In a recent interview with Paula Sack, former UFC strawweight contender and current UFC executive Claudia Gadelha shared her enthusiasm for the Craig Jones Invitational (CJI), a groundbreaking event that has taken the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world by storm.
Gadelha, who now serves as an executive for the UFC and director of the UFC Fight Pass Invitational, expressed her admiration for the event’s impact on the sport. “I think it’s amazing,” Gadelha stated. “The idea was to revolutionize the history of Jiu-Jitsu, and that’s exactly what it’s doing.”
The Brazilian native emphasized the importance of treating BJJ athletes as professionals, a standard she believes has been long overdue. “It’s been a long time since Jiu-Jitsu fighters have had to behave like professional athletes, but they are not treated as such,” Gadelha noted. “This event came to show all events how they should treat athletes, and this is something that the UFC does very well.”
The CJI has reportedly garnered significant attention from the grappling community. CJI social media reached 36M impressions, and the two day event scored just under 4M views (3.8). The event’s success appears to have set a new benchmark for production quality and live experience in professional Jiu-Jitsu competitions.
The interview highlights the growing synergy between those who take submission grappling professional atheletes seriously, with BJJ Black belts like Craig Jones and Claudia Gadelha playing crucial roles in elevating the profile of Jiu-Jitsu. As the sport continues to evolve, the Craig Jones Invitational seems poised to play a significant role in shaping its future.
