Biography
Reese LaFever is an American professional no-gi grappler and one of the fastest-rising talents in the featherweight and lightweight divisions. Known for his aggressive pace and high submission rate, he has quickly transitioned from a dominant colored-belt competitor into a serious threat on the professional circuit.
LaFever is the champion of PGF World Season 4, where he established himself as a consistent finisher against elite opposition. He has also remained a standout across the ADCC Open and professional invitational circuits, regularly competing against world-class veterans.
Technically, LaFever is especially feared for his leglock game, highlighted by an exceptional outside heel hook that has produced finishes at every level. A notable up-and-comer within the Danaher system, he has trained extensively at New Wave Jiu-Jitsu and now represents Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu, blending structured positional systems with relentless submission pressure.
Still early in his career, LaFever is widely viewed as a future contender at the highest levels of professional grappling. His continued development in elite training environments and consistent success against top competition point toward a very bright future in the sport.
Personal
* Legend status is reserved for retired athletes with outstanding achievements and a lasting impact on the sport.
Rankings
Submissions Breakdown
| Submission | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|
| Outside heel hook | 12 | 0 |
| Rear naked | 5 | 0 |
| Inside heel hook | 3 | 0 |
| Darce | 2 | 0 |
| Anaconda | 1 | 0 |
| Triangle | 1 | 0 |
| Aoki lock | 1 | 1 |
| Kimura | 1 | 0 |
| Rear triangle | 1 | 0 |
| High-wrist guillotine | 0 | 1 |
| Cross ankle lock | 0 | 1 |
| Kneebar | 0 | 1 |
| Opponent | Result | Date | Event | Method | Weight | Round | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keith Krikorian | Loss | 11/16/2025 | ADCC Trials - East Coast North America | Decision | 66KG | — | — |
| Dorian Olivarez | Loss | 11/16/2025 | ADCC Trials - East Coast North America | Points: 3-0 | 66KG | Semi-Finals | — |
| David Stoilescu | Win | 11/16/2025 | ADCC Trials - East Coast North America | Decision | 66KG | Quarter-Finals | 24 |
| Dominic Mejia | Win | 11/16/2025 | ADCC Trials - East Coast North America | Outside heel hook | 66KG | Quarter-Finals | 30 |
| Carlos Sainz | Win | 11/16/2025 | ADCC Trials - East Coast North America | Points: 2-0 | 66KG | 32 | 12 |
| Trevor Cariello | Win | 11/16/2025 | ADCC Trials - East Coast North America | Inside heel hook | 66KG | 64 | 8 |
| Jason Roberts | Win | 11/16/2025 | ADCC Trials - East Coast North America | Outside heel hook | 66KG | 128 | 8 |
| Ethan Crelinsten | Loss | 2025 | Sapateiro Invitational | Points: 3-0 | 155LBS | 16 | — |
| Dominic Mejia | Loss | 10/26/2024 | Enigma Austin | Kneebar | Lightweight | Semi-Finals | — |
| Augusto Pereira | Win | 10/26/2024 | Enigma Austin | Outside heel hook | Lightweight | Quarter-Finals | 17 |
| Curtis Estes | Win | 6/8/2024 | Enigma Invitational XVI | Rear triangle | Unknown | — | 17 |
| Max Hanson | Loss | 2024 | Sapateiro 34 | Points: 3-0 | 73KG | Quarter-Finals | — |
| Keith Krikorian | Loss | 2024 | Enigma | Points: 2-0 | N/A | — | — |
| Gavin Corbe | Loss | 2024 | ADCC Trials - West Coast North America | Decision | 66KG | 16 | — |
| Max Stary | Win | 2024 | ADCC Trials - West Coast North America | Rear naked | 66KG | 32 | 12 |
| Mario Carrasco | Win | 2024 | ADCC Trials - West Coast North America | Outside heel hook | 66KG | 64 | 8 |
| Kawehi Gillcoat | Win | 2024 | ADCC Trials - West Coast North America | Outside heel hook | 66KG | 128 | 8 |
| Dominic Mejia | Loss | 1/20/2024 | ADCC Open Long Beach | Points: 6-0 | 70KG | Finals | — |
| Michael John | Win | 2024 | ADCC Open Long Beach | Unknown | 70KG | Semi-Finals | 1 |
| Lewis Mclendon | Win | 2024 | ADCC Open Long Beach | Unknown | 70KG | Quarter-Finals | 1 |
| Henrique Barreto | Win | 2024 | ADCC Open Long Beach | Unknown | 70KG | 16 | 1 |
| Gabriel Perroud | Win | 2024 | ADCC Open Long Beach | Unknown | 70KG | 32 | 1 |
| Dylan Cameron | Win | 4/27/2024 | Enigma Invitational XV | Rear naked | 145LBS | Finals | 76 |
| Josh Murdock | Win | 4/27/2024 | Enigma Invitational XV | Outside heel hook | 145LBS | Semi-Finals | 47 |
| Long Nguyen | Win | 4/27/2024 | Enigma Invitational XV | Outside heel hook | 145LBS | Quarter-Finals | 17 |
| Gavin Corbe | Loss | 2023 | ADCC Open Chicago | Points: 3-0 | 70KG | Finals | — |
| Dominic Mejia | Win | 9/9/2023 | ADCC Open Chicago | Unknown | 70KG | Semi-Finals | 1 |
| Adam Haas | Win | 2023 | ADCC Open Chicago | Unknown | 70KG | Quarter-Finals | 1 |
| Kyle Perkins | Win | 2023 | ADCC Open Chicago | Unknown | 70KG | 16 | 1 |
| Bobby Sandhu | Win | 5/27/2023 | Enigma Invitational | Outside heel hook | N/A | — | 13 |
| Estevan Martinez | Win | 2023 | WNO 21 | Decision | Featherweight | — | 338 |
| Keith Krikorian | Loss | 2023 | ADCC Trials - East Coast North America | Decision | 66KG | 16 | — |
| Dylan Cameropn | Win | 2023 | ADCC Trials - East Coast North America | Rear naked | 66KG | 32 | 11 |
| Ryan Jennerjohn | Win | 2023 | ADCC Trials - East Coast North America | Outside heel hook | 66KG | 64 | 7 |
| Jacob Lehman | Win | 2023 | ADCC Trials - East Coast North America | Inside heel hook | 66KG | 128 | 7 |
| Deandre Corbe | Loss | 2023 | ADCC Open Dallas | Points: 3-0 | 70KG | Semi-Finals | — |
| Dane Leak | Win | 11/6/2022 | PGF 4 Playoffs | EBI Overtime | 155LBS | Finals | 342 |
| David Garcia | Win | 11/6/2022 | PGF 4 Playoffs | EBI Overtime | 155LBS | Semi-Finals | 180 |
| Juan Martinez | Win | 10/28/2022 | PGF 4 | Darce | 155LBS | — | 72 |
| Jacob Arp | Win | 10/28/2022 | PGF 4 | Aoki lock | 155LBS | — | 72 |
| Billy Baxter | Win | 10/28/2022 | PGF 4 | Triangle | 155LBS | — | 72 |
| Nick Sahf | Loss | 10/27/2022 | PGF 4 | Aoki lock | 155LBS | — | — |
| Dane Leak | Draw | 10/27/2022 | PGF 4 | N/A | 155LBS | — | 18 |
| Samson Phommabout | Draw | 10/26/2022 | PGF 4 | N/A | 155LBS | — | 18 |
| Anthony Molina Valdes | Win | 10/26/2022 | PGF 4 | Outside heel hook | 155LBS | — | 72 |
| Wesley Carter | Win | 10/26/2022 | PGF 4 | Darce | 155LBS | — | 72 |
| Manning Leverett | Win | 11/6/2022 | PGF 4 | Kimura | 155LBS | Quarter-Finals | 72 |
| Dominic Mejia | Loss | 2022 | ADCC Trials - West Coast North America | Points: 5-0 | 66KG | 128 | — |
| Kegan Mulholland | Win | 2022 | ADCC Trials - West Coast North America | Points: 2-0 | 66KG | 256 | 4 |
| Wilson Sojo | Loss | 2021 | ADCC Trials - East Coast North America | Points: 3-0 | 66KG | 64 | — |
| Ray DeLeon | Win | 2021 | ADCC Trials - East Coast North America | Penalty | 66KG | 128 | 6 |
| Andrew Kochel | Loss | 11/14/2020 | Finishers Open 4 | Unknown | 170LBS | 32 | — |
| Colby Hernandez | Win | 2020 | F2W 150 | Decision | 145LBS | — | 18 |
| Andrew DeGraff | Win | Unknown | Enigma | Inside heel hook | N/A | — | 14 |
| Nathan Hernandez | Win | Unknown | Enigma | Anaconda | Unknown | — | 18 |
| Johnny Campbell | Win | Unknown | Enigma | Rear naked | Unknown | — | 18 |
| Jacob Tremblay | Win | Unknown | Enigma | Outside heel hook | Unknown | — | 18 |
| David Stoilescu | Loss | Unknown | Enigma | Points: 2-0 | Unknown | — | — |
| Henrique Camargo | Loss | Unknown | Enigma | Cross ankle lock | Unknown | — | — |
| Jeremy Skinner | Win | Unknown | Enigma | Outside heel hook | Unknown | — | 18 |
| Ben Eddy | Win | Unknown | Enigma | Points: 2-0 | Unknown | — | 18 |
| Nicholas Ortiz | Win | Unknown | Enigma | Rear naked | Unknown | — | 18 |
| Nicholas Ortiz | Loss | Unknown | Enigma | High-wrist guillotine | Unknown | — | — |