Punia beats Green, 8-4, to win FloWrestling 150-pound 8-Man Challenge and pockets $25,000
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Bajrang Punia squares off with James Green in the finals of the FloWrestling 150-pound 8-Man Challenge. Photo by Sam Janicki.
AUSTIN, Texas – Three-time World medalist Bajrang Punia of India used a strong second-period to defeat two-time World medalist James Green of the Southeast RTC, 8-4 in the finals to win the FloWrestling 150-pound 8-Man Challenge on Friday night.
The first period ended with a 4-4 tie. Punia scored first on an exposure, then Green followed with a leg attack takedown to tie it at 2-2. Green scored quickly after, on an explosive double leg to lead 4-2. However, Punia spun behind Green with just five seconds left in the period to knot it at 4-4.
In the second period, it was Punia who struck quickly on a spin-behind takedown just 15 seconds after the whistle for a 6-4 lead. In par terre, Punia was able to turn Green to extend it to 8-4. Green was unable to score the rest of the way, getting some shots but not breaking Punia’s defense.
They came in as top two seeds, with Punia at No. 1 and Green at No. 2. Punia has competed at 65 kg in recent years, while Green has wrestled up at 70 kg. Punia has been training this month in the United States with the Cliff Keen WC in Michigan.
Punia reached the finals with a 6-1 quarterfinals win over Pat Lugo, and a 9-0 semifinal win over Anthony Ashnault. Green’s run to the finals included 10-0 technical fall over Bryce Meredith in the quarterfinals and a 4-2 win over Alec Pantaleo in the semifinals.
Third place went to Alec Pantaleo, who looked strong in an 8-1 victory over Anthony Ashnault. Pantaleo, who starred at Michigan, had three takedowns and a turn, while Ashnault, an NCAA champ for Rutgers, only scored when Pantaleo was put on a shot clock and couldn’t score. Pantaleo was a late replacement for injured Joey McKenna in the tournament. Pantaleo secured $10,000 for third place, while Ashnault earned $5,000 for fourth place.
The quarterfinals featured two matches where the lower seed won their match. Ashnault, seeded No. 5, needed a late step out to tie up the match with No. 4 seed Evan Henderson, securing a 6-6 criteria win.
No. 6 seed Pantaleo also forced a step out with 11 seconds left to upset No. 3 seed Jordan Oliver, 4-4. Oliver had taken a 4-3 lead on a takedown with 59 seconds left in the match.
The four wrestlers who lost in the quarterfinals earned $1,000: Henderson, Oliver, Lugo and Meredith.
There were two women’s matches as part of the card, with Jacarra Winchester and Tiare Ikei securing wins. Click here for separate story about women’s bouts.
Championship match summary
No. 1 Bajrang Punia (Indian Railroad) dec. No. 2 James Green (Southeast RTC), 8-4
Green was put on the shot clock, and made an attack, which Punia blocked and secured a head pinch roll for two points. Green came back with two quick takedowns, the first on a single leg, and the second on a powerful double leg, where he lifted Punia high before taking him to the mat, giving him a 4-2 lead. However, Punia was able to spin behind Green for a takedown with just five seconds left in the period to knot it at 4-4.
Quickly in the second period, Punia spun behind Green for a takedown and a 6-4 lead. While on top in par terre, Punia was able to turn Green for an 8-4 lead. There was no scoring after this, although Green made numerous attempts and Punia was able to defend well.
Third place match summary
No. 6 Alec Pantaleo (Cliff Keen WC) dec. No. 5 Anthony Ashnault (Scarlet Knight WC), 8-1
Pantaleo used a throw-by to get behind Ashnault for a bodylock takedown to lead 2-0. Pantaleo added a double leg takedown in the final 10 seconds of the first period to lead 4-0 at the break.
In the second period, Pantaleo was put on the shot clock and surrendered a point to Ashnault, making it 6-1. Pantaleo added a single leg takedown for a 6-1 lead, then turned Ashnault with a gut wrench to make it 8-1, a score which held up the rest of the way.
Semifinals summaries
No. 1 Bajrang Punia (Indian Railroad) dec. No. 5 Anthony Ashnault (Scarlet Knight WC), 9-0
Ashnault was placed on the shot clock and couldn’t score, giving Punia a 1-0 lead. Punia forced a step out to make it 2-0, and added another stepout on a double leg shot to make it 3-0 at the break.
In the second period, Punia got behind Ashnault and brought him back for a four-point takedown to lead 7-0. He sunk in a leg in par terre and got a nice turn to make it 9-0. Ashnault got a few leg attacks late, but Punia was able to defend them all.
No. 2 James Green (Southeast RTC) dec. No. 6 Alec Pantaleo (Cliff Keen WC), 4-2
Green scored a first-period takedown, getting Pantaleo out of position and scoring when Pantaleo tried to do a throw, to lead 2-0. Pantaleo was able to get a high single and force a step out to close it to 2-1, which was the score at the break.
In the second period, Green got a step out on a scramble on the edge to lead, 3-1. Green, from a strong upperbody position, got another step out to make it 4-1. Pantaleo kept coming, getting a high single to a step out to close it to 4-2. In the closing moments, Green circled and kept good position, holding off Pantaleo to the end of the bout.
Quarterfinals summaries
No. 1 Bajrang Punia (Indian Railroad) dec. No. 8 Pat Lugo (Hawkeye WC), 6-1
In the first period early on, both wrestlers were warned for passivity, but Punia was the one placed on the shot clock first. Although Punia could not score during the 30-seconds, giving a point to Lugo, shortly after the time ran down, Punia scored a two-point counter passivity to take a 2-1 lead at the break.
In the second period, Punia was put on the shot clock again, but was able to score a takedown with just one second left, to take a 4-1 lead. Punia scored a slick two-point turn from the top, to make it 6-1. Lugo could not come back late in the match.
No. 5 Anthony Ashnault (Scarlet Knight) dec. No. 4 Evan Henderson (Spartan Combat RTC), 6-6
In the first period, Ashnault scored first on a stepout. A throwby takedown by Ashnault made it 3-0 at the break. Ashnault seemed to be in control most of the period.
In the second period, on an Ashnault takedown attempt, Henderson scored on a counter exposure, but Ashnault got a takedown to make it a 2-and-2, putting it at 5-2. Henderson secured two stepout points to close it to 5-4. During an exchange, Henderson scored another counter exposure, but Ashnault finished it off with a stepout to make it 6-6. Ashnault held the criteria, and Henderson could not score as time ran out.
No. 6 Alec Pantaleo (Cliff Keen WC) dec. No. 3 Jordan Oliver (Tarheel RTC), 4-4
Pantaleo was put on the shot clock first, and did not score, giving Oliver a 1-0 lead, he took the single he had secured while on the shotclock and turned it into a step out to make it 1-1.
In the second period, Pantaleo was placed on the shot clock again and could not score, making it 2-1 for Oliver. As Pantaleo took a single leg to the edge and almost secured a step out, the action went back into the center, where Pantaleo finished the takedown to lead 4-3. Oliver responded with an ankle pick takedown with 54 seconds to go for a 4-3 lead. Pantaleo got a high single and forced a step out with 11 seconds left, to tie it at 6-6, securing the criteria advantage. Oliver could not score in the final seconds.
No. 2 James Green (Southeast RTC) tech. fall No. 7 Bryce Meredith (New York AC), 10-0
Meredith was placed on the shot clock and couldn’t score, putting Green up 1-0. Green went from a single leg to a double finish for a takedown, and scored a trapped arm gut wrench. When the exchange ended, the score was 6-0 for Green. A four-point blast double by Green out of bounds ended it with the 10-0 technical fall.
FLOWRESTLING 8-MAN CHALLENGE – 150 LBS.
At Austin, Texas
Championship bout
No. 1 Bajrang Punia (Indian Railroad) dec. No. 2 James Green (Southeast RTC), 8-4
Punia wins $25,000, Green wins $15,000
Third place bout
No. 6 Alec Pantaleo (Cliff Keen WC) dec. No. 5 Anthony Ashnault (Scarlet Knight WC), 8-1
Pantaleo wins $10,000, Ashnault wins $5,000
Semifinals
No. 1 Bajrang Punia (Indian Railroad) dec. No. 5 Anthony Ashnault (Scarlet Knight WC), 9-0
No. 2 James Green (Southeast RTC) dec. No. 6 Alec Pantaleo (Cliff Keen WC), 4-2
Quarterfinals
No. 1 Bajrang Punia (Indian Railroad) dec.No. 8 Pat Lugo (Hawkeye WC), 6-1
No. 5 Anthony Ashnault (Scarlet Knight WC) dec. No. 4 Evan Henderson (Spartan Combat RTC), 6-6
No. 6 Alec Pantaleo (Cliff Keen WC) dec. No. 3 Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids), 4-4
No. 2 James Green (Southeast RTC) tech. fall No. 7 Bryce Meredith (New York AC), 10-0, 2:15
Lugo, Henderson, Oliver, Meredith win $1,000 for the event.
AUSTIN, Texas – Three-time World medalist Bajrang Punia of India used a strong second-period to defeat two-time World medalist James Green of the Southeast RTC, 8-4 in the finals to win the FloWrestling 150-pound 8-Man Challenge on Friday night.
The first period ended with a 4-4 tie. Punia scored first on an exposure, then Green followed with a leg attack takedown to tie it at 2-2. Green scored quickly after, on an explosive double leg to lead 4-2. However, Punia spun behind Green with just five seconds left in the period to knot it at 4-4.
In the second period, it was Punia who struck quickly on a spin-behind takedown just 15 seconds after the whistle for a 6-4 lead. In par terre, Punia was able to turn Green to extend it to 8-4. Green was unable to score the rest of the way, getting some shots but not breaking Punia’s defense.
They came in as top two seeds, with Punia at No. 1 and Green at No. 2. Punia has competed at 65 kg in recent years, while Green has wrestled up at 70 kg. Punia has been training this month in the United States with the Cliff Keen WC in Michigan.
Punia reached the finals with a 6-1 quarterfinals win over Pat Lugo, and a 9-0 semifinal win over Anthony Ashnault. Green’s run to the finals included 10-0 technical fall over Bryce Meredith in the quarterfinals and a 4-2 win over Alec Pantaleo in the semifinals.
Third place went to Alec Pantaleo, who looked strong in an 8-1 victory over Anthony Ashnault. Pantaleo, who starred at Michigan, had three takedowns and a turn, while Ashnault, an NCAA champ for Rutgers, only scored when Pantaleo was put on a shot clock and couldn’t score. Pantaleo was a late replacement for injured Joey McKenna in the tournament. Pantaleo secured $10,000 for third place, while Ashnault earned $5,000 for fourth place.
The quarterfinals featured two matches where the lower seed won their match. Ashnault, seeded No. 5, needed a late step out to tie up the match with No. 4 seed Evan Henderson, securing a 6-6 criteria win.
No. 6 seed Pantaleo also forced a step out with 11 seconds left to upset No. 3 seed Jordan Oliver, 4-4. Oliver had taken a 4-3 lead on a takedown with 59 seconds left in the match.
The four wrestlers who lost in the quarterfinals earned $1,000: Henderson, Oliver, Lugo and Meredith.
There were two women’s matches as part of the card, with Jacarra Winchester and Tiare Ikei securing wins. Click here for separate story about women’s bouts.
Championship match summary
No. 1 Bajrang Punia (Indian Railroad) dec. No. 2 James Green (Southeast RTC), 8-4
Green was put on the shot clock, and made an attack, which Punia blocked and secured a head pinch roll for two points. Green came back with two quick takedowns, the first on a single leg, and the second on a powerful double leg, where he lifted Punia high before taking him to the mat, giving him a 4-2 lead. However, Punia was able to spin behind Green for a takedown with just five seconds left in the period to knot it at 4-4.
Quickly in the second period, Punia spun behind Green for a takedown and a 6-4 lead. While on top in par terre, Punia was able to turn Green for an 8-4 lead. There was no scoring after this, although Green made numerous attempts and Punia was able to defend well.
Third place match summary
No. 6 Alec Pantaleo (Cliff Keen WC) dec. No. 5 Anthony Ashnault (Scarlet Knight WC), 8-1
Pantaleo used a throw-by to get behind Ashnault for a bodylock takedown to lead 2-0. Pantaleo added a double leg takedown in the final 10 seconds of the first period to lead 4-0 at the break.
In the second period, Pantaleo was put on the shot clock and surrendered a point to Ashnault, making it 6-1. Pantaleo added a single leg takedown for a 6-1 lead, then turned Ashnault with a gut wrench to make it 8-1, a score which held up the rest of the way.
Semifinals summaries
No. 1 Bajrang Punia (Indian Railroad) dec. No. 5 Anthony Ashnault (Scarlet Knight WC), 9-0
Ashnault was placed on the shot clock and couldn’t score, giving Punia a 1-0 lead. Punia forced a step out to make it 2-0, and added another stepout on a double leg shot to make it 3-0 at the break.
In the second period, Punia got behind Ashnault and brought him back for a four-point takedown to lead 7-0. He sunk in a leg in par terre and got a nice turn to make it 9-0. Ashnault got a few leg attacks late, but Punia was able to defend them all.
No. 2 James Green (Southeast RTC) dec. No. 6 Alec Pantaleo (Cliff Keen WC), 4-2
Green scored a first-period takedown, getting Pantaleo out of position and scoring when Pantaleo tried to do a throw, to lead 2-0. Pantaleo was able to get a high single and force a step out to close it to 2-1, which was the score at the break.
In the second period, Green got a step out on a scramble on the edge to lead, 3-1. Green, from a strong upperbody position, got another step out to make it 4-1. Pantaleo kept coming, getting a high single to a step out to close it to 4-2. In the closing moments, Green circled and kept good position, holding off Pantaleo to the end of the bout.
Quarterfinals summaries
No. 1 Bajrang Punia (Indian Railroad) dec. No. 8 Pat Lugo (Hawkeye WC), 6-1
In the first period early on, both wrestlers were warned for passivity, but Punia was the one placed on the shot clock first. Although Punia could not score during the 30-seconds, giving a point to Lugo, shortly after the time ran down, Punia scored a two-point counter passivity to take a 2-1 lead at the break.
In the second period, Punia was put on the shot clock again, but was able to score a takedown with just one second left, to take a 4-1 lead. Punia scored a slick two-point turn from the top, to make it 6-1. Lugo could not come back late in the match.
No. 5 Anthony Ashnault (Scarlet Knight) dec. No. 4 Evan Henderson (Spartan Combat RTC), 6-6
In the first period, Ashnault scored first on a stepout. A throwby takedown by Ashnault made it 3-0 at the break. Ashnault seemed to be in control most of the period.
In the second period, on an Ashnault takedown attempt, Henderson scored on a counter exposure, but Ashnault got a takedown to make it a 2-and-2, putting it at 5-2. Henderson secured two stepout points to close it to 5-4. During an exchange, Henderson scored another counter exposure, but Ashnault finished it off with a stepout to make it 6-6. Ashnault held the criteria, and Henderson could not score as time ran out.
No. 6 Alec Pantaleo (Cliff Keen WC) dec. No. 3 Jordan Oliver (Tarheel RTC), 4-4
Pantaleo was put on the shot clock first, and did not score, giving Oliver a 1-0 lead, he took the single he had secured while on the shotclock and turned it into a step out to make it 1-1.
In the second period, Pantaleo was placed on the shot clock again and could not score, making it 2-1 for Oliver. As Pantaleo took a single leg to the edge and almost secured a step out, the action went back into the center, where Pantaleo finished the takedown to lead 4-3. Oliver responded with an ankle pick takedown with 54 seconds to go for a 4-3 lead. Pantaleo got a high single and forced a step out with 11 seconds left, to tie it at 6-6, securing the criteria advantage. Oliver could not score in the final seconds.
No. 2 James Green (Southeast RTC) tech. fall No. 7 Bryce Meredith (New York AC), 10-0
Meredith was placed on the shot clock and couldn’t score, putting Green up 1-0. Green went from a single leg to a double finish for a takedown, and scored a trapped arm gut wrench. When the exchange ended, the score was 6-0 for Green. A four-point blast double by Green out of bounds ended it with the 10-0 technical fall.
FLOWRESTLING 8-MAN CHALLENGE – 150 LBS.
At Austin, Texas
Championship bout
No. 1 Bajrang Punia (Indian Railroad) dec. No. 2 James Green (Southeast RTC), 8-4
Punia wins $25,000, Green wins $15,000
Third place bout
No. 6 Alec Pantaleo (Cliff Keen WC) dec. No. 5 Anthony Ashnault (Scarlet Knight WC), 8-1
Pantaleo wins $10,000, Ashnault wins $5,000
Semifinals
No. 1 Bajrang Punia (Indian Railroad) dec. No. 5 Anthony Ashnault (Scarlet Knight WC), 9-0
No. 2 James Green (Southeast RTC) dec. No. 6 Alec Pantaleo (Cliff Keen WC), 4-2
Quarterfinals
No. 1 Bajrang Punia (Indian Railroad) dec.No. 8 Pat Lugo (Hawkeye WC), 6-1
No. 5 Anthony Ashnault (Scarlet Knight WC) dec. No. 4 Evan Henderson (Spartan Combat RTC), 6-6
No. 6 Alec Pantaleo (Cliff Keen WC) dec. No. 3 Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids), 4-4
No. 2 James Green (Southeast RTC) tech. fall No. 7 Bryce Meredith (New York AC), 10-0, 2:15
Lugo, Henderson, Oliver, Meredith win $1,000 for the event.
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