In the world of action sports, Craig Jones has become a well-known name. Whether you enjoy wrestling or mixed martial arts, you might have come across this talented fighter.
Craig Jones is an Australian wrestler and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) fighter. He is highly skilled on the mat and known for his artistic abilities, submission techniques, and success in competitions.
Craig Jones has made a significant impact in both BJJ and the submission grappling scene. He has faced off against some of the top fighters worldwide and his impressive performances have left a lasting impression.
Come with us as we delve into the life and achievements of this remarkable martial artist, and discover what sets Craig Jones apart as a formidable force in the world of combat sports.
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Who is Craig Jones?
Jones was an important member of Slipknot, both in terms of aesthetics and spirituality, but he also made a significant musical impact. He joined the group in 1996 as a guitarist, right after they finished recording their demo album called Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat., with Anders Colsefni as the vocalist.
However, he quickly transitioned to playing samplers and keyboards, which he continued to do throughout his time with the band. The eerie opening track of Slipknot’s debut album in 1999, titled “742617000027,” was fully composed by Jones. He incorporated sounds he had taken from a 1973 documentary about the Charles Manson murders.
Jones was responsible for all the unique vocal samples in Slipknot’s music. In their song “(sic),” which includes the famous line “Here comes the pain!” from the movie Carlito’s Way, spoken by Al Pacino, he included a sample of that line as well.
Jones was a pioneer in utilizing computer technology in a fundamental way, making him one of the first well-known metal artists to do so. When he joined Slipknot, he earned the nickname “133” based on the speed (in MHz) of his computer, which was considered high-speed at that time.
We currently do not have information about who will replace Jones in Slipknot or what his future plans are. However, if you believe the claims made by The Killer about what he would be doing if he were not in Slipknot, it might be a good idea to check under your bed at night.
Craig Jones Biography
Craig Jones was born in Adelaide, South Australia, on July 17, 1991. At his cousin’s academy, Jones began practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) in 2006. Jones relocated to Melbourne after earning his purple belt and began working out with Lachlan Giles.
He remained there until Giles, who was his instructor at Absolute MMA Academy, elevated him to black belt. Years later, Jones relocated to New York to study with Gordon Ryan and John Danaher.
In order to continue working out and getting ready for contests during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jones relocated to Puerto Rico with the rest of the team.
On July 26, 2021, the squad that Danaher was training disbanded, and the former members went their separate ways. Jones moved to Austin, Texas, where he still resides and trains with the B Team Jiu-Jitsu team that he co-founded with Nicky Ryan, Nicky Rod, and Ethan Crelinsten.
Alexander Volkanovski, the UFC featherweight champion, has him as his BJJ instructor. On The Return of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Volkanovski vs. Team Ortega, he also acted as Team Volkanovski’s BJJ coach.
Craig Jones Achievements
Craig has taken the BJJ world by storm, and he has won a lot of awards and honors. Here are some of Craig’s most important achievements.
- IBJJF NoGi World Champion Purple Belt 2015
- AFBJJ Pan-Pacific Champion weight and absolute Purple Belt 2014
- EBI Absolute Finalist
- UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Bronze Medalist Brown Belt
- Multiple-time EBI veteran
- ADCC veteran
- 3x ADCC Trials Winner
Craig Jones’s Grappling Career
Jones earned gold at the NAGA World Championship and the AFBJJ Pan Pacific Championship in 2014 while competing at the purple belt level. The AFBJJ Pan Pacific Championship is an annual event held in Melbourne.
After winning the ADCC Asia and Oceania Trials in the -88 kilos (194 lb) division the following year, in 2015, Jones qualified for the 2015 ADCC World Championships, a submission grappling competition held every two years and frequently referred to as the “Olympics of grappling”.
Jones, the first Australian man to win an IBJJF world championship, lost the ADCC World first round against Romulo Barral via submission but won the IBJJF World No-Gi Championships in the purple belt division.
Jones won bronze in the brown belt division in the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship a year later, in 2016. Giles elevated Jones to black belt in 2016 while they were both attending Absolute MMA Academy.
Black Belt Career
Again qualifying for the ADCC World in 2017, Jones defeated Chael Sonnen, Murilo Santana, Unity BJJ coach Keenan Cornelius, and 5x Black Belt World Champion Leandro Lo before finishing third behind Alexander Ribeiro and Keenan Cornelius. Jones took up a silver medal from the ADCC Submission Fighting Championship in 2019.
On December 19, 2021, Jones defeated UFC veteran Donald Cerrone in a Combat Jiu-Jitsu super-fight at the Combat Jiu-Jitsu Featherweight World Championships by rear-naked choke.
Jones won silver at the ADCC in 2022 after switching to the -99 kg division and defeating three-time World Champion Nicholas Meregali in the semifinals.
He was scheduled to face Meregali in a rematch at Who’s Number One on February 25, 2023, but he had to pull out, forcing the fight to be postponed. On June 29, 2023, Jones and Felipe Pena were slated to face off in the main event of UFC Fight Pass Invitational 4.
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FAQs
Who is Craig Jones?
Craig Jones is an Australian wrestler and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) fighter. He is highly skilled on the mat and known for his artistic abilities, submission techniques, and success in competitions.
Is Craig Jones in Slipknot?
Slipknot has made an announcement that Craig Jones, the masked keyboard player and sampler who has been with the band since 1996, has departed from the group.
