A second trials event for the Craig Jones Invitational 2 (CJI 2) will happen this weekend.
Two weeks after the Australasia Trials saw Declan Moody and Belal Etiabari earn their spot, it’ll now be Team Europe’s turn to complete their roster. The CJI 2 European Trials will happen in West London, with three more slots up for grabs.
BJJ champ Charles Negromonte officially joins Owen Jones at Team Europe
With other Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) champs from the region like Mateusz Szczecinski and Tommy Langaker unable to join due to injury, B-Team’s Owen Jones was the first confirmed member of Team Europe.
As recently announced, joining him on the roster is fellow ADCC trials winner Charles Negromonte. The pair will take the team’s slots at 66 kg and 99 kg, while the remaining slots will be determined in the CJI 2 European Trials.
CJI 2 EU Trials to host four-man tournaments in three divisions
To determine their representatives at 77 kg, 88 kg and +99 kg, the CJI 2 European Trials will host four-man tournaments on each division.
Interestingly enough, instead of just awarding a prominent BJJ star a slot outright for their “wild card” pick — like B-Team and Team Australasia did — Team Europe will instead still let an American try to earn his way in the tournament as well.
Should four-time ADCC Trials winner Paul Ardila win the 88 kg tournament, the American will be their official “wild card” pick. Should a European beat him, the team will just give him the slot and avoid using that free perk.
Several of the best BJJ stars from the region are competing at the CJI 2 European Trials, and the complete line up for the three tournaments are as follows:
77 kg: Pawel Jaworski, Tarik Hopstock, Tom Barry, Ellis Younger
88 kg: Taylor Pearman, Paul Ardila, Ben Bennett, Mohammed Avtarhanov
+99 kg: Heikki Jussila, Marcin Maciulewicz, Philippe Geyer, Arya Esfandmaz
CJI 2 European Trials: How to watch, free live stream, start time
The CJI 2 European Trials will happen Saturday morning (May 24, 2025) at the Los Banditos Grappling Club, in West London. The event will start at 9 a.m. ET, and there will be a free live stream of the event on the B-Team YouTube channel.
Team Europe’s full line up should be completed after the event. Their current CJI 2 roster is as follows:
66 kg: Owen Jones — 2023 ADCC Trials winner
77 kg: (Trials winner)
88 kg: (Trials winner)
99 kg: Charles Negromonte — 2024 ADCC Trials winner
+99 kg: (Trials winner)
Coach: Faris Benlamkadem
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