View the official brackets for each 16-man divisions on the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational (CJI).
Now lower than two weeks out from the inaugural CJI, brackets for every of the 16-man divisions have been revealed and first-round matchups are set. On Tuesday, Craig Jones held a stay bracket reveal.
Every division had 4 predetermined high seeds. The remaining 12 rivals had been slotted in at random. Watch the bracket reveal under.
Each athlete in every division will obtain $10,001, win or lose. Division winners will earn $1 million – the most important payday within the historical past of submission grappling and BJJ.
Take a look at the complete checklist of first-round matchups under.
Craig Jones Invitational first-round matches
-80kg
- Nicky Ryan vs. Andrew Tackett
- Magid Hage vs. Eoghan O’Flanagan
- Renato Canuto vs. Tommy Langaker
- Kade Ruotolo vs. Matheus Diniz
- Jozef Chen vs. Andy Varela
- Lucas “Hulk” Barbosa vs. Kenta Iwamoto
- Roberto Jimenez vs. Levi Jones-Leary
- Tye Ruotolo vs. Jason Nolf
+80kg
- William Tackett vs. Joao Gabriel Rocha
- Greg Kerkvliet vs. Fellipe Andrew
- Ignacio Santos vs. Pedro Alex
- Victor Hugo vs. Lucas Kanard
- Luke Rockhold vs. Pat Downey
- Adam Bradley vs. Kyle Boehm
- Owen Livesey vs. Mahamed Aly
- Nick Rodriguez vs. Max Gimenis
At -80kg, a number of first-round matchups stand out as significantly notable.
High-seeded Tye Ruotolo – a well-liked choose to take dwelling the $1 million prize – will sq. off with three-time Division I nationwide wrestling champion Jason Nolf. Whereas Ruotolo holds a major edge in submission grappling expertise, Nolf can current a stylistic problem for the younger Californian, who nearly at all times fights for takedowns on the toes quite than pulling guard.
Additionally, Ruotolo’s twin brother, 2022 ADCC world champion Kade Ruotolo, will face 2019 ADCC world champion Matheus Diniz. Though Diniz has struggled to seek out constant success in opposition to elite competitors lately, he stays a world-class competitor and a top-tier tactician.
Lastly, early favorites Nicky Ryan and Andrew Tackett will collide in maybe essentially the most anticipated first-round match of the occasion. Ryan is a grasp technician with expertise in all areas and comes into the occasion following a sensational submission win over two-time ADCC champion JT Torres. For his half, Tackett regarded nothing wanting spectacular in his gold-medal run on the 2024 ADCC West Coast Trials, and his seemingly limitless gasoline tank will certainly pose a stiff check for Ryan.
The +80kg division presents loads of attention-grabbing first-round matchups, as properly.
Dominant gi competitor Fellipe Andrew will face a singular stylistic problem, as he’s set to tackle Division I nationwide wrestling champion Greg Kerkvliet. Andrew is among the division’s most lively and technical BJJ gamers, however the Penn State wrestler is arguably the bracket’s most explosive athlete – and sure its greatest pure wrestler.
Additionally, top-seeded Nick Rodriguez could have no straightforward opponent within the first spherical. He’ll face embellished veteran black belt Max Gimenis. Regardless of competing occasionally over the previous couple of years, Gimenis owns a current notable win over heavyweight standout Dan Manasoiu, proving he belongs among the many world’s elite.
Find out how to watch: The inaugural Craig Jones Invitational takes place on August 16-17 in Las Vegas, Nevada, and can air stay and free on The B-Team YouTube channel.
