My fellow grapplers,

We all know that BJJ is still in its wild, early days, figuring out how to turn its underground and die-hard fan base into an entertainment juggernaut. The market for live BJJ events is fragmented, with different organizations pulling in various directions, but somehow there's never been a better time to be a BJJ fan.

Traditional BJJ tournaments have one major flaw: the reset. Whether it's IBJJF, ADCC, or any other high-level grappling event, the reset is a buzzkill. You’ve seen it a million times: two athletes tumble near the edge of the mat, and suddenly, the action is paused. The ref steps in, tries to recreate the exact position in the center, and just like that, the flow of the match is broken. The action screeches to a halt. The adrenaline drains out of the room. And we’re left watching the ref play human Tetris, trying to fit the fighters back into the puzzle they just broke out of. It’s like hitting pause during the climax of an action movie. Talk about killing the vibe.

**Turns stream off**

The Pit Wall

But now, we have something different. Enter "The Alley"—or as some are calling it, "The Pit Wall." Craig Jones has brought a fresh concept to the CJI, inspired by Karate Combat’s pit design.

Craig explains it well in this clip on the Lex Fridman podcast: “The angled wall mitigates that, and it mitigates it in such a way that it’s a disadvantage to be pushed up against the angled wall. You’re very easily taken down against the angled wall.” Unlike a cage, where fighters can stall by using vertical surfaces to defend, these angled walls force the action to continue. The walls naturally tip athletes into vulnerable positions, making it easier for their opponents to capitalize on mistakes.

Craig acknowledges that fighters will inevitably find ways to game the system, as they always do. "We're going to see this unfold like when UFC fighters started figuring out how to use the cage." The angled walls are no different—they’ll force competitors to adapt, innovate, and evolve their strategies in real-time. But the difference here is that the walls are designed to push the action, not slow it down.

Craig Jones himself submitted UFC veteran Phil Rowe with a flying triangle at Karate Combat 44, in the second event in their Pit Submission Series. Craig used the pit wall to jump into the triangle where he was able to secure the tap. Wild...

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"The Alley" isn’t the only innovation. The Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) has introduced rounds, taking a page from MMA’s playbook. Craig explains the reasoning: “I love a short burst, a break, and the guys can go hard again. I don’t like a Jiu-Jitsu match where the guy takes the back early and he’s like, ‘Oh, if I keep this position, I’ve won.’” Rounds keep the pressure on, forcing athletes to stay aggressive and preventing the usual slow grind that can plague traditional BJJ matches.

Craig had another great explanation of "The Alley" during his recent appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast. He broke down how this new structure isn’t just about changing the rules—it’s about transforming how we experience BJJ, in terms of entertainment value.

Craig Jones isn't just flipping the script with "The Alley"—he's also shaking up the game with a new approach to athlete compensation. In the grappling world, prize money has been historically hard to come by, so Craig guaranteed every competitor at the CJI a minimum payout of $10,001 just for showing up. And here's the kicker: that’s one dollar more than what ADCC offers its first-place winners in men’s divisions. Savage.

The CJI also dangled a jaw-dropping $1 million prize for the winners of each of the two main divisions. It’s no surprise that this financial model has lured top-tier athletes, some even ditching the ADCC for a shot at Craig’s lucrative payouts.

This model is a direct blow to the traditional compensation structures that have long dominated grappling tournaments. Craig is out here trying to set a new standard, giving athletes the financial recognition they deserve.

The real question is, can he run it back next year? On the Lex Fridman podcast, Craig claims the event was backed by a generous friend who was more than willing to support the mission...and troll the ADCC in the process. The CJI has made a big splash, but only time will tell if Craig can keep the momentum going and continue to disrupt the status quo.

Wait...is BJJ going...mainstream?

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Just like the UFC in its early days, BJJ is facing skepticism as it's on the cusp of evolving from a niche sport into a mainstream spectacle. Whether it gets there or not, you can bet that folks like Craig Jones are shaking up the game to highlight the most entertaining moments BJJ has to offer.

At the heart of it, entertainment isn’t just about selling tickets; it’s about selling a feeling.

‍David Blaine sells the feeling of awe.

The UFC sells “holy shit!” moments, live on PPV.

And events like the CJI and Karate Combat sell those “did you just see that?!” moments that you can’t wait to talk about with your training partners the next morning.

As Joe Rogan once said about the UFC, what started as a questionable venture has now become a global phenomenon. Remember when the mainstream media scoffed at the idea of two people getting into a cage to fight? Now look where we are.

I’m not suggesting that jiu-jitsu competitions will reach or eclipse the global spectacle that is the UFC, but "The Alley" and the CJI are laying the groundwork for BJJ to potentially take a similar leap forward into the mainstream.

Angled walls.

Intense grappling.

No more endless resets.

Craig Jones is transforming BJJ, pushing athletes to innovate, and delivering the kind of non-stop action that keeps fans on the edge of their seats. That is a huge win for BJJ.