Las Vegas, NV (June 25, 2025) - The Professional Grappling Federation, the world’s fastest-paced grappling format, and a driving force in the evolution of modern Jiu-Jitsu, today announced the results of the Season 8 draft, streamed live on YouTube. As the league grows closer to the debut of their new 13-week season, four legendary coaches have bid on, and selected their respective teams who will compete for the $150,000 prize pool.
TOP TALENT SECURED:
The New Hope Kings, with Coach Robert Drysdale, set a PGF Draft record when they secured Jett Thompson for $7,700
Mica Cipili made waves, investing heavily to secure young gun JJ Bowers for $6,600
Other major moves include Raphael Ferreira and Christos Papadelos.
BARGAIN BUYS STEAL THE SPOTLIGHT
Dom Lobo - $1,000
Landon Elmore - $1600
Matt Masch - $2500
TEAM LINEUPS FINALIZED
Each coach - Andy Varela, Robert Drysdale, Mica Cipili, and Robert Drysdale, assembled a high-calibre roster ready for competition:
Team Robert Drysdale
Jett Thompson: $7,700
Anthony Gojani: $1,000
Anthony Molina: $1,500
Juan Martinez: $3,800
Dominic Lobo: $1,000
Team Renato Canuto
Matt Masch: $2,500
Jordan Wirth: $1,100
Kris Olivo: $3,500
Raphael Ferreira: $6,400
Brady Hylton: $1,500
Team Andy Varela
Brady Branscum: $3,500
Mike John: $3,200
Armin Bruni: $1,400
Landon Elmore: $1,600
Christos Papadelos: $5,300
Team Mica Cipili
Zack Schneider: $2,300
JJ Bowers: $6,600
Robert Blackledge: $1,200
CJ Murdock: $1,100
John Chandler: $3,800
DRAFT DETAILS & FORMAT
The PGF’s auction draft gives each coach $15,000 to build a 5-man starting team. Bidding is open, requiring a strategic balance between marquee talent and depth.
SEASON 8 EVENT SCHEDULE
Season 8 streams live every Wednesday from July 23 to August 20 on Youtube, at 4PM PST with the Playoffs taking place on September 10.
About the PGF
The Professional Grappling Federation (PGF) was created to revolutionize Jiu-Jitsu competition and bring real career opportunities to athletes in the fastest-growing combat sport on Earth. With an emphasis on fast-moving action, team-based formats, franchise ownership, and high-quality streaming content, the PGF has become one of the most influential brands in modern grappling. Information on PGF events, seasons, athletes, and additional content can be found at www.pgf.world or the league’s social channels.
PGF Founders and Board of Advisors
Brandon McCaghren – PGF Commissioner. A 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu black belt and Hall of Fame inductee, Brandon is one of the sport’s most respected voices, serving as an on-air analyst and commentator for UFC Fight Pass, Combat Jiu-Jitsu (CJJ), Craig Jones Invitational (CJI), and ADCC.
Keelan Lawyer – Founder of Subconscious Studios, BJJ black belt, and visionary filmmaker who redefined how Jiu-Jitsu is shot, edited, and delivered to the world. His cinematic style and real-time storytelling helped set a new standard for how grappling is streamed and experienced.
Zoltan Bathory – One of the most recognized ambassadors of Jiu-Jitsu in mainstream culture. A black belt in both BJJ and Judo, Zoltan is a serial entrepreneur with multiple global brands under his leadership—and also moonlights as the founder and guitarist of the multi-platinum, global arena-headlining band Five Finger Death Punch.
Heather Grace Gracie – A key figure from the royal family of martial arts, Heather has grown up immersed in the world of Jiu-Jitsu. She is the owner of Gracie Worldwide, a fight management agency, and a serial entrepreneur with deep connections in athlete development and combat sports business.
PGF Board of Advisors
Royce Gracie – UFC Hall of Famer and global ambassador of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Carlos Machado – 8th-degree coral belt and renowned instructor to thousands worldwide.
Jean Jacques Machado – 8th-degree coral belt and 2024 ADCC Hall of Fame inductee.
Renzo Gracie – PRIDE, UFC, and ADCC legend, founder of Renzo Gracie Academy NYC.
Pedro Sauer – 8th-degree coral belt under Rickson Gracie and revered technician.
Mica Cipili – 6th-degree black belt, competitive champion and master instructor.
Eddie Bravo – Founder of 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu and the Eddie Bravo Invitational (EBI).
Jonathan Anastas – Former CMO of ONE Championship, veteran global brand marketer and operating executive.
Contact:
EVERYTHING YOU LOVE ABOUT SPORTS... PLUS JIU-JITSU!
PGF’S TEAM BASED COMPETITION:
ONCE THE ATHLETES ARE DRAFTED BY THE CAPTAINS, IT'S THE PERFORMANCE OF THE TEAM AS A WHOLE THAT MATTERS THE MOST. THIS ADDS AN ELEMENT OF STRATEGY AND CAMARADERIE NOT COMMONLY FOUND IN INDIVIDUAL-FOCUSED GRAPPLING TOURNAMENTS. THIS TEAM ASPECT ALSO ADDS IMMENSE PRESSURE TO WIN, AS THE INDIVIDUAL ATHLETE’S PERFORMANCE AFFECTS THE ENTIRE TEAM’S PATH TO THE $100,000 GRAND PRIZE… SO THE STAKES ARE HIGH.
THE RULES:
UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THEIR CAPTAINS, THE TEAM MEMBERS WILL FIGHT AGAINST ALL MEMBERS OF THE OPPOSING TEAMS OVER THE COURSE OF A WEEK. THE TEAM WITH THE HIGHEST COLLECTIVE SCORE WINS. PGF BOUTS FEATURE SUBMISSION-ONLY, 6-MINUTE RAPID-PACE ROUNDS. CHOKES EARN 6 POINTS; JOINT LOCKS, 3 POINTS. DRAWS ARE PENALIZED TO KEEP THE FORMAT A “GENTLEMANLY VIOLENT” SUBMISSION HUNTING FRENZY.
THE PLAYOFFS:
AFTER THE TEAM TOURNAMENT IS OVER AND ONE TEAM EMERGES VICTORIOUS, THE EIGHT OVERALL HIGHEST-SCORING ATHLETES — REGARDLESS OF WHICH TEAMS THEY WERE ON — ARE ELIGIBLE TO ENTER THE PLAYOFFS. IT’S POSSIBLE THAT THE COMPETITOR WITH THE MOST WINS OR THE HIGHEST SCORE HAS ENDED UP ON A TEAM THAT DID NOT WIN. HOWEVER, THE PLAYOFFS STILL ALLOW A CHANCE TO WIN THE PGF ABSOLUTE BELT AND THE PGF ABSOLUTE GRAND PRIZE OF $20,000..
SEASON 8 TEAM CAPTAINS ARE FOUR
JIU JITSU LEGENDS
Mica Cipili
TEAM 1
Andy Varela
TEAM 2
Robert Drysdale
TEAM 3
Renato Canuto
TEAM 4
THE PROFESSIONAL GRAPPLING FEDERATION (PGF) IS ARGUABLY ONE OF THE MOST FAST-PACED GRAPPLING TOURNAMENTS IN THE WORLD, LARGELY DUE TO ITS UNIQUE STRUCTURE AND RULESET. WITH A STRONG EMPHASIS ON SUBMISSIONS AND TEAM DYNAMICS, THE PGF INTRODUCES A DRAFT AUCTION SYSTEM THAT CREATES AN ULTRA-COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT IS BOTH STRATEGICALLY COMPLEX AND INTENSELY PHYSICAL.
THE FIRST DAY OF EVERY PGF SEASON BEGINS WITH THE FAN-FAVORITE "DRAFT AUCTION," WHERE THE FOUR TEAM CAPTAINS ATTEMPT TO ASSEMBLE THE BEST POSSIBLE TEAM FROM THE 20 PRE-QUALIFIED ELITE LEVEL GRAPPLERS. [ QUALIFY HERE ] . EACH CAPTAIN HAS AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF “PGF DOLLARS” WHICH THEY USE IN A LIVE AUCTION TO BID FOR THE FIGHTERS THEY WANT ON THEIR TEAM. THIS PROCESS INVOLVES A LOT OF STRATEGY AND CLEVER MANEUVERING, BIDDING AND OUT BIDDING EACH OTHER, OR JUST DRIVING UP THE PRICE TO RUN THE OPPOSING CAPTAINS OUT OF PGF MONEY, LEADING TO COUNTLESS LAUGHTER-FILLED MOMENTS. THESE FACTORS COMBINED MAKE PGF A UNIQUE AND EXHILARATING EXPERIENCE FOR BOTH ATHLETES AND FANS.