The much-anticipated 22nd annual US Sumo Open will once again be held at the Walter Pyramid - Cal State Long Beach on September 10 featuring over 60 of the world's best sumo wrestlers. It's the largest and longest-running sumo tournament on Earth outside of Japan.

There will be 100+ back-to-back matches with preliminary matches beginning at 12pm, qualifying for the main event, which will be from 2pm to 4pm. The Openweight class competition (women and men) at 4pm is always intriguing where skill and strategy can overcome size.

Featured athletes are: Takeshi Amitani (5'7" 220 lbs) from Japan, Middleweight gold in 2019; Jose Galindo (6'1" 420 lbs) from USA, Heavyweight gold in 2020 and 2021; Ramy Elgazar (6'3" 492 lbs) from Egypt, Heavyweight gold in 2015; Altangerel Dorjtsegmed (5'3" 181 lbs) from Mongolia, Lightweight gold in 2020 and 2021; Jacek Piersiak (6'4" 398 lbs) from Poland, silver at the World Sumo Championship in 2018; and Mendsaikhan Tsogt-Erdene ( 5'10" 310 lbs) from Mongolia, #4 at the World Games in 2022.

USA SUMO executive director Andrew Freund mentioned how excited he is about the turnout, but also feels some sadness about the passing of four-time world champion sumo legend Byambajav "Byamba" Ulambayar. He was a great global ambassador for sumo and many called him the most prolific sumo entertainer in history.

Also, former two-time world sumo champion Yama will not be competing, but as a coach, he has trained and coached some of the great athletes that you will see compete. If you are looking for a coach, he is the go-to sumo expert. And he was the heaviest Japanese sumo wrestler ever at 600 lbs.

There are a few other reasons why you don't want to miss this event. The US Sumo Open has been the first to bring Pro Sumo Grand Champions as special guests, the first to pioneer women's matches in American tournaments, the first to feature multiple World Sumo Champions in a single event, and the first to include former top-ranked Pro Sumo wrestlers in competition.

©USA_SUMO.com

Competitors struggle at the 2019 US Sumo Open,

Most of the competitors have been National or World Sumo Champions from 40 different countries and the US Sumo Open is the only event in North America where you can catch this caliber of international sumo, every year.

For more information and to purchase tickets, go to: https://www.usasumo.com/us-sumo-open/2022-us-sumo-open/