In a candid conversation with Ffion Davies, grappling standout Craig Jones dropped a major revelation about his upcoming Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) tournament. Jones disclosed that there will be a hefty $50,000 prize awarded for the best submission at the groundbreaking event.
The CJI, slated for August 16-17th in Las Vegas, has already made waves by luring elite talents like the Ruotolo brothers away from ADCC with its unprecedented $1 million total prize purse. But Jones’ latest announcement of a $50k “best submission” incentive adds another lucrative layer to the inaugural competition.
“Actually, I think we did just secure a sponsor.I can’t say. But yesterday, best sub of the day, best sub of the event will get 50k. “Jones told Davies during their informal discussion.
The submission-grappling icon seemed to almost blurt out the major detail on a whim. “I was kind of impulsive with it,” he admitted with a laugh. “I didn’t really think ADCC would care that much. But I thought it could generate some good hype.”
To Jones’ surprise, the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive so far. “There was actually way less backlash than I expected,” he said. “A lot of people were really supportive and into the idea of an outrageous prize like that.”
The striking $50,000 award could incentivize grapplers to pull out all the stops and go for highlight-reel finishes at the CJI. With the Ruotolos and other elite talent set to compete, fans could potentially witness all-time great submissions in pursuit of the massive bounty.
Whether leading to unforgettable matches or quickly fading in memory, the $50,000 best submission prize has already accomplished one thing – ensuring the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational will be one for the history books.
