Craig Jones & Alex Volkanovski

Who is Craig Jones & Alex Volkanovski?

Joe is joined by top ranked jiu jitsu grappler Craig Jones & UFC Feather Champion Alex Volkanovski. Learn more about your ad choices.

Topics and Timestamps

• 01Craig Jones discusses his rise in competitive jiu jitsu and leg lock innovations that changed the sport
• 02Alex Volkanovski talks about his path to UFC featherweight championship and fighting at a smaller weight class
• 03Both guests share insights on grappling techniques and how they've evolved their respective martial arts
• 04Discussion covers the mental game and preparation required to compete at the highest levels of combat sports
• 05Joe explores the differences between jiu jitsu competition and MMA fighting with both elite athletes
• 06Conversation touches on training methodologies and how different martial arts philosophies approach problem solving
• ▶Craig Jones explains his leg lock innovations and how they changed jiu jitsu0:15:30
• ▶Alex Volkanovski discusses winning the UFC featherweight championship0:42:15
• ▶Comparison between jiu jitsu competition and MMA fighting philosophies1:05:00
• ▶Discussion of training methodologies and how elite athletes prepare1:28:45
• ▶Volkanovski and Jones discuss fighting at smaller weight classes and the advantages1:52:30

The Show

Joe brings together two elite combat athletes from different disciplines on JRE 110. Craig Jones represents the modern jiu jitsu revolution, particularly in leg lock technology and submission grappling, while Alex Volkanovski sits at the top of the UFC featherweight division. The episode delivers the kind of technical combat sports conversation that JRE does best, diving deep into what separates good athletes from great ones.

Craig Jones brings the energy of someone who's fundamentally changed how people think about leg attacks in jiu jitsu. The conversation naturally flows into how innovation happens in grappling, with Jones explaining the technical details of leg lock systems that have become essential to modern competition. Joe's curiosity about the practical applications and the evolution of these techniques keeps the discussion grounded and interesting.

Alex Volkanovski's perspective as a UFC champion adds another dimension. Being a featherweight in a sport dominated by bigger men requires a different approach to fighting. Volkanovski discusses the advantages and challenges of his weight class, the cardio demands of fighting smaller and faster opponents, and how precision becomes even more important when you can't rely on raw size.

The dynamic between the two is natural. Both are successful combat athletes but from very different backgrounds. This allows Joe to ask questions that illuminate what's universal about high-level competition versus what's specific to each discipline. The conversation touches on training camps, mental preparation, dealing with pressure, and how each fighter approaches their craft differently.

What makes JRE 110 work is the depth. These aren't surface level answers about winning and losing. The discussion goes into the nitty gritty of how you actually develop mastery in combat sports, what separates someone competing at a local level from someone competing internationally, and how the best athletes in the world think about their preparation.

Best Quotes