The Craig Jones Invitational 2 is coming up at the end of the summer and we have eight teams to fill between now and then! After the success of the 2024 inaugural event, the CJI returns in late August to the Thomas & Mack Arena with a focus on team-based grappling and a partnership with Japan's Quintet. We will be keeping this list up to date, all the way until the event, so that fans can keep track of whoever is representing their squad at CJI 2.

The team-based grappling event will feature eight teams of five, all competing for the grand prize. Five of the teams will be representing specific affiliations in grappling and the remaining three will be made up of regional teams. Each team can have one weight class filled by a wildcard who doesn't fit the criteria of the team (for example, they are from a different team or region).

The weights will align to ADCC divisions, the matches will be contested under CJI rules in the pit, and the tournament will follow Quintet formatting. The event will also feature a grappling super match between Craig Jones and Olympic champion wrestler Gable Steveson.

What Are CJI Rules?

CJI rules are an attempt to make grappling as accessible for fans of MMA as possible, so the matches follow the same time and scoring format as bouts in the UFC or other organizations. Three rounds of five minutes each where a submission ends the match at any time. CJI matches also happen in the pit, a slanted walled surface that aims to keep action continuous. The pit walls can be used for any submission or technique that you can think up.

What Are Quintet Rules?

The matches at CJI had scoring but if they follow true Quintet rules for CJI 2, those scores won't be necessary. In Quintet rules, any two people from each team begin the match and compete against each other. If no one wins by submission, the match is declared a draw and both are eliminated. If someone does win by submission, they stay and take on the next member of the opposing team until they either get submitted or compete to a draw. It's possible one person can go through an entire team by themselves. If both teams end up with everyone eliminated, there are traditionally tie-breaking criteria around penalties and aggression to help determine a team winner.

It remains to be seen what, if any, changes that CJI 2 makes to the Quintet system.

What Are The Teams For CJI 2?

10th Planet

• -66kg: Geo Martinez
• -77kg: Alan Sanchez
• -88kg: PJ Barch
• -99kg: Ryan Aitken
• +99kg: Kyle Boehm
• Coach: Eddie Bravo

Team New Wave

• -66kg: Dorian Olivarez
• -77kg: Inter-squad Trials Winner
• -88kg: Giancarlo Bodoni
• -99kg: Luke Griffith
• +99kg: Dan Manasoiu
• Coach: John Danaher

B-Team Jiu-Jitsu

• -66kg:
• -77kg:
• -88kg:
• -99kg:
• +99kg:
• Coach: Dima Murovanni

Team Australia/Asia

• -66kg: Wildcard pick
• -77kg: Levi Jones-Leary
• -88kg: Lucas Kanard
• -99kg: Trials Winner
• +99kg: Trials Winner
• Coach: Lachlan Giles

Team Americas

• -66kg:
• -77kg:
• -88kg:
• -99kg:
• +99kg:
• Coach: 

Team Europe

• -66kg:
• -77kg:
• -88kg:
• -99kg:
• +99kg:
• Coach: 

Team Seven

• -66kg:
• -77kg:
• -88kg:
• -99kg:
• +99kg:
• Coach: 

Team Eight

• -66kg:
• -77kg:
• -88kg:
• -99kg:
• +99kg:
• Coach: 

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