Alejandro Santana, a 360-pound, three-year veteran of sumo wrestling, was among nine fighters announced for a one-night tournament event at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
A start-up sumo wrestling organization announced that it will host a one-night, 12-man, single-elimination tournament that will take place on Saturday, April 18 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Among the first nine fighters announced to compete in the event was Miami, Fla.-based Puerto Rican athlete, Alejandro Santana.
The 6-foot-1, 360-pound Santana is known in the sport for his combination of raw power and upper body striking. He is a former NCAA Division II dual sport athlete in football and track and field.
The other eight fighters announced for the World Elite Sumo event were:
Abdelrahman “Sandstorm” Shalan
Nationality: Egyptian
Fighting out of: New Jersey
Age: 34
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 340 pounds
Fighting Style: Explosive, open-palmed thrusting attacks
Career Accolades: The first Arab and African wrestler to compete in Japan’s professional sumo ranks. Rose through the prestigious “Otake” stable of fighters and became an international ambassador for the sport, helping introduce professional sumo to global audiences
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.
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
