Mangloña helps U.S. Air Force reclaim Desert Duals championship title

LAS VEGAS–Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Keli Mendiola Mangloña defeated a 10-time American national wrestling champion to help his five-member team, U.S. Air Force, in dethroning defending champions U.S. Marine Corps Team at this year’s Desert Duals 3: Battle of Branches held at the Silverton Hotel & Casino’s Veil Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday.

Mangloña lost on a referee’s decision to a formidable opponent from the U.S. Army Team in his first match, but his team’s overall score against the Army secured them a spot in the grappling championship against the Marines.

In the championship, Mangloña came back strong by winning via referee’s decision against Jake Clark, who is an Olympic wrestler qualifier. His other three Air Force Team members defeated their respective opponents to recapture the Desert Duals championship title.

With the victory, Air Force became the tournament’s first-ever two-time champions.

Desert Duals is a fast-paced team-based Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) tournament where active-duty service members, reservists, and veterans from the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps, go head-to-head. The team winners received individual trophies and other prizes.

Mangloña said he had a great opportunity to join the Air Force Team going to victory.

“We were able to execute our mission and came up victorious again for the second time. Two-time Air Force Team champions at Desert Duals: Battle of Branches here in Las Vegas, Nevada,” he said in an interview shortly after the event.

Mangloña said the reason why he loves Desert Duals is because they give a platform to U.S. military service members–veterans, active duty, reservists, and those who served in the past in any capacity.

“They give us a platform here to come out and show our skills in a form of combat sports. Great, great, great event!,” he said as he thanked Desert Duals founder and president Bryce Harley.

He said his strategy was to try to come up with submissions, but he lost his first match on a referee’s decision to a great opponent from the Army.

Mangloña said then his second match was against Clark, who is a very formidable opponent. “I had a great honor with going with him and was able to come up on top with referee’s decision by points,” he said.

Mangloña said his teammates all showed up and represented well for the Air Force and for all of the service members. “They executed their game plans and they really well… warrior airmen, showing warrior culture. I love it,” he said.

Mangloña said he just love the opportunity to be able to represent all the people from Mariana Islands–Saipan, Rota, Tinian, Guahan, and all the other island chains in the archipelago. “I just love this to say that I’m from our home and come out here, and just show my heart, a warrior spirit from where we come from,” he said.

Mangloña has been serving in the Air Force for 18 years. He has been stationed at the Creech Air Force Base in Nevada since 2023. “I love it here and hopefully we could stay here longer,” he said.

Among his accomplishments include being the first BJJ black belt from Tinian, the first CNMI MMA Middleweight Champion, a two-time British National Champion, and a seven-time IBJJF International Open Champion.

The other members of the Air Force Team who competed in the Desert Duals 3 were Cesar Gonzales, Kris Olivo, Nick Hartman, and Chisom Lever.

Air Force won the championship against the U.S. Navy Team in the inaugural event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas in 2024.

Mangloña both prevailed in both matches in that tournament.

Desert Duals founder and president Bryce Harley said in an interview that their goal is trying to “add more community, more purpose in the military.”

Harley said a lot of military personnel once they get out of service sometimes they kind of lose that discipline, they lose that motivation that they had when they were in the service.

“So by us having Desert Duals, give everybody a goal, give something to work towards. And this just brings everybody from around the country and around the world together to support the military on one day,” said the president, adding that he is super happy about the turnout.

Harley is a second-degree black belt in BJJ.

At Desert Dual 3, there were also superfights that featured local competitors ranging from youth division to seasoned black belts. A portion of the proceeds support the We Defy Foundation, which provides combat-wounded veterans with therapeutic BJJ training.

Desert Duals is a non-profit organization that supports veterans, reservists, and active duty service members through high-level athletic competition and community.

Stephen Butcher, chief executive officer of Samson Distributors Inc., said they have athletic performance products and that it’s the second year they’ve been sponsoring Desert Duals.

Butcher, who is a veteran himself, said he likes the fact that the tournament brings all Armed Forces together and helps trying to get other veteran organizations into this.

“This Jiu-Jitsu helps these veterans to come back, they come back from overseas, they’re high energy. They need to focus, they need something to do to focus on to advance. They need something to help them transition back. That’s what Jiu-Jitsu does,” he said.