Manglona is California State grappling champ

Former Tinian resident Keli Manglona won two gold medals to become the California State champion in the recently concluded California State Grappling Championships held at the Consumnes River College in Parkway, South Sacramento.

Saipan-born fighter Keli Manglona celebrates at the podium after clinching two medals in the recently concluded California State Grappling Championships held at the Consumnes River College in Parkway, South Sacramento.
(Contributed Photo)

Manglona, who goes by the fight name Ruckus before but changed it to Maga’lahi as a tribute to his Chamorro cultural roots, first topped the 195-lb weight class then ruled the Absolute (open weight) division in the United Grappling Federation-organized event.

“I changed my fight name to Maga’Lahi because I wanted to always represent our people and the Marianas. Because I just felt that my old nickname just didn’t have any meaning,” said Manglona in an email to Saipan Tribune.

The Saipan-born fighter, who has a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, said that he had to work hard to win his two gold medals as the competition was not easy.

“By no means the competition was easy. Every competitor I faced was very skilled and had his own fighting skills. However, I was able to execute my techniques to win both finals matches,” added Manglona, who grew up on Tinian.

Manglona, an Airman currently serving in the United States Air Force stationed at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, will compete in two separate tournaments this month.

He will first see action in the Arizona State Brazilian Ji-jitsu Federation Classic on Feb. 21 and 22 at the Phoenix College and then compete in the North American Grappling Association tournament in late February.

“I currently train at MMA LAB in Glendale, Arizona under black belters Royce Gracie and John Crouch, who has helped many top level Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters,” said Manglona.

Manglona, who ended a three-year hiatus in fighting, said he plans to be more active in competition whether in mixed martial arts or Jiu-Jitsu. The former Gorilla Warfare MMA welterweight champion said he wants to fight once he returns to Saipan.

“I am also looking for any opportunities to come back home to compete in MMA as much as possible,” said Manglona, who trains at Cuki Alvarez’s Trench Tech Gym when h on Saipan.

“I want to inspire people of the Marianas to chase their dreams, that’s my intention why I share my experiences,” added Manglona, who holds a 3-1 MMA record with all of his three wins by submission.

He last fought in Pacific Xtreme Combat 27 where he lost to Guam’s Ryan Bigler (9-3, with 3 knockouts and 5 by submission) on Oct. 29, 2011.