Shibboleth

Is Messenbrink an odd-on favorite now for the 2025 WC spot at 74? Him or Carr, but Messenbrink more upside internationally, if he fix his defense. Still a significant downgrade for a 74 kg US rep since maybe 15 years. I don't think Messenbrink, or Carr, or anyone else in the picture is anywhere near medal threats for senior level, unfortunately.

Ono said he naturally weighs 62-63 kg. Makes it rough for olympic weights - if they stay the same and if he stays the same weight. 61 KG is perfect weight for him, looks like. Although there's a pretty high chance that Higuchi enters the conversation there as well, within Japan.

I feel sorry for JB. At least Tayor got an exclamation point, a final chord to end this career (though slightly muted). JB didn't. His song is fading out into silence. I find it hard to imagine him motivated for another big tournament (like 2025 Worlds). Running World team trials (no Final X). I don't think so.

Yea we'll see how JB fares this time at 79, but he hasn't lost there that much internationally, except for that one criteria loss to Savadkouhi and that was off-season basically. Marsteller was and is a bad matchup but he adjusted. I agree with most points above and that Magomaev, Kentchadze (for whom, 79 is actually a really great weight), Nohodi, they are all medal favs. I just think JB has that extra touch that these great wrestlers don't.. Even at 36 years old

Jordan Burroughs

Iran is pretty weak in the lighter weights. Nokhodi and Ghasempour probably will get medals below gold. For 61 and 70, I can't expect Momeni and Khalili anywhere near medal bouts. There's probably about 10 wrestlers in each category better than said wrestlers. Nokhodi -- probably the 2nd best wrestler if you just go down the entry list. At 92, it's a bit of a jump ball between the big 3, but I think Ghasempour is maybe half a step behind Taylor and Sadulaev. So it's likely a medal unless all favorites draw the same side. --- Let's say 1 silver, 1 bronze, draw dependent.

Yea I don't think Iran gets Albanian visas this time either. Bullshit call from UWW to allow Albania to host 2 World championships when they have a track record of visa refusal to a core wrestling country. Last year, they stripped Poland and Finland their age level championship because of Russia stuff, and yet Albania keeps doing this.

Hi, so Abdullah Kurbanov (Russian wrestler) was interviewed by an Iranian news agency (link below) where he claims that he relinquished his place for Abdulrashid Sadulaev for the non-olympic worlds in Tirana, Albania next month. I just want to ask some Parsi speakers if this what he actually said. Does he definitively claim that Sadulaev is wrestling in Tirana, or is it just his opinion? https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/2024/09/21/3162315/کوربانوف-یزدانی-بهترین-کشتی-گیر-بود-کامران-تیلور-را-می-برد

Is Alirez out or in? He was not in the pre-seeds list (I assumed he would be somewhere in top 4). But he's still listed as a participant in the USA Wrestling software thing. Anyone know if he's withdrew and why if so?

So there has been a growing chorus of rumors that UWW is planning a weight class revision in all its wrestling styles (freestyle, greco, women). FRL has talked about this in one of their podcasts and they said there is a proposal on UWW table that will be (may be?) ratified after October world champs (for the non olympic classes)? I've heard the same, that the current weight classes are to be used the last time this October. Has anyone heard any details on the proposal? I've heard, from multiple sources that 57 is going to be scrapped and they will move to 60 or 59 as the smallest WC (in MFS) 70 will be an olympic category instead of 65 92 kg category will be scrapped altogether For women, the heaviest weight class will be moving up to 82 or similar, and 72 is also going to be an olympic class, as well as 59. 55 kg category for greco will be no more Curious if you've heard anything. All of this is the word on the street, but we're kind of on the street here on this board right

Mirasola is "out"? So, forfeit or what is happening. He hasnt posted anything of the sort

What is Ben Kueter's weight rn? And Mason Parris', while we're at it? Also I saw Gable Steveson's weight listed at Bills roster as 280. If that is the case, he's bulked considerably. He was I think 255 at 2023 world team trials (last time he ever wrestled). Probably smaller in Tokyo (245? or so?) 280 pounds is over the freestyle limit.

Let me to the second half for you -- from below. It's a bit easier. 125 -- Masoumi techs his way through the tournament. Kueter has a great shot at a medal, but there are a number of wrestlers I think around his level. The Russian. Büyükçıngıl. Dursinov. Maybe that's about it 97 -- Aitmukhan for gold, Babaloo for silver (or bronze if on same side). Karsanov and Nukhaev other medals. Rademacher I think dnp 92 -- Malachdibirov vs Mirasola, I think Mirasola is favored for gold but it's like 55/45. There are no other legitimate contenders here I think. 86 -- Kadiev techs his way through the tournament. Iranian, Barr, Bors, I guess other medals. 79 -- Begenjow, Gogritchiani are good here. + Irani. I've no idea how good Saidulov is. But he's a russian. Ryder I dont have much hope in. dnp

Thanks, I just checked the results. Abakarov is big, he used to wrestle 65 and 61 too at different tournaments. I think Spencer would have an issue with him had they fought at 65. But at 57, he has a shot. As for Okorokov, he is legit, but Zain won't be facing him, because they are both unseeded and there are 8 seeds, and Okorokov isn't getting around any seeded wrestlers, like Tevanyan, Amouzad, Mamedov, Tomor-Ochir, Musukaev, Rivera, Dudaev, and whoever else is there I forgot. Valiev also somehow regressed, he was giving pretty toough matchups to Sidakov, lost 3-2 and to Zhamalov he barely lost, he was a champion of Russia as well. He won't be seeded either and my guess is he'll fall in the 1st round if he faces Dake, Sidakov, Bayramov, Cabolov, Salkazanov, Takatani. Against others he has a shot. Also, Valiev is pretty small and the cut is no issue for him, as opposed to Dake, who is what, way over 80 kilos? Kougioumtsidis is big too, so is Kadimagomedov but he ain't seeded. Bekzod is huge too, if he's selected over Zhamalvo. The rest are relatively on weight. Sidakov is lean, Bayramov is pretty small.

After watching the interview my opinion on Brooks is that he's a great wrestler, but he's a) not a very inteligent person and b) it sounds like he needs to wrestle someone multiple times to get a grip. But he'll probably wrestle Yazdani just one time (if that) given that he said he's moving to 92 for the 3 years to come (2025-27). So, his chances vs Yazdani aren't as good as I thought. Particularly now that we know that Taylor isn't helping him out (shit, after listening to the interview Taylor might even support Yazdani vs Brooks lol). Man, I hope someone supports Brooks for the bouts to come in Paris, whether it's Yazdani, Kurugliev, Naifonov or whoever. Mostly Yazdani though. 86 is pretty weak compared to 65, 74