Tinian’s BJJ black belt Mangloña wins 3 medals at IBJJF National Champs

Born on Saipan and raised on Tinian, 2nd degree BJJ black belt Keli Mendiola Mangloña continues to represent and make the Marianas proud on the international stage.

He recently competed at the 2026 IBJJF American National Championship held June 25-27 in Las Vegas, Nevada—one of the top Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments in the world—and came away with three medals across four divisions.

Mangloña earned gold in the Master 2 Black Belt Super Heavy No-Gi division, silver in Master 2 Black Belt Super Heavy Gi, and bronze in Master 2 Black Belt Open Weight No-Gi. In the Open Weight Gi division, he reached the quarterfinals before narrowly losing by two points after winning his opening match.

The 36-year-old said the results of the competition meant more than just medals, and when asked about being the first black belt national champion from Tinian, he said, “I am extremely happy about this accomplishment because I come from the island of Tinian and the Mariana Islands,” he said. “I know this will bring honor to our people and the communities I represent. I hope stories like mine show people that anything is possible and that they can go after whatever they set their mind to.”

He then dedicated his achievements to his family, and the people and islands that raised him to become the man that he is today. “Thank you to all my family and friends who continue to support and show their love.”

With the CNMI community still recovering from Super Typhoon Sinlaku, Mangloña said, “I hope that my actions can inspire our people of the Marianas to stay strong and keep fighting throughout this difficult time. We are descendants of a mighty warrior people rooted in love and community. No matter what adversity comes our way, our strength lies in each other. Fanohge Taotao Marianas!”

Mangloña is the eldest of four children of Conrad and Teresita Mangloña and a 2007 graduate of Tinian Jr./Sr. High School. His martial arts journey began in the Marianas, where he trained in boxing with Diego Labante and kickboxing under coach Sano. Early exposure to Fury Fighting Championships sparked his interest in mixed martial arts, leading him to train under local coaches Mark Mendiola, Justis “Cuki” Alvarez, Tetsuji Kato, and Jason Tarkong, among others.

“I’ll never forget where I started,” Mangloña said.

However, his introduction to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu came after enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in 2008, when he was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. There, he trained under Professor Cameron Diffley, a 4th-degree black belt. A key connection through his cousin, Joshua Q. Castro, later introduced him to Legion BJJ in Las Vegas, where he further developed his foundation in the sport.

Over his military career, Mangloña was stationed at six additional bases around the world, continuing to refine his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills. In 2019, he earned his black belt under the Carlson Gracie affiliation in England, United Kingdom, under Professor Lee Doski, a 3rd-degree black belt. He found himself back in Las Vegas still serving active-duty in the U.S. Air Force out of Creech Air Force Base, and now training at the Academy of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under 3rd Degree Black Belt, Professor Antonio Moises Lopez.

Mangloña’s list of accomplishments spans more than a decade across MMA, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and military combatives. They include being the first BJJ black belt from Tinian, the first CNMI MMA Middleweight Champion (2009–2011), a two-time British National Champion, seven-time IBJJF International Open Champion, and a decorated IBJJF competitor with medals at the World No-Gi Championships and Pan American No-Gi Championships. He is also the 2010 U.S. Armed Forces Combatives Champion and gold medalist in the Special Operations Associations of America: Desert Duals: “Battle of the Branches”.