World Elite Sumo (WES), the first independent professional sumo wrestling league established outside of Japan’s traditional sumo universe in 800 years, today announced the first 9 competitors who will battle it out in a one-night, single-elimination 12-man tournament at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. on Saturday, April 18.
Tickets for the WES live event at Prudential Center are on sale at both PruCenter.com and Ticketmaster.com.
“We are assembling a lineup of elite professional sumo wrestling athletes who will fight that night until there is only one champion left standing in the center of the dohyo (competition ring),” said Abdelrahman “Sandstorm” Shalan, CEO of WES.
A native of Egypt, the 33-year-old Shalan, who resides in Waldwick, N.J., is also one of the fighters slated for action on the WES card on April 18.
Sandstorm is the first sumo wrestler in history from The Middle East and African regions of the world. He is well-known in the sport for his fighting style, which includes tsuki/oshi (thrusting and pushing) and the incredible strength in his right arm.
Above: Sumo wrestling superstars “Big Bear” (left) and “Sandstorm” (right) will both be in action at the World Elite Sumo live event at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. on Saturday, April 18. Photo credit: World Elite Sumo
The other 8 fighters announced today for the April 18 event were as follows:
Soslan “Big Bear” Gagloev
Nationality: Russian
Fighting out of: Orlando, Fla.
Age: 35
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 350 pounds
Fighting Style: Yotsu-zumo (When opponents grab each other’s belt with both hands) specialist with dominant migi-yotsu (when a wrestler secures an inside grip on the opponent’s belt with the right hand, while the left hand is outside) belt control
Career Accolades: Competed in Japan’s top professional divisions and is known for powerful yorikiri (driving the opponent out backward while maintaining a constant grip on the opponent’s belt) force-outs and polished technique.
Robert “The Samoan Bulldozer” Fuimaono
Nationality: Samoan
Fighting out of: Kansas City, Mo.
Age: 34
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 390 pounds
Fighting Style: Heavy power sumo with dominant forward pressure and strength-based control
Career Accolades: A four-time U.S. National Champion and a three-time USA National Team representative. Represented the U.S. at the 2019 World Sumo Championship, the 2022 World Games and the 2023 World Combat Games.
“Rui Junior”
Nationality: Brazilian
Fighting out of: Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
Age: 32
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 381 pounds
Fighting Style: Dominant power sumo
Career Accolades: The most decorated Brazilian champion with 22 national titles, and a 10-time South American champion. Earned 5 medals at the World Championships and served as head coach of the Venezuelan National Sumo Team for three years. A cornerstone of South American sumo, respected for both competitive dominance and leadership.
Alejandro “El Caiman” Santana
Nationality: Puerto Rican
Fighting out of: Miami, Fla.
Age: 36
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 360 pounds
Fighting Style: Uses aggressive push-outs and upper body striking
Career Accolades: A former NCAA Division II, dual-sport athlete in football and track and field; A leader and mentor within Florida’s sumo wrestling community.
Brennen “Titan” Moorefield
Nationality: American
Fighting out of: Orlando, Fla.
Age: 30
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 240 pounds
Fighting Style: Speed and power-focused with an explosive tachi-ai (the initial charge and faceoff between two sumo wrestlers at the start of a bout).
Career Accolades: Has a foundation in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and freestyle wrestling and is able to combine striking, balance and aggression into world-class sumo performance.
Jared “ParHammerTime” Parham
Nationality: American
Fighting out of: Coppell, Texas
Age: 34
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 260 pounds
Fighting Style: A body-grappling focuses yotsu-zumo style emphasizing morozashi (double inside underhooks) and gaburi-yori (driving torso pressure) with quick, explosive throws.
Career Accolades: Winner of multiple titles, including the 2024 Mighty Eagle Team Tournament, the 2025 Texas Classic Openweight Tournament and the 2025 Olympia Sumo Tournament.
Jared “The Long Shot” Tadlock
Nationality: American
Fighting out of: Arlington, Texas
Age: 37
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 340 pounds
Fighting Style: Technical and tactical, emphasizing discipline, timing and precision
Career Accolades: The 2022 Texas State Sumo Wrestling Champion. Placed fourth in the 2023 national sumo wrestling championship’s open weight division and placed fourth in the 2021 national sumo wrestling championship’s light heavyweight (251 pounds) division.
Edobor Konyeha
Nationality: Hungarian American
Fighting out of: Jacksonville, Texas
Age: 24
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 202 pounds
Fighting Style: Unorthodox attack style
Career Accolades: A two-time U.S. national champion
*All participants are subject to change*
The remaining three fighters who will complete the 12-man tournament field will be announced soon.
The 12 fighters will all compete in the first stage of the bracket-style tournament, with the six first stage fight winners advancing to the next stage of the tournament.
Those winners will be joined in the quarterfinal stage of the tournament by two of the fighters who lost their respective first stage matches, but are each granted a wild card to re-enter the tournament as a result of their strong performances in the initial stage of combat.
The eight remaining sumo competitors will battle it out across quarterfinal, semifinal and championship stages of single-elimination competition until there is one tournament champion at the end of the night.
All WES tournament matches are contested in a best-of-three format, increasing competitive stakes and maintaining a rapid, exciting pace of action.
WES brings together top-level athletes from around the world, featuring live taiko drumming, dramatic entrances, and an immersive fight-night production that blends athleticism, intensity, and spectacle.
Doors for the WES event open at 6:00 p.m. on April 18, and the event begins at 7:00 p.m. For more information on WES, visit www.prucenter.com or www.worldelitesumo.com.
About World Elite Sumo (WES)
World Elite Sumo is a professional combat sports league redefining sumo for a global audience. Founded by former top-division sumo wrestler Abdelrahman “Sandstorm” Shalan, WES combines tradition, discipline, and elite athletic performance with modern production, storytelling, and live entertainment.
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