United States, Cuba Trade Blows In Freestyle At Granma y Cerro Pelado

Thursday, February 22, 2018 - 00:05 By

HAVANA, Cuba – Pan American rivals Cuba and the United States traded punches throughout the opening day of freestyle wrestling at the Granma y Cerro Pelado.

The two nations combined to have 13 wrestlers qualify for the finals, the United States with 7 and Cuba with 6. Four of tomorrow’s gold-medal matches will pit individuals from the United States and Cuba opposite one another.

Two-time bronze medalist at the World Championships Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB) dazzled with a barrage of high-amplitude moves on his way to the 61 KG finals.

He opened with impressive wins over American foes Anthony RAMOS (USA) and Darius LITTLE (USA) before silencing last year’s Pan American champion Dabian Quintana (CUB), 7-4. Bonne Rodriguez will meet 2017 Dave Schultz Memorial International bronze medalist Cody BREWER (USA) for the title.

Alejandro VALDEZ TOBIER (CUB), bronze medal winner from last year’s World Championships in Paris, won both of his bouts by 10-0 scores to qualify for the 65 KG finals. Standing opposite the experience Cuban is international newcomer Robbie MATHERS (USA), who himself looked sharp with two technical superiority wins.

A pair of past Pan American champions will face off in the 70 KG gold-medal match. 2015 Pan American champion Jason CHAMBERLAIN (USA) and two-time Pan American champion Franklin MAREN (CUB) are the last two standing at this weight class.

The remaining United States versus Cuba final comes at 57 KG with 2014 Pan American champion Zach SANDERS (USA) taking on returning Cerro Pelado bronze medalist Alexei ALVARES (CUB).

Rio Olympics champion and two-time world champion Taha AKGUL (TUR) posted decisive shutout victories over Sean MOLLE (CAN) and Ceron FRANCISCO (USA) to sail to the 125 KG finals. Ben DURBIN (USA) earned the right to face Akgul tomorrow after upending returning Cerro Pelado champion Yudenny ALPAJON (CUB) in the semifinals, 4-2.

At 74 KG, London Olympic bronze medalist Livan LOPEZ AZCUY (CUB) looks to defend his Cerro Pelado title against 2017 Grand Prix of Paris bronze medalist Kubilay CAKICI (GER). Lopez Azcuy, who is a three-time medalist at the World Championships, won both of his bouts today by technical superiority.

The final Cuban in the gold-medal mix is two-time Pan American champion Yurieski TORREBLANCA (CUB) at 86 KG. Torreblanca escaped an 8-0 deficit in his opening contest by pinning Pedro CEBALLOS FUENTES (VEN). 2012 junior world champion Achmed DUDAROV (GER) is the final hurdle for Torreblanca.

U23 world bronze medalist Ty WALZ (USA) rode the momentum of a 12-2 victory over three-time world medalist Reineris SALAS (CUB) to the 97 KG finals. He will face fellow American Hayden ZILLMER (USA) in the finals. Zillmer won four international medals in 2017, but they all came in the Greco-Roman style.

2017 Ion Corneau champion Gabriel STARK (GER) will battle Husseyin GUNDUZ (TUR) in the final round of the 92 KG round-robin bracket with the winner earning gold.

The Granma y Cerro Pelado tournament will conclude tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. local time with the freestyle wrestling finals. Complete results and a live stream of the event can be found at unitedworldwrestling.org.

RESULTS: http://uww.io/4gTea

MEDAL MATCHES

57 KG

Gold: Zach SANDERS (USA) vs. Alexei ALVARES (CUB)

Bronze: Aso PALANI (CAN) vs. Eddie KLIMARA (USA)

Bronze: Pedro MEJIAS (VEN) vs. Joey DANCE (USA)

61 KG

Gold: Cody BREWER (USA) vs. Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB)

Bronze: Anthony RAMOS (USA) vs. Dabian QUINTANA (CUB)

Bronze: Johnni DIJULIUS (USA) vs. Shelton MACK (USA)

65 KG

Gold: Alejandro VALDEZ TOBIER (CUB) vs. Robbie MATHERS (USA)

Bronze: Brandon DIAZ (MEX) vs. Lazaro CARBONEL (CUB)

Bronze: Dillon WILLIAMS (CAN) vs. Anthony ABIDIN (USA)

70 KG

Gold: Jason CHAMBERLAIN (USA) vs. Franklin MAREN (USA)

Bronze: Mario MASON (USA) vs. Hunter STIEBER (USA)

Bronze: Kevin HENKEL (GER) vs. Luis ROCHEZ (HON)

74 KG

Gold: Livan LOPEZ AZCUY (CUB) vs. Kubilay CAKICI (GER)

Bronze: Jean PERALTA (CHI) vs. Yoan SULEUETA (CUB)

Bronze: Nestor TAFUR (COL) vs. Jevon BALFOUR (CAN)

86 KG

Gold: Achmed DUDAROV (GER) vs. Yurieski TORREBLANCA (CUB)

Bronze: Pedro CEBALLOS FUENTES (VEN) vs. Martin OBST (GER)

92 KG

Gold: Gabriel STARK (GER) vs. Husseyin GUNDUZ (TUR)

97 KG

Gold: Hayden ZILLMER (USA) vs. Ty WALZ (USA)

Bronze: Erik THIELE (GER) vs. Nathan BURAK (USA)

125 KG

Gold: Taha AKGUL (TUR) vs. Ben DURBIN (USA)

Bronze: Luis VIVEWEZ (VEN) vs. Yudenny ALPAJON (CUB)

Bronze: Sean MOLLE (CAN) vs. Ceron FRANCISCO (USA)

#IranWrestling

Inspired by Olympic Gold, Esmaeili's Cousins Win U17 Asian Titles

Friday, June 12, 2026 - 12:33 By Vinay Siwach

DA NANG, Vietnam (June 11) -- When 20-year-old Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) returned to Iran after winning Olympic gold in Greco-Roman 67kg at the Paris Games, he came home with more than just a medal around his neck. He returned with proof that wrestling could change lives.

Raised in poverty in Dezful, Khuzestan Province, Esmaeili's improbable run to Olympic gold transformed him overnight into a national sensation. He was showered with gifts, cash awards and job offers.

The ripples of that triumph are still being felt. Last month, two of Esmaeili's own cousins, Ali ESMAEILI (IRI) and Vahid ASHIRI (IRI), won gold medals at the U17 Asian Championships in Da Nang after taking up wrestling only two years ago, inspired by his Olympic success and the hero's welcome he received back home.

Paris Olympic champion Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI), left, with his cousin Ali who won 48kg gold medal at the U17 Asian Championships.

Ali, whose father is Esmaeili's uncle, competed in Greco-Roman 48kg and won three bouts to capture the gold medal. He outscored his opponents 22-2 including two technical superiority wins.

Another cousin from his mother's side, Ashiri, competed in the Greco-Roman 55kg weight class and was crowned champion after four victories. He defeated wrestlers from India, Jordan, China and Kyrgyzstan with scores of 6-1, 5-2, 11-1, and 3-1 to capture the Asian title.

While they were winning gold medals in Vietnam, Olympic champion Esmaeili was watching from Iran.

"I watched their Asian finals and I always follow their training," Esmaeili told United World Wrestling. "We are from the same club and both are talented."

Ali ESMAEILI (IRI) became the U17 Asian champion at 48kg in Greco-Roman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The two took up wrestling at the age of 14 and quickly rose through the province before making it to the Iran team for the U17 Asian Championships. Ali Esmaeili feels that Saeid's presence motivates him to work harder to achieve medals in wrestling.

"I got into wrestling after watching Saeid's Olympic final. In 2 years, with his help, I managed to become the Asian champion. Every time I see Saeid, I feel really good and I am proud of him."

Though Esmaeili trains at the national camp in Tehran, he does not miss a chance to train the youngsters when he returns home and practices in Dezful.

"I tried to answer every question they asked me about wrestling carefully and I also taught them some of my techniques," he said.

Vahid ASHIRI (IRI) claimed the 55kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Ashiri also stepped foot in the club after watching Esmaeili's thrilling Paris campaign. Two years later, he is proud to represent both the Esmaeili family and the club.

"After Saeid won the gold medal, I went to the club where he trains and whenever I had any questions, he explained them to me carefully," Ashiri said. "I am truly proud to be a member of the club and a family with such a personality."

The next stop for both Ali and Ashiri will be the U17 World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan from July 28 to August 2.

"Just like the Asian Championships, I want to repeat the success at the World Championships," Ali said.

RESULTS

48kg
Final: Ali ESMAEILI (IRI) df. Javokhir SHARIFBOEV (UZB), 4-2
Semifinal: Ali ESMAEILI (IRI) df. Umarali BERDALIEV (KGZ), 9-0
Quarterfinal: Ali ESMAEILI (IRI) df. Liaotan LAN (CHN), 9-0

55kg
Final: Vahid ASHIRI (IRI) df. Syimyk ASKAROV (KGZ), 3-1
Semifinal: Vahid ASHIRI (IRI) df. Zihao ZHANG (CHN), 11-1
Quarterfinal: Vahid ASHIRI (IRI) df. Adam ABU FARE (JOR), 5-2
Qualification: Vahid ASHIRI (IRI) df. HARION (IND), 6-1

United States, Cuba Trade Blows In Freestyle At Granma y Cerro Pelado

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Inspired by Olympic Gold, Esmaeili's Cousins Win U17 Asian Titles