In a revealing interview on Morning Kombat, Craig Jones dropped perhaps the most significant surprise of his career: he’s planning to step away from competitive grappling after his upcoming super match against Olympic champion Gable Steveson at CJI 2 in August.
The Australian grappling star’s announcement marks the end of an era for one of the sport’s most influential figures.
“After that you’re dunzo,” Jones confirmed when asked about his plans following the Gable Steveson match. “And then I saw on Reddit you say you were going to vanish. Vanish. Yeah.”
When pressed about what happens next, Jones was characteristically mysterious:
“Who knows? That’s the mystery. You know maybe we disappear for a while we come back.”
The decision appears to stem from burnout and the relentless pace Jones has maintained.
“I mean it is quite challenging. It is a lot of work but I really don’t give myself a chance to take a break. So it’s like a forced break. You know what I mean? I’m forcing myself to take a break,” he explained.
Jones admitted he had planned to take time off after CJI 1 but got sidetracked during an extended stay in Colombia.
This announcement comes alongside other major changes in Jones‘ life. He’s leaving the B-Team gym he co-founded with remaining members Nicky Ryan, Nicky Rodriguez and others set to rebrand under new management.
Jones described himself as “kind of like the dad that went out for milk and never came back,” acknowledging that his frequent absences made continuing with the gym impractical.
The timing is particularly poignant given Jones‘ massive influence on the sport’s financial landscape. Through CJI he’s been one of the few voices advocating for better athlete compensation and labor rights in grappling.
“I’ve been able to get away with a lot on social media… that’s helped me build a profile on the sport. That’s helped me be able to make money for myself. So I know the challenges athletes have of like trying to make money for themselves and really not to be used by promoters out there,” Jones reflected.
His potential departure leaves a significant void in the sport’s advocacy landscape. When asked about his concern for jiu-jitsu’s future without his voice, Jones acknowledged the challenge:
“The financial literacy among the athletes in this business is… it’s not high. It’s not high.”
He cited examples of elite athletes, including one who studied law, signing contracts without reading them.
Jones isn’t completely closing the door on the future. He mentioned that CJI 3 remains a possibility if CJI 2 proves successful and he’s committed to cornering MMA stars like Alexander Volkanovski and Jack Della Maddalena in upcoming camps.
His immediate post-retirement plans involve working with the Guardian Project building schools in Peru and other locations to teach jiu-jitsu to underprivileged children.
“If I feel the need to come back I’ll come back,” Jones said, leaving room for a potential return.
However, his emphasis on a “forced break” and stepping away from the sport’s political battles suggests this hiatus could be extended.
