Craig Jones is playing in his final game.
Grappling Ace has announced that he will retire after a match against Gable Steveson at his second Craig Jones Invitational event, held on August 30th and 31st at Thomas & Mac Center in Las Vegas.
“This is a farewell tour to America,” Jones told YouTube. “CJI 2 is 52 days (from video release). This will be my last professional match.”
Jones recently competed in CJI 1 in August 2024, where he submitted Gabi Garcia in a gender-inter-gender superfight with a choke in the rear. Jones is a one-time IBJJF world champion, a multi-time ADCC silver medalist and a three-time Polaris champion. The outstanding grappler moved to promoter and found jiu-jitsu coaches such as current UFC World Champion Alexander Volkanovsky and Jack De Rama Dalena.
Jones was recently the B-Team Jiu-Jitsu Principal. During his announcement, it was revealed that the team will be rebranded. Nikki Ryan will become the new head coach and the team will still feature Nikki Rod, Ethan Krelinsten and Damian Anderson.
As for Ryan’s next thing, that remains a mystery, but his competitive grappling career takes place.
“Me? I’m out of here,” Jones said. “I have one competitive match left. Team B completes and I’m leaving America. …I don’t know what I’m doing after August 31st, but you won’t see me again.”
Gordon Ryan has given him a considerable response to all of Jones’ announcements, valuing everything he saw from Ryan and the rest of the B-team.
“Everyone, guys! In less than five years, almost everyone who left the biggest combat team ever to form their own team has also left that team. “Even those who didn’t leave have been asked to join again. I don’t think they’re happy to romanticize romantic cocaine to their leaders and lose constantly. Or the fact that seeing Bigfoot on camera is more likely to be a catch than seeing the leader at the gym. Do you know?
“What I know is that by their own admission, we give zero f*cks about building new talent. This is not surprising because they haven’t built one decent athlete outside of those who have been students for nearly five years. I think “cutting out the poison” and that over 50% of the first people can spend their time with the brand.