Iran edges USA in entertaining World Cup dual

American Jordan Burroughs powers in on a double-leg takedown against Iran at the World Cup on Saturday night. Larry Slater photo

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – It was the hard-fought, edge-of-your seat battle everyone expected. 

In the end, the powerful Iranian team outlasted a determined United States team 5-3 at the World Cup on Saturday night before 3,500 boisterous fans at the Forum, presented by Chase.

Iran, the two-time returning champion in this event, won the final two matches to break a 3-3 tie with the U.S. The Iranians were backed by a vocal crowd of wrestling-mad Iranian fans here in California. 

The Iranians also won the team title at the 2013 World Championships in freestyle wrestling.

Two-time World champion Reza Yazdani downed two-time World Team member J.D. Bergman 8-0 at 97 kg/213 lbs. to give Iran a 4-3 lead in the team score. 

Iran then clinched the dual victory when Olympic bronze medalist Komeil Ghasemi edged World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev 1-0 at 125 kg/275 lbs.

 

Dlagnev was put on the shot clock for passivity in the first period and was unable to score in the 30-second time frame, giving Ghasemi what turned out to be the only point of the match. Dlagnev took numerous shots in the final period, but was unable to score.

“We are obviously disappointed,” U.S. coach Zeke Jones said. “We didn’t do the little things we needed to do to win. It’s always a game of inches in a dual with two good teams like this. We just didn’t do enough. Iran is ahead of us, but we are making progress. We do the little things right we turn that dual meet into a victory.” 

The U.S. placed third in the World Cup the last two years, falling to Iran last year in Tehran.

The U.S. would need to beat Turkey and have Iran to lose to India to have a shot at wrestling in the finals. The Americans will face Turkey in their final Pool A match at 11 a.m. Sunday. 

American Clayton Foster shot in for a takedown in the final 10 seconds to knock off Iran’s Ehsan Lashgari 7-5 at 86 kg/189 lbs. Lashgari won a bronze medal in the 2012 Olympics and 2013 World Championships.

 

Olympic gold medalist and two-time World champion Jordan Burroughs kept his composure in winning a physical match with Iran’s Ezzatollah Akbari Zarinkolaei by a 7-1 score at 74 kg/163 lbs. Burroughs beat the Iranian 4-0 in the 2013 World finals.

 

“That guy is obviously tough,” Burroughs said. “I got my job done. I came out here to wrestle a tough match. You could see at the end of the match he expected to win. He was distraught and heartbroken. But I expected to win, too.”

 

American Brent Metcalf broke Iran’s Meisam Nasiri in earning an 11-8 win at 65 kg/143 lbs. Metcalf fell behind 5-0 before scoring two late takedowns to close out a furious second-period rally.

 

“I’m excited to win,” Metcalf said. “I’m not happy about giving up the big points early. I had to work hard to come back and I got to where I needed to be to win.”

 

Iran earned a key victory when World bronze medalsit Masoud Esmailpoor Jouybari rallied for a 10-8 win over Reece Humphrey of the U.S. Humphrey led 8-1 before the Iranian rallied to win at 61 kg/134 lbs.

 

Russia won all three of its duals on Saturday to have the inside track on winning Pool B.

The top 10 freestyle wrestling countries in the world have gathered in a dual-meet format for the World Cup, which is being hosted in the U.S. for the first time in 10 years. 

WORLD CUP

Saturday, March 15

The Forum, Inglewood Calif.

 

Saturday’s results

 

Session I

 

Pool A

 

USA 7, Armenia 1

57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Angel Escobedo (USA) dec. Artak Hovhannisyan (Armenia), 11-4

61 kg/134 lbs. – Reece Humphrey (USA) dec. Valodya Frangulyan (Armenia), 5-4

65 kg/143 lbs. – Brent Metcalf (USA) dec. Artur Arakelyan (Armenia), 11-1

70 kg/154 lbs. – Davit Apoyan (Armenia) dec. Nick Marable (USA), 10-7

74 kg/163 lbs. – Jordan Burroughs (USA) pinned Varuzhan Kajoyan (Armenia), 3:38

86 kg/189 lbs. – Keith Gavin (USA) dec. Vahe Tamrazyan (Armenia), 6-1

97 kg/213 lbs. – Dustin Kilgore (USA) dec. Viktor Kazishvili (Armenia), 10-0

125 kg/275 lbs. – Tervel Dlagnev (USA) dec. Andranik Galstyan (Armenia), 11-0

 

India 5, Turkey 3

57 kg – Amit Kumar (India) dec. Nebi Uzun (Turkey), 7-0

61 kg – Bajrang Bajrang (India) dec. Recep Topal (Turkey), 4-2

65 kg – Selahattin Kilisalayan (Turkey) dec. Rajneesh Rajneesh (India), 15-7

70 kg – Amit Kumar Dhankhar (India) dec Mustafa Kaya (Turkey), 8-4

74 kg – Parveen Rana (India) dec. Murat Erturk (Turkey), 8-6

86 kg – Fatih Erdin (Turkey) dec. Pawan Kumar (India), 6-1

97 kg – Saywart Kadian (India) over Ali B­onceoglu (Turkey) Dec 6-2

125 kg – Hamza Ozkarhdeniz (Turkey) won by forfeit

 

USA 6, India 2

57 kg – Amit Kumar (India) dec. Andrew Hochstrasser (USA), 4-3

61 kg – Bajrang Bajrang (India) dec. Jimmy Kennedy (USA), 10-6

65 kg – Brent Metcalf (USA) dec. Rajneesh Rajneesh (India), 7-6

70 kg – Moza Fay (USA) dec. Amit Kumar Dhankhar (India), 11-0

74 kg – Jordan Burroughs (USA) pinned Parveen Rana (India), 2:44

86 kg – Clayton Foster (USA) dec. Pawan Kumar, 10-0

97 kg – J.D. Bergman (USA) dec. Saywart Kadian (India)

125 kg – Tervel Dlagnev (USA) won by forfeit

 

Iran 8, Armenia 0

57 kg – Hassan Rahimi (Iran) dec. Artak Hovhannisyan (Armenia), 10-0

61 kg – Masoud Esmailpoor Jouybari (Iran) dec. Valodya Frangulyan (Armenia), 11-1

65 kg – Meisam Nasiri (Iran) dec. Artur Arakelyan (Armenia ), 14-4

70 kg – Mostafa Hosseinkhani (Iran) dec. Davit Apoyan (Armenia), 11-0

74 kg – Ezzatollah Akbari Zarinkolaei (Iran) dec. Varuzhan Kajoyan ( Armenia ), 11-1

86 kg – Ehsan Lashgari (Iran) dec. Vahe Tamrazyan (Armenia), 10-0

97 kg – Reza Yazdani (Iran) dec. Viktor Kazishvili (Armenia), 2:33

125 kg – Komeil Ghasemi (Iran) dec. Andranik Galstyan (Armenia), 15-4

 

Pool B

 

Japan 5, Georgia 3

57 kg – Fumitaka Morishita (Japan) pinned Beka Bujiashvili (Georgia), 2:45

61 kg – Beka Lomtadze (Georgia) dec. Katsuyoshi Kawase (Japan), 10-0

65 kg – Daichi Takatani (Japan) dec. Zurabi Iakobishvili (Georgia), 9-3

70 kg – Ken Hosaka (Japan) dec. Levan Kelekhsashvili (Georgia), 7-6

74 kg – Sohsuke Takatani (Japan) over Giorgi Marsagishvili (Georgia) Dec 9-4

86 kg – Atsushi Matsumoto (Japan) dec. Levan Gogritchiani (Georgia), 3-2

97 kg – Eldar Kurtanidze (Georgia) dec. Koki Yamamoto (Japan), 4-2

125 kg – Giorgi Sakandelidze (Georgia) dec. Nobuyoshi Arakida (Japan), 10-0

 

Russia 4, Mongolia 4

(Russia wins on criteria)

57 kg – Batbold Nomin (Mongolia) dec. Viktor Lebedev (Russia), 10-6

61 kg – Murad Nukhkadiev (Russia) dec. Enkhsaikhan Nyam-Ochir (Mongolia), 12-4

65 kg – Ganzorig Mandakhnaran (Mongolia) over Alibeggadzhi Emeev (Russia), 4-0

70 kg – Ankhbayar Batchuluun (Mongolia) dec. Ramazan Shamsutdinov (Russia), 6-1

74 kg – Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov (Russia) dec. Purevjav Unurbat (Mongolia), 11-5

86 kg – Shamil Kudiamagomedov (Russia) dec. Orgodol Uitumen (Mongolia), 10-0

97 kg – Vladislav Baicaev (Russia) dec. Dorjkhand Khuderbulga (Mongolia), 10-0

125 kg – Jargalsaikhan Chuluunbat (Mongolia) dec. Anzor Khezriev (Russia), 6-6

 

Mongolia 4, Japan 4

(Mongolia wins on criteria)

57 kg – Fumitaka Morishita (Japan) dec. Batbold Nomin (Mongolia), 7-6

61 kg – Enkhsaikhan Nyam-Ochir (Mongolia) pinned Katsuyoshi Kawase (Japan), 5:41

65 kg – Daichi Takatani (Japan) dec. Ganzorig Mandakhnaran (Mongolia), 12-2

70 kg – Ken Hosaka (Japan) dec. Ankhbayar Batchuluun (Mongolia), 11-1

74 kg – Purevjav Unurbat (Mongolia) dec. Sohsuke Takatani (Japan), 3-2

86 kg – Atsushi Matsumoto (Japan) over Orgodol Uitumen (Mongolia) Dec 8-4

97 kg – Dorjkhand Khuderbulga (Mongolia) dec. Koki Yamamoto (Japan), 10-0

125 kg – Jargalsaikhan Chuluunbat (Mongolia) dec. Nobuyoshi Arakida (Japan), 4-0

 

Russia 7, Ukraine 1

57 kg – Viktor Lebedev (Russia) dec. Sergiy Ratushny (Ukraine), 8-1

61 kg – Aleksandr Bogomoev (Russia) dec. Vasyl Fedoryshyn (Ukraine), 6-1

65 kg – Soslan Romanov (Russia) over Ivan Petriv (Ukraine), 13-3

70 kg – Khetik Tsabolov (Russia) over Andriy Kvyatkovskyy (Ukraine), 6-0

74 kg – Atsamaz Sanakoev (Russia) dec. Giya Chykhladze (Ukraine), 6-5

86 kg – Anzor Urishev (Russia) dec. Ibragim Aldatov (Ukraine), 7-0

97 kg – Yuri Belonovskiy (Russia) dec. Pavlo Oliinyk (Ukraine), 2-2

125 kg – Alen Zasieiev (Ukraine) dec. Arslanbek Aliev (Russia), 7-0

 

Session II

 

Pool A

 

Iran 7, Turkey 1

57 kg – Mehran Rezazadeh (Iran) dec. Nebi Uzun (Turkey), 20-8

61 kg – Masoud Esmailpoor Jouybari (Iran) pinned Recep Topal (Turkey), 5:25

65 kg – Sayed Ahmad Mohammad Pahnehkolaie (Iran) dec. Selahattin Kilisalayan (Turkey), 11-0

70 kg – Mustafa Kaya (Turkey) over Peyman Yaramadi (Iran), 11-9

74 kg – Reza Afzalipaemami (Iran) dec. Murat Erturk (Turkey), 11-0

86 kg – Ali Reza Karmimachiani (Iran) dec. Fatih Erdin (Turkey), 11-1

97 kg – Hamed Talebi Zarinkamar (Iran) dec. Ali Bonceoglu (Turkey), 10-0

125 kg – Parviz Hadi Basmanj (Iran) dec. Hamza Ozkarhdeniz (Turkey), 11-0

 

Armenia 4, India 4

(Armenia wins on criteria)

57 kg – Amit Kumar (India) dec. Artak Hovhannisyan (Armenia), 11-6

61 kg – Valodya Frangulyan (Armenia) over Bajrang Bajrang (India), 10-8

65 kg – Rajneesh Rajneesh (India) pinned Artur Arakelyan ( Armenia ), 2:00

70 kg – Davit Apoyan (Armenia) pinned Amit Kumar Dhankhar (India), 5:00

74 kg – Parveen Rana (India) pinned Artak Hovhannisyan (Armenia), 3:00

86 kg – Vahe Tamrazyan (Armenia) pinned Pawan Kumar (India), 3:00

97 kg – Saywart Kadian (India) pinned Viktor Kazishvili (Armenia), 3:00

125 kg – Andranik Galstyan (Armenia) won by forfeit

 

Iran 5, USA 3

57 kg – Hassan Rahimi (Iran) dec. Angel Escobedo (USA), 8-0

61 kg – Masoud Esmailpoor Jouybari (Iran) dec. Reece Humphrey (USA), 10-8

65 kg – Brent Metcalf (USA) dec. Meisam Nasiri (Iran), 11-8

70 kg – Mostafa Hosseinkhani (Iran) dec. Nick Marable (United States), 1-0

74 kg – Jordan Burroughs (USA) dec. Ezzatollah Akbari Zarinkolaei (Iran), 7-1

86 kg – Clayton Foster (USA) dec. Ehsan Lashgari (Iran), 7-5

97 kg – Reza Yazdani (Iran) dec. J.D. Bergman (USA), 8-0

125 kg – Komeil Ghasemi (Iran) dec. Tervel Dlagnev (USA), 1-0

 

Turkey 5, Armenia 3

57 kg – Artak Hovhannisyan (Armenia) over Nebi Uzun (Turkey), 15-4

61 kg – Recep Topal (Turkey) dec. Valodya Frangulyan (Armenia), 7-1

65 kg – Selahattin Kilisalayan (Turkey) dec. Artur Arakelyan (Armenia), 12-4

70 kg – Mustafa Kaya (Turkey) dec. Davit Apoyan (Armenia), 16-12

74 kg – Murat Erturk (Turkey) dec. Varuzhan Kajoyan (Armenia), 16-5

86 kg – Fatih Erdin (Turkey) over Vahe Tamrazyan (Armenia), 7-0

97 kg – Viktor Kazishvili (Armenia) pinned Ali Bonceoglu (Turkey), 1:16

125 kg – Andranik Galstyan (Armenia) pinned Hamza Ozkarhdeniz (Turkey), 4:09

 

Pool B

 

Mongolia 5, Georgia 3

57 kg – Batbold Nomin (Mongolia) dec. Otari Gogava (Georgia), 11-7

61 kg – Beka Lomtadze (Georgia) dec. Enkhsaikhan Nyam-Ochir (Mongolia), 11-7

65 kg – Ganzorig Mandakhnaran (Mongolia) dec. Zurabi Iakobishvili (Georgia), 8-1

70 kg – Ankhbayar Batchuluun (Mongolia) dec. Levan Kelekhsashvili (Georgia), 10-0

74 kg – Purevjav Unurbat (Mongolia) dec. Giorgi Marsagishvili (Georgia), 6-4

86 kg – Orgodol Uitumen (Mongolia) dec. Levan Gogritchiani (Georgia), 11-0

97 kg – Nodar Egadze (Georgia) dec. Dorjkhand Khuderbulga (Mongolia), 5-2

125 kg – Geno Petriashvili (Georgia) dec. Jargalsaikhan Chuluunbat (Mongolia), 4-1

 

Ukraine 7, Japan 1

57 kg – Sergiy Ratushny (Ukraine) won by forfeit

61 kg – Vasyl Fedoryshyn (Ukraine) dec. Katsuyoshi Kawase (Japan), 11-0

65 kg – Daichi Takatani (Japan) dec. Ivan Petriv (Ukraine), 10-0

70 kg – Andriy Kvyatkovskyy (Ukraine) over Ken Hosaka (Japan), 5-0

74 kg – Giya Chykhladze (Ukraine) dec. Sohsuke Takatani (Japan), 6-1

86 kg – Ibragim Aldatov (Ukraine) dec. Atsushi Matsumoto (Japan), 12-0

97 kg – Pavlo Oliiynk (Ukraine) dec. Koki Yamamoto (Japan), 12-1

125 kg – Alen Zasieiev (Ukraine) dec. Nobuyoshi Arakida (Japan), 8-4

 

Ukraine 5, Georgia 3

57 kg – Beka Bujiashvili (Georgia) over Sergiy Ratushny (Ukraine), 6-5

61 kg – Beka Lomtadze (Georgia) dec. Vasyl Fedoryshyn (Ukraine), 13-6

65 kg – Zurabi Iakobishvili (Georgia) dec. Ivan Petriv (Ukraine), 7-0

70 kg – Andriy Kvyatkovskyy (Ukraine) won by injury default over Giorgi Tsurskiridze (Georgia)

74 kg – Giya Chykhladze (Ukraine) pinned Giorgi Marsagishvili (Georgia), 5:07

86 kg – Ibragim Aldatov (Ukraine) won by forfeit

97 kg – Pavlo Oliinyk (Ukraine) tech. fall Nodar Egadze (Georgia), 11-0

125 kg – Alen Zasieiev (Ukraine) dec. Geno Petriashvili (Georgia), 15-9

Russia 7, Japan 1

57 kg – Viktor Lebedev (Russia) won by forfeit

61 kg – Murad Nukhkadiev (Russia) won by forfeit

65 kg – Daichi Takatani (Japan) dec. Alibeggadzhi Emeev (Russia), 6-4

70 kg – Khetik Tsabolov (Russia) pinned Ken Hosaka (Japan), 1:10

74 kg – Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov (Russia) dec. Sohsuke Takatani (Japan), 3-1

86 kg – Shamil Kudiamagomedov (Russia) tech. fall Atsushi Matsumoto (Japan), 10-0

97 kg – Yuri Belonovskiy (Russia) pinned Koki Yamamoto (Japan), 0:57

125 kg – Arslanbek Aliev (Russia) tech. fall Nobuyoshi Arakida (Japan), 10-0

 

Sunday’s schedule

 

Session III

11:00 a.m. – Iran vs. India; USA vs. Turkey

12:00 noon – Russia vs. Georgia; Ukraine vs. Mongolia

1:30 p.m. – Seventh-place match and Ninth-place match

2:30 p.m. – Fifth-place match

 

Session IV

5:00 p.m. – Third-place match

6:00 p.m. – First-place match and Award Ceremonies