ATLANTA, Ga., September 15, 2026 – Sumo Championship League (SCL) today announced the 16-athlete competition field for its Oct. 10 season opener at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, bringing professional sumo to the Austin area.
The field features four Texas athletes, led by 2025 and 2026 U.S. US National Open Weight Champion and 2025 World’s Championship Open Weight Bronze Medalist, Dominus Davis-Williams of San Antonio. He will be joined by Austin-based Jonithan “Jiva” Pilgrim, three-time U.S. National Lightweight Champion Edobor Konyeha of Jacksonville and 2026 Empire Cup Light Heavyweight Champion Jared Parham of Coppell.
The strong Texas presence gives local fans several hometown rooting interests as SCL prepares for its Austin debut.
“Austin will see a combination of proven champions with emerging contenders, local pride alongside national experience and matchups that can shift from one bout to the next.” said Stuart Snyder, Chairman and CEO of Sumo Championship League. “This unpredictability is what makes live sumo so compelling and we are excited to bring it to Austin on October 10th.”
AUSTIN COMPETITION FIELD
The seeded Austin field includes 16 competitors, with two alternates also named and available if needed. Athlete participation is subject to change, with any updates announced in advance of the event.
| Seed | Athlete | Hometown | Weight |
| 1 | Dominus Davis-Williams | San Antonio, Texas | 450 lbs. |
| 2 | Edobor Konyeha | Jacksonville, Texas | 200 lbs. |
| 3 | Jordan Sikes | Panama City Beach, Fla. | 300 lbs. |
| 4 | Jonithan “Jiva” Pilgrim | Austin, Texas | 315 lbs. |
| 5 | Ron Porter | House Springs, Mo. | 320 lbs. |
| 6 | Jared Parham | Coppell, Texas | 254 lbs. |
| 7 | Saul Vega | Clayton, N.C. | 300 lbs. |
| 8 | Cornelius Booker | Panama City Beach, Fla. | 255 lbs. |
| 9 | Larry Velasquez | Lehi, Utah | 310 lbs. |
| 10 | Cameron Bailey | Hampton, Ga. | 315 lbs. |
| 11 | Matthew Cox | San Diego, Calif. | 200 lbs. |
| 12 | George Ferris | Odenville, Ala. | 350 lbs. |
| 13 | Taylor Fordham | Decatur, Ga. | 345 lbs. |
| 14 | Wade Johnson | Raleigh, N.C. | 220 lbs. |
| 15 | Ja’Wan Davis | Baton Rouge, La. | 280 lbs. |
| 16 | Samuel Rodriguez III | Chicago, Ill. | 215 lbs. |
| ALT | Drew Brennan | Lynchburg, Va. | 415 lbs. |
| ALT | Alex Santana | Orlando, Fla. | 381 lbs. |
HOW SCL COMPETITION WORKS
Each SCL event is contested as a multi-round tournament. Eight athletes advance from the opening round to Round Two, where head-to-head bouts narrow the field to four. The remaining competitors enter a seeded bracket, with No. 1 facing No. 4 and No. 2 facing No. 3. Semifinal, third place, and final matchups are contested best-of-three, with the title bout closing the evening.
Every event also contributes to the season-long championship race. Athletes earn Season Points based on their performance, which are used to establish SCL’s Sumo Power Rankings, inspired by sumo’s traditional banzuke. The rankings are updated following each event and help determine seeding and qualification for the SCL Annual Championship.
THE ROAD BEGINS IN AUSTIN
Austin marks the opening competition of SCL’s inaugural season, giving fans their first opportunity to experience the league’s combination of authentic sumo, athlete storytelling and modern live sports entertainment. Every bout will count toward the Sumo Power Rankings and the road to the SCL Annual Championship.
SCL’s season continues Nov. 7 at Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago and Dec. 19 at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California.
Tickets and additional information are available at https://sumochampionshipleague.com/.
ABOUT SUMO CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE
Sumo Championship League (SCL) is building a modern professional sumo league for audiences in the United States and around the world. Combining authentic competition, elite heavyweight athletes, live-event spectacle and a modern sports experience, SCL brings league events to arenas across America beginning in fall 2026. Built on respect for sumo’s heritage, SCL features recurring live events, season-long rankings and championship competition, with a long-term vision of establishing professional sumo as a sustainable global sports and entertainment property.
