The Craig Jones Invitational 2 has found itself at the center of controversy as Gordon Ryan publicly criticized the tournament organizer’s decision to implement a significant rule change just weeks before the competition.
With only 30 days remaining until the event, Jones announced that all teams would now be permitted two wild card selections, a departure from the original tournament structure. The announcement came during what appeared to be an impromptu address where Jones cited concerns about potential injuries and team replacements.
“What if a team as bad as Europe is forced to replace a European grappler with an even worse European grappler”
Jones stated in his announcement.
“And it occurred to me that the only solution would be everybody gets two wild cards. So if someone on your team sucks, get rid of him you can use a wild card.”
The timing of this rule modification has drawn sharp criticism from Ryan, who took to social media to express his displeasure with the decision.
“Cj with more shady stuff. Who would have thought! 😂 you can only cry wolf so many times bro 🤷♂️”
Ryan commented on Jones‘s announcement video.
Ryan‘s concerns appear to stem from the perception that the rule change benefits certain teams disproportionately, particularly following recent high-profile signings. The announcement comes after Mica Galvao, the 2024 Super Grand Slam Champion, was revealed as a wild card addition to Team New Wave at 77 kg. The 21-year-old phenom, who achieved the rare distinction of becoming a “Super Grand Slam Champion” in 2024 after winning an ADCC world title and all four major IBJJF titles, represents a significant acquisition for the John Danaher-coached squad.
Additionally, Team Atos recently added six-time IBJJF world champion Diego “Pato” Oliveira as their wild card selection at 66 kg, further illustrating how these late additions can dramatically alter team compositions and competitive balance.
The controversy highlights the challenges of organizing high-stakes grappling competitions where late roster changes can significantly impact tournament dynamics. Jones justified the modification by emphasizing the tournament’s commitment to fairness, stating,
“Because we are the fair competition foundation we’re building gyms for kids around the world to give them jujitsu water and food and our tournament is a fair tournament.”
However, Ryan‘s criticism suggests that some competitors view the timing and implementation of these changes as problematic, particularly given that teams have already finalized their rosters and are deep into their preparation camps. The former ADCC champion’s public statements reflect broader concerns within the grappling community about last-minute rule modifications in major competitions.
The eight-team tournament format features squads representing various regions and affiliations, including 10th Planet, New Wave, B-Team, Atos, Pedigo SF, Team Australasia, Team Americas and Team Europe. Each team fields competitors across five weight categories, with the million-dollar prize pool adding significant stakes to the competition.
CJI happens August 30th and 31st at Thomas and Mack arena in Las Vegas.
