#DanKolov2019

Who ya' got? Burroughs or Chamizo?

Wednesday, February 27, 2019 - 19:44 By Eric Olanowski

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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

Akgul Named 2022 Freestyle Wrestler of the Year

Monday, December 26, 2022 - 14:51 By Eric Olanowski

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 26) --United World Wrestling has announced Taha AKGUL (TUR) as the 2022 Freestyle Wrestler of the Year after his three title-winning performances in 2022.

Akgul, the three-time world champion, missed out on podium-topping finishing at the World Championships for the last seven years, with his last gold coming in 2015 in Las Vegas. But Akgul rejuvenated his winnings ways in 2022, as he defeated 2021 world champion Amirhossein ZARE (IRI) in the semifinals of the World Championships, before defeating Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL), 6-2, to win his third world title.

At the beginning of the season, Akgul won the Yasar Dogu Ranking Series gold with five dominant wins. The 32-year-old followed his promising Istanbul performance up with a sensational European Championships, closing out the competition with a three-point win over his arch-rival Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) to win his ninth European C’ship gold.

The three gold medals in 2022 also pushed Akgul to 68000 ranking points, enough for him to finish on the top of the pile at 125kg.

Akgul, who won gold at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, was asked about the difference between his titles in 2015 and 2022.

"Nothing has changed. I have lost twice in the final in the past, that was very annoying. I would have been world champion five times if that had not happened. If I stay healthy and train well, I can beat everyone,” Akgul had said after winning gold in Belgrade.