Craig Jones Invitational 2

Team Tournament Final: Tactical Stalemate and Decisive Finish

The team tournament culminated in a dramatic final between B-Team Jiu-Jitsu and New Wave Jiu-Jitsu. All five matches resulted in double-elimination draws, underscoring the defensive mastery and strategic depth of both squads. The outcome hinged on the last bout, where Nick Rodriguez delivered a dominant performance against Luke Griffith. Rodriguez's relentless pressure and positional control earned a unanimous 10-8 decision from the judges, clinching the $1,000,000 prize for B-Team. The series of draws in the final highlighted the razor-thin margins and high-level tactics at play.

Women's Open-Weight Final: Submission Excellence

In the women's $100,000 open-weight final, Helena Crevar showcased technical precision by submitting Sarah Galvão with an Aoki Lock in the third round. Crevar edged the first two rounds on the judges' scorecards through superior positional exchanges and submission threats before sealing victory with a clinical finish.

Super Fight: Submission Mastery on Display

The marquee super fight delivered high drama as Craig Jones faced Chael Sonnen. Sonnen executed takedowns and passed guard in both encounters, but Jones capitalized on the bottom position, locking in back-to-back Buggy Choke submissions. In the rematch, Jones rendered Sonnen unconscious, demonstrating his adaptability and submission prowess from unconventional angles.

Team Tournament: Quintet-Style Battles

The eight-team tournament followed a Quintet-style, last-person-standing format, with five athletes per team across five weight classes. In the quarterfinals, New Wave Jiu-Jitsu advanced over Team Americas by judges' decision. Key moments included Giancarlo Bodoni's rear naked choke against Gavin Corbe and a dramatic leg lock submission by Taylor Pearman over Bodoni, confirmed via video review. Atos progressed past Team Europe through positional dominance and high-level guard work.

Team Australia/Asia edged out 10th Planet after a series of draws and a pivotal inside Heel Hook by Kyle Boehm over Belal Etiabari. B-Team Jiu-Jitsu moved forward against Pedigo Submission Fighting (Daisy Fresh) on the strength of Nick Rodriguez's rear naked choke over Brandon Reed, leaving Ethan Crelinsten as the last man standing.

In the semifinals, New Wave Jiu-Jitsu narrowly defeated Atos via last-man-standing, with decisive submissions from Luke Griffith (rear naked choke over Diego Pato) and Giancarlo Bodoni (armbar over Ronaldo Junior). B-Team Jiu-Jitsu secured their place in the final by overcoming Team Australia/Asia, highlighted by Victor Hugo's consecutive kata gatame submissions over Fabricio Andrey and Belal Etiabari.

Women's Bracket: High-Level Showdowns

In the women's semifinals, Helena Crevar advanced past Adele Fornarino by unanimous decision, utilizing superior leg attacks and relentless passing pressure. Sarah Galvão outpointed Ana Carolina Vieira with effective wall-assisted throws and sustained back control. In the final, Crevar's technical mastery culminated in an Aoki Lock submission over Galvão, securing the $100,000 prize.

Craig Jones Invitational 2 delivered a showcase of elite submissions and tactical finishes across both team and individual matches. Noteworthy moments included:

• Taylor Pearman's expertly executed Leg Lock submission over Giancarlo Bodoni, validated by video review.
• Giancarlo Bodoni's clinical Rear Naked Choke against Gavin Corbe in the quarterfinals.
• Felipe Pena's dominant Armbar over Luke Griffith following sustained mount pressure.
• Luke Griffith's own Rear Naked Choke finish against Diego Pato in the semifinals.
• Victor Hugo's back-to-back kata gatame submissions in the semifinals, demonstrating superior top control and finishing instincts.
• Helena Crevar's decisive Aoki Lock in the women's final, reflecting her technical acumen.
• Craig Jones's consecutive Buggy Choke submissions over Chael Sonnen in the super fight, highlighting his innovation from bottom positions.

The $50,000 submission bounty fueled aggressive tactics, particularly in the team semifinals and final, where athletes relentlessly pursued finishes despite the high stakes.

Craig Jones Invitational 2 implemented a Quintet-style, last-person-standing team format with five weight classes: -66 kg, -77 kg, -88 kg, -99 kg, and +99 kg. Each team duel comprised five matches, with both athletes eliminated in the event of a draw. When all athletes were eliminated, judges' decisions determined advancement. The women's bracket adopted a unique MMA-inspired ruleset, featuring three five-minute rounds with 10-9 scoring and immediate victory by submission.

The event's slanted-walled "pit" surface introduced a tactical layer, enabling athletes to utilize the wall for takedowns, positional control, and submission setups. Tie-break criteria included technical decisions by judges, with the final team prize awarded based on the score of the last individual match when overall scores were tied. Prize distribution featured a $1,000,000 team purse, a $100,000 women's bracket award, and additional bonuses for submissions.

All eight teams fielded five athletes across the designated weight classes, each guided by a prominent coach:

• 10th Planet: Geo Martinez (-66kg), Alan Sanchez (-77kg), PJ Barch (-88kg), Ryan Aitken (-99kg), Kyle Boehm (+99kg); Coach: Eddie Bravo
• New Wave Jiu-Jitsu: Dorian Olivarez (-66kg), Mica Galvão (-77kg), Vagner Rocha (-88kg), Giancarlo Bodoni (-99kg), Luke Griffith (+99kg); Coach: John Danaher
• B-Team Jiu-Jitsu: Ethan Crelinsten (-66kg), Jozef Chen (-77kg), Chris Wojcik (-88kg), Nick Rodriguez (-99kg), Victor Hugo (+99kg); Coaches: Nicky Ryan, Damien Anderson
• Team Australia/Asia: Fabricio Andrey (-66kg), Kenta Iwamoto (-77kg), Lucas Kanard (-88kg), Declan Moody (-99kg), Belal Etiabari (+99kg); Coach: Lachlan Giles
• Team Americas: Gavin Corbe (-66kg), Deandre Corbe (-77kg), Elijah Dorsey (-88kg), Taylor Pearman (-99kg), Pat Downey (+99kg); Coach: Greg Souders
• Team Europe: Owen Jones (-66kg), Pawel Jaworski (-77kg), Paul Ardilla (-88kg), Charles Negromonte (-99kg), Marcin Maciulewicz (+99kg); Coach: Faris Benlamkadem
• Atos: Diego Pato (-66kg), Ronaldo Junior (-77kg), Lucas Barbosa (-88kg), Kaynan Duarte (-99kg), Felipe Pena (+99kg); Coach: Andre Galvão
• Pedigo Submission Fighting (Daisy Fresh): Max Hanson (-66kg), Dante Leon (-77kg), Jacob Couch (-88kg), Michael Pixley (-99kg), Brandon Reed (+99kg); Coach: Heath Pedigo

The women's $100,000 bracket featured Helena Crevar, Adele Fornarino, Ana Carolina Vieira, and Sarah Galvão, each bringing elite credentials and competitive experience. Standout performances included Nick Rodriguez's pivotal submissions for B-Team, Victor Hugo's kata gatame finishes, and Helena Crevar's technical dominance in the women's division. The event also navigated late roster changes, such as the withdrawal of Daniel Manasoiu due to illness, and featured high-profile athletes across all teams.