In a recent press conference, UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns shared his thoughts on the grappling world, expressing a clear preference for Craig Jones’ Combat Jiu-Jitsu Invitational (CJI) over ADCC.
Burns, known for his high-level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu background, praised the CJI format, stating, “I love that CJI ruleset. It’s like MMA. I would love to do the CJI.” He went on to explain that the three five-minute round structure of CJI aligns well with his training regimen.
In contrast, the Brazilian had some reservations about ADCC. “ADCC is kind of like those guys are enhanced to the extreme,” Burns remarked, hinting at concerns over PEDs in the competition. He added, “The rules and then I might get cut, you might get hurt.”
Burns’ comments come at a time when the grappling community is witnessing a growing rivalry between ADCC and CJI. The UFC star expressed his enthusiasm for both events, noting that he had thoroughly enjoyed watching both competitions recently.
Reflecting on the growth of competitive grappling, Burns said, “It’s amazing to see how big jiu-jitsu got and keeps getting bigger. You see UFC Fight Pass Invitational, we see EBI, we see ADCC, CJI, One Championship – all these events have nice jiu-jitsu.”
While Burns hasn’t competed in grappling events recently due to injuries and his UFC commitments, he hinted at a possible return to the mats. “If I’m with no injuries, if I’m good, I’m going to be busy. I’m going to be getting fight after fight, or I’m going to be grappling,” he stated.
As the grappling world continues to evolve, with more events and opportunities for athletes, Burns’ preference for CJI over ADCC highlights the ongoing discussions about competition formats and testing protocols in the sport.
