Nicky “Rod” Rodriguez has announced he will be withdrawing from the prestigious ADCC World Championships in order to compete at the lucrative Craig Jones Invitational instead.
Rodriguez had been expected to be one of the top competitors at ADCC in the stacked over 99kg division. However, the lure of CJI’s unprecedented $1 million grand prize proved too enticing for the young phenom to pass up.
The 26-year-old Rodriguez has been making waves in the grappling world with his elite wrestling skills translated to submission grappling. He has multiple ADCC medals under his belt already, showcasing the prominence of No-Gi BJJ.
Rodriguez came close to submitting Gordon Ryan at UFC’s 3rd BJJ Invitational event, ultimately losing in overtime. Their rivalry escalated when Rodriguez boldly challenged Ryan to an EBI overtime match with both undergoing rigorous PED testing, which Ryan declined.
“I’ve never taken gear. I still continue to train and compete as a natural athlete,” Rodriguez said at the time, implying Ryan may not be a natural competitor.
After that victory, Rodriguez declared “I essentially retired Gordon Ryan” due to the severity of Ryan’s toehold in their match. Ryan pulled out of his next event against Felipe Pena subsequently and retired due to mediacal problems.
With Ryan out of the way, at least temporarily, Rodriguez has rapidly ascended the ranks as one of the top grapplers in the world. His losses have been few and far between against the elite black belt level.
Now, with riches beckoning at CJI, the New Jersey native has rolled the dice on Craig Jones’ upstart event over ADCC’s prestige and legacy. While no explanation was given, the $1M prize likely played a major factor.
Rodriguez joins the likes of former UFC champion Luke Rockhold, elite black belt Nicky Ryan, Jozef Chen, the Tackett brothers, and others who have already committed to competing at CJI on August 16 in Las Vegas.
With major names continuing to defect from ADCC, speculation is swirling about potential repercussions for those skipping the iconic submission grappling tournament. However, the chance to become an instant millionaire appears to be too tantalizing to pass up for many.
