Air Force Airman 1st Class Manglona, who is now part of a weapons troop with the 57th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron out of Nellis Air Force in Las Vegas, competed in the Phoenix Support Combatives Tournament in the 185lbs Cruiserweight Division and became the Cruiserweight Champion for Joint Base Balad.
“Yes, I competed in the Armed Forces Combatives MMA tournament and actually did pretty well. I competed in the 185lbs Cruiserweight Division and now I am the Cruiserweight Champion for Joint Base Balad,” said Manglona.
“It was a good time, man, it was a really tough competition but I kept to it and pulled through victorious,” he said. One of the guys that helped put the event together was 2nd LT. Alan Villenueva. He is a super cool guy.”
“We are extremely excited to hear that Keli continues to do well and taking his MMA skills to new heights. The people of Tinian should be proud of their son and this is one of the main reasons we are bringing our fight event to Tinian,” said Gorilla Warfare MMA promoter Mark Sablan.
Manglona won the GWMMA Middleweight championship title belt during Gorilla Warfare’s Confrontation last year, Saipan’s first Four-Man tournament against Syl Teregeyo.
Gorilla Warfare is hosting “Into the Jungle,” its first amateur fight bout next Saturday, May 29th at the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino at 6:00pm. Tickets are now on sale at Boarderline Surf & Skate Shop in Garapan.
The 80th Ordnance Company out of Fort Lewis, Wash., sponsored the Phoenix Support Combatives Tournament last April at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation east at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.
Although 112 signed up, 87 Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen weighed in and competed in the third tournament sponsored by the 80th, said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Richard C. Mantooth, the JBB corps storage area accountable officer with the 63rd Ordnance Company, 80th Ord. Batt., 15th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command.
Mantooth, a level four instructor of Modern Army Combatives and a Biloxi, Miss., native, said the event was the second tournament the 63rd Ord. Co. hosted.
Fighters traveled from other bases to compete, said Mantooth. The event offered service members a chance to vary their routine and eliminate some monotony from day-to-day operations, he said.
Mantooth said he thought the event went well.
“We had a packed house,” he said. “People were standing, squatting, fighting for seats and it stayed that way throughout the day. We kept the gym packed.”
During the last tournament, he said he saw a great amount of technique and was pleased with the strikes, but was more impressed by the competitors who participated.
“We give these guys an opportunity to be champions, to showcase their skills,” he said. “It goes to show you that even though we are over here in Iraq, thousands and thousands of miles away, we’re still trying to bring soldiers together, compete and have fun and try to bring the best out of one another. That’s really what these tournaments are about.”
(With material from Blackanthem Military News)
