With less than 24 hours before CJI 2 goes live, Craig Jones dropped a major announcement that has sent ripples through the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community. In a characteristically irreverent video, Jones revealed that his tournament will now be broadcast through FloGrappling’s YouTube channel rather than his own B-Team platform.
“I have indeed sold out as you’re about to see,”
Jones declared.
“I’m willing to do absolutely anything for the right price so for CJI2 we have partnered with flograppling they tested my level of commitment for this sport and to keep this thing live and free on youtube i’ve agreed to their inhumane conditions.”
The announcement, delivered in typical Jones fashion, featured a mock wedding ceremony where he symbolically married FloGrappling, complete with vows and a kiss. The theatrical presentation couldn’t mask the significance of this last-minute partnership, which represents a major departure from Jones’ original vision of complete independence from established broadcasting platforms.
The deal ensures that
“CJI2 will be live and free on flograppling’s youtube channel,”
but there’s a crucial catch that has international fans particularly frustrated. According to the arrangement, the event will only remain free during the live broadcast. Once the broadcast concludes, viewers will need a FloGrappling subscription to access the content.
This timing poses significant challenges for global audiences. European fans face start times of 2 AM on Sunday and potentially 2 AM Monday, with the event historically running 6-8 hours each day. For many working professionals, watching live simply isn’t feasible, effectively forcing them behind FloGrappling’s paywall if they want to experience the tournament.
The decision comes after Jones previously revealed an $800,000 shortfall in ticket sales needed just to break even on the event. With over $1 million in ticket sales, another $1 million in sponsorship deals and $500,000 in merchandise revenue, the financial pressures apparently necessitated this partnership despite Jones’ earlier stance against traditional broadcasting models.
Community reaction has been swift and polarized. Many fans feel blindsided by the timing of the announcement, particularly given Jones’ year-long campaign positioning CJI as an alternative to the established grappling industry structure. European and Australian viewers have expressed particular frustration, noting that the live-only free access essentially excludes them from the tournament’s accessibility promise.
However, others have defended the move as a necessary compromise to ensure the event’s survival and sustainability. Supporters argue that keeping the live broadcast free while monetizing replays represents a reasonable middle ground, especially considering the tournament’s massive production costs and guaranteed athlete payouts.
The partnership marks a significant shift for Jones, who built CJI’s brand around independence from platforms like FloGrappling. His previous criticism of the broadcasting service’s business model and technical issues made this collaboration particularly surprising to long-time followers.
FloGrappling’s involvement raises questions about production quality and user experience, areas where the platform has historically faced criticism. While Jones confirmed that his production team will continue handling the event’s technical execution, the broadcasting rights transfer introduces new variables for viewers accustomed to the seamless experience of CJI’s inaugural event.
The announcement has also sparked broader discussions about the sustainability of free content in combat sports and grappling. With traditional pay-per-view models increasingly common, Jones’ original vision of completely free access was always ambitious given the tournament’s scale and athlete compensation structure.
The tournament begins Saturday evening Eastern time, with fans now facing the choice between adjusting their schedules for live viewing or accepting FloGrappling’s subscription model for delayed access. Either way, the announcement ensures that CJI 2 will be remembered as much for its business pivot as its athletic competition.
