There’s no bigger match in terms of historical implications than tonight’s semi between Mijain Lopez and Riza Kayaalp at 130kg in Greco Roman competition. 

Catch Me Up - Who Are These Legends?

Cuba’s Mijain Lopez stands at 6’6 and every bit of 130kg (286 pounds). His size is nothing compared to his wrestling resumè.  He is a three-time Olympic Champion (2008, 2012, 2016) who is in pursuit of a historic 4th Olympic Gold.  Only Kaori Icho of Japan has achieved the feat of 4 Olympic titles in wrestling.  Lopez winning here could cement him as the greatest wrestler of all time, a claim Nomad actually made back in 2016!

Lopez has been mostly inactive for the past quad, only entering (and winning) the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games as well as the 2019 Pan American Games.  

His opponent? Turkey’s Riza Kayaalp is an incredible challenge for Lopez.  He is a 4 time UWW World Champion as well as an Olympic Bronze and Silver medalist (both Olympic losses came to Lopez).  Lopez has two losses since 2008, both of them to Kayaalp.

UWW’s seeding procedures and random draw are why this match will take place in the semis.  Kayaalp earned the top seed through his consistent excellence in competition for the UWW ranking series.   Lopez was drawn in as an unseeded competitor due to his inactivity.

Kayaalp started his run towards Lopez with a casual 5-1 win over Knystautas of Lithuania. Two guts in forced par terre in the first period were the difference.   In the second Riza seemed content to hold onto his lead and advance to the quarters.   Kayaalp’s second match resembled his first, early guts then cruise. 

Lopez began his campaign with a 9-0 tech in 1:50.  He used his powerful gut wrench to score 6 of his 9 points. His second match was similar with an 8-0 tech after a few breakfast-removing gut wrenches. 

With both winning, it sets the stage for tonight's historic semi.  While an Olympic gold medal will not be assured with a victory tonight, both will have the chance to remove the biggest impediment to that dream by eliminating their semifinal opponent.