Craig Jones is one of the most recognizable personalities in modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). Known for his creative submission techniques, impressive grappling achievements, and entertaining personality, the Australian athlete has built a remarkable reputation in professional martial arts. His journey from a young student in Adelaide to an internationally respected grappler reflects years of dedication, technical development, and competitive experience.
Beyond his success on the mat, Craig Jones has influenced the sport through coaching, team development, and the creation of the Craig Jones Invitational. His achievements include two ADCC silver medals, major tournament victories, and coaching experience with UFC athletes. This biography explores Craig Jones’s age, height, BJJ career, net worth, family background, personal life, and professional achievements as of 2026.
Who Is Craig Jones?
Craig Benjamin Jones is an Australian Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, submission grappler, coach, and event organizer. He became internationally famous through his performances at the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championships, where he defeated several highly respected competitors. His technical skills, particularly his submission attacks, helped establish him among the leading figures in no-gi grappling.
Jones is also known for his association with the Danaher Death Squad and his role in founding B Team Jiu-Jitsu in Austin, Texas. In 2024, he established the Craig Jones Invitational, introducing another major platform for professional grapplers. His combination of competitive success, coaching knowledge, and unconventional humor has made him influential both inside and outside the martial arts community.
Craig Jones Biography and Quick Facts
The following information provides a quick overview of Craig Jones’s background and professional career.
| Biography Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Craig Benjamin Jones |
| Popular Name | Craig Jones |
| Date of Birth | July 17, 1991 |
| Age in 2026 | 35 Years |
| Birthplace | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Height | 185 cm (6 Feet 1 Inch) |
| Listed Weight | 94 kg (208 Pounds) |
| Profession | Grappler, BJJ Coach, Event Organizer |
| Martial Arts Discipline | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| Belt Rank | Black Belt |
| Black Belt Instructor | Lachlan Giles |
| Former Academy | Absolute MMA |
| Former Team | Danaher Death Squad |
| Team Co-Founded | B Team Jiu-Jitsu |
| Major Achievement | Two ADCC Silver Medals |
| Other Major Titles | Three Polaris Championships |
| Notable Coach | John Danaher |
| Organization Founded | Craig Jones Invitational |
| Birth Country | Australia |
These details reflect publicly documented biographical information and career achievements. Competition weight and professional affiliations may change over time.
Craig Jones Age, Birthday, and Birthplace
Craig Jones was born on July 17, 1991, in Adelaide, South Australia. As of November 2026, he is 35 years old. His Australian background is an important part of his identity, especially because he developed his early grappling skills before moving abroad to pursue greater competitive opportunities.
Jones began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2006, when he was approximately 14 or 15 years old. His progress eventually took him from local academies to international competitions. Although he later trained extensively in the United States, his career began within Australia’s growing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community.
Craig Jones Height, Weight, and Physical Appearance
Craig Jones stands approximately 185 centimeters tall, equivalent to 6 feet 1 inch. His publicly listed weight is around 94 kilograms, or 208 pounds, although his competition weight has varied depending on the division.
His physical build has allowed him to compete in different grappling weight categories. However, his success cannot be explained by physical attributes alone. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu emphasizes leverage, positioning, timing, and technical understanding. Jones has demonstrated these qualities through submission victories against opponents with different fighting backgrounds.
His flexibility and ability to transition between positions have also contributed to his distinctive grappling style.
Craig Jones Early Life, Family, and Education
Craig Jones grew up in Adelaide, where he developed an interest in martial arts during his teenage years. His introduction to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu came through his cousin’s academy, where he started training in 2006. That experience became the foundation of his professional career.
Unlike athletes whose childhood experiences are extensively documented, Jones has kept much of his early family life relatively private. Reliable public information about his parents and formal education remains limited. His early martial arts development, however, is well established through accounts of his training history.
As his abilities improved, Jones recognized the importance of learning from experienced instructors. This eventually encouraged him to move to Melbourne, where he could develop his skills in a more competitive training environment.
How Craig Jones Started Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Craig Jones began his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey as a teenager and gradually progressed through the sport’s belt system. After earning his purple belt, he moved to Melbourne to train under Lachlan Giles at Absolute MMA.
This period was particularly important because it exposed him to advanced grappling techniques and experienced competitors. Under Giles’s guidance, Jones developed the technical foundation that later helped him succeed internationally.
His early competitive achievements included gold medals at the NAGA World Championship and AFBJJ Pan Pacific Championship in 2014. In 2015, he won the ADCC Asia and Oceania Trials and captured an IBJJF World No-Gi Championship title at purple belt. He received his black belt from Lachlan Giles in 2016.
Craig Jones Professional Grappling Career
Craig Jones gained international attention through his performances against established Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champions. His breakthrough came at the 2017 ADCC World Championships, where he defeated prominent competitors, including Leandro Lo and Murilo Santana. These victories demonstrated his ability to challenge elite opponents despite having comparatively less experience at the highest competitive level.
He continued building his reputation through major no-gi tournaments and professional superfights. In 2019, Jones earned an ADCC silver medal, establishing himself among the leading competitors in his division.
His success continued at the 2022 ADCC World Championships, where he competed in the under-99-kilogram category. He defeated Nicholas Meregali in the semifinal before losing the final to Kaynan Duarte by points. That performance earned him another silver medal and strengthened his international reputation.
Craig Jones and the Danaher Death Squad
An important chapter in Craig Jones’s career began when he moved to New York to train under renowned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor John Danaher. He joined a training environment that included Gordon Ryan and other highly accomplished submission grapplers.
The group became known as the Danaher Death Squad and developed a strong reputation for its technical approach to no-gi grappling, particularly submission systems and leg attacks.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the team relocated to Puerto Rico to continue training. However, the group separated in July 2021, leading its members toward different professional paths.
Following the separation, Jones moved to Austin, Texas, where he helped establish B Team Jiu-Jitsu alongside Nicky Ryan, Nick Rodriguez, and Ethan Crelinsten.
Craig Jones and B Team Jiu-Jitsu
B Team Jiu-Jitsu became an important part of Craig Jones’s professional identity. The Austin-based academy attracted attention for its talented athletes, competitive training environment, and entertaining public image.
Jones helped establish the team following the Danaher Death Squad’s separation. His experience as an elite competitor and his distinctive personality contributed to the academy’s growing popularity.
B Team also became associated with a relaxed but highly competitive approach to training. Its athletes participated in major international grappling competitions, helping strengthen the academy’s reputation.
In 2025, Jones departed B Team following the second Craig Jones Invitational. His departure marked a significant change in his professional career, although his historical role in establishing the academy remains an important part of his legacy.
Craig Jones Coaching Career and Fighting Style
Craig Jones has contributed to martial arts not only as a competitor but also as a coach. One of his most notable coaching relationships has been with Australian UFC fighter Alexander Volkanovski. Jones also worked with Team Volkanovski during The Ultimate Fighter: Team Volkanovski vs. Team Ortega.
His technical knowledge is particularly valuable in submission grappling and ground-fighting situations. He is widely associated with leg locks, heel hooks, triangle chokes, rear-naked chokes, and creative submission transitions.
Rather than relying entirely on strength, Jones uses positioning, timing, and technical pressure to create opportunities. His grappling style demonstrates how careful movement and submission awareness can overcome physical disadvantages.
His experience coaching MMA athletes also highlights the practical value of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in professional mixed martial arts.
Craig Jones Major Matches and Career Achievements
Throughout his career, Craig Jones has competed against accomplished Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athletes and experienced MMA fighters. In December 2021, he submitted UFC veteran Donald Cerrone with a rear-naked choke during a Combat Jiu-Jitsu superfight.
In 2023, Jones defeated Felipe Pena in overtime at UFC Fight Pass Invitational 4. He also submitted Gerald Meerschaert at Polaris 26 and helped his team win Quintet 4.
His success continued in 2024 with submission victories over Philip Rowe, Rafael Lovato Jr., and Rinat Fakhretdinov. He also defeated Gabi Garcia by rear-naked choke at the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational.
In 2025, Jones faced Chael Sonnen at Craig Jones Invitational 2, submitting him twice with buggy chokes.
His major achievements include two ADCC silver medals, three Polaris titles, and recognition at the 2023 JitsMagazine BJJ Awards for Personality of the Year and Submission of the Year.
Craig Jones Invitational and Retirement Announcement
In 2024, Craig Jones founded the Craig Jones Invitational, commonly known as CJI. The competition attracted international attention by offering substantial prize money and creating another major platform for professional submission grapplers.
The inaugural event featured million-dollar championship prizes and a widely publicized intergender superfight between Jones and Gabi Garcia. Jones won that match by rear-naked choke.
The second Craig Jones Invitational took place in 2025. Jones was originally scheduled to face Olympic wrestling champion Gable Steveson, but Steveson withdrew because of a reported foot injury. Chael Sonnen replaced him.
Before the event, Jones had announced that the match would mark his retirement from professional competition. His victories over Sonnen became notable moments in that retirement narrative. However, an announced retirement should not automatically be treated as a permanent end to his competitive career without further confirmation.
Craig Jones Net Worth and Sources of Income
Craig Jones’s net worth attracts considerable interest because of his success in professional grappling and his involvement in coaching and event promotion. However, his exact personal net worth has not been reliably established through publicly verified financial disclosures.
His professional activities provide several possible sources of income. These include competition appearances, coaching, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructional programs, sponsorship arrangements, merchandise, and promotional projects.
His involvement in the Craig Jones Invitational has also expanded his professional activities beyond competing. Nevertheless, tournament prize money, sponsorship funding, and event revenue should not be confused with his personal earnings.
Without confirmed financial records, assigning Craig Jones a specific net worth figure would be speculative. His established achievements and business involvement provide a more reliable picture of his professional success than unsupported financial estimates.
Craig Jones Wife, Girlfriend, and Personal Life
Craig Jones has built a highly recognizable public personality through his humor, interviews, social media activity, and appearances within the martial arts community. His entertaining approach has helped introduce Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to audiences who might not otherwise follow professional grappling.
Despite his public visibility, reliable information about his current marital status and romantic relationships remains limited. Claims about a wife or girlfriend should therefore be treated cautiously unless supported by direct public confirmation.
Outside competition, Jones is known for his involvement in coaching, grappling events, and martial arts media. His willingness to challenge traditional promotional approaches has become an important part of his identity.
His influence extends beyond championship results because he has helped generate wider interest in the sport and conversations about professional opportunities for grapplers.
Final Thoughts on Craig Jones
Craig Jones has established himself as an influential figure in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu through competitive success, technical knowledge, coaching experience, and event promotion. His journey from Adelaide to international grappling recognition demonstrates the importance of dedication, adaptability, and continuous technical development.
His two ADCC silver medals, memorable submission victories, and involvement with B Team Jiu-Jitsu represent major chapters in his career. Meanwhile, the Craig Jones Invitational has expanded his influence beyond competition by bringing greater attention to professional grappling and athlete compensation.
As of 2026, Craig Jones’s legacy is defined by more than his championship results. His contributions as a coach, competitor, and organizer have helped shape conversations about the future of submission grappling, making him one of the sport’s most distinctive modern personalities.
FAQs About Craig Jones
How Old Is Craig Jones in 2026?
Craig Jones is 35 years old as of November 2026. He was born on July 17, 1991, in Adelaide, South Australia. He began Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training as a teenager and later developed into an internationally recognized professional grappler.
How Tall Is Craig Jones?
Craig Jones is approximately 185 centimeters tall, equivalent to 6 feet 1 inch. His listed weight is around 94 kilograms, although competition weight can vary depending on the tournament division.
What Is Craig Jones’s Net Worth?
Craig Jones’s exact net worth has not been publicly verified through reliable financial disclosures. His professional activities include grappling competitions, coaching, instructional programs, sponsorships, and event promotion.
Is Craig Jones Married?
There is insufficient reliable public information to confirm Craig Jones’s current marital status. Although he is a recognizable personality in martial arts, not every aspect of his personal relationships has been publicly documented.
Has Craig Jones Won an ADCC Championship?
Craig Jones has earned two ADCC World Championship silver medals, in 2019 and 2022. Although he has not won an ADCC world championship gold medal, his performances against elite competitors have established him as a highly accomplished submission grappler.
Who Gave Craig Jones His BJJ Black Belt?
Craig Jones received his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt from Lachlan Giles in 2016 while training at Absolute MMA in Melbourne. Giles played an important role in his technical development and early competitive success.
Why Did Craig Jones Leave B Team Jiu-Jitsu?
Craig Jones departed B Team Jiu-Jitsu in 2025 following the second Craig Jones Invitational. His departure marked a change in his involvement with the academy he helped establish. Any specific explanation for the decision should be based on verified public statements rather than speculation.
What Is the Craig Jones Invitational?
The Craig Jones Invitational is a professional submission grappling competition founded by Craig Jones in 2024. It became known for its substantial championship prizes, high-profile competitors, and emphasis on improving financial opportunities for professional grapplers.
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