CJI 2 happens at the end of the month, and the fight card and its million dollar team tournament has seen a late shake up. A key BJJ star from New Wave has dropped out, and it had Craig Jones teasing a reunion with his former teammates turned bitter rivals.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 10: Dan Manasoiu prepares to face Victor Hugo during the UFC Fight Pass Invitational at UFC APEX on December 10, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
New Wave’s Dan Manasoiu pulls out of CJI 2
“Big” Dan Manasoiu was supposed to be team New Wave’s representative at +99 kg, but the ADCC 2024 bronze medalist will be pulling out of CJI 2 after sustaining lyme disease.
“It’s with a real heavy heart that I have to announce that I am out of the upcoming CJI 2,” Dan Manasoiu said on Instagram. “My coach, Danaher thought that the best thing was to back out of this tournament because my health is not where it needs to be. Honestly, I don’t blame him.
“A couple of weeks ago, I got diagnosed with lyme disease,” Manasoiu revealed. “To say that I’m sick right now is an understatement. I tried everything to get better. Very high dosage of antibiotics, ozone therapy… and I’m fighting an uphill battle that I can’t win in time to be ready for CJI.”
The two-time ADCC Trials heavyweight winner says he is expected to make a full recovery eventually, but is “heartbroken” to have to pull out of the event that could win his team $1 million.
Plot twist? Craig Jones teases he’s moving to rival New Wave squad
Interestingly enough, immediately after Dan Manasoiu announced that he was pulling out of CJI 2, BJJ star turned promoter Craig Jones posted three videos “announcing” that he himself will now be joining New Wave.
This has naturally caused a stir, with that long standing rivalry with his former teammates at New Wave.
“Surprise surprise, New Wave has their wild card,” Jones wrote. “Double backstabbing. I need the cash.”
“We’ve had this plan in motion for 5 years now. Diabolical,” Jones added, before showing himself wearing CJI 2’s New Wave rashguard.
CJI 2’s team tournament could see the two teams face off and settle that rivalry one final time, before they each rebrand and move on. Jones not joining B-Team and then suddenly switching sides over to New Wave would’ve been a massive plot twist that added drama to CJI 2… except that’s not actually going to happen.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
ADCC medalist Vagner Rocha joins CJI 2
Prior to this, Craig Jones noted that teams at CJI 2 will now have the option to use two wild card picks, in case they needed late replacements for their rosters. New Wave will be using this option to replace Dan Manasoiu, but it will be for a different BJJ star.
The New Wave announcement seems to be just one of Jones’ many social media pranks, and the real replacement athlete is ADCC 2024 silver medalist and UFC veteran Vagner Rocha.
“Sadly the Vegas Gambling board of water authorities were on to my attempt to sabotage a team from within,” Jones wrote about New Wave, before announcing that Rocha will be stepping in.
The 43-year-old Rocha is fresh off a WNO main event win, which also marked a return just six months after sustaining heart failure. Jones noted that Rocha will be taking New Wave’s slot at 88 kg, which will cause their other two athletes to shuffle and move up a division.
New Wave’s CJI 2 roster
With Vagner Rocha’s addition, New Wave will still have a pretty strong contingent. Their final CJI 2 line up is as follows:
66 kg: Dorian Olivarez — 2023 ADCC trials winner77 kg: Mica Galvao — 2024 Super Grand Slam Champion88 kg: Vagner Rocha — 2024 ADCC silver medalist99 kg: Giancarlo Bodoni — Two-time ADCC world champion+99 kg: Luke Griffith — 2024 ADCC silver medalist (Dan Manasoiu — 2023 ADCC trials winner)Coach: John Danaher
The rest of the CJI 2 fight card and team rosters can be viewed here.
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