Craig Jones recently appeared on Eddie Bravo’s podcast, where he shared some interesting behind-the-scenes information about the Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) event.
During the podcast, Jones revealed that Kron Gracie, son of the legendary Rickson Gracie, was originally slated to participate in the CJI. However, plans changed when Gracie received an offer from the UFC.
According to Jones, Gracie was initially enthusiastic about competing in the CJI, which features a unique ruleset.
See also: Kron Gracie Deeply Regrets The Promotions He Handed Out Based On Attendance: “Never Again”
Kron Gracie made his UFC return after a three-year hiatus at UFC 288. Unfortunately, his comeback was underwhelming, as he was decisively defeated by Charles Jourdain in a unanimous decision. Gracie’s performance, marked by a lack of significant offense, drew sharp criticism from fans who mocked his tactics and questioned his preparation. Dana White also criticized Gracie, comparing his outdated style to something out of 1995.
However, the opportunity to compete in the UFC proved too enticing for Gracie to pass up.
Jones expressed understanding for Gracie’s decision, acknowledging the significant career boost that a UFC contract can provide. He also hinted at the possibility of Gracie participating in future CJI events, should his schedule and contractual obligations allow.
Kron Gracie was a huge personality in BJJ, thanks to his very assertive performances and his refusal to game the system and win via advantage. Gracie is one of the rare competitors to have a win over BJJ legend Marcelo Garcia.
While Gracie was beloved during his time on the competitive scene, people have grown wary of him over the years due to his promotion of Flat Earth theories and apparent personal issues.
He recently became active on the BJJ scene again, attempting to sell a series of training sessions from 2019 via Vimeo. When that failed, he turned to BJJ Fanatics, where he received some publicity for his efforts.
