CALVO MAKING MMA MARK

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By Patrick Lujan

TACOMA – Go ahead and add Josh ‘Killa’ Calvo to the list of Guam boys at the cusp of making it big in mixed martial arts.

Josh Calvo celebrates after a submission victory in ROTR 12. (courtesy photo)

The 23-year-old Umatac native has been here in the state of Washington for the past 11 years and sports a 7-2 professional record. He is also a brown belt jiu-jitu practitioner.

Calvo picked up the vibe in 2006 on a visit back home.

“All my cousins and friends were doing it and I had just tried it out and got addicted like everyone else did. My cousin Justin Guzman was one of the main reasons why I started because he’s the oldest and we all kind of followed in his footsteps I guess you could say. I enjoy it also because it definitely is a sport that will mentally and physically push you.”

The 5-foot-11 Calvo slims down to fight in the 155-lb. lightweight division. He says that, like other fighters such as Joe Duarte, he carries the weight of representing Guam in his stateside fights.

“Man, I always want it known where I’m from when I compete. I believe it’s just a matter of time before one of us from Guam get into the UFC…definitely would like to make it into the UFC. All the other competing promotions are nice but seems like the UFC really takes care of their guys and you have the opportunity to make a living fighting for them.”

His last six fights have been under the promotional banner of Rumble on the Ridge which takes place in the Snoqualmie Casino in Snoqualmie, Washington. He suffered just his second loss this past February in the promotion’s main event.

 Balancing MMA & BJJ

Calvo has used his jiu-jitsu skills in his MMA career in Washington. (courtesy photo)

“I actually started BJJ because I wanted to fight MMA but the more I trained gi, the more I loved it. Now I compete MMA and BJJ as much as I can. I really enjoy competing both but gets hard sometimes trying to balance.

Calvo, who trains BJJ  under Lotus Club’s Giva Santana and James Foster, will be on Guam for about a month in September and intends to train with just about every local camp. He does intend to come back in November to take part in the GSPN Jiu-Jitsu Open on Nov. 10.

“I want to get back into competing Jiu-Jitsu. I want to get back to competing IBJJF events! Im still young and wanna see how far I can go with this.”

NOTES: Calvo has a win over Strikeforce veteran Taylor Roberts and lost to former Strikeforce lightweight title contender Lyle Beerbohm…his other loss is to the current lightweight champ from Montana.

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