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# Craig Jones trolled his way into the NYT
- URL: https://fightingmatters.com/craig-jones-trolled-his-way-into-the-nyt/
- Published: 2025-12-03T10:06:05.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-12T05:16:44.000Z
- Description: In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan and Jesse Walker talk with writer Adrian Nathan West about his New York Times piece on Craig Jones, exploring how trolling, politics, and culture collide in modern Jiu-Jitsu.
- Author: Fighting Matters
- Tags: Podcast, Video, Pro Grappling, Media & Propaganda

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan and Jesse Walker talk with writer Adrian Nathan West about his New York Times piece on Craig Jones, exploring how trolling, politics, and culture collide in modern Jiu-Jitsu.  
  
🔗 Links Mentioned:  
• The NYT Article — [https://nyti.ms/3Y1N6oz](https://nyti.ms/3Y1N6oz?ref=fightingmatters.com)  
• Nate West’s Website — [https://anathanwest.com](https://anathanwest.com/?ref=fightingmatters.com)  
• The Baffler — [https://thebaffler.com](https://thebaffler.com/?ref=fightingmatters.com)  
  
⸻  
  
👥 Featuring:  
Steve Kwan — [https://bjjmentalmodels.com](https://bjjmentalmodels.com/?ref=fightingmatters.com)  
Jesse Walker — [https://roughhandsbjj.com](https://roughhandsbjj.com/?ref=fightingmatters.com)  
Adrian Nathan West — [https://anathanwest.com](https://anathanwest.com/?ref=fightingmatters.com)  
  
⸻  
  
🧠 Topics Discussed:  
• Why Craig Jones is a uniquely effective internet troll  
• Gordon Ryan’s influence on young grapplers  
• How Jiu-Jitsu intersects with politics  
• The importance of fact-checking in modern media  
• The future of independent journalism  
• Whether trolling can actually shift culture in BJJ  
  
⸻  
  
📖 Chapters:  
[00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z49lKfS2EVY&ref=fightingmatters.com) — Welcome & Introductions  
[02:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z49lKfS2EVY&t=120s&ref=fightingmatters.com) — How the NYT Article Came Together  
[06:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z49lKfS2EVY&t=390s&ref=fightingmatters.com) — Craig Jones’ Online Persona  
[12:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z49lKfS2EVY&t=765s&ref=fightingmatters.com) — Gordon Ryan’s Political Influence  
[18:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z49lKfS2EVY&t=1080s&ref=fightingmatters.com) — Why Athletes Shape Public Opinion  
[25:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z49lKfS2EVY&t=1510s&ref=fightingmatters.com) — Left, Right, and Populism in BJJ  
[32:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z49lKfS2EVY&t=1920s&ref=fightingmatters.com) — Fact-Checking for the NYT  
[38:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z49lKfS2EVY&t=2310s&ref=fightingmatters.com) — The Rise of Independent Media  
[45:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z49lKfS2EVY&t=2720s&ref=fightingmatters.com) — AI’s Impact on Journalism  
[53:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z49lKfS2EVY&t=3180s&ref=fightingmatters.com) — Should We All Be Trolls?  
[57:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z49lKfS2EVY&t=3440s&ref=fightingmatters.com) — Where to Find Nate’s Work