Qualifier Recap
5 Matches, 5 Submissions, 3 Minutes: Travis Haven Rampages Through Gatlinburg Qualifier
Travis Haven bulldozes the Chewjitsu Open bracket with a flawless 5-0 performance, submitting every opponent in a combined 3 minutes and 12 seconds.
The road to the Professional Grappling Federation Season 9 draft ran through Gatlinburg, Tennessee this past Saturday, and Travis Haven didn't just drive through it—he bulldozed it.
In a performance that can only be described as "efficient violence," Haven secured his spot in the upcoming PGF World Draft by submitting every single opponent he faced, going 5-0 with a total work time of just 3 minutes and 12 seconds.
A Bracket of Chaos
The 175lb division was a shark tank. While Haven was speeding through the winner's bracket, Jack Cornwell was taking the hard road. Cornwell showed incredible resilience, grinding through the consolation rounds and utilizing an Abe Lock and an Inside Heel Hook to claw his way back into contention. His run through the repechage earned him a rightful spot in the finals—and a shot at redemption against the undefeated Haven.
The Final Showdown
Cornwell and Haven had met earlier in the bracket, with Haven securing a 48-second armlock. The rematch for the gold was set to be a grinder, but Haven had other plans.
In the final match of the day, Haven wasted no time, securing a match-ending Straight Ankle Lock in just 19 seconds—his fastest finish of the entire tournament.
The "Run of Terror" Stats:
Travis Haven's path to the gold was a masterclass in the PGF's "Break" mechanics. Here is how he cleared the division:
vs. Alex Bannan — Break via Mikey Lock (0:28)
vs. Jack Cornwell — Break via Armlock (0:48)
vs. Hashir Azam — Break via Inside Heel Hook (1:08)
vs. Brennan Collier — Break via Woj Lock (0:29)
vs. Jack Cornwell (Final) — Break via Straight Ankle Lock (0:19)
Looking Ahead to Season 9
Travis Haven is a big, strong athlete who hunts submissions with the exact type of aggression the PGF rewards. He now joins Anthony Salisbury (aka "TV Dinner"), winner of the Alabama Twisters Qualifier, in the official prospect pool.
Haven has officially earned his spot in the PGF Season 9 Draft on February 4th. He will look to carry this momentum into Las Vegas when the season kicks off on March 4th.
Watch the Replay
You can witness the entire Gatlinburg Qualifier, including the bracket controversy and Haven's sub-4-minute run to gold, right now on YouTube.