Craig Jones dominated Chael Sonnen in a thrilling display at the Craig Jones Invitational 2 (CJI 2) in Las Vegas.
Sonnen took the fight on less than a week’s notice, stepping in to replace Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson. On Sunday, at the Thomas & Mack Center, the former UFC multi-time title challenger opened aggressively with an early takedown.
Sonnen Falls Early
Jones immediately capitalized. He locked in a vicious buggy choke that rendered Sonnen unconscious. The crowd erupted as the Australian grappler claimed the first round.
After recovering, Sonnen agreed to restart. He attempted another takedown and searched for a leg lock. Jones, a jiu-jitsu ace, countered instantly. He applied the same buggy choke again, leaving Sonnen out cold for the second time.
Crowd Demands More
Fans chanted for additional rounds as Sonnen suggested a best-of-five. Referee John McCarthy laughed and stopped the bout. Jones officially secured victory with consecutive submissions, demonstrating his grappling mastery.
Sonnen later addressed the loss on social media, downplaying the outcome. He joked about a “3 out of 5” contract and claimed he was merely relaxing in the hold.
A Rivalry That Began in 2017
Jones and Sonnen first clashed in September 2017. Jones stunned Sonnen with a slick heel hook finish at the ADCC Openweight tournament. That victory marked the start of a long-standing rivalry and cemented Jones’ reputation as an elite grappler.
