East vs West 26 (EVW 26) is set to make history on September 12, 2026, as the premier international armwrestling promotion heads to China for the first time.
The event features a stacked lineup of some of the biggest names in professional armwrestling, alongside elite competitors from China and across Asia. Headlining the show is a highly anticipated left-arm heavyweight showdown between Ivan Matyushenko and Devon Larratt.
The card also features multiple world title fights, ranked supermatches and the highly anticipated return of legendary armwrestler John Brzenk, who faces China’s Zhao Zi Rui.
East vs West 26: Event Details
- Event: East vs West 26
- Date: September 12, 2026
- Location: Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China
- Venue: Jiaxing University (Lianglin Campus) Gymnasium
- Start Time: 8:00 PM China Time
- India Time: 5:30 PM IST
- Format: International armwrestling supermatches and title fights
- PPV: US$19.99
- Tickets: Starting from US$15
EVW 26 marks the first-ever East vs West event in China, making it a landmark occasion for the promotion and for the continued international growth of professional armwrestling.
Ivan Matyushenko vs Devon Larratt
Left Arm Heavyweight
Rank #2 Ivan Matyushenko 🇷🇺 vs NR Devon Larratt 🇨🇦
The biggest matchup of EVW 26 sees Russian powerhouse Ivan Matyushenko take on Canadian superstar Devon Larratt in a left-arm heavyweight battle.
Matyushenko enters the contest ranked No. 2 and will look to establish his dominance against one of the most recognizable athletes in the sport.
Larratt, meanwhile, brings decades of elite-level experience, exceptional endurance and an ability to make tactical adjustments during a supermatch.
The contrast in styles, experience and physicality makes this one of the most anticipated left-arm matches of the year.
Matt Mask vs Leonidas Arkona
Right Arm Heavyweight
Rank #9 Matt Mask 🇨🇦 vs NR Leonidas Arkona 🇩🇪
Canadian veteran Matt Mask returns to the EVW stage to face Germany’s Leonidas Arkona.
Mask is known for his aggressive approach and explosive style, while Arkona will be looking to make a major statement against an established name in the heavyweight division.
This matchup has all the ingredients for a hard-hitting battle.
Bogdan Stoica vs Irakli Zirakashvili
Right Arm Middleweight World Title
Champion Bogdan Stoica 🇷🇴 vs Rank #3 Irakli Zirakashvili 🇬🇪
One of the night’s major championship fights sees Bogdan Stoica defend the EVW Right Arm Middleweight World Title against No. 3-ranked challenger Irakli Zirakashvili.
Stoica enters as champion, but Zirakashvili has earned his opportunity and will be determined to take the title back to Georgia.
The result could have significant implications for the EVW middleweight rankings.
John Brzenk vs Zhao Zi Rui
Right Arm Middleweight
NR John Brzenk 🇺🇸 vs Debut Zhao Zi Rui 🇨🇳
One of the most fascinating matchups on the card is the return of armwrestling legend John Brzenk.
Brzenk, considered one of the greatest competitors in the history of the sport, will face Chinese star Zhao Zi Rui.
For Zhao, competing against a global icon on home soil represents a huge opportunity. For Brzenk, the match is another chance to demonstrate that experience and technique remain among his greatest weapons.
The bout also carries enormous significance for the Chinese armwrestling scene.
Riekerd Bornman vs Filip Larsson
Right Arm Super Heavyweight
Rank #13 Riekerd Bornman 🇿🇦 vs Rank #15 Filip Larsson 🇸🇪
South Africa’s Riekerd Bornman meets Sweden’s Filip Larsson in a battle between two ranked super-heavyweights.
With both athletes already inside the EVW rankings, this contest could prove important for their positions within the division.
Artur Makarov vs Oleg Cherkasov
Right Arm Lightweight World Title
Champion Artur Makarov 🇷🇺 vs Debut Oleg Cherkasov
Artur Makarov puts his lightweight world championship on the line against Oleg Cherkasov.
Cherkasov will make his EVW debut under enormous pressure, but also with the opportunity to immediately establish himself as a major force by capturing a world title.
Makarov, meanwhile, will be looking to prove why he remains the champion.
Barbora Bajčiová vs Marta Volkova
Right Arm Openweight World Title
Champion Barbora Bajčiová 🇸🇰 vs Debut Marta Volkova 🇷🇺
The women’s openweight championship will also be contested in China.
Reigning champion Barbora Bajčiová faces Russian challenger Marta Volkova, who makes her EVW debut with a world title opportunity.
It is a fascinating champion-versus-debutant matchup and one of the most important women’s bouts on the card.
Rustam Babaev vs Eldar Bubenko
Left Arm Middleweight
Rank #4 Rustam Babaev 🇺🇦 vs NR Eldar Bubenko
Veteran Ukrainian star Rustam Babaev takes on Eldar Bubenko in a left-arm middleweight clash.
Babaev’s No. 4 ranking makes him the favorite on paper, but Bubenko has the opportunity to cause an upset and immediately elevate his position within the EVW division.
Fia Reisek vs Yrysty Orazkhan
Right Arm Lightweight World Title
Champion Fia Reisek 🇸🇪 vs Debut Yrysty Orazkhan 🇰🇿
Another women’s world championship will be contested when Fia Reisek defends her right-arm lightweight title against Kazakhstan’s Yrysty Orazkhan.
Orazkhan makes her EVW debut with the biggest opportunity of her career, while Reisek will be determined to retain her championship.
Joseph Meranto vs Valen Low
Right Arm Featherweight
Rank #2 Joseph Meranto 🇺🇸 vs NR Valen Low 🇸🇬
American Joseph Meranto, ranked No. 2, takes on Singapore’s Valen Low in a right-arm featherweight matchup.
Meranto comes into the bout with a significant ranking advantage, but Low has the opportunity to deliver one of the biggest upsets of the night.
Mercieca vs Tanapat
Right Arm Welterweight
Debut Mercieca 🇲🇹 vs Debut Tanapat 🇹🇭
Malta and Thailand collide as Mercieca takes on Tanapat.
Both athletes are making their EVW debuts, making this one of the card’s most unpredictable matchups.
Nicholas vs Lovei
Right Arm Featherweight
Debut Nicholas 🇵🇭 vs Debut Lovei 🇷🇴
The international action continues with Nicholas representing the Philippines against Romania’s Lovei.
Both competitors enter without an EVW ranking, giving each athlete the chance to make an immediate impression on one of the world’s biggest armwrestling stages.
Liepins vs Rui
Right Arm Welterweight
NR Liepins 🇱🇻 vs Debut Rui 🇨🇳
Latvia’s Liepins faces Chinese debutant Rui in another international battle.
The matchup is particularly interesting for the home audience, with Rui representing China’s growing presence in professional armwrestling.
Zhuo vs Jolly
Right Arm Lightweight
Rank #16 Zhuo 🇨🇳 vs Debut Jolly 🇲🇾
Chinese competitor Zhuo, ranked No. 16, takes on Malaysian debutant Jolly.
The contest adds another East-versus-West-style international matchup to an already globally diverse card.
King of the Table Tournament Finalists
The EVW 26 card also features a slot for the King of the Table Tournament finalists.
At the time of the announced card, both competitors are listed as TBD, meaning fans could still be in for a major surprise when the finalists are revealed.
A Truly Global EVW 26 Card
One of the biggest strengths of EVW 26 is its international diversity.
Athletes from Russia, Canada, Germany, Romania, Georgia, the United States, China, South Africa, Sweden, Slovakia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Malta, Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia are represented across the card.
That international lineup perfectly reflects the philosophy behind East vs West: bringing the world’s best armwrestlers together for elite head-to-head competition.
The decision to stage EVW in China for the first time is also significant. China has a rapidly developing armwrestling community and an enormous potential audience for the sport.
Why You Should Watch East vs West 26
EVW 26 has several storylines that make it impossible to overlook.
Ivan Matyushenko vs Devon Larratt headlines the event with a heavyweight left-arm battle between two hugely experienced competitors.
John Brzenk vs Zhao Zi Rui provides a fascinating generational and international matchup, putting one of armwrestling’s greatest legends against a Chinese star on his home turf.
Three separate women’s and men’s world title fights add championship stakes throughout the card, while numerous ranked athletes have the opportunity to climb the EVW rankings.
And with the event taking place in China for the first time, EVW 26 could become an important moment in the continued globalization of professional armwrestling.
How to Watch EVW 26
East vs West 26 takes place on Saturday, September 12, 2026, in Jiaxing, China.
The event is scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM China Standard Time, which is 5:30 PM Indian Standard Time.
Fans who cannot attend the event in person can watch the action through the event’s official PPV broadcast.
Final Word
East vs West 26 is shaping up to be one of the biggest armwrestling events of 2026.
From Matyushenko vs Larratt and Mask vs Arkona to Brzenk vs Zhao Zi Rui and multiple world championship bouts, the card offers an impressive mix of legendary names, ranked contenders, rising stars and international newcomers.
More importantly, EVW 26 represents a major milestone as East vs West arrives in China for the first time.
With the world’s best armwrestlers converging on Jiaxing, all eyes will be on the table on September 12.
China is ready. The table is set. East vs West 26 is here.