SAIPAN — Frank “The Crank” Camacho opened a new competitive chapter with a gold-medal finish at the East Japan International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2025, capturing first place in the Male Master 1 Black Belt Medium-Heavy (88.30 kg) division in his first tournament appearance since retiring from the UFC.
Competing in Japan as part of a full weekend of IBJJF events, Camacho said the tournament marked his first competition as a black belt following his transition away from mixed martial arts. “This is my first IBJJF tournament as a black belt,” Camacho said. “Now that I’m retired, I’m really focusing on jiu-jitsu.”
Camacho, representing TAC Team BJJ, finished atop the podium ahead of Hyunjae Ahn of B9 Korea and Sangwon Ji of Roots BJJ. He described the competition as deep and physically demanding, featuring high-level opponents from across the region. “A lot of guys, tough guys from the regions, fighting guys from Japan, Korea, a couple guys from Brazil, the UK,” he said.
In addition to his division title on Friday, Camacho said he returned to competition the following day, earning another gold medal before adding a bronze medal in the absolute open-weight division.
In an interview with NMINews Service’s Brad Ruszala, Camacho noted the stylistic shift from MMA to pure jiu-jitsu competition, emphasizing the technical depth and mental adjustment required at the black belt level. “With jiu-jitsu, it’s a pure focus of just the art. A lot of the guys, they were better than me technically, so I just had to make it a fight, push the pace, and be relentless in my attacks.”
He credited his long combat sports background for helping bridge the transition. “Even though I’m technically new to the jiu-jitsu game at black belt, I have fighting experience; from Trench Wars, PXC, from the UFC,” Camacho said. “I can’t forget about that.”
Camacho also highlighted his ongoing work developing jiu-jitsu programs in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, saying international competition plays a role in strengthening future generations of athletes in the region. “We’re very blessed to get the support that we need to continue to come out,” he said. “It’s only going to make our kids stronger, the next generation stronger and more disciplined.”
Looking ahead, Camacho said he plans to remain active on the international jiu-jitsu circuit while continuing to represent the Marianas. “I think I got the jiu-jitsu bug,” he said. “I might compete in more international tournaments… and still represent the Marianas as proud of a local boy as I am.”
Watch the full interview on the NMI News Service Facebook and YouTube.
