It hasn’t even been a fortnight since Jason Nolf defeated Andrew Simmons at the Paradigm Open. And yet, the MMA community is in awe of the three-time NCAA gold medalist thanks to the sheer level of fitness shown inside the octagon on June 9. Only last week, Nolf hinted at entering the inaugural edition of the Craig Jones Invitational, scheduled for August, and now, it looks like he’s quickly becoming one of the favorite names for connoisseurs, to walk home with the $1 million prize money.

Nolf previously revealed that he has harbored the thought of delving deeper into the realm of jiu-jitsu for a long time. With the Olympic Team Trials not going according to his plans, branching out from the shadows of Penn State became an intrusive thought. Luckily, the decision might turn out to be a boon for the 28-year-old.

In a recent Instagram post by Alexandra Wendling, the current status of the CJI has been shed light upon. Wendling informed that there are only five spots left in both the above and under 80kg spots for the August event. However, the focus hovered elsewhere. “One of @cjiofficial ‘s biggest power moves yet… adding 3x D1 wrestling champion, 4x finalist & Olympic qualifier finalist/alternate @jasonnolf to the roster,” reads the caption of the post.

Moreover, the post also noted that Nolf’s inclusion has created a lot of ripples across the community. “Wrestling purists are officially intrigued and BJJ nerds better watch out,” said Wendling’s post. She also roped in an expert from Wrestling Grind to spill their guts about Jason’s prospect at the Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournament.

“I couldn’t be more excited to see Jason Nolf in there,” said Wendling’s guest, apparently still enthralled because the former Penn State wrestler took down Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs in April at the Team Trials. “Beating Jordan Burroughs in a wrestling match is insane,” emphasized the interviewee. However, the NLWC star might not be the only one to make the headlines at the CJI.

Nolf’s confidence can get another boost, thanks to an ally

The two-time Big Ten gold winner, Nolf, previously stated that his training was being aided by MMA star Bo Nickal. Nickal, a Penn State alum himself, was also seen at the sidelines during the Team Trials, assisting the Olympic aspirants with important tips alongside head coach Cael Sanderson. Nickal’s activities inside the octagon even prompted former POTUS Donald Trump to hail him as a “phenomenal” athlete who is likely to do well in the future.

“Maybe we get one of his [Jason] best friends,” speculates the Instagram video, referring to Bo’s chances of appearing in the CJI roster. While these two Penn State celebrities will undoubtedly bring a lot of attention to the biggest cash prize-boasting grappling tournament, their task won’t be an easy feat. The likes of Levi Jones-Leary and Eoghan O’Flanagan will give them formidable competition at the CJI.

Who is likely to be your pick from the staked roster? Tell us your choice and its reasons in the comments!

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