Toronto, Canada, Pan Am Games

Burroughs Repeats, Rey Doubles Up on 2015 Titles in Pan Am Games

By William May

TORONTO, Canada (July 18) – Defending champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) repeated as Pan American Games gold medalist on Saturday as the United States rolled to three gold medals and a silver on the final day of wrestling competition at the Toronto 2015 Games.

World and Olympic Games champion Burroughs cruised to three wins by technical fall, including a 13-3 triumph in the quarterfinals over Livan LOPEZ (CUB), for his second Pan American Games gold medal after winning at the Guadalajara 2011 Games.

In the 74kg final, Burroughs softened up South American Games champion Yoan BLANCO (ECU) with a series of force-outs in the first period, then wrapped up the technical fall with a single-leg attack and a pair of cross-ankle turns.

Lopez, the gold medalist at 66kg in Guadalajara, rebounded for a bronze medal after his loss to Burroughs.

Meanwhile, three-time Pan American championships winner Zach REY (USA) won his first Pan American Games crown to double up on the continental titles this year. Rey defeated Korey JARVIS (CAN), 3-0, in the 125kg final.

Former junior world champ Kyle SNYDER (USA) made a big splash with his third technical fall of the day, 10-0, over Arjun GILL (CAN) in the 97kg final for his first major senior title.

Jake HERBERT (USA), the Games’ defending middleweight champion, came out on the short end of a wide-open final at 86kg, falling 12-7 to world silver medalist Reineris SALAS (CUB) and his wicked double-leg attack.

With three gold medals on the final day of wrestling, the United States completed the freestyle competition with four of the six gold medals on offer along with a pair of silver medals for 58 points.

Cuba, meanwhile, grabbed the other two gold medals as well as a silver and two more bronze medals, to finish second in freestyle with 49 points. Canada was even more distant in third place with 40 points.

Freestyle
74kg
GOLD: Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) df. Yoan BLANCO (ECU) by TF, 11-0 
BRONZE: Cristian SARCO (VEN) df. Johnathan SCOTT (CRC) by Fall 
BRONZE: Livan LOPEZ (CUB) df. Jevon BALFOUR (CAN) by TF, 10-0

86kg
GOLD: Reineris SALAS (CUB) df. Jake HERBERT (USA), 12-7
BRONZE: Tamerlan TIGZIEV (CAN) df. Pool AMBROCIO (PER), 5-0
BRONZE: Jaime ESPINAL (PUR) df. Ricardo BAEZ (ARG) by TF, 12-0

97kg
GOLD: Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Arjun GILL (CAN) by TF, 10-0
BRONZE: Jose DIAZ (VEN) df. Yuri MAIER (ARG), 9-0 
BRONZE: Jesse RUIZ (MEX) df. Marcos SANTOS (PUR), 4-1

125kg
GOLD: Zach REY (USA) df. Korey JARVIS (CAN), 3-0
BRONZE: Edgardo LOPEZ (PUR) df. Hugo DE OLIVEIRA (BRA), 8-0
BRONZE: Andres RAMOS (CUB) df. Rene SILVA (NCA) by TF, 10-0

Jake HERBERT (USA), champion en titre de la catégorie de poids moyens, s’est incliné en finale à 86 kg face au médaillé d’argent au niveau mondial Reineris SALAS (CUB).

Avec trois médailles d’or remportées lors du dernier jour de compétition, les Etats Unis terminent la compétition de lutte libre avec quatre des six médailles d’or disponibles, ainsi que deux médailles d’argent pour un total de 58 points.

Cuba a remporté les deux autres médailles d’or, une médaille d’argent et deux médailles de bronze et termine second avec 49 points. Le Canada est loin derrière avec 40 points.

Lutte libre
74kg
OR: Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) df. Yoan BLANCO (ECU) par SP, 11-0 
BRONZE: Cristian SARCO (VEN) df. Johnathan SCOTT (CRC) par tombé 
BRONZE: Livan LOPEZ (CUB) df. Jevon BALFOUR (CAN) par SP, 10-0

86kg
OR: Reineris SALAS (CUB) df. Jake HERBERT (USA), 12-7
BRONZE: Tamerlan TIGZIEV (CAN) df. Pool AMBROCIO (PER), 5-0
BRONZE: Jaime ESPINAL (PUR) df. Ricardo BAEZ (ARG) par SP, 12-0

97kg
OR: Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Arjun GILL (CAN) par SP, 10-0
BRONZE: Jose DIAZ (VEN) df. Yuri MAIER (ARG), 9-0 
BRONZE: Jesse RUIZ (MEX) df. Marcos SANTOS (PUR), 4-1

125kg
OR: Zach REY (USA) df. Korey JARVIS (CAN), 3-0
BRONZE: Edgardo LOPEZ (PUR) df. Hugo DE OLIVEIRA (BRA), 8-0
BRONZE: Andres RAMOS (CUB) df. Rene SILVA (NCA) par SP, 10-0

#WrestleTirana

Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series Day 4 Recap

By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (March 1) -- Four Women's Wrestling weight classes and two Greco-Roman weight classes as Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series enters day four in Tirana. Here's the recap of day three

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 3 RESULTS

15:35: Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) and Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) received cautions for negative wrestling but Beishekeev had two activity points and turn from par terre in the 67kg semifinal as he defeated Khetsuriani 6-2 to make the final.

The former U17 world champion and 2024 U23 world champion Beishekeev will wrestle Valentin PETIC (MDA) for the gold after the Moldovan survived a spirited comeback from Bagdat SABAZ (KAZ) in the other semifinal to win 13-8

15:20: Aleksandrs JURKJANS (LAT) thought he has earned his first Ranking Series medal after he gut-wrenched Doolotbek CHOIBEKOV (KGZ) for an 8-0 win in the 63kg semifinal. However, Choibekov challenges the first takedown and on review, it is deemed a risk from Choibekov and all points are cancelled. Choibekov then takes a 4-1 lead before a big throw gets him four more. A 9-3 win for Choibekov.

He will face Kerem KAMAL (TUR) in the final who defeated Razvan ARNAUT (ROU) 5-1 in the other semifinals.

15:05: Medet KYZY AIPERI (KGZ) storms into the 76kg final with 10-0 win over Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR). She scored three takedowns and huge reverse lift for four to win. She will take on Dymond GUILFORD (USA) who pulled off a 14-1 win over Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ).

14:55: Samantha STEWART (CAN) with yet another Ranking Series final. She beats Luisa VALVERDE (ECU) 5-2 at 57kg after two takedowns to one. She will take on Elvira SULEYMAN KAMALOGLU (TUR) for the gold medal as the Turkish defeated Amanda MARTINEZ (USA), 9-3.

14:40: Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) manages to scrap out a tough win against Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) at 53kg. Malanchuk caught Kiyooka in a bow-arrow lock and rolled her for a 6-0 lead. But Kiyooka regrouped and scored two takedowns to cut the lead to 6-4. Malanchuk kept shooting for the legs and Kiyooka kept defending with double underhooks. A caution against Malanchuk for hair-pulling and Kiyooka gets another point. Malanchuk gets two points out of a scramble and Kiyooka is forced to defend the situation. Malanchuk leads 8-5 at the break.

Kiyooka with a snapdown and go-behind to begin the second period. Another takedown when she finally gets the lead 9-8. Malanchuk challenges the last takedown as she had her hand between the bended knee as defense. The points are cancelled as Kiyooka's action is deemed dangerous, bending the knee more than 90 degrees. Malanchuk lead 8-7 with 2 minutes remaining. A stepout for Kiyooka but Malanchuk leads 8-8 on criteria. Finally, a takedown for lead for Kiyooka which Malanchuk blocks with open fingers. Kiyooka leads 11-8 and restart in par terre from which she turns Malanchuk to lead 13-8. Malanchuk makes a desperate attempt but Kiyooka go-behind for two points and a 15-8 win.

On Mat B, Andreea ANA (ROU) got two points for Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) failure to score in the activity clock and give ones for the same. She hangs on for a 2-1 win against Yetgil to book a spot in the final against Kiyooka.

The semifinals begin at 14:30 local time

13:20: Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) enters the 67kg semifinals with a 7-1 win over Abu AMAEV (BUL). After losing a challenge very early in the bout, Khetsuriani managed to lead 5-1 from par terre. He scored a stepout in the second was awarded the second passivity advantage as well which propelled him to a 7-1 win.

13:05: A last second stepout for Andreea ANA (ROU) to beat Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) at 53kg! With 20 seconds left, Malysheva led 3-0 but Ana scored a takedown to make it 3-2 with 10 seconds on the clock. She went for the leg straightaway and carried Malysheva outside the zone for one to win 3-3.

13:00: Yuxuan LI (CHN) manages to score a takedown on Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) but that is all. Kiyooka rallies to pile up takedowns to beat Li 12-2 in three minutes and 23 seconds. 

12:45: Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) with a 44 seconds technical superiority win over Vanesa GEORGIEVA (BUL) in the 76kg quarterfinals. Alpyeyeva is a former U23 world champion and has been at 72kg for Ukraine for long but changing to the Olympic weight class of 76kg now

12:40: Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) cannot find a way to penetrate Kerem KAMAL's (TUR) defense. The two met at 63kg and Mohsen Nejad got the first par terre. No score. Kamal was on top in the second period but failed to score. But with a 1-1 criteria lead to Kamal, Mohsen Nejad was forced to score but his desperate attempt lands him on his back and Kamal gets four for a 5-1 win.

12:30: Two quarterfinals results which happened at different times. Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) beats Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) 12-1 to move into the semifinals while Medet KYZY AIPERI (KGZ) takes full six minutes to beat Enrica RINALDI (ITA) 9-0.

12:15: Alexandria GLAUDE (USA) makes a statement with a win over Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) at 72kg. Glaude never let Bakbergenova to go for the big moves and counter with her takedowns. She beats the Kazakh 7-2.

12:10: Alla BELINSKA (UKR) with a fall at 72kg Round 2 against Linda MACHUCA (ARG). The fall makes it extremely likely that she will top the group

11:55: Huge win for Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) over Leri ABULADZE (GEO). The bout at 67kg was Abuladze trying to switch to an Olympic weight class. However, that proves too much for him right now. Khetsuriani got the par terre and then was about to score when Abuladze committed a leg foul. Abuladze challenge but lost which made the score 4-0 for Khetsuriani. He defended par terre in the second period and won 4-1

11:41: On Mat A, three-time world silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOV (KAZ) holds on to a 3-1 win over Alla BELINSKA (UKR) in Round 1 of 72kg.

11:40: World champion Moe KIYOOKA (JPN), who is now trying to be at 53kg since Olympic champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) has moved up to 57kg, wins her first bout over Felicity TAYLOR (USA) 8-0. Kiyooka was on the leg lace quite a few times but was defended well but Taylor. But Kiyoola still managed a 10-0 win with a minute and 16 seconds remainig.

11:30: Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) takes out Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN) at 76kg in the opening round. Alpeyeyeva with leg attacks that clearly unsettled Yamamoto who likes to stay on upper body. A 9-1 win for Alpyeyeva.

11:20: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) takes her time but manages to beat Meile ZHANG (CHN) 11-0 with 36 seconds left. Great start for Medet Kyzy is a slightly stacked weight class.

11:10: Morten THORESEN (NOR) just blanked Sebastian NAD (SRB) at 67kg! Extreme pace from Thoresen to get two passivity calls and stepouts in his wins.

11:00: Day four of the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series. No rain today and bright sunshine blesses Tirana. Women's Wrestling and Greco-Roman wrestlers will be on the mat.