Final X series between Arujau, Forrest rescheduled for July 14 in Fargo, N.D.

The men’s freestyle 61 kg best-of-three Final X series between two-time World medalist Vito Arujau and U.S. Open champion Jax Forrest has been rebooked for July 14 in Fargo, N.D.

This series will be held alongside the prestigious 2025 U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals at the Fargodome. Round one will start at 3:20 p.m. (CT). Round two will follow at 4:30 p.m. (CT). The “if necessary” round three would take place 30 minutes after the second match.

Earlier this week, Arujau requested and received a delay for the matchup against Forrest, which was originally set for June 14 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. With the approved series delay, only nine men’s freestyle matchups will take place at Final X. 10 women’s freestyle best-of-three series, as well as U.S. National Team true-third matches in both styles, will also be featured at next weekend’s event.

According to the approved 2025 World Team Trials Qualification & Procedures - Men’s Freestyle, “only a 2024 Senior World Medalist or 2024 Olympic Medalist, who earned an automatic berth into the Final X, may request a medical delay for competing in the Final X Wrestle-Off.” All team selection procedures are available to view at themat.com.

61 kg has been Arujau’s weight domestically the past two years. He brought home a Senior World title in 2023 and backed it up with a bronze-medal outing last year in Tirana, Albania. Arujau is a two-time age-group World silver medalist and two-time Senior Pan American champion. He automatically qualified for Final X by earning a medal at the 2024 Senior World Championships.

Forrest won a silver medal at the 2022 U17 World Championships and has been on the cusp of making several age-group World Teams since. He turned heads on the Senior level last year by winning a stout bracket at the Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier and finishing in fourth place at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at 57 kg. The 18-year-old Forrest qualified for Final X by earning top prize at the U.S. Open in Las Vegas, Nev.

There are no prior match results between Arujau and Forrest. Both did enter the 2024 World Team Trials with Arujau winning the event and Forrest coming in third place.

For more information about Final X, please visit themat.com.