Monster Mash 2026

Submission-Only Grappling Tournament for a Cause

Join us for the 2nd Annual Modern Gladiator Monster Mash, a submission-only grappling tournament bringing together athletes of all experience levels for a day of competition, sportsmanship, and community support.

This year, we take to the mats in memory of Nate Davis, with all proceeds benefiting the Nate Davis family. Come compete, represent your academy, and help us rally around a family in our grappling community.

Whether you’re competing on the mats or supporting from the sidelines, your participation makes a difference.

Let’s come together for Monster Mash 2026 — Smash Cancer!

Event Highlights

7-minute submission-only matches; 5-minute matches for children’s divisions
Beginner and Advanced divisions
Sudden Death Overtime: takedown with dominant control
Individual and team-based scoring
All proceeds benefit the Nate Davis family

Registration Fees

Men’s divisions: $50
Women’s divisions: $25
Children’s divisions: $25
Spectator admission: By donation

Event Details

Date: October 17, 2026
Weigh-ins: Begin at 8:30 AM
Location: Modern Gladiator Fight Training Academy

Mat Assignments and Event Flow

To ensure smooth scheduling and efficient event flow:

Beginner Division matches will take place on the entry room mat (front mat area).
Advanced Division matches will take place on the main training area mat.
Divisions will run concurrently.
Please remain near your assigned mat and listen for your name when called.
Event staff will coordinate brackets to ensure adequate rest between matches.

1. Match Format

Regulation time: 7 minutes; 5 minutes for children’s divisions
Format: Submission-only
Overtime: If no submission occurs during regulation, the match proceeds to Sudden Death Overtime. The first athlete to score a valid takedown with dominant control wins (see Section 7).

2. Beginner Division

Intended for:

Competitors with less than 2 years of total grappling experience across all styles, including BJJ, wrestling, judo, and sambo
Recreational or entry-level competitors with limited or no competition background

Restrictions:

Heel hooks prohibited
Standing submissions prohibited
Reaping prohibited
Muffling prohibited
All general safety rules apply

3. Advanced Division

Intended for:

Competitors with 2 or more years of consistent grappling experience
Athletes with formal training or prior competition experience

Additional techniques allowed:

Heel hooks
Standing submissions, applied with control
Reaping, recognized as a valid control position
Muffling (covering the mouth/nose to disrupt breathing), applied safely and with control

4. Legal Techniques

All divisions unless otherwise noted:

Joint locks on arms, shoulders, legs, and feet, including armbars, Americanas, kneebars, toe holds, and straight ankle locks
Chokes and strangles, air- or blood-based
Positional control from mount, back control, side control, turtle, and knee-on-belly
Controlled takedowns meeting safety and control criteria
Heel hooks — Advanced only
Reaping — Advanced only
Standing submissions — Advanced only
Muffling — Advanced only

5. Prohibited Techniques and Conduct

All divisions unless otherwise noted:

Spinal attacks, including can openers and cervical cranks
Heel hooks in the Beginner Division
Reaping in the Beginner Division
Standing submissions in the Beginner Division
Muffling in the Beginner Division
Flying scissor takedowns, including kani basami
Jumping guard pulls
Slams to escape submissions or cause injury
Small joint manipulation of fingers or toes
Striking of any kind
Grabbing clothing in no-gi divisions
Unsportsmanlike or invasive actions, including oil checks, fish-hooking, and fingers to the throat
Using walls or barriers, if present, for an advantage
Intentional stalling or disengagement

6. Combined Divisions

If registration numbers are low in one or more divisions, event organizers reserve the right to combine divisions.

When divisions are combined, Beginner Division rules will apply to prioritize safety and fairness.

7. Sudden Death Overtime

If no submission occurs during regulation time, the first athlete to score a valid takedown with dominant control wins.

Valid Takedown Definition

A maneuver in which one athlete causes the opponent to transition from standing to the ground while maintaining or achieving dominant control.

Requirements:

Both athletes start standing.
Clear offensive action causes the takedown.
There is a clear cause-and-effect relationship between the action and the takedown.
The initiating athlete lands in or immediately establishes dominant control, such as side control, mount, back control, seatbelt control, knee-on-belly, or north/south.

The following do not qualify as takedowns:

Guard pulls, even if followed by a pass
Slips or trips without offensive initiation
Throws where the attacker lands underneath
Scrambles without a clear initiator

A takedown must result in decisive top or dominant control.

8. Team Scoring and Championship

In addition to individual competition, team results will be tracked to recognize academy performance.

Team Points

Win by submission: 3 points
Win by Sudden Death Takedown: 2 points
Participation: 1 point per registered athlete for their academy

Team Recognition

The academy with the highest total score will be recognized as the Monster Mash 2026 Team Champion.

Awards will be presented, and results will be shared on event and academy platforms.

This system rewards both competitive success and team participation—every athlete counts.

Compete for a cause. Honor Nate Davis. Support his family. Smash Cancer!

Every match helps raise funds for the Davis family.