#NFRoundup

NF Roundup Blog, Feb. 16 - Feb. 21

Tuesday, February 16, 2021 - 18:41 By United World Wrestling Press

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FEARNSIDE, MENSAH-STOCK AND GUILFORD INSTRUMENTAL IN CAPTAINS’ CUP WIN FOR TEAM MENSAH-STOCK

Click HERE for USA Wrestling's full release.

Team Mensah-Stock, coached by two-time World medalist Afsoon Johnston, came away with the inaugural Captains’ Cup on Sunday night, defeating Team Winchester, coached by 2004 Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann, in the finals, thanks to heroic performances from Amy Fearnside, Tamyra Mensah-Stock and Dymond Guilford. 

Fearnside, a National Team member, started the dual with a bang for Team Mensah-Stock, upending two-time World bronze medalist Alyssa Lampe in the dual’s opening bout. Down 9-0, Fearnside scored a takedown and gutted her way to a one-point deficit early in the first period. The two continued to battle and Fearnside eventually captured a 14-11 win. 

Team Winchester rattled off three-straight wins coming from Captain Jacarra Winchester (53 kg), Gracie Figueroa (57 kg) and Macey Kilty (62 kg). 

2019 World champion Winchester collected a first-period 10-0 technical fall against Alisha Howk. Figueroa, a multiple-time age-group World Team member, edged out two-time U23 World Team member Abby Nette, 4-3, to push Team Winchester ahead in the team score. Cadet World champion and three-time age-group World silver medalist registered a dominant 10-0 win over Xochitl Mota-Pettis. 

Captain and World champion Mensah-Stock swung things in a different direction with a second-period fall over 2018 U23 World bronze medalist Alex Glaude at 68 kg. Leading 9-0, Mensah-Stock stuck Glaude at the 4:32-mark. 

Going into the finale, Team Winchester led in the team score 3-2. Team Mensah-Stock needed shutout decision at the very least to take the dual. 

Guilford, a Junior World Team member, took on Geneva Gray at 76 kg. Scoring takedown after takedown, Guilford collected a 10-0 tech fall and secured the Captains’ Cup for Team Mensah-Stock. 

The other placement duals took place earlier in the day with Team Francis, coached by Life head coach Ashley Sword, edging out Team Burkert, coached by nine-time World medalist Kristie Davis for third place and Team Hildebrandt, coached by Beat the Streets Development Director Emma Randall, defeating Team Miracle, coached by four-time World champion Tricia Saunders, for fifth place. 

2021 CAPTAINS’ CUP PRESENTED BY TITAN MERCURY
Feb. 13-14 | Iowa City, Iowa

1st place dual

Team Mensah-Stock df. Team Winchester, 3-3 (13-12 classification points)

50 kg: Amy Fearnside (Mensah-Stock) df. Alyssa Lampe (Winchester), 14-11
53 kg: Jacarra Winchester (Winchester) df. Alisha Howk (Mensah-Stock), 10-0
57 kg: Gracie Figueroa (Winchester) df. Abby Nette (Mensah-Stock), 4-3
62 kg: Macey Kilty (Winchester) df. Xochitl Mota-Pettis (Mensah-Stock), 10-0
68 kg: Tamyra Mensah-Stock (Mensah-Stock) df. Alex Glaude (Winchester), fall 4:32
76 kg: Dymond Guilford (Mensah-Stock) df. Geneva Gray (Winchester), 10-0­

Former Wrestler Usman Defends UFC Welterweight Title
Over the weekend, former wrestler turned MMA superstar Kamaru USMAN (USA) defended his UFC welterweight title. "The Nigerian Nightmare" knocked out Gilbert BURNS (BRA) in the third round and successfully defended his title for a third consecutive time.

In early 2020, Usman was on the world-famous Joe Rogan Experience Podcast and talked about the origins of his dominant mindset -- which stemmed from his #WrestlingRoots.

#WrestleAmman

U17 Worlds: Iran, Ukraine, Kazakhstan earn two spots in finals

Monday, August 19, 2024 - 20:29 By Vinay Siwach

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AMMAN, Jordan (August 19) -- Three different countries managed to send two wrestlers to the finals on the first day of the U17 World Championships in Amman, Jordan. The four other finalists were from Uzbekistan, the United States, Hungary and an Individual Neutral Athlete.

Iran, Ukraine and Kazakhstan were the only countries with multiple finalists on day one of the tournament, the first World Championships of 2024.

Iran was led by Armin SHAMSIPOUR (IRI) at 48kg as he rolled into finals without conceding a single point in three bouts. With two technical superiorities before the semifinals, Shamsipour added another when he defeated Yedige TOLEUTAYEV (KAZ) 10-0.

U17 Asian champion Khusniddin ABDUKARIMOV (UZB) will look to stop the Iranian in the final as he also has three technical superiority wins. He beat Laszlo SZUROMI (HUN), 8-0, in the semifinal to set up a final between two of the best wrestlers on day one.

The second Iran wrestler to reach the final was Amir Mahdi SAEIDI (IRI) at 65kg. While his semifinal 1-1 win over Narek GRIGORIAN (ARM) was actionless, Saeidi defeated Fayozbek ESHMIRZAEV (UZB) 9-1 in the quarterfinals. He thus avenged his loss from the U17 Asian Championships final at the same venue.

Vladyslav POKOTYLO (UKR)Vladyslav POKOTYLO (UKR) defeated Emil ABDULLAYEV (AZE) in the 65kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostandin Andonov)

He will take on U17 European champion Vladyslav POKOTYLO (UKR) for the gold medal. Pokotylo was at his best in the quarterfinals and semifinals, beating Dzhabrail UMKHADZHIEV (AIN) 3-1 and Emil ABDULLAYEV (AZE), 4-1, respectively.

For Ukraine, Ivan YANKOVSKYI (UKR) will also look to win the gold medal after he reached the 110kg final. The U17 European champion posted three technical superiority wins with the third coming against Aliasghar DADBAKHSH (IRI) in the semifinals.

Zoltan CZAKO (HUN), a surprise finalist, will try to stop Yankovskyi from winning the gold medal on Tuesday. In the semifinals, Czako was up against last year's silver medalist RONAK (IND) who tried an arm-spin but Czako blocked it and held Ronak on the mat to secure a fall in 17 seconds.

Alpamys BOLATULY (KAZ)Alpamys BOLATULY (KAZ) reached the 55kg final in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Kazakhstan managed two finalists in Alpamys BOLATULY (KAZ) at 55kg and Yerkebulan ANAPIYA (KAZ) at 80kg. This is the first time since 2019 U17 World Championships that Kazakhstan has a finalist in Greco-Roman.

Bolatuly, who finished 12th last year, put on a show in the semifinal against Yurik MKHITARYAN (ARM), winning the bout 13-8. His earlier wins included a 10-1 win over Amirali HEYDARI (IRI) in the quarterfinals and an 8-0 win over Yuki HIROHASHI (JPN) in the 1/8 finals.

For the gold, Bolatuly will face Jayden RANEY (USA) who pulled a classic in the semifinal. Down 6-0 against Petro ZHYTOVOZ (HUN), Raney stopped the attack from Zhytovoz and pinned him just before the break. That was Raney's fourth win of the day.

Raney will look to become the fourth Greco-Roman wrestler from the United States to win gold since the tournament restarted in 2011. Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA) won in 2017, Joel ADAMS (USA) won the title in 2022 and Jordyn RANEY (USA) won gold last year. 

U17 Asian silver medalist Anapiya was tested in the semifinal by Orkhan HAJIYEV (AZE) but the Kazakh wrestler came out on top 8-6 to enter the final. He will now face returning silver medalist and U17 European champion Mikhail SHKARIN (AIN).

Shkarin handed Emad Reza MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) a 9-0 thrashing in the semifinal to set up the gold medal bout against Anapiya. Emad is one of the four Mohsen Nejad brothers. Mehdi is a multiple-time Asian medalist and finished fifth at the Paris Olympics while Ahmad won the U20 World Championships gold last year. Yasin is also a Greco-Roman wrestler.

Greco-Roman Semifinal Results

48kg
GOLD: Khusniddin ABDUKARIMOV (UZB) vs. Armin SHAMSIPOUR (IRI)

SF 1: Khusniddin ABDUKARIMOV (UZB) df. Laszlo SZUROMI (HUN), 8-0
SF 2: Armin SHAMSIPOUR (IRI) df. Yedige TOLEUTAYEV (KAZ), 10-0

55kg
GOLD: Jayden RANEY (USA) vs. Alpamys BOLATULY (KAZ)

SF 1: Jayden RANEY (USA) df. Petro ZHYTOVOZ (HUN), via fall (3-6)
SF 2: Alpamys BOLATULY (KAZ) df. Yurik MKHITARYAN (ARM), 13-8

65kg
GOLD: Amir Mahdi SAEIDI (IRI) vs. Vladyslav POKOTYLO (UKR)

SF 1: Amir Mahdi SAEIDI (IRI) df. Narek GRIGORIAN (ARM), 1-1 
SF 2: Vladyslav POKOTYLO (UKR) df. Emil ABDULLAYEV (AZE), 4-1

80kg
GOLD: Yerkebulan ANAPIYA (KAZ) vs. Mikhail SHKARIN (AIN)

SF 1: Yerkebulan ANAPIYA (KAZ) df. Orkhan HAJIYEV (AZE), 8-6
SF 2: Mikhail SHKARIN (AIN) df. Emad Reza MOHSENNEJAD (IRI), 9-0

110kg
GOLD: Zoltan CZAKO (HUN) vs. Ivan YANKOVSKYI (UKR)

SF 1: Zoltan CZAKO (HUN) df. RONAK (IND), via fall
SF 2: Ivan YANKOVSKYI (UKR) df. Aliasghar DADBAKHSH (IRI), 8-0