Beat the Streets match previews for Burroughs, Dlagnev, Maroulis and Bisek

Jordan Burroughs has won his last four Beat the Streets matches, and looks to add to his impressive achievements in New York next week.


Over the next few days, TheMat.com will be taking a little closer look at each of the Beat the Streets “Salsa in the Square” matchups that will occur in Times Square on Thursday, May 21. Each of these previews will feature a biography of the wrestlers, as well as previous meetings on the mat.


We start the previews today with U.S. men’s freestyle stars Jordan Burroughs and Tervel Dlagnev, as well as women’s freestyle star Helen Maroulis and Greco-Roman star Andy Bisek, along with their opponents in Times Square.

Men’s freestyle 74 kg/163 lbs. – Jordan Burroughs (USA) vs. Luis Esteban Quintana Martinez (Cuba)


This is a classic battle between one of the greatest stars on the planet and a young athlete looking to make a name for himself. Burroughs has never wrestled Quintana, but has two wins over the current No. 1 Cuban Livan Lopez within the year.


Quintana has recent international experience, winning a bronze at the Pan American Championships this year, and competing in the last four Cerro Pelado Internationals in Cuba. Quintana dropped a 9-0 match to Tyler Caldwell of the USA at this year’s Pan Ams, an athlete who is among the top Americans but not yet at Burroughs’ level. At the 2014 Cerro Pelado, Quintana was shut out in the finals by American Kyle Dake. At this year’s Cerro Pelado, Quintana and Lopez both lost to the same opponent, Poland’s Krystian Brzosowski, somebody Burroughs has never faced.


Burroughs has been spectacular in past Beat the Streets events, winning his match in the last four of these showcases, mostly in dominant fashion. On paper, it would be hard to think Quintana has a chance against Burroughs. But this is a first meeting, and the Cuban is certainly going to try to prove he belongs, so it could be an interesting match, at least in the early going. Burroughs goes for win No. 103 in his Senior career, and is heavily favored to get that job done.

Luis Quintana Martinez (Cuba)

Current UWW World ranking: No. 19

Third in 2015 Pan American Championship…2014 Central American and Caribbean Games champion… Second in 2014 and 2015 Cerro Pelado International (Cuba)… Third in 2013 Cerro Pelado International (Cuba)…Fifth in 2012 Cerro Pelado International (Cuba)…

Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids/Nebraska RTC)

Current UWW World ranking: No. 2

2012 Olympic Champion… 2011 and 2013 World Champion… 2014 World bronze medalist… … Four-time World Cup champion (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)… 2011 Pan American Games champion… 2011, 2013 and 2014 U.S. Open champion… 2015 Medved International champion (Turkey)… 2014 Pan American Championships champion… 2013 Stepan Sargsyan International champion (Armenia)… 2013 Medved International champion (Belarus)…2011 Ukrainian Memorial International champion… 2012 Dave Schultz Memorial champion… 2012 Cerro Pelado International champion (Cuba)… 2013 Medved International champion (Belarus)… Third in 2014 Yasar Dogu International (Turkey)… Tenth in 2008 Junior World Championships… 2009 and 2011 NCAA champion for Nebraska… Third in 2008 NCAA Championships… 2006 New Jersey state high school champion… Burroughs had a 69 match winning streak before his first loss… College: Nebraska… High School: Sicklerville, N.J. (Winslow Twp)… Born: July 8, 1988… Age: 26

No Previous Matchups

Men’s freestyle 125 kg/275 lbs. – Tervel Dlagnev (USA) vs. Andres Ramos Dinza (Cuba)


Cuba sends a young heavyweight to take on the top American star at this weight, two-time World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev. These two have never met before. You have to go back to the 2012 Cerro Pelado in Cuba for the last time Dlagnev has faced a Cuban, with a win over Disney Rodriguez in the championship finals. Dlagnev boasts two wins over Rodriguez, who left the Cuban program a few seasons ago.


Ramos reached the finals of the 2015 Pan American Championships, where he was defeated by American Zach Rey in the finals, 4-0. Rey also beat Ramos in the first round of the 2014 Cerro Pelado by a 2-1 margin. Dlagnev beat Rey 3-1 last weekend in the U.S. Open finals. Just based upon that common opponent, Dlagnev should have a big edge in this event.


Dlagnev is 2-1 in past Beat the Streets events, beating a pair of Russians in Times Square in 2011 and 2012, then dropping a bout to Iranian star Komeil Ghasemi in the Rumble on the Rails in Grand Central Terminal in 2013. He will be very comfortable in this setting, giving Dlagnev an even bigger advantage in the matchup. With a supportive American crowd behind him, and still in top shape from being at the U.S. Open, Dlagnev should be up for this challenge.

Andres Ramos Dinza (Cuba)

Second in 2015 Pan American Championship…Fifth in 2014 Cerro Pelado International… 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games champion…

Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids/Ohio RTC)

Current UWW World ranking: No. 9

2009 and 2014 World bronze medalist… Fifth in 2012 Olympic Games… Fifth in 2011 and 2013 World Championships… 2008 World University champion… 2011 Pan American Games champion… Four-time U.S. Open champion (2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015)… 2012 World Cup champion… Second in 2009 and 2010 U.S. Open… Second in 2010 World Team Trials… Third in 2008 U.S. Open… Third in 2014 FILA Golden Grand Prix Finals… 2009 FILA Golden Grand Prix Finals champion… 2010 and 2012 Pan American Championships champion… 2010 and 2013 Medved International champion (Belarus)… 2009 Ukrainian Memorial International champion…. 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012 New York AC International Open champion… Second in 2013 World Cup… Second in 2012 Ivan Yarygin Memorial International (Russia)… Third in 2011 Ivan Yarygin Memorial International (Russia)… Fourth in 2007 U.S. Open… 2007 Sunkist Kids International Open champion… 2007 and 2008 NCAA Div. II champion for Nebraska-Kearney… Second in 2006 NCAA Div. II Nationals and sixth in 2005… Third and fourth in Texas state high school championships… Moved to the USA from Bulgaria at the age of four… College: Nebraska-Kearney… High School: Arlington, Texas… Born: November 19, 1985… Age: 29

No previous matchups

Women’s freestyle 55 kg/121 lbs. – Helen Maroulis (USA) vs. Yamilka del Valle Alvarez (Cuba)


On paper, Helen Maroulis should be a heavy favorite to win. The last two years, Maroulis went down to Cuba for the Cerro Pelado International and met Del Valle, scoring 10-0 technical falls both years. Maroulis has proven the ability to put points on the board against this Cuban athlete, and should enter the match with confidence.


Del Valle has faced other Americans. She has a loss to American Sarah Hildebrandt in 2013, an athlete that Maroulis has beaten a number of times. She also beat Kelsey Campbell in the finals of the 2009 Pan American Championships up at 59 kg. Maroulis beat Campbell in the U.S. Open finals last week, avenging a loss at the 2012 Olympic Trials.


In comparison to other athletes on the Cuban team, Del Valle is considered a veteran. She has been competing on the international level since 2006, and has won two medals at the Pan American level. However, this does not match up with Maroulis’ accomplishments, which includes two World medals, three Junior World medals and numerous other medals at major international events. Maroulis won the U.S. Open this year up at 58 kg, but has been competing at 55 kg in recent years with much success.


Maroulis is no stranger to Beat the Streets competitions. In 2014 in Times Square, she pinned Marcia Andrades of Venezuela. In 2013, she pinned Russian Irina Kisel in Grand Central Station. Back in 2012, she won an exhibition bout against American Ashley Hudson also in Times Square. She will be comfortable and confident going into this year’s match, which will make it an even tougher test for her Cuban guest. Cuba’s women’s program continues to improve, so we can expect that Del Valle will be ready to show off her skill.

Yamilka Del Valle Alvarez (Cuba)

2009 Pan American Championship champion… 2013 Cerro Pelado International champion (Cuba)… Second in 2014 Cerro Pelado International (Cuba)…Third in 2013 Pan American Championship…Third in 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games… Fifth in 2015 Cerro Pelado International (Cuba)… Fifth in 2012 Olympic Qualification Tournament… Sixth in 2010 Pan American Championship… Seventh in 2007 Pan American Games…Ninth in 2011 and 2012 Pan American Championship…Born September 22, 1987…Age 27

Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (New York AC)

Current UWW World ranking: No. 2 at 55 kg

2012 World silver medalist… 2014 World bronze medalist… Second in 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials… Fifth in 2011 World Championships… Seventh in 2013 World Championships…. 2011 Pan American Games champion… Six-time U.S. Open champion (2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)… Second in 2011 Junior World Championships… Third in 2008 and 2010 Junior World Championships… 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014 WCWA Women’s College national champion (4x)… Eighth in 2008 World Championships… 2012 Pan American Championships champion… 2013 and 2014 Dave Schultz Memorial International champion… 2013 World Cup champion… 2014 Cerro Pelado International champion (Cuba)… Third in 2014 FILA Golden Grand Prix Finals… Second in 2010 U.S. Open… Second in 2010 World Team Trials… Third in 2009 World Team Trials… 2010 New York AC International champion… 2008 U.S. World Team Trials champion… Second in 2008 and 2010 U.S. Open… Four-time FILA Junior Nationals champion (2008-2011)… 2007 and 2008 Junior Nationals champion… Third in 2009 Pan American Championships… High School: Colonel Zadock Magruder, Md., Marquette, Mich…. College: Simon Fraser, Missouri Baptist… Born: Sept. 19, 1991… Age: 23

Previous matchups

2015 Cerro Pelado International – Maroulis tech fall Del Valle, 10-0

2014 Cerro Pelado International – Maroulis tech. fall Del Valle, 10-0

Greco-Roman 75 kg/165 lbs. – Andy Bisek (USA) vs. Yurisandi Hernandez Rios (Cuba)


Andy Bisek has been a major star for U.S. Greco-Roman, helping boost the program as it begins its international revival. He won a bronze medal at the 2014 World Championships, our first medal since Dremiel Byers won a silver at the 2009 World meet. Among his wins was a stunning upset of World and Olympic champion


At this year’s Granma Cup in Cuba, Bisek drew Hernandez in the finals but won the match by injury default. In the 2014 Granma Cup, Bisek earned a 6-2 win over Hernandez.


Bisek has been competitive against a variety of Cubans in recent years. He beat Julio Bastida in 2014 Pan American Championships. In 2012, Bisek went 1-2 against Cubans, beating Alexi Bell at the Pan American Champinships, losing to Jorgisbell Alvarez at the Pan American Olympic Qualifier and losing to Bell at the Granma Cup. His losses were close battles, and he has been as successful as any current American when facing a Cuban wrestler.


Bisek had just one match to win the U.S. Open last week, a quick technical fall in the finals over Dillon Cowan. Getting a tough international match at this time of the year will be very positive for him. You can also expect Bisek to want to put on a good show and represent the U.S. Greco-Roman program in this prestigious setting. Regardless, Cuban Greco wrestlers are always tough as nails, and you can expect Hernandez to push Bisek hard throughout the match.

Yurisandi Hernandez Rios (Cuba)

Second in 2015 Granma Cup (Cuba)…Second in 2013 Granma Cup (Cuba)…Fifth in 2014 Granma Cup (Cuba)… Born February 15, 1990…Age 25

Andy Bisek, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm)

Current UWW World ranking: No. 10

Third in 2014 World Championships… 2011 and 2013 U.S. World Team member… 2014 and 2015 U.S. Open champion… Second in 2012 Pan American Olympic Qualifier, qualified USA for Olympics… 2012 and 2014 Pan American Championships champion… Third in 2012 U.S. Open… 2008 U.S. Open runner-up… 2014 Granma Cup champion (Cuba)… 2012 and 2014 Dave Schultz Memorial International champion… 2013 Haavisto Cup champion (Finland)… 2012 Haparanda Cup champion (Sweden)… 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013 New York AC International Open champion… 2010 Sunkist Kids International champion… Third in 2010 U.S. Open… Third in 2010 World Team Trials… Third in 2011 Hungarian Grand Prix… Third in 2012 Haavisto Cup… Second in 2009 Sunkist Kids International… Second in 2010 New York AC International… Third in 2013 Lavrikov Championships (Russia)… Fifth at 2009 U.S. Open… Fifth at 2009 World Team Trials… 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 University Nationals champion… Second in 2008 University World Team Trials… Fourth in 2006 Sunkist Kids International… 2006 FILA Junior Nationals champion… Second at 2005 FILA Junior Nationals… Third in Minnesota state high school championships…College: Northern Michigan… High School: Chaska, Minn…. Born: Aug. 18, 1986… Age: 28

Previous Matchups

2015 Cerro Pelado International – Bisek inj. dft. Hernandez (in finals)

2014 Cerro Pelado International – Bisek dec. Hernandez, 6-2