We’re recruiting for Season One.
The United States Sumo Federation and regional clubs have built amateur competition across the country for decades. American athletes have competed under the International Sumo Federation around the world. The sport is here, and it’s ready for its moment.
The Dohyo is Open.
Sumo Championship League is the professional touring league whose time has finally come.
We’re taking applications from amateur sumo competitors who have MEDALED in the sport in this country and around the world. Heavyweight wrestlers who are at the top of their sport who have trained and participated in the Olympics, NCAA championship events, Grand Sumo in Japan or the equivalent.
Once selected, the athletes are held to the highest standard and compete under a rigorous set of detailed and extensive SCL Rules of Competition. That standard includes familiarity with, and strict adherence to, the international rules of sumo.
Photograph: Anthony Rivera, Burst Mode Media
How Competition Works.
SCL events feature 16 elite wrestlers competing across three rounds in a single evening — all under the rules the sport has always used, on an official elevated dohyo.
The Format
Pool Play: 16 wrestlers are separated into 4 pools of 4. Every rival faces each rival in their pool. The top 2 from each pool advance.
Quarterfinals: The top 8 from the pool competition battle in a single elimination tournament.
Semifinals: Four wrestlers from the quarterfinals advance to the semis. From here on out, every round is best of 3.
Battle for Third: The two wrestlers eliminated during the semifinal compete for third place honors.
Championship Bracket: The top 2 from the semifinals compete in a best-of-3 final. The winner is crowned the event champion.
Season Points
Every finish earns points toward the season standings:
– Champion: 25 pts
– 2nd Place: 20 pts
– 3rd Place: 15 pts
– 4th Place: 10 pts
– Quarterfinalist: 5 pts
Prize Money per Event
– Champion: $10,000
– 2nd Place: $3,000
– 3rd Place: $1,250
– 4th Place: $750
– Appearance Fee: $1,000 (all athletes)
SCL Championship
At season’s end, the top-ranked athletes meet at the SCL Annual Championship in a best-of-5 final where $100,000 in prize money and the title of SCL Grand Champion are on the line.
SCL ATHLETES ON THE WORLD STAGE
SCL’s international roster also made its mark at the 2026 Sumo World Championships, held Oct. 17–18 in Baku, Azerbaijan, where SCL’s European-based athletes swept the men’s openweight podium. Vazha Daiauri of Ukraine took gold, Zuka Tsikoradze of Georgia earned silver and Erik Szilagyi of Hungary claimed bronze. Additional notable finishes from the SCL roster included: Oleksander Veresiuk (UKR) Bronze Men’s +115 kg, Demid Karachenko (UKR) Bronze Men’s -100kg, and Edobor Konyeha (USA) 5th Place Men’s -85kg. Ukraine also captured the team gold behind SCL athletes Daiauri, Karachenko and Veresiuk, with SCL’s Anton Chuiev coaching.
Photograph: Anthony Rivera, Burst Mode Media
Dominus Davis-Williams takes down Larry Velasquez at tihe inaugural Sumo Championship Tournament held in Austin, TX, on Oct. 10. Jordan Sikes was crowned Austin Tournament Champ taking the best-of-three final from Edobor Konyeha.
Tell us about yourself.
Applications are open to amateur sumo competitors who have MEDALED in the sport in this country and around the world. Heavyweight wrestlers who are at the top of their sport who have trained and participated in the Olympics, NCAA championship events, Grand Sumo in Japan or the equivalent.
What happens after you send us your information?
Submissions come into the team. We’re building the selection process now. When it opens, we’ll be in touch — first with the criteria and the timeline, and then with the next steps for athletes who fit what we’re recruiting for.
Competitive credentials matter. If you’ve placed at the US Sumo Open or a national or regional championship, tell us.
We’re also reaching out directly to amateur sumo organizations and clubs around the world. Athletes find their way to a professional league through several paths.
The ones who make it will have earned it. That’s the point.
Your amateur standing
Federations set their own eligibility rules. How a professional opportunity at SCL intersects with your standing is a conversation to have with your federation. We’ll be clear with you about what we’re offering; the decision about what fits with the amateur sport is yours to make.