Welsh grappling star Ffion Davies has fired back at Craig Jones and his Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) promotion following controversial comments about women’s divisions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, escalating a public feud that has divided the grappling community.
In a candid post-match interview following her victory at UFC FP Invitational 11, Davies took direct aim at CJI’s absence of women’s competitions and criticized what she sees as Jones’ resistance to equal opportunities in the sport.
“My stance is going to come as a female athlete and if you look at CJI, they don’t have a women’s division,” Davies stated emphatically. “I think they’re now being bullied into putting a women’s division on.”
The comments represent a significant escalation in tensions between Davies and Jones, who recently criticized unnamed female athletes for signing exclusive contracts that he claims are blocking progress for women’s BJJ as a whole.
Davies, who has established herself as one of the premier female grapplers in the world, made it clear she has evolved beyond seeking validation from promoters who don’t prioritize women’s competition.
“I have no desire to beg people for a place on a card anymore,” she declared. “I used to do it. I used to go, ‘Please help me. Please, please, please.’ I don’t want to do that anymore. I just got put as main event on the biggest platform there is. I’m not begging for a spot anymore.”
While acknowledging CJI’s success, Davies was unequivocal about her future participation in Jones’ events.
“I wish CJI the best. I think it was a great show. I was really glad to be part of it. I think it made huge waves and there’s no questioning it was an amazing event,” she said. “But unless it’s a women’s division, I’m not interested.”
The Welsh star also addressed what she perceives as Jones’ criticism of the UFC, noting that he has been taking “a lot of shots at the UFC kind of subliminally,” particularly regarding athlete contracts.
Her satisfaction with her UFC platform appears to be a direct response to Jones’ recent criticism of exclusive contracts.
“I would much rather fight for a belt with the UFC. If that’s a possibility, I would love to do it. A 135-pound belt would be phenomenal. Be the dream,” Davies revealed, hinting at championship aspirations within the UFC structure.
Beyond the personal conflict, Davies emphasized her commitment to growing women’s participation in the sport, a goal that appears to be at the heart of her criticism of CJI’s approach.
“My biggest goal is to get more women in this sport,” Davies stated. “I think having a facility like we’re going to have in London having a female head coach, which is incredibly rare, to bring more girls into this sport, that is my goal.”
Following Davies’ comments, Jones took to social media with what appeared to be pointed responses. In one Instagram story, he posted “The athlete under exclusive contract won the decision”, seemingly referencing Davies’ recent victory while highlighting her exclusive UFC deal.
Jones was also quick to point out the stark difference between the level of exposure UFC brings compared to CJI, which has full community backing. UFC fans have been traditionally opposed to grappling – and are even lobbying to not have women on the main cards of UFC PPVs as of late. A troubling sign of a cultural shift among the largely influencer-led MMA fanbase.
A look at Davies’ instagram in particular reveals a stark contrast. While she gained 8000 followers on the platform in August of 2024 (CJI1) she gained just about 800 from the exposure to the UFC platform.
The public feud between Davies and Jones represents a broader conversation about the future of grappling. While Jones has hinted at plans for women’s divisions and even announced a $100,000 four-woman tournament, Davies’ criticism suggests that she expects more comprehensive and consistent support for female competitors.
