Written By Kevin Bradley
Welcome to the UCK Roundup, where we cover some of the biggest stories in grappling this week. My name’s Kevin—no, not that one.
Despite UFC BJJ’s arrival, the grappling scene is still being driven by independent promotions. Offering massive prize pools for men’s and women’s tournaments alongside carnival-style superfights, Craig Jones’ Invitational returns next weekend to keep fans glued to their screens.
Meanwhile, UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev received his BJJ black belt after dominating Dricus Du Plessis, and Jay Rodriguez finally broke his silence months after being ousted from B-Team for misconduct.
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Jay Rodriguez Addresses His Ban from BJJ
Since his removal from B-Team BJJ this past May for alleged misconduct involving female students, Jay “Jayrod” Rodriguez has stayed largely silent. Accused of using sexual images of students—reportedly without consent—and of storing explicit material alongside them, Rodriguez was fired and banned from gyms across Austin.
In a recent appearance on the Jits and Giggles Podcast with host Alysa Couce, Rodriguez addressed the allegations:
“There was no AI, that’s ridiculous,” he claimed, stating that the images in question were taken from public Instagram accounts, not hidden cameras. He admitted to using them for sexual gratification, adding that other files in the same folder contained explicit pornography.
Rodriguez has not trained since his dismissal:
“I’ve been banned from B-Team for like 4–5 months at this point. I can’t train in Austin specifically [or] anywhere worth going to.”
He says he’s reflecting on his behavior and plans to stay off the mats for the foreseeable future.
The timing of his removal has sparked debate in the community. While Rodriguez was swiftly banned, competitors with known histories of abuse—like Jacob Couch of Daisy Fresh and Olympian Gable Steveson—remain welcome at events like CJI2. Many see this as selective enforcement and hypocrisy within the sport.
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CJI2 Preview: $1 Million on the Line
We’re just one week away from Craig Jones Invitational 2, featuring a stacked lineup of BJJ royalty, rising stars, and international talent. Eight mixed-weight teams will battle for a $1,000,000 prize under a modified Quintet-style ruleset.
Key storylines:
– Dan Manasoiu is out due to Lyme disease, replaced by veteran Vagner Rocha on Team New Wave.
– B-Team Mercenaries return with Nicky Rodriguez, Ethan Crelinsten, and Victor Hugo, looking to defend their CJI1 title.
– Atos Knights (Felipe Pena), 10th Planet Terrestrials (PJ Barch, Kyle Boehm), EU Raiders (Owen Jones, Marcin Maciulewicz, Paul Ardilla, Charles Negromonte), and Daisy Fresh round out the competition.
On the women’s side, Helena Carver, Adele Fornarino, Ana Carolina Vieira, and Sarah Galvão headline an open-weight bracket that promises fireworks.
The night closes with Craig Jones himself facing Olympic wrestling champion Gable Steveson in a submission-only supermatch.
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Khamzat Chimaev Awarded His BJJ Black Belt
After a dominant five-round performance against Dricus Du Plessis, Khamzat Chimaev was awarded his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt by coach Alan Nascimento.
Chimaev’s stats were staggering: 21 minutes of ground control and 529 total strikes landed. Despite criticism over UFC stars receiving belts “too easily,” analysts like Chael Sonnen praised the promotion:
“He wore his black belt, not his UFC championship belt, because this means more to him,” Sonnen said. “If you look at Chimaev’s skillset tonight, you’ll respect that black belt.”
Who would you like to see test Khamzat’s grappling in pure BJJ?
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Level Up Your Jiu-Jitsu
If you’re ready to sharpen your game beyond the headlines, check out:
– Leglocks for Dummies – https://leglocks.unclecoachkevin.com/
– Gracie Trinity Online Academy – https://www.skool.com/gracie-trinity-academy
Take what you read and turn it into skill.