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Article: Dingo in Vegas at the World Championships


Dingo Brigade

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98 kg, #1 Aleksanyan looks like a man among boys so far, tossing opponents like it ain't no thing. He's on to the quarters.


Almost done with 98 kilos. The brawler from China, Xiao, appears to have dislocated Germany's Oehler's shoulder. He's in considerable pain. There's a future in MMA for Xiao. He's a pummeling behemoth.


This is World's, so Oehler is back and competing, but he's grimacing.  running out of time....I doubt too many people predicted him to come out of his section of the bracket, but Xiao is on to the quarters


Quarters at 66kg up now

 

#1 Stefanek of Serbia vs Zhadrayev of Kaz

 

Saddoris vs. #5 Staebler of Germany

 

#6 Arutyunyan of Armenia vs. Bolkvadze of Georgia

 

#3 Ryu (Korea) vs. #7 Etlinger (Croatia)

 

Bryce is the shorter, stockier wrestler. Staebler with an inside trip....no points as he clearly used the legs.

 

Arutyunyan up 4-0 quickly against the 2014 Jr World champ Bolkvadze


Staebler gets a point for the Saddoris step out. 1-0 lead for the German. Saddoris looks a little frustrated and confused by Staebler's unusual sideways stance

Edited by Dingo Brigade
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At the halfway point, Staebler leads Saddoris 1-0. He needs to figure out what he wants to do against the tricky German. He really needs to win this match if he wants to have a shot at medaling. Otherwise, Staebler would have to knock off World #1 Stefanek of Serbia. Passivity against Saddoris....Staebler looking to turn...great early defense by Saddoris, Staebler keeps working, gets the roll...leads 5-0 and looks a little cocky. Saddoris has just over a minute left...now under a minute. Just doesn't seem to know what he wants or needs to do against the lanky opponent. This was a tough stylistic matchup for Saddoris, and he loses 5-0.

 

#1 Stefanek, #6 Arutyunyan, #5 Staebler and #3 Ryu are on to the semis. Saddoris obviously will be rooting for Staebler against Stefanek


75kg now. Bisek up against the Dane Madsen.. Scoreless thru 1 minute. Bisek in a nasty scramble with Madsen, they rule it a 4 point move for the Dane. A little iffy looking, the US coaches throw the challenge, Bisek agrees with the challenge. Bisek really hgave him a nasty shuck when they stood up, bloodied the Dane. The challenge is denied, Bisek operating out of a 5-0 hole. Needs to open up his offense for sure, or this is going to be over early. He has 3 minutes to mount a comeback


Bisek gets teched. Was never really in it. Now he needs Madsen to beat the winner of Datunashvili and Abdvali.


All 3 US wrestlers have now lost and are hoping for repechage help. It appears that Bisek has the best shot at it. It's not necessarily disappointing that Bisek lost, it's more how he lost. He was never in the match.

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Kind of hard to get started again after reading about the Tsirtsis tragedy, but here goes....

 

Semis underway at 66 and 75 kg.

 

At 66 kg Armenia's Migran Arutyunyan has been a man on a mission all day, taking out the #2 ranked wrestler in the world already. He leads #3 Ryu of S. Korea 4-0 in the early going. TD for Ryu, 4-2. Ryu with another TD...4-4, but the Korean leads on criteria. Potential TD by Arutyunyan wiped out as he used his legs....4-4... Ryu wins on criteria, will face Staebler for gold.

 

Also at 66kg, Stefanek and Staebler are scoreless after 3:30. Again, Saddoris must have Staebler win this to enter into the repechage. Passivity penalty against Stefanek. HUGE gutwrench and toss by Staebler, leads 5-0. He looks amazing this match. Wow, Staebler knocks off the #1 ranked wrestler in the world at 66kg, drags Saddoris into the repechage. Saddoris still has his work cut out for him, but at least he has a shot. What a day thus far for Staebler.

 

At 75kg, Madsen leads Abdvali 2-0 with around 2 minutes left. This would be huge for Bisek if he can hold on. Big TD for Abdvali to tie it 2-2. Madsen wins 2-2 on criteria, pulling Bisek into repechage. That's 2 Americans still alive for a bronze.

 

In the other 75kg semi match, the #3 Russian Vlasov is destroying #4 Mursaliyev 6-0 with a minute to go. Vlasov wins and will face Madsen in the finals.

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Can Guri beat #3 Rezaei and pull a third American into repechage?

 

they're underway at 98kg. #1 Aleksanyan against the Romanian Ciura, and Guri vs. the Iranian. I don't want to be stereotypical, but Aleksanyan is unlike any other Armenian I've ever seen. He's blonde, fair skinned and has light eyes. I guess there are more ethnic groups in Armenia than I was aware. 1-0  at the break. They're back at it, a big throw attempt by Ciura, Aleksanyan too clever for it, pulls away and wins by tech. What a stud.

 

Guri in a hole quickly, as Rezaei leads 3-0 at the break. The Bulgarian will need to regroup after the break and put it all together against the nasty Rezaei. 3-0 still, with 2 minutes left. Guri on top in par terre, needs a big gut or two. Guri just can't score on the Iranian. 3-0 with 45 seconds left. Looks like Williams will be the lone American not in the repechage rounds today. It's a shame because he showed some real flashes today. Would've loved to see him have another shot. Rezaei wins 3-0, will face Aleksanyan for gold. Should be a doozie--the offensive weaponry of Aleksanyan vs. the stifling defense of Rezaei.

 

Repechage getting ready to start

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Of the 6 finalists today, only Denmark's Madsen wasn't ranked in the top-5 of his respective weight. In fact, he wasn't in the top 10.

 

 

66kg repechage

 

#4 Surkov (Russia) vs. Zheng (China).

Benaissa (Algeria) vs. Rivas (Venezuela)

 

 

75kg repechage

#2 Julfalakyan (Armenia) vs.  Novak (Hungary)....Julfalakyan makes quick work of Novak, winning by tech.

Yanakiev (Bulgaria vs. Abd Elsalam (Egypt)

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Saddiros with big score early but sustains an injury to his eye on the throw. After a medical assessment action continued but the Algerian has definitely working the eye over with his head since then. Winner moves in to the Bronze Medal match.

 

Bisek just starting.

Edited by MattM
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Hungary's Peter Bacsi was a World champ last year, but it was at the non-Olympic weight of 80kg.. He's facing #2 Arsen Julfalakyan in a repechage match and is up 4-0. Basci looks really formidable, and as he adjusts to the new, lighter weight, I could see him being a real threat at Rio for gold at 75kg. He looks so sucked in and lean at this weight. Just as soon as Basci seemed to be running away with things, the Armenian went on a gutwrench bender, rolling Basci 3 times to take the lead 6-4. Very impressive response by Julfalakyan. This is a pretty talented matchup for an early repechage match. Both were World champs last year, with the Armenian at 75kg and the Hungarian at 80 kg. Another TD for the Armenian, and this is a point where the weight cut could be taking a toll on Basci. Nice comeback win by one world champ against another.

 

Saddoris up now against Algerian Benaissa.....Huge headlock and throw by Saddoris to open up a 4-0 lead. Now 4-1. However, somehow in the ensuing scramble, it appears the Algerian inadvertently eye-raked Saddoris. He's really having a hard time....now he's back. Hope he can build on the great start. More head clashes by the Algerian--he's warned by the ref....and then promptly does it again, without any comment by the ref this time. He's using his head like a jab. He's certainly weaponizing his head and Saddoris looks a little dazed and frustrated. This is a dirty match. There, I said it. I think the Algerian knows he's out-classed, and he's turning this into an old fashioned donnybrook. I wonder if Saddoris is going to be in rough shape in later matches, even if he wins. Saddoris is wincing and visibly upset. 4-1 at the 3 minute mark. Hope the little break refreshes Saddoris. Passivity against Saddoris, ...2 turns by Benaissa...leads now 5-4...Saddoris appears to be fading a bit. Running out of time. Tough loss for Saddoris. Think the repeated headbutts really took a lot out of him.

 

Bisek and Yanakiev are scoreless after 3 minutes. Passivity against Bisek, Yanakiev looking for the turn...Bisek fights it off, then reverses...looking for the fall....He'll settle for 2 for the counter. Beautiful defense by Bisek. Now they're challenging it...Bisek loses the challenge....still scoreless

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Bronze Medal Match

Bisek 0-0 after the 1st period. He fought off two good attacks by the Iranian.

 

2nd period Iranian gets a passivity and Bisek puts him down. Leg foul on the Iranian during the list Bisek leads 2-0.

 

Bisek captured the bronze medal with a 2-0 win. This is Biseks second world bronze in as many years.

 

Back to the world of work tomorrow, so keep those great updates coming Dingo. The info you are putting out is much appreciated.

Edited by MattM
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Thanks Matt, for the compliment and for your input. Very sorry about this evening's results. I basically couldn't access the wifi. I seemed to be the only one having problems. It might be my 1988 era laptop. I'm hopeful I can get back online tomorrow--there's really no such thing as tech support for an event like this.

 

At any rate, a pretty solid day one, with Bisek capturing a bronze medal with an impressive win over a tough Iranian. Saddoris should've beaten the eventual bronze medalist. As Lindland said, he just wasn't the same after the shots to the head. Wililams also impressed me and showed he can go with legit competition. This was Williams first win ever at Worlds, and this was his third team, so he's showing progress.

 

Tomorrow brings 4 more weight classes. Unlike the opening day, Tuesday's American athletes have some tough draws. The US has the following athletes competing, with the following opening draws:

 

 

59kg/130 lbs Spenser Mango Vs. Ismael Borrero Molina (Cuba) -- Molina has some pretty nice accomplishments, including a 5th place finish at Worlds last year, like Mango. Mango edged him at the Pan Am games by criteria, so these two are very evenly matched. Mango has the ability to medal, and if he can feed off the home crowd like today's wrestlers, he may just nail down his first world medal. At the top of the heap at 59kg is 6-time World champ and Olympic champ Hamid Soryan of Iran, 2013 World champ Ivo Angelov of Bulgaria, 2013 World champ Won-Choi Yun of North Korea. Mango beat Angelov this year at the Jack Pinto Cup. World #1 Mingiyan Semenov of Russia hasn't lost in a year, #4 Stepan Maryanyan. This is a nasty, deep class, and World #13 Mango has his work cut out for him.

 

71kg/156.5 lbs Harry Lester Vs. Balint Korpasi (Hungary) -- Two-time World bronze medalist Lester has an incredibly tough opening match, as he faces #3 Korpasi to kick his World run off. Lester has been on the cusp of the upper echelon, even more so than Mango. Again, like Mango, he could stand on the podium if he kicks it up a notch like the Americans have thus far. Lester is an 8-time World team member, but has not made the podium at a World championship since 2007. #1 in the world at 71kg is Azerbaijan's Rasul Chunayev, a bronze medalist at last year's Worlds. Lester lost a very close 9-7 bout with Chunayev, and beat current #5 Mindia Tsulukidze of Georgia last year, showing he's right there with the best at the weight. 

 

80kg/176 lbs Patrick Martinez Vs. Viktar Sasunouski (Belarus) -- Another tough draw. First time World team member Martinez draws world #5 Sasunouski and will be seeking a big upset. There's been a lot of movement out of this weight class, meaning it's not as deep as some others. Russia's Evgeni Saleev is the current #1, and has only two 1 point losses the past year. Martinez is an international newbie, relatively speaking, but he could surprise in this wide open weight, provided he can win his opening bout.

 

130kg/280 lbs Robby Smith Vs. Muminjon Abdullaev (Uzbekistan) -- Smith received the most lenient draw of Tuesday's US athletes, but Abdullaev was an Olympian in 2012. 3-time World team member Smith finished 5th 2 years ago. Four former World or Olympic champs will be in this strong, deep field, led by the legendary Mijain Lopez of Cuba. Lopez has 2 Olympic golds, 5 World golds and 2 World silver medals. In short, he is the Cuban Karelin. World #2 Riza Kayaalp of Turkey is the last man to beat Lopez, way back in 2011.

 

To summarize, Mango and Lester appear to be the two strongest candidates to medal. Martinez has a nice slate to try to work through, and Smith is stuck in a bracket with a living legend of the sport.

 

Let's go U-S-A!!!!

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So far, the match of the day is at 66kg, where Austria's Benedikt Puffer and Tajikhstan's Khusrav Obloberdiev are facing off. They've exchanged big throws and each has nearly pinned the other. 4-4 the final, with Puffer winning on criteria.

 

No sooner than I had described this previous match as the best match of the day...along comes # 3 and former world champ Russian Roman Vlasov and former world champ #2 Arsen Julfalakyan of Armenia. Very quickly, Vlasov slams Julfalakyan with incredible force squarely on his head. The crowd let out a collective gasp, as it looked like a potential serious injury. As quickly as the thought came, Julfalakyan started waving his hands while on his back to instruct his team to challenge that the move took place in bounds. The toughness of wrestlers is sometimes stupefying...Vlasov with a surprisingly easy time against Julfalakyan. Vlasov in control, wins 6-0. You won't find a more vicious looking slam than Vlasov's against the Armenian.

 

Indiana's Zach Errett was the referee for Vlasov-Julfalakyan match. Zach is the best referee in the world and that's why he was selected to work this match.

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Late start, again due to network issues.

 

Not getting a late start is Mango's opponent Borrero, who parlayed a trip and spin around into a big gut wrench and a near-pin of Mango. Very quickly, Spenser is in a 4-0 hole, and it could've been worse. They take the break, now they're back. Mango needs to do something from his feet, because thus far it appears Borrero is superior in par terre. A second passivity results in a point for Mango, but he can do absolutely nothing in par terre-Borrero almost immediately up and on his feet


Another passivity against Borrero...4-2..Mango simply can't turn him....about a minute to go, time is not Mango's friend. 2 passivities have to be weighing on Borrero, though...maybe he'll make a mistake....nope...Mango with a disappointing loss


A lot different start for the US today. Hopefully  Lester can turn it around.

 

Still at 59kg...former World champ and current #2 (and a guy Mango beat this year) Ivo Angelov of Bulgaria quickly out to a 4-0 lead against #8 Tarik Beldamani of France.

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Lots of loud Norwegian fans here today.Sad to say, but I think they gave their athlete a louder welcome than Mango received. Justin "Harry" Lester should be up fairly soon.

 

Interesting, to me at least, is that there are athletes competing here from places like Monaco, Palestine and Trinidad and Tobago.

 

OK, Lester is up, nearly taken down by the #3 Korpasi....scoreless through 1 minute. MASSIVE head throw for 4 points for Lester. Shook the floor. Approaching the break


Holy crap, another HUGE throw for 4.....Justin Lester just teched the #3 athlete in the world.

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Haha, Sweden's #19th ranked @71kg Zackarias Tallroth looks exactly like a mini-Thor. Right down to the long, pony-tailed hair, and scruffy facial hair. Only he's long and thin.

 

 

Still blown away by Lester's performance. Awaiting him next could be #8 Ozel of Turkey. No easy paths today for Americans.

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Big Robby Smith up now at HWT. The Uzbek is also a big boy, obviously, but Smith appears to have more mass...Scoreless thru 2 minutes. A lot more pushing than pulling...Smith passivity warning puts him down in par therre...Good defense for Smith...Uzebek can't turn him....until he does for a big 4 point move. Bummer

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This is a big hole for Smith. Down 4-0 at the break....Looked like Smith got a takedown, instead they have 2 to the Uzbek. After a brief pow-wow, they gave a point to Smith. Now, with a passivity call against Abdulayev, it's 4-2, Smith on top. Smith pulls out some serious gator rolling, blasts ahead to an 8-4 lead....beautiful...90 seconds to victory

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Forceout for Smith...lead 9-4....Another huge TD for Smith, followed by a HUGE FALL!!!!! What a match for Smith.

 

71kg is done. Small bracket at 80kg, so it will be a bit before Martinez steps out here. However, when action starts, #1 Saleev (Rus) vs. #2 Huseynov (Aze) is a first round matchup.

 

 

Huge match here at 130kg...#1 and near-invincible Lopez of Cuba vs. #6 Makhov of Russia, who will also be participating in Freestyle. Apparently, he's a bad man in freestyle as well. This is a true clash of the titans. Lopez up 2-0...Looks very effortless out there. They just announced that in 3 of the years that Lopez was a world champ in Greco, Makhov was champ in freestyle. Legendary athletes battling here


Announcer keeps detailing the accomplishments of Lopez and Makhov....have combined for 15 World or Olympic titles. I wonder how many times 2 opponents have had more combined world titles. I'm sure there have been some, but this is pretty special, especially for an opening round match.


Makhov simply can't break through Lopez's defense...2-1 win for Lopez. Makhov could be very dangerous in repechage.


Patrick Martinez up now against his opponent from Belarus.

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Would be great if HWT Popp of Germany could upset world #5 Tinaliyev of Kazakhstan. The winner faces Smith.

 

Former Florida HS standout Kenny Lester is wrestling for American Samoa...down at the break 5-1 to the #17 Korean Kim.

 

 

Wow, Martinez gets headlocked and nearly pinned, showed great flexibility in avoiding the fall. Actually gets the reversal to make it 4-1. A deep, but not insurmountable hole


Martinez needs a big move. 2 minutes left...90 seconds...Martinez looking frustrated. This is some awful officiating. The Belarussian has done nothing and has been the epitome of passive, Yet, no warning, no call, nothing. Horrible. Martinez likely would've lost anyway, but that was pathetic officiating.

 

Kim techs Lester


Germany's Popp upsets #5 Tinaliyev of Kazakhstan. Smith will face Popp next...a winnable match for the big American. If he wins that match, an unranked opponent will be lurking for his next match. If he wins that hypothetical match, he gets Lopez of Cuba and the fun is over.

 

Still can't believe the officiating in the Martinez match. They've been so consistent about calling passivity, and then suddenly the ref swallows his whistle? Pathetic

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