Match of the Day: Modern Greco legends Mijain Lopez and Riza Kayaalp battle in the 2014 World finals
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by USA Wrestling
One of the great rivalries in wrestling in recent years has been Mijain Lopez of Cuba and Rıza Kayaalp of Turkey. Lopez has cemented himself as one of the greatest wrestlers of all-time. He is a three-time Olympic champion, a four-time World champion and a three-time World silver medalist. Kayaalp is a four-time World champion, two-time World silver medalist, two-time World bronze medalist, 2016 Olympic silver medalist and 2012 Olympic bronze medalist.
The pair have met in three World finals and an Olympic finals. Kayaalp owns a 2-1 lead in World finals, and Lopez won their 2016 Olympic gold-medal match. Additionally, Lopez defeated Kayaalp at the 2012 Olympic Games in the semifinals and the 2009 World semifinals.
Kayaalp is the returning World champion. Lopez has not wrestled in a World Championship since his Olympic gold medal in 2016, but is expected to compete in the Tokyo Games.
Below, watch Lopez and Kayaalp in the 2014 World finals:
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