#WrestleOslo

#TBT: Mensah-Stock Stops Oborududu in 68kg Olympic Finals

Thursday, September 23, 2021 - 12:10 By Eric Olanowski

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Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK ?? cruised to a three-point win over Blessing OBORUDUDU ?? in the 68kg finals and became the first black woman to win Olympic gold. After her win in Tokyo, Mensah-Stock owns the 3-0 match-advantage over Oborududu heading into the ’21 World Championships ?? (October 2-10).

But, similar to the Tokyo Olympics, Mensah-Stock and Oborududu are seeded first and second, respectively, and if the seeds hold true, the pair of rivals could meet on October 7 with world gold on the line.

Mensah-Stocks wins over Oborududu:
- ’18 Beat the Streets (2-1)
- ’19 World Championships (6-1)
- ’20 Matteo Pellicone (3-1)
- ’21 Tokyo Olympics (4-1)

#WrestleRome

#TBT: Dake dominates Demirtas in debut down at 74kg

Thursday, June 16, 2022 - 12:44 By Eric Olanowski

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ROME, Italy (June 15) --- Kyle DAKE ?? dominated Olympic bronze medalist Soner DEMIRTAS ?? en route to the #WrestleRome 2020 Matteo Pellicone 74kg gold medal.

Dake won two world titles at 79kg before moving down to 74kg for a run at a Tokyo Olympic medal, making his debut in Rome at the Pellicone. His opening outing was successful in terms of medal color, but as expected, there were a few wrinkles that the eventual Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist needed to iron out.

Dake said, “I’m a little disappointed in the earlier rounds, but I went out with a bang.”

In his first three matches, Dake scored 18 points, yet he only scored two takedowns. “I was just slapping at the legs and I needed to recognize that sooner,” said Dake. “The first couple of matches I was just trying new stuff and it wasn’t working so I went back to my old stuff.”

Dake’s plan for the Pellicone finals was to get back to his "old stuff," which meant he needed to, “Get through a guy. Go through him, go take him down, turn him, turn him, turn him and get off the mat.”

That’s exactly what Dake did in the gold-medal match, as he demolished world and Olympic bronze medalist Soner Demirtas in 35 seconds.

Dake led 7-0, 16 seconds into the first period, and after his Turkish opponent was hit with a fleeing-the-hold call, the American went back on top in par terre. A pair of gut wrenches less than 20 seconds later gave Dake the 11-0 technical superiority victory and the Ranking Series gold.

This year's Matteo Pellcione Ranking Series event kicks off next Wednesday (June 22-25) at Italy’s Pala Pellicone Olympic Training Center.  Catch all the action live on www.uww.org.