In a post-event interview after his commanding victory over Gabi Garcia at the Craig Jones Invitational (CJI), the grappling superstar turned promtoer expressed his enthusiasm for the inclusion of a women’s division at the next edition of the event.
“I’m really excited about the prospect of having a women’s division at the next CJI,” said Jones in an interview. “We were able to secure the funding to pay my teammate Nicky Rod a million dollars for his match, and I want to leverage that success to provide the same level of compensation for the top female grapplers.”
Jones acknowledged the challenges in getting the necessary funding to support a high-profile women’s tournament, but he remains committed to showcasing the immense talent and excitement that the women’s side of the sport has to offer.
“It’s obviously hard to get the funding, but I didn’t want to do a women’s division and pay them less,” he explained. “I was like, ‘Let’s put on the best women’s match we can ever put on and show how exciting the women are,’ and then I can use that to leverage sponsors to give them a proper million-dollar division.”
The CJI has already made waves in the grappling community, with Jones’ victory over the legendary Gabi Garcia serving as a highlight of the event covered in various mainstream media.
“I think it’ll be the most viewed grappling event in history,” Jones said confidently. “We went head-to-head with an event that’s been selling tickets for two years, and we still did really good. The crowd was intense, and all the matches were exciting.”
As the grappling world eagerly awaits the next edition of the CJI, the prospect of a groundbreaking women’s tournament has the community buzzing with anticipation. Craig Jones’ commitment to elevating the women’s side of the sport is a testament to his vision and his desire to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of competitive grappling.
Ffion Davies secured a dominant victory over UFC star Mackenzie Dern at the Craig Jones Invitational in Las Vegas, showcasing her grappling prowess and underscoring the need for a dedicated women’s division in high-profile jiu-jitsu events.
From the start, Davies controlled the match, ultimately forcing Dern to submit with an armbar just 44 seconds into the second round. In a post-match interview, Davies highlighted the lack of representation for women in competitive jiu-jitsu and called for change.
In her Alley interview, Davies seized the opportunity to advocate for greater representation of women in competitive jiu-jitsu. “It’s amazing, and I really think we need a women’s division,” Davies stated, emphasizing the entertainment value that female grapplers bring to the sport. She added, “The women are being left out time and time again. It’s time for that to end.”
The match, featuring two respected figures, drew significant fan attention, particularly for Davies, who continues to grow her fanbase. Despite recently competing in UFC Abu Dhabi, Dern deserves credit for fulfilling her commitment to the event.
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