SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2008 12:30pm
Los Angeles Sports Arena, California
Photo: Chuck Green
The 2008 US Sumo Open featured some amazing bouts, long-term rivalries, and stunning upsets! Some of the highlights include:
- World Sumo Champion Byambajav Ulambayar defeated giant Petar Stoyanov for the third consecutive time in the US Sumo Open (in the men's heavyweight division), but Petar then upset Byamba in the last match of the day -- the Openweight Finals -- to win his own gold medal!
- Munkhjargal Ulziibayar ("Muugii") won the men's lightweight competition for the second year in a row!
- Erdenebileg Alagdaa ("Bilegee"), the lightest middleweight (at only 199 pounds), won the middleweight gold medal. Bilegee had previously won a gold medal in the lightweight division at a past US Sumo Open.
- US Sumo Champion Dan Kalbfleisch won a bronze medal in the men's heavyweight, behind Byamba and Petar. Many-time US Champion Kelly Gneiting won a bronze medal in the men's openweight, behind Petar and Byamba.
- The lightest heavyweight, Tamir Dolgormaa (278 pounds) was seeded in a bracket that included the former World Champion (440 lbs), the former US Champion (430 lbs), and a former US medalist (340 lbs). Incredibly, the tiny-looking Tamir defeated ALL THREE to win his bracket and advance to the quarter-finals, where he lost to US Champion Dan Kalbfleisch.
A couple thousand sumo fans enjoyed the atmosphere at the Sports Arena, with Japanese beer, sake, and Japanese food, plus taiko drumming.
Watch US SUMO OPEN 2008 matches >>
8th Annual Top Athletes
 |
Petar Stoyanov Bulgaria 6'6" 350 lbs Heavyweight Silver, Openweight Gold |
 |
Byambajav Ulambayar Mongolia 6'1" 330 lbs Heavyweight Gold, Openweight Silver |
 |
Munkhjargal Ulziibayar Mongolia 5'10" 187 lbs LighteweightGold |
 |
Erdenebileg Alagdaa Mongolia 6'0" 199 lbs Middleweight Gold |
 |
Robert Ashworth US - CA 6'0" 220 lbs Middleweight Silver |
 |
Rye McAfee US - Idaho 6'4" 253 lbs Middleweight Bronze |
 |
Peter Panayotopoulos US - CA 5'11" 180 lbs Lightweight Silver |
 |
Tsogsuren Tsogkhuu Monglia 6'1" 184 lbs Lightweight Broze |
 |
Dan Kalbfleisch US - CA 6'0" 310 lbs Heavyweight Bronze |
 |
Kelly Gneting US - Idaho 6'0" 430 lbs Openweight Bronze |
 |
Natarile Burns US - Idaho 6'1" 190 lbs Heavyweight Gold, Openweight Gold |
 |
Brittany Moreau US - CA 6'0" 129 lbs Lightweigh Gold, Openweight Silver |
sponsors
SUPPORTERS
2008 US SUMO OPEN OVerVIEW
Over 2,000 people surrounded the sumo stage at the 2008 US Sumo Open. The 8th annual competition included some dramatic rivalries, shocking upsets, and remarkable matches which stunned the audience!....... read more >>2008 MEN'S RESULTS
LIGHTWEIGHT
1st:
Munkhjargal Ulziibayar (Mongolia)
2nd:
Peter Panayotopoulos (USA)
3rd: Tsogsuren Tsogkhuu (Mongolia)
MIDDLEWEIGHT
1st: Erdenebileg Alagdaa (Mongolia)
2nd: Robert Ashworth (USA)
3rd: Rye McAfee (USA)
HEAVYWEIGHT
1st: Byambajav Ulambayar (Mongolia)
2nd: Petar Stoyanov (Bulgaria)
3rd: Dan Kalbfleisch (USA)
OPENWEIGHT
1st: Petar Stoyanov (Bulgaria)
2nd: Byambajav Ulambayar (Mongolia)
3rd: Kelly Gneiting (USA)
2008 WOMEN's results
LIGHTWEIGHT
1st: Brittany Moreau (USA)
2nd: Michelle Pike (USA)
MIDDLEWEIGHT
1st: Natalie Burns (USA)
HEAVYWEIGHT
1st:
Natalie Burns (USA)
2nd: Brittany Moreau (USA)