#WrestleGuatemala

#WrestleGuatemala Weight-to-Watch: 74kg

Thursday, May 20, 2021 - 00:55 By Eric Olanowski

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GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala (May 18) – Two-time world champion Kyle DAKE (USA) and three-time Olympian Franklin GOMEZ (PUR) headline the seven-man 74kg bracket at next week’s Pan-American Championships (May 27-30). 

Last month, Dake defeated Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) two matches to none in the finals of the United States Olympic Trials and solidified himself as The Stars and Stripes’ representative for the Pan-American Championships and the Tokyo Olympic Games. 

Dake, who won back-to-back world titles at 79kg, will be competing at the continental championships for the first time in his career and is on a mission to keep his 40-month win streak alive. ‘Kid Dynamite’ will be lacing up his boots at 74kg for a third consecutive international competition beginning his run to August’s Tokyo Games.

In his previous two showings, Dake went undefeated and claimed golds at the ’21 Henri Deglane and the ’20 Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event. 

Undoubtedly, Dake’s toughest competition will be Puerto Rico’s ’11 world finalist Franklin Gomez. The four-time Pan-Am medalist and returning silver-medal winner is on a quest to reach the top of the continental podium for the first time in over a decade. Despite winning medals in three of his last four continental appearances, the Puerto Rican has fallen short of winning gold since his first continental appearance back in ’11. 

The Pan-American Championships will be Gomez’s second competition back since the COVID layoff. He competed in Rome’s Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event earlier this year where he won a pair of matches – including a 6-4 win over Rio Olympic bronze medalist Yakup GOR (TUR) – but fell to two-time world champion Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) and ’19 world silver medalist Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) and settled for fifth place. 

Wrestling at the Pan-American Championships kicks off on May 27 and can be followed live on www.uww.org.  

74kg Pan-American Entries 
Renato Patricio DA SILVA (BRA) 
Jasmit Singh PHULKA (CAN) 
Hossman Eduardo CARVAJAL ROJAS (COL) 
Malhcon Alizon PINEDA CUNIL  (GUA) 
Victor Eduardo HERNANDEZ LUNA (MEX) 
Franklin GOMEZ MATOS (PUR) 
Kyle DAKE (USA) 

UWW Opens Dedicated Office for Grappling, MMA, Pankration in Lausanne

Monday, July 6, 2026 - 17:15 By United World Wrestling Press

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LAUSANNE, Switzerland (July 6) -- United World Wrestling marked a significant milestone for Grappling, MMA and Pankration on Monday with the official opening of its dedicated office for the three associated styles at the Maison du Sport International in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The new office will serve as the operational hub for the continued development and governance of Grappling, MMA and Pankration within the UWW family.

The official opening was attended by UWW President Nenad LALOVIC, President of the UWW Committee of Associated Styles and UWW Vice President Rodica YAKSI, UWW Committee for Grappling, MMA and Pankration Vice President Adrian BAKOS, and UWW Committee for Grappling, MMA and Pankration Member Gaji GAJIYEV.

Michal BUCHEL has been appointed Head of the office and Tolegen KUMAROV, who was appointed Head of Grappling at United World Wrestling on February 21 in Baku, will also be part of the new office. He will be responsible, within the framework of the UWW Committee for Grappling, MMA and Pankration, for the strategic development of grappling worldwide.

Lausanne

In the coming days, a working group will be formed and will begin implementing key projects aimed at developing these disciplines.

The main objectives set by UWW for the committee will be the systematic development of Grappling, MMA and Pankration, the unification and strengthening of international cooperation, the support of national federations, as well as the creation of new opportunities for athletes around the world.

The office for the three styles is open to constructive cooperation with all organisations that are sincerely interested in the development of these disciplines, the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, and the education of the younger generation.

I is important for all international, continental and national organisations developing Grappling, MMA and Pankration to build relationships based on mutual respect, open dialogue and partnership. Sport has always been a universal language that brings people together regardless of nationality, culture or political views. 

By bringing together the experience, knowledge and collective efforts of the global sports community, it’s possible to ensure the sustainable development of Grappling, MMA and Pankration, strengthen their international standing, and open a new chapter in the history of combat sports.