Sajid Sajidov v. Yoel Romero 2005 Ali Aliev Tournament

Wrong. The hardest worker is a practice thing. You practice hard to win matches, but the winner in a wrestling match should NEVER be who worked harder in the match. Unless he is the better wrestler. It should be who is the best wrestler. Period. If you are a wrestler and are afraid of a guy taking you down and then protecting the lead, then TAKE HIM DOWN first. If I take a guy down a time or two to get the lead, then why would I attempt to do stupid things and risk losing. This isn't a triathlon. The beauty of wrestling is that it is for everybody, not just guys and girls with enormous conditioning. Every other sport rewards the guy or team that gets the lead. I have seen way too many matches where the better wrestler was punished for this. Wrestling sometimes is not action-packed. Leverage and positioning dictate the sport. That is why we lose internationally: we go all out, like we are used to in college, and the russians tend to pick apart or zealousness.

Thank You Craig! Also, I would like to know if there is a way to amass more of these videos. I have a pretty good collection as well, but like anyone else would like more footage of the russians. One of my favorites in my collection is the entire barcelona triplecast. Greco and Free

Unreal positioning by Sajidov, Romero steps right into his shots.

gotta love them mat washers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnQARaedf-o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UouIUbHK0co

graet macth

great match

a lot of intricacies and battles going on, this match was awesome, thanks Craig for posting plus with such in depth description

protecting his lead is a BS way of looking at it... freestyle is going the wrong direction, the person who works the hardest and smartest should be rewarded

it's just you. lol. there was a lot of action in this bout and Sajidov was protecting his lead at the end.

ummm is it just me or is free style just about who stall the best

Have Sajidov and Saitiev ever competed at the soviet nationals or any tournaments. They both are unbelievable. Sajidov looks so strong. He looks like one of Fedor's buddies or something.

Are there ever any women in the crowd in Russia? It seems the only women in the building were there to clean the mats. What's up with that?

Thanks for posting...
Great match!

That was a great match.

Welcome to this week's installment of my own Match of the Week.

This week I am choosing the 84 kg Final at the 2005 Ali Aliev Tournament between 2003 & 2006 World Champion Sajid Sajidov of Russia and 1999 World Champion Yoel Romero of Cuba.
Why I chose this match:
Well for one it's a great match. Here we see a contrast in styles as Romero is extremely athletic and wide open while Sajidov is very conservative and methodical and rarely does he get himself out of position. Because of this we see some great scrambles, mostly off Romero's attacks.
What to look for:
Sajidov's re-shot. Because he stays in good position, Sajidov is able to attack when Romero comes up after his initial attack. This is attempted at the 1:13 mark and is successful at the 1:22 and 2:36 mark.
Good scrambles/flurries. At the 3:58 and 4:25 mark. Also at the 4:25 mark Sajidov attempts his patented overhook/pass-by thingie (I don't have a name for it) as Romero attempts a knee block from an underhook. I've been working on this thing for a long time and still can't figure it out. Sajidov must be a magician or something.
Notice that as soon as Sajidov hits his low single, he posts straight with his opposite hand (1:22, 2:36, and 6:09). I'm trying to get my wrestlers to do this instead of staying on their elbows. Posting your arm right away prevents your opponent from putting his weight on your head and allows you to come out the back door or another finish, depending upon what your opponent gives you.
Sportsmanship. Romero is a true gentleman. Class act. Even when he was pinned by Saitiev in the 2000 Olympic finals and after his controversial loss to Saitiev in 2002, he was gracious.
These guys have wrestled a few times and it was always a great bout.
Until next week,
Craig