CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Chillicothe native Landon Zambarrano captured first place in the Masters (30-39) 155-pound purple belt division at the 2026 Arnold Sports Festival Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition, earning a gold medal against a competitive field of grapplers.
The Arnold Sports Festival, held annually in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest multi-sport events in the world and features a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament that draws competitors from across the country.
Zambarrano, who trains with Monster Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Ohio, finished atop the podium in his division. Erik Sanders of Victorious MMA placed second, while Michael Bumanglag of Queen City Grappling Club finished third.
A Chillicothe native, Zambarrano previously wrestled at Unioto High School, where he built the grappling foundation that later carried over into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He began training in the sport in 2020 at Monster Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, where he continues to train and compete today.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a submission grappling sport that emphasizes leverage, positional control, and technique. The Arnold tournament is considered one of the premier grappling competitions in the Midwest and regularly attracts high-level competitors from across the United States.
Zambarrano’s gold-medal performance highlights the continued success of local athletes representing the Chillicothe and Ross County area on major competitive stages.
