Two Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) stars and top pound-for-pound champions have been added to the $1 million team tournament at CJI 2.
BJJ champ turned promoter Craig Jones attended WNO 29 to reveal the biggest name to be added to his upcoming event in August.
BJJ star Mica Galvao announced as CJI 2 wild card for New Wave
During the WNO 29 broadcast, Craig Jones announced a pretty major signing for CJI 2.
“Mica Galvao, the greatest, most dangerous athlete the sport has ever seen, has signed for Team New Wave (at) 77 kilos,” Jones announced. “Every other athlete has signed their contracts. Bad decision, you can’t pull out now.”
Galvao, who chose to compete in ADCC — and win a world title — in 2024, noted that he’s excited for the chance to debut and compete at CJI 2 this time around.
Galvao got the rare distinction of becoming a “Super Grand Slam Champion” in 2024, after he won an ADCC world title and all four major IBJJF titles in the gi. In 2025, the 21-year-old phenom continued to collect belts as he won a stacked BJJ Stars 15 grand prix and became a two-division WNO champion.
As Jones noted, Galvao will join John Danaher and Team New Wave / Kingsway at 77 kg, making for a pretty stacked line up.
New Wave CJI 2 Roster
- 66 kg: Dorian Olivarez — 2023 ADCC trials winner
- 77 kg: Mica Galvao — 2024 Super Grand Slam Champion
- 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
Diego Pato poster via Instagram @diegopatojj
Diego Pato joins team Atos for CJI 2
Also recently announced for CJI 2 is another pound-for-pound talent and decorated BJJ champion. Diego “Pato” Oliveira, a six-time IBJJF world champion and two-time ADCC medalist, will be joining Team Atos as a wild card pick at 66 kg.
Felipe Pena was previously announced as Atos’ wild card pick, but Craig Jones is now saying they are considering him as a regular Atos member as he has hosted camp there in his last few matches.
Pato is coming from the AOJ stable, which also originally branched out from Atos.
The rest of the CJI 2 team rosters and complete fight card is here.
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