This article is part of our Craig Jones Invitational 2024 coverage. To get live results, play by play, and commentary, we’ll have a live updates article running all weekend.
Owen Livesey and Renato Canuto have just become the latest elite competitors invited to the lineup for the inaugural edition of the Craig Jones Invitational, and they will be stepping in to the over 80kg and under 80kg divisions respectively. Things are really starting to heat up now and both of the brackets are going to be incredibly tough, with the winner having to beat 4 of the best grapplers in the world on one weekend. The talent is condensed due to the large weight classes but the fact that a million dollars is on the line for the winner has meant that some seriously high-level competitors are eager to join.
Owen Livesey is an ADCC veteran who is known as one of the best standing grapplers in the European no gi circuit. He’s a Judo black belt who previously took home a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games and a former Catch Wrestling world champion, proving time and time again that he can go head-to-head with anyone on the feet. He also has a bit of history with fellow over 80kg competitor Nicky Rodriguez, as the two met in an exciting match at Quintet 4 that ended in a draw. With draws off the table at CJI, fans might get to see a decisive end in a rematch between Livesey and Rodriguez.
Renato Canuto is one of the first competitors announced for the under 80kg division at CJI but he still has some difficult opponents waiting for him regardless. He is also an ADCC veteran with appearances in 2019 and 2022, and he’s known for his exciting grappling style. Canuto isn’t just entertaining though, he’s also beaten a ton of top names and stood on top of the podium at the IBJJF World Championship in both gi and no gi in the past. He also has a former opponent waiting for him in the tournament lineup as well, as he beat Nicky Ryan on points back in the opening round of ADCC 2022.
The Craig Jones Invitational announced the news that both Owen Livesey and Renato Canuto would be joining the lineup in a series of posts to their official Instagram account:
