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

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BJJ Fanatics Instructionals

Craig Jones

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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

63 WINS
  • BY POINTS
    2 (3%)
  • BY ADVANTAGES
    0 (0%)
  • BY SUBMISSION
    51 (81%)
  • BY DECISION
    7 (11%)
  • BY PENALTIES
    0 (0%)
  • BY EBI/OT
    3 (5%)

51 SUBMISSIONS WINS

#214eb8
Inside heel hook
27
14
#86e620
RNC
27
14
#5AD3D1
Outside heel hook
10
5
#d1212a
Kneebar
6
3
#fad11b
Triangle
6
3
#f58822
Toe hold
4
2
#224aba
Terra footlock
4
2
#ff9124
Arm in guillotine
2
1
#bf1f6c
Reverse triangle
2
1
#22c9a5
verbal tap
2
1
#fad223
Violin armlock
2
1
#03861f
Guillotine
2
1
#039a1f
Triangle armlock
2
1
#03b41f
Flying triangle
2
1
#03c61f
Heel hook
2
1
51
(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
15875Michael PerezMichael PerezLPts: 3x2Kasai Pro 284KGRR2018
16751DJ JacksonDJ JacksonLPts: 0x0, PenBoa Super 8ABSF2018
16933DJ JacksonDJ JacksonLReferee DecisionSpider Inv. 4FO76KGSPF2018
17747Gordon RyanGordon RyanLShort chokeQuintet 3ABSF2018
19809Kaynan DuarteKaynan DuarteLShort chokeKasai 593KGRR2019
20877Matheus DinizMatheus DinizLPointsThird Coast85KGSPF2019
21913Matheus DinizMatheus DinizLPts: 2x0ADCC88KGF2019
23861Mason FowlerMason FowlerLEBI/OTSUG 16ABSSPF2020
23941Mason FowlerMason FowlerLEBI/OTSUG 17ABSSPF2020
29817Sean BradyLReferee DecisionFury Pro90KGSPF2021
29854Pedro MarinhoPedro MarinhoLReferee DecisionWNO 1193KGSPF2022
35118Kaynan 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
15169Jake ShieldsJake ShieldsWInside heel hookPolaris 684KGSPF2018
15830Mindas VerzbickasWKneebarQuintetABSRR2018
15831Sergei GrecichoD---QuintetABSRR2018
15840Marcos SouzaMarcos SouzaWKneebarQuintetABSRR2018
15870Nick CalvaneseNick CalvaneseWTriangleKasai Pro 284KGRR2018
15872Dante LeonDante LeonWPts: 2x0Kasai Pro 284KGRR2018
15882Richie MartinezRichie MartinezWInside heel hookKasai Pro 284KG3RD2018
16747Roberto FriasWPts: 7x0Boa Super 8ABS4F2018
16750Ben HodgkinsonWOutside heel hookBoa Super 8ABSSF2018
17230Rousimar PalharesRousimar PalharesWReferee DecisionKasai Pro 3ABSSPF2018
17464Matheus DinizMatheus DinizWReferee DecisionGrapple FestABSSPF2018
17742Richie MartinezRichie MartinezWTerra footlockQuintet 3ABSSF2018
17743Adam SachnoffWRNCQuintet 3ABSSF2018
17746Antoine JaoudeWRNCQuintet 3ABSF2018
18522Keenan CorneliusKeenan CorneliusWReferee DecisionPolaris 893KGSPF2018
19329Gabriel ArgesGabriel ArgesWRNCGrappleFest 4ABSSPF2019
19479Tim SpriggsTim SpriggsWInside heel hookGrappling Ind.ABSSPF2019
19805Pedro MarinhoPedro MarinhoD---Kasai 593KGRR2019
19808Jon BlankJon BlankWRNCKasai 593KGRR2019
19811Jackson SousaJackson SousaWTerra footlockKasai 593KG3RD2019
20474Denis HallmanWToe holdSUG 888KGSPF2019
20557M. LutesWReferee DecisionPolaris 1085KGSPF2019
20751M. PerhavecWInside heel hookGrappleFest 588KGSPF2019
20988Tex JohnsonTex JohnsonWRNCKASAI SS Florida92KGSPF2019
21012Anthony JohnsonWInside heel hookSUG 9ABSSPF2019
21859Ben DysonWInside heel hookADCC88KGR12019
21867Mason FowlerMason FowlerWArm in guillotineADCC88KG4F2019
21910Jon BlankJon BlankWRNCADCC88KGSF2019
22718Adam WardzinskiAdam WardzinskiWReverse triangleGrappleFest 7100KGSPF2019
22828Fredson PaixaoFredson PaixaoWRNCQuintet UltraABSSPF2019
22944Gilbert BurnsGilbert BurnsWOutside heel hookSUG 1088KGSPF2019
23751Kevin CaseyWOutside heel hookSUG 12ABSSPF2020
23752Vinny MagalhaesVinny MagalhaesWverbal tapSUG 13ABSSPF2020
23768Vagner RochaVagner RochaWEBI/OTSUG 1488KGSPF2020
23824Gabriel CheccoWEBI/OTSUG 15ABSSPF2020
24110Roberto JimenezRoberto JimenezWInside heel hookWNO 493KGSPF2020
25027Brent PrimusWRNCSUG 19ABSSPF2020
25032Satoshi IshiiWRNCSUG 20ABSSPF2020
25207Ronaldo JuniorRonaldo JuniorWInside heel hookWNO 688KGSPF2021
26335Luiz PanzaLuiz PanzaWInside heel hookWNO 992KGSPF2021
26636Tye RuotoloTye RuotoloWReferee DecisionWNO 1090KGSPF2021
28414Davi RamosDavi RamosWReferee DecisionPolaris 1785KGSPF2021
33782Eldar SavidovWRNCAIGAABSSPF2022
35107Joao CostaJoao CostaWViolin armlockADCC99KGR12022
35114Kyle BoehmKyle BoehmWGuillotineADCC99KG4F2022
35117Nicholas MeregaliNicholas MeregaliWReferee DecisionADCC99KGSF2022
40910Felipe PenaFelipe PenaWEBI/OTUFC FPI 4ABSSPF2023
42737Gregor GracieGregor GracieD---Quintet 4ABSNA2023
42740Richie MartinezRichie MartinezWToe holdQuintet 4ABSNA2023
42741Geo MartinezGeo MartinezWTriangle armlockQuintet 4ABSNA2023
42742Kyle BoehmKyle BoehmD---Quintet 4ABSNA2023
44640Gerald MeerschaertWRNCPolaris 2693KGSPF2023
47467Rafael LovatoRafael LovatoWInside heel hookUFC FP6ABSSPF2024
49011Rinat FakhretdinovWTriangleKarate CombatNASPF2024
52395Phil RoweWTriangleKarate KombatNASPF2024
52398Gabrielle GarciaGabrielle GarciaWRNCCJINASPF2024

Craig Jones Heel Hook Technique

 

5050 Guard Instructional by Lachlan Giles

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