Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team History, Fighter Stats, Biographies and News

BJJ Fanatics Instructionals
BJJ Fanatics Instructionals

Craig Jones

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John Danaher Instructionals

Craig Jones is an Australian grappler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Lachlan Giles who worked extensively with coach John Danaher, being a big part of the famous Danaher Death Squad (DDS) competition team, led by Danaher during the late 2010s-to-early-2020s decades. Craig went on to represent the B-Team, a workgroup started by Jones alongside a few of his former DDS team members in 2021. An International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) World No-Gi Champion (2015 in purple belt division) and a 2x ADCC Trials champion, Craig Jones turned many heads his way at the 2017 ADCC finals by submitting the tournament’s 88-kilogram #1 seed, Leandro Lo. Jones would later cement his status as one of the best grapplers of his generation by winning numerous prestigious events, including multiple belt titles in the Polaris Invitational promotion.

Craig Jones Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Craig Benjamin Jones

Nickname: N/A

Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Carlos Gracie Jr > Jean Jacques Machado / Rigan Machado > John Will > John Simon > Lachlan Giles > Craig Jones

Main Achievements:

  • Polaris 205 lbs Champion (2018)
  • Polaris 185 lbs Champion (2018 / 2019)
  • 2nd Place ADCC World Championship (2019 / 2022)
  • 3rd Place EBI 11 Invitational (2017)
  • 3rd Place Kasai 2 185lbs Grand Prix (2018)
  • 3rd Place Kasai 5 205lbs Grand Prix (2019)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

  • 1st Place IBJJF World Championship NoGi (2015 purple)
  • 1st Place AFBJJ Pan Pacific Championship (2014** purple)
  • 1st Place ADCC Asian & Oceania Trials (2014 / 2016)
  • 1st Place NAGA World Championship (2014 purple)
  • 3rd Place UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro (2016 brown)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Favorite Position/Technique: Open Guard

Weight Division: Meio Pesado (88,30 kg / 195.0 lbs)

Team/Association: Absolute MMA / B-Team

Craig Jones Biography

Craig Jones was born on July 17, 1991, in Adelaide, South Australia.

Growing up Jones was a very active kid, playing a variety of intensive sports such as Australian rules football and basketball while also briefly training in taekwondo and judo. His interest in rough playing activities was a sign of Craig’s frame of mind, as a teenager turned to mixed martial arts (MMA) and by the time of his 15th birthday dreamt of becoming an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter.

With the UFC in his sight, Craig joined his cousin Matt Jones’ BJJ academy (2006), a gym called ISOHEALTH. It was under Matt’s guidance that Craig started making a name for himself in Australia’s national grappling circuit, before joining the Maromba Academy in Melbourne (later named Absolute MMA), as a purple belt, where his tuition was then picked up by Lachlan Giles.

In December 2015, after an epic performance at the IBJJF World No-Gi Championships, Jones earned his brown belt. It was also around this time that Craig became a regular BJJ instructor. One year later Lachlan Giles promoted Craig to black belt. Jones also worked extensively with John Danaher in New York City, at team Renzo Gracie, where he became one of the well-known coach’s most prominent students on the competitive scene.

While climbing the ranks of jiu-jitsu, competing regularly nationally and internationally, Craig Jones also managed to graduate with a degree in Behavioural Science (Psychology).

DANAHER DEATH SQUAD BREAK-UP

In July 2021, coach John Danaher announced the end of the Danaher Death Squad as a unified training and competition team, alluding to “the physical location of a future school, personality conflicts, conflicting values and an inevitable tension between the team brand and the growing individual brands of members” as the main factors for the split (original statement here).

Later that year, during the Summer months, Craig Jones announced his new team, one formed alongside a few of his DDS training partners, namely Nicky Ryan, Ethan Crelinsten, and Nicky Rodriguez. This new group was labeled the “B-Team” with its training base being set in Austin, Texas.

Craig Jones Instructionals

Craig Jones Grappling Record

60 WINS
  • BY POINTS
    2 (3%)
  • BY ADVANTAGES
    0 (0%)
  • BY SUBMISSION
    48 (80%)
  • BY DECISION
    7 (12%)
  • BY PENALTIES
    0 (0%)
  • BY EBI/OT
    3 (5%)

48 SUBMISSIONS WINS

#214eb8
Inside heel hook
29
14
#86e620
RNC
27
13
#5AD3D1
Outside heel hook
10
5
#d1212a
Kneebar
6
3
#fad11b
Terra footlock
4
2
#f58822
Toe hold
4
2
#224aba
Heel hook
2
1
#ff9124
Triangle
2
1
#bf1f6c
Arm in guillotine
2
1
#22c9a5
Reverse triangle
2
1
#fad223
verbal tap
2
1
#03861f
Violin armlock
2
1
#039a1f
Guillotine
2
1
#03b41f
Triangle armlock
2
1
#03c61f
Flying triangle
2
1
48
(100%) SUBMISSIONS
19 LOSSES
  • BY POINTS
    7 (37%)
  • BY ADVANTAGES
    0 (0%)
  • BY SUBMISSION
    3 (16%)
  • BY DECISION
    3 (16%)
  • BY PENALTIES
    2 (11%)
  • BY EBI/OT
    4 (21%)

3 SUBMISSIONS LOSSES

#214eb8
Short choke
67
2
#86e620
Katagatame
33
1
3
(100%) SUBMISSIONS

Craig Jones Fight History

ID Opponent W/L Method Competition Weight Stage Year
12017Vagner RochaVagner RochaLEBI/OTEBI 1177KGSF2017
13888Keenan CorneliusKeenan CorneliusLPts: 13x0ADCC88KGSF2017
13890Alexandre RibeiroAlexandre RibeiroLPts: 2x0ADCC88KG3RD2017
13935Gordon RyanGordon RyanLKatagatameADCCABS4F2017
14553Gordon RyanGordon RyanLEBI/OTEBI 14ABSF2017
14575Murilo SantanaMurilo SantanaLPts: 4x4, PenKasai ProABSSPF2017
14698C. NegromonteC. NegromonteLPts: 7x0NoGi Worlds85KG4F2017
15874Michael PerezMichael PerezLPts: 3x2Kasai Pro 284KGRR2018
16750DJ JacksonDJ JacksonLPts: 0x0, PenBoa Super 8ABSF2018
16932DJ JacksonDJ JacksonLReferee DecisionSpider Inv. 4FO76KGSPF2018
17746Gordon RyanGordon RyanLShort chokeQuintet 3ABSF2018
19801Kaynan DuarteKaynan DuarteLShort chokeKasai 593KGRR2019
20865Matheus DinizMatheus DinizLPointsThird Coast85KGSPF2019
21894Matheus DinizMatheus DinizLPts: 2x0ADCC88KGF2019
23833Mason FowlerMason FowlerLEBI/OTSUG 16ABSSPF2020
23913Mason FowlerMason FowlerLEBI/OTSUG 17ABSSPF2020
29782Sean BradyLReferee DecisionFury Pro90KGSPF2021
29819Pedro MarinhoPedro MarinhoLReferee DecisionWNO 1193KGSPF2022
35070Kaynan DuarteKaynan DuarteLPts: 12x0ADCC99KGF2022
12012Nathan OrchardWInside heel hookEBI 1177KGR12017
12016Darragh OConaillDarragh OConaillWKneebarEBI 1177KG4F2017
12985Micah BrakefieldWRNCSUG 4N/ASPF2017
13877Leandro LoLeandro LoWRNCADCC88KGE12017
13885Murilo SantanaMurilo SantanaWFlying triangleADCC88KG4F2017
13930Chael SonnenWOutside heel hookADCCABSE12017
14035Ben EgliWOutside heel hookSUG 588KGSPF2017
14219Bob FirasWHeel hookCoffs Harbour InvABSSPF2017
14546Andy BurkeWInside heel hookEBI 14ABSR12017
14550Marcel GoncalvesMarcel GoncalvesWInside heel hookEBI 14ABS4F2017
14552Tex JohnsonTex JohnsonWInside heel hookEBI 14ABSSF2017
15168Jake ShieldsJake ShieldsWInside heel hookPolaris 684KGSPF2018
15829Mindas VerzbickasWKneebarQuintetABSRR2018
15830Sergei GrecichoD---QuintetABSRR2018
15839Marcos SouzaMarcos SouzaWKneebarQuintetABSRR2018
15869Nick CalvaneseNick CalvaneseWTriangleKasai Pro 284KGRR2018
15871Dante LeonDante LeonWPts: 2x0Kasai Pro 284KGRR2018
15881Richie MartinezRichie MartinezWInside heel hookKasai Pro 284KG3RD2018
16746Roberto FriasWPts: 7x0Boa Super 8ABS4F2018
16749Ben HodgkinsonWOutside heel hookBoa Super 8ABSSF2018
17229Rousimar PalharesRousimar PalharesWReferee DecisionKasai Pro 3ABSSPF2018
17463Matheus DinizMatheus DinizWReferee DecisionGrapple FestABSSPF2018
17741Richie MartinezRichie MartinezWTerra footlockQuintet 3ABSSF2018
17742Adam SachnoffWRNCQuintet 3ABSSF2018
17745Antoine JaoudeWRNCQuintet 3ABSF2018
18514Keenan CorneliusKeenan CorneliusWReferee DecisionPolaris 893KGSPF2018
19321Gabriel ArgesGabriel ArgesWRNCGrappleFest 4ABSSPF2019
19471Tim SpriggsTim SpriggsWInside heel hookGrappling Ind.ABSSPF2019
19797Pedro MarinhoPedro MarinhoD---Kasai 593KGRR2019
19800Jon BlankJon BlankWRNCKasai 593KGRR2019
19803Jackson SousaJackson SousaWTerra footlockKasai 593KG3RD2019
20465Denis HallmanWToe holdSUG 888KGSPF2019
20548M. LutesWReferee DecisionPolaris 1085KGSPF2019
20740M. PerhavecWInside heel hookGrappleFest 588KGSPF2019
20973Tex JohnsonTex JohnsonWRNCKASAI SS Florida92KGSPF2019
20997Anthony JohnsonWInside heel hookSUG 9ABSSPF2019
21840Ben DysonWInside heel hookADCC88KGR12019
21848Mason FowlerMason FowlerWArm in guillotineADCC88KG4F2019
21891Jon BlankJon BlankWRNCADCC88KGSF2019
22696Adam WardzinskiAdam WardzinskiWReverse triangleGrappleFest 7100KGSPF2019
22806Fredson PaixaoFredson PaixaoWRNCQuintet UltraABSSPF2019
22919Gilbert BurnsGilbert BurnsWOutside heel hookSUG 1088KGSPF2019
23723Kevin CaseyWOutside heel hookSUG 12ABSSPF2020
23724Vinny MagalhaesVinny MagalhaesWverbal tapSUG 13ABSSPF2020
23740Vagner RochaVagner RochaWEBI/OTSUG 1488KGSPF2020
23796Gabriel CheccoWEBI/OTSUG 15ABSSPF2020
24079Roberto JimenezRoberto JimenezWInside heel hookWNO 493KGSPF2020
24996Brent PrimusWRNCSUG 19ABSSPF2020
25001Satoshi IshiiWRNCSUG 20ABSSPF2020
25175Ronaldo JuniorRonaldo JuniorWInside heel hookWNO 688KGSPF2021
26301Luiz PanzaLuiz PanzaWInside heel hookWNO 992KGSPF2021
26602Tye RuotoloTye RuotoloWReferee DecisionWNO 1090KGSPF2021
28379Davi RamosDavi RamosWReferee DecisionPolaris 1785KGSPF2021
33736Eldar SavidovWRNCAIGAABSSPF2022
35059Joao CostaJoao CostaWViolin armlockADCC99KGR12022
35066Kyle BoehmKyle BoehmWGuillotineADCC99KG4F2022
35069Nicholas MeregaliNicholas MeregaliWReferee DecisionADCC99KGSF2022
40821Felipe PenaFelipe PenaWEBI/OTUFC FPI 4ABSSPF2023
42644Gregor GracieGregor GracieD---Quintet 4ABSNA2023
42647Richie MartinezRichie MartinezWToe holdQuintet 4ABSNA2023
42648Geo MartinezGeo MartinezWTriangle armlockQuintet 4ABSNA2023
42649Kyle BoehmKyle BoehmD---Quintet 4ABSNA2023
44548Gerald MeerschaertWRNCPolaris 2693KGSPF2023
47213Rafael LovatoRafael LovatoWInside heel hookUFC FP6ABSSPF2024

Craig Jones Heel Hook Technique

 

Craig Jones Brand New Instructional

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