Two Tournaments in One Day: USA SAMBO National Championship and US Open International SAMBO Cup Held in Pennsylvania

Newtown, Pennsylvania became the center of American SAMBO for a full day on March 28. Bucks County Community College hosted two major competitions back-to-back: the 2026 USA SAMBO National Championship in the morning and the 2026 US Open International SAMBO Cup in the afternoon.

National Championship Sets the Bar

The 2026 USA SAMBO National Championship brought together American sambists competing for national titles in both Sport SAMBO and Combat SAMBO across men's and women's categories.

Alongside the standard medal program, a special individual honor was awarded – the Volf Sharkansky Prize for Best Technique. This year, the prize went to the national heavyweight champion Obi Iheoma of Texas, recognized for his technical excellence on the mat.

International Stars Take the Mat

The afternoon session belonged to the international competition. The 2026 US Open International SAMBO Cup, organized by the US national SAMBO federation – USA Sambo Inc. – drew approximately 100 athletes from 8 countries. The event also featured both Sport SAMBO and Combat SAMBO for men and women.

The undisputed highlight of the Cup was the performance of Alice Schlezinger of Israel, a three-time World Champion in Sport SAMBO. She delivered a dominant display throughout the competition and claimed the gold medal – a performance that served as a masterclass for younger and less experienced athletes watching from the sidelines.

Another notable guest in attendance was Eddie Alvarez, MMA fighter and former UFC and Bellator champion, who showed genuine interest in SAMBO – and in Combat SAMBO in particular.

Sporting Stakes and National Team Selection

The tournament carries significant sporting implications. According to the organizers, the combined results of the day's competitions will be used to shape the roster of the US National SAMBO Team ahead of the 2026 Pan American and World Championships.

“For American sambists, competing in the US Open International Cup is a chance to test themselves against strong opponents from different countries. On top of that, based on the day's results, we can finalize the composition of both the senior national team and the junior squad for upcoming FIAS international events,” said Mikhail Kozitsky, First Vice President of USA Sambo Inc.