Rahmat Sofiyadi v. Nasir Gadjikhanov 1990 World Championships : Speakers & Interviews

We were the best in 1990, we have better athletes now, what is so much different?

Guru, do you have any matches between Barry Davis and Sergei Beloglazov? I have always heard that Beloglazov use to routinely hammer Davis which is hard for me to even imagine as they didn't make them much tougher than the fiercesome former Hawkeye.

Coward, that was a great match, Kolat/Ironside. I remember being there live at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Kolat jumped all over Ironside overwhelming him early with strength and explosiveness. It looked bleak for the smaller Ironside but as he pushed the pace dragging Kolat into the later periods, the muscle packed Kolat began tiring. Ironside attacked that final single leg and rifled to the finish before Kolat had a chance to use his patented double joint knee defense to secure the dramatic comeback win for Ironside. WHAT A MATCH and I was fortunate to be there in person.

I'd love to see a Dave Schultz gold medal match, either one of his wins or his losses.

I would like to see some Cary Kolat international matches if possible. And I know this one isn't an international match but if you have Kolat Ironside match I would love to see it again.

sick match!!!! Gadjikhanov's technique was amazing, but to see Sofiyade come back like that was something else as well.

Leo, that scramble at the end and the way it ended still goes down, in my opinion, as one of the best buzzer beater scrambles in NCAA history as the outcome hung in the balance until the final 2-3 seconds. And I believe Pope, who wrestled at Cal State Bakersfield, was Division 2? Incredible!

Nice head block at 5:21

that was one of the coolest matches i've seen

Gadjikhanov has the same wrestling shoes as JoeFlo's brother. Those are some nice shoes

Craig,

Put up some Greco matches please. Thanks.

craig, your awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij7VLnNW5LU

good match. I agree with your assessment; If the Russian had shown the kind of tough, smart defense Koll did he would have won the final match with no problems. I guess it's true what they say, styles make matches sometimes.

You HAVE to post the Koll vs Sofyadi match that happened earlier in that tournament. Koll ate him up. As mentioned in the commentary on this video, the arcane scoring knocked Koll out even though he beat Sofyadi, because Sofyadi beat a Russian that beat Koll. The Koll match is a great viewing of tough freestyle wrestling....and Sofyadi looked like he couldn't wait for the match to be over.

do you have ncaa final rioc chipperelli vs pope. to me, it is the birth of the modern scramble in college wrestling.

that leg lace defense in the last 30 seconds was sick

Holy cow, that was unbelievable. I can't believe the Russian gave up 5 pts just like that at the end instead of just going to his stomach right away on that shot. Great fiinish by Sofiyadi! Looked like 3+2 was the correct call to me

can you post some kurt angle matches? the only one that has been posted is his gold medal victory

Yeah I have all the matches from 96 Atlanta (-48 kg). Dunno if I put 62 kg on DVD yet. Have to check.

Really? well, if u can post some footage that would be great if not no big deal. also would u have any footage of tom brands against sergei smal from the 96 olympcs? Thanks.

Don't have the 1985 NCAA but I do have the 1988 Trials matches. I'll put one on next week. No problem.

The turn was correct. The issue was whether or not the Soviet exposed his back on the double. Jim Humphrey explains it at the 7:15 mark. Looked close to me. Have no idea why Gadjikhanov turned that way off the double. Sofiyadi snuck an arm turk in there and when he turned that way he slid right into the leg lace. Totally blew it.

BTW Gadjikhanov had a scoreless match with Kenny Monday the following year in Varna. They were both cautioned out. Based upon the points system at the time, Monday had to then pin the Korean, Park, in order to advance to the finals, which he did. Same Korean that beat him 1-0 the next year in Barcelona.

Chris Campbell had a similar situation in Varna as well. He had beaten Khadartsev in an earlier round. The then lost to the Cuban, Limonta, and Khadartsev then teched the Cuban and advanced to the finals where he won his 5th straight World title.

The ultimate match(es) that I'd like to see is when Jim Jordan beat John Smith in the NCAA finals, 1985. Ditto for when Smith subsequently beat Jordan in the Olympic Trials. Are either of these in your vast library?

Thanks for sharing these excellent matches!

Is that the correct call at the end? I don't know freestyle rules too well but since he got his head under did he not pass over his back?

yeah it wasnt' a very good match though.

u happen to have any footage of kelly and tedeev from 2004 craig?

Thanks for posting these videos craig. Thank you as well for the break down of the match and each wrestlers history as well.

This week I am choosing the 74 kg Gold Medal match at the 1990 World Championships between Bulgaria's Rahmat Sofiyadi (AKA Sukra) and Nasir Gadjikhanov of the Soviet Union.

Sofiyadi was the Espoir World Champion in 1985 and had given Dave Schultz a very close match at the 1986 Goodwill Games (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LYj6CXigys). He won a Bronze Medal at the 1988 Olympic Games.

Gadjikhanov was a rising star for the Soviet Union. He was an Espoir World Silver Medalist in 1987 and was already a 2x European Champion at the time of this bout. He had pinned Dave Schultz in a dual meet earlier in the year.

This bout has a lot of action, mainly by Gadjikhanov. This Soviet is very smooth and an excellent technician. Great level changes, flexibility, and a fantastic re-shot.

Sofiyadi was real lanky and had a great high crotch and ankle lace. He was great at getting his hips underneath himself on his high crotches so that he was able to lift his opponent off the mat, sometimes, as seen in this bout directly to his feet to score a 3 pointer.

One point, if you remember from the Sajidov/Romero match I posted a few weeks back is that when Gadjikhanov hit his low single and comes out the back door he immediately posts his free hand on the mat to prevent his opponent from sitting on his head (~1:45 mark). The other is that on the second takedown he goes directly for a turn. The best time to turn your opponent is immediately off of a takedown or immediately when he comes off his back.

Hope you enjoy this one. I don't think I've ever seen a Soviet blow a match quite as big as this one with such a big lead at the time. Just goes to show that you should always wrestle because anything can happen.

One of my all time favorite bouts.