Craig Jones made the Craig Jones Invitational 2 in Las Vegas even more thrilling by adding a $50,000 submission bonus for Day Two. This move really ramped up the stakes. On top of that, the B-Team, led by Victor Hugo, bagged a hefty six figures in addition to the $1 million prize for winning the challenge.
In an intense match, B-Team faced Team Australasia for the final spot. Hugo, a five-time IBJJF world champion, delivered a knockout performance by securing an arm-triangle choke against Fabricio Andrey. Despite a broken foot, Belal Etiabari from Team Australasia fought hard but couldn’t clinch the victory against Hugo, who later sealed a $100,000 win in the semifinals with a second arm-triangle choke.
New Wave advanced by defeating Team Americas and then went up against Atos in the semifinals. Luke Griffith started strong, finishing Diego Pato with a rear-naked choke before being tapped out by Felipe Pena. But Giancarlo Bodoni came through, earning a crucial armbar victory against Ronaldo Junior to send New Wave forward.
As the final began, B-Team chose Chris Wojcik to represent them. New Wave countered with Mica Galvao, a lightweight grappler known for his skills. Galvao dominated most of the match, but Wojcik hung in there, even surviving a last-minute ankle lock.
Victor Hugo returned for B-Team against veteran Vagner Rocha from New Wave. Rocha expertly avoided a rear-naked choke attempt but faced intense pressure from Hugo, who went for an ankle lock in the final minute but couldn’t complete it.
The rivalry continued with Ethan Crelinsten (B-Team) taking on Dorian Olivarez (New Wave). Olivarez put on a show, but despite his dominating position, he couldn’t find a submission.
Next, New Wave sent in Giancarlo Bodoni, known for his strength, against Jozef Chen. This match ended in a draw, leading up to a decisive battle between Nicky Rod (B-Team) and Luke Griffith (New Wave). They exchanged holds but neither secured a takedown. In a nail-biting finish, Rodriguez managed to get Griffith to the mat. Time ran out again, resulting in yet another draw.
Finally, judges scored the duel as a 47-47 tie. Since it was a deadlock, Rodriguez’s performance won B-Team the overall victory and the $1 million prize.
On the women’s side, Helena Crevar stood out by winning the first women’s tournament at CJI for a $100,000 prize. She submitted Andre Galvao’s daughter, Sarah Galvao, with a straight ankle lock in the final. Earlier, she had won against Adele Fornarino, while Galvao advanced by defeating Ana Carolina Vieira.
The Craig Jones Invitational not only showcased exceptional talent but also highlighted the growing popularity of grappling competitions. Recent statistics show an increase in viewer engagement and participation in such events, revealing a community passionate about martial arts.
For more details, you can find the official results from Day 1 and Day 2 here.
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