Jump to content
  • Can Arujau Beat the Odds? Wrestling’s Past Spells Trouble in Fargo!

    Predicting the Arujau vs. Forrest Wrestle-Off: A Historical Analysis
    On July 14, 2025, in Fargo, North Dakota, world champion Vito Arujau faces high school phenom Jax Forrest in a special wrestle-off for the 61 kg U.S. World Team spot, delayed from June 14 due to Arujau’s injury. To predict the outcome, we analyze six historical special wrestle-offs involving delays, examining who delayed, the results, and their implications for this high-stakes matchup.
    Historical Precedents
    2000: Gutches vs. Burton
    Les Gutches, the 2000 U.S. Nationals champion at 85 kg, delayed his Olympic Team Trials wrestle-off against Charles Burton due to injury. In Fargo, Burton won 2-1 (4-1, 3-4, 5-0). Burton’s first-match gut wrench and final-match three takedowns exploited Gutches’ rustiness, securing the Olympic berth. The injury-related delay hindered Gutches’ sharpness, favoring the healthier Burton.
    2002: Zadick vs. Bono
    Bill Zadick, the 2002 U.S. Nationals champion at 66 kg, postponed his World Team Trials wrestle-off against Chris Bono due to injury. In Fargo, Bono won 2-1 (2-3, 3-1, 3-2 in overtime). Bono’s consistency in close bouts leveraged his Trials momentum. Zadick’s injury-related delay disrupted his rhythm, allowing Bono to claim the World Team spot.
    2003: Cormier vs. Morrison
    Daniel Cormier delayed his 2003 World Team Trials wrestle-off at 96 kg against Dean Morrison due to the tragic loss of his infant daughter, not injury. In Fargo, Cormier won 2-1 (0-3, pin at 2:58, overtime takedown). His resilience and prior 3-0 win over Morrison at Nationals overcame the delay, making him one of two delaying wrestlers to prevail.
    2006: Gallick vs. Zadick
    Nate Gallick, the 2006 U.S. Nationals champion at 60 kg, delayed his World Team Trials wrestle-off against Mike Zadick due to a foot injury. In Colorado Springs, Zadick swept 2-0 (0-1, 1-0, 4-2; 1-0, 0-1, 3-0). In match one, Zadick’s late double-leg takedown for three points clinched the win. In match two, Zadick’s chest wrap for exposure after a ball draw secured victory. Gallick’s injury-related delay and rustiness handed Zadick, a 2006 World silver medalist, the World Team spot.
    2015: Marable vs. Green
    Nick Marable, the 2015 U.S. Open champion at 70 kg, made a request to delay his World Team Trials wrestle-off due to a reported head injury while he was at the World Team Trials and just about to weigh in! The appeal for delay was initially denied and then after an arbitrator got involved it was granted. The two were set to wrestle in Fargo in 2015. James Green swept the Fargo series 2-0 (4-0, 2-1). Green’s pushout, passivity point, and double-leg takedown in match one, plus a counter-takedown from a quad pod in match two, outshone Marable’s rustiness, earning him the World Team spot and a 2015 World bronze.
    2019: Dake vs. Dieringer
    Kyle Dake, the 2018 World Champion at 79 kg, delayed his Final X wrestle-off against Alex Dieringer due to injury, rescheduling to August 17 in Round Rock, Texas. Dake swept 2-0 (3-2, 4-1), overcoming an early passivity point with step-outs and tactical acumen. His experience made him the only wrestler to win a special wrestle-off after an injury-related delay.
    Arujau vs. Forrest: The Matchup
    Vito Arujau, a 2023 World Champion and 2024 bronze medalist, brings incredible speed and a win in the 2024 World Team Trials Challenge tournament of which Forrest was in the field. His injury-related delay, however, mirrors the struggles of Gutches, Zadick, Gallick, and Marable. Jax Forrest, a high school senior and 2025 U.S. Open champion, dominated with a 19-8 technical fall over Seth Gross. His aggressive style aligns with the momentum of Burton, Bono, Zadick, and Green.
    Why Delays Often Fail
    Injury-related delays often lead to losses due to disrupted training and rustiness, as seen with Gutches’ shutout, Zadick’s close defeat, Gallick’s late-match collapses, and Marable’s tactical errors. Cormier’s 2003 non-injury win and Dake’s 2019 injury-related success, driven by elite experience, are exceptions. Dake’s ability to overcome injury suggests a rare path for success.
    The Prediction
    Four of six special wrestle-offs favored the non-delaying wrestler, with injury-related delays (2000, 2002, 2006, 2015) consistently leading to losses due to lost momentum. Cormier’s 2003 non-injury win and Dake’s 2019 injury-related victory show that exceptional resilience or experience can prevail, but injury delays tilt heavily against the delaying wrestler. Arujau’s pedigree gives him a chance to emulate Dake, but Forrest’s health, youth, and aggressive style mirror the profiles of Burton, Bono, Zadick, and Green. History predicts a Forrest victory, likely 2-1 in a tactical series, unless Arujau’s recovery and technical mastery prove decisive.

    2025 U23 World Team Set in All Three Styles

    The 2025 U23 World Team is set! On Wednesday afternoon, USA Wrestling announced the rosters for each of the three styles and they are star-studded to say the least. The U23 team is different from others as the national tournament doesn’t necessarily determine the representatives at each weight. If a wrestler makes the Senior National Team and qualifies via the age requirement, then they have the right of first refusal for the spot. The men’s freestyle team, for example, has six wrestlers that participated in the main event at Final X. 
    The U23 World Championships will take place October 20-26th in Novi Sad, Serbia. 
     
    Men’s Freestyle
    57 kg - Luke Lilledahl
    61 kg - Jax Forrest
    65 kg - Marcus Blaze
    70 kg - PJ Duke
    74 kg - Mitchell Mesenbrink
    79 kg - Levi Haines
    86 kg - Rocco Welsh
    92 kg - Josh Barr
    97 kg - Garavous Kouekabakilaho
    125 kg - Daniel Herrera
     
    Women’s Freestyle
    50 kg - Audrey Jimenez
    53 kg - Brianna Gonzalez
    55 kg - Cristelle Rodriguez
    57 kg - Cecilia Williams
    59 kg - Alexis Janiak
    62 kg - Adaugo Nwachukwu
    65 kg - Isabella Mir
    68 kg - Kennedy Blades
    72 kg - Jasmine Robinson
    76 kg - Kylie Welker
     
    Greco-Roman
    55 kg - Jayden Raney
    60 kg - Max Black
    63 kg - Kaden Ercanbrack
    67 kg - Otto Black
    72 kg - Aliasandr Kikiniou
    77 kg - Aydin Rix McElhinney
    82 kg - Beka Melelashvili
    87 kg - Payton Jacobson
    97 kg - Max Ramberg
    130 kg - Aden Attao

    Earl Smith -

    Read more...

    Hodge Trophy Winner and UFC Star Nickal Signs with RAF

    Real American Freestyle (RAF) announced a huge signing today as they made an announcement on social media that UFC star Bo Nickal had signed with the organization. Earlier today, Nickal was on Ariel Helwani’s show and stated that he would be fighting on RAF’s inaugural card on August 30th. As of now, an opponent has not been named. In the interview, he did mention potential matches with 2025 World Team representative Trent Hidlay or 2024 national champion Parker Keckeisen. 
    Nickal has a professional MMA record of 7-1 and is 4-1 in UFC events not including two wins on Dana White’s Contender Series. In his most recent outing, Nickal suffered a loss via TKO to Dutch fighter Reinier de Ridder. 
    Before getting into the cage, Nickal put together a remarkable career at Penn State. He was a four-time national finalist and three-time NCAA champion. Nickal also captured three Big Ten titles.
    As a senior, Nickal was named the Hodge Trophy recipient after going 30-0 with 18 falls. Nickal finished his collegiate career on a 68-match winning streak. 
    Penn State won national titles in each of Nickal’s four years as a starter. In 2018, he clinched the team title with his fall over Ohio State’s national champion Myles Martin. 
    On the freestyle scene, Nickal captured a U23 world championship in 2019. Nickal also made the finals of the 2020(1) Olympic Team Trials but fell to fellow Penn State grad, David Taylor, the eventual gold medalist. 
    We’ll keep you posted once an opponent for Nickal has been named or any other RAF updates. 
    With Nickal’s addition, the RAF roster now looks like this: 
    Ben Askren
    Beau Bartlett
    Kennedy Blades
    Aaron Brooks
    Darrion Caldwell
    David Carr
    Kyle Dake
    Austin Gomez
    James Green
    Seth Gross
    Wyatt Hendrickson
    Zeltzin Hernandez
    Sarah Hildebrandt
    Trent Hidlay
    Parker Keckeisen
    Will Lewan
    Bo Nickal
    Austin O'Connor
    Lance Palmer
    Matt Ramos
    Alejandra Rivera
    Nathan Tomasello
    Zahid Valencia
    Evan Wick
    Real Woods
    Hayden Zillmer
     
    The matches announced thus far for RAF’s first event on August 30th are:
    Real Woods vs. Darrion Caldwell (145 lbs) Austin Gomez vs. Lance Palmer (155 lbs) Sarah Hildebrandt vs. Zeltzin Hernandez Guerra (120 lbs) Kennedy Blades vs. Alejandra Rivera Arriaga (150 lbs) James Green vs. Austin O'Connor (155 lbs) Aaron Brooks vs. Hayden Zillmer (UNL)

    Earl Smith -

    Read more...
    • Can Arujau Beat the Odds? Wrestling’s Past Spells Trouble in Fargo!

      Can Arujau Beat the Odds? Wrestling’s Past Spells Trouble in Fargo!

    • 2025 U23 World Team Set in All Three Styles

      2025 U23 World Team Set in All Three Styles

    • Hodge Trophy Winner and UFC Star Nickal Signs with RAF

      Hodge Trophy Winner and UFC Star Nickal Signs with RAF

×
×
  • Create New...