Date of competition: Saturday, September 12th

USA Wrestler: James Green made his first World Team in June after USAW ruled that Nick Marable would not be granted a special wrestle-off. Green made the team again in July after an arbitrator ruled that Marable had unforeseen circumstances that kept him from weighing-in and competing at the World Team Trials, and overturned the initial ruling granting the wrestle-off that took place at Fargo. Green went on to collect two straight wins and solidify his spot on the team. 

With the qualification process behind him, Green is focused on the medal stand in Las Vegas. He has twice put on the red, white, and blue at the University World Championships, where he was defeated by Evgheni Nedealco in the championship bout to take silver in 2014.  He has really improved his freestyle game throughout the summer, which was evident at the Grand Prix of Spain in July when he defeat 65kg medal contender Frank Chamizo (ITA).

The field is not nearly as deep at 70kg as we see at some of the other weights. This is particularly true as we head into an Olympic year and contenders head down to 65kg or up to 74kg. Green lacks the resume, but don’t be surprised if he takes some hardware through the security gate at the airport on his way home.

2014 World Placements:
1. Khetik Tsabolov, Russia
2. Yakup Gor, Turkey
3. Ali Shabanov, Belarus
3. Bekzod Abdurakhmanov, Uzbekistan
5. Cleopas Ncube, Canada
5. Zelimkhan Yusupov, Tajikistan
7. Yoan Blanco Reinoso, Ecuador
8. Nicholas Marable, USA
9. Dae-Sung Kim, Korea
10. Evgheni Nedealco, Moldova

2013 World Placements: Not a weight class.



Title Contenders:
Gor, Turkey (UWW No. 3) - 2014 World Silver, 2013 Euro Games Bronze, 2014 Euro Championships Bronze

Gazimagomedov, Russia (UWW No. 1) - 2015 Euro Games Gold, 2015 Medved Gold

Gadzhiev, Poland (UWW No. 2) - 2015 Euro Games Silver, 2015 Yasar Dogu Gold, 2015 Grand Prix of Paris Silver (defeated Asgarov lost to Yazdani Charati), 2008 Junior World Gold (wrestling for RUS).

Yazdani Charati, Iran (UWW No. 7) - 2014 Junior World Gold, 2015 Grand Prix of Paris Gold, Defeated former World Champion Mehdi Taghavi to make the team

Medal Contenders:
Abdurakhmanov, Uzbekistan (UWW No.4) - 2014 World Bronze, 2014 Asian Games Gold, 2015 Asian Championships Gold

*Yusupov, Tajikistan (UWW No. 5) - is suspended for a failed anti-doping test. He was 5th at the 2014 World Championships.



Contender Commentary:
Just like the situation at 65kg, the reigning World Champion is on the bench for Russia. Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov will represent Russia instead of Khetik Tsabolov. Gazimagomedov cemented his spot on the team with a Euro Games title when he defeated both Russian defector Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (POL) and Yakup Gor (TUR) en route to the Gold Medal.

Who does Brock like to win?
I didn’t mention Hassan Yazdani Charati in the contenders commentary because I am picking him to win the title. USA fans may remember it was Charati who defeated Aaron Pico in the 2014 Junior World Final. He has lead me to believe that we are watching the infancy of a career all-time great. Look for this to be a pit stop on his way to a showdown at 74kg with Burroughs and Tsargush, who have already stamped their mark on the history books.

Check out the competion at some of the other weight classes here:
57kg UWW Senior World Championship Preview
61kg UWW Senior World Championship Preview
65kg UWW Senior World Championship Preview