CJI 2

Eight-Team Tournament Breakdown

The Eight-Team Tournament brings together elite squads, each led by a renowned coach and featuring standout athletes across five weight classes. Teams are strategically assembled to maximize both individual strengths and collective synergy. Confirmed rosters include:

10th Planet (Coach: Eddie Bravo)

• 66 kg: Geo Martinez — 3-time EBI champion
• 77 kg: Alan Sanchez — 2024 EBI champion
• 88 kg: PJ Barch — 2024 ADCC bronze medalist
• 99 kg: Ryan Aitken — 2024 PGF champion
• +99 kg: Kyle Boehm — 2022 ADCC trials winner

New Wave (Coach: John Danaher)

• 66 kg: Dorian Olivarez — 2023 ADCC trials winner
• 77 kg: Mica Galvao — 2024 Super Grand Slam champion
• 88 kg: Giancarlo Bodoni — Two-time ADCC world champion
• 99 kg: Luke Griffith — 2024 ADCC silver medalist
• +99 kg: Craig Jones (unconfirmed) — event organizer and ADCC medalist

B-Team (Coach: Nicky Ryan)

• 66 kg: Ethan Crelinsten — Polaris champion
• 77 kg: Jozef Chen — 2023 ADCC Trials winner
• 88 kg: Chris Wojcik — 2024 PGF silver medalist
• 99 kg: Nick Rodriguez — CJI 1 openweight champion
• +99 kg: Victor Hugo — 5-time IBJJF world champion (Wild card pick)

Atos (Coach: Andre Galvao)

• 66 kg: Diego Pato — 6-time IBJJF World Champion (Wild card pick)
• 77 kg: Ronaldo Junior — 2023 IBJJF No-Gi World Champion
• 88 kg: Lucas Barbosa — 6-time IBJJF world champion
• 99 kg: Kaynan Duarte — Reigning ADCC double champion
• +99 kg: Felipe Pena — 2-time ADCC world champion

Daisy Fresh (Coach: Heath Pedigo)

• 66 kg: Max Hanson — 2024 IBJJF No-Gi Pan champion
• 77 kg: Dante Leon — 2024 ADCC absolute bronze medalist
• 88 kg: Jacob Couch — 2023 ADCC Trials winner
• 99 kg: Michael Pixley — NCAA Division II wrestling champion
• +99 kg: Brandon Reed — NAIA wrestling champion

Team Australasia (Coach: Lachlan Giles)

• 66 kg: Fabricio Andrey (Wild card pick) — 2021 IBJJF world champion
• 77 kg: Kenta Iwamoto — 3-time ADCC trials winner (with Levi Jones-Leary, CJI 1 finalist, as an alternate)
• 88 kg: Lucas Kanard — 2024 ADCC trials winner
• 99 kg: Declan Moody — 2024 ADCC trials winner (CJI 2 Trials winner)
• +99 kg: Belal Etiabari — CJI 2 Trials runner-up

Team Americas (Coach: Greg Souders)

• 66 kg: Gavin Corbe
• 77 kg: Deandre Corbe — 2025 Sapateiro Invitational champion
• 88 kg: Elijah Dorsey — 2024 ADCC Trials winner
• 99 kg: Taylor Pearman — 2024 ADCC Trials winner (Wild card pick)
• +99 kg: Pat Downey — 2019 US National Wrestling champion

Team Europe (Coach: Faris Benlamkadem)

• 66 kg: Owen Jones — 2023 ADCC Trials winner
• 77 kg: Pawel Jaworski — CJI 2 EU Trials winner
• 88 kg: Paul Ardila — CJI 2 EU Trials winner / Wild card pick
• 99 kg: Charles Negromonte — 2024 ADCC Trials winner
• +99 kg: Marcin Maciulewicz — CJI 2 EU Trials winner

Wild card selections and strategic substitutions have shaped the final team compositions. The withdrawal of Daniel Manasoiu due to Lyme disease has sparked discussion about Craig Jones potentially stepping in for New Wave at +99 kg, adding a layer of tactical intrigue to the competition.

Four-Woman Tournament Preview

The Four-Woman Tournament spotlights elite female grapplers: Helena Crevar, Adele Fornarino, Ana Carolina Vieira, and Sarah Galvao. Each athlete brings a unique competitive pedigree, promising high-level technical exchanges and dynamic matchups throughout the bracket.

Tournament Formats

• Eight-Team Tournament: Eight teams, each representing a leading academy or region, compete for a $1 million prize. Each squad consists of five athletes—one per weight class (66 kg, 77 kg, 88 kg, 99 kg, +99 kg)—and is guided by a prominent coach. The format emphasizes both individual excellence and team tactics, with matches likely following a dual-meet or elimination structure to crown the overall team champion.

• Four-Woman Tournament: Four elite women compete in a single-elimination bracket for a $100,000 prize. Each competitor represents a different team or region, ensuring a diverse and competitive field. Notable participants include Helena Crevar, Adele Fornarino, Ana Carolina Vieira, and Sarah Galvao.

Competitive Landscape and Prize Significance

Both tournaments feature a spectrum of weight classes and competitive backgrounds, uniting world champions, ADCC medalists, and rising stars. The event’s structure and substantial prize pools reinforce its reputation as one of the most prestigious and lucrative submission grappling tournaments scheduled for 2025. Expect high-level tactical battles, innovative strategies, and a showcase of the sport’s evolving techniques on one of the grandest stages in grappling.