The recent Craig Jones Invitational 2 made headlines for distributing over $2.5 million in prize money but the celebration has been overshadowed by a growing chorus of female grapplers questioning the stark disparity in opportunities and compensation between men’s and women’s divisions.
The tournament’s financial success was undeniable. Male grapplers received $10,002 just to participate with submission bonuses reaching $50,000 each. The winning team claimed $1 million and when controversy erupted over the finals result an anonymous donor contributed an additional $1 million to New Wave Jiu-Jitsu. Yet amid this financial windfall only four women competed in a single bracket highlighting a glaring imbalance that hasn’t gone unnoticed by the sport’s female stars.
Kendall Reusing revealed her frustrations in a detailed social media post about her attempts to secure a spot at the inaugural CJI event. After expressing interest in a superfight she was told there wasn’t enough time in the schedule for a second women’s match. When she inquired about a full women’s division she received assurances that future events would feature three $1 million divisions to create parity.
“I was told that because it ‘didn’t make sense to do $1M for the 2 guys’ brackets and less than $1M for the girls,’ the plan was to ‘have both men year and make 3 $1M divisions so it would be even,'” Reusing explained. However, those promises never materialized for CJI 2.
The disparity became even more pronounced when the additional $1 million was awarded to resolve the controversial finals decision. Jasmine Rocha pointed out the missed opportunity this represented:
“CJ said there wasn’t money for more women’s brackets… but when they messed up, they dropped the $ on the men to save face. That’s 3 $300k women’s divisions right there.”
The financial implications extend beyond prize money. While male grapplers earned $50,000 submission bonuses throughout the weekend no such bonuses were offered for women’s matches. This oversight seems particularly glaring given that, as Rocha noted, “the women had some of the MOST exciting moments this weekend!”
Veteran grappler Danielle Kelly, who has been advocating for smaller grapplers and organizing shows since childhood, acknowledged the complex dynamics at play. She noted that historically “most if not all men have only put out tournaments and matches for females” while recognizing that “there are far more girls competing now so I see how this can be an argument.”
Friend to women, Gordon Ryan, reshared Reusing’s post supporting the cause and proving that his feelings for Craig Jones surpass any ideological conviction he might have.
The mathematical reality is stark. With 40 men competing compared to just four women the resource allocation reflects a dramatic imbalance in opportunities. Female grapplers aren’t necessarily demanding identical prize purses but they’re questioning why substantial funds could be mobilized instantly for male divisions while women’s divisions remain limited.
Rocha emphasized that the criticism isn’t about the overall success of the event: “None of this is a complaint. But when you have 40 men competing and only 4 women it shows how that $150k could’ve been used to grow the women’s side too.”
The timing of these revelations is particularly significant as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu establishes itself as financially independent from mixed martial arts. The sport has proven it can generate substantial revenue and provide meaningful compensation to athletes but the benefits appear unevenly distributed.
Some defenders of the current structure point to record-breaking payouts for female grapplers and the high quality of women’s matches. However critics argue that while individual payments may have reached new heights the structural inequalities remain unchanged.
Female grapplers are now calling for transparency about future plans and meaningful inclusion in the sport’s financial boom. They’re not seeking to diminish the achievements of male grapplers or the overall success of events like CJI but rather pushing for equitable opportunities as the sport continues its evolution.
With millions of dollars now flowing through grappling competitions female grapplers are demanding their fair share of both opportunities and resources.
