Carolina Copperheads PGF Qualifier

Saturday, November 14, 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 | 145 lbs, 155 lbs, 170 lbs, 185 & 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 are welcome.

Athletes who have already won a qualifier for the 2027 season are NOT eligible for this event.

Minimum Age: 16

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 150 lbs, 160 lbs, 175 lbs, 190 lbs & 210 lbs

Weigh-ins will be from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm on 11/13 & 8:00 am - 9:00 am 11/14. 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: November 7th 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: November 7th at midnight.

Schedule

Rules meeting 9:30 AM (Eastern Time); Qualifier start 10:00 AM (Eastern Time).

Weigh-In

Weigh-ins: 6:00 PM–8:00 PM on 11/13 and 8:00 AM–9:00 AM on 11/14 (event scale). If you cannot make weight by 9:00 AM on 11/14 you forfeit your match.

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 and under: Free.

Divisions

Mens 145lb$100
Registration Includes Carolina Copperheads T Shirt
Mens 155lb$100
Registration Includes Carolina Copperheads T Shirt
Mens 170lb$100
Registration Includes Carolina Copperheads T Shirt
Mens 185lb$100
Registration includes Carolina Copperheads T Shirt
Mens 205lb$100
Registration includes Carolina Copperheads T Shirt

Organizer

The Carolina Copperheads

Frequently Asked Questions

Where and when does the Carolina Copperheads PGF Qualifier start?

The qualifier starts at 10:00 AM Eastern Time at Triangle Jiu Jitsu, 124 Latta Rd., Durham, North Carolina 27712.

Is there a rules meeting before the event?

Yes; a rules meeting is scheduled for 9:30 AM Eastern Time.

When are weigh-ins and what happens if I miss them?

Weigh-ins are 6:00 PM–8:00 PM on 11/13 and 8:00 AM–9:00 AM on 11/14 using the event scale; if you cannot make weight by 9:00 AM you forfeit your match.

What is the competition format and victory criteria?

The event is No‑Gi, single elimination with PGF Qualifier Ruleset: sub‑only, 6‑minute matches; victories are by submission or Event Lead decision only (no points or advantages).

Where can I find the full rules?

Full rules are available in the Official PGF Rulebook linked by the event organizers.

Who is eligible to compete?

Open rank—all belts, styles, and experience levels are welcome with a minimum age of 16; athletes who have already won a qualifier for the 2027 season are not eligible.

How much is registration and when is the deadline?

Entry fee is $100 and the registration deadline is November 7th at midnight; there are limited spots available.

What are the prizes and what does the winner receive?

First place receives $800 and a spot in the draft for PGF Season 10; second place receives $200, and standout performers may receive roster or alternate invitations.

What are spectator prices and coach access rules?

Spectator tickets are Adults (18+): $25, Students (6–18): $15, and Kids 5 & Under: Free; coach access is allocated per gym based on competitor count (1–2 competitors → 1 coach; 3–10 → 2 coaches; 11–15 → 3 coaches; 16–20 → 4 coaches; 21+ → 5 coaches).