The Once and Future King of the PGF!

Elijah Carlton is the Royce Gracie of the Professional Grappling Federation. So many times critics and other competitors have counted him out, and Elijah has shut them down with stunning victories. Now Elijah Carlton is entering the seventh season of the PGF. He’s facing a roster of world-class grapplers at a higher weight class than season 6. Once again, some detractors are counting him out of the playoffs; once again, Elijah will prove them wrong.

In the inaugural season of the PGF, Elijah faced three competitors every Friday night over a span of weeks. Elijah went a perfect 24-0, with a 74% Kill (chokes) rate. He highlighted a complete game of takedowns, sweeps, back takes and submissions. PGF Season 1 was at the 195lb weight class and Elijah dominated the competition. He earned the title of King of the PGF, winning the regular and post season.

Coming into season 2, Elijah faced a new set of opponents at 225lbs. In the first PGF regular season that ran over just one week, Elijah went 14-1. Still showing devastating submissions, he spread them evenly between breaks (joint locks) and kills. In that season, he faced world-class wrestlers and joint lock specialists alike, but he only lost to one opponent. Elijah showed great endurance in the playoffs, winning a match that lasted more than 40 minutes.

After season 2, the PGF grew in reputation and the level of the competition increased. Elijah went down to 170lb for Season 3. For this season, the teams of the PGF was highlighted. With a 10-0-2 record, Elijah helped his team go onto victory, with every member of his team making the playoffs. Elijah featured an 83% submission rate for that season. An injury forced Elijah to bow out of the playoffs.

After a season 4 for the smaller grapplers (155lb), PGF Season 5 featured a 175lb division. Critics once again counted out Elijah because the playoffs would feature an overtime where each competitor had opportunities to submit the other starting from the back position. Critics said Elijah couldn’t win in that overtime format. Well, the trend continued, Elijah shut them all up. Elijah entered the playoffs at the top position after hitting a 75% submission rate during the regular season. In the playoffs, Elijah scored multiple submissions, but most importantly – he got a rear-naked choke in overtime to once again be the champ of the PGF.

PGF Season 6 moved the league to the fight capital of the world in Las Vegas. Season 6 had a host of world-champion grapplers competing at 185lb. Many critics thought now that the PGF was no longer somewhat of a regional show that Elijah couldn’t handle the national-level competition of world champions. Some commentators warned “Never bet against Elijah Carlton in the PGF,” but many still did. Well, those critics lost their bets. In a season of killers, Elijah Carlton was the second-highest scorer of the regular season. He entered the playoffs and got a quick submission against Renato Canuto, a world champion.

Now, we are on the verge of PGF Season 7 beginning and critics are making the same mistakes. Most critics don’t know Elijah has competed in the PGF format at both 195 and 225 lbs. Most critics don’t know Elijah has a 81% submission rate in the PGF, with more Elbow Genie bonus points (<1 minute subs) than the competitor after whom the bonus point was named. By this point, Elijah has to like the critics discounting him. It probably gives him fuel to get on the mats and prove to everyone “Never bet against Elijah Carlton in the PGF.” He has more experience than anyone in this format. It’s his home. And he’s going to get on the mats and face his opponents like they are trying to take his home away from him. Elijah Carlton’s making the playoffs again and there’s a real possibility he wins it all. Because, say it with me: you “Never bet against Elijah Carlton in the PGF.”