247 Fighting Championships is expanding beyond the cage with Proving Ground, a standalone submission-grappling event featuring competitors from across Pennsylvania, Ohio and the surrounding region.
247 Fighting Championships will host its first Proving Ground submission-grappling card on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Sunny Days Arena at the Venue in North Versailles, Pennsylvania.
Doors are scheduled to open at 5:00 p.m., with the first matches beginning at 7:00 p.m.
The promotion has advertised more than 30 superfights for the event, making Proving Ground I one of the larger regional grappling cards scheduled for the Pittsburgh area this summer.
Unlike the shorter grappling showcases sometimes included alongside mixed martial arts events, Proving Ground I is being presented as a full evening of submission grappling. The card includes experienced regional competitors, developing athletes, women’s matches and several contests featuring competitors from neighboring states.
Max Hanson Faces Cam Chaffee
One of the most notable matches announced for the card will see Max Hanson of Adamas Jiu-Jitsu face Cam Chaffee of IOTA Jiu-Jitsu.
Both athletes come from respected regional programs, making the matchup one of the more technically interesting contests announced for the event.
Lawson Grime Meets Seth Donovan
Lawson Grime will take on Seth Donovan in another featured no-gi matchup.
247 Fighting has promoted the contest under a submission-only format, emphasizing that there will be no points and no judges. The rules should encourage both competitors to pursue finishes rather than attempting to protect a scoring advantage.
Seth Caron Takes on Roman Flenory
Seth Caron of Enlisted Nine Fight Company is scheduled to face Roman Flenory of The Mat Factory.
The matchup adds another Pittsburgh-area rivalry to a card built heavily around competitors from the western Pennsylvania grappling community.
James Neeley and Josh Bergfelt Enter the “John Wick Match”
James Neeley of Stout PGH will face Josh Bergfelt of Armezzani Jiu-Jitsu in a contest being promoted as the card’s “John Wick Match.”
Although the promotion has leaned into the cinematic branding, the matchup itself brings together athletes from two established regional teams and could become one of the evening’s most memorable contests.
Bella Swearington Faces McKenzie Vaughan
The card will also feature Bella Swearington of Weirton BJJ Academy against McKenzie Vaughan of Stout PGH.
The women’s no-gi submission-only matchup adds another competitive regional pairing to the event and continues the growth of women’s superfights on independent grappling cards.
Austin Warman Meets Tyler Wittreich
Austin Warman of Armezzani Jiu-Jitsu is scheduled to compete against Tyler Wittreich.
Both athletes have ties to the broader western Pennsylvania grappling scene, making the match another example of Proving Ground’s emphasis on regional rivalries and local talent.
Lucas Strassburger Faces Eric Von Decher
Lucas Strassburger of Rochester Top Team will take on Eric Von Decher of Sonic Jiu-Jitsu and MMA.
The matchup brings New York representation onto the card and adds another interregional contest to an event already featuring athletes from several different states and academies.
Andrew Meissner Takes on Andrew Riddle
Andrew Meissner of Yousef BJJ will face Andrew Riddle in another announced no-gi submission-only contest.
The matchup continues the card’s focus on aggressive rules designed to reward submission attempts rather than positional point fighting.
Michael “Father Tackle” Hudak Represents Tackle Grapple
Michael “Father Tackle” Hudak of Tackle Jitsu is also scheduled to compete at Proving Ground I.
Hudak will face Kyle of Railroad City Jiu-Jitsu in a matchup that brings additional Ohio and western Pennsylvania representation to the event.
For Tackle Jiu Jitsu, the contest provides another opportunity to compete outside of its own TGGL events and test its athletes against neighboring regional programs.
A Major Step for 247 Fighting’s Grappling Expansion
Proving Ground I represents a significant step for 247 Fighting Championships as the promotion expands its presence in submission grappling.
Rather than using grappling as a supporting attraction for an MMA event, 247 is giving the sport its own dedicated arena card, branding and promotional campaign.
The event’s greatest strength may be its size and variety. With more than 30 advertised matches, fans can expect a mix of experienced competitors, emerging athletes, academy rivalries and unusual showcase bouts.
The promotion has repeatedly emphasized a no-gi, submission-only philosophy built around finishing attempts. However, individual match lengths and specialized rules may differ depending on the contest.
As with most independent combat-sports events, the lineup remains subject to late opponent changes, injuries and scheduling adjustments.
Tickets are currently listed at $35 for premium floor seating and $85 for balcony bar-table seating.
247 Fighting Proving Ground takes place Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Sunny Days Arena at the Venue in North Versailles, Pennsylvania.
