Competed in a cage with several alternative rules in play, the matches were not easily identifiable as freestyle or Greco-Roman. In one match a key gut wrench was halted and in others the fence played a major factor in delegating points. No rule set is perfect, but these felt out of place and reminiscent of the free market push in 2013 to see overtime added to the Olympics (where criteria has been a clear benefit to the pace of matches).
The event was also hosted by Chael Sonnen, who spoke … and spoke … and spoke … and spoke some more. Never that interesting and almost always professing something either untrue or ill informed. But, oh well, that's Chael.
(I did like the camera work at the event.)
Unfortunately, the night featured something that was more than a mild irritant -- a fixed match. While I understand the urge for athletes to bring positive light to their chosen style, the idea that athletes would pre-arrange maneuvers runs counter to everything the sport is meant to represent. If you would like to make pre-arranged lateral drops there is always space for you in the regional circuits of professional wrestling.
These types of matches had so far avoided the temptation to promote through fixed fights, but that ended with Wrestling Underground. Will the promotion do it again? Will fans care? It's unclear, but for the future of the sport and the authenticity it's meant to represent in modern culture I'd ask that our national team members and others avoid stooping to that level.
Greco-Roman can be fun. It doesn't have to be make believe. To showcase it in that way is, to me, runs antithetical to the promotional goals the athletes had in fixing the match in the first place.
To your questions …
Cael Sanderson battles Russia's Albert Saritov at the 2011 World Championships (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Q: How many Americans do you think could beat Cael in a match right now if Cael was given one month notice to prepare?
-- @VNCAAs via @OldestandGreatest
Foley: Half a dozen?
Cael is 41 years old! That is not the age group that should be taking on J'den Cox, Kyle Snyder, Kyven Gadson, and others (to say nothing of the heavyweights). If you figure he lost twice in 2011 and TEN YEARS have passed since, then you have to acknowledge that there is some young blood in the wings that can push Cael for six minutes, score points, and come out with a victory.
Also, you figure the 74-kilogram and 86-kilogram crew could also take a few wins off of Cael. For one, Jordan Burroughs, for two Kyle Dake. They could easily score and shut down a match.
Q: What do you think of the NLWC event on Sept. 19? Seems like some good matchups.
-- Mike C.
Foley: Agreed! Let's hope the matches aren't fixed.
I'm excited to see Bo Nickal wrestle in another main event. I know that he has his eyes set on MMA, but he can be a dangerous competitor and has always displayed brilliant techniques and mat savvy that is second-to-none. Facing Alex Dieringer is a massive challenge, given the former Cowboy's explosive attacks.
Thomas Gilman and Darian Cruz will be fireworks and it should be interesting to see who gets world bronze medalist Bekzod Abdurakhmanov.
Jane Valencia, who qualified Mexico for the 2021 games at 57 kilograms, will also be taking on Lauren Louive. Valencia is an awesome example of what the right coaching and training environment can mean for a talented and focused wrestler.
Bo Nickal (NLWC) vs. Alex Dieringer (Cliff Keen Wrestling Club)
Kyle Snyder (NLWC) vs. Mike Macchiavello (Wolfpack RTC)
Jason Nolf (NLWC) vs. David McFadden (Pennsylvania RTC)
Zain Retherford (NLWC) vs. Alec Pantaleo (CKWC)
Thomas Gilman (NLWC) vs. Darian Cruz (Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club)
Greg Kerkvliet (NLWC) vs. Youssif Hemida (CKWC)
Nick Nevills (NLWC) vs. Jordan Wood (LVWC)
Jennifer Page (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) vs. Desiree Zavala (Unattached)
Jane Valencia (NLWC) vs. Lauren Louive (Hawkeye Wrestling Club)
MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME
The greatest!
Cool conversation
Do it.
Champions find a way to win.🚀🇦🇿😱 pic.twitter.com/ztlujPvth2
�" United World Wrestling (@wrestling) September 2, 2020
Q: What's the status of Daton Fix? Is he eligible to wrestle in college and/or compete for the Olympic team?
-- Mike C.
Foley: Unclear at the moment, but I think we can expect to see him again in the coming weeks and months.
Q: I know the Senior, Junior and U23 World Championships are still on the UWW calendar for 2020. When will the final determination be made on these events?
-- Mike C.
Foley: The United World Wrestling Bureau is meeting in the next few weeks to determine the future of these events. For now, they are still on the schedule and with judo announcing recently that they are intending to complete their calendar starting in late October I'm guessing that cancellations of these events held later in the year could be delayed.
The real issue is testing and ease of travel. If rapid tests are more readily available and are made available to the athletes, staff, and team leaders then its plausible tournaments could proceed. You'd have to undertake measures to ensure that the spread at the events were contained, but that is much more achievable given what we now know about how the virus is spread.
I can't tell you what is going to happen, but the leadership of many European leaders in containing the virus could lead to sports coming back sooner in that part of the world. I can't say the same for the United States or Brazil who are facing uncontained outbreaks with more than 1000 people dying each day.
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