3 best moments from the first-ever Craig Jones Invitational

1. Craig Jones‘ walkout for his match with Gabi Garcia

As a seasoned gamer who has witnessed countless tournaments and events, let me tell you that the recent grappling event was nothing short of spectacular! Craig Jones’ walk-out was a showstopper, reminiscent of a rockstar strutting onto the stage. The bottle of liquor chug, the camo pants hop – it was a performance worthy of an encore!

At the center of the spectacle was Craig Jones, who captivated the audience with his unique entrance prior to his bout against Gabi Garcia. Dressed in a vest and camouflage pants, Jones climbed onto a ledge, took a swig from a liquor bottle, and then disrobed while walking towards his position. The incident was amusing and true to Jones’s character. It was the highlight of the event, with everyone discussing it afterwards.

2. Literally everything Nicky Rod did

At the competition, Nicky Rodriguez, who exceeds 80kg, emerged victorious as the champion. It’s not hard to understand why this is so. Being an exceptionally skilled grappler, he successfully subdued each of his four opponents – a feat that no one else managed and, to be honest, he made it seem effortless. His calm meditation periods during breaks, combined with his composed demeanor throughout the event, culminated in a thrilling finale that earned him $1 million. Immediately after securing the win, we had a chance to talk to Nicky backstage, and he was clearly overjoyed.

3. The insane match between Kade Ruotolo and Andrew Tackett

Every day, someone compensates Kade Ruotolo and Andrew Tackett for sparring sessions. That was hands down the best jujitsu match I’ve ever witnessed. I swear, I nearly lost my voice watching it!
— Jamie Kilstein (@jamiekilstein) August 18, 2024

One of the best live grappling matches I have ever seen took place during the semifinals of the under 80kg category. Kade Ruotolo and Andrew Tackett battled it out over three incredibly close and exciting rounds. It was Ruotolo who would eventually advance and win the tournament but he didn’t advance easily. Tackett was looking to be the upset of the night but in the third round, Ruotolo was able to squeeze out the decision victory.

All in all, this grappling event was fantastic and truly a remarkable experience. Here’s hoping Craig Jones continues his stellar performance and these events remain a fixture, as I’m eagerly looking forward to attending more of them!

2024-08-18 20:43