SANTA CRUZ \u2014 Breaking news: Paea \u201cBad News\u201d Tukuafu, 33, will replace massive Mathew Westwood at this weekend\u2019s historic sumo wrestling tournament at Kaiser Permanente Arena, World Elite Sumo (WES) announced Monday.<\/p>\n
Westwood, who checks in at 6-foot-6, 600 pounds, was forced to withdraw from Saturday\u2019s 12-man, open-weight tournament due to an injury.<\/p>\n
That opened a very big door for Tukuafu (6-3, 300), a pro MMA fighter who will be make his debut under sumo wrestling rules.<\/p>\n
Tukuafu trains under UFC heavyweight legend Cain Velasquez and coach Ron Keslar out of San Jose\u2019s famed American Kickboxing Academy (AKA). He posted a 4-0-0 amateur MMA record with four first-round knockouts before turning pro.<\/p>\n
With the addition of Tukuafu, the diverse and talented men\u2019s field also includes pro wrestling star Juicy Finau (6-4, 465); No. 1 ranked Power Slap super heavyweight star and former amateur sumo champion Makini \u201cBig Mak\u201d Manu (6-0, 400); American strongman competitor Josh \u201cThe Ox\u201d Ortiz (5-7, 275); Los Angeles\u2019 Gilberto De La Torre (6-3, 400), the first-ever pro sumo wrestler of Mexican descent; three-time African national freestyle wrestling champion Ahmed Khalil (6-3, 265) of Egypt; Japanese powerhouse Hidenoumi \u201cThe Iron Wall\u201d Takuya (6-0, 350); Polynesian American martial artist and pro wrestler Josh \u201cSiua\u201d Tuitupou (5-11, 270); former Japanese sumo champion Asahisho Kota (5-9, 310); Brazilian sumo star Rui Junior (5-11, 381); seasoned Russian technician Soslan \u201cBig Bear\u201d Gagloev (6-5, 350); and sumo star Abdelrahman \u201cSandstorm\u201d Shalan (6-3, 350), the first pro sumo wrestler from Africa and The Middle East.<\/p>\n
All WES tournament matches will be contested in a best-of-three format, increasing competitive stakes and maintaining a rapid, exciting pace of action.<\/p>\n
A four-wrestler woman\u2019s tournament<\/a> \u2014 featuring Kellyann Ball, Etan \u201cTanro\u201d Perez, Yaleidy\u00a0 \u201cJolly\u201d Toro Graniela, and Haley Cartmill \u2014 will take place ahead of the championship stage of the men\u2019s tournament that will headline the show.<\/p>\n Wrestlers will be competing for cash prizes and the coveted champion\u2019s trophy.<\/p>\n The immersive fight night production, known to blend athleticism, intensity, and spectacle, will also feature live taiko drumming and dramatic wrestler entrances.<\/p>\n WES tickets, which start at $50, are available on Ticketmaster.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n IF YOU GO<\/p>\n World Elite Sumo<\/p>\n When: Saturday, 7 p.m.<\/p>\n Where: Kaiser Permanente Arena, Santa Cruz<\/p>\n