Adam Bradley stirred controversy in the jiu-jitsu community by accepting an invitation to compete at ADCC 2024, only to withdraw the same day in favor of the newly-formed Craig Jones Invitational (CJI). Bradley took to social media to explain his decision, citing a history of perceived mistreatment and a desire for fair compensation and respect.
In a lengthy post, Bradley expressed his excitement about competing at CJI in August, stating that he believes he’s doing what’s right for both himself and the sport’s future. While acknowledging ADCC’s role in growing submission grappling, Bradley also detailed his grievances with the organization.
“I was blatantly robbed at trials & never got an explanation. I was then listed as the last resort for ADCC 2024,” Bradley wrote. “A childhood dream was reduced to a piece of gum that was chewed up by others before finally being spit out into my hand and called a favor.”
Bradley claimed that if ADCC had treated him differently, he would have remained committed to the event. However, when CJI founders Seth Belisle and Craig Jones reached out, Bradley said he felt valued for the first time. “They believe in me and believe I’m worth $10k just to be there,” he stated.
ADCC promoter Mo Jassim responded to Bradley’s withdrawal in the official ADCC Discord, defending the judging at the trials where Bradley felt he was “robbed.” Jassim explained that experienced judges made the call without knowing who the competitors were, adhering to ADCC’s high standard for positional control.
Jassim criticized Bradley’s handling of the situation, saying, “To accept an invite, get posted and withdraw right after, knowing that was your intention from day 1 is dirty. It isn’t fair to the person taking over.”
The ADCC promoter also revealed that he had planned to feature Bradley on an upcoming Who’s Number One (WNO) card, covering his purse and travel expenses personally. Despite the controversy, Jassim stated that Bradley would not be banned from ADCC but would need to win trials to earn his spot back. For many BJJ fans, the most revealing part of this exchange is that Jassim has input into who gets matched on WNO.
Some in the grappling community have speculated that Bradley’s long-standing feud with ADCC heavyweight champion Gordon Ryan may have influenced the decision. However, neither Bradley nor ADCC officials have directly addressed this claim.
