Video – Craig Jones brings $1,000,000 in cash to Joe Rogan podcast appearance, slaps it on studio desk
Jiu-jitsu superstar Craig Jones has announced a special invitational grappling tournament while on Joe Rogan’s podcast.
Jones revealed he won’t be competing in the Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) tournament this season, which surprised many, as it is considered to be the top grappling tournament. Yet, Jones has a good reason for it as he announced he’s creating his own event on August 16 and 17, which will be directly competing against the ADCC event.
On his website, Jones said the tournament is: “A nonprofit dedicated to elevating sport and athlete compensation, while simultaneously raising money for charitable causes.“ In other words, Jones isn’t impressed by the prizes offered by ADCC and other organizations like IBJJF and is trying to raise the stakes. He’s offering up a $1 million grand prize in two separate weight classes, above and under 80 kilograms,” via MMAMania.
Jones also announced the event while on the Joe Rogan Experience, but wouldn’t reveal the backer of the event. However, to prove he has the money, he put $1 million on the desk, which stunned Rogan.
“I’ve never seen a million dollars in one place! I’ve never even seen a million-dollar check,” Rogan said.
Jones has already secured several high-level grapplers to compete in the event like Nicky Ryan, Mason Fowler, and Nicky Rodriguez who all decided to not participate in the ADCC this year. Luke Rockhold, a former UFC champion will also be competing.
Craig Jones to grapple Gabi Garcia
The other big news for the grappling event is that Craig Jones will be competing against Gabi Garcia.
Garcia, a female, is a legendary grappler and an undefeated MMA fighter, and she and Jones had been talking about doing a grappling event for quite some time.
“The most decorated female [BJJ] athlete of all-time, Gabi Garcia, has put pen to paper to face me on my own event. We’re talking an 10 or 11 time world champion, four-time ADCC champion. Six-foot four-inches… One hundred percent going to happen. We signed this contract earlier, I had to do a lot of things to get it done… I had to talk to Gabi a lot,” Jones said, via Sportskeeda.
It appears Jones is trying to make this grappling event a memorable one and he’s well on his way to doing that.
