Clean sweep for U.S. over Azerbaijan caps off first day at Freestyle World Cup
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by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling
| Olympian Frank Molinaro continues gritty showcase at Men's Freestyle World Cup going 2-0 on day one. Photo: John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com. |
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The U.S. men’s freestyle team pitched a shutout against Azerbaijan in session two of the 2016 Men’s Freestyle World Cup to remain undefeated heading into Sunday’s competition.
J’den Cox continues to put the world on notice with his electrifying on the mat performances. The 2016 Olympian downed World No. 3 Alexander Gostiev in a 3-2 thriller at 86 kg/189 lbs. to highlight the U.S. effort against a quality Azerbaijan team.
“I’m hard to score on when I’ve got my defense going, and also I was doing a good job of coming forward even though I was up. I felt something very different, something I’ve never felt before. I’m just going to continue to get better. Like I said, win or lose you’ve got to take something from your match,” said Cox.
Gostiev is the second top-ten World ranked wrestler Cox has defeated in less than a month. The two-time NCAA champion for Missouri also beat Asian Games champion Meisam Mostafa Joukar of Iran, 10-5, at the Beat the Streets “United in the Square” meet in May.
At 65 kg/143 lbs. Olympian Frank Molinaro continued his display of physicality as he took out Magomed Muslimov, 4-1, in a bout that got heated early and often.
Leading 1-0 after a Muslimov penalty point was assessed, Molinaro stole the match momentum at the end of the first period by scoring a crisp takedown while on the shot clock to take a 3-0 lead to the break. Muslimov’s lone point came off a shot clock penalty against Molinaro. Muslimov was assessed a second penalty point at the end of the match for a late head butt. The win ignited Team USA’s fire for the remainder of the dual.
“They don’t like the pressure and they don’t like being collar tied. They don’t like when guys are physical back with them, so that’s what I love. If they want a fight bring it,” said Molinaro.
2012 Olympic champion Jake Varner bumped up to heavyweight and was flawless in a 10-0 effort over Said Gamidov. Varner snagged three ankle picks in the match, including a four-point closer, to seal the victory.
Also picking up a clutch 10-0 technical fall was 2016 Olympian Daniel Dennis at 57 kg/125.5 lbs. Dennis made quick work of Makhmud Magomedov, executing four takedowns and a gutwrench to open the dual meet in style for Team USA.
2015 World bronze medalist James Green appears to have returned to championship form after making the move back up to 70 kg/154 lbs. He opened up on Gadzhimurad Omarov with a vast array of offensive assaults to win by first period technical fall, 10-0. Green won both of his matches today, 10-0.
It was closer than expected at 97 kg/213 lbs., but the youngest World champion in U.S. history came through. Kyle Snyder was unable to strike on a takedown, but he held solid position throughout his match against Aslanbek Alborov to win, 2-1.
Two-time World Team member Tony Ramos picked up his second win of the day at 61 kg/134 lbs. with a 10-4 decision over Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov.
Three-time NCAA champion Alex Dieringer rebounded from a controversial loss against India to pick up an 8-0 victory over 2012 Olympian Ashraf Aliyev.
The U.S. is now 2-0 in Pool B after first day wins over India and Azerbaijan. They will face Iran in a rematch of last year’s World Cup finals tomorrow at 12 p.m. (PT) for a place in the gold medal dual.
Every match from the Men’s Freestyle World Cup can be viewed live on Flowrestling.com with wrestling starting at 10:30 a.m. (PT) Sunday morning.
2016 MEN’S FREESTYLE WORLD CUP
At The Forum, Inglewood, Calif., June 11-12
U.S. Results
United States 8 – Azerbaijan 0
57 kg/ 125.5 lbs. – Daniel Dennis (United States) tech. fall Makhmud Magomedov (Azerbaijan), 10-0
61 kg/134 lbs. – Tony Ramos (United States) dec. Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov (Azerbaijan), 10-4
65 kg/143 lbs. – Frank Molinaro (United States) dec. Magomed Muslimov (Azerbaijan), 4-1
70 kg/154 lbs. – James Green (United States) tech. fall Gadzhimurad Omarov (Azerbaijan), 10-0
74 kg/163 lbs. – Alex Dieringer (United States) dec. Ashraf Aliyev (Azerbaijan), 8-0
86 kg/189 lbs. – J’den Cox (United States) dec. Alexander Gostiev (Azerbaijan), 3-2
97 kg/213 lbs. – Kyle Snyder (United States) dec. Aslanbek Alborov (Azerbaijan), 2-1
125 kg/275 lbs. – Jake Varner (United States) tech. fall Said Gamidov (Azerbaijan), 10-0
United States 7 – India 1
57 kg/ 125.5 lbs. – Daniel Dennis (United States) forfeit (India)
61 kg/134 lbs. – Tony Ramos (United States) dec. Bajrang (India), 3-3
65 kg/143 lbs. – Frank Molinaro (United States) dec. Rajneesh (India), 5-0
70 kg/154 lbs. – James Green (United States) tech. fall Vinod Kumar (India), 10-0
74 kg/163 lbs. – Parveen Rana (India) dec. Alex Dieringer (United States), 4-4
86 kg/189 lbs. – J’den Cox (United States) tech. fall Pawan Kumar (India), 13-2
97 kg/213 lbs. – Kyle Snyder (United States) tech. fall Kadian Satywart (India), 10-0
125 kg/275 lbs. – Jake Varner (United States) forfeit (India)
Group A Results
Mongolia 6 – Turkey 2
57kg: Suleyman Atli (Turkey) tech. fall Bekhbayar Erdenebat (Mongolia), 10-0
61kg: Tuvshintulga Tumenbileg (Mongolia) dec. Soyler Mehmet (Turkey), 10-1
65kg: Mandakhnaran Ganzorig (Mongolia) tech. fall Dogan Burak (Turkey), 10-0
70kg: Altangerel Dorjtsegmed (Mongolia) dec. Selahattin Kilicsallayan (Turkey), 10-8
74kg: Unurbat Purevjav (Mongolia) forfeit (Turkey)
86kg: Selim Yasar (Turkey) dec. Uitumen Orgodol (Mongolia), 10-3
97kg: Khuderbulga Dorjkhand (Mongolia) dec. Mutlu Muren (Turkey), 8-2
125kg: Chuluunbat Jargalsaikan (Mongolia) forfeit (Turkey)
Russia 4 – Georgia 4
57kg: Vladimir Khinchegashvili (Georgia) dec. Gadzhimurad Rashidov (Russia), 3-2
61kg: Beka Lomtadze (Georgia) dec. Imam Adzhiev (Russia), 4-1
65kg: Magomed Kurbanaliev (Russia) dec. Zurab Iakobishvili (Georgia), 10-0
70kg: David Tlashadze (Georgia) dec. Radik Valiev (Russia), 13-4
74kg: Khetik Tsabolov (Russia) tech. fall Yakob Makarashvili (Georgia), 10-0
86kg: Shamil Kudiiamagomedov (Russia) dec. Dato Marsigashvili (Georgia), 9-3
97kg: Abdusalam Gadisov (Russia) dec. Elizbar Odikadze (Georgia), 10-9
125kg: Geno Petriashvili (Georgia) dec. Muradin Kushkhov (Russia), 4-0
Georgia 7 – Turkey 1
57kg: Vladimir Khinchegashvili (Georgia) dec. Suleyman Atli (Turkey), 11-2
61kg: Beka Lomtadze (Georgia) dec. Soyler Mehmet (Turkey), 12-4
65kg: Konstantine Khabalashvili (Georgia) tech. fall Dogan Burak (Turkey),10-0
70kg: David Tlashadze (Georgia) dec. Selahattin Kilicsallayan (Turkey), 7-6
74kg: Yakob Makarashvili (Georgia) forfeit (Turkey)
86kg: Selim Yasar (Turkey) dec. Dato Marsigashvili (Georgia), 6-0
97kg: Elizbar Odikadze (Georgia) fall Mutlu Muren (Turkey)
125kg: Geno Petriashvili (Georgia) forfeit (Turkey)
Russia 6 – Mongolia 2
57kg: Bekhbayar Erdenebat (Mongolia) dec. Azamat Tuskaev (Russia), 5-3
61kg: Viktor Rassadin (Russia) dec. Tuvshintulga Tumenbileg (Mongolia), 11-3
65kg: Ilyas Bekbulatov (Russia) dec. Mandakhnaran Ganzorig (Mongolia), 6-5
70kg: Khalil Aminov (Russia) tech. fall Altangerel Dorjtsegmed (Mongolia), 11-0
74kg: Unurbat Purevjav (Mongolia) dec. Khetik Tsabolov (Russia), 10-3
86kg: Shamil Kudiiamagomedov (Russia) dec. Uitumen Orgodol (Mongolia), 7-0
97kg: Abdusalam Gadisov (Russia) tech. fall Khuderbulga Dorjkhand (Mongolia), 11-1
125kg: Muradin Kushkhov (Russia) dec. Chuluunbat Jargalsaikan (Mongolia), 5-1
Group B Results
Iran 5 – Azerbaijan 3
57kg: Hassan Rahimi (Iran) tech. fall Makhmud Magomedov (Azerbaijan), 11-1
61kg: Behnam Ehsanpoor (Iran) dec. Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov (Azerbaijan), 2-2
65kg: Nasiri Meisam (Iran) dec. Magomed Muslimov (Azerbaijan), 7-5
70kg: Gadzhimurad Omarov (Azerbaijan) dec. Moustafa Hosseinkhani (Iran), 6-3
74kg: Hassan Yazdanicharati (Iran) dec. Ashraf Aliyev (Azerbaijan), 9-5
86kg: Alexandr Gostiev (Azerbaijan) dec. Alireza Karimi (Iran), 5-2
97kg: Aslanbek Alborov (Azerbaijan) dec. Abbas Tahan (Iran), 2-1
125kg: Komeil Ghasemi (Iran) dec. Said Gamidov (Azerbaijan), 6-4
Iran 8 – India 0
57kg: Hassan Rahimi (Iran) forfeit (India)
61kg: Masoud Esmaeilpour (Iran) dec. Bajrang (India), 4-2
65kg: Sayed Mohammadi (Iran) tech. fall Rajneesh (India), 10-0
70kg: Moustafa Hosseinkhani (Iran) dec. Vinod Kumar (India), 2-0
74kg: Hassan Yazdanicharati (Iran) tech. fall Parveen Rana (India), 12-2
86kg: Alireza Karimi (Iran) tech. fall Pawan Kumar (India), 10-0
97kg: Amir Mohammadi (Iran) tech. fall Satywart Kadian (India), 12-1
125kg: Parvi Hadi (Iran) forfeit (India)
