InterMat Staff

It is never too early to look at the upcoming NCAA wrestling season on Matside. On Monday, the Iowa Hawkeyes picked up yet another top-100 commit as Abe Assad announced his intentions. To discuss the Hawkeye's recent momentum, Richard Mann chats with the proprietor the Iowa Wrestling Fan Blog, Todd Conner. Richard and Todd discuss Iowa's recent success on the recruiting trail, the status of Sam Stoll, the impact of transfer Austin DeSanto, Michael Kemmerer potentially moving up to 174 pounds and what the Hawkeyes need to do to contend for a national title. Follow InterMat on Twitter and subscribe to the show @InterMat | Apple Podcasts | iHeartRadio | Google Play Music | Stitcher | Spreaker | RSS

Russian Nationals wrapped up last weekend and fans who watched the online stream were treated to some of the year's best freestyle wrestling. The tournament winners at eight of the ten weights will represent Russia at the 2018 World Championships in Budapest, with wrestlers at 61 kilograms and 65 kilograms entering a tournament next month to decide the final two tickets. Though Russian Nationals boasts incredible depth the starting Russian side wasn't as end-to-end impressive as we saw in 2015 or 2016. In fact, it's reminiscent of their 2017 squad which lost the team title to the United States by only a few points. Either the Russians or regressing or Team USA's growth is raising the bar higher than some Russians can reach. I wrote last week about how much David Taylor has improved over the past year. He's stronger, more creative and just better all-around than anyone he's met all season. It should reassure American wrestling fans that when contrasting Taylor style, pace and ability with that of his Russian counterpart Dauren Kurugliev there is simply no positive comparison to draw for the Dagestani. Overall, Kurugliev lacks any indicators that he could even reach a world final against Taylor, much less be competitive or hold any advantage. Maybe I drank some Taylor family juice mixes, but after watching Kurugliev struggle mightily to get past his finals opponent I fail to see how anyone could reasonably conclude that the Russians are sending a viable threat to Budapest. Maybe Hassan Yazdanicharati is Taylor's only real competition, but even there I'd back Taylor as the heavy favorite. The Russian Nationals also gave us a peek at the 2018 version of a 97-kilogram Abdulrashid Sadualev. I discuss more below, but the two-time world champion and Olympic champion was a lesser version of the Russian Tank that rolled through Las Vegas and Rio. There is still a lot of talent in the Russian lineup, the soft spots were glaring. At 74 kilograms an undersized, out-of-shape Zaurbek Sidakov limped onto the world team after a controversial call gave him the edge over longtime rival Khetik Tsabolov. Sidakov is a bronze medalist at best, but he's not matching the firepower of Jordan Burroughs -- and unless he draws him in the first two rounds, I'm doubtful the duo will match up because Burroughs is the best 74-kilogram wrestler in the world. No question. There are other holes, too. Batyrbek Tsakulov has a win over Kyle Snyder's nemesis Aslanbek Alborov, but is slow and unimaginative on the mat. Heavyweight Anzor Hizriev once again won the starting spot for Russia but is incredibly average by Russian standards. Zaur Uguev is a better than average 57k-kilogram wrestler but failed to place in 2017 and there is no reason to think he'll cruise through the brackets in Budapest. He's a bronze medalist at best. No question this is a softer-than-normal Russian lineup, but there are still five potential world champions, including Sadualev. Whoever comes out at 61 kilograms and 65 kilograms will be the automatic favorite to win Worlds and 79-kilogram starter Akhmed Gadzhimagamedov might be the most impressive wrestler in the world not named Taylor. At 70 kilograms it's impossible to conceive of Magomedrasul Gazimagamedov not making the finals. Here is the full Russian lineup for the 2018 World Championships in Budapest: 57: Zaur Uguev 61: Rashidov/Idrisov 65: Bekbulatov/Chakaev 70: Magomedrasul Gazimagamedov 74: Zaurbek Sidakov 79: Akhmed Gadzhimagamedov 86: Dauren Kurugliev 92: Batyrbek Tsakulov 97: Abdulrashid Sadulaev 125: Anzor Hizriev To your questions … Abdulrashid Sadulaev at the 2017 World Championships (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Q: How did you think Abdulrashid Sadulaev looked at Russian Nationals? Last year he looked like he hadn't grown into 97 kilograms yet. Does he look bigger this year? -- Mike C. Foley: Sadualev cruised in the finals, beating Batciev with little issue. However, he looked tired and slow on the first day of competition. Why is unclear, but he might just be getting used to the weight, or his opponents felt that much worse on the second day than they did on the first day. The growing pains we are seeing from Sadualev right now are the same we saw from David Taylor in 2016 and 2017. All the techniques are there, the conditioning seems to be in place, but there is a lack of sustained strength. Like with Taylor, his performance isn't a reflection of work ethic or talent as it is a body struggling to oxygenate and optimize new muscle tissue. From my vantage point the biggest difference in Sadualev's growth pattern is that he doesn't seem to have the frame to be a fully actualized 97-kilogram wrestler. Whereas Taylor could hang muscles on his then-lanky frame, Sadulaev looks to be growing wider through the chest. That growth is fine, but he's not the same barrel-chested monster that you see with Kyle Snyder, and that might mean he's getting close to topping out on his size and strength. We'll see how he looks in three months, but I think there is a chance he could be in deep water early in the tournament. Everyone wants to see the rematch, but there are hurdles. Also, it's not too soon to remind fans that because Sadualev has not yet competed internationally at 97 kilograms in 2018 and he won't be seeded in the bracket. Like last year both he and Snyder are going to be added through the random draw. That won't happen in 2019, but with each missing the majority of ranking series events their placement will be left to chance. Q: How do you think Pittsburgh will do as a host for the 2019 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships? I've never been to Pittsburgh, but plan on going to NCAAs next March. -- Mike C. Foley: My guess is that the 2019 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships will be the most enjoyable and well-run since the 2016 NCAA Championships in New York City. This is one of America's most passionate wrestling cities and with proximity to so many East Coast fans we are bound to see a passionate, sold-out arena. Also, Pittsburgh is a very fun city for fans to enjoy. The restaurants and bars are welcoming, well-priced and there is a variety of cuisines to try. I'm not sure I'll make the trip, but given the distance (and my already packed schedule) there is a higher likelihood of me making the trek to Pittsburgh than to somewhere in the Midwest. I imagine a lot of East Coast wrestling fans are equally excited about the shorter commute. MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME Sadulaev v. Batciev Kyle Snyder discusses pressure … Artistic recap of the 2018 European Junior Championships Q: It's been a while since you have had anything nice to write about Henry Cejudo. I am thinking Saturday's performance will inspire you give the champ his props. -- Jacob R. Foley: Henry Cejudo is incredibly talented, but he's always needed to work hard in order to have his talents shine. Missing weight as often as he did and backing out of fights (along with rumors of not working hard in practice) led to valid criticism. Today Cejudo is focused and fighting with purpose. I suspect he'll vacate this belt and move up a weight class, but I think that will largely be determined by what the UFC decided to pay him for a bantamweight defense against Demetrious Johnson. It will be much more difficult for him to break into the featherweight ranks with a budding social media rivalry breaking out between Dominick Cruz and T.J. Dillashaw -- a fight that most fans want to see. Cejudo can't rest on any of these his achievements. Fighters who lose the hunger to train and stay disciplined often end up canvassed. The challenge for Cejudo will be to create a new goal that he'll work every day to attain. At most Cejudo has a five-year window with which he can earn top dollar as an MMA fighter, and likely even less. That's not a lot of time, but if he shows up in future fights like he did last weekend he'll ensure himself of larger checks and even more cultural influence. Q: Did Kyle Crutchmer and Logan Storley have amateur MMA fights before going pro? If not, what is your opinion on them jumping straight into the pros? In your opinion, who is the better MMA fighter: Storley or Crutchmer? -- Gregg Y. Foley: Logan Storley did not need time in the amateur ranks and based on his recent performance neither did Kyle Crutchmer. I think that for non-athletes -- especially those who have never competed in combat sports -- a tour through the amateur ranks can help the adjustment period. For these guys they are accustomed to the hard work and are only developing new skills, not adopting to new training techniques or lifestyle as someone coming off the street. Also, it's incredibly difficult to find fights for former collegiate wrestlers. Crutchmer has had this difficulty at the pro level, and even his latest opponent came in a whopping 15 pounds over, arguably to help negate the advantage of Crutchmer's wrestling. Finding fights at the amateur level, especially anything challenging, is near impossible for these wrestling elite graduating to MMA.

Mike Zadick (right) and Derek St. John coaching at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State head wrestling coach Kevin Dresser is re-shaping his Cyclone coaching staff after the dismissal of associate head coach Mike Zadick. "I've decided to go in a different direction with our coaching staff as we continue to re-build the Iowa State program," Dresser said. "There isn't a better guy to teach wrestling technique than Mike, but we had some significant differences of opinion and it is best that we part ways. Mike was given the opportunity to run our practice room and have substantial input on all elements of the program. At the end of the day, however, I'm the leader of this program and our staff has to be aligned and unified." Zadick, a three-time All-American at Iowa and a 2008 U.S. Olympian, worked with Dresser at Virginia Tech (volunteer assistant before a promotion to assistant coach) before coming with him to Iowa State. Dresser, assistant coach Derek St. John and volunteer assistant coach Brent Metcalf will handle Zadick's responsibilities in the short term. Dresser has begun a national search to fill the full-time assistant coaching position. St. John was a NCAA champion in 2013 and a four-time All-American at Iowa. Metcalf won two NCAA Championships and was the 2008 Hodge Trophy winner at Iowa before a distinguished international career. "What's exciting for us going forward is that we've got multiple coaches in our wrestling room with championship backgrounds and a commitment to the Cyclone program," Dresser said. "Derek and I have worked side-by-side for three years and his rapid development as a teacher and developer of young men has impressed me. Brent is one of the most-decorated competitors in recent times. Even as a volunteer assistant last year, his ability to connect with kids and prepare them for competition impacted our room incredibly. Brent is a rising star as a coach and I'm eager to get him even more involved with our current Cyclones during this transition." Iowa State opens the season Nov. 3 by hosting the Cyclone Open.

Tristan MoranTristan Moran announced on Twitter his decision to transfer from Oklahoma State to Wisconsin. Moran, a Stillwater, Okla. native, has compiled a 41-12 record over the past two seasons. He competed at 141 pounds during his first two seasons at Oklahoma State before moving up in weight last season. Moran primarily competed at 149 pounds last season, but moved up late in the season to 157 pounds. He posted a 1-2 record at the Big 12 Championships at 157 pounds. He was a four-time state finalist as a high school wrestler, compiling a record of 85-10. Moran has two seasons of college eligibility remaining.

Andy Hrovat coaching David Habat at the World Championships (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) After a third of a century of involvement in wrestling as a wrestler and coach, Andy Hrovat has announced his retirement. The two-time Ohio high school state champ, three-time NCAA All-American for University of Michigan, and 2008 U.S. Olympic men's freestyle wrestler who then shared his knowledge and experience as a coach, announced his retirement Wednesday on social media and his website. "Today is a very exciting time in my life," Hrovat wrote on his Facebook page. "After much thought I have decided to step away from the sport of wrestling after competing and coaching for the last 33 years. I am exploring options for what I will do next as a career but like everything I have done with wrestling nobody has to question that I will be successful in whatever I choose." Hrovat opened his 1,300-word retirement announcement on his website Wednesday thusly: "Today marks the 10th year anniversary of the opening ceremonies for 2008 Olympic Games. I can still vividly remember walking through the tunnel of the arena surrounded by my wrestling friends and all the other members of Team USA. Entering that arena was just one of the many highlights from my Olympic experience and was the culmination of all my years training. "When the Olympics ended I felt in my heart that there were still things in the sport that I wanted to accomplish. My post-Olympic journey as a wrestler included moving to Colorado Springs to become a resident athlete at the Olympic Training Center, as well as living for a whole year in Vladikavkaz, Russia to learn the Russian training system. My time spent in Russia was the absolute highlight of my wrestling career, when I left, I took with me knowledge and experience no other American has ever had. "In 2011 when I returned home from Russia I decided to retire as an athlete and start my coaching career. I had given everything I had to the sport and in return the sport had given me all that I needed as an athlete, so my decision to retire was a natural one ... " Hrovat then went on to outline his varied career as coach and entrepreneur. Among the highlights: launching his coaching career as an assistant to Zeke Jones and the USA National Team ... then as coach at the Cliff Keen Wrestling Club ... then helped launch Double Leg Ninja custom wrestling apparel distributor for Cliff Keen Athletic with Jake Herbert and Steven Fisher ... then, developing BASE Wrestling with Herbert. Here's how Hrovat closed his retirement announcement: "I want to thank USA Wrestling, the Slovenia Wrestling Federation, the Serbian Wrestling Federation, the Cliff Keen Wrestling Club, the New York Athletic Club, Cliff Keen Athletic and Asics America for supporting me through my career as a coach and allowing me to represent each organization. I want to thank the University of Michigan Wrestling staff for allowing me to run the CKWC and work together to make the Michigan Regional Training one of the best places to train in the country. I want to thank my family for supporting me through my entire wrestling career as an athlete and coach, without their support I would not have been able to do half of what I did. Lastly and most important I want to thank all the athletes that trusted me with their training and development, I hope each of you grew as much out of our relationship as I have." Born in Cleveland in January 1980, Hrovat crafted an impressive on-the-mat career. He wrestled for Greg Urbas at the storied St. Edward High School in suburban Lakewood, where he was a two-time Ohio state wrestling champ. After graduating from St. Ed in 1998, Hrovat enrolled at University of Michigan, where he was a three-time NCAA All-American and four-time Big Ten championships placer. He completed his athletic career for the Wolverines with a 132-29 overall record. Hrovat then focused on freestyle wrestling. Among the highlights: silver medalist at 2007 Pan American Games ... and member of the U.S. team competing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, wrestling at 84 kilograms/185 pounds. Hrovat was ranked in the nation at No. 2 after the 2009 World Team Trials. He retired from wrestling in 2011.

The American Wrestling League has postponed its August 18 show, AWL I The Beginning, "The Greatest Wrestling Show on Earth!", to Nov. 30, 2018. AWL will remain at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. All tickets sold for the August 18, 2018 event will be honored on November 30 or money will be refunded to those who cannot attend on November 30, 2018. Along with the American Wrestling League launching its inaugural event, many of the greatest Iowa wrestlers will be recognized along with the state of Iowa's great fans and supporters of our sport of wrestling over the last 50 years. In addition to recognizing Iowa for all its contributions to wrestling, USA Wrestling and the U.S. Wrestling Foundation will present the Big Checks from the Living the Dream Medal Fund to USA's medalists from the World Championships. Kyle Snyder, David Taylor, Kyle Dake, Logan Stieber, Frank Molinaro, Isaiah Martinez, Alex Dieringer, along with Iowa standout wrestlers, Cory Clark, Brandon Sorensen, Sammy Brooks, Joe Colon, and many more, are slotted for the action-packed event at the U.S. Cellular Center on November 30TH. The AWL will bring publicity to our sport of wrestling and increase the income for wrestlers who work so hard while they build their lives. Every match has a $10,000.00 prize, $2,500.00 for each wrestler to compete, with the winner earning a $5,000.00 prize bonus. These competitions will occur all over the United States and our intention is to eventually lead to a four to ten team league that competes for money and annual championship during a planned season. The American Wrestling League is extremely thankful to all its partners and sponsors who have committed to supporting AWL I The Beginning. The AWL's partners and sponsors include: USA Wrestling, The United States Wrestling Foundation, NWCA, Resilite, ScrapLife, Pure and Clean Sports, TrackWrestling, Takedown Radio, The Hawkeye Wrestling Club, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club and BTSLA. It is time to elevate the great sport of wrestling to a much anticipated professional level and shine a light on the best American wrestlers in the world. Our millions of dedicated fans have been waiting for this moment. Join us in Iowa and watch history being made. Please follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Like us on Facebook. Visit our website for more details. Tickets go on sale Aug. 20 at here. PPV Live Streaming will be provided by Trackwrestling.com.

Do you believe in second chances? If you weren't the winner of last year's "Ride in Style" ticket raffle to support California State University, Bakersfield wrestling, you now have a second chance. The CSU Bakersfield wrestling program announced this week it's having what it's calling its second annual "Ride in Style to Support CSUB wrestling" prize drawing on October 13, 2018. The prize: a 2018 Infiniti QX30. All proceeds will benefit the CSUB wrestling program. You've got to like your chances. Only 1,000 raffle tickets will be sold at just $100 each. There's no limit on the amount of tickets an individual may purchase. What's more, you need not live in Bakersfield -- or California -- to purchase a ticket. This car raffle is open to wrestling supporters anywhere. The winning ticket will be drawn on October 13, 2018. Participants need to be present to win. The winner will be notified immediately. The drawing winner will be responsible for taxes and license and must be 18 years of age. "We are excited to launch our second Ride in Style Drawing," said CSUB head coach Manny Rivera. "The goal again this year is to sell 1,000 tickets. All proceeds will go directly to the CSUB wrestling program. This is a great fundraiser in that one lucky winner gets to take home a nice vehicle. Last year's raffle turned out to be a success and we look forward to an even better drawing this year. A big thank you goes out to our sponsors: Infiniti of Bakersfield, Varner Bros, Triumph M LLC., Supreme Almond of California, Mission Bank, Advanced Network Solutions and the Bland Company." Tickets are available for purchase in a number of ways. They may be purchased in person at the CSUB wrestling office and at the Infiniti of Bakersfield showroom. For wrestling fans wishing to purchase tickets online, click here. To purchase by phone with a credit card -- or for more information -- please call (661) 654-2343. To purchase tickets by mail please print out and return the flyer to: CSUB Wrestling 9001 Stockdale Highway, 8 Gym Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022

Tywan Claxton (Photo/Bellator) Former college wrestler Tywan Claxton has been added to the Bellator 204 main card, the promotion announced this week. Claxton, who earned NCAA Division II All-American honors at King University in Tennessee before transferring to Ohio University where he was a two-time NCAA Division I championships qualifier, will face Cris Williams in a featherweight (145-pound) bout in the first-ever Bellator event in South Dakota, at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls on Friday, Aug. 17. The 25-year-old Claxton is 2-0 in his pro MMA career that began with a "flying knee knockout" at Bellator 186 last November that generated considerable social media buzz ... followed by a TKO at Bellator 194 in February. Williams, 24, brings a 4-1 overall record -- and 1-1 in Bellator action -- to his fight with Claxton, suffering his first career loss, a unanimous decision at the hands of Daniel Carey at Bellator 195 in March. Claxton will join fellow former college mat stars Darrion Caldwell and Logan Storley who were announced for Bellator 204 in late June. Caldwell, current Bellator bantamweight (135-pound) champion with a 12-1-0 record, will move up a weight class to featherweight (145) in a non-title but top-of-the-card bout vs. Noad Lahat who is 12-3-0. Prior to launching his pro MMA career, Caldwell wrestled for North Carolina State, where he won the 149-pound title by upsetting Iowa's Brent Metcalf at the 2009 NCAAs. Storley, a four-time NCAA All-American at University of Minnesota with an 8-0 MMA record, will take on A.J. Matthews, who brings a 9-7-0 mark to the Bellator 204 match.

Lavion Mayes NEW YORK, NY -- Three-time All-American and 2017 NCAA finalist Lavion Mayes and two-time All- American Evan Henderson have joined the New York City Regional Training Center (NYC RTC) as resident athletes, the club announced Tuesday. The two experienced middleweight athletes plan to compete on the senior circuit and train out of Columbia University in New York, as well as the club's satellite training facility in Hoboken, New Jersey. "We are working every day to continue to build something special here at the NYC RTC," Regional Training Center coach and 1996 Olympic Gold medalist Kendall Cross said. "With the support and backing of the Columbia Wrestling family and network of alumni, we have added two senior-level athletes to our roster." "Lavion and Evan are two individuals passionate about the sport of wrestling and are willing to put in the work to make World and Olympic teams," Cross continued, "and I am committed to putting in the work alongside them as a coach. They will compete every day and raise the bar in the Columbia wrestling room, being examples of hard work and dedicated training for those around them." A native of Mascoutah, Illinois, Lavion Mayes wrestled for the University of Missouri, earning All- America honors three times during his career. During his senior campaign, Lavion reached the NCAA Championship match in St. Louis, Missouri to add to his 3rd and 7th place finishes. He is only the fifth wrestler in Mizzou history to earn three All-American honors. Lavion finished his career in Missouri's Top-10 in wins, major decisions and winning percentage. Wrestling in the 149-pound weight class, Mayes was also the 2017 MAC Champion during his senior season for Missouri. Lavion spent the 2017- 18 season coaching at Clarion University. He is expected to wrestle at 70kg for the NYC RTC. "The New York City Regional Training Center provides the opportunities that will allow me to be the best wrestler I can be," Mayes noted. "The international experience and knowledge from Coach Cross and Coach Kalika have already given me the extra confidence to compete with the best of the world. I'm excited to train with World Champion Frank Chamizo, Olympic Champion Helen Maroulis, Nestor Taffur as well as Evan, hoping to raise the ceiling of expectation." Evan Henderson comes to New York City from the Badger RTC at the University of Wisconsin where he was a resident athlete at 65kg. A native of New Florence, Pennsylvania, Henderson wrestled for the Tar Heels of North Carolina and finished on the podium twice, 6th and 4th, to take home All-American status. Additionally, Evan was a 2x ACC conference champion while in Chapel Hill. In 2015 Evan won the University National Championships in addition to taking 2nd place at the Bill Farrell Memorial Invitational. In 2017, he was the Runner-Up at the Dave Schultz Memorial International Tournament before winning the 65kg crown at the Bill Farrell Memorial Invitational in 2018. In his first two years on the senior circuit, Evan has placed at both the U.S. Open (5th, 6th) and the World Team Trials (4th, 4th). "I am incredibly excited to join the NYC RTC and Columbia Wrestling family," Henderson said. "It is a tremendous opportunity for me to expand my wrestling and to be exposed to an elite level of competition. Having Kendall, Valentin, and Chamizo in the room, along with the Columbia coaching staff and student-athletes, is a recipe for success." "And as much as I feel that this training environment will help me personally, I hope to help elevate the wrestlers around me as well. I cannot thank or show enough gratitude to those who have made this opportunity possible." Columbia's New York City Regional Training Center is a USA Wrestling-recognized RTC working in the support and cultivation of Columbia University wrestling student-athletes, as well as the ambitions of senior-level Olympic hopefuls.

SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- The Notre Dame College wrestling team has named Adam Koballa as an assistant coach and promoted Sonny Marchette to Head Assistant Coach. The two have multiple ties to the streamlined success NDC has had in the wrestling world and will look to continue to add to the Falcons championship dynasty. "Our coaches are integral parts of our winning tradition," said head coach Frank Romano. "The top-notch staff members we have had over the years have played key roles in our accomplishments. I am happy to add Adam as a full-fledged assistant coach and see Sonny take over the role of Head Assistant." Adam KoballaKoballa was a student-athlete at Notre Dame during the foundational years of the program and a volunteer coach over the past two seasons. As a National Champion and three-time All-American (2008-10), he brings with him a wealth of experience. Koballa was part of the first National Championship team in 2010 and first joined the coaching staff in 2011 when the team won its second championship. Before returning to the program, he served as the Head Wrestling Coach at Walsh Jesuit High School from 2013-16. Adam is the first Alumni to be added to the coaching staff since Romano began the program in 2006. He also serves as a coach for the Ohio National Freestyle Team. "It feels great to be back doing what I love for a program that I was blessed to help pioneer," Koballa said. "I have a lot of pride in this place and I look forward to assisting in adding to the championship legacy." Sonny MarchetteMarchette will enter his sixth season with the Falcons as he moves to become the top assistant. He has seen success in all steps of his career from his time as stellar high school and college athlete to coaching at every level. Marchette was an essential member of the 2014 and 2017 National Championship teams. "Sonny has been a hands-on coach and part of the backbone of Falcon wrestling over the years," Romano said. "He plays a large role in the psychological mindset of our team and wrestlers." With the new additions to its staff, the Notre Dame wresting team will once again look to land at the top of the NCAA Division II Championships, which will be held in Cleveland, Ohio in March of 2019.

Ed Ruth is 6-0 in his MMA career (Photo/Bellator) Three weeks ago, Ed Ruth learned he would be one of ten fighters named to Bellator MMA's Welterweight Grand Prix. Now the three-time NCAA wrestling champ from Penn State has found out who he will be facing in the first round of the tournament to determine the top welterweight (170-pound) fighter in the Bellator MMA promotion. Ruth's opening-round rival will be Neiman Gracie, fourth-generation member of the legendary Brazilian fight family, at a date to be determined. ESPN.com described Ruth and Gracie as "highly touted prospects." Both men are nearly the same age (Ruth is 27; Gracie, 29), nearly the same height (Ruth is 5'11"; Gracie, 6'0") and with similar flawless records. Ruth, 6-0, has earned five of his wins by KO/TKO, with one by decision ... while Gracie is 8-0, with seven of those wins by submission, and one by decision. Ruth launched his pro career in Nov. 2016; Gracie has been fighting in the pros since Sept. 2013. As announced previously, Bellator's Welterweight Grand Prix will begin with a previously announced rematch between former champions Douglas Lima (29-7) and Andrey Koreshkov (21-2). That bout will take place at Bellator 206 on Sept. 29 at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. In the other opening round bout -- announced just this week -- Paul Daley (40-6) will face Michael Page (13-0) at a date and location to be determined. Also part of the Grand Prix: Bellator's current welterweight champion Rory MacDonald (20-4) will take on Jon Fitch (31-7-1) ... as well as an alternate bout between Lorenz Larkin (19-7) and Yaroslav Amosov (20-0), of Ukraine. Ruth's entire pro MMA career has been with Bellator, having signed with the organization in May 2015. In less than two years, the former Nittany Lion mat star has crafted a perfect record, with the first five fights as a middleweight at 185 pounds. In June, Ruth made his debut as a welterweight at Bellator 201, scoring a second-round stoppage of veteran Andy Murad.

Kentucky Wesleyan College has signed 21 recruits for its brand-new wrestling program, the Owensboro, Ky. school announced this week. The signees represent nine different states. As would be expected, the commonwealth of Kentucky can claim eight wrestlers, with nearby Indiana being home to five future KWC wrestlers. Wrestlers as far away as Georgia, Florida and Washington State -- along with student-athletes from Tennessee, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas -- have also committed to wrestling for the Panthers. "We really tried to recruit a balanced class in terms of age and experience, and felt like we hit the mark in that regard," said KWC head wrestling coach Chris Freije. "The goal is to win at the highest level as soon as we can and do it the right way. For our program, and the goals we have set, it is a four-pronged approach. For us that means finding individuals who have passion for what they're doing, have strong character, high academics, and a big work ethic in all areas of life. We've still got a couple irons in the fire and are working to add a piece or two to the puzzle before the school year starts. Looking at the group we have coming in this year, if we can consistently replicate that, and bring in student-athletes with those qualities we will attain the goals we have set soon." KWC's new mat program, announced in Oct. 2017, will compete in NCAA Division II beginning in the 2018-19 academic year. Founded in 1858, Kentucky Wesleyan College is a private, liberal arts college located in Owensboro in western Kentucky, between Louisville and Evansville, Indiana. KWC has an enrollment of approximately 800 students.

Kaori Icho after winning gold in Rio (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Kaori Icho, the only woman to earn individual gold medals at four Olympics, will be competing at a major wrestling event for the first time since the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, according to multiple media reports. The 34-year-old Japanese sports star is expected to enter the All Japan Women's Open Championships in Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture, on Oct. 13-14, 2018, KyodoNews.com reported Tuesday. Winners of that competition advance to the All Japan Championships in December, which in turn serves as the qualifier for the World Championships in 2019… prelude to the 2020 Olympics to be held in Tokyo. Icho is women's freestyle wrestling's "golden girl." She has won Olympic gold four times -- 2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing, and 2012 London at 63 kilograms/138.6 pounds, and 2016 Rio at 58 kilograms/127.6 pounds. In addition, Icho has claimed ten gold medals at World Championships at 63 kilograms from 2002-2013, and at 58 kilograms at the 2014 and 2015 Worlds. KyodoNews reports that Icho is entertaining the idea of wrestling at a still-lighter weight class than 58 kilograms as she has in recent years. If Icho were to wrestle at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and win gold, she would become the first athlete -- male or female -- to win top prize in individual competition at five separate Olympic Games. She is already the oldest woman to win Olympic gold. As InterMat reported in April, Icho was the subject of harassment by a director of the Japan Wrestling Federation, the Olympic organization governing the sport in Japan. Kazuhito Sakae, development director for the federation, was forced to resign the same day the Japan Wrestling Federation confirmed the accusations, some dating back to January 2018, which Sakae and the organization had denied until now.

WAVERLY, Iowa -- Alex Dolly has been named the top assistant wrestling coach at Wartburg College, head coach Eric Keller announced today. Alex Dolly"I am extremely excited to welcome Alex, Caitlin, and their family to the Wartburg wrestling family," said Keller. "Alex values personal relationships, investing in each student-athlete, and is committed to helping them reach their full potential in every area of their life. "His energy, work ethic, and passion for excellence, as well as his world level experience, makes him the perfect fit for our program," he added. "It is a dream come true to be a part of one of the most prestigious programs in college wrestling," said Dolly. "My family and I are very excited and grateful for this opportunity." Dolly comes to Wartburg from Waterloo West High School where he was the head coach for two seasons. Previously, Dolly was an assistant coach for four seasons at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va. The Monarchs had four All-Americans and 20 national qualifiers in his time with the program. Prior to ODU, Dolly was a volunteer assistant coach at Michigan State for three seasons, where he coached one All-American and 17 national qualifiers. On the world stage, Dolly represented Ireland and competed in three World Championships. He advanced to the quarterfinals at the 2011 FILA World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, and placed ninth in the world. A standout at Northern Iowa, Dolly was a four-time national qualifier and reached the round of 12 three times. The Mishawaka, Ind. native still holds the state's career record takedown record at 548 and was a two-time USA Wrestling National All-American. He graduated from UNI with his bachelor's degree and earned his master's degree in sports administration from Michigan State. Dolly will start his duties at Wartburg on August 6.

Ken Pagach, legendary wrestling coach at Edison High School for three decades, died last week in Florida just prior to his 77th birthday, the Bridgewater (N.J.) Courier News reported Monday. Ken PagachA member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Pagach passed away Tuesday, July 31, less than a month after being diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Pagach, who took the helm of the storied Edison mat program in 1964, coached more than 1,500 wrestlers in 30 seasons, with 33 state championship qualifiers, and two New Jersey individual state champions (Mario Ianni in 1970, and Joe Duhigg in 1989). Pagach led Edison to 230 dual meet victories, nine district titles, 11 second-place district tournament finishes, three Middlesex County championships and three conference crowns. His teams made seven state sectional final appearances and finished runner-up in the county tournament three times. "He was Edison wrestling," said Gerry Nisivoccia, who served as assistant to Pagach until he became head coach upon his former boss' retirement in 1994. Current Edison mat coach Tom White echoed that sentiment on coach Pagach, telling the Courier News, "He's extremely highly thought of. For a guy to put in 30 years nowadays is almost unheard. He was a staple of the program for such a long time." Pagach's reach and impact extended well beyond Middlesex County, home to Edison High. He served as president of the New Jersey Wrestling Coaches Association for two years and vice president of the organization for three years. What's more, Pagach is credited with creating a statewide ranking system that the NJSIAA (New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association) still uses to determine sectional playoff qualifiers. Despite being long considered a fixture on the New Jersey prep wrestling scene, Pagach was actually born in Texas in 1941, then came to the Garden State with his family at age 15. He graduated from Ramsey High School in 1959, received a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Rutgers University in 1964 and completed his Master's in Education at Montclair State University in 1975. Upon retirement from his education career in 1998, Ken Pagach and his wife Diana relocated to Marco Island, Fla. A memorial service in New Jersey is planned for a later date. When he retired from coaching in 1994, Pagach established an annual scholarship for the Edison High School wrestler with the highest GPA. In the past, this scholarship was self-funded by coach Pagach. To continue this tradition, his family has set up a GoFundMe page "to help keep both his memory and the scholarship alive."

It's been the year of the transfer during a wild and wacky college wrestling offseason. A number of wrestlers have changed addresses and it will be interesting to see what kind of an impact it has during the 2018-19 season. The Iowa Hawkeyes, with most of their lineup returning from the team that placed third at the 2018 NCAA tournament, appear to have benefited as much as anyone. Iowa picked up a pair of key transfers in Austin DeSanto and Jason Renteria. Both wrestlers still have three years of eligibility left at the collegiate level. Below is my list of 10 transfers to watch in college wrestling during the upcoming season. Willie Miklus (Photo/Shane Epping) 1. Willie Miklus (Iowa State) A three-time All-American for Missouri, he has transferred to Iowa State to be closer to home. Miklus, from the Des Moines area, excelled for a strong Missouri program that was difficult for him to walk away from. His move to Iowa State provides a huge boost for second-year ISU coach Kevin Dresser and his program. He should be in the national title chase at 197 pounds and he can model the way for younger athletes in the Cyclone room to follow. Austin DeSanto (Photo/Juan Garcia) 2. Austin DeSanto (Iowa) DeSanto looked like a strong contender for high All-American honors as a Drexel freshman after an impressive early season run that included a lopsided victory over eventual NCAA runner-up Stevan Micic of Michigan. DeSanto struggled late in the season and lost his composure during a loss to Micic at the NCAAs. If DeSanto can return to his aggressive, attacking style and wrestle at a high pace, he has a chance to be an outstanding wrestler. He won 30 matches at 133 pounds as a freshman and fell one win short of reaching the All-American podium. He also owns a win over his new teammate, 2018 NCAA champion Spencer Lee, in the Pennsylvania state finals in 2017. DeSanto has a huge upside. He needs to forget about any unsportsmanlike antics and just stick to wrestling hard like he has shown he is capable of doing. 3. Sa'Derian Perry (Old Dominion) Perry became Eastern Michigan's first All-American in 20 years and then he had to change schools when the wrestling program was dropped. Perry made a big impression at the 2018 NCAA tournament at 141 pounds. He knocked off No. 9 seed Josh Alber of Northern Iowa and No. 11 Michael Carr of Illinois en route to placing eighth at the national tournament in Cleveland. He wrestles an entertaining, quick-striking style. He won a career-high 18 matches last season for EMU and has two years of eligibility remaining. 4. Justin Oliver (North Carolina State) The Wolfpack, coming off a historic fourth-place tie with Michigan at NCAAs, received another boost when Oliver transferred from Central Michigan to N.C. State for his final season. Oliver placed seventh at the 2016 national tournament at 149 pounds as a freshman before falling one win short of All-American honors the past two seasons. He is 10-6 in three trips to nationals. He was ranked as high as No. 3 nationally last season and will add a strong veteran presence to a team that already is very good. Zeke Moisey (Photo/WVU Athletics) 5. Zeke Moisey (Nebraska) It wasn't that long ago when Moisey went on a memorable run by stunning virtually everyone to reach the NCAA finals as a West Virginia freshman in 2015. Moisey virtually disappeared after that before resurfacing last season to place eighth at 125 pounds for the Mountaineers. With the departure of Sammie Henson, his coach at West Virginia, Moisey now has a golden opportunity to finish strong as a Cornhusker. Moisey's best success has come when he's been aggressive right off the first whistle and has kept the pressure on his opponents. 6. Sean Russell (Minnesota) The Golden Gophers picked up a key addition when Russell transferred in after spending the past four seasons at Edinboro. Russell has won 97 career matches. He transferred after his coach, Tim Flynn, departed for West Virginia. He placed seventh at the 2017 national meet at 125 pounds for Edinboro. Russell is another proven performer who is expected to make a significant impact during his final collegiate season. Connor Schram (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) 7. Connor Schram (Lehigh) Schram returns to his home state to complete his collegiate career after a successful run at Stanford. Schram placed eighth at 125 pounds at the 2016 NCAA tournament for the Cardinal. He actually defeated Lehigh's Darian Cruz in the second round of NCAAs that season before Cruz won a national title the following year. Schram was granted a sixth year of eligibility after suffering a knee injury at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational this past season. He joins a strong Lehigh program that has returned to prominence. Kanen Storr wrestling Bryce Meredith at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) 8. Kanen Storr (Michigan) Storr started his career at Iowa State and was in the Cyclone lineup this past season before returning to his home state to wrestle for the Wolverines. Storr was 15-7 at 141 pounds for ISU this past season. He joins a Michigan program that won a trophy after finishing in a tie for fourth at the NCAA tournament. He is a gifted young wrestler who could thrive in a strong room where he can train with a two-time All-American in Micic. 9. Jason Renteria (Iowa) Renteria was a top high school prospect coming out of the tradition-rich Oak Park River Forest program in Illinois. He originally committed to Iowa before he signed with the University of Nebraska. Renteria wrestled as a true freshman for the Huskers, placing fifth at Big Tens to qualify for the NCAA meet at 133 pounds. Renteria failed to make weight at NCAAs before announcing in June he was transferring to Iowa, where he will have three years left. With Lee, DeSanto and Renteria around for at least the next three seasons, the Hawkeyes will be set in the lightest weight classes. DeSanto or Renteria likely will have to move to 141 at some point. 10. Gary Wayne Harding (North Carolina) Harding was an NCAA qualifier for Oklahoma State in 2016 and 2017, finishing a combined 2-4 at the national tournament at 133 pounds. Harding wasn't able to crack the loaded Cowboy lineup last year and heads to Chapel Hill for his final collegiate season. Harding can train with two-time World Team member and past NCAA champion Tony Ramos in the Tar Heel room. Craig Sesker has written about wrestling for more than three decades. He's covered three Olympic Games and is a two-time national wrestling writer of the year.

Abe Assad (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) Abe Assad (Glenbard North, Ill.), the nation's No. 35 senior recruit, gave a verbal commitment to the University of Iowa on Monday. He made his announcement on Twitter. Assad, who projects as a collegiate 184-pounder, won a bronze medal at the Cadet World Championships in freestyle this summer in Zagreb, Croatia. He was an undefeated state champion as a junior, finishing the season with a 51-0 record. He originally committed to Army West Point, but decommitted this spring and opened up his recruitment.

How do you get into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma? Sure, you can visit the iconic facility that describes itself as “America's shrine to the sport of wrestling” for a day well spent. However, if you seek a permanent place in the Hall for an individual whose achievements and contributions to the sport are worthy for consideration, now is your time to nominate that individual. The Hall of Fame is now accepting nominations for Distinguished Member, Meritorious Official, Order of Merit, Outstanding American and Medal of Courage for the Class of 2019 to be welcomed into the Hall during Honors Weekend on May 31 and June 1, 2019 in Stillwater. Distinguished Member and Meritorious Official nominations are due Sept. 1 while Order of Merit, Outstanding American and Medal of Courage are due Sept. 15. Nomination forms are available online. Nomination categories Distinguished Members can be a wrestler who has achieved extraordinary success in national and/or international competition; a coach who has demonstrated great leadership in the profession and who has compiled an outstanding record; or a contributor whose long-term activities have substantially enhanced the development and advancement of the sport. Nominees who are 60 years and older are screened by the Veterans Committee. The Outstanding American award recognizes individuals who have used the disciplines of the sport to launch notable careers after concluding their wrestling career. Past recipients have included individuals who have excelled in science, technology, business, industry, government, military, and arts and humanities. The Hall of Fame Executive Committee prioritizes and submits a list of nominees in rank order to the Hall of Fame Executive Director, who contacts nominees in order until one confirms acceptance of award. The Medal of Courage recipient is a wrestler or former wrestler who has overcome what appear to be insurmountable challenges, providing inspiration to others. Nominations are screened by the Hall of Fame Executive Committee and placed on a ballot that is voted on by the Board of Governors. The Order of Merit is presented to an individual that has made a significant contribution to the sport of wrestling, other than success as an athlete or coach. Nominations are submitted by Distinguished Members and placed on a ballot. Distinguished Members voting ballots are submitted to the Hall of Fame for tabulation. The Meritorious Official award recognizes outstanding service as a referee, judge or pairing official. Nominations are screened, placed on a ballot and voted on by the Meritorious Official Selection Committee, which is a combination of honorees and individuals knowledgeable about the sport. Ballots are returned to the Hall of Fame for tabulation. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum was founded as a nonprofit organization in 1976 to honor the sport of wrestling, preserve its history, recognize extraordinary individual achievements, and inspire future generations.

Kent State recently announced the addition of Shawn Scott to its wrestling program as an assistant coach. Scott brings significant Mid-American Conference experience as both a wrestler and a graduate assistant. Shawn Scott"We're very excited to have Shawn in our room," Head Coach Jim Andrassy said. "He's smart and energetic and he'll be able to work with everyone from 174 on up. It should really help out Kyle Conel, our heavyweights and our 184-pounders." Scott helped guide five Eastern Michigan wrestlers to the NCAA Championships this past March, while working with 2018 MAC Coach of the Year David Bolyard. The Eagles finished third at the 2018 MAC Championships, as 184-pounder Kayne MacCallum won EMU's first individual title since 2009. As a four-year starter at Northern Illinois, Scott earned 107 career victories and made appearances in the round of 12 in back-to-back seasons at the NCAA Championships. He claimed four top four finishes at the MAC Championships and made three NCAA appearances. "He actually went 2-1 against Kyle in their career," Andrassy said of Scott's ability on the mat. "He's been in the MAC and understands the good things about our conference and the types of challenges we'll face. We're really looking forward to having a young guy that's able to teach our wrestlers the Kent State way." The staff addition means all three of Kent State's full-time coaches (Andrassy, Scott, Danny Mitcheff) carry success in the MAC and have made NCAA round of 12 appearances. "I want to thank Jim Andrassy and Kent State's athletic department for this great opportunity," Scott said. "The wrestling program is successful and well-respected and I can't wait to be a part of it. Along with Coach Andrassy and his staff, I hope to help student-athletes reach their full potential on and off the mat." The Golden Flashes host Blue and Gold Wrestle Offs on Oct. 25 and open the regular season with the Kent State Duals on Nov. 2.

Henry Cejudo won an Olympic gold medal at the age of 21 and a UFC title at the age of 31 (Left Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com) The first time I met Henry Cejudo I knew right away that he was something special. He was still a teenager who was in his senior year in high school. Like many elite young wrestlers, Cejudo had an abundance of lofty goals and dreams he wanted to achieve on the wrestling mat. He was brash, cocky and not shy about sharing his aspirations. But something about Cejudo, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist who won a UFC world title Saturday night, was different. You could sense there was something very real about his high level of confidence. He also was extremely advanced as a wrestler for someone his age. When I sat down to interview him for the first time in the spring of 2006 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, he immediately caught my attention. He was intelligent, charismatic, articulate and genuine. He also had a great sense of humor with an infectious laugh. When I asked him what his goals were, he looked me straight in the eyes without hesitation and told me exactly what he believed. "I am going to be an Olympic and world champion," he said matter-of-factly. "Those aren't goals -- that's reality. That's what I'm going to do." It wasn't quite the way he envisioned it, but 10 years to the month after his surprising Olympic triumph Cejudo proved his doubters wrong. Again. Henry Cejudo with his Olympic gold medal in 2008 (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com) After knocking off the seemingly unbeatable Demetrious Johnson to win the UFC flyweight title Saturday night in Los Angeles, Cejudo finally had reached his goal of becoming a world champion. He ended Johnson's nearly six-year reign as UFC world champion. Cejudo was overmatched, overpowered and overwhelmed when he met Johnson for the UFC 125-pound title in April 2016. He lacked experience in the Octagon at that point and he was exposed by a highly skilled fighter. Johnson, nicknamed "Mighty Mouse," had been ranked as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world at that time. He was ranked No. 2 behind Daniel Cormier entering Saturday's fight. Cejudo won a split decision over Johnson in a fight that many MMA observers felt could've gone either way. I watched video of the entire fight again Sunday morning and Cejudo looked to me like the clear winner despite badly rolling his ankle in the early moments of the bout. Cejudo controlled the center of the cage throughout the five rounds, and you could make a case that he won every round. He was continually coming forward and was on the offensive while Johnson kept retreating toward the edge of the cage. Cejudo was superb with his strikes and kicks, but it was his wrestling ability that was the difference. He used his slick inside trip maneuver to take Johnson down numerous times and neutralize him. One issue I had with Cejudo in previous bouts was that he relied too much on his boxing and not enough on his best skill, which obviously is wrestling. Cejudo was well-prepared this time and followed his game plan to near-perfection in the rematch. Cejudo appeared to have an edge in size over Johnson and he took advantage of that with his takedowns. Keeping Johnson down on the ground for extended periods was an important strategy and a huge key to his win. And that was no easy task because Johnson also is an excellent wrestler who is very explosive. Watching Cejudo's wrestling technique Saturday takes me back to when he was just 21 and had become the youngest American wrestler to win an Olympic title. Craig Sesker with Henry Cejudo in 2008I worked very closely with Henry from 2006-08 in my role as communications manager at USA Wrestling. He won the U.S. Open just over a month before he graduated from high school in 2006. He made the world team a year later at age 20 in 2007 before landing an Olympic berth in 2008. I was honored when Cejudo and Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke asked for my help when Plaschke wrote the book "American Victory" about Cejudo's run to Olympic gold. I connected Plaschke with people he interviewed for the book and I also served as an editor, researcher and consultant during the year-long process of completing the project. While reading the manuscripts for the book in 2009, I discovered in the final pages that Cejudo said he was retiring from wrestling at age 21. It was a stunning revelation that caught many of us by surprise. But I also was well aware that cutting down to the 121-pound weight class was taking a toll on him. He had tough weight cuts at the 2007 Pan American Games and at the 2008 Olympic Games. Cejudo spent the next three years mostly away from competition before deciding to come back for the 2012 Olympic Trials in Iowa City. He put on a heck of a show before losing to Nick Simmons in the challenge tournament finals before a sellout crowd of 15,000 fans at the Olympic Trials. You could see he still had it, but the lack of training and competition time clearly cost him against a returning world fifth-place finisher in Simmons. Following his setback, Cejudo took off his shoes and tossed them into the stands as fans stood and cheered at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. This time he was done for good. His wrestling career was over. Even with the time away from wrestling, he took the loss hard in 2012. I saw that first-hand when I walked him to the interview room to meet the media after his close loss to Simmons. You could definitely see that he still had the ability to wrestle at a high level. And at that point, maybe he wondered what could have been if he would have continued to wrestle full-time through that Olympic cycle from 2009-12 and beyond. Fortunately for him and his fans, Cejudo found another competitive outlet with his wrestling in mixed martial arts. And he's found a way to cash in financially with the high level of success he has had. His fans can still see him compete at a high level where his wrestling skills have played an integral part in him becoming a UFC world champion. It is not surprising to see wrestlers ruling the Ultimate Fighting Championships once again with Cejudo now on top. Cormier, Cejudo's Olympic teammate in 2008, now holds UFC titles in the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. Cormier was also on the pay-per-view call of the fight Saturday. He offered some great insight as to why wrestling helped Cejudo and why wrestling is such an important component to be successful in mixed martial arts. T.J. Dillashaw, who also wrestled and was an NCAA qualifier for Cal State Fullerton, retained his bantamweight title at 135 pounds by winning the other co-main event Saturday in L.A. Cejudo said immediately after his fight in the first co-main event that he wanted to move up a weight class to fight the winner of the bantamweight bout. A Cejudo-Dillashaw fight would be entertaining to watch. And would no doubt provide him with a lucrative and well-deserved payday. Cejudo likely would be the underdog again, but that would be just fine with him. He wasn't picked to win the 2008 Olympics and he wasn't picked to win a UFC title either. Now he's won both. One thing I've learned is that you never doubt Henry Cejudo. Henry Cejudo wrestling in the 2008 Olympics (Photo/Larry Slater) He's 31 years old now, but he looks like he hasn't lost a step. He's still powerful, explosive and technically sound. And his conditioning is superb. He never slowed down during his win over Johnson. His maturity also was evident with the way he approached the fight and with the adjustments he made tactically and technically in the rematch with Johnson. When I interviewed Cejudo just outside the venue prior to Kyle Snyder's gold medal wrestling match at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he was just coming off his lopsided loss to Johnson. After we finished the interview and were about to part ways, Cejudo called out to me. "I'll be back, Craig, you can count on that," he said, flashing a smile. "Mighty Mouse better be ready for the rematch because I'm going to beat him next time. I promise you that." Cejudo made good on his promise. And did something nobody else has ever done. Win an Olympic gold medal and a UFC championship. Craig Sesker has written about wrestling for more than three decades. He's covered three Olympic Games and is a two-time national wrestling writer of the year.

Bailey Rush, a wrestler at Father Ryan High School, drowned this weekend, the Tennessean reported Sunday. Bailey RushRush, a senior, drowned Friday while with his family, the school reported. "Bailey, who had come to Father Ryan last year as a junior, was a member of the wrestling team, placing 4th in the state, and wrestled for Nashville Catholic Wrestling for years," according to a statement from the school which was sent via email to all students and staff. "He was loved by his coaches and his teammates for his talent and his presence." Prior to enrolling at Father Ryan, Rush had attended Mount Juliet High School. Rush was a member of the Class of 2019 at Father Ryan. Services are scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 9 at Hermitage United Methodist Church, 205 Belinda Drive, Hermitage, Tenn. Visitation starts at 11 a.m. and the service begins at 2 p.m. Founded in 1925, Father Ryan High School is a co-ed Catholic school in Nashville serving grades 9-12. It has an enrollment of approximately 1,000 students.

At UFC 227 at Staples Center in Los Angeles Saturday, former wrestlers came out on top in two top-of-the-card title bouts, as 2008 Olympic freestyle gold medalist Henry Cejudo took the UFC flyweight (125-pound) championship from Demetrious Johnson ... while T.J. Dillashaw held on to his UFC bantamweight (135-pound) belt by scoring a first-round TKO of former champ Cody Garbrandt. Cejudo: Good as gold, again Cejudo, who entered the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado while still in high school in pursuit of eventual gold at the 2008 Beijing Games, claimed the flyweight title with a split decision over the defending champ known as "Mighty Mouse" who was a two-time state placer in high school in Washington State. The judges scored the five-round title bout 48-47, 47-48, and 48-47 for Cejudo. It was a rematch for the two flyweights. Back in April 2016, Johnson had held onto the title at UFC 197 with a first-round TKO over Cejudo ... a title that "Mighty Mouse" had successfully defended 11 times, until Saturday night. "Henry Cejudo did the unthinkable Saturday night in the co-featured bout as he dethroned Demetrious Johnson," Sherdog.com reported. "Cejudo fought tooth and nail with his rival from start to finish and wound up winning the battle via split decision." The Los Angeles Times said that Cejudo -- a 5-1 underdog -- ''relied on the wrestling skill he developed as a more massive Olympic longshot who become a 21-year-old gold medalist at the 2008 Games in Beijing." "Cejudo scored takedowns in each of the final four rounds and relied on his larger frame to shrug off Johnson punches and knees to cap a stirring rise he couldn't help but pause and appreciate." "I was born in South Central L.A. in a two-bedroom apartment 10 miles from here and I came back from being knocked out in the first round" two years ago in a loss to Johnson, Cejudo said. After surrendering the title he had held since 2011, Johnson said, "I kept kicking his legs, but he's a big dude," Johnson said. "I knew he'd bring his 'A' game. He's big and strong." With the win, the 31-year-old Cejudo now has the UFC flyweight title, and a record of 13 wins and 2 losses in his five-year pro MMA career ... while Johnson, also 31, is 27-3-1 in a career that spans 11 years. T.J. Dillashaw Dillashaw stops Garbrandt in first round The current UFC bantamweight champ T.J. Dillashaw, a former Cal State Fullerton wrestler, again stopped the former champ Cody Garbrandt (himself a 2005 Ohio high school state mat champ), this time with a first-round technical knockout -- a quicker conclusion than their last meeting last November -- in a bout slated for five rounds. In what the L.A. Times described as a "toe-to-toe battle," Dillashaw "found openings to wobble and knock down Garbrandt." "Dillashaw continued to apply patient pressure, looking to land a kill shot methodically," according to MMAmania.com. "Any time Dillashaw got close, Garbrandt fired wildly, but Dillashaw continued to find a home for the counter right hook ..." "A hard power punch to the nose staggered Garbrandt again and Dillashaw held the challenger with his left arm while delivering nine unanswered punches," the Times continued. "A kick then set up a finishing combination of punches as referee Herb Dean stopped the fight." After the bout, Dillashaw said of his rival, "I expected him to counter my kicks. So I waited with my right hand. And that's what happened." "I am the best bantamweight of all time," Dillashaw continued. When UFC host Joe Rogan informed him that Cejudo wants to fight next, Dillashaw answered, "Bring it baby, let's do this." With the win, Dillashaw not only holds onto his UFC crown, but improves his record to 16-3, while Garbrandt drops to 11-2.

Wynn Michalak wrestling at the U.S. Open (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com) Wynn Michalak, one of the most accomplished wrestlers in Chippewa history, is one of six individual athletes - along with the 1987 softball team -- named as a member of the Class of 2018 of the Central Michigan Marcy Weston Hall of Fame, the Mount Pleasant, Mich. university has announced. Michalak racked up the achievements on the mat at Central Michigan. The native of Caro, Michigan was a three-time NCAA All-American, making it to the 197-pound finals at the 2008 NCAA Wrestling Championships. Michalak was a four-time Mid-American Conference champion, a three-time MAC Wrestler of the Year, and was named the MAC Freshman Wrestler of the Year in the 2005 when he became the first freshman in program history to earn All-America honors. He twice earned the Chick Sherwood Award as the Chippewas' most valuable wrestler and he helped lead CMU to four MAC regular-season and four MAC tournament titles. He compiled a 128-24 career record with 50 falls and remains among the top 10 in program history in wins, win percentage, pins and consecutive wins. Michalak was also a high achiever in the classroom. In 2007, Michalak earned the inaugural Dick Enberg Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award. In addition, he was a four-time Academic All-MAC selection, a four-time National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic selection, and a Second Team Academic All-American in 2008. Michalak capped off his CMU collegiate career as recipient of an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. In addition to Michalak, other former Chippewa scholar-athletes to be welcomed into the Central Michigan Hall of Fame this fall include gymnast Bethany (Couturier) Cole, softball player Amy (Hudson) Clark, football player Red Keith, track and field/cross country teammates Tristen Perlberg and Jake Flynn, and the 1987 Chippewa softball team. The induction ceremony for the CMU Hall of Fame Class of 2018 is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, at McGuirk Arena. In addition, the honorees will be introduced at halftime of the Chippewas' Oct. 13 football game at Kelly/Shorts Stadium against Ball State.

Services have been announced for Alford Eugene Knight, Jr., longtime high school wrestling coach and teacher in the Oklahoma City Public Schools, who passed away earlier this week at age 71. A memorial service will take place Monday, August 6 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at St. Andrews United Community Methodist Church, 2727 SW 119th Street in Oklahoma City. Born in Oklahoma City in November 1946, Knight was a three-sport star at U.S. Grant High School, where he wrestled, played football and ran track. After graduating, Knight attended the University of Oklahoma on a football scholarship. Knight coached wrestling at Southeast High School from 1973 to 1986 before returning to his high school alma mater where he coached and taught from 1986 to 1998. In a quarter-century career as a high school coach, Knight helped produce 25 regional champions, six state champions, seven all-state wrestlers and two high school All-Americans. He was named All-State Wrestling Coach in 1988. Knight was inducted into the Oklahoma chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Okla. in 2009.

Kyle Crutchmer, NCAA All-American wrestler for Oklahoma State, won his second pro MMA bout of his young career at Xtreme Fight Night 350 at the Paradise Cove Theater at River Spirit Casino Resort in Oklahoma Friday night. Kyle CrutchmerThe former Cowboy submitted Rocky Rosas early in the second round of what was intended to be a welterweight (185-pound) bout. Rosas had failed to make weight, tipping the scales at just over 200 pounds, but Crutchmer agreed to still take the fight. "Rosas put up a bit more of a struggle than most expected," wrote Seth Duckworth of PistolsFiring.com, an unofficial Oklahoma State sports website. "I spoke with Kyle a while back and he explained to me it had been tough for him to find fights. It was cool to see a guy step in and actually go after him in this one. Even though Kyle clearly had the upper hand in the fight, Rosas didn't just lay down. He landed some shots and really went after him." Crutchmer and Rosas exchanged blows early in Round One, but then the Big 12 mat champ took down his opponent and worked towards a submission for the rest of that round. In the second, Rosas came out swinging, but Crutchmer scored a takedown, then locked in a submission to get his second career win. After the bout, Crutchmer said, "I did what I do best, which is go in and wrestle." Crutchmer is now 2-0 in his young pro MMA career, having scored a TKO in less than 90 seconds of the first round against fellow newcomer Ron Beasley at XFL 348 in Miami, Okla. in early June. Rosas, who launched his pro career in March, is now 1-1.