The Craig Jones Invitational continued to deliver high-octane grappling action, as fans were treated to a clash between two of the best female grapplers in the world Mackenzie Dern and Ffion Davies.
The bout started with an immediate onslaught from the Welsh grappling phenom, Ffion Davies. She pressed forward relentlessly, using her impressive wrestling and pressure passing to put Mackenzie Dern on the defensive early. Davies' knee cut pass was proving to be a real challenge for the Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace, as she struggled to find any openings to work her renowned guard game.
Dern did her best to weather the storm, but the physical advantages of Davies were starting to take their toll. The reigning ADCC champion was able to pass Dern's guard and establish dominant top control, threatening with arm locks and the occasional transition to mount. Dern's experience in high-pressure situations was on full display, as she fought tooth and nail to avoid the submissions.
As the round drew to a close, Davies ramped up the intensity, flattening out Dern and securing 2 hooks She was unable to even start attempting submissions however with only 10 second to go. The judges would ultimately award Davies a commanding 10-8 scorecard, highlighting her dominant performance in the opening round.
Facing a significant deficit, Dern knew she needed to make some adjustments heading into the second frame. She came out with increased urgency, but Davies remained unfazed, quickly using an impressive head and arm throw to put Dern on her back once more. High on Dern's back who tried to get up on all fours, Davies moved to a reverse triangle. From there, Davies wasted little time, sinking in a tight armbar off the reverse trianble that left Dern with no choice but to tap, ending the match at the 44-second mark of the second round.
Ffion Davies' display of technical mastery and physical dominance was a true sight to behold. She has firmly cemented her status as one of the top female grapplers in the world, with a performance that left no doubt about her superiority on this night. For Mackenzie Dern, it was a humbling experience, but one that will undoubtedly drive her to come back stronger and more prepared for the next challenge that lies ahead.
In her post fight speech, FFion thanked Dern for the match and in closing voiced that females were being "left out" and while CJI is an amazing she expressed her hope for a female division in CJI the next time.
