Philadelphia Phenoms join PGF

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Professional Grappling Federation Accelerates as the Major League of Jiu Jitsu With Another Seven-Figure Franchise Sale

The Philadelphia Phenoms join the league under the leadership of Lauren Barone, PGF's first female team owner.

Las Vegas, NV - The Professional Grappling Federation (PGF) is proud to announce another landmark seven-figure franchise sale with the launch of the Philadelphia Phenoms. This latest expansion further accelerates PGF's rise as the Major League of Jiu Jitsu while making history with Lauren Barone stepping in as the league's first female team owner.

Barone is more than an investor. She is an active competitor and a daily presence on the mats, bringing a practitioner's eye and a fan's passion to every decision. Her ownership reflects a personal commitment to elevating professional grappling and a vision for helping athletes build real careers.

"Beyond grateful that this is the path my life has led me down - building a PGF team and becoming part of a league that's reshaping the future of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu," said Barone. "With the Philly Phenoms, my goal is to build a team with heart, grit, and ferocity - supported by experienced minds and leaders who know what it takes to compete at the highest level. We're bringing that Philly spirit to the PGF, and we're here to make the entire Jiu Jitsu community proud."

The Phenoms will debut in Season 9, joining fellow franchises the Las Vegas Kings and the Alabama Twisters. Their arrival continues PGF's push to combine grassroots authenticity with big-league infrastructure, transforming Jiu-Jitsu into a fully realised professional sport.

A League Redefining Professional Grappling

The sale of the Philadelphia Phenoms marks the next milestone in PGF's franchise model. Each deal signals growing confidence from investors, gym owners, and entrepreneurs who see professional grappling as a high-growth global market.

"This is what it must have felt like to get in on the ground floor of the NFL or the NHL," said Zoltan Bathory, co-owner of the PGF. "Once we opened the doors to team ownership, the floodgates opened - the New Hope Kings were first, then the Philadelphia Phenoms, followed by the Alabama Twisters, with more already in negotiations. At this pace, we anticipate expanding to 8-12 teams in the coming months."

PGF's Season 8 already shattered expectations, delivering record-breaking engagement and reach across digital platforms. Weekly YouTube broadcasts and new streaming partnerships have pushed Jiu-Jitsu deeper into the mainstream sports conversation than ever before.

"Jiu-Jitsu is the fastest growing combat sport in the world, and it's becoming the sport of royalty," said PGF commissioner Brandon McCaghren. "From everyday people to A-list celebrities like Mark Zuckerberg, Tom Hardy, Keanu Reeves, and Guy Ritchie, everyone is on the mats now. PGF is here to harness that momentum and lead Jiu-Jitsu into its professional era."

Franchise Growth and Brand Partnerships

Major brands are already aligning with PGF teams:

- Dollamur - the world-renowned manufacturer of professional fight surfaces backing Team Dollamur.

- Once Upon a Coconut - the fastest-growing premium coconut water brand, partnered with the Tropic Thunders.

- 1st Phorm - one of the largest and most influential supplement companies in the United States.

- Black Rifle Coffee - a national coffee company with millions of customers and a formidable retail footprint.

- Constellation Network - a leading blockchain innovator building enterprise-level infrastructure for Web3 and beyond.

These sponsorships underscore the commercial momentum behind PGF's team-based, media-driven format.

Ownership Group

- Zoltan Bathory: musician, martial artist, philanthropist, and serial entrepreneur. An actively competing judo and jiu-jitsu black belt, Bathory is also the founder of the multi-platinum band Five Finger Death Punch.

- Keelan Lawyer: founder of Subconscious Studios and a creative technologist whose cinematic approach has redefined how Jiu-Jitsu is captured.

- Brandon McCaghren: 10th Planet black belt, commentator for UFC Fight Pass, CJI, EBI, and ADCC, and one of the sport's most respected voices.

- Heather Gracie: CEO of Gracie Fight Management and member of the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu dynasty, bringing deep entrepreneurial expertise.

Board of Advisors

- Royce Gracie - UFC Hall of Famer and global ambassador of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

- Carlos Machado - 8th-degree coral belt and world-renowned instructor.

- Jean Jacques Machado - 8th-degree coral belt and 2024 ADCC Hall of Fame inductee.

- Renzo Gracie - MMA and grappling icon, founder of Renzo Gracie Academy NYC.

- Pedro Sauer - 8th-degree coral belt under Rickson Gracie.

- Mica Cipili - 6th-degree black belt and elite instructor.

- Eddie Bravo - founder of 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu and the Eddie Bravo Invitational.

- Mike Swain - four-time Judo Olympian and the first American male Judo world champion.

- Joe Marchal - 8th-degree coral belt, Olympian, national champion, and former USA Judo board member.

- Jonathan Anastas - former CMO of ONE Championship and veteran global brand strategist.

For franchise inquiries, sponsorships, or media requests, visit pgf.world or contact marketing@pgf.world.