#WrestleTokyo

Mijain Lopez: Too Big to Fail

By Tim Foley

CHIBA, Japan (August 1) -- Barrel-chested and arms the width of a subway tunnel, one might gaze up Riza KAYAALP (TUR) and wonder if any wrestler (nay, human) could come in a more menacing and powerful package.

For those eying the Turkish mammoth as he stomped onto the semifinal mat Sunday at the Makhuari Messe it would seem as though he was a man above comparison.

And in the brief moments between Kayaalp taking the center mat and the entrance of his opponent, he was -- the Turk oversaw his domain with a glinty-eyed confidence.

Enter Mijain LOPEZ (CUB). The 6'5" 300 lbs. of Cuban muscle is arranged in a Addonis-adjacent melange of utility, grace, and fearsome size, with proportions that are simply Frankensteinian.

A man should not be that large. He should not move like that.

And yet there he comes, a slight jog up the stairs and arrives on the evening's competition platform. The legend from Cuba. The most feared human to compete in a sport dating back to 5000 BC in a graceful pre-battle canter.

The Cuban grappler falls momentarily still in front of his longtime Turkish rival as the referee takes his position. He's motionless and from below he seems to be blocking the house lights of the Makuhari Messe and casting the now-diminutive Kayaalp in a shade of gray.

Mijain LOPEZ Riza KAYAALPMijain LOPEZ (CUB) defeated Riza KAYAALP (TUR) in the 130kg semifinal at Tokyo Olympics. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At stake in this match is a trip to the Olympic finals, but for Lopez a win will also mean the opportunity to grasp an achievement beyond belief - a fourth Olympic gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling.

Aleksander KARELIN (RUS) was the last man to attempt to win a fourth gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling, stepping onto the finals mat with Rulon GARDNER (USA) in the 125kg finals in Sydney. Equally skilled and as well-proportioned a wrestler that had yet existed, Karelin was tragically fell by the then-unknown American and denied his opportunity at a perfect career and a triumphant fourth gold.

To Lopez, Kayaalp is known and he is well-respected. They've been battling each other for more than a decade.

But as the whistle blew and the two men charged toward each other, it was obvious that this would be the 38-year-old Lopez's evening. A never-waning display of positioning, exertion and conditioning driven from legs with more horsepower than your uncle's Toyota.

Mijain LOPEZ Riza KAYAALPRiza KAYAALP (TUR) during his semifinal against Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) at Tokyo Olympics. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

And when it was over six minutes later, Lopez was the one with his hand raised -- a signal for him to progress to the finals, and history. After a quick gesture to the sky, the Cuban grabbed Kayaalp in an embrace, placed his hands on the Turks cheeks and kissed him on the crown of his head.

Monday Lopez will face a new opponent in the finals, an upstart Georgian who has already outperformed even the best pre-tournament prognostications. And though no win is guaranteed -- and the history of fourth efforts is rotten with failure -- the reign of Mijain Lopez seems destined for a historic finale.

#WrestleTokyo

Mensah-Dosho Clash Highlight #WrestleTokyo Day 2

By Vinay Siwach

CHIBA, Japan (August 1) --- Tamyra STOCK MENSAH (USA) debut at the Olympics will not get bigger than this. The world champion will face defending Olympic champion and local star Sara DOSHO (JPN) in the opening round at 68kg at the Tokyo Olympics Monday.

Mensah and Dosho squared-off in the quarterfinal at the 2019 World Championships in which the American won easily. But that was close to two years ago and Dosho will like to avenge that loss if she wants to defend her gold from Rio.

It won't be easy for the winner though. Feng ZHOU (CHN) will be the likely opponent of the Chinese can get over U23 world champion Yusaris SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ (CUB). The two are also locked in the first round.

Their semifinal opponent will be one of Enas AHMED (EGY), Agnieszka WIESZCZEK (POL), Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) and Anna SCHELL (GER).

On the other side of the bracket, former junior and U23 world champion Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) will be up against Mongolia's star Battsetseg SORONZONBOLD (MGL). The winner will face one of former world silver medalist Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN) and European champion Khanum VELIEVA (ROC).

Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) also has a tough one against Asia champion Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ). The winner will face one of Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) or Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR).

In Greco-Roman, two favorites at the 97kg weigh class world champion Musa EVLOEV (ROC) and defending Olympic champion Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) are on the opposite side of the brackets.

Aleksanyan opens up against Uzur DZHZUPBEKOV (KGZ) who beat the Armenian at the Ukrainian Memorial earlier this year. Evloev also has better 3-1 head-to-head record against him.

Even if Aleksanyan wins his first bout, he has to go through Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) or Rio Olympic bronze Cenk ILDEM (TUR) who are likely to in the quarterfinal.

Another weight class that will be in action Monday is 77kg at Greco-Roman. Rafiq HUSEYNOV (AZE) and Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) will wrestle in the opening round. Both won a silver medal at the 2019 Worlds but at different weight categories. Huseynov has dropped down from 82kg and will be wrestling down below 80kg for the first time since 2014.

World champion Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) gets Zied AIT OUAGRAM (MAR) in the first round. World bronze medalist Karapet CHALYAN (ARM) will be wrestling Asian champion Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) in the first round. The winner is likely to get 2018 world champion and veteran Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (ROC) in the quarterfinals.

Wrestling begins at 1100 hours local time at the Makuhari Messi, Chiba.