Carolina Copperheads PGF Qualifier

Saturday, October 3, 2026 Durham, NC, United States

At a Glance

Divisions

No-Gi

Ruleset

Submission only

Entry

$100

Prizes

$800

Description

Durham, NC | 10:00 AM Start | 155 lbs, 170 lbs & 205 lbs | Adult Men (16+) | $100

The road to The PGF Season 10 Draft runs through The Carolinas!

The Professional Grappling Federation comes to the Carolinas for the first time...

The winner of this qualifier receives a spot in the draft for PGF Season 10, while standout performers may also receive roster or alternate invitations

1st Place - $800

2nd Place - $200

Who Can Compete?

Open Rank. All belts, styles, and experience levels at 155 lbs, 170 lbs & 205 lbs are welcome.

Location

Triangle Jiu Jitsu - 124 Latta Rd. Durham, North Carolina 27712

🕐 Rules meeting 9:30 am (Eastern Time)

🕐 Qualifier Start: 10:00 am (Eastern Time)

Weight limits 160 lbs 175 lbs & 210 lbs

Weigh-ins will be from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm on 10/2 & 8:00 am - 9:00 am 10/3. We will use our scale. If you cannot make weight by 9:00 am, you forfeit your match.

Format & Rules

No-Gi
Single Elimination
PGF Qualifier Ruleset: Sub-Only, 6-minute matches
Victory Conditions: Win by submission or Event Lead decision only—no points or advantages.
Decision: The winner is the competitor deemed by the Event Lead to be the most exciting, entertaining, and a better potential addition to the PGF roster.
Full Rules: Official PGF Rulebook (see below)

All competitors earn PGF XP, contributing to their official ranking within the PGF ecosystem—the foundation for future invitations, draft eligibility, and season seeding.

Registration

Entry Fee: $100
Registration Deadline: September 29th at midnight
Limited spots available—secure your place now.

Spectators & Coaches

Spectators

Adults (18+): $25
Students (6–18): $15
Kids 5 &amp; Under: Free

Coaches Passes Each gym receives free coach access based on competitor count:

1–2 competitors → 1 coach
3–10 → 2 coaches
11–15 → 3 coaches
16–20 → 4 coaches
21+ → 5 coaches

Presented By

The Carolina Copperheads x Professional Grappling Federation × Triangle Jiu Jitsu

Follow @thecarolinacopperheads and @pgfworld for updates. Watch every PGF event live and free on YouTube.com/PGFworld

Official PGF Rule Book

Event Details

Format

Single elimination

Registration

Registration deadline: September 29th at midnight.

Schedule

Rules meeting 9:30am ET; Qualifier start 10:00am ET.

Weigh-In

Weigh-ins: 6:00pm–8:00pm on 10/2 and 8:00am–9:00am on 10/3; event scale will be used; failure to make weight by 9:00am forfeits match. Weight limits listed: 160 lbs, 175 lbs, 210 lbs.

Prize Details

1st Place $800; 2nd Place $200. Winner receives a spot in the PGF Season 10 draft; standout performers may receive roster or alternate invitations.

Spectator Fee

Adults (18+): $25; Students (6–18): $15; Kids 5 & under: Free.

Divisions

Mens 155lb$100
Registration Includes Carolina Copperheads T Shirt
Mens 170lb$100
Registration Includes Carolina Copperheads T Shirt
Mens 205lb$100
Registration includes Carolina Copperheads T Shirt

Organizer

The Carolina Copperheads

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Carolina Copperheads PGF Qualifier being held?

The event is at Triangle Jiu Jitsu, 124 Latta Rd., Durham, North Carolina 27712.

What time does the qualifier start?

The rules meeting is at 9:30 am Eastern Time, and the qualifier starts at 10:00 am Eastern Time.

Who can compete in this qualifier?

Adult men ages 16+ can compete. The event is open rank and welcomes all belts, styles, and experience levels at 155 lbs, 170 lbs, and 205 lbs.

What are the registration fee and deadline?

The entry fee is $100. The registration deadline is September 29th at midnight.

When are weigh-ins?

Weigh-ins are from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on 10/2 and from 8:00 am to 9:00 am on 10/3. The event will use its own scale, and competitors who cannot make weight by 9:00 am forfeit their match.

What are the weight limits?

The listed divisions are 155 lbs, 170 lbs, and 205 lbs, with weight limits of 160 lbs, 175 lbs, and 210 lbs.

What format and ruleset will be used?

The event is No-Gi and single elimination under the PGF Qualifier Ruleset. Matches are sub-only, 6 minutes long, with victory by submission or Event Lead decision only; there are no points or advantages.

How are decisions made if there is no submission?

The winner is the competitor deemed by the Event Lead to be the most exciting, entertaining, and a better potential addition to the PGF roster.

How much are spectator tickets?

Spectator tickets are $25 for adults 18+, $15 for students ages 6–18, and free for kids 5 and under.

How many free coach passes does each gym receive?

Each gym receives free coach access based on competitor count: 1–2 competitors gets 1 coach, 3–10 gets 2 coaches, 11–15 gets 3 coaches, 16–20 gets 4 coaches, and 21+ gets 5 coaches.