Professional sumo makes its UAE debut this Saturday at the Space42 Arena in Abu Dhabi. Hosted by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), the All-Star Sumo Competition will showcase nine elite athletes competing across 36 high-stakes bouts. The event has reached capacity, with all tickets sold out ahead of the inaugural showdown. Facing different types of wrestlers and giving it my all to aim for the championship,” Ichi said, i am really looking forward to competing again.
The international roster features wrestlers ranging in weight from 140kg to 250kg, highlighting a diverse array of physical builds and fighting styles. Andrew Freund, founder of USA Sumo and director of the event, expressed enthusiasm for introducing the discipline to a new regional audience. “Bringing All-Star Sumo to Abu Dhabi is an exciting opportunity to introduce the sport to a new audience and continue its growth internationally,” Freund stated, noting the unique blend of athleticism and tradition that defines the sport.
Leading the lineup is Japan’s Ichi, a former sekiwake-ranked competitor who spent a decade in the Japanese professional ranks and famously secured the Emperor’s Cup. Standing 193cm tall and weighing 230kg, he views the sport as a union of body and mind that emphasizes courtesy alongside victory. Joining him is 250kg heavyweight Hiroki, who spent 12 years in Japan’s top division and promises an intense experience for spectators. “You will be amazed by the sheer power of the wrestlers colliding with one another, but also by how surprisingly quick they can move,” Hiroki noted.
The competition also features Japan’s Fumiya, who utilizes a lower center of gravity at 170cm and 230kg to employ tactical techniques such as grappling, pushing, and sidestepping. “A match is not merely a test of raw strength; it involves a tactical exchange of techniques based on reading the opponent’s movements,” Fumiya explained. His lower centre of gravity plays to his advantage against taller opponents.
Representing the Arab world is Egyptian national champion Ramy El-Gazar. The 193cm, 220kg professional chef and ten-time Egyptian champion carries the weight of the region with him. “Representing Egypt and the Arab world is always a great honour for me. I am carrying the Egyptian flag and representing millions of people across the Arab world,” El-Gazar said. He expressed hope that the event would foster interest in the sport among regional athletes. Every time I step into the sumo ring, I feel that I am carrying more than my own name. “I hope this event opens the door for more sumo competitions in the Middle East and, most importantly, inspires a new generation of Arab athletes to try the sport,” El-Gazar said.
The tournament field is rounded out by seasoned international competitors, including Mongolia’s Tora, who holds the record in the lineup with 825 career matches, and the World Sumo Champion Mendee. Other participants include Japan’s Waka with 763 matches, the tournament’s lightest competitor Zorig at 140kg, and the two-time World Sumo Championships silver medallist Jaagii.
Beyond the physical contests, fans will witness the formal ring-entering ceremony and other centuries-old customs integral to the sport. The event is being produced in collaboration with USA Sumo to ensure that professional competitive standards are upheld alongside these traditional rituals. According to El-Gazar, the live experience is transformative for viewers: “Many people know the image of a sumo wrestler, but they have never experienced the speed, power, technique, discipline and tradition of sumo live. Once you see it from just a few metres away, your understanding of the sport completely changes.”
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