2016 UWW World Cup

Best World Cup Match-Ups By Round

Best World Cup Match-Ups By Round

America has been spoiled when it comes to premier Senior World events. We had the World Cup last May, the Senior World Championships last fall, and now the

Jun 10, 2016 by Willie Saylor
Best World Cup Match-Ups By Round
America has been spoiled when it comes to premier Senior World events. We had the World Cup last May, the Senior World Championships last fall, and now the Top 8 teams return to LA for another World Cup.

Action starts Saturday afternoon with pool rounds and culminates with a World Cup Team Champion on Sunday evening.

It can be viewed live and in its entirety on FLO PRO.

We ran out our preview with team breakdowns and predictions earlier in the week.

Dan Lobdell identified the 'Most Important' U.S. match-ups of the Cup.

But here's a cheatsheet of sorts, a guide to keep you dialed in to the can't miss bouts per round.

Best Individual Matches By Round

Saturday, June 11
Session I
3:30 p.m. - Mongolia vs. Turkey; United States vs. India


MGL vs. TUR:

#6 Bekhbayar Erdenebat vs. #17 Suleyman Atli
Erdenbat is highly exciting and is the returning World Bronze medalist. Atli is a relative newcomer, winning a JR World title in 2013 and the Dogu this year.

#4 Unurbat Purevjav vs. #8 Soner Demirtas
Purejav is the man Jordan Burroughs beat in World finals last year. Demirtas has never fared well at World Championships but has been hot this year, winning Euro's and taking 3rd at both Dogu and Medved.

4:45 p.m. – Russia vs. Georgia; Iran vs. Azerbaijan

RUS vs. GEO:

This entire dual will be great. There's an outside shot for the GEO upset. GEO is really good at every weight. But RUS is just, well, better, everywhere except for heavyweight. Circle this dual. It's a must watch.

#9 Gadzhimurad Rashidov vs. #1 Vladimir Khinchegashvili
Rashidov could very well be the Russian rep for Rio. Khinchegashvili is a two-time world finalist and the OLY Silver in 2012. This match will be fire.

#2 Shamil Kudiiamagomedov vs. #5 Sandro Aminashvili
Kudiiamagomedov is ranked 2nd in the world. Unfortunately, he's also ranked 2nd in Russia behind the unparalleled Abdulrashid Sadulaev. But this guy is super good - European Champ this year good. Aminashvili was Bronze in Vegas.

#3 Abdusalam Gadisov vs. #5 Elizbar Odikadze
Two Top 5 guys in the world. This is a rematch of the Vegas semifinal won by Gadisov.

IRI vs. AZE:

Typically this dual would be an event worth the price of admission for itself. Unfortunately, AZE didn't send their best full line-up.

#6 Alireza Karimi vs. #17 Alexander Khatiev
Karimi is a prodigy. Junior World Champ in 2014 then Senior World Bronze in Vegas. Khatiev also wrestled in the Bronze medal match in Vegas but lost to Aminashvili.


Session II
6:00 p.m. – Turkey vs. Georgia; Azerbaijan vs. United States

TUR vs. GEO:

#8 Soner Demirtas vs. #14 Yakob Makarashvili
Two of the medalists from this year's Euro's. Demirtas the Champ and Makarashvili the Bronze.

#4 Selim Yasar vs. #5 Sandro Aminishvili
Yasar was the World Runner-up to Sadulaev in Vegas. Aminashvili was Bronze, beating Jake Herbert in R2 and losing only to Yasar the next round.

AZE vs. USA:

Although AZE didn't bring all their front-line guys, every match will be tough for the USA.

#12 Gadzhimurad Omarov vs. #5 James Green
When James is on, and at 70kg, he's a world force. Omarov earned his ranking in the last six months by placing top three at Alrosa Cup, Euro U23's, Dogu, and Golden Grand Prix.

#17 Alexander Khatiev vs. J'Den Cox
A strong test for Cox as he takes on Khatiev, who reached a medal match at Vegas Worlds.

7:15 p.m. – Russia vs. Mongolia; India vs. Iran

RUS vs. MGL

Another fantastic dual in its entirety. On the team scoreboard, RUS could earn a lopsided win. But the individual matches will be tight.

#9 Gadzhimurad Rashidov vs. #6 Bekhbayar Erdenebat
Possible Olympian vs. Returning World Bronze.

#3 Khetik Tsabolov vs. #4 Unurbat Purevjav
2014 World Champ at 70 (Tsabolov) vs. 2015 World Silver (to Burroughs at 74).


Sunday, June 12
Session III
10:30 a.m. – Georgia vs. Mongolia, Azerbaijan vs. India

GEO vs. MGL:

In the preview, this was my pick for best dual of pool play. 15 of the 16 starters are ranked in the world. Every match will be great and the dual could come down to the wire where GEO holds the hammer in Geno Petriashvili.

#1 Vladimir Khinchegashvili vs. #6 Bekhbayar Erdenebat
Rematch of Vegas World semi won by Khinchegashvili.

#10 Zurab Iakobishvili vs. #15 Mandakhnaran Ganzorig
Ganzorig has reached the Bronze Medal match at Worlds the last three years.

12 p.m. – Turkey vs. Russia, United States vs. Iran

TUR vs. RUS:

#8 Soner Demirtas vs. #3 Khetik Tsabolov
This year's Euro Champ (Demirtas) vs.  the 2014 World Champ at 70kg (Tsabolov)

#4 Selim Yasar vs. #2 Shamil Kudiiamagomedov
Top 5 Match-Up speaks for itself. It's great to see just how good Kudiiamgomedov is, considering he doesn't get a crack at Worlds as he's behind Sadulaev.

USA vs. IRI:

C'mon, now. This dual will be insane. It very well could be to determine the pool and the US and Iran fan bases will be the largest and loudest. Every match, especially from an American standpoint, will be of the utmost value and intrigue. It's difficult to pick which bouts are more important than others, but I'll try to keep it concise - 

Dan Dennis vs. #2 Hassan Rahimi
Dennis vs. 2x World Finalist Rahimi who is fighting to be IRI's rep for Rio.

J'Den Cox vs. #6 Alireza Karimi
This could be the most compelling (for the US) match of the event. Cox has already beaten IRI's 10th ranked Mustafajakour at Beat the Streets. Now he gets 2014 Junior World Champ and last year's Senior World Bronze.


1:30 p.m. – 7th place match, 5th place match

Session IV
4:45 p.m. – 3rd place match
6 p.m. – 1st place match
7:15 p.m. – Awards Presentation


Starting Line-Ups

Pool A Russia Georgia Mongolia Turkey
57KG #9 Gadzhimurad Rashidov #1 Vladimir Khinchegashvili #6Bekhbayar Erdenebat #17Suleyman Atli
61KG #5 Imam Adzhiev #16 Beka Lomtadze #11Tuvshintulga Tumenbileg Recep Topai
65KG Ilyas Bekbulatov #10 Zurab Iakobishvili #15Mandakhnaran Ganzorig Servet Coskun
70KG Radik Valiev #7 David Tlashadze Altangerel Dorjtsegmed Selahattin Kilicsallayan
74KG #3 Khetik Tsabolov #14 Yakob Makarashvili #4Unurbat Purevjav #8Soner Demirtas
86KG #2 Shamil Kudiiamagomedov #5 Sandro Aminashvili #9Uitumen Orgodol #4Selim Yasar
97KG # 3Abdusalam Gadisov #5 Elizbar Odikadze #10Khuderbulga Dorjkhand TBD
125KG Muradin Kushkhov #1 Geno Petriashvili #7Chuluunbat Jargalsaikan Yunus Emre Dede

Pool B USA Iran Azerbaijan India
57KG Dan Dennis #2 Hassan Rahimi Makhmud Magomedov Kumar
61KG Tony Ramos #8 Behnam Ehsanpoor Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov Bajrang
65KG Frank Molinaro #4 Sayed Mohammadi Magomed Muslimov Dhankhar
70KG #5 James Green #16 Moustafa Hosseinkhani #12 Gadzhimurad Omarov Vinod
74KG #1 Jordan Burroughs #10 Hassan Yazdanicharati Ashraf Aliyev Rana
86KG J'Den Cox #6 Alireza Karimi #17 Alexander Khatiev Pawan Kumar
97KG #2 Kyle Snyder #14 Abbas Tahan Aslanbek Alborov Satywart Kadian
125KG #13 Tervel Dlagnev #6 Komeil Ghasemi Said Gamidov Hitender