The recent Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) has sparked intense discussions within the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community, particularly surrounding the performance of Levi Jones Leary in the -80 kg division.
Jones Leary’s physique and intensity on the mats drew widespread attention, with many observers noting his ability to match the athleticism of dominant grappler Kade Ruotolo. Rather than engage in frantic scrambles, Jones Leary opted for a more calculated guard-pulling strategy, utilizing techniques reminiscent of fellow top competitor Lachlan Giles.
This tactical decision has been the source of some controversy, as critics argue that an over-reliance on guard pulling can diminish the sport’s emphasis on takedowns and top control. They contend that such an approach may be seen as exploiting the rules rather than showcasing pure grappling prowess.
However, Jones Leary’s near-victory in the finals, which was decided by a narrow margin after five rounds of MMA-style scoring, has prompted his supporters to defend his tactics. Many believe that Levi Jones Leary was robbed in the decision, and that judges were swayed by an overwhellming number of fans who were there cheering on Kade Ruotolo and his style.
While the auidence has been known to sway judges, there’s also a recency bias to consider. LJL was particularly impressive in the first two rounds with his performance fading a bit as the match wore on.
Considering the amount of physicality required, many were quick to speculate that Jones Leary was on PEDs, a claim he denied earlier today.
“I am 100% natural and never touched a PED in my life. Last year during worlds camp I was tested to prove it by @lachlan_giles. I have been consistently training for a long time 100%. You don’t need PEDs to be the best my opponent in the final was natural as well! 100% Very keen to take as many tests as I need. ”
Jones Leary actually has evidence to back his claim.
Lachlan Giles took to social media to back Jones Leary’s approach.
“True, last year I had a 100k athlete fund and I gave the money to Australia’s best performing athletes. Stipulation was they had to pass a PED test from sportsdr*gtesting.org. I think overall notice was about 4 days.”
Levi Jones Leary finds himself in an interesting situation, in a guard based sport that’s having a kind of an identity crisi in an attempt to court a wider audience. LJL’s spectacular performance will be remembered and replicated among those who train the sport, while
