Tom DeBlass Says ONE Championship Grapplers Will Be Allowed To Compete At CJI 2
Tom DeBlass has announced that athletes under contract with ONE Championship will officially be allowed to compete in the second Craig Jones Invitational (CJI 2), set for 2025.
While ONE Championship is known for its exclusive contracts that often prevent competitors from appearing in outside events, exceptions have historically been made for major competitions like ADCC and the IBJJF World Championship.
Craig Jones himself has previously cautioned grapplers against signing exclusive contracts, highlighting how they might miss opportunities to compete in high-prized events like CJI.
With the first Craig Jones Invitational awarding two grapplers a record-breaking prize of one million dollars each, it’s easy to see why such restrictions could deter competitors.
DeBlass, however, is uniquely positioned to bridge this gap.
As the Vice President of Submission Grappling at ONE Championship, he has the influence necessary to navigate the complexities of such agreements.His fellow VP, Leo Vieira, has previously clarified that ONE’s exclusivity clause only applies to champions under contract.
This clarification, while helpful, still leaves elite grapplers like the Ruotolo brothers – both ONE Championship titleholders – in a precarious position.
According to DeBlass, he worked directly with Craig Jones to finalize the event’s schedule, ensuring it aligns with ONE Championship’s policies:
Sloth Jiu-Jitsu: you can be slow and unathletic and still kick butt in Jiu-Jitsu.
![[WATCH] Henry Cejudo Defeats Kairat Akhmetov – In Submission Grappling Match](https://i0.wp.com/www.bjjee.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Henry-Cejudo-vs-Kairat-Akhmetov.jpg?resize=120%2C86&ssl=1 "[WATCH] Henry Cejudo Defeats Kairat Akhmetov – In Submission Grappling Match")
