Wrestling Blogs - Craig Vitagliano

Ok guys & gals, here we go. The first night of Freestyle wrestling begins this evening and the draws for 55 and 60 kg are out. There are some interesting match ups, and some matches that the world has looked forward to for quite some time. Let’s take a look and go over what we can expect to see this evening.

55 kg:

Kyong Yang from North Korea is at the top of the bracket. If you recall my preview from the other night (http://www.flowrestling.org/videos/speaker/1413-craig-vitagliano/71947-55-kilo-breakdown) I said that this kid can win the entire weight. He’ll have Azerbaijan first round and if he wins that, will meet the winner of Korea and Spain in the Quarter Finals. I’m actually looking forward to a North Korea v. South Korea Quarter Final bout.

Just underneath we have USA’s Henry Cejudo going against 2006 World champ Radislav Velikov. This is a tough first round match but it is going to be a great bout. Cejudo is wide open and creates a lot of motion with solid low level attacks. Velikov on the other hand is more reserved and a strong hand fighter with a good high crotch and front headlock. Anticipate some good flurries and counter attacks by Velikov in this bout. If Cejudo controls the tempo of the bout, doesn’t make mistakes, and takes Velikov out of position he should win this bout.

In the next round of 16 we have Toarca from Romania who has recently moved down from 60 kg and Gochashvili from Georgia. These two met in the 2^nd Olympic Qualifier in Warsaw in April where Gochashvili won the bout 6-1, 4-0.

Moving to the bottom half of the bracket, we have Dabbaghi from Iran and Fredy Serrano from Colombia. Dabbaghi was 2^nd in the 2006 Junior Worlds. Serrano actually has a lot of International experience but the best he’s ever done was 2^nd at the 2007 Pan Ams. I see Iran advancing here.

Next we have 2007 World Runner up Bayaraa Naranbaatar from Mongolia and 2007 World Champion Besik Kudukhov of Russia. Their Finals bout at the World Championships was exceptionally close and in fact the Mongolian was winning the second period and messed up with about 3 seconds left and let Kudukhov score with a quick go behind. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOEeUdj_kZo

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The Mongolian later avenged that loss to Kudukhov at the CSKA Cup last December. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lyc6QaIoQAU

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The thing about Kudukhov is that, unlike most of his Russian counterparts, he gets a lot of motion and is always moving forward. Lots of level changing and stutter steps to set up his low level attacks. He is very wide open and because of this tends to get over aggressive at times and gets out of position or makes mistakes.

What I believe happened at CSKA was that the Mongolian let Kudukhov come to him, waited for him to get out of position a bit and attacked him in the zone and scored with a few pushouts.

Look for a wide open bout tonight with Kudukhov coming on top in a close one.

Sezer from Turkey (Bronze, 2008 European Championships) will take on Japan’s World place winner Matsunaga in the next Quarter Final Bout.

Perez from Cuba, who has been at 60 kg, is a last minute fill in for Renee Montero who is said to have defected at a tournament in Spain in July. Perez will be taking on 2008 World Bronze Medalist Rizvan Gadjiev of Belarus.

Finally, 2003 & 2005 World Champ Dishod Manzurov of Uzbekistan will be taking on Zhassulan Mukhtarbekuly of Kazakhstan, 8^th in the Word last year.

Look forward to what will be a rematch from last year's semi final between Kudukhov and Mansurov. Mansurov was clearly injured when they wrestled last year as he simply bailed out on Kudukhov's leg attacks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5_I_tRXFRQ

As I mentioned, Kudukhov has a wide open style. Mansurov is great at controlling the ties and utilizing a two on one to score. Look for a much different bout tonight, with possibly a different outcome.

Semi Final:

Kyong Yang, North Korea v. Henry Cejudo, USA

Dilshod Manzurov, Uzbekistan v. Besik Kudukhov, Russia

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Finals: Yang v. Mansurov

Gold Medal: Dilshod Mansurov, Uzbekistan

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