Been there, done that, got the t-shirt…these Professional Grappling Federation (PGF) Season 8 competitors should have a leg up over the competition. Just over 1/3 of the roster has some level of PGF experience, some from the early years, some just as alternates in the modern era…regardless, these gentlemen have an insight into what’s to come this season. Arguably, most of these competitors should be near the top of the coaches’ draft boards. Let’s take a look at the competitors who have been a part of the PGF previously:
Jett Thompson – Watkins Wrecking Crew – Before PGF Season 6, very few people knew of Jett Thompson. The former voice of the PGF, 10th Planet Decatur Black Belt Matt Skaff told the Commissioner, Brandon Mccaghren, to look into Jett. Other than a bunch of kids’ titles and a Gold at the ADCC Austin Open, Jett hadn’t really made a big enough splash on the jiut jitsu scene to gain the attention of the other competitors or the coaches. Well, every competitor, coach, and fan that watched PGF Season 6 was in the splash zone for sure. Jett faced every top-ranked competitor in PGF Season 6 – and didn’t lose a match until the PGF Season 6 finale championship match – and even that match he lost by EBI overtime in a buzzer beater scenario. Jett’s insane ankle locks/Aoki locks sent home multiple highly-touted black belt competitors during PGF Season 6. After PGF Season 6, Jett has only gone on to gold medal at multiple more ADCC Opens including at the Absolute (any weight) class. He’s the Main Character Jiu Jitsu Champ at 185 lbs (reminder this season of the PGF is 155 lbs). He’s won a couple of IBJJF opens as well. Jett has some serious momentum coming into this PGF Season. He’s survived and THRIVED in the gauntlet that is the PGF Shark Week of Jiu Jitsu. And he’s only 18! Jett is the favorite to be top draft pick/highest paid player this season, and for good reason. Jett’s going to be smiling at his opponents as he rips off their limbs in PGF Season 8.
Christos Papadelos – Purple Belt, New Wave Jiu Jitsu – Christos first drew the attention of PGF fans at the PGF Season 7 Austin Qualifier, he subbed all his opponents (except his roommate who won the qualifier) even though he weighed at least 25 lbs less than them. As a PGF Season 7 alternate, Christos found himself sitting on the sidelines until the last day of the season, then he gave us three great matches (again despite being very undersided). As a result of his obvious skill and desire, the Commissioner made Christos the first invitee to PGF Season 8. Christos hails from Peabody, Massachusetts originally. Motivated to try MMA, he sought out jiu jitsu after training in Tae Kwon Do as a child. After earning a blue belt from a local gym, Christos found Placido Santos, famous for being John Danaher’s uke in so many BJJ Fanatics instructionals, but also a great practitioner himself. Placido introduced Christos to the Danaher squad and Christos knew that’s where he wanted to train. Now after more than four years training with Danaher, Gordon Ryan, etc., Christos is really killing it. Christos is also a business man, serving as a promoter for Enigma Jiu Jitsu fights which has an awesome online site (super searchable, thank you Christos!). Christos, with his Enigma promotion, headed up two of the qualifiers for this year. He’s always keeping, just double golding at the ADCC Macedonia open. Christos is smart, has the PGF experience, and trains at one of the best gyms in the world. Surely Christos should be a top five pick (and I’ll stop calling you shirley – that’s an Airplane reference/joke for you youngsters…google it or ask chatgpt).
Kris Olivo – founder of Potential Jiu Jitsu, a Zenith Jiu Jitsu affiliate, promoted to black belt by Robert Drysdale. “The Most Interesting Man in the PGF!” Olivo was in the Air Force. Then he decided he wanted to do jiu jitsu and train under Drysdale because Drysdale beat Marcelo Garcia. When no one in the Air Force wanted to support his decisions, Olivo willed his way to Nellis AFB in Las Vegas area. On a whim, became a magician and sold magic tricks online for Penguin Magic. Olivo has co-written a book. He’s started a marketing company for franchises. Olivo has started a platform for individual service providers to build their reputation online(endorsemii). Olivo started his own gym, affiliate of Zenith bjj, where he decided to be the only jiu jitsu gym with a sauna and a cold plunge in Las Vegas. Olivo decided he needed some big wins in his jiu jitsu journey so he won a no-gi masters world championship at Brown belt. Olivo is coming in to this season, weighing normally at 180 or more; instead of giving up weight to his opponents like he did in PGF Season 7, in Season 8, Kris will be one of the bigger boys. As a marketing guy, Olivo knows to be himself, but turned up to 11. His entrepreneurial spirit has led him to set big, hairy, audacious, goals…and Olivo accomplishes them. I wouldn’t bet against this man who’s consistently beat the odds. This PGF Season 7 alternate and most stylish competitor to grace the PGF stage (tip of the cap to Cam Hurd and Kyle Chambers) will be both a fan favorite and an odds favorite to finish in the top 8, if not on top, period!
Juan Martinez V – Black Belt – Head Coach at Childress BJJ (Pueblo, Colorado) and owner of Ukes Grappling Club. The Uke, according to his “gram,” Juan Martinez V earned a lot of fans during his PGF Season 4 (155lb) run. Even in that season’s quintet format, Juan found a way to earn spot in the top eight, getting a spot in the playoffs. Since Season 4, Juan earned a gold medal in the ADCC Phoenix open in 2024. He showed some great jiu jitsu in both the Austin and Las Vegas PGF qualifiers, including a slick triangle with a little gag reflex against fellow PGF8 contender JJ Bowers. After PGF Season 4, Juan has earned three more years of experience, going from 21/22 to the ripe old age of 24. He went from a game competitor to a dangerous competitor, showing great improvement in his guard game. Juan is now just hitting his stride. He still comes from a smaller, regional school but his dedication to the game is serious. Juan knows he has a great opportunity with the PGF this season. One has to believe, he will do everything in his power to capitalize on this opportunity.
Anthony Molina – Black Belt – B Team (formerly 10th Planet Miami) – Molina moved so smoothly on his feet during the Fort Myers Qualifier for PGF Season 4, most of the fans thought he had to be a boxer on the side. Molina came into PGF Season 4 with a lot of promise but had trouble adjusting to the PGF style and he was just weighing in around 145 naturally at the time. To be fair, PGF Season 4 was the one and only PGF Quintet-style season, resulting in Anthony only getting five (5) matches as to the guaranteed 15 matches this season. Moreover, since Molina was so highly regarded that season, an opponent taking him to a draw was a win for his opponent’s team. Regardless, Molina still has the PGF-rules competition experience. He knows competitors need to seek out the submission with a quickness. Since PGF Season 4, then, Molina has moved from his comfort zone at 10th Planet Miami and sought the challenge of the training room at the B Team. Now representing the B Team, Molina has been facing tougher opponents and competing often.
Mike John – Black Belt Instructor at 10th Planet Orange – recently had a big Combat Jiu Jitsu TKO win at Subversiv Fight Club. Mike’s had big wins in many of the bigger promotions in jiu jitsu. Mike John was the only person in PGF Season 6 who actually earned his way onto the show: Mike sunk in six submissions at the PGF Season 6 Las Vegas qualifier to earn his PGF6 spot. Mike’s PGF Season 6 ended early, but he showed off his killing ability before he left. Now, Mike’s competing in the PGF Season 8, 155lb season, which is his true weigh class. In PGF Season 6, Mike John became one of the many PGF competitors to fight up a weight class or two. Now, he’s excited to get a shot at the PGF title when his opponents are not outweighing him by 20 or more pounds. Mike has tons of experience and has served as an instructor or coach for multiple other competitors. Mike has a well-deserved reputation for grit and skill. Mike John is one of my pics to end up in the top five this season – he’s a really chill guy if you get to talk to him, but there’s a killer hiding just beneath the surface. I guarantee it.
John Chandler – the PGF Season 6 alternate from Orange County Regional Training Center (RTC) was drastically underweight for Season 6. He weighed in with all his clothes on and then some for Season 6 and still made weight. Chandler had an exhilarating match against his frequent training partner AJ Agazarm and another exciting match against Matt Elkins. At just 22, he’s still a very young, up-and-coming talent in BJJ and MMA. Chandler recently won an amateur MMA match via rear naked choke in the first round to bring his MMA record to 3-0 as an amateur. This young man is pure Americana. Coming from a football and wrestling background in high school, like so many other combat sports athletes, he had a dream to fight MMA at the UFC. He’s built upon a wrestling background where he still sharpens his tools both training at and teaching at Orange County RTC, but added serious jiu jitsu, training with 10th Planet Fullerton and even 10P HQ. Chandler has the drive and motor to match anyone at PGF Season 8. Win or lose, he’s going to put on a good show in every match!
Well, that’s some of what you should know about our PGF Veterans. Don’t get it twisted, the other 13 competitors all have the same ambitions and desire to win that PGF Season 8 belt. While these competitors have many things going for them, the rest of the pack will have something to say about who wins this season. Still, PGF experience means something. Every competitor who has ever been on the PGF Insiders show pre-season has talked about how the PGF wouldn’t be a big deal because they roll so many rounds a day…only to come back after their PGF experience to admit it was a completely different situation. These competitors are not only exceptional grapplers, they have been baptized in the PGF experience. They know the violence of action once has to maintain to score points in the PGF. Moreover, in all their previous situations, they were undersized, underexperienced, or under age(d?), but now they have an outstanding opportunity to make an indelible mark upon the submission grappling and PGF world. These PGF Veterans will make serious runs at the title this year.
Keep following PGF World and Brandon Mccaghren on Instagram and keep tuning in to the PGF Insiders on PGF World’s YouTube page. We normally go live at 7pm Eastern on Sundays. PGF Season 8 kicks off June 25th with the PGF DRAFT! It’s one of the most fun events in the PGF, be sure to check it out.
BTW, if you’re looking to get some new jiu jitsu gear, PGF World Season 6 Team Champions XMARTIAL has some great gear. I wrote a review of my XMartial shorts and rash guard HERE. If you use the coupon code “EGGHEAD,” you will get 15% off your order (and you’ll help me out a bit). XMARTIAL has some really fun rash guards and everyone I know loves their shorts. So check them out.
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