Six must-watch battles at World Championships
Wednesday, September 6, 2023 - 09:34 By Eric Olanowski
BELGRADE, Serbia (September 6) – The World Championships throws certain match-ups that are a must-watch for wrestling fans. We’ve come up with the six bouts that could take place in Belgrade.
FS 65kg - Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI) vs. Takuto OTOGURO (JPN)
In a weight with endless heavy hitters, offensive juggernauts Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) and Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) continue rising to the top while somehow avoiding each other.
Otoguro has been the weight's most dangerous offensive threat since 2018 when he became the youngest Japanese male to win world gold. He's a guy with cat-like reflexes, is highly elusive, and isn't afraid to give up a point to get a point. His counter-offensive abilities make him super dangerous. He gets to his angles better than anyone in the weight.
Though he has changed his style a little, Otoguro will need his old-school run-and-gun mentality to take out Amouzad.
Since Otoguro's absence after the Tokyo Olympic Games, Amouzad has emerged as the most-feared wrestler at 65kg.
Amouzad is a tactician when it comes to breaking down his opponents—mentally and physically. He's a guy with relentless forward pressure and a bottomless gas tank. He uses that patented Iranian underhook to close the distance on his opponents and control the mat area. He's only 22 years old but remains poised like a veteran in close matches. He’s confident wrestling in a phone booth but can attack from space, and that makes him a nightmare to wrestle.
This match comes down to Otoguro's ability to solve Amouzad's underhook and put six consecutive minutes together. On the other side, Amouzad has to be methodical when picking his shots and anticipate where and when Otoguro's going to reattack.
WW 50kg - Yui SUSAKI (JPN) vs. Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA)
Earlier this year, Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) went to Los Angeles intending to train with Olympic champion Helen MAROULIS (USA). Unbeknownst to her, a text message set up a surprise training session, described by Hildebrandt as, "a dream training setup."
As the story goes: Hildebrandt went to LA to train with Maroulis for a week. On the second day of being in California, Yui SUSAKI (JPN), the No. 1 pound-for-pound wrestler in the world and Olympic champion in Hildebrandt's weight class, just so happened to be on vacation in Los Angeles. Susaki contacted Maroulis to set up a training session (just as everyone does while on vacation). The three went to a local jiu-jitsu gym, worked through tie-ups and finishes and rotated in on a few rolls.
Although Hildebrandt and Susaki are two staples on the world and Olympic podium at 50kg, their impromptu LA training session was the first time they'd laid hands on each other. They'll now try to take what they learn from their time together in sunny Los Angeles and carry it into Belgrade for their highly anticipated first meeting.
"I'd say the biggest takeaway for myself was getting to put my hands on her. That it didn't have to be in a big match for that to be the first time," said Hildebrandt. "I know the match will feel different, and I'm sure we will even wrestle somewhat differently, but sharing the same mat, slapping hands, and just wrestling normalized it all in a great way for me."
Susaki, being the student of the sport that she is, also used the Los Angeles training session as an opportunity to boost her knowledge—especially around the American wrestling style.
"During my training in America, I practiced a lot with Helen [and Sarah]. We had a very meaningful time each day, playing offense, defense, matches and sharing techniques," said Susaki. "I also often watch wrestling videos. I often watch videos of American wrestling, so it was a great learning experience for me to learn about American wrestling styles firsthand. I learned about the scramble situation and defenses of American wrestling."
Hildebrandt will now try to use that American wrestling style to become the first woman to hand Susaki an international loss, and she knows what a challenge that'll be.
"I definitely want the match against Susaki. I am in this sport to test and challenge myself. To grow as a person, using wrestling as the invaluable tool that it is on that journey," said Hildebrandt." To beat Yui Susaki would obviously be a huge moment in my career. And it would no doubt be due to years of hard work, learning and relearning, and hours upon hours of time and energy from those who support me."
On the other side, Susaki is focused on the weight as a whole and trying to become a two-time Olympic champion.
"Since we are all in the same weight class, I want to beat everyone and become a true world champion," said Susaki. "I believe that it will lead to my biggest goal of winning a gold medal at the Paris Olympics and achieving two consecutive Olympic titles.
Susaki and Hildebrandt are seeded first and second, respectively, and are favored to face off against each other for 50kg world gold.
GR 67kg - Luis ORTA (CUB) vs. Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI)
It’s a rare occurrence having Olympic champions share a bracket together, but that’ll be the case as Reza GERAEI and Luis ORTA (CUB) will share the 67kg bracket in Belgrade. Both of these guys possess a high wrestling IQ and experience, making this potential matchup a must-watch.
Geraei is a true 72kg competitor who struggles to make 67kg, while Ortz Sanchez is a true 63kg pushing to make 67kg.
Geraei, despite losing the final last year, has been a top wrestler at 67kg over the last few years, catapulting himself up the pound-for-pound rankings after winning world and Olympic gold medals.
On the other side, Orta won Olympic gold at 60kg but moved up to 67kg at the beginning of 2023. After wrestling at five competitions this season at 67kg, and winning golds at the Central American and Caribbean Games, Pan-American Championships and the Grand Prix of France, Orta found his stride at 67kg and is starting to feel at home in his new weight class.
“I felt the difference at first in the strength, but I think I have adapted well,” said Orta. “I think that at 67kg there are good wrestlers and will be one of the divisions where there will be several very good matches. I hope to be in the final and put on a good show.”
Of course, one of those guys Orta is referring to is the heavily-targeted Geraei.
“I have thought about wrestling [Geraei] and think it would be a good match. Maybe it could be the World Championship final,” said Orta. [His] greatest strength is his size for the division and he is a very complete wrestler.”
If they were to meet, Orta must focus on stopping Geraei’s most valuable assets -- the misdirection duck under and the reverse lift from par terre.
Meanwhile, Geraei has to focus on match management and not emptying his gas tank too early. The World Championships is a two-day weigh-in competition so conserving energy for the five-match stretch is really important.
The late entry of HUSIYUETU (CHN) knocked Ortz out of the No. 8 seed. He’ll now have a blind draw into the bracket, which means he could meet Geraei as early as the opening round on Saturday, September 23.
GR 87kg - Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) vs. Semen NOVIKOV (BUL)
Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) and Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) were once compatriots, vying for the right to represent Ukraine at 87kg on the world and Olympic stage. Both guys excelled in 2019, with Beleniuk winning senior world gold and Novikov winning U23 world gold -- and were favored to win a medal in Tokyo.
However, only one spot was available on the Tokyo Olympic team, leading to an in-country battle.
This created a highly publicized and often criticized battle that saw Beleniuk, the eventually Olympic champion, walk away with the Tokyo spot and Novikov put in his transfer papers to Bulgaria.
"Beleniuk is not the reason I left; I'm not afraid of a rivalry," said Novikov. "I believed in myself, and I felt that I had chances, but he was going to be Ukraine's representative either way."
After falling to Beleniuk in the finals twice at the Ukraine Championships, Novikov wants nothing more than to take out Beleniuk at the 2023 World Championships, and he wants to do it in style.
"I hope we will meet in the finals. I waited for this moment for four years," said Novikov. "I'll be happy when I win this rematch. It means that I became a little better."
The heated history between these two competitors adds extra anticipation to their potential matchup in Belgrade.
WW 57kg - Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) vs. Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN)
Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) has made one of the most notable weight change heading into the World Championships, dropping down from 59kg to the highly competitive Olympic weight of 57kg.
This sets the stage for a thrilling clash with returning world champ Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) for the top spot in the world.
Nichita is one of the most promising young talents in the sport. Just 24, she’s experienced well beyond her years and brings an extensive track record of success in Belgrade. Since 2019, she's competed and won at least a medal at 15 of 16 senior-level events, except for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, where she finished in seventh place.
To maintain her reign and win a second world title, Nichita knows she'll likely have to go through Japan's Sakurai -- a match she says would be interesting if it comes to fruition.
"The Japanese women are number one in the world. And Sakurai is one of them," said Nichita. "Sakurai is a strong athlete and she managed to [beat] the two-time Olympic champion Risako KAWAI (JPN) [in Japan's wrestle-offs]. It will be really interesting for me to fight against her."
But Sakurai is a different monster. Two years younger than Nichita, Sakurai has also been in many meaningful matches with high-level opponents and has wins over Olympic champions Kawai and Maroulis in the last twelve months.
Sakurai is patient with her leg attacks and finishes with purpose. Her ability to pressure her opponents while remaining physical with her hand-fighting is what separates her from the pack. Her six-minute constant pressure tends to wear on her opponents, especially in the second period.
But Nichita thrives in those deep-water, close-matches situations. Outside of her insane cardio, the most impressive part about Nichita's wrestling is her mental approach. The Nichita you see when she walks to the match is the same Nichita you're going to see if she's up by five or down by five. She's one of the most poised and composed wrestlers in the sport and never wavers from her belief in her abilities.
"I don't want to make any promises now, but I'll do my best to make it an interesting fight [against Sakurai]. If it's a good day for me then I can fight anyone without fear," said Nichita.
FS 125kg - Gable STEVESON (USA) vs. Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI)
*On Monday, Steveson dropped out of the 2023 World Championships. He'll be replaced by Mason PARRIS (USA).
Despite only being 22 years old, Gable STEVESON (USA) and Amir ZARE (IRI) have already disrupted the heavyweight pecking order and become worldwide superstars.
The two have engaged in repeated exchanges on social media, each staking their claim as the "Heavyweight King." Belgrade could potentially put an end to that debate.
Steveson is one of wrestling's most remarkable talents, possessing a type of athleticism never seen by a wrestling heavyweight. He's a lightweight at heart that’s stuck in a heavyweight's body. A showman who has incorporated backflips into his post-match celebrations, Steveson is a master at mental warfare, oozing with a confidence that can be felt, more than it's seen.
But if there's one guy who can match what Steveson does on the mat and what he says off the mat, it's Zare. That was on display after he won world gold in Oslo, when he put a superficial crown on his own head, staking claim as the heavyweight king.
"[Gable] is a good talent and I think he has a different wrestling style than others; he is very bold. In my opinion, his biggest strength is his self-confidence," said Zare.
When it comes to the remaining heavyweight field, other tier-one talents include Taha AKGUL (TUR) and Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO), both of whom are also world champs. But Zare already has wins over Akgul and Petriashvili, leaving one guy on the hit list.
"Defeating [Gable] doesn't mean anything to me like other competitors because of the sense of competition I have with him. Winning against him makes me happy because we have a common goal in this competition," said Zare.
Freestyle opens up the 2023 World Championships, and with Steveson being unseeded, we could see this match as soon as September 15.
The 2023 World Championships kicks off September 16-24 in Belgrade, Serbia, and can be followed live on UWW+, or on the, “The Home of Wrestling,” United World Wrestling’s app.
Defending and senior Asian champion Sakura ONISHI (JPN) will be in Samokov at 59kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)
Erzu ZAKRIEV (UWW), the 63kg world U20 champion, will wrestle at 67kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)
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