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SUMO CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE UNVEILS 16-ATHLETE FIELD FOR INAUGURAL AUSTIN EVENT
Four Texas competitors, including Austin-based Jonithan Pilgrim and U.S. National Heavyweight Champion Dominus Davis-Williams, set to compete Oct. 10 at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park
ATLANTA, Ga., September 16, 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. 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.
