the importance of Western aid in their struggle.
Gordon Ryan’s recent Instagram story brought to light a different narrative. Ryan accused Jones of associating with Ukrainian nationalists, specifically pointing out Jones’s connection to a controversial paramilitary group. Jones is no stranger to controversy and previously caught a lot of flack for having Alex Jones on his podcast despite his legal issues.
Ryan seems particularly irked that Reddit users, who had previously labeled Ryan as a “far right extremist,” dismiss concerns of Jones being a radical.
However even ADCC promoter Mo Jassim feels these concerns about Jones’ radicalism are overblown disuading people from accusing Jones of racism.
Jones previously caught flack for trying out an assortment of heavy artilery during his trip. The backlash was so intense he had to post a clarification explaining that he was trying out Soviet era depraceted weaponry and not US millitary grade weapons sent for defense against Russian invasion.
The burst of publicity will likely benefit Craig Jones who is currently working hard to promote his competiton designed to empower grapplers to seek proper compensation for competing.
