The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community is abuzz with controversy after Craig Jones, a renowned advocate for better grappler pay, received a death threat from Seth Daniels, a promoter associated with the ADCC tournament. The threat comes on the heels of Jones’s announcement of his new tournament, the Craig Jones Invitational (CJI), which boasts a staggering $1 million grand prize, hundred times the amount offered by the ADCC.
Jones has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the tournament’s compensation for grapplers. He took his grievances to Joe Rogan’s popular podcast, where he shared his vision for a more equitable BJJ tournament circuit. The CJI, with its unprecedented prize money, sent ripples through the BJJ community, prompting a heated response from the ADCC organizers.
The feud escalated when Mo Jassim, the Head Organizer of the ADCC, clashed with Jones on social media. Now, Seth Daniels has entered the fray, sending Jones a threatening message: “I will end your f***ing life.” Jones posted a screenshot of the message on social media, accompanied by a nonchalant response: “They would rather pay hitmen than pay their fighters.”
In the video, Jones quipped about Daniels’s anger issues, suggesting he take up journaling, daily affirmations, or a relaxing bath to calm down. Jones’s flippant response belies the seriousness of the threat, which has sparked concern among fans and fellow BJJ practitioners.
Daniels admitted to the message in a comment left on instagram prior to deactivating his profile.
The controversy has sparked a wider conversation about the state of the BJJ tournament circuit, where fighters often struggle to make ends meet despite their skill and dedication. Jones’s CJI aims to address this disparity, offering a more lucrative opportunity for competitors.
There are rumors circling that ADCC severed their relationship with Daniels however we weren’t able to substantiate the rumors at this time.
In the midst of this turmoil, the BJJ community is divided, with some supporting Jones’s call for change and others backing the established ADCC tournament. As the drama unfolds, one thing is clear: the stakes have never been higher in the world of BJJ.
