The Craig Jones Invitational semifinal matchup between Levi Jones-Leary and Lucas Barbosa lived up to the hype, as the two grappling stars delivered an intense, back-and-forth battle that ultimately saw Jones-Leary emerge victorious.
Representing Absolute MMA in Melbourne, the versatile Jones-Leary entered the match with a reputation as a savvy guard player, having won numerous high-profile tournaments in the past. Meanwhile, the veteran Barbosa, a two-time world champion and four-time no-gi world champion, brought a wealth of experience to the table, having competed in over 250 matches.
The opening round saw both competitors feeling each other out, with Jones-Leary employing his signature guard-pulling tactics to try and set the tone seconds into the start of the round. Barbosa, known for his aggressive passing game, pressed forward, but struggled to break through the Australian’s sticky, defensive guard. Round One saw 2 judges see it 10-9 for Jones-Leary and the 3rd seeing it the other way for Barbosa.
In Round 2, Jones-Leary began to assert his guard, utilizing a variety of inverting K guard leg attacks and leg submission attempts to keep Barbosa on the defensive. The second round saw the 20-year-old Sydney native take a clear lead on the judges’ scorecards, taking 10-9 on all score cards, as he continued to force Barbosa to retreat and defend.
The deciding moment came in the final round’s opening minute, when Jones-Leary masterfully transitioned to Barbosa’s back off an inversion during a heavy pass attempt by Barbosa and locked in a body triangle. From there, for the final 4 minutes he methodically worked to secure the submission, pressuring Barbosa’s neck and denying him any chance of escape. Barbosa to his credit survived the onslaught without giving up his neck.
The judges ultimately awarded Jones-Leary a unanimous decision victory, securing his place in the $1 million championship final. The win was a testament to the Australian’s well-rounded game, as he demonstrated his ability to adapt and thrive against one of the most experienced and accomplished grapplers in the sport.
With the finals looming, Jones-Leary now finds himself on the cusp of potentially claiming the biggest prize in competitive jiu-jitsu history. His journey to this point has been nothing short of impressive, as he has navigated a treacherous path that included victories over the likes of Roberto Jimenez and Tye Ruotolo.
