#DanKolov2019

Who ya' got? Burroughs or Chamizo?

By Eric Olanowski

RUSE, Bulgaria (February 28) - As we eagerly await the release of the 74kg Dan Kolov brackets, we can't help but think about the potential fourth matchup between the four-time world and Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) and two-time world champion Frank CHAMIZO (ITA). 

The pair split their first two meetings, but Burroughs clinched the 4-4 criteria win in the bronze-medal bout of the Budapest World Championships and secured the 2-1 match advantage. 

If the two superstars were to meet for the fourth time, they'd do so either on Friday or Saturday. But, before brackets the come out on Thursday around 16:00, we want to know whose side you're on. 

Get social with us on Instagram or Twitter and let us know who you're taking, why you're taking them, and what you think the final score is going to be! 

#UWWAwards2022

Ozaki earns Women’s Wrestler of the Year honors

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 28) -- United World Wrestling has announced Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) as the Women’s Wrestler of the Year. 

At the mere age of 19 years, Ozaki joined a rare list of wrestlers with all four world titles.

This year was undoubtedly Ozaki’s year as she won U20, U23 and senior world golds this season.

Ozaki won a bronze medal at the 2021 World Championships but stormed back with a gold-medal-winning performance in 2022 in Belgrade. On her way to the gold, she defeated defending world champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) and silver medalist Kayla MIRACLE (USA).

Domestically, Ozaki needed to defeat Olympic champion Yukako KAWAI (JPN) to make the world team. She did that in May 2022 and then remained undefeated on the season until suffering a season-ending loss by Sakura MOTOKI in the final at the All-Japan Championships on December 25.

In April, she won her first Asian Championships title by beating Tynybekova, added the U20 world title in August, and completed the set by winning the U23 world gold in October. She won the U17 world title in 2019 in Sofia.

The year-ending rankings were also a reflection of her dominance as she finished on the top at 62kg with 55000 ranking points, out-placing other veterans of the sport.