Former ADCC champion Mackenzie Dern will face current ADCC champion Ffion Davies in a superfight at the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) this August. In May, Davies, widely recognized as the sport’s top pound-for-pound competitor, withdrew from the 2024 ADCC World Championships, making her switch to CJI significant. Dern, who was set to compete in the 55kg division at the ADCC World Championships, has also withdrawn to prepare for this match.
Dern, an IBJJF gi and no-gi world champion with victories over notable competitors like Tammi Musumeci and Gabi Garcia, earned gold at the 2015 ADCC World Championships. She has not competed in submission grappling since a first-round exit at the 2017 ADCC World Championships, focusing on her MMA career where she quickly rose to success. Dern is currently ranked #8 in the UFC’s strawweight division despite a two-fight losing streak.
Davies, on the other hand, remains dominant in submission grappling, riding a 15-match winning streak that includes a gold medal at the 2023 IBJJF Worlds and a double-gold performance at the 2023 IBJJF No-Gi Worlds. Although Dern is considered the underdog due to her absence from competitive grappling, her MMA experience could pose a challenge for Davies, particularly with her solid wrestling and takedown game.
The inaugural CJI will take place on August 16-17 in Las Vegas, Nevada, and will be streamed live on YouTube.
