Burroughs Gets Revenge On Bekzod, Team USA In First Place!
It's the final day of the 2017 World Championships in Paris, France. Team USA is aiming to win its first world title since 1995 in Atlanta. Today will feature two Olympic champions in Kyle Snyder and Jordan Burroughs, as well as world bronze James Green and Cadet world champ Zain Retherford. Follow along with our live updates as these four try to navigate a strong field and bring home some hardware.
Finals Matchups
74kg: Jordan Burroughs (USA) vs Khetik Tsabolov (RUS)65kg: Zurabi Iakobishvili (GEO) vs. Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (POL)
70kg: James Green (USA) vs Frank Chamizo (ITA)
97kg: Kyle Snyder (USA) vs Abdulrashid Sadulaev (RUS)
No poet could write this any better. America has put three in the finals: James Green at 70kg, Jordan Burroughs at 74kg and Kyle Snyder at 97kg. USA currently has the lead in the team race by a 52-51 score over Russia, who has a bronze medal match at 65kg and head-to-heads with us at 74 (Khetik Tsabolov) and 97 (Abdulrashid Sadulaev).
The situation is very clear. Our team controls their own destiny. If we win two out of our three matches, America brings home the team title for the first time since 1995. Remember, bronze matches are worth two points and finals are worth one team point.
We'll start with 74kg, so if Burroughs wins we take a 53-51 lead. Then at 65kg, if Russia wins, the score becomes 53-53, with USA leading on most golds criteria. If Burroughs loses and Russia wins bronze, they take the lead outright. If Burroughs wins at 74 and Russia loses bronze at 65, we clinch it.
A Burroughs win coupled with a Russian win sets up a chance for Green to clinch it at 70kg. If he wins, we would seat it based on most champs. If he loses, it comes down to Snyder vs Sadulaev, winner take all.
Check out breakdowns for all of Team USA's matches so far today
You can find today's preview here and a bracket breakdown here. First up for America will be Zain Retherford, the second match on Mat A. Russia is on Mat D right off the bat, let's go Korea. Lee was up 2-1 at the break, trailing 3-2 now. Russia wins 5-2, Gogaev will have Nasiri next. Good one here between MGL and AZE on Mat D. Round of 16 is set at 65kg.
65kg - Zain Retherford vs David Habat, SLO
1st period: Zain in on a low shot, scooting out on his butt. Habat trying to sit the corner, good defense here by Habat. Relentless Zain swings the leg up and gets the takedown. Another low level shot by Zain, basically same position. Trying to come out the back door and Habat tries to go over the top, stalemated. Third shot by Zain, quicker finish this time and back to their feet, 4-0.2nd period: First shot from Habat, sprawl Zain and squared up. Another shot, fought off. Passive against Habat. Zain looking very patient this match. Zain gets around behing, rear standing going toward the edge and WOAH! Big four on the side arch gut to make it 8-0. Takedown Zain, and that'll do it. Tech to get us rolling. He will have former Russian Adam Batirov (BRN) next round, last year's Asian champ.
74kg - Jordan Burroughs vs Ali Shabanau, BLR
1st period: Rematch of the 2013 world semis. Jordan shot off the whistle, great movement and Shabanu finishes on top 2-0. Locked up in the center of the mat, finally started moving again. Burroughs shoots him out, 2-1. Burroughs shoots him out again and is down 2-2 on criteria. Go behind for Shabanau makes it 4-2. BLR continuing to move well and forces a stepout, 5-2.2nd period: Single leg, Burroughs sucks him back in, on the edge and gut from his feet! Should be 4! Looks like it will be an officials review. Meanwhile, the crowd is erupting as France is beating Iran. Only 2 for Burroughs is called. Another stepout and it's 5-5, trailing on criteria one minute. Passive offered against Shabanu as he is on his knees. Old school Burroughs double to take a 7-5 lead. Gritty win for the great Olympic champion.
Rematch of 2015 world finals between Chamizo and Navruzov up now. 4-1 lead early for Chamizo. Round of 16 is set at 74 and they are quickly rolling through 70 as well. Salas vs Sadulaev will be up soon. Rematch of Dogu finals to essentially determine Snyder's semis opponent is won by Alborov (AZE). Underhook throwby Salas to stop a Sad shot. Passive against Salas, going on the clock now. Front head position for Sad, fought off by Salas but gives up the clock point. No shots so far from the Cuban. Possible exposure for Salas, but the Cuban coach didn't throw the brick. Only time passive was offered against Sad it was immediately white paddled.
65kg - Zain Retherford vs Adam Batirov, BRN
1st period: Early exposure for Batirov to make it 2-0. Two minutes in, Batirov doing a good job evading. Zain single rubber kneed by Batirov. Awkward whizzer position and back to their feet. 2-0 going into the break.2nd period: Zain getting to his hard ties, into a double, transition to a single and takedown 2-2 lead. Batirov moves up, grabs Zain's leg, gets the reversal and into a lace, but Zain wrestles through. Zain walked right into that shot, now in a scramble, holding ankles. Stalemated. Elbow control into the Russian firemans and it's 5-2 now with 30 seconds left. Takedown Zain, 10 to go. Batirov circled three times before the ref blew the whistle. Controversy here, Zain gets behind, question is if he got him down before time was out. White paddled. Zain needs Batirov to have the tournament of his life to get pulled back in.
Nasiri/Gogaev on C to determine who wrestles Batirov next. Nasiri with the nice whizzer limp arm on the edge to take a 2-0 lead in the first. Round of 16 set at 97. Iakobishvili (GEO) vs Kaya (TUR) will be the other top half quarter at 65kg. Bottom side will be Azamay Nurykau (BLR) vs Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (POL) and Valdes Tobier (CUB) vs Franklin Gomez (PUR).
74kg - Jordan Burroughs vs Sohsuke Takatnai, JPN
1st period: Passive against Takatani. First takedown, Burroughs can't fight off the single. Burroughs getting looked at for blood or injury, can't tell on the far mat. Lightning quick takedown and Burroughs goes up 2-2 on criteria. Double into a lace and JB is up 6-2 now at the break.2nd period: With the wrap on, go behind attempt into a shot, chasing ankles and gets it but another exposure before they head out of bounds and it's 10-2 now. Closes it out with a 12-2 tech.
70kg - James Green vs Nestor Taffur, COL
1st period: Beautiful clear by Green right into a double and 2-0 lead one minute in. Green shot, chasing ankles and a stepout, 3-0 now. Period ends that way, lot of patience shown by Green.2nd period: Re-shot double by Green halfway to a tech now. Green is so good at finding the right time to shoot, double to the edge, 7-0. Another well timed double into a stepout, 8-0. That'll do it, Green should have Georgia next round.
97kg - Kyle Snyder vs Mamed Ibragimov, KAZ
1st period: Missed half a match watching Burroughs, Snyder up 5-0. Another takedown and 7-0 now. Fast tech for captain America.Quarters will start at 65kg, so we'll know right away if Zain has a shot to get pulled back in for repechage. Passive against Batirov. At the break, Batirov down 1-0 on a shot clock point. Batirov taking the lead on his own shot clock point. Zain is eliminated. Batirov loses 2-1, all three points on the shot clock. Another former Russian loses to a current one.
74kg - Jordan Burroughs vs Zelimkhan Khadjiev, FRA
1st period: This one's on the TV mat. Burroughs sticking with the Gable wrap, Khadjiev trying to keep his hand on the mat. Burroughs looking very strong, lot of edge dancing, but Burroughs gets the stepout. Going to an officials review. Call stands. Khadjiev in on a low single, brings it up. Gets JB hopping toward the edge, Burroughs bellies down and out, Caution+2. Worse than a takedown, 2-1 now. The crowd starts screaming whenever Khadjiev gets to legs. Looks like Khadjiev is getting wrapped too. Burroughs runs through a shot straight away to lead 3-2. Houdini stuff from Burroughs. Khadjiev in on legs, he's in on legs, Burroughs comes out on top 5-2.2nd period: Whistle there as the ref doesn't like the handfighting. Burroughs looking better and better, swaggering back to the center after shooting, getting to rear standing and getting a side arch on the edge. Nice single by Burroughs and he gets the tech. He'll have Bekzod next, revenge time.
70kg - James Green vs Zurabi Erbotsonashvili, GEO
1st period: Top seed Green in the red. GEO has his left knee taped up. Early collar tie, GEO clearly trying to stay on Green's head. Passive Erbotsonashvili. Passive Green now. Georgia holding center but will go on the clock. Green up 1-0 and collar tying now. Both shots by Green have been stopped immediately.2nd period: Green runs through a knee pick on the edge for a stepout and 2-0 lead. Gets Georgia off balance right away again and forces another stepout, 3-0 less than a minute in. Into the final minute now, GEO getes in on a single, picks it up and gets a takedown on the edge. Solid head hands defense right now. Green into the semis. Also, MASSIVE win by Yakup Gor over Kadimagomedov to keep a Russian out of the semis. USA leads 37-35 at the moment.
97kg - Kyle Snyder vs Naoya Akaguma, JPN
1st period: Six seconds in and Snyder gets a stepout. Classic Snyder low single but he's in trouble here. Stalemate and shot into another stepout for Snyder. Can't finish a go behind there. Quick finish now for Snyder, starting to JPN's timing. Low single to takedown, 6-0 and Japan is G-A-S-S-E-D. Dives at legs and forces a stepout. Snyder gets the tech right before the break. Time to root for Odikadze to beat Sadulaev. Also want Chamizo to beat Gor and Iakobishvili to beat Gogaev.Time to root for Iakobishvili (GEO) in red on Mat C. 1-0 Gogaev on a shot clock point. Takedown Gogaev. Stepout Red, 3-1. THE TAKEDOWN AT THE END! AND GEORGIA KEEPS RUSSIA OUT OF THE FINALS!
74kg - Jordan Burroughs vs Bekzod Abdurakhmonov, UZB
1st period: Revenge time from the Olympics. Also rooting for Russia on the other mat, but a stepout for JB in the first minute. Whizzer but Bekzod ultimately goes cross body for the 2-1 lead. JB taking his time getting back to the center. Another single and Burroughs trails 3-1. TUR losing 4-0. Burroughs shoots him out, 3-2. Tsabolov with another takedown, 6-0 in favor of Russia on other mat.2nd period: Burroughs on the double, pulled up but stepout. Tsabolov into the finals for Russia. Shot, re-shot, knee pounds and two! 5-3 lead! Under a minute. Trying to control the wrist, and stepout! 6-3 lead. Late Caution+2 but JB is back in the finals and maintains our team lead over Russia.
70kg - James Green vs Yuhi Fujinami, JPN
1st period: Also rooting for Chamizo on Mat C, Fujinami with the go behind and 2-0. Green answers quickly to go up on criteria. Green is so quick, great timing on the go behind, 4-2 lead for USA. Green fights off the slideby. Chamizo trails 1-0 on a shot clock point. These two both have excellent hips, great scrap here at the break.2nd period: Chamizo with a 2-1 lead now, Green has been in deep on legs a number of times, but Fujinami always fights out. Japan digging an underhook, Green trying to fight off the edge. Japan challenging the call of stepout, wanted a takedown. Chamizo up 5-1 now. Chamizo wins and keeps Russia out of Repechage! Challenge lost, 5-3 green. AND GREEN IS IN THE FINALS! Big set of semis for Green.
97kg - Kyle Snyder vs Alsanbek Alborov, AZE
1st period: Revenge time for Snyder. Quick single and up 2-0. Scorless in Saddulaev/Ketoev. Nice double by Snyder to go up 4-0. Stepout Snyder and shot clock Sad. Snyder smells blood, another stepout makes it 6-0. And another stepout, Alborov is fading. Takedown Alborov 7-2, Sad up 1-0 at the break.2nd period: Sad up 2-0, Snyder still up 7-2. Nice single, 9-2 now Snyder. Sadulaev wins 2-0. And that's it. It's really happening. Snyder vs Sadulaev, last match of the night. America puts 3 in the finals and leads heading into repechage.
USA leads Russia 52-51 heading into tonight's medal matches. America controls their own destiny. If we win two of our three finals tonight, we'll get to see our boys take home the team title.