CHAPTERS
- 0:00 – 0:58
Cauliflower ear, hearing loss, and why AirPods don’t fit anymore
Joe and Craig open with light banter about Craig’s one-sided headphone setup and the practical downsides of cauliflower ear. Craig explains how swelling affected his hearing and jokes about using it as a conversation prop rather than fixing it.
- 0:58 – 1:47
Why Craig is launching a tournament that goes head-to-head with ADCC
Joe pivots to the big topic: Craig’s new event positioned against the world’s biggest grappling tournament, ADCC. Craig frames it as athlete-focused growth for the sport—better pay, more buzz, and charity impact—while acknowledging the drama it creates.
- 1:47 – 3:49
The mystery backer and the $1,000,000 cash proof-of-funds moment
Craig reveals a million dollars in cash as proof the event is real, prompting amazement and comedic paranoia about loose bills. He keeps the identity and business of the financier vague, emphasizing legitimacy while maintaining mystery to avoid backlash.
- 3:49 – 5:17
Nonprofit structure, venue economics, and why ADCC prize money hasn’t changed
Craig argues that grappling events can be run more efficiently, criticizing ADCC’s expensive venue/production choices. He contrasts T-Mobile Arena costs with Thomas & Mack and insists athlete compensation should rise alongside ticket and streaming revenue.
- 5:17 – 7:38
CJI pay structure: show money for everyone and $1,000,000 to win
Craig lays out the headline compensation model: substantial appearance pay plus a massive top prize. Joe probes sustainability, incentives, and how this could pressure ADCC to increase payouts across the sport.
- 7:38 – 16:47
Going head-to-head: athlete choices, confirmations, and annual plans
Joe worries that overlapping weekends forces athletes to choose and could trigger organizational grudges. Craig lists early confirmations and explains the strategic stance: unify athletes around compensation and aim to run CJI yearly.
- 16:47 – 18:36
The ‘biggest superfight in grappling history’: Craig Jones vs Gabi Garcia
Craig announces a long-teased matchup is official: he’ll face decorated champion Gabi Garcia. The segment mixes genuine logistics with comedic storytelling about negotiations, stakes, and spectacle as entertainment alongside a serious tournament.
- 18:36 – 21:28
Free on YouTube and a new rule set: open scoring + 10-point must system
Craig explains the broadcast and rules philosophy: make it accessible, reduce confusion, and attract MMA fans. They discuss adopting open scoring, translating jiu-jitsu positions into a 10-point must framework, and how transparency could improve judging.
- 21:28 – 22:53
Building a better ‘mat space’: the ‘alley’ with angled walls to prevent resets
To reduce constant resets and falling off stages, Craig proposes a large rectangular surface with angled walls inspired by Karate Combat. Joe questions whether angles create unfair dynamics; Craig argues it penalizes retreat and keeps action continuous.
- 22:53 – 25:25
Karate Combat stories: the Phil Rowe(?) wall triangle, beers before matches, and ‘taking the edge off’
They revisit Craig’s Karate Combat grappling bout where the angled wall helped enable a triangle setup. Craig admits promoters wanted a ‘wall submission’ moment, then talks candidly about pre-match drinking as a way to relax, comparing it to other fighters’ routines.
- 25:25 – 33:31
Coaching Volkanovski: short-notice Islam rematch, concussions, and comeback planning
Joe and Craig discuss Volk’s short-notice fight decisions, preparation differences, and the realities of concussion recovery. Craig describes Volk’s toughness, grappling survival, and the psychological ripple effect of a fighter getting clipped.
- 33:31 – 36:51
Superfights and crossover appeal: MMA names, legends returning, and ‘no one’s tapping for a million’
Craig talks about expanding the card with sponsors and enticing retired legends, plus recruiting MMA talent to draw new audiences. Joe and Craig highlight Luke Rockhold’s grappling ability and discuss rules tweaks like continuing submissions past the round horn.
- 36:51 – 55:55
Danaher era and B-Team aftermath: pressure, burnout, and Craig’s semi-retirement mindset
They shift into Craig’s history with Danaher’s team, the mysterious split, and the creation of B-Team. Craig emphasizes he never planned to run a gym long-term and now prefers traveling, seminars, and selective competition.
- 55:55 – 1:01:56
Origins story: self-taught years, instructionals (and torrents), Lachlan Giles, and leg-lock timing
Craig recounts training in Australia with limited access to black belts, learning from books and early instructionals, then leveling up under Lachlan Giles and later Danaher. He credits obsessive studying and adopting emerging ‘game-changing’ techniques—especially leg locks.
- 1:01:56 – 1:28:05
Gym reality: staph infections, antibiotics, overtraining, and health markers like blood pressure
They get into the gritty side of grappling gyms—frequent staph, constant antibiotics, hygiene habits, and how stress/overtraining can weaken immunity. Craig also admits concerning blood pressure readings and his lax approach to monitoring recovery metrics.
- 1:28:05 – 1:52:20
Steroids culture, harm reduction, and the ‘Enhanced Games’ idea
Craig and Joe discuss PEDs as openly tolerated in elite grappling and debate what regulation would change. Craig argues transparency can reduce harm for younger athletes, while Joe expands into testing loopholes and broader sports doping dynamics.
- 1:52:20 – 2:09:39
Closing loop: rivalry optics, Gordon ‘beef,’ seminar life, and event details + where to watch
In the final stretch, they revisit the ADCC head-to-head strategy, Craig’s trolling dynamic with Gordon, and the realities of traveling seminars (including rolling gauntlets and silly submissions). Craig ends by sharing where to buy tickets, follow updates, and the charity foundation behind the event.
