Brandon McCaghren

Brandon McCaghren holds a black belt in 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu, the innovative no-gi grappling system founded by Eddie Bravo. His journey reflects a deliberate commitment to mastering both dimensions of the sport — building a formidable no-gi foundation while simultaneously pursuing depth in gi-based Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

That pursuit culminated in McCaghren receiving his BJJ black belt from Carlos Machado, one of the legendary Machado brothers and a towering figure in the global BJJ community. The promotion, reported by Jitsmagazine.com, highlights the significance of his development across both disciplines. Progressing through the 10th Planet no-gi system and earning recognition within the Machado black belt lineage, McCaghren has established a rare versatility that few practitioners achieve.

Beyond his accomplishments as a practitioner, Brandon McCaghren has left a meaningful imprint on the organizational landscape of competitive grappling as the founder of the Professional Grappling Federation (PGF). The federation embodies his broader ambition to elevate and professionalize the sport, providing athletes with a structured and credible platform to compete and develop.

Known for his forward-thinking philosophy, McCaghren channeled that same innovative mindset into the PGF's mission and structure. Through the federation, he has actively shaped the competitive environment of grappling — demonstrating that his influence reaches well beyond the mats and into the institutional fabric of the sport itself.