#WrestleTokyo

Sadulaev Tops Rival Snyder in 3rd Clash for Tokyo Olympics Gold

Saturday, August 7, 2021 - 12:22 By Ken Marantz

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CHIBA, Japan (August 7)---Abdulrashid SADULAEV (ROC) came out on top in his latest clash with fellow Rio Olympic champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) at freestyle 97kg, winning "Snyderlaev III" 6-3 on Saturday night.

In the highly anticipated battle at Makuhari Messe Hall A, reigning world champi0n Sadulaev scored twice on tilts in countering low singles by Snyder and held on to add a second Olympic gold to his four world titles.

"Unbelievable, awesome," Sadulaev said. "I know this feeling because five years ago I won. It’s more difficult to defend than to win. So it’s a dream today."

Sadulaev took a 2-0 lead in the second period after receiving an activity point and scoring on a stepout.

In the second period, Snyder shot for a low single and Sadulaev showed how he earned his nickame "The Russian Tank" when he lifted the American off the mat. While Sadulaev wasn't able throw Snyder for points, he managed to tilt him over.

A short time later, Snyder got in on the same single leg, and the result was exactly the same, giving the Russian a 4-0 lead.

Snyder, a two-time former world champion, put himself back into the match with a hard-earned takedown with 50 seconds left, then added a stepout point with :28 on the clock. But the 25-year-old Sadulaev wasn't budging after that, and held on for his second win in two career matches with Snyder.

Asked about how he felt about his historic victory, Sadualev said, "To be honest for now I don’t eel anything because I am too tired. Maybe after sometime I will tell you."

The two, born just six months apart, had been on parallel tracks throughout their careers, both winning senior world freestyle titles in 2015 and an Olympic gold at Rio 2016, all before their 21st birthdays.

Sadulaev won the 86kg gold in Rio, where Snyder triumphed at 97kg. Sadulaev moved up to 97kg the next year, and their paths first crossed in the final at the 2017 World Championships in Paris in a match immediately dubbed "The Match of the Century."

Snyder prevailed to take the gold, which also gave the U.S. the freestyle team title, scoring the winning points of a 6-5 decision in the final 30 seconds. A year later in Budapest, Sadulaev turned the tide turned in the world with an innovative fall in just 70 seconds.

At the 2019 World Championships, a highly anticipated third match never came about after Snyder lost in the semifinals to 2012 London Olympic champion Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) as Sadulaev went on to win his fourth world title.

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open Best Move: Blades Suplex

Friday, February 14, 2025 - 15:22 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (February 14) -- Kennedy BLADES (USA) is making the suplex her own. After thrilling a packed Champs de Mars Arena with a majestic suplex at the Paris Olympics, the 21-year-old star began her 2025 season with two of them at the Zagreb Open last week.

"When I get behind, in my mind, I am like I have to execute this because it's so rare to hit a suplex," Blades said in Zagreb. "So every time I get behind in matches or big stages, I try to hit the suplex. I want to do it at the world stage because I know it will be on the highlights."

At the Zagreb Open, Blades was at 68kg, two weight classes down from 76kg, in which she won the silver medal at the Paris Games. She debuted at 68kg with a fall over Kendra DACHER (FRA) and another fall over world bronze medalist Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE).

The first glimpse of her suplex in the match against Noémi SZABADOS (HUN). Close to a minute had gone in the bout when Blades used her reach for a outside single-leg. Instead of going for a takedown, she stood up and locked Szabados from behind and out came the throw.

However, the perfect arch was missing and it was awarded four points.

Blades wasn't satisfied. In Round 5 and leading 7-0, Blades countered Karolina POK (HUN) in a perfect set up for a suplex. Pok made a half-hearted attempt for a headlock but Blades snuck out and moved behind.

Pok knew it was coming. She did not resist and Blades did not relent. A picture-perfect arch, a beautiful throw, safe landing and a cheeky smile at the end. Blades was content.

"I just feel like when someone gets a headlock, they probably have to throw it really hard because growing up, I used to wrestle Greco in the summer," she said. "So my coach always taught us how to set up the suplex if they grab your head for a headlock and they don't go. When someone gets in a headlock position and they don't go super hard, then the suplex is there. If I would ever be in that position, I just go flat because I know that they can probably throw me. "

While it has become relatively easy for Blades to throw her opponents at 68kg, she still needs to tackle their speed and movement.

"I think at 68kg, the girls just feel lighter and that's what makes it a tiny bit easier," she said. "The difference though is that they wrestle a little bit more so my conditioning and footwork needs to be better. Whereas at 76kg, they're kind of hand fighting. It's more like strength. But at 68kg, it's speed and technique. It's hard to distinguish if it's easier or not, but I think the fact that I was able to lift the girls up easy was the best thing ever."

The suplex isn't new to Blades. She performed one at the U20 World Championships back in 2021, then at the Olympics and now in Zagreb. However, Blades picks the one in Paris as the best one so far.

"The best suplex is probably my Olympic one because that was straight back on her neck, on the Olympic stage, first match." she said. "I was on fire. I kind of want to see that the suplex I just hit because I think it was pretty nice. But the Olympic one is so hard to beat and I was in a pink singlet."