#YasarDogu2018

Chamizo Outlasts Burroughs in Epic Shootout to Win Yasar Dogu Gold Medal

By Eric Olanowski

ISTANBUL, Turkey (July 28) - Nearly four months ago, Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) posted a photo on Instagram with the caption “If you want to be the king, you have to beat the king.” Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) did just that on Saturday, getting his revenge against the London Olympic champion in front of a sold out Bağcılar Olympic Sport Hall in Istanbul, Turkey.

Chamizo, the two-time world champion was looking to avenge his loss to Burroughs from May’s Beat the Streets in New York City. In that match, Chamizo commanded the early 4-0 lead but was outscored 6-1 in the final four minutes of the bout, losing the match, 6-5. 

Saturday’s bout kicked off a little differently than the outdoor “ice skating” match in New York, as Burroughs scored the match's first point, nearly grabbing a takedown from a low single, but settled for a step out point. The American coaching staff thought Burroughs should have been awarded the takedown and threw the challenge cube. The original call on the mat was confirmed, and Chamizo was awarded a point for the lost challenge, giving the Italian the 1-1 lead on criteria. 

With 45 seconds left in the opening period, Burroughs, the four-time world champion picked up the pace and forced the referees to put Chamizo on the activity clock. The American shot a double, came up to a single and picked up step out point, taking the 2-1 lead into the final three minutes.

Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) defeated five-time world and Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA), 10-10 to win the Yasar Dogu. (Photo by Martin Gabor) 

Chamizo surrendered the bouts first takedown after Burroughs snagged his heavy stepping left foot with a low single, extending his lead to 4-1. 

Down by three, Chamizo scored a reversal, cutting Burroughs’ lead to 4-2. But, not before the Italian corner threw the challenge cube, questioning if Burroughs secured the takedown before scoring the reversal. Once again, the referees came together and confirmed the call on the mat, awarding Burroughs a point for the lost challenge, giving him the 5-2 lead. 

After giving up his second step out of the match, Chamizo, who is known for his defense scored his first takedown and cut the Olympic champions lead to 6-4 with one minute remaining in the final period. 

The Cuban turned Italian increased his sense of urgency after Burroughs extended his lead to 8-4 with his second takedown of the bout. 

Chamzio, with his cat-like reflexes, found himself fighting off a Burroughs double, but turned his defense into offense, exposing the American and picking up four points on the out of bounds line, ultimately taking the 8-8 lead on criteria. 

The Rio bronze medalist closed out the bout with his third takedown and took the 10-8 lead. Burroughs would score the final two points, but Chamizo held criteria and was victorious, 10-10. 

With that win, Chamizo evens up the series at one apiece. The next time these two could potentially meet would be in October at the 2018 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. 

RESULTS
57kg 
GOLD - Thomas GILMAN (USA) df. Dzmichyk RYNCHYNAU (BLR), 12-5 

BRONZE - Suleyman ATLI (TUR) df. Taras MARKOVYCH (UKR), 10-6
BRONZE - Vicky VICKY (IND) df. Armen ARAKELIAN (UKR), 9-7 

65kg
GOLD - Mehran NASIRIAFRACHALI (IRI) df. Ali RAHIMZADA (AZE) 

BRONZE - Madiyar BURKHAN (KAZ) df. Hassan MORADGHOLIEI (IRI), 14-9 
BRONZE Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) df. Andrii SVYRYD (UKR), 10 - 0

74kg
GOLD - Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA) df. Jordan BURROUGHS (USA)

BRONZE - Nurlan BEKZHANOV (KAZ) df. Saeid DADASHPOURKERIKALAEI (IRI), 4-4
BRONZE - Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) df. Nurykan AZAMAT (BLR), 3-2 

86kg
GOLD - David TAYLOR (USA) df. Murad SULEYMANOV (AZE), via fall 

BRONZE - Boris MAKOEV (SVK) df. Ahmet BILICI (TUR) 
BRONZE -  Fatih ERDIN (TUR) df. Omar ZIANTDINOV (RUS), 12-2 

97kg
GOLD -  Aslanbek ALBOROV (AZE) df. Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI), 10-0 

BRONZE -  Fatih YASARLI (TUR) df. Valerii ANDRIITSEV (UKR), 1-1
BRONZE - Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA) df. Riza YILDIRIM (TUR), 11-0 

Women’s Wrestling 
50kg 

GOLD - Oksana LIVACH (UKR) df. Sarra HAMDI (TUN), 10-0 

BRONZE -  Semkiv ILONA (UKR) df. Ritu RITU (IND), 13-7  
BRONZE -  Georgina Suzana SEICARIU (ROU) df. Ciricu EMILIA (MDA), 3-1  

55kg
GOLD -  Pinki PINKI (IND) df. Olga SHNAIDER (UKR), 6-3  

BRONZE -  Nurufe DUMAN (TUR) df. Siwar BOUSETTA (TUN), 8-0 

59kg
GOLD - Olena KREMZER (UKR) df. Sofiia BODNAR (UKR), 4-2 

BRONZE -  Sangeeta BALALI (IND) df. Yuliya PISARENKA (BLR), 14-6 

65kg
GOLD -  Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) df. Netreba IRYNA (AZE), 14-3  

BRONZE - Geeta GEETA (IND) df. Sofiya Hristova GEORGIEVA (BUL), 3-0 
BRONZE -  Mariia ILCHYSHYN (UKR) df. Elis MANOLOVA (AZE), via injury 

72kg
GOLD - Beste ALTUG (TUR) 
SILVER - Rajni RAJNI (IND) 
BRONZE - Neslihan ULUSOY (TUR)

#WrestleZagreb

Valiev outsmarts Sidakov again to reach Worlds final

By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 14) -- For five minutes and 50 seconds in both the 74kg semifinals, there was little indication that the results will change. But 10 seconds were enough for Chermen VALIEV (ALB) and Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) to change the outcome.

Valiev was down 4-2 against Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) but managed to elevate the latter's leg from an attack before tripping him on the edge for a two-point takedown, taking a 4-4 criteria lead with three seconds remaining.

Sidakov tried a desperate attack but gave up another takedown even in that short time as Valiev reached his first-ever World Championships final on debut in Zagreb, Croatia.

Takahashi was down 4-1 against Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) but the Japanese scored a takedown and turned Salkazanov through a gut-wrench to lead 5-4. He still had 6 seconds to defend and he managed to do it with ease. Slovakia challenged for fleeing from Takahashi but that was lost which added an additional point to make it 6-4.

Valiev and Takahashi, both with clutch wins, will now clash in the 74kg final for the world title on Monday.

Three other weight classes were also in action on Sunday and the United States was the only country to put two wrestlers in the finals -- Levi HAINES (USA) at 79kg and Trent HIDLAY (USA) at 92kg.

Haines, who stunned world champion Akhmed USMANOV (UWW) in the quarterfinals, scored a controlled 4-1 victory over Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) in the semifinals. Olonbayar got the first point via passivity of Haines but the U.S. wrestler scored a counter exposure for two points and take a 2-1 lead.

He scored a ankle pick for another two-point takedown and defended his 4-1 lead for the win and reach the final, a surprise in a tough 79kg bracket.

On Monday, he will try to stop Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) from becoming Greece's first-ever wrestling world champion in history. The European champion from Greece showed some of the most high-paced wrestling in the semifinal against world silver medalist Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) to win 8-3.

Nokhodi, was often stood squared-up, had no answered to Kougioumtsidis' constant attacks as the Greece wrestlers led 6-3 at the break. He scored a single-leg takedown in the second period and won 8-3.

Hidlay, who has switched levels in his career this year, reached the final at 92kg after destroying world silver medalist Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), 15-4, in the semifinals.

Nurmagomedov was in the match when the score was 5-4 with 2:23 left but Hidlay switch gears since, scoring a go-behind, a feet-to-back four-pointer and a takedown to finish with a technical superiority win.

He will face Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW) for the gold medal after Gadzhimagomedov managed to hold off Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) for an 11-6. Firouzpour, who had multiple age-group world titles, kept shooting for Gadzhimagomedov's legs but the UWW wrestler kept countering those attack with lift exposures.

Gadzhimagomedov then sealed the win with stepout, handing him a 9-6 lead and a takedown finishing the match 11-6.

Harutyunyan pinned after Lee heroics

Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) undoubtedly had the most impressive win of the morning session when he defeated Olympic silver medalist Spencer LEE (USA) 14-3 in the quarterfinals.

The win put Harutyunyan as the favorite to advance to the final at 57kg. However, Asian champion Chongsong HAN (PRK) had different ideas. He hit a lateral drop on Harutyunyan in the semifinals and secured a fall to enter the final. Han is the first Freestyle wrestler from the DPR Korea to enter the final in 11 years.

Han will now try to become a world champion when he takes on Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) in the 57kg final after the Kyrgyz wrestler took it to Paris Olympic bronze medalist Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), winning 8-0.

Abdullaev seemed to have burnt out from the earlier matches and had little fight left in him as Almaz Uulu scored points at his will in the semifinals including four stepouts.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Chongsong HAN (PRK) vs. Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ)

SF 1: Chongsong HAN (PRK) df. Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), via fall
SF 2: Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) df. Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), 8-0

74kg
GOLD: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) vs. Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN)

SF 1: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) df. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW), 6-4
SF 2: Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) df. Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), 6-4

79kg
GOLD: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) vs. Levi HAINES (USA)

SF 1: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) df. Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI), 8-3
SF 2: Levi HAINES (USA) df. Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL), 4-1

92kg
GOLD: Trent HIDLAY (USA) vs. Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW)

SF 1: Trent HIDLAY (USA) df. Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), 15-4
SF 2:  Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW) df. Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI), 9-6