CJI 2 brackets released: Everything to know about the biggest BJJ event of 2025

The second Craig Jones Invitational event happens this weekend, and apart from a surprising new main event, the brackets for the two lucrative tournaments at CJI 2 have also just been released.

Below are the first round match ups, an in-depth preview, and everything you need to know about the biggest Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) weekend of the year. This will be a lengthy preview, so you can use the navigation tools below to jump to the various sections.

CJI 2 team format and rules: Guaranteed chaos, breakout performances

The inaugural Craig Jones Invitational event had

a three-round, 10-point must system in place, and was hosted in “the Pit.” This was a massive success as it encouraged continuous action, and eliminated the way too frequent resets seen in BJJ. It has also since inspired the UFC BJJ rebrand to follow suit.

With CJI 2 returning, the biggest difference for this event is the completely different format, where they host a Quintet-style $1,000,000 team tournament.

Eight stacked teams consisting of five members from each ADCC weight class (66 kg, 77 kg, 88 kg, 99 kg and +99 kg) and go against each other for that $1 million prize. It will be “submission only,” with draws eliminating both competitors, and winners by submission staying on until they get eliminated, or potentially wipe out the entire team.

Instead of a set order filled out at the start like Quintet does, CJI 2 will give coaches time to adjust to the situation and choose the next member to send out. The audience won’t be aware of these coaching decisions, only finding out through a WWE, “Royal Rumble-style” countdown to reveal the next competitor. This small change improves on team strategy and coaching elements, while also adding a pro-wrestling flair for more entertainment.

What makes this format incredibly exciting is the absolute chaos it guarantees. Instead of super-fights where BJJ stars game plan against one opponent in their division, we instead get mismatched clashes from varying weight classes and complete uncertainty on what will happen next. Fans would not only get unique match ups — and likely huge upsets — that they won’t get to normally see, the format can also create breakout stars for those that can wipe out multiple opponents or even potentially entire teams.

CJI 2 tournament brackets released: First round match ups and competitors

After some last minute changes — and conspiracy theories about the pull out — the new main event of CJI 2 is now a rematch between BJJ star turned CJI promoter Craig Jones, and UFC vet Chael Sonnen. That will unfold on Day 2 (August 31, 2025) of the event.

Day 1 (August 30, 2025) will feature the first round match ups from both the $1 million team tournament and the $100,000 four-woman tournament. Brackets from both have since been released.

CJI 2 $1 million team tournament

While New Wave vs. B-Team is the rivalry a lot of BJJ fans want to see, the brackets have been lined up where the two strong teams will only be able to face each other in the finals. They’re at the opposite sides of the bracket, with New Wave first facing an underdog Team Americas and B-Team facing “Daisy Fresh” or Pedigo Submission Fighting.

New Wave, Atos, and B-Team are the three favorites to win the million dollars, but they’ll have some stiff competition to actually get that done.

New Wave vs. Team Americas (Gorillas Misfits)

New Wave has a pretty damn strong team led by their wild card pick and top pound-for-pound BJJ star Mica Galvao, and two-time ADCC champion Giancarlo Bodoni. They lost some size after “Big” Dan Manasoiu pulled out, but they will still likely be huge favorites in the opening round match up against the also undersized Team Americas led by 66 kg star Deandre Corbe.

New Wave Roster

66 kg: Dorian Olivarez — 2023 ADCC trials winner
77 kg: Mica Galvao — 2024 Super Grand Slam Champion
88 kg: Vagner Rocha — 2024 ADCC silver medalist
99 kg: Giancarlo Bodoni — Two-time ADCC world champion
+99 kg: Luke Griffith — 2024 ADCC silver medalist
Coach: John Danaher

Team Americas Roster

66 kg: Gavin Corbe
77 kg: Deandre Corbe — 2025 Sapateiro Invitational champ
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 champ
Coach: Greg Souders

Atos vs. Team Europe (Raiders Misfits)

Atos did not field any of the Ruotolo twins, but they still have a pretty strong line up due to having reigning ADCC double gold medalist Kaynan Duarte along with two strong wild card picks in Felipe Pena and Diego Pato. Team Europe is a live dog and shouldn’t be overlooked for potential upsets, but Atos should still be the logical favorite on paper.

Atos Roster

66 kg: Diego Pato — 6-time IBJJF World Champ (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
Coach: Andre Galvao

Team Europe Roster

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)
Coach: Faris Benlamkadem

B-Team vs. Daisy Fresh

The two dark horses in this tournament for me are Daisy Fresh and Team Australasia. They can upset any of these teams, but both are on the same bracket as one of the strongest teams in the tournament. Daisy Fresh’s Dante Leon and Jacob Couch routinely beat bigger opponents and are prime candidates for pulling off upsets, but they might just be facing literally the biggest hurdles in the tournament right off the bat. B-Team has CJI 1 champ Nick Rodriguez and their wild card pick Victor Hugo. Having to eliminate not just one, but both heavyweights, plus other talented grapplers like Jozef Chen to advance, just seems like an incredibly tough task for most of these teams.

B-Team Roster

66 kg: Ethan Crelinsten — Polaris champ
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)
Coach: Nicky Ryan

“Daisy Fresh” Pedigo Submission Fighting Roster

66 kg: Max Hanson — 2024 IBJJF No Gi Pan Champion
77 kg: Dante Leon — 2024 ADCC Absolute Bronze
88 kg: Jacob Couch — 2023 ADCC Trials Winner
99 kg: Michael Pixley — NCAA Div 2 Wrestling Champion
+99 kg: Brandon Reed — NAIA Wrestling Champion
Coach: Heath Pedigo

10th Planet vs. Team Australasia (The Devils Misfits)

Team Australasia is a dark horse in this tournament, even after CJI 1 finalist Levi Jones-Leary had to pull out, but this opening round match up should be the closest and hardest to predict. 10th Planet, like Daisy Fresh, should be commended for not even using a wild card pick, but it’ll be interesting to see how far they can actually go. They do have PJ Barch and Ryan Aitken that can beat anyone, but Australasia has the surging Declan Moody, along with Fabricio Andrey and Lucas Kanard, who are known for beating much bigger guys.

10th Planet Roster

66 kg: Geo Martinez — 3x EBI champ
77 kg: Alan Sanchez — 2024 EBI champ
88 kg: PJ Barch — ADCC 2024 Bronze
99 kg: Ryan Aitken — 2024 PGF champ
+99 kg: Kyle Boehm — 2022 ADCC trials winner
Coach: Eddie Bravo

Team Australasia Roster

66 kg: Fabricio Andrey (Wild card pick) — 2021 IBJJF world champion
77 kg: Kenta Iwamoto — 3-time ADCC trials winner
88 kg: Lucas Kanard — 2024 ADCC trials winner
99 kg: Declan Moody (CJI 2 Trials winner) — 2024 ADCC trials winner
+99 kg: Belal Etiabari (CJI 2 Trials 2nd place)
Coach: Lachlan Giles

CJI 2 $100,000 four-woman tournament

Billed as the “highest paying women’s bracket” in jiu-jitsu history, CJI 2 will also have a star-studded four-woman tournament.

Many thought we’d see the two reigning ADCC champions on one side of the CJI 2 bracket, and the two teenage phenoms on the other side, but that won’t be the case. We might not see the no gi rematch between BJJ prodigies Helena Crevar and Sarah Galvao on this event, unless they both go through ADCC double gold medalist Adele Fornarino and ADCC -65 kg ADCC champion Ana Carolina Vieira, respectively.

Who will end up with the highest purse in women’s BJJ history? Opening round match ups are below:

Helena Crevar vs. Adele Fornarino

Ana Vieira vs. Sarah Galvao

CJI 2, Day 1-2 live stream, schedule, start times

The Craig Jones Invitational 2 happens over two days this weekend (August 30-31, 2025) at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The CJI 2 live stream can be watched for free on YouTube, or in our post here.

Day 1 and Day 2: Live stream start time is at 8:30 p.m. ET for the pre-show, and actual show start is at 9:00 p.m. ET.