Main Event - Shaw “Almighty” Dean vs Craig Jones

…..aaaaannnnndddd here it is, the MAIN EVENT of the evening! Hybrid Training Centre’s Shaw Dean facing off with Isohealth BJJ’s Craig Jones. Both are veterans of Caged Grappling 1, this is a very intriguing matchup between two very different competitors.

Here is how it breaks down….

Name: Shaw Dean

Style: MMA, BJJ (purple belt)

Background: Shaw is a multi-discipline martial artist with a long history of training and competition. He is currently 3-0 in the cage holding wins over such notables as former Australian Muay Thai Champ, Nick “Rumble” Rundle and Melbourne’s Hoshi “The Freight Train” Friedrich. Shaw is the owner and head trainer of Hobart’s Hybrid Training Centre having recently purchased the business, with his wife Kirrilee, from founder Priscus Fogagnolo. Shaw is scheduled to fight Callan “The Rockstar” Potter for the Valor Welterweight title in November this year.

Strengths: The head of HTC Shaw is tall, tough and a serious competitor. With a title shot in the works for later this year and a submission win over BJJ Black Belt Chris Stone in the last event, Shaw will be coming to win. Expect good cage craft and an explosive powerful top game.

Name: Craig Jones

Style: BJJ (purple belt)

Background: Craig has been extremely dedicated to the competitive BJJ and Submission wrestling scene for many years. Training out of Adelaide’s ISOHealth BJJ, he has made a name for himself as a competitor all over Australia and internationally. Craig has qualified for and competed in ADCC (one of only a handful of Australians, even though he is still a purple belt), he is the 2014 NAGA World Champion, 4 x Pan Pacific BJJ Champion and the 2014 FIVE Grappling Champion.

Strengths: There are purple belts and there are purple belts…. Craig is the latter. At the time of writing this Craig is on his way to Brazil to compete in the 2015 ADCC, yes you read that right, not the trials... THE ADCC! Craig is an amazing competitor and is a threat to anyone, in any division, at any rank, on the planet.

Synopsis: The second match of the night to feature two purple belts, this match is interesting. On paper these two are the same rank, but Craig Jones is one of the best submission grapplers in Australia at any rank, so to me this match comes down to whether or not Shaw can bring the power and cage craft to negate Craig’s skills. I can’t wait to see it.