Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! July 30, 2018

Monday, July 30, 2018 - 14:50 By Eric Olanowski

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Reviewing the outcome of the colossal match-up between Chamizo and Burroughs and Dake and Taylors Yasar Dogu dominance. Also taking a look at a new 76kg title contender and the Junior European Championships in Rome, Italy. 

1. Chamizo Outlasts Burroughs in Epic Shootout to Win Yasar Dogu Gold Medal
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.” On Saturday, Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) did just that, 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 avenged his loss to Burroughs from May’s Beat the Streets in New York City, outlasting the four-time world champion 10-10 on criteria to win the 74kg Yasar Dogu gold medal. 

After the match, Chamizo took to Instagram, posting a picture with the following caption, “Four months. It took Four months to climb up to the top of the world in the 74kg weight class. It was brand new for me, I had great opponents to face, but here we are. I can’t wait for Budapest, it’s time to fight and this time there can be only one.” 

With this weekend’s 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.

Click HERE for full story. 


David TAYLOR (USA) picked up four pins on his way to the Yasar Dogu gold medal. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne) 

2. Dake and Taylor Trample Competition as USA Edges Iran to Win Yasar Dogu Team Title
First-time world team representatives Kyle DAKE (USA) and David TAYLOR (USA) thumped the competition, picking up seven falls and a technical superiority victory on their way to winning gold medals at the 46th Annual Yasar Dogu. 

In the finals, Dake squared off against junior world bronze medalist Ibrahim YUSUBOV (AZE). The American used three takedowns, and a pair of gut wrenches to end the gold-medal bout 11-0 in the opening period. This win gave Dake his third overall international gold medal (2014 Granma Cup and 2017 Grand Prix of Paris).

Fellow American David Taylor, the 2018 Pan-American champion also cruised to a gold medal, tallying four dominating wins via fall in route to winning the 86kg gold medal.

The second-ranked wrestler in the world took less than 90 seconds to trample Murad SULEYMANOV (AZE) in the finals. In addition to the Ivan Yarygin and Pan-American gold medal, this is Taylor’s third individual gold medal of the year.

Team Scores 
GOLD - United States (150 points) 
SILVER - Iran (146 points)
BRONZE - Turkey (125 points)
Fourth - Azerbaijan (121 points)
Fifth - Ukraine 117 points)

Click HERE for full story. 


Aslanbek ALBOROV (AZE) defeated two Olympic champions at the 2018 Yasar Dogu. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne) 

3. Aslanbek ALBOROV (AZE) Strings Together Championship Run that Included Beating Two Olympic Champions and a U23 World Champion 

Aslanbek ALBOROV (AZE), the 2017 world bronze medalist went 3-0 and beat a 2017 European champion and two Olympic champions on his way to making the 97kg finals.

Alborov opened his day against fellow countryman, Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) who is a two-time Olympic medalist, winning the gold in London and bronze in Rio.

The 2017 world bronze medalist came out on top 1-0 in a match-up that likely determined who is going to represent Azerbaijan in October at the 2018 World Championships in Budapest.

Alborov continued his run into the quarterfinals, picking up the dominant 9-2 win over 2017 European Champion, Riza YILDIRIM (TUR).

Moving to the semifinals, Alborov avenged his 2017 World Championship semifinals loss to 2016 Rio Olympic champion, Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA), picking up the 3-3 win on criteria. 

In the gold-medal bout, Alborov capped off his unthinkable championship run by shutting out U23 world champion and Asian runner-up, Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI), 10-0. 


Aline FOCKEN (GER) proves that she is a 76kg title contender after beating reigning world champion, Aline FOCKEN (GER). (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne) 

4. Focken Claims Yasar Dogu Gold, Upsets Reigning  World Champion Adar 
Aline FOCKEN (GER), 2017 69kg world runner-up defeated 2017 world champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR), 5-3 to win the 76kg #YasarDogu2018 gold medal. With her win this weekend, Focken adds another title contender into the 76kg #Budapest2018 mix. 

In addition to Focken and reigning world champion, Adar, 76kg will also feature four-time world champion Adeline GRAY (USA) and Canada’s Rio Olympic champion Erica WIEBE.

To display just how open this weight class is, here are five head-to-head results from the four title contenders. 

Head-to-head Match-ups 
Yasemin ADAR (TUR) beat Erica WIEBE (CAN) at the Klippan Lady Open
Adeline GRAY (USA)  Beats Yasemin ADAR (TUR) Klippan Lady Open
Erica WIEBE (CAN) beat Adeline GRAY (USA) at the Canada Cup 
Aline FOCKEN (GER), beats Yasemin ADAR (TUR) at the Yasar Dogu 
Adeline GRAY (USA)  beat Aline FOCKEN (GER) Klippan Lady Open

5. Junior European Championships Begin Monday 
The 2018 European Junior Championships begins at the Centro Olimpico – PalaPellicone Monday, July 30 in Rome, Italy. Greco-Roman wrestling kicks off the championships, followed by women’s wrestling. Finally, freestyle closes out the tournament that concludes on August 05. 

Click here for full SCHEUDLE 

Weekly FIVE! In Social Medal 

1. Big Move Monday! #takedown #doubleleg #throw #wrestling#mma #mixedmartialarts

2. “Yasar Dogu Team Champs ?? ??.” ?: @magicman_psu

3. “Who is the man....” ?: @frankchamizo92

4. What’s your favorite sport? #Wrestling ?‍♀️ ?‍♂️

5 When the wrestling room is too hot, take the mat lakeside! ?: Holly Tappe on Facebook

#JapanWrestling

Another Ono rises: Konami follows brother's footsteps

Friday, August 29, 2025 - 02:52 By Ikuo Higuchi

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TOKYO (August 27) -- When you think of the name Ono from Shimane Prefecture, many will recall Masanosuke ONO (JPN), a world champion who is quickly becoming a global star, who now primarily competes in the United States.

Ono's younger sister Konami, who was undefeated in the national tournament during her elementary school years, is just like her brother. She went on to attend Nippon Sport Science University Ohka High School in Tokyo, where she grew up steadily, winning the Inter-High School Championships in 2023 and also winning silver at the U17 World Championships the same year.

A shoulder injury caused her to slow down, but through repeated practice at Nippon Sport Science University she regained her former strength and won the East Japan Student Championships and the All Japan Amateur Championships [women's competition is open to university students as well] last week.

Konami ONO (JPN)Konami ONO (JPN), left, won a silver medal at the 2023 U17 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Being coached by 2004 Athens Olympic bronze medalist Chikara TANABE and Kaori ICHO, she described herself as being in "the best environment."

Ono had been suffering from pain in the right shoulder and had to undergo a surgery in June last year. She had initially aimed for a comeback last year at the All Japan Championships [Emperor's Cup] in December, but was forced to withdraw. She returned to competition in April of this year at the Junior Queen's Cup U20, where she won one match, but lost the next match to a junior from high school by technical superiority.

"There were times when my shoulder would dislocate just by walking. It was a frustrating year," said Ono with her voice becoming teary, as if the pain had returned. "I'm happy because I was injured and couldn't wrestle for a while," she said but added, "I realized I need to practice more and get stronger."

Inspiration from brother Ono

While she was off the mat, Konami watched her brother Masanosuke win the gold medal at the U20 World Championships in 2024 and later become the world champion at 61kg at the Non-Olympic World Championships.

"It's not something I could ever imitate," she says, and although he is someone she should "admire" rather than "target," he is also someone close to her, having competed alongside since childhood. "I want to study hard and catch up," she says.

Konami ONO (JPN)Konami ONO (JPN) with world and Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA). (Photo courtesy: Masaharu Ono) 

Earlier in spring, Konami accompanied her older brother to the United States, where he trains at Pennsylvania State University. She was still recovering and was unable to train, but she watched her brother's win against 2024 Paris Olympic silver medalist Spencer LEE (USA).

"I thought American wrestling was really amazing. It was inspiring," she said.

What made the biggest impression on Konami was how much fun her brother seemed to be having wrestling, even though he was in a foreign country.

"He really enjoys wrestling," she said. "I was amazed that there are people who love wrestling that much [laughs].

"My brother is my role model," she said. "I often watch his techniques and aspire to be like him."

What she finds particularly impressive is his speed, and the way he unconsciously develops his techniques. She herself sometimes has trouble deciding what to do next during a match, but her brother's body moves without a second thought. "I need to be able to come out with techniques one after the other," she said.

Training with Fujinami, Onishi

While Ono found his path in the United States, Konami is thinking of firmly establishing herself in Japan.

"I think that if I stay at Nippon Sport Science University, I will become really strong," she says, believing that his current environment is the place where she can develop the skills to compete on the world stage.

Not only is there an impressive coaching staff, but there are also world-class athletes such as 2024 Olympic champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) and Asian champion Sakura ONISHI (JPN) in the 57kg and 59kg weight class, respectively. Fujinami won gold at the Olympics in 53kg.

"I practice with Akari every day. She's really strong..." she said, admiringly, and when she's not sparring, she's always following Fujinami's movements to study them.

Since they are both in the 57kg weight class, could she challenge Fujinami as early as the All Japan Championships in December? To that question, she gave no clear answer, saying, "I'm not at the level where I can fight yet..." and said that she might move up a weight class as her body grows, so it's still up in the air, but perhaps the day is approaching when the middleweight trio, including Onishi, will take to the world stage.

Rather than setting big goals, her current goal is to "compete in many matches and enjoy wrestling." She says that she is actually enjoying it, so perhaps she is getting closer to her brother's level. Her next concrete goal is the All Japan Women's Open Championships in October.

She vowed to make a leap forward, saying, "I want to train both my body and mind and become even stronger. I want to become a star from Shimane Prefecture!"