Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend Alexandre “Xande” Ribeiro recently shared his thoughts on the ongoing debate surrounding the Jiu-Jitsu competition landscape, revealing that he has invested a staggering amount in his own competitive career without financial return.
Despite this, Ribeiro remains steadfast in his stance against the newly formed Craig Jones Invitational (CJI).
In a candid interview, Ribeiro disclosed, “I probably spent over $2 million in all my competitions there. Everything. And I didn’t make the money, you know, because I paved the way to ADCC to be where it is right now.” This statement underscores the fact that many of the grapplers that are household names actively lost money competing.
However, even with his own experiences of financial sacrifice, Ribeiro expressed his disagreement with the approach taken by CJI, which has scheduled its inaugural event to coincide with the ADCC World Championships. “I think it’s a good thing that he’s doing just in the wrong purpose and timing,” Ribeiro stated, referring to CJI founder Craig Jones.
Ribeiro believes that while the concept behind CJI—offering substantial prize money to competitors—is commendable, the execution and timing are flawed. He argues that by scheduling the event alongside ADCC, CJI is undermining decades of hard work and tradition that have elevated ADCC to its current status as the pinnacle of submission grappling.
The multiple-time world champion also raised concerns about the sustainability and transparency of CJI. “We don’t know if this thing’s going to continue. Craig Jones has no history of doing anything in the sport as far as organizing,” Ribeiro pointed out. He also questioned the source of the prize money, suggesting that without a clear business model, the venture might be short-lived.
Despite his critiques, Ribeiro maintains a balanced perspective. He acknowledges that athletes might choose CJI for the guaranteed paycheck, stating, “Maybe they prefer guaranteed $10,000 and a chance to win $1,000,000.”
