#NFRoundup

NF Roundup Blog, Jan. 4-10

By United World Wrestling Press

The Iran Wrestling Premier League concluded its 2020 season as superstars Hassan YAZDANI and Mohammad Ali GERAEI earned brilliant victories for their teams.

The Iran Mall team captured  the title in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. 

Iran Mall defeated newcomer team Esteghlal 7-3 in the final match. At 86kg, the Olympic and world champion Yazdani recorded technical fall victory over Sajad GHOLAMI, 11-1.

In Greco-Roman, Iran Mall downed Azad University, 7-3.

Geraei

At 77kg, two-time world bronze medalist Mohammad Ali GERAEI beat rival Boroumand ASLAN, 6-4. The ABDEVALI brothers earned two technical fall victories against their rivals in 63 and 82kg.

Freestyle Final Standings
1. Iran Mall
2. Esteghlal
3. Ghaemshahr Wrestling Association
4. Azad University

Greco-Roman Final Standings
1. Iran Mall 
2. Azad University
3. Sina Sanat Izeh 
4. Foulad Oxin

Freestyle Final Match: Iran Mall df. Esteghlal, 7-3
57kg- Reza Atri(Iran Mall) df. Nader Hajaghania (Esteghlal), 6-2
61kg- Majid Dastan (Iran Mall) df. Mohammad Ramezanpour (Esteghlal), 8-3
65kg- Morteza Ghiasi (Esteghlal) df. Meysam Nasiri (Iran Mall), 6-1
70kg- Amir Hossein Hosseini (Iran Mall) df. Mohammadreza Sargou (Esteghlal), 8-0
74kg- Ali Savadkouhi (Esteghlal) df. Mostafa Hosseinkhani (Iran Mall), 3-0
79kg- Hamidreza Zarrinpeykar (Esteghlal) df. Peyman Yarahmadi (Iran Mall), 2-2
86kg- Hassan Yazdani (Iran Mall) tf. Sajad Gholami (Esteghlal), 11-1
92kg- Kamran Ghasempour (Iran Mall) df. Ali Mojerlou (Esteghlal) by injury forfeit
97kg- Mohammad Hossein Mohammadian (Iran Mall) df. Alireza Rekabi (Esteghlal), 7-0
125kg- Amir Hossein Zare (Iran Mall) df. Abbas Foroutan (Esteghlal), 4-0

Greco-Roman Final Match: Iran Mall df. Azad University, 7-3
55kg- Reza Khedri (Iran Mall) df. Sajad Abbaspour (Azad University), 6-4
60kg- Alireza Nejati (Iran Mall) df. Omid Arami (Azad University), 6-3
63kg- Saman Abdevali (Iran Mall) tf. Hossein Abbasi (Azad University), 8-0
67kg- Danial Sohrabi (Azad University) df. Mohammad Elyasi (Iran Mall), 5-4
72kg- Ali Arsalan (Iran Mall) tf. Amir Abdi (Azad University), 8-0
77kg- Mohammad Ali Geraei (Iran Mall) df. Boroumand Aslan (Azad University), 6-4
82kg- Saeid Abdevali (Iran Mall) tf. Mehdi Mohammadzadeh (Azad University), 8-0
87kg- Naser Alizadeh (Azad University) df. Mehdi Fallah (Iran Mall), 4-2
97kg-  Mehdi Bali (Azad University) df. Mehdi Aliyari (Iran Mall), 2-2
130kg- Amin Mirzazadeh (Iran Mall) df. Amir Ghasemi Monjazi (Azad University), 4-1
 

World Champs Burroughs and Taylor to Square off Saturday
World champions Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) and David TAYLOR (USA) will headline Flo Wrestling's January 9 11-match event.

Burroughs, the four-time world champion and London Olympic gold medalist at 74kg, is making the significant bump up to 86kg -- the weight in which Taylor won his '18 world title. "The two of us are always looking for ways to push the sport forward, so I think this is a cool event," said Burroughs. He continued, saying, "For both of us, this match is a big stamp on our legacy and how people will look at us moving forward."

It'll be the fifth time the pair of world champions have squared off in their storied careers. Burroughs owns a 4-0 record, with his last win coming in '14. Taylor, in looking for his first win over Burroughs, said, "This match is personal for me. Anytime you get to wrestle someone who has beaten you -- it's personal."

In addition to the freestyle meeting of world champions, the night's co-main event will also feature a matchup of world gold medalist. 

Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK (USA), the reigning world champion at 68kg, is moving up to 76kg, where she'll face five-time world champion and leg-lace queen Adeline GRAY (USA).

For complete coverage of the event, visit www.flowrestling.org.

Complete Match Order
155lbs - Mitch McKee vs Tristan Moran
61kg - Ronna Heaton vs Desiree Zavala
215lbs - Nate Jackson vs Wynn Michalak
61kg - Seth Gross vs Zane Richards
143lbs - Ethan Lizak vs Matt McDonough
65kg - Nahshon Garrett vs Joey McKenna
51kg - Emily Shilson vs Erin Golston
152lbs - James Green vs Pat Lugo
97kg - J'den Cox vs Hayden Zillmer
76kg - Adeline Gray vs Tamyra Mensah-Stock
86kg - Jordan Burroughs vs David Taylor

#GrecoRoman

'Thank you, wrestling': Tokyo Olympic medalist Elsayed, 27, retires

By Vinay Siwach

EGYPT (July 14) -- Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY) has announced his retirement from wrestling, concluding a distinguished career that included two Olympic appearances and two world U23 gold medals.

Elsayed posted on Instagram about his struggles with injuries and shared that the decision to retire was the "most difficult" for the 27-year-old wrestler.

"After many years of hard work, challenges, and victories [and] after I honored my country and raised its flag in internationally, and was able to achieve my dream and win an Olympic medal in Greco-Roman wrestling, I have reached the most difficult decision in my sports career.  I have decided to officially announce my retirement," Elsayed wrote in an emotional post.

Having won five gold medals at the African Championships, Elsayed was a trailblazer in Greco-Roman and was Egypt's new-found hope for the Olympics. He did not disappoint in Tokyo, where he had a surprising run to the semifinal, which he lost to Parviz NASIBOV (UKR), 7-6.

He bounced back in the bronze-medal bout and defeated Artem SURKOV (ROC), 1-1 to capture bronze, Egypt's first medal since 2012 London Olympics and only the third since 1960.

"Wrestling has always been more than just a sport to me," he wrote. "It was my life, my passion, and my support in the most difficult times. I thank God for every moment I lived on the mat and every moment of pride, and every encouragement I heard from my family, fans, and country."

One of the biggest achievements of Elsayed, apart from the Olympic medal, was winning successive world U23 gold medals in 2018 and 2019 at 67kg.

Elsayed expressed gratitude to various individuals who supported him throughout the journey including coaches and trainers. He also thanked wrestling.

"I thank every coach who helped me, every colleague who stood by me, and everyone who supported me with a kind word or a prayer from the heart. Thank you to everyone who was part of the journey.

"Thank you to wrestling, which taught me to be a man before being a champion."