Oh snap! It’s time for week 4 of PGF Season 8. Everything is getting REALER THAN REAL!!! Team Dollamur is holding the wolves at bay, but the new super team on the block, the Alabama Twisters will have something to say about that. Plus, now the New Hope Kings who have stayed in the conversation without points from their marquee player Jett Thompson, now are looking to hit on all cylinders. Whew! It’s a real game now for the team championship. But let’s transition to the individual standings…where the bubble is the name of the game!!!
Christos Papadelos and Landon Elmore, the two original Kings Way PGF 8 competitors, hold the top two spots. Their teammate and Massachusetts Qualifier winner (I’m going to buy an Mass. map for BMAC), the Dominator, newly entering the fray, has already made himself a playoff possibility after only one day in the league. Kris Olivo has proven he was as advertised: not only the most interesting man in the PGF, but a stone-cold killer, or at least breaker as he has the longest break streak short of the Elbow Genie, Jonathan Roberts, himself.
But we still have 40% of the season left, thanks to the new five-week season. No one has ever been “ruled out” of playoff contention until the first block of the final day traditionally. We’ll have to see if the elongated season changes that stat. We might have the best season ever of the PGF on our hands. We have a roster of hungry, dedicated, killer competitors. We’ve always had a crew and staff that had the passion – and now that passion and dedication is being rewarded. YOU ARE SEEING PEAK JIU JITSU – or at least competitors using their jiu jitsu in a game designed to optimize the fan experience. I’ve gone on way too long for the intro, but it’s because the passion and love of the PGF is going wild right now.
As you can see from the graphic, six to eight competitors are arguably on the bubble. Sure, Anthony Molina Valdes and Dom Lobo have the best shot of the group, but they are only four and three points, respectively, ahead of the logjam that is the four-way tie for the last spot into the playoffs. But since Egghead is already behind, let’s focus on the 6-12 spots on the list. Who are they facing? What are their chances on making the playoff? Honestly, we’re just going to look at Week 4, since we’ve already seen how the matches can change so much with an injury or two to the roster.
Jett Thompson (New Hope Kings) – faces Raphael Ferreira (Alabama Twisters), CJ Murdock (Tropic Thunders), Spenser Ortiz (Dollamur). Jett came to life in Week 3, earning two DQ wins and a kill. Papadelos showed Raphael can be submitted. CJ has been submitted multiple times. Ortiz is a rematch, with Jett getting a DQ win. It’s not going to be easy, but Jett CAN get points against this lineup. With the bunching up of competitors in the standings, Jett MUST get points today if he wants to secure a spot in the playoffs.
Derek Rayfield (Team Dollamur) –faces JJ Bowers (Tropic Thunders), Sergio Ardila (Alabama Twisters), and Dom Lobo (New Hope Kings). Rayfield, a former young gun himself having competed even at EBI 5 as a 14 year old, has matured into an experienced grappler with a large frame. Looking at his matchups, JJ Bowers has been submitted multiple times this season. Sergio is so experienced and smart – it’ll be hard to score against him. Dom has only been submitted by Raphael Ferreira…but Rayfield and Lobo are both rubber guard players – one has to think the the older, larger version should have the upper hand.
Matt Masch (Alabama Twisters) – faces Juan Martinez V (New Hope Kings), Michael John (Dollamur), CJ Murdock (Tropic Thunders). Masch might have his best lineup so far of the season. They are all game grapplers, but have all been finished as well. The CJJ Worlds champ, Masch definitely has the skills and has shown the motor in the PGF to put up points.
Dominic Mejia (Alabama Twisters) – faces Anthony Gojani (New Hope Kings), Spenser Ortiz (Dollamur), and Jordan Wirth (Tropic Thunders). Kris Olivo has said he is inevitable…but Mejia putting up 12 points on his first day in the competition might be taking that title. Mejia likely finds a way to the RNC against Ortiz, but it’ll be interesting to see how he navigates the truly unorthodox pair or Gojani and Wirth. Chances are the Dominator finds his way to another 12 point day (or more).
Raphael Ferreira (Alabama Twisters) – faces Jett Thompson (New Hope Kings), Landon Elmore (Dollamur), Joseph Bowers (Tropic Thunders). Rafa faces the two highest draft picks in Jett and JJ and The Big Slime Landon Elmore who is trying to make a case for being named the Ankle Genie. Rafa is must-see TB and could very well end up with three subs here. Regardless of the outcome, everyone knows these matches will be FIRE!
Anthony Gojani (New Hope Kings) – faces Dominic Mejia (Alabama Twisters), JJ Bowers (Tropic Thunders), and Christos Papadelos (New Hope Kings). Mejia took out Gojani with a head and arm triangle at the PGF 8 Massachusetts Qualifier. It’ll be hard for Gojani to get points there. Papadelos is at the top of the rankings for a reason. Bowers seems to be the best opportunity for Gojani to get points, but JJ also wants to get some highlights to get back in the playoff hunt. People have written off Gojani previously, but he’s persevered. It’s not out of the question for him to prove people wrong again.
Zack Schneider (Tropic Thunders) – INACTIVE – Zack not having the opportunity to compete has to be tough. Schneider launched himself to the top of the leader board in Week 1 with a Kill. Now, since the pack will have a chance to leave him behind, he’ll have to plan on probably two kills to catch up. It can be done as the Dominator showed in Week 3, but it’s a tall order.
There you have it – these players are going to have some proverbial knife fights going on to ensure they get to make the playoff tournament on September 10th. Check in tonight at 4pm Pacific and 7pm Eastern to catch the fight for the playoffs FREE and LIVE on YouTube.
And check back to this blog for my inevitable (and sadly often last-minute) full fantasy projections for tonight.
Egghead. Out.
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