Titan Mercury falls to Bimeh-Razi, finishes in second place at World Wrestling Clubs Cup in Iran

The Titan Mercury WC team on the medal stand in Iran. Photo: Ali Feizasa, Iranian News Agency

TEHRAN, Iran – The star-studded roster of Bimeh-Razi was too much for a strong team from the Titan Mercury Wrestling Club.


The powerful Iranian club started fast and never let up in earning a 7-1 win over Titan Mercury in the World Wrestling Clubs Cup finals before a boisterous crowd of 5,000 fans on Friday night at Azadi Stadium.


Bimeh-Razi, bolstered by two-time World champion Reza Yazdani’s 10-0 win over Olympic gold medalist Jake Varner, beat Titan Mercury in the finals for the second straight year.


Titan Mercury had another strong showing, finishing 3-1 in the two-day, dual-meet event in freestyle wrestling.


Bimeh-Razi earned $50,000 for winning the World Clubs Cup. Titan Mercury collected $30,000 for finishing second in the 15-team event.


Yazdani struck quickly, scooting behind Varner for a takedown and then going right into a gut wrench to lead 4-0. Yazdani came back again with another takedown and followed with two gut wrenches to finish off a technical fall as the big Iranian crowd erupted.


Andrew Howe used a punishing, physical attack to defeat Alireza Ghasemi 7-2 at 74 kg/163 lbs. Howe trailed 2-1 before coming on strong late in the bout. Howe fired in on a single and finished for a takedown before immediately transferring to a gut wrench. Ghasemi placed fifth at the 2015 World Championships.


Howe finished unbeaten in this event for the second straight year. He went 4-0 this week after finishing 5-0 last year.


Two-time World Team member Tony Ramos dropped a 4-1 decision to 2015 World champion Vladimir Khinchigashvili of Georgia in the first bout at 57 kg/125.5 lbs. Khinchigashvili scored a takedown late in the first period to take control.


Daniel Dennis fell 5-1 to Junior World champion Benham Ehsanpour at 61 kg/134 lbs. Dennis tied it 1-1 with just over a minute left before Ehsanpour shot in on a single and took Dennis to the mat with exposure to gain four points.


World silver medalist Masoud Esmailpour scored two second-period takedowns to down Titan Mercury’s Morteza Ghiyasi 5-1 in a battle of Iranian athletes at 65 kg/143 lbs.


Past World Team member Dustin Schlatter ran into a tough foe in 2015 World champion Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov of Russia at 70 kg/154 lbs.


Gazimagomedov led just 1-0 at the break before turning it on in the second period. He ended the match with a four-point move.


Junior World champion Goleij Mojtaba of Titan Mercury fell just short in a 3-2 loss to University World champion Meisam Joukar at 86 kg/189 lbs. Mojtaba, an Iranian, picked up two caution points before time ran out.


Bobby Telford dropped a 3-1 decision to Olympic and World medalist Komeil Ghasemi in the final bout at 125 kg/275 lbs.


Ramos, Schlatter, Varner and Telford each finished 3-1 in the event in Iran.

Titan Mercury downed Armenia 6-2 in the semifinal freestyle dual earlier on Friday.


Ramos delivered in the first match by pinning Armenia’s Garnik Mnatskanyan at 57 kg/125.5 lbs.


“That was a huge pin by Ramos,” Titan Mercury coach Royce Alger said. “That was really big for us. That really gave us a spark we needed.”


Down 6-2, Ramos countered a bad shot by Mnatskanyan and launched him to his back with his signature cow-catcher maneuver to earn a pin just 11 seconds into the second period at 57 kg/125.5 lbs.


“I just had to keep the pressure on,” Ramos said. “I could feel him wearing down. He took a bad shot and I took advantage of it. Usually when I get in that position I can finish pretty well.”


Varner stormed out strong with a takedown and two gut wrenches to earn a 6-2 win over past Junior World silver medalist Edgar Yenokyan of Armenia at 97 kg/213 lbs. Varner’s win clinched the dual win for Titan Mercury.


Dennis looked strong in an 8-2 win over Armenia’s Behrozi Bezad at 61 kg/134 lbs. Schlatter won by forfeit at 70 kg/154 lbs. before Howe followed with a 5-2 win over Armenia’s Valruzhan Kajoyan at 74 kg/163 lbs.


Titan Mercury heavyweight Bobby Telford capped the win with a 12-2 technical fall over Andranik Galstyan.


“Telford is looking really good right now,” Dennis said. “He’s a great hand fighter and he’s really moving well. He looks like a lightweight out there. You don’t see that at heavyweight too often.”


The Titan Mercury team is comprised of wrestlers from its club, plus wrestlers from other U.S. clubs. Teams are also allowed to use up to two wrestlers from other countries in its lineup in this event.

World Wrestling Clubs Cup

Nov. 26-27 at Tehran, Iran


Finals: Bimeh-Razi 7, Titan Mercury WC 1

57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Vladimir Khinchigashvili (B-R) dec. Tony Ramos (TMWC), 4-1

61 kg/134 lbs. – Benham Ensanpour (B-R) dec. Daniel Dennis (TMWC), 5-1

65 kg/143 lbs. – Masoud Esmailpour (B-R) dec. Morteza Ghiyasi (TMWC), 5-1

70 kg/154 lbs. – Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (B-R) won by tech. fall over Dustin Schlatter (TMWC), 11-0

74 kg/163 lbs. – Andrew Howe (TMWC) dec. Alireza Ghasemi (B-R), 7-2

86 kg/189 lbs. – Meysam Joukar (B-R) dec. Goleij Mojtaba (TMWC), 3-2

97 kg/213 lbs. – Reza Yazdani (B-R) won by tech. fall over Jake Varner (TMWC), 10-0

125 kg/275 lbs. – Komeil Ghasemi (B-R) dec. Bobby Telford (TMWC), 3-1

Semifinals: Titan Mercury WC 6, Armenia 2

57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Tony Ramos (TMWC) pinned Garnik Mnatsakanyan (Armenia), 3:11

61 kg/134 lbs. – Daniel Dennis (TMWC) dec. Behrozi Bezad (Armenia), 8-2

65 kg/143 lbs. – Valodya Frangulyan (Armenia) dec. Morteza Ghiyasi (TMWC), 8-6

70 kg/154 lbs. – Dustin Schlatter (TMWC) won by forfeit

74 kg/163 lbs. – Andrew Howe (TMWC) dec. Valruzhan Kajoyan (Armenia), 5-2

86 kg/189 lbs. – Mostafa Ghiasi (Armenia) dec. Austin Trotman (TMWC), 3-1

97 kg/213 lbs. – Jake Varner (TMWC) dec. Edgar Yenokyan (Armenia), 6-2

125 kg/275 lbs. – Bobby Telford (TMWC) won by tech. fall over Andranik Galstyan (Armenia), 12-2