Ffion Davies, widely regarded as one of the best female grapplers in the world, recently made headlines when she announced her decision to compete at the Craig Jones Invitational instead of the prestigious ADCC tournament. In a candid interview, Davies shed light on the driving force behind her decision – the glaring pay disparity between men and women in the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Davies, a former ADCC champion and multiple-time IBJJF world champion, has been a vocal advocate for equal pay and opportunities for female athletes in the grappling community. She revealed that at the previous ADCC event, the prize money for women’s division winners was a mere $5,000, compared to the much higher payouts for their male counterparts. One of the more surprising facts being that for women, winning IBJJF worlds, actually pays better
“The pay discrepancy, particularly between the men and the women in the sport, has been pretty bad,” Davies told Luke Thomas. “My hope was that if I remove myself from the division as the current champion, the prize money would then be raised or changes would be made.”
Davies’ decision to compete at the Craig Jones Invitational, where she will face off against fellow grappling superstar Mackenzie Dern, is part of a larger strategy to drive change in the industry. The Invitational event has committed to showcasing a women’s super fight, with the potential for future women’s divisions with “huge prize money just like what the men are getting.”
“This is for me not just about winning titles, but it’s to make a change for the girls who are coming through,” Davies explained. “To see that there is money in this sport, this is a career path that they can take and this is a passion they can pursue and actually be able to afford to do it.”
The issue of pay disparity extends beyond just the high-profile tournaments. Davies highlighted the challenges faced by many female grapplers who have to juggle part-time or even full-time jobs in order to afford to train and compete at the highest level.
“How can I consider myself a full-time athlete when I’m traveling for seminars every weekend?” Davies questioned. “Wouldn’t it be cool if athletes could train and be paid to be athletes and when they compete, they have a large sum of money to actually win?”
Later on she added:
“I know so many girls who have achieved such a high level but they have part-time jobs sometimes full-time jobs trying to compete and then we we throw it in their faces like the level isn’t there in comparison to the men well well how could it be if they can’t even afford to train full-time it’s a vicious cycle that keeps happening and I hope that with events like that this that that can end eventually.”
Davies’ willingness to take a stand and forgo the opportunity to defend her ADCC title speaks volumes about her commitment to effecting change in the sport. By choosing to compete in a high-profile super fight, she hopes to not only showcase her own skills but also shine a light on the need for a more equitable system that supports and empowers female grapplers to pursue their passion at the highest level.
