Declan Moody wins CJI 2 trials; Etiabari and ‘Hokage’ wild card complete Australasia team

Team Australasia’s line up for the Craig Jones Invitational 2 (CJI 2) has been finalized. After hosting CJI 2 trials in Melbourne, Australia, two trials winners and a wild card pick have received official invites to the upcoming $1 million team tournament this August.

Several of the best Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) competitors from Australia and Asia participated in two tournaments in one day. The CJI 2 Australasia trials event had a 16-man tournament, with the winner qualifying for a separate 6-man round robin.

The two top grapplers from that second BJJ tourney then earned their spots at CJI 2.

Declan Moody dominates CJI 2 Australasia trials, Etiabari receives slot

After two tournaments and dozens of matches, the two grapplers earning slots for CJI 2 were Declan Moody and Belal Etiabari.

With three submissions in five matches, B-Team’s Moody by far had the most finishes in the round robin. The former ADCC trials winner was the early tournament favorite, and it showed as he dominated every single match to earn a spot at the Australasia team.

Apart from taking the slot, Moody also received a $5,000 bonus for most submissions in the event.

Belal Etiabari and Kaya Rudolph were tied with one submission each from the round robin, so the second CJI 2 slot was decided on a tiebreaker. After organizer Lachlan Giles and other judges’ deliberated and tallied all the scores from the earlier matches, Etiabari was awarded a spot on the Australasia team.

Despite missing out on a CJI 2 spot, longtime BJJ veteran Kit Dale was also one of the biggest standouts from the trials event. The 39-year-old only came in as a late replacement, but he won the 16-man tournament qualifier and also had a good showing in the round robin. Dale competed well despite having by far the most matches in one day, but he just didn’t notch the finishes that coach Lachlan Giles required to qualify.

Complete results and a full replay of the entire event can be seen here.

Fabricio Andrey revealed as Team Australasia’s wild card pick for CJI 2

During the CJI 2 Trials event, Australasia coach Lachlan Giles also pulled out a cardboard standee to reveal their wild card pick. As shown in the broadcast, BJJ world champion “Hokage” Fabricio Andrey will be the team’s representative for 66 kg.

Andrey will join Levi Jones-Leary and Lucas Kanard, along with the two trials winners to complete the Australasia Misfits team.

Their official CJI 2 roster is as follows:

Team Australasia final CJI 2 line up

• 66 kg: Fabricio Andrey (Wild card pick) — 2021 IBJJF world champion
• 77 kg: Levi Jones-Leary — CJI 1 finalist
• 88 kg: Lucas Kanard — 2024 ADCC trials winner
• 99 kg: Declan Moody (CJI 2 Trials winner) — 2024 ADCC trials winner
• +99 kg: Belal Etiabari (CJI 2 Trials 2nd place)
• Coach: Lachlan Giles

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