#YasarDogu2018

Chamizo Outlasts Burroughs in Epic Shootout to Win Yasar Dogu Gold Medal

By Eric Olanowski

ISTANBUL, Turkey (July 28) - Nearly four months ago, Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) posted a photo on Instagram with the caption “If you want to be the king, you have to beat the king.” Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) did just that on Saturday, getting his revenge against the London Olympic champion in front of a sold out Bağcılar Olympic Sport Hall in Istanbul, Turkey.

Chamizo, the two-time world champion was looking to avenge his loss to Burroughs from May’s Beat the Streets in New York City. In that match, Chamizo commanded the early 4-0 lead but was outscored 6-1 in the final four minutes of the bout, losing the match, 6-5. 

Saturday’s bout kicked off a little differently than the outdoor “ice skating” match in New York, as Burroughs scored the match's first point, nearly grabbing a takedown from a low single, but settled for a step out point. The American coaching staff thought Burroughs should have been awarded the takedown and threw the challenge cube. The original call on the mat was confirmed, and Chamizo was awarded a point for the lost challenge, giving the Italian the 1-1 lead on criteria. 

With 45 seconds left in the opening period, Burroughs, the four-time world champion picked up the pace and forced the referees to put Chamizo on the activity clock. The American shot a double, came up to a single and picked up step out point, taking the 2-1 lead into the final three minutes.

Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) defeated five-time world and Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA), 10-10 to win the Yasar Dogu. (Photo by Martin Gabor) 

Chamizo surrendered the bouts first takedown after Burroughs snagged his heavy stepping left foot with a low single, extending his lead to 4-1. 

Down by three, Chamizo scored a reversal, cutting Burroughs’ lead to 4-2. But, not before the Italian corner threw the challenge cube, questioning if Burroughs secured the takedown before scoring the reversal. Once again, the referees came together and confirmed the call on the mat, awarding Burroughs a point for the lost challenge, giving him the 5-2 lead. 

After giving up his second step out of the match, Chamizo, who is known for his defense scored his first takedown and cut the Olympic champions lead to 6-4 with one minute remaining in the final period. 

The Cuban turned Italian increased his sense of urgency after Burroughs extended his lead to 8-4 with his second takedown of the bout. 

Chamzio, with his cat-like reflexes, found himself fighting off a Burroughs double, but turned his defense into offense, exposing the American and picking up four points on the out of bounds line, ultimately taking the 8-8 lead on criteria. 

The Rio bronze medalist closed out the bout with his third takedown and took the 10-8 lead. Burroughs would score the final two points, but Chamizo held criteria and was victorious, 10-10. 

With that win, Chamizo evens up the series at one apiece. The next time these two could potentially meet would be in October at the 2018 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. 

RESULTS
57kg 
GOLD - Thomas GILMAN (USA) df. Dzmichyk RYNCHYNAU (BLR), 12-5 

BRONZE - Suleyman ATLI (TUR) df. Taras MARKOVYCH (UKR), 10-6
BRONZE - Vicky VICKY (IND) df. Armen ARAKELIAN (UKR), 9-7 

65kg
GOLD - Mehran NASIRIAFRACHALI (IRI) df. Ali RAHIMZADA (AZE) 

BRONZE - Madiyar BURKHAN (KAZ) df. Hassan MORADGHOLIEI (IRI), 14-9 
BRONZE Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) df. Andrii SVYRYD (UKR), 10 - 0

74kg
GOLD - Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA) df. Jordan BURROUGHS (USA)

BRONZE - Nurlan BEKZHANOV (KAZ) df. Saeid DADASHPOURKERIKALAEI (IRI), 4-4
BRONZE - Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) df. Nurykan AZAMAT (BLR), 3-2 

86kg
GOLD - David TAYLOR (USA) df. Murad SULEYMANOV (AZE), via fall 

BRONZE - Boris MAKOEV (SVK) df. Ahmet BILICI (TUR) 
BRONZE -  Fatih ERDIN (TUR) df. Omar ZIANTDINOV (RUS), 12-2 

97kg
GOLD -  Aslanbek ALBOROV (AZE) df. Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI), 10-0 

BRONZE -  Fatih YASARLI (TUR) df. Valerii ANDRIITSEV (UKR), 1-1
BRONZE - Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA) df. Riza YILDIRIM (TUR), 11-0 

Women’s Wrestling 
50kg 

GOLD - Oksana LIVACH (UKR) df. Sarra HAMDI (TUN), 10-0 

BRONZE -  Semkiv ILONA (UKR) df. Ritu RITU (IND), 13-7  
BRONZE -  Georgina Suzana SEICARIU (ROU) df. Ciricu EMILIA (MDA), 3-1  

55kg
GOLD -  Pinki PINKI (IND) df. Olga SHNAIDER (UKR), 6-3  

BRONZE -  Nurufe DUMAN (TUR) df. Siwar BOUSETTA (TUN), 8-0 

59kg
GOLD - Olena KREMZER (UKR) df. Sofiia BODNAR (UKR), 4-2 

BRONZE -  Sangeeta BALALI (IND) df. Yuliya PISARENKA (BLR), 14-6 

65kg
GOLD -  Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) df. Netreba IRYNA (AZE), 14-3  

BRONZE - Geeta GEETA (IND) df. Sofiya Hristova GEORGIEVA (BUL), 3-0 
BRONZE -  Mariia ILCHYSHYN (UKR) df. Elis MANOLOVA (AZE), via injury 

72kg
GOLD - Beste ALTUG (TUR) 
SILVER - Rajni RAJNI (IND) 
BRONZE - Neslihan ULUSOY (TUR)

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open FS, GR Preview: Stars try to find space in Olympic weights

By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (January 4) -- More than 550 wrestlers will reach Zagreb for the season-opening Ranking Series event and it's no surprise that the Olympic weight classes have higher entries than the non-Olympic ones.

As the qualification for the Paris Olympics this year begins two months later, wrestlers are trying to fit in the respective Olympic weight classes for the Games in August.

That has led to two-time 92kg world champion Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) jump to 97kg on his return to the mat after an absence of more than a year. He last competed at the World Cup in December 2022. His debut there at 97kg ended in a loss to world champion Kyle SNYDER (USA). The two may face again as Snyder is also coming to Zagreb.

Ghasempour will have to make sure he is in peak fitness as he may have to battle with compatriot Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) for the spot on the team.

Another former world and Olympic champion was expected to return to an Olympic weight class but Jordan BURROUGHS (USA), who last competed at 74kg internationally four years ago, pulled out Wednesday.

But the USA will still see a good representation as Jason NOLF (USA) is headed to Zagreb to challenge international stars. The challengers include Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE), Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE), Yones EMAMI (IRI) among others.

Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) is returning at 74kg as his ban for a doping violation is over.

Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI)Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) will challenge world champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) at 125kg. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 125kg, Iran has sent both Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) and world champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) as it looks to finalize the team for the Olympics using international competitions. Other world medalists entered in the weight class are Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) and Mason PARRIS (USA).

As usual, the 65kg weight class will see some big names trying to upset each other. World silver medalist Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) and bronze medalist Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) are both entered along with former world champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) who will look to beat Abbas EBRAHIMZADEHSAVADKOUHI (IRI) to cement his place in the Iran national team.

Other mini battles include John DIAKOMIHALIS (USA) and Joseph MCKENNA (USA). The latter defeated Diakomihalis in Taraz in November. Azerbaijan may be trying to push Ziraddin BAYRAMOV (AZE) at 65kg after Haji ALIYEV (AZE) failed to win the Olympic quota at the World Championships.

92kg world silver medalist Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) is going down to 86kg where he will also have U20 world champion Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA), 79kg world silver medalist Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO), world bronze medalist Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ), Osman GOCEN (TUR), Zahid VALENCIA (USA) and Chandler MARSTELLER (USA).

Luis ORTA (CUB)Luis ORTA (CUB) and Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) are likely to meet in Zagreb again. The bout will be a rematch of the World Championships final at 67kg. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman

A World Championships final rematch is on the cards at 67kg as world champion Luis ORTA (CUB) and Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) are entered. But the weight class also has HUSIYUETU (CHN) who defeated Orta twice last year, Tokyo bronze medalist Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY), Danial SOHRABI (IRI), former world champion Sebastian NAD (SRB) and Tokyo silver medalist Parviz NASIBOV (UKR).

The 87kg will also see some big names as Islam ABBASOV (AZE) and 82kg world champion Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) challenge for that one spot on the Azerbaijan team. Former world silver medalist Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN) is also entered.

Hungary has decided to go with Istvan TAKACS (HUN) and joint-world champion David LOSONCZI (HUN) while Iran is sending Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI). Marcel STERKENBURG (NED), Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) and Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN) can challenge the big names.

Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR)Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR), a regular at 82kg, is going down to the Olympic weight class of 77kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Turkiye is trying to find a representative for the qualifiers at 77kg with Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR), Yunus BASAR (TUR) and Ahmet YILMAZ (TUR) entered for the competition. Basar lost in the Turkish national competition while Yilmaz won gold.

World silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) is entered along with 72kg world champion Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA), Idris IBAEV (GER), former world silver medalist Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), Amir Ali ABDI (IRI), world bronze medalist Nao KUSAKA (JPN), former 72kg world champion Ali ARSALAN (SRB) and Kamal BEY (USA).

At 97kg, Murat LOKIAYEV (AZE) and Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) are battling for one spot for Azerbaijan while U20 world champion Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) and U23 world champion Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN) are also entered. Hungary is sending Tamas LEVAI (HUN) and Alex SZOKE (HUN).

World bronze medalist Artur OMAROV (CZE), Tokyo fifth-placer Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN), former Asian champion Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) and Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED) are also in.

Like last year, Oscar PINO (CUB) will be the favorite to win the 130kg world medal as he competes alongside Sabah SHARIATI (AZE), Beka KANDELAKI (AZE), Lingzhe MENG (CHN), Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI), Sergei SEMENOV (AIN) and Adam COON (USA) among others.

At 60kg, Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) will be looking to get back to form after a disappointing World Championships. He will be joined by Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE), world bronze medalist Liguo CAO (CHN), 55kg world silver medalist Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO), former world champion Victor CIOBANU (MDA) and Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN).