Final X is set to go down on June 19 in Newark, New Jersey, and will feature the country’s best wrestlers with world team spots on the line. One of the most intriguing matchups of the night will be a continuation of the rivalry between Zahid Valencia and Kyle Dake at 86 kg. Check out the article below to see a full breakdown, with a prediction, for this matchup at Final X.
Key Credentials
Zahid Valencia
- 2025 World champion
- 2023 World bronze medalist
- 2X NCAA champion
- Current #8 86 kg in the world
- Current P4P #15 in the World
Kyle Dake
- 4X World champion
- 2X Olympic bronze medalist
- 4X NCAA champion
- Current #5 86 kg in the world
- Current P4P #17 in the world
Match History
2025 Final X Match 2 - Zahid Valencia dec. Kyle Dake,
2025 Final X Match 1 - Zahid Valencia dec. Kyle Dake Dake, 5-3
2025 US Open - Zahid Valencia dec. Kyle Dake, 8-4
2018 Final X Match 2 - Kyle Dake dec. Zahid Valencia, 4-3
2018 Final X Match 1 - Kyle Dake dec. Zahid Valencia, 4-0
Breaking Down The Matchup
As you can tell from the results, Zahid Valencia has made significant improvements in the past couple of years. He’s gone from 0-2 against Kyle Dake to 3-2 with three-straight wins. Last year, after defeating Dake in two straight matches at Final X, Valencia went on one of the most dominant World Championship runs of all time, outscoring his opponents 49-0. However, since the World Championships, Dake has arguably wrestled better. Valencia is 9-2 with losses to Parker Keckeisen and Vladimer Gamkrelidze. Dake is 10-2 with a win over Parker Keckeisen and losses to Ibragim Kadiev and Arsenii Dzhioev. This is why Dake is currently ranked #5 in the world at 86 kg, while Valencia has fallen to #8.
Does that mean Dake is once again the odds-on favorite to win this series? I’m not so sure. As opposed to Kyle Dake, who is the epitome of consistency, Valencia has always been a guy who will have down performances and take head-scratching losses, but perform his best when it matters most.
Let’s look at how the two have scored their points in their five previous matches.
How Zahid Valencia Scores On Kyle Dake
How Kyle Dake Scores On Zahid Valencia
Takedown Breakdown
Valencia - high crotch, snap go-behind, duck under, ankle pick
Dake - single leg, snap go-behind
Watch The Scoring Highlights From All Five Matches Between Zahid Valencia and Kyle Dake
Who Wins At Final X?
Zahid Valencia's year since the World Championships doesn't make this prediction easy, but IMO the best version of Valencia is better than the best version of Dake in 2026, and I think we get the best version of Zahid Valencia on Friday. Valencia has a phenomenal style to defeat Dake. He can match his strength, power, athleticism, and wrestling IQ. He can score offensively in a variety of ways - if you look at the scoring breakdown above, he has never used the same technique twice to take down Dake. However, I actually believe it is his defensive improvements that have really helped him get the edge on Dake. In their last three matches, Dake has gone from scoring 4 points to 3 to 1. While I'm not denying that there is a real possibility of it happening, we're going to have to see Kyle Dake turn back the clock to get his hand raised twice at Final X on Friday.