Following public criticism over gender-based pay disparity, the North American Grappling Association (NAGA) has announced a major policy change that will ensure equal prize money for men and women competitors. The controversy came to light after being highlighted on the popular Jits and Giggles podcast, where guests Laura Kent and Jon “Thor” Blank discussed the significant pay gap in the organization’s competition structure.
Prior to the change, NAGA was offering female competitors just $250 compared to $1,000 for male competitors in advanced divisions, despite charging identical entry fees and maintaining the same four-person minimum registration requirement for both brackets. The disparity drew sharp criticism from Kent, a longtime NAGA supporter who has regularly brought groups of women to compete at NAGA Wildwood events.
“I’ve been a big supporter of [NAGA] for many years… but it’s a little upsetting,” Kent said during the podcast discussion. She also refuted claims that women paid lower entry fees, confirming that “we pay the same entry fee as the men.”
In response to the mounting criticism, NAGA has implemented a new, equitable payout structure for their expert No-Gi Absolute Divisions. The updated policy, which takes effect next week at events in Las Vegas and Albany, introduces a tiered reward system based on participation levels:
- 4-7 participants: $250 prize
- 8-11 participants: $500 prize
- 12-15 participants: $750 prize
- 16+ participants: $1,000 prize
The new structure applies equally to both men’s and women’s divisions, with competitors required to participate in both their weight class and the Absolute Division to be eligible for cash prizes.
Kent and Blank, who run their own promotion called Finishers Sub Only, had highlighted during their podcast discussion that their organization already offers equal pay for male and female competitors. While Kent expressed disappointment with NAGA’s previous policy, she acknowledged the limited competition options available in the sport: “I’m competing in NAGA next weekend… we only have so many choices – you got Grappling Industries or NAGA pretty much.”
This policy change represents a significant step forward for gender equality in professional grappling, aligning NAGA with growing industry trends toward equal compensation in professional sports.
