Mateo Cardona‘s black belt came after a run that piled up medals in the colored belts. In the final stretch of his brown belt days, in 2025, he took three of the IBJJF’s most coveted golds of the season: Europeans, Pans and Worlds. Now living as a pro athlete in California, Mateo is heading back to his home state of Florida in search of IBJJF Pans gold, a title that would put him even further in the spotlight at the elite level.
After a silver medal at the Europeans in Lisbon, Cardona was picked for a gi superfight on the card of the IBJJF No Gi Absolute GP in February. He beat Leonardo Souza on points in a tough match that demanded a cool head to take the lead. In an interview with The Mat Nation, Mateo said he has the technical level to be among the best in the division. He stressed that he has been working to improve his physical side, a key factor when fighting for the top spot in the adult black belt division.
“I think my match at the GP was a good example of my current technical level. Physically, I’m still at the lower end of the division, but I know that once I close that gap, I’ll show much more dominance in every match, from start to finish,” he said.
BUILDING GOOD RESULTS: MATEO CARDONA IS FOLLOWING TO THE LETTER THE PLAN DRAWN UP BEHIND THE SCENES AT AOJ
The AOJ representative is registered at Pans in the lightweight bracket, a division with a history of being extremely tough. This year, the contenders for first place include athletes like world champion Jackson Nagai, Sandrey Silva, Danilo Moreira and Tarcisio Santos, another prospect from Marcio André’s academy in Arizona. The Mendes brothers’ AOJ is a team known for rigorously planning an athlete’s next steps. Mateo Cardona is following that step-by-step, committed to the process.
“From here on, my results will speak for themselves. My team and I drew up a plan after my superfight to reach my best version as fast as possible and show a new level of dominance every time I get the chance. I’m going to compete a lot more often now. So stay tuned,” he said.
MISTAKES COST DEARLY AT THE ELITE LEVEL AND MATEO KNOWS IT; TRUST IN THE TEAM BEHIND HIS PREPARATION MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE
The American’s path to where he stands today was paved with lots of determination and commitment to the sport. It is a mindset he is already used to. Still, you have to be even more demanding once the black belt is earned, especially as an athlete who built a reputation as a prospect. There is no room for strategic error, and a small slip can have irreversible consequences in the short span of a match. At the elite level, you fight and prepare with intelligence.
“The biggest difference is that any inconsistency in preparation or poor decision-making during matches will cost more at black belt. But I’m surrounded by some of the best professionals every day, and I know that by following their advice, I’ll achieve similar results,” he explained.
Known for his unshakable faith, Cardona knows how to balance hard work with gratitude for everything he has achieved over the years. For him, Jiu-Jitsu means far more than titles. It is through success in the sport that the AOJ competitor strengthens his religious devotion, a habit that helps him grow, above all, as a human being.
“I fully trust God’s plan for my life, and I know I’m exactly where He wants me to be. My focus has never been on results or titles. It has always been on aligning myself with Him every day, and God gives me everything I need to succeed,” he stressed.
This article was originally published in Portuguese: read the original version.
