Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu phenom Craig Jones will meet Olympic wrestling gold medalist Gable Steveson on August 31st at Craig Jones Invitational 2 (CJI 2).
The announcement came through Jones’ social media, where the Australian grappling coach released a provocative promotional video simply stating “You son of a b*tch” – a characteristic display of the humor that has made him a fan favorite beyond his technical prowess on the mats.
This high-profile match adds another chapter to Jones’ campaign against world-class wrestlers. The Australian has made headlines recently with his strategic work against Dagestani wrestling, a style that has dominated MMA through fighters like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev.
Jones first gained mainstream recognition when joining Alexander Volkanovski’s team in 2016, where he helped sharpen the UFC champion’s ground defense. More recently, he played a pivotal role in Jack Della Maddalena’s UFC 315 victory, designing a game plan that neutralized Belal Muhammad’s wrestling-heavy approach.
Now, Jones faces perhaps his most accomplished wrestling opponent yet in Steveson, whose credentials include Olympic gold at the Tokyo Games and NCAA championships during his collegiate career at Minnesota. The American wrestler represents the pinnacle of freestyle wrestling achievement.
The matchup creates an intriguing stylistic clash between Jones’ submission-focused jiu-jitsu and Steveson’s explosive wrestling. While Steveson possesses remarkable athleticism and technical wrestling skills, this contest will test how those translate to a submission grappling format where Jones has established himself as one of the world’s elite.
CJI 2 continues Jones’ involvement in promotion, following the success of the inaugural event. The Australian has built a reputation not only for his technical innovation in jiu-jitsu but also for his marketing savvy and ability to generate interest through his irreverent social media presence.
The August 31st showdown promises to deliver high-level grappling action while answering compelling questions about the intersection of elite wrestling and jiu-jitsu in a specialized competitive format.
