CJI 2 Trials, Wildcards Revealed; Nicky Rod Slams IBJJF Pay

03/24/2025 11:00 PM

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Welcome to the BJJ Beat! On this recurring feature, we'll tackle the biggest news from the professional grappling scene, and roll everything up in an easily digestible and familiar jiu-jitsu format.

Warm Ups

Craig Jones explains wild cards, says Lachlan Giles planning CJI 2 trials

Craig Jones revealed that Australian BJJ legend Lachlan Giles will be the coach for the previously announced "Misfits" Australasian team in CJI 2. Apart from sure bets like CJI 1 standouts Levi Jones-Leary and Lucas Kanard, the team is planning on hosting a trials event to fill up their 5-man roster.

"Obviously we want Levi, we want Kanard (in the Australasia team), but (Lachlan Giles) can do whatever the f— he wants," Jones stated. "I believe what he wants to do is a trials event. He wants to make guys earn those positions.

"I love that. I love that for my own entertainment. I'll be there on the side watching these guys fight for a slot on Lachlan Giles' team," he said.

Jones also noted that the trials event won't necessarily use CJI rules with three five-minute rounds, as Giles wants "submission hunters" on his team.

The BJJ star also confirmed that all CJI 2 teams — including Misfits — will be able to use "wild cards."

"The teams in the tournaments might not be able to fill all five weight divisions... The wild card allows you to draw in a member of another team," Jones explained. "You might not have a big f—er like Nicky Rod or Big Dan (Manasoiu) or something like that, you (can use a wildcard if you) need a big dude for over 99 (division), or you can fill it with a smaller guy."

Drills

Nicky Rod slams lack of pay in IBJJF, says paying to compete 'devalues' BJJ athletes

CJI champion Nick Rodriguez spoke to UFC legend Demetrious Johnson, explaining that a big reason he isn't competing in the gi is because of the pay structure in the sport.

"There's no money in it," Rodriguez said about not competing in the gi. "When I started jiu-jitsu, Jay Regalbuto told me 'these are the guys that are making money.' It's all no gi guys, and I was like 'well, let's take this thing off.'"

Nicky Rod also went on to criticize longtime BJJ institutions like IBJJF.

"The IBJJF stuff is confusing because there's really talented guys that compete there but they pay money to compete," Rodriguez mentioned. "These guys, they're paying money to compete, that's not a professional program. I don't know if they're pay for winning black belt at those competitions, but that doesn't make any sense to me.

"I think they value the title so much, but the value should have a physical, numerical value. If it doesn't, it's unvaluable," Rodriguez said about people prioritizing the "prestige" of IBJJF medals.

Rodriguez also believes that paying to compete hurts professional athletes.

"I think it devalues them," Rodriguez said. "Maybe they get $20,000 to show up for WNO, then FloGrappling sees them compete at Pan Ams and they're like 'oh this guy paid like a hundred bucks, you're not worth anything. Because you just did three matches, paying to compete, when we paid you for one match.'"

"Mighty Mouse" seemed to be caught off guard with Rodriguez's statements too.

"Damn. Let me think about this. Now, when you're a professional basketball player, you ain't paying to compete," Johnson responded. "When you're a professional soccer player, you're not paying. If you're a professional bowler, you're not paying. Goddamn this might be the first sport you actually pay to compete as a professional!"

Move of the Day

Kade Ruotolo vs. Andre Galvao rolling footage

Kade Ruotolo is one of the top pound-for-pound grapplers today, and old footage was released of him grappling his longtime coach, BJJ legend Andre Galvao. It's old school vs. new school, so watch the fun roll between champions from different generations below.

Rolls

Krikorian vs. Williams title bout set for Polaris 32

Polaris 32 will have a promising Polaris Squads clash between teams led by Ffion Davies and Helena Crevar. That card also got better with the addition of a featherweight title bout between Keith Krikorian and Ashley Williams.

The pair faced off at GrappleFest 12 in 2022, with Williams winning by referee decision. Will he be able to repeat and take Krikorian's belt?

Cooldown

Roger Gracie thinks Buchecha is the BJJ GOAT?

Who's the greatest of all time in BJJ? One of the obvious candidates is Roger Gracie, a 10-time IBJJF world champion and ADCC double gold medalist.

If he doesn't include his own career, Gracie revealed that his former rival Marcus Buchecha may deserve the "GOAT" distinction.

"It's difficult," Gracie replied. "Buchecha is the biggest champion in jiu-jitsu history. It's indisputable the story he had, right? I think he had the advantage of weight and size, taking nothing from him. I'm also a fan of Marcelo Garcia, I fought with him twice. I think because of his (small) size and what he conquered and what he did, it's exceptional. Rafael Mendes.

"We have excellent athletes, but (Buchecha is) indisputable by the number of titles, for his history. Nobody won 13 world titles. You can't put another one in that place that won seven, won five, understood? He is the greatest champion."

Buchecha is a 13-time IBJJF world champion in the gi, a two-time IBJJF no gi world champion, and a two-time ADCC gold medalist.

Roger Gracie faced Buchecha twice in the past, going to a draw in Metamoris in 2012, and winning by submission in 2017.

Review

To close things out, here are other interesting BJJ stories you might have missed:

• MMA Mania has confirmed that BJJ pound-for-pound star Ffion Davies has signed an exclusive deal with the UFC, although she will still be competing in a different organization one last time.
• Top grappler Mica Galvao has postponed his MMA career, signing a new 2-year deal to stay in jiu-jitsu for now.
• ADCC double champ in MMA? - Adele Fornarino also teased a future MMA berth.
• Who can still get a Grand Slam? 2025 IBJJF Pans results and highlights are here.

For the latest Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) and grappling-related news click here.