The Birth of CarJitsu
JT Tilley is standing in a converted warehouse, prepping a group of athletes for an unconventional battle. After a few hours of waiting, 10 jiu-jitsu trained fighters are ready to go. But their canvas today isn’t a ring or an octagon. "Anything in that car," Tilley says, "is fair game to use as a weapon." What ensues is known as ‘CarJitsu,’ one of several extreme sports being regulated, produced, and broadcast by the Pro League Network (PLN). Established by Russian fighter Vik Mikheev and adapted by PLN, CarJitsu is as zany as it is intense, with participants routinely choking each other with seatbelts in a car that can reach temperatures over 90 degrees during fights.
A World of Zany Sports
From his base in Branson, Missouri, Tilley, PLN’s creative director and a longtime MMA promoter, has carte blanche to test and develop the company’s unique offerings. Alongside CarJitsu, PLN has also brought to air other bizarre attractions like ‘Coffin Wars’ and ‘Ultimate Tire Wrestling.’ "I’m just living in kind of a wonderland of combat sports," Tilley says. The fighters can only win by submission, meaning no punching or striking is allowed. The bizarre nature of these sports is part of the appeal, but behind the spectacle is a team of dedicated athletes and a growing network of fighters who are willing to try just about anything Tilley throws at them.
The Fighter Network
To understand Tilley and PLN, one must look beyond the 10 fighters who suited up for this CarJitsu ‘Grand Prix’ in December. Tilley’s roster includes people staffing his very gym, BFC Extreme, which kept 20 fighters on scholarship when he joined PLN in 2023. Before the fights, a man running cables is identified as legendary slapfighter Raven, and the referee, Kyron Bowen, is also a fighter. Even the host of the broadcast, Dallen Gettling, a silver-haired ‘Spy Kids’ actor known in MMA circles as ‘the secret weapon,’ has moonlighted in CarJitsu recently. These connections highlight the extensive network Tilley has built, ensuring a steady supply of fighters willing to test his extreme ideas.
The Business of Bizarre
PLN’s co-founders, Mike Salvaris and Bill Yucatonis, saw the potential in Tilley’s ideas and gave him the green light to build a studio in Branson. "Let’s build a studio in Branson, and you have your team. They can be the test models. They can test the sports," they said. Salvaris and Yucatonis, who previously worked in horse racing, aim to be a ‘disruptor’ in the sports industry with niche, wagerable sports, using the reach of social media to their advantage. The company closed a $4 million seed-funding round in August, and betting deals have been struck with DraftKings and bet365 in some states. Despite the chaotic and sometimes low-budget appearance, PLN is a serious business with a clear direction and a growing presence in the combat sports world.
The Fighter’s Perspective
For the fighters, PLN offers a unique blend of exposure and opportunity. Vince Bryant, a two-time state champion and former D1 wrestler, sees CarJitsu as a chance to gain visibility and build connections. "This is just a lot of exposure, you know, meet a lot of cool people," he says. Steven Minski, an 8-8 record amateur MMA fighter, views CarJitsu as a mental escape and a way to stay sharp. "What I’ve learned about me is, if I’m not competing, I’m not there, I’m not mentally there," Minski says. For others like Jeff Allen, the appeal of CarJitsu is the opportunity to make a name for themselves in a highly niche sport. The promise of virality and the chance to be part of something new and exciting draw these athletes to PLN’s bizarre offerings.
The Future of PLN
Tilley’s vision for PLN is ambitious. He plans to develop more sports, including a football drill-like game inside a shipping container and ‘Professional Food Fighting.’ The company is already testing 15-20 sports and is poised for expansion. While the fighters’ dreams of making it big may seem far-fetched, Tilley believes in the power of virality and exposure to springboard them to success. "If he dominates and becomes the champion and takes a bunch of flashy pictures and with those assets, does the right thing and builds his social media – if that happens, absolutely he can springboard over every other amateur, yeah," Tilley says. In the heart of Branson, a town known for its music and entertainment, PLN is creating its own unique brand of showbiz, one extreme sport at a time.
