Craig Jones

Biography

Craig Jones is an Australian no-gi grappler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt known for his technical leglock game and aggressive submission style. Born in Adelaide and later training under Lachlan Giles at Absolute MMA in Melbourne, he first gained major international attention at ADCC 2017 with upset wins over elite competitors including Leandro Lo and Murilo Santana. His performance established him as one of the most dangerous rising submission artists in the sport.

After his breakout years, Jones moved to the United States to train under John Danaher, where he further developed the defensive and positional systems that rounded out his leglock–heavy style. He was part of the original training group that would later become New Wave Jiu-Jitsu. When the team split, Jones joined teammates Nicky Ryan, Nick Rodriguez, Ethan Crelinsten, and Damien Anderson in forming B-Team Jiu-Jitsu in Austin, Texas. The new team quickly became one of the top no-gi training rooms in the world, known for blending high-level technique with a more relaxed and humorous culture.

Jones is a two-time ADCC silver medalist in 2019 and 2022, consistently reaching the podium against the strongest fields in modern submission grappling. He also secured multiple wins in promotions such as Polaris, WNO, and GrappleFest, building a reputation for a high finish rate and a creative, open-ended submission game that mixes leg entanglements, back attacks, and front headlock threats. In recent years, he has been crafting his octopus guard which has been proven to be very effective in training rooms across the world.

Outside of competition, Jones is widely known for his trolling, dry humor, and playful personality on social media. His Instagram posts and promotional videos often blend jokes with self-deprecating comedy, making him one of the most entertaining figures in the sport. His mix of elite skill, coaching influence, and comedic presence has made him one of the most recognizable personalities in no-gi jiu-jitsu.

Personal

* Legend status is reserved for retired athletes with outstanding achievements and a lasting impact on the sport.

Rankings