Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) has announced a marquee “super” fight for its second edition this August, pitting BJJ superstar Craig Jones against Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson.
Jones, the self-proclaimed “King of Jiu-Jitsu,” revealed the matchup through his social media channels, setting the stage for what promises to be an intriguing clash between elite practitioners from different grappling disciplines.
The Australian submission specialist is coming off an impressive showing at last year’s inaugural CJI event where he submitted nine-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu gold medalist Gabi Garcia via rear-naked choke in the second round.
Steveson, meanwhile, enters this cross-disciplinary challenge at an interesting juncture in his athletic career. The former University of Minnesota standout recently suffered a stunning upset loss to Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson in the NCAA finals, one of the most shocking results in collegiate wrestling history.
The 24-year-old wrestling phenom has had an eventful post-Olympic journey, returning to collegiate competition after brief stints with WWE and the NFL’s Buffalo Bills. While he has previously expressed interest in transitioning to mixed martial arts and reportedly sought meetings with UFC CEO Dana White, this foray into competitive jiu-jitsu represents his first step into a related combat sport.
“This year’s clash promises a tougher challenge — a showdown of college freestyle wrestling versus jiu-jitsu,” noted Jones in his announcement.
For Jones, known for his devastating leg lock game and colorful personality, the matchup offers a chance to test his grappling prowess against raw wrestling talent. For Steveson, it’s an opportunity to explore new competitive territory while keeping his combat sports options open.
Combat sports enthusiasts will be watching closely to see how Steveson’s wrestling credentials translate against one of the planet’s most technically proficient grapplers. The contrasting styles should create a fascinating dynamic when these two athletes meet on the mat this summer.
CJI 2 happens August 31st in Las Vegas.
