CJI Day 1 full results, highlights
By Amy Kaplan
The first day of the Craig Jones Invitational was full of upsets, wild finishes, and even some controversy. The event was the first of its kind, the brain child of grappler Craig Jones in response to ADCC's controversially low athlete pay. In response, Jones is hosting two brackets (over 80kg and under 80kg) and the winner of each bracket will take home $1 million.
The competitions took place at the Thomas & Mack Center at UNLV with Day 1 kicking off on Friday and Day 2 taking place on Saturday. The first two rounds of each division took place on Friday with several competitors eliminated in shocking upsets, brutal submissions or close judges decisions. View the full results below along with a few highlights of the event.
CJI over 80kg full results, highlights
First round:
Nicky Rod defeated Max Gimenis via submission (rear-naked choke) — Round 2, 1:45
Nicky Rod Submits Max Gimenis to Win the First Ever Match at The Craig Jones Invitational. pic.twitter.com/9qHVc7xERV
— Lock-In Jiu-Jitsu (@lockinjiujitsu) August 16, 2024
Owen Livesey defeated Mahamed Aly via unanimous decision (29-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Adam Bradley defeated Kyle Boehm via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Pat Downey defeated Luke Rockhold via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-25, 30-26)
Lucas Kanard defeated Victor Hugo via submission (heel hook) — Round 1, 1:10
Lucas Kanard taps Victor Hugo in a massive upset#CJI pic.twitter.com/MUhsCkrs6z
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) August 17, 2024
Inacio Santos defeated Pedro Alex via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Fellipe Andrew defeated Daniel Kerkvliet via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Joao Gabriel Rocha defeated William Tackett via unanimous decision
Quarterfinals:
Nicky Rod defeated Owen Livesey via submission (rear-naked choke) — Round 1, 3:41
Nicky Rod finally using his folkstyle experience to the fullest by using split leg drags, cross and inside wrist rides to force Owen Livesey to expose his back, belly down and give up his neck pic.twitter.com/Ed8La4Snky
— Josie Aldo (@JosieAldoMMA) August 17, 2024
Adam Bradley defeated Pat Downey via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Inacio Santos defeated Lucas Kanard via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Fellipe Andrew defeated Joao Gabriel Rocha via unanimous decision
ADVANCING TO THE SEMIFINALS: Nicky Rod, Adam Bradley, Inacio Santos, and Fellipe Andrew.
CJI under 80kg full results, highlights
First round:
Tye Ruotolo defeated Jason Nolf via submission (kneebar) — Round 3, 4:16
Absolutely vicious reverse triangle, spine crank and foot lock chain from Tye Ruotolo and brilliant survival instincts and toughness from Jason Nolf pic.twitter.com/4NwMdut0cN
— Josie Aldo (@JosieAldoMMA) August 17, 2024
Levi Jones-Leary defeated Roberto Jimenez via submission (inside heel hook) — Round 1, 1:53
Levi Jones-Leary is some kind of crazy octopus with his inversions and berimbolos and takes out one of the tournament favourites in Roberto Jiminez with an inside heel hook from backside 50/50 converted to inside leg entanglement. Personally avoiding absolute MMA at all costs now pic.twitter.com/sBnMgJQjgk
— Josie Aldo (@JosieAldoMMA) August 17, 2024
Lucas Barbosa defeated Kenta Iwamoto via unanimous decision
Jozef Chen defeated Andy Varela via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 29-27)
Kade Ruotolo defeated Matheus Diniz via submission (straight ankle lock) — Round 1, 4:43
Kade Ruotolo subs Matheus Diniz in the opening round. Can the twins both meet up in the $1M CJI finals? pic.twitter.com/bSBdFJCH6W
— Anton Tabuena (@antontabuena) August 17, 2024
Tommy Langaker defeated Renato Canuto via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
Eoghan O’Flanagan defeated Magid Hage via submission (outside heel hook) — Round 1, 1:41
Eoghan O’Flanagan submits Magid Hage 🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/wM0KdGA2wf
— Bteamjj (@bteamjj) August 17, 2024
Andrew Tackett defeated Nicky Ryan via unanimous decision (30-24, 30-24, 30-25)
Quarterfinals:
Levi Jones-Leary defeated Tye Ruotolo via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Lucas Barbosa defeated Jozef Chen via submission (knee crush) — Round 3, 3:34
🚨| Lucas Barbosa submits Jozef Chen with a knee crush after losing the first two rounds to advance to -80kg semi final at #CJI. 👏🔥🔥
— Parry Punch (@ParryPunchNews) August 17, 2024
He will face Levi Jones-Leary, who is coming off an upset over No. 1 seed Tye Ruotolo in the quarterfinals. pic.twitter.com/U3zXvHkkY8
Kade Ruotolo defeated Tommy Langaker via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
Andrew Tackett defeated Eoghan O’Flanagan via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
ADVANCING TO THE SEMIFINALS: Levi Jones-Leary, Lucas Barbosa, Kade Ruotolo, Andrew Tackett
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