#WrestleTokyo

Mijain Lopez: Too Big to Fail

Sunday, August 1, 2021 - 12:41 By Tim Foley

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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.

#WrestleAthens

U17 Worlds: Kostiuk ends Ukraine's wait for gold; Okonogi, Ismayilov upgrade

Saturday, August 2, 2025 - 18:21 By Vinay Siwach

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ATHENS, Greece (August 2) -- Artur KOSTIUK (UKR) ended a nine-year wait for a gold medal at World U17 Championships for Ukraine as he won the 80kg title in Athens, Greece on Saturday.

Ukraine has not had a world U17 champion since 2016 and a world champion in Freestyle since 2021. Kostiuk's gold was a double delight as he had won gold at European U17 Championships in June as well.

In the final facing Mohammadparsa KARAMI (IRI), Kostiuk was called passive and put on activity clock. He did not score in those 30 seconds but managed to get a takedown just before the break and led 2-1.

Karami was put on the activity clock in the second period and as he failed to score, Kostiuk's lead swelled to 3-1. Karami had 25 seconds to score two points but Kpstiuk kept his defense and captured the gold with a 3-1 score.

Ariah MILLS (USA)Ariah MILLS (USA) won the 48kg gold medal for the United States. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

That was the second loss in the final for Iran as it had suffered a loss at the 48kg weight class. That was the first final of the night on Saturday and Ariah MILLS (USA) gave no chance to Sina BOUSTANI (IRI) in the gold-medal bout.

While he was the one put on activity clock in the first period, Mills wasn't the one to defend. He had some fast re-attacks to stun Boustani. Mills gave up that activity clock point and as Boustani was setting up leg attack, Mills hit a counter and scored the takedown to lead 2-1 at the break.

Boustani had his chance to score reclaim the lead but Mills, who kept his distance, perhaps to have space to counter, got another takedown after a scramble. The U.S. wrestler managed to score a go-behind and two turns to win 12-1 and get the first gold medal in Freestyle for the U.S. 

Jinnosuke OKONOGI (JPN), a returning bronze medalist, upgraded his medal to gold and in style. Down 4-0 against Abdumalik JALOLDINOV (UZB) in the final, he scored one of the perfect five-pointers using the headpinch and over the head throw to lead 5-4 in the final minute.

This was not the only time Okonogi had to make a big comeback in Athens. In his quarterfinals, he defeated Zhakshylyk BOROBAEV (KGZ), 9-8, after scoring a takedown and turn in last 10 seconds.

Okonogi had a 4-1 win over Mohammadreza BARARI (IRI) in his opening match and an 8-2 domination of Greyton BURNETT (USA) in the semifinals.

Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE)Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE) celebrates after winning the 65kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Silver medalist from 2024 Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE) got a anti-climatic 1-1 victory over Arseni KIKINIOU (USA) in the 65kg final and won his first gold medal after finishing with three silvers in three different championships.

Kikiniou was the first to get a point on board as Ismayilov was called passive. He failed to score in the 30 seconds and the U.S. wrestler got a point.

In the second period, Kikiniou was called passive and Ismayilov got a point and the 1-1 criteria lead. He had a minute left in the bout to defend his lead and Kikiniou threw every thing at him. However, Ismayilov defended with determination and won the gold medal.

Magomedrasul OMAROV (UWW)Magomedrasul OMAROV (UWW) held on to his 6-4 lead to win the 110kg final against LACKY (IND). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The 110kg gold medal went to Magomedrasul OMAROV (UWW) who defeated LACKY (IND), 6-4, in the final. Omarov was down 2-2 on criteria at the break but he hit a stepout and Lacky was cautioned for fleeing, giving one more point to Omarov who now led 4-2.

Lacky tried to finish his leg-attacks but Omarov was quick to either defend or escape. During one of those attacks, Omarov managed to score a go-behind and got two points which made his lead 6-2. Lacky, with 17 seconds left in the bout, went for one final attack and scored a takedown. However, he was not able to turn Omarov which could have given him the criteria win.

Omarov defended the gut-wrench attempt and despite being in the air, did not turn more than 90 degrees. The win made Omarov an European and world champion in the same year.

RESULTS

48kg
GOLD: Ariah MILLS (USA) df. Sina BOUSTANI (IRI), 12-1

BRONZE: Islam RABADANOV (UWW) df. Ravan HASANZADE (AZE), 11-9
BRONZE: Dovudbek BAKHADIROV (KGZ) df. Masamune USHIMADO (JPN), 12-0

55kg
GOLD: Jinnosuke OKONOGI (JPN) df. Abdumalik JALOLDINOV (UZB), 5-4

BRONZE: Greyton BURNETT (USA) df. Mohammadreza BARARI (IRI), 4-0
BRONZE: Chingis SARYGLAR (UWW) df. Jovanni TOVAR (COL), 8-2

65kg
GOLD: Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE) df. Arseni KIKINIOU (USA), 1-1

BRONZE: Morteza HAJ (IRI) df. Gourav PUNIA (IND), 8-8
BRONZE: Adisbek ALTYNBEKOV (KGZ) df. Yeraly ASKERBEK (KAZ), 7-1

80kg
GOLD: Artur KOSTIUK (UKR) df. Mohammadparsa KARAMI (IRI), 3-1

BRONZE: Dinmukhammed KASSYMBEK (KAZ) df. Ivan PASLARI (MDA), 5-4
BRONZE: Issa ZANGIEV (UWW) df. Berat ERTURK (TUR), 5-2

110kg
GOLD: Magomedrasul OMAROV (UWW) df. LACKY (IND), 6-4

BRONZE: Hakim TAGHIYEV (AZE) df. Stefan STEFANOV (BUL), 1-1
BRONZE: Amirhossein NAGHDALIPOUR (IRI) df. Murtaz BAGDAVADZE (GEO), 11-0