This weekend at the Yasar Dogu International in Istanbul, Jordan BURROUGHS, 2012 Olympic gold medalist and reigning double world champion, suffered defeat for the first time in 69 matches. The superstar succumbed to an unlikely victor in countryman Nicholas MARABLE, ranked only seventh in the United States,and unranked internationally. The two Americans met in the 74 kg quarterfinals, and when the match ended tied at four, MARABLE claimed the by criteria.

Other notable international wrestling stars avoided upsets on their way to tournament championships. Azerbaijan’s stalwart Khetag GAZYUMOV, and Turkey’s prodigious big man Taha AKGUL, both reigning World medalists, each won gold medals at their weights. Another past World medalist, Frank CHAMIZO, previously of Cuba, showed a return to form, beating all opponents while wrestling at a new weight (65 kg) , and for a new country (Italy).

This year’s Yasar Dogu hosted strong delegations from a wide array of powerful wrestling nations. Host Turkey and the USA both claimed a pair of champions, while tough sides from Azerbaijan, Russia and Azerbaijan each yielded one gold medal. Mongolia also served notice of their rising freestyle wrestling proficiency by sending two wrestlers to the finals, and placing one on the top spot of the medal stand.

Men’s Freestyle

57 kg

The gold-medal match between Nomin BATBOLD (MGL) and Fumitaka MORISHITA (JPN) featured a tightly contested first period where the two wrestlers traded takedowns. The second period told a different tale as the Mongolian takes control with a trio of emphatic takedowns and a pair of turns.

Gold: BATBOLD Nomin (MGL) df. MORISHITA Fumitaka (JPN), 12-3

Bronze: TAKAHASHI Yuki (JPN) df. NADYRBEK UULU Samat (KGZ), 11-0

Bronze: AKGUL Sezer (TUR) df. HOCHSTRASSER Andrew (USA),10-1

Semifinal: BATBOLD Nomin (MGL) df. NADYRBEK UULU Samat (KGZ), 10-0

Semifinal: MORISHITA Fumitaka (JPN) vs AKGUL Sezer (TUR), 7-4

61 kg

James KENNEDY (USA) denied Mongolia a chance at a second gold medal, beating Nyam-Ochir ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) in the final, 7-2. The American looked sharp throughout the tournament, and after a tense first period, blew his finals match wide open with six straight points.

Gold: KENNEDY James (USA) df. ENKHSAIKHAN Nyam-Ochir (MGL), 7-2

Bronze: QUVARZATILOV Axmednabi (AZE) df. BORJAKOV Batyr (TKM), 9-5

Bronze:  MUTALIMOV Murshid (RUS) df. TAKATSUKA Noriyuki (JPN), 8-1

Semifinal: KENNEDY James (USA) df. MUTALIMOV Murshid (RUS), 5-0

Semifinal: ENKHSAIKHAN Nyam-Ochir (MGL) df. QUVARZATILOV Axmednabi (AZE), 9-7

65 kg

Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) claims his first gold medal in an Italian singlet with an 8-4 win over Muslumov MAGAMED (AZE). The former Cuban wrestler initiated every scoring situation and was in control for the entire six-minute match.

Gold: CHAMIZO Frank (ITA) df. MAGAMED Muslumov (AZE), 8-4

Bronze: KAYA Mustafa (TUR) df. NOVACHKOV Borislav, 6-2

Bronze: GANZORIG Mandakhnaran (MGL) df. MUSTAFAYEV Agahuseyn (AZE), 4-0

Semifinal: MAGAMED Muslumov (AZE) df. KAYA Mustafa (TUR), 19-11

Semifinal: CHAMIZO Frank (ITA) df. MUSTAFAYEV Agahuseyn (AZE), 10-1

70 kg

In his finals match, Yakup GOR (TUR) showed why chance favors the offensive wrestler. The Turk started the match attacking and never stopped, taking the lead with an immediate takedown. Azizov EMIN (AZE) tied the bout in the second period with a counter to a shot, but GOR’s constant pressure won the day, as he closed the match with a passivity point and push out to seal the gold medal 4-2

Gold: GOR Yakup (TUR) df. EMIN Azizov (AZE), 4-2

Bronze: KUYUCU Mustafa (TUR) df. VOKHIDOV Somirsho (TJK), 12-7

Bronze: YARAHMADI Peyman (IRI) df. ZHOLAYEV Nurgali (KAZ), 5-3

Semifinal: EMIN Azizov (AZE) df. VOKHIDOV Somirsho (TJK), 4-1

Semifinal: GOR Yakup (TUR) df. YARAHMADI Peyman (IRI), 2-2

74 kg

Nicholas MARABLE (USA) capped off what might have been the finest day of his wrestling career with a hard fought victory over Ghaleh Morteza REZAEI. The America avoided a letdown after his huge quarterfinal upset over world No. 1 Jordan BURROUGHS (USA).

Gold: MARABLE Nicholas (USA) df. REZAEI Ghaleh Morteza (IRI) 4-3

Bronze: BURROUGHS Jordan (USA) df. DEMIRCIN Batuhan (TUR) 10-2

Bronze: DEMIRTAS Soner (TUR) df. ERTURK Murat (TUR) 2-0

Semifinal: MARABLE Nicholas (USA) df. DEMIRCIN Batuhan (TUR) 6-4

Semifinal: REZAEI Ghaleh Morteza (IRI) df. DEMIRTAS Soner (TUR) 8-0

86 kg

Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) wastes no time as he dumps opponent Phil KEDDY to his back in the early in their finals match. The Russian never looks back, and cruises to an easy 10-0 technical superiority.

Gold: SADULAEV Abdulrashid (RUS) df. KEDDY Phil (USA), 10-0

Bronze: KARIMIMACHIANI Ali Reza (IRI) df. SUCU Ayhan (TUR), 8-0

Bronze: EBRAHIMIZIVLAEI Mohammad Javad (IRI) df. FOSTER Clayton (USA), 8-5

Semifinal: KEDDY Phil (USA) df. KARIMIMACHIANI Ali Reza (IRI), 7-5

Semifinal: SADULAEV Abdulrashid (RUS) df. FOSTER Clayton (USA), 6-2

97 kg

Past World Champion and FILA’s No. 2 wrestler Khetag GAZYUMOV (AZE) continued his fine form with another tournament victory. In the gold medal finals, the Azerbaijani wrestler proved why he is untouchable to all but the world’s very best, as he beat Ali BONCEOGLU (TUR) 7-4.

Gold: GAZYUMOV Khetag (AZE) df. BONCEOGLU Ali (TUR), 7-4

Bronze: BAKIROV Roman (AZE) df. KOSEOGLU Hamza (TUR), 6-6

Bronze: BOLUKBASI Ibrahim (TUR) df. ERINC Salih (TUR), 4-2

Semifinal: GAZYUMOV Khetag (AZE) df. ERINC Salih (TUR), 10-4

Semifinal: BONCEOGLU Ali (TUR) df. KOSEOGLU Hamza (TUR), 22-10

125 kg

Taha AKGUL (TUR) showed why he is one of the world’s most promising young heavyweights as he beat a tough field to win this tournament. The Turk’s finals opponent, Komeil GHASEMI (IRI), defaulted the gold medal match, denying the crowd of a potentially fantastic matchup.  AKGUL held the No. 3 ranking in the world heading into this tournament, while GHASEMI occupied the No. 10 spot.

Gold: AKGUL Taha (TUR) df. GHASEMI Komeil (IRI) by default, 0-0

Bronze: BRADLEY Dominique (USA) df. KHUGAEV Alan (RUS), 3-1

Bronze: DEDE Yunus Emre (TUR) df. CAKIROGLU Fatih (TUR), 0-0

Semifinal: GHASEMI Komeil (IRI) vs KHUGAEV Alan (RUS), 1-0

Semifinal: AKGUL Taha (TUR) vs OZKARADENIZ Hamza (TUR), 2-0