Craig Jones dominated Chael Sonnen in spectacular fashion at the Craig Jones Invitational 2 (CJI 2) in Las Vegas.
Sonnen stepped in on less than a week’s notice to replace Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson. He faced Jones on Sunday at the Thomas & Mack Center. The former UFC multi-time title challenger started aggressively, securing an early takedown.
Sonnen Falls to Early Buggy Choke
Jones quickly capitalized on Sonnen’s position. He locked in a brutal buggy choke that rendered Sonnen unconscious. The crowd erupted as the submission ended the first round decisively.
After recovering, Sonnen agreed to restart the match. He attempted another takedown and hunted a leg lock. Jones, a seasoned Australian jiu-jitsu expert, countered effortlessly. He applied the same buggy choke, putting Sonnen out cold again.
Fans Demand More
The audience chanted for additional rounds as Sonnen suggested a best-of-five format. Referee John McCarthy laughed and waved off the bout. Jones officially won with consecutive buggy chokes, leaving no doubt about his grappling dominance.
Sonnen later posted on social media, downplaying the defeat. He joked about a “3 out of 5” contract and claimed he was just relaxing in the submission.
The History Between Jones and Sonnen
Their rivalry dates back to September 2017. Jones surprised Sonnen with a heel hook finish at the prestigious ADCC Openweight tournament. That victory laid the foundation for Jones’ reputation as a top grappler and eventual CJI founder.
