On a strip of Wyandanch, Long Island, a working-class enclave in Suffolk County, past corner stores and narrow side streets, a different kind of arena is taking shape. There are no bleachers, no stadium lights — but when the arms lock and the referee calls, “ready, go,” the tension is electric.
For Gerren Nixon, these moments represent more than competition. They’re about identity, access, and a sport too often left underground. With a worn table, a vision, and a growing community, Nixon has built something that looks less like a league and more like a movement. In the Urban Arm Wrestling League (UAWL), the competitive circuit is as much about social empowerment as it is about physical strength.
Nixon spent his early adulthood chasing a vision. For years, the music business served as his creative outlet. He promoted events and immersed himself in the rhythm of New York’s nightlife. But even in those fast-paced years, he longed for something deeper. “I always knew in the back of my head and in my heart that I wanted to find a way to put arm wrestling at the forefront of my community,” Nixon said.
A chance conversation with a close friend reignited his passion for arm wrestling, a spark that dated back to his childhood watching, “Over the Top”, the 1987 Sylvester Stallone cult classic that romanticized underground arm wrestling. That memory, combined with his desire to create something lasting, planted the seed for a new path.
In 2019, Nixon launched the Urban Arm Wrestling League. UAWL now hosts training sessions, local qualifying tournaments, and a championship series. A portion of entry fees go toward Long Island charities and a scholarship fund for Wyandanch high school students, including Nixon’s alma mater, Wyandanch High.
“The first event was a disaster,” Nixon recalled, laughing. “I booked it on a Sunday night. Total rookie mistake. Most seasoned pullers know events usually happen on Saturday afternoons so people can travel and recover. I didn’t know that. I thought I could just promote it like a concert.”
That humbling moment forced Nixon to reach out to veteran figures in the arm wrestling world such as Al Scalzo, Tom “Nitro” Simko, and James Reid. They didn’t sugarcoat their feedback. “They told me straight up: learn the sport, respect the craft, and do it right.”
One of the league’s fastest rising figures is Leslie Sinclair, who began as a regular competitor and has since grown into a key leader within the organization. Now serving as UAWL’s vice president, Sinclair works closely alongside Nixon to grow the brand and expand its reach.
What truly sets the league apart, however, is its mission beyond the matches. UAWL events often feature DJs and music, forging a blend of sport and culture. Thanks to partnerships with major sponsors like Dick’s Sporting Goods and Buffalo Wild Wings, UAWL continues to grow into a movement. Ken Smith, general manager of a Buffalo Wild Wings location on Long Island and a fan of the sport, successfully advocated for corporate investment. Now, the chain is one of the league’s most visible and active sponsors.
From those early missteps to establishing one of the most unique and inclusive leagues in the country, Nixon’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and relentless belief in the power of community. In Wyandanch and beyond, that belief is beginning to take hold—one pull at a time.