In a surprise move, Craig Jones has extended an invitation to former Bellator star and grappling sensation, Dillon Danis, to participate in the upcoming Craig Jones Invitational (CJI).
This development comes after Danis claimed to have signed for his MMA return against a beloved UFC veteran, stating, “this is gonna be a war.”
Danis, who has been absent from competitive jiu-jitsu for some time, was mentioned by Jones in a recent conversation, with Jones expressing admiration for Danis’ past accomplishments. Jones recalled Danis’ impressive performances at the ADCC, saying, “He did good at ADCC against Gordon. At Brown Belt, he was really, really good. First year at Black Belt, really good.”
Jones then reached out to Danis, attempting to persuade him to join the CJI. “I messaged him, I emailed his manager,” Jones revealed on the MMA Hour. Although there has been no formal response, Jones remains hopeful that Danis will accept the invitation, noting, “I think it’d be cool to have Dillon in, I reckon.”
The CJI, scheduled to take place on the same date as the ADCC, has generated significant buzz in the grappling community. Jones’ invitation to Danis may signal a return to competitive jiu-jitsu for the American grappler, who has been focused on being an influencer in recent years.
When asked about Danis’ potential participation, Jones expressed flexibility, stating that Danis is welcome to be in a superfight or to vie for the $1M prize. However, Jones clarified that the event’s name would not be changed to accommodate Danis, despite Danis’ initial suggestion to rename the event the “Dillon Danis CC”.
Jones also shared his thoughts on Danis’ career trajectory, acknowledging the potential lure of influencer fame and fortune as a factor in Danis’ decision to step away from competitive grappling. “I think potentially, like we lose athletes like that because there’s probably more money being an influencer than there is in the tournaments,” Jones mused.
The Craig Jones Invitational, with its innovative format and high-stakes competition, may provide an attractive platform for Danis to rekindle his passion for competitive jiu-jitsu. Whether Danis accepts the invitation remains to be seen, but fans are eagerly anticipating the possibility of a remarkable comeback.
As Jones aptly put it, “Who knows if a tournament like this had existed early in his career, he might not have felt the need to not compete.” The jiu-jitsu community holds its breath, waiting to see if Danis will seize this opportunity to reclaim his place among the grappling elite.
