Panamanian grappler Jorge Calviño is having a serious moment in Europe right now. He just walked away with a bronze medal at the IBJJF Rome International Open in Italy. Fighting in the 70 kg adult black belt featherweight division is never easy, yet he held his own against some of the best in the world. It is another big win for Panama on the international stage.
Jumping From Wrestling Shoes to the Gi
Most fighters stick to what they know. Jorge Calviño clearly prefers doing things the hard way. Just days before stepping onto the mats in Rome, he was in the United Kingdom making his Olympic wrestling debut. He competed at the Battle of the Midlands in Leicester and gutted out a bronze medal there, too. Pulling off two international podium finishes in two totally different combat sports within a few days is no small feat.
Stacking Up Medals at Black Belt
Anyone following his career knows this recent run did not happen by accident. Fighting under the GF Team banner, Jorge Calviño now has ten major tournament medals to his name. Earlier in 2026, he took gold at the London Spring No-Gi Open, along with bronze medals in Madrid and London. Even back in his brown belt days in 2024, he won the Los Angeles No-Gi championship and grabbed double silver in Dallas.
Putting Panama on the Map
Making a name for yourself overseas takes real grit. Jorge Calviño has been grinding since his teen tournament days back in 2015, and that stubborn work ethic is paying off at the black belt level. He keeps pushing Panamanian combat sports forward with every match. Now, fans are just waiting to see which European mat he steps onto next.
