The Genius

If Reza loses to Snyder it will be because his timing/sharpness isn't there because of age and injury. In 2019 Asian Championships final he came back from 4-1 down after 4 minutes to win 7-4 and didn't look gassed at all. Granted there were a few breaks and much lower opposition. Such a shame he didn't get the Olympic Gold he deserved, 2012 because of an injury then 2016 because of blatant corruption. Now he's older and Sad/Snyder are very strong, but he should get at least a Bronze in 2020 if he stays injury free. First things first lets see how he does at worlds next month, he looked good and didn't gas against Shabani (who is also quite a high pressure wrestler with good conditioning) so I still think he can beat Snyder. I'll be here to eat my words if I'm proven wrong!

Shabani won't be Iran's rep at 97kg at worlds, that will be Reza Yazdani. Yazdani beat Shabani 5-3 in trials a few weeks ago. Shabani is only just breaking out onto the scene and is improving every time. I agree he'll be formidable in a year or two, but for now Reza Yazdani is our guy and I think he can beat Snyder.

What about Ebrahimi at 92kg and Mehran Nasiri at 65kg (is this same or different guy to Meisam Nasiri? I am a bit confused)? And Akbari for 74kg? The lower weights are a disaster but I feel a bit better about Teymouri after his Yosar Dogu performances. Yazdani should get gold. Karimi beats everyone apart from Cox so that's a silver/bronze. Reza Yazdani should get bronze but I'm very excited to see him against the top 2. Hadi same as Reza. Shame about Yakheshi.

Shabani lost 2-1 to Snyder in the final, he takes Silver. Snyder got a very early TD then Shabani got a push out (just about) at the start of the second period. Rest of the match there was little offence from Shabani, but he showed really good defence throughout (after the first 10 seconds). Snyder is really on form and Shabani is only 21, he can be proud. Have Snyder and R. Yazdani wrestled before?

I'm not in the US but you can probably watch it using a European VPN (try Windscribe for 10GB free per month)

Deng was only runner up because of the draw (Geno Taha and Hadi all on the same half of the bracket!), Hadi beat Deng 7-0 a few months before that at the asian champs

Mohebi was manhandled on two separate occasions and lucky not to get pinned near the end, very little offence. Very disappointing. Shabani was fantastic against Alborov. Alborov is 2-2 against Snyder but that doesn't mean anything and I don't think Shabani and Snyder have ever wrestled before but I can't wait to see it.

Yasar Dogu FS update: 79kg: Teymouri won BRONZE after beating Abakarov (AZE) 7-4 in repechage. 97kg: Foroutan lost on criteria 4-4 against Olinyk (HUN) in QF. Shabani beat Alborov 10-0 but then by DQ... Absolutely disgusting performance from Alborov, straight out hit Shabani 2-3 times then attacks him at the end after the match is over. Should be banned. Shabani will wrestle against Snyder for Gold tomorrow. 125kg: Mohebi lost in repechage against Ligeti (HUN) 10-1.

Yasar Dogu FS update: 57kg: Jafarian lost to Kiziltas 4-3 in first round. No repechage (Kiziltas lost next match 10-0). 79kg: Teymouri lost in SF 4-0 to Dieringer (US). Will wrestle against Abakarov (AZE) for Bronze. 97kg: Nothing yet: Foroutan drawn against Olinyk (HUN) in QF. Shabani vs Ruano (ITA) in Qualification. (If Foroutan beats Olinyk he will face Snyder in SF.) 125kg: Mohebi lost in SF 10-0 to Taha (TUR). Will wrestle against Ligeti (HUN) for Bronze.

Thanks, that's disappointing...

What happened to Amir, Dastan and Nasiri - I only see Jafarian on the website of results from today?

Re: Yasar Dogu We have only one guy from 57-70kg? (Jafarian at 57kg who lost in the first round!)

Lawler tapped? lolwut

I felt the exact same way, I was really shook by the brutality of the KO and was worried about Ben. Very glad to hear he seems to be okay, but there's no way that didn't harm him somehow, even if we don't see the effects of it until later on in his life.

Masvidal was able to practice it because he knew Askren would shoot for the double instantly, which he did. Askren has no creativity and doesn't set up his takedowns well at all. I don't want to see him fight again, not sure he'll be the same again after that brutal KO (and he was already heavily flawed and ill-suited to elite MMA)