John Danaher’s New Wave team for CJI 2 is reportedly finalized and filled with BJJ champions.
New Wave was a surprise addition to the Craig Jones Invitational 2 (CJI 2), given their original team’s bitter split and rivalry with B-Team. The John Danaher led squad will indeed be joining the event’s $1 million Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) team tournament, and their representatives are reportedly finalized.
According to a report from FloGrappling, four of the five members of New Wave’s CJI 2 contingent are already set. Even without BJJ great Gordon Ryan, who announced he’d rather take a “shotgun blast to the face” than compete in Craig Jones’ event, their line up is still pretty deep.
New Wave’s CJI 2 team will reportedly be led by the reigning two-time ADCC world champion Giancarlo Bodoni. He will naturally be their representative at 88 kg, where he won ADCC gold medals in 2022 and 2024.
ADCC 2024 silver medalist Luke Griffith, who co-headlines WNO 27 this April, will be taking the team’s slot at 99 kg. Two ADCC trials winners will fill the lightest and heaviest divisions, with Dorian Olivarez at 66 kg and “Big” Dan Manasoiu at the over 99 kg weight class.
New Wave’s fifth and final slot at 77 kg will reportedly go to an “inter-squad trials” winner. The Australasia team will have their own unique CJI 2 trials event on May 10, but there’s no word just yet on how New Wave will handle theirs.
CJI 2 is co-promoting with Quintet for their $1 million tournament, and the full list of confirmed competitors and team rosters for CJI 2 can be found here.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesNew Wave’s CJI 2 Team Roster
- 66 kg: Dorian Olivarez — 2023 ADCC trials winner
- 77 kg: (Trials Winner)
- 88 kg: Giancarlo Bodoni — Two-time ADCC world champion
- 99 kg: Luke Griffith — 2024 ADCC silver medalist
- +99 kg: Dan Manasoiu — 2023 ADCC trials winner
- Coach: John Danaher
For the latest Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) and grappling-related news click here.