PGF 9 Season Preview – The Qualifiers are HERE!!!

And we’re BACK! Professional Grappling Federation World (PGF) Season 9 cometh! The only professional submission grappling league with a weekly season is coming back this spring, but fans and aspiring competitors alike need to know the pre-season starts in just a few weeks! Let’s recap everything what’s been divulged about PGF Season 9.

PRE-SEASON: The PGF is “Everything you love about sports, plus jiu jitsu!” As part of this mantra, the PGF Commissioner Brandon Mccaghren, if you watch big bjj competitions you already know who he is, built the PGF with a pre-season, regular season, and post-season. The PGF Pre-Season means QUALIFIERS!!! The Qualifiers provide an opportunity for would-be, unknown competitors to have a shot at making their way to the PGF 9 Season. For each qualifier, the winner ensures they have a spot in PGF Season 9 – either as an active member for the draft or as a free agent (the limited list of other competitors available to the four teams if they have an injured player). Of note, the both PGF Season 8 regular season winner, Dominic Mejia, and the eventual season runner-up, Derek Rayfield, both came off the free agent roster. BTW, if you don’t win a qualifier, there’s no chance to make the roster. The Commissioner has already filled the at-large bids. To be fair, if you show out at a qualifier and don’t win…it would be worth your while to hit up the Commissioner if you’re willing to make the commitment to be a part of PGF 9 – injuries always occur before the season starts and you never know if you might have a chance as a last-minute fill in. I’ll discuss the scheduled Qualifiers below.

WEIGHT CLASS: For PGF Season 9, we’re going back to the 175lb weight class (see e.g. PGF Season 6). As PGF fans know, competitors have to make the 175lb weight the day before the qualifiers and then again the day before the regular season starts. There’s a little change this season. Previously, competitors never had to weigh in again after the initial weigh in before they started the season. This season, competitors will have to weigh in weekly, but they don’t have to make 175lb again – they just must ensure they haven’t gained so much weight that they pushed past the next weight class limit (i.e. 195 lbs). So a competitor who can make 175 lb for a qualifier and for one season weigh-in, can get up to 194lb throughout the season. This modification is to help competitors stay healthy, but also to guard against folks cutting two weight classes as we saw last season.

DRAFT: After the qualifiers tell us who will be a part of the PGF 9 roster, the regular season fun begins with the DRAFT!!! The Draft will be held on 4 February 2026 this season. Honestly, the DRAFT might be one of the most fun experiences of the PGF. We’ll have a full separate article on the draft forthcoming. Rest assured the basics are this – each of the four PGF 9 teams will have to assemble a five-member team. The draft inevitably involves intrigue, where some teams and their coaches try to poach competitors with pre-existing relationships with other teams or their coaches. During the last three seasons in Las Vegas, the teams and their coaches had a set budget and had to assemble their teams through an auction format with the competitor order being randomized.

REGULAR SEASON, AND PLAYOFFS: The regular season kicks of on March 4, 2026. It will run weekly on Wednesdays for five weeks, culminating on 1 April 2026 (no, not an April’s Fools joke, but inevitably some competitors will come out of nowhere to spoil some frontrunner’s seasons). The PGF Regular Season is Appointment TV! Every Wednesday, fans will want to set aside their evening for 30 (yes 30!) amazing matches. The competitors will be competing in 15 six-minute matches throughout the season. This setup ensures they face every opponent on each of the three teams they are trying to beat. Competitors will be trying to put points on the boards to help their team win the regular season title – the team who amasses the highest point total for their team will win the regular season. Competitors score three points if they can get a Break submission (joint lock); six points if they get a KILL (strangle), and they get a bonus point (the Elbow Genie Point) if they get either submission within one minute of the match. Competitors also are trying to ensure they are in the top eight point scorers so they can make it to the playoffs.

The Playoffs this season will occur ONE WEEK AFTER THE SEASON FINALE!!! This short layover is a change from last season. This current schedule means fans will be able to fall in love with the competitors throughout the season and tune in to the same PGF channel at the same PGF time the week after the season finale to see their favorite competitors vie for the PGF 9 title!!! The Playoffs are a single-elimination bracket with 10 minute rounds. If the match goes to overtime, they both have a chance at a tie-breaker similar to EBI Overtime, but the back position is the only position allowed,. Competitors will either win by quickest submission or quickest escape time if no submission is scored by either side in overtime.

THE TEAMS: The PGF has three franchises thus far. The Las Vegas Kings (formerly New Hope Regeneration Kings) were the first franchise in Jiu Jitsu history. Owner Kevin Lucas started his relationship with the PGF in Season 5 and believed in it so much he purchased the first professional jiu jitsu franchise in history. The Las Vegas Kings standout by both having the last two season winners on their team, but also because Lucas’ vision of helping shape professional grapplers has them bringing in subject matter experts weekly to teach their competitors about finance, leadership, etc. in order to make them true “Kings.” The Alabama Twisters were late arrivals for PGF 8, but they made their presence felt! The “Notorious Nine” black belts, some gym owners, some not, from Alabama came together to crowd source their franchise. The PGF was born in Alabama so it is only fitting there’s an Alabama franchise. Headed by PGF veteran and consensus first ballot hall of famer, Matt Elkins, the Twisters rock an awesome logo and they play up the country aspect of Alabama – providing special cowboy hats to all their competitors. The Twisters came in second last season, but they came in first for team spirit including ownership antics on the sidelines. The Twisters always make things interesting. Announced during PGF Season 8, the Philadelphia Phenoms with their alien mascot and bright green colors will definitely make an impression this season as Area 215 lands in the PGF. Owner, Lauren Barone, who is also a bjj competitor, has broken barriers by both being the first female team owner but also the first team located in the Northeast. Rumor has it Barone has secured a very exciting veteran to be her team coach…but we only tease rumors here (have to wait for it to be public before I say anything – I’m not going back on double-secret probation again!!!). The fourth team is currently a mystery. The last initial franchise is up for grabs. The Editorial Board of Eggheadwarrior.com happens to know a lot about the details of owning a franchise; some serious tax benefits of owning a franchise, and all kinds of great legal stuff that could help would-be owners. If any reader happens to know some folks who want to pool together with some serious capital (think minimum $20k to start), let the Editors know at egghead@eggheadwarrior.com.

THE QUALIFIERS (for real now): Ok, let’s talk about the actual qualifiers. One thing you might notice is a number of them are sponsored or organized by some of the PGF franchises. This difference is SIGNIFICANT! If a PGF franchise hosts a qualifier, they have two options. (1) they can use it to just scout their potential team members, or (2) they can CALL DIBS!!! on the winner of the qualifier, claiming that winner for their franchise!!! So a qualifier for a franchise is both trying to make the overall PGF roster, but also a tryout for that specific franchise’s roster (which could mean a multi-season deal)! The franchises may bring up to two competitors to the season, but still have to at least draft three members. There’s rumor that at least two teams already have two members a piece… We don’t know how this exactly affects the PGF Draft, but we should know before the first qualifier. But besides those wrinkle, let’s look at the announced qualifiers for this season:

1. Alabama Twisters PGF Qualifier, Saturday, November 22, 2025, Kage Fit Academy in Auburn AL. The Twisters are coming out hot! As mentioned, the PGF was born in Alabama and most Alabama qualifiers have been some of the biggest and most successful in the PGF. At the same time, there’s less than three weeks until this qualifier. Those who sign up to this qualifier will have first-mover advantages – they might be able to take action before anyone else realizes what’s going on. This qualifier would be one I would highly target if I was a competitor in this weight class. Even if you don’t win this qualifier, you can win another one. Remember, EBI 25 winner Landon Elmore had to hit multiple PGF Qualifiers to make the roster – and he had a breakout season!
2. PGF Qualifier at ChewJitsu Open, Saturday, December 6, 2025, Gatlinburg Convention Center. The Chewjitsu team actually won PGF Season 4. While Chewy himself first coached the team, life happened and Alabama Twister leader Matt Elkins took over to help them win the first, and only Quintet, PGF Season. Gatlinburg is a very big tourist town on the East coast and should provide an excellent opportunity for competitors from all over to hit this qualifier.
3. King of Subs PGF Open and Qualifier – Pasadena, Saturday, December 13, 2025, 10th Planet Pasadena. LET’S GO BEST COAST!!!!! I can almost guarantee some representation from the Eggheadwarrior.com Editorial board at this competition – only to watch, maybe serve as a commentator (you never know), and be ready to highlight the great play of the competitors. The PGF has had a lot of standouts from the Pacific time zone and this qualifier might be the best opportunity for a Californian to earn their spot.
4. Las Vegas Kings PGF Season 9 Qualifier, Saturday, December 20, 2025, Dallas, TX. Here we have a chance at the PGF in one of the biggest airline hubs in America. Any competitors should be able to find cheap flight to Dallas. Given its hub nature, this qualifier should be stacked. After all, everything is bigger in Texas!
5. NOT HAPPENING – Grappling Growth PGF 9 Qualifier – Coming Soon, Saturday, January 3, 2026, Atlanta, GA. Given the PGF’s relationship with so many coaches and gyms in Atlanta, this qualifier has a good shot of happening. But until it’s official, competitors should lineup other qualifiers to ensure they have a shot.
6. Philadelphia Phenoms PGF Qualifier, Saturday, January 17, 2026, Bethlehem PA at Finishers MMA HQ. Ok Northeast and East Coat foks, this qualifier has your name all over it! The Phillie Phenoms are all about establishing their franchise and one has to think they are excited to sign talent from their surrounding area. If you’re in the NE, represent and find a home with the PHENOMS!!!
7. Las Vegas Kings PGF Season 9 Qualifiers (Coming Soon), Saturday, January 24, 2026, Las Vegas. The PGF Season 8 Las Vegas qualifier supplied almost half the roster. Anyone who can make it to this qualifier is more than likely to gut it out for the six weeks of the PGF regular season and playoffs. Every Las Vegas PGF Qualifier has been FIRE!!! There’s no reason to believe this qualifier won’t be the same.

Ok, that’s enough news for now. Don’t worry, we’ll keep you updated here. Also, in this upcoming week, look out for “Egghead’s Scramble” – a weekly podcast highlighting the latest and greatest news about the Professional Grappling Federation. It will be short and sweet, aiming for less than 20 minutes unless there’s a competitor interview. We will value your time while bringing you the inside scoop on what’s happening this season. It will likely be on the EggheadJiuJitsu Youtube page. Just make sure to follow EggheadWarrior and EggheadJiuJitsu on Instagram to make sure you get the latest PGF news.

For now, Happy All Souls Day! I hope everyone had a Happy Halloween. Finally, BUCKLE UP! The PGF Season is coming at you quickly. It’s going to be amazing! GET EXCITED!!!

BTW, if you’re looking to get some new jiu jitsu gear, PGF World Season 6 Team Champion 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.