The Olympic previews don't stop as we move on to the final two men's freestyle weights.

Bracket Breakdown For Frank And Snyder


The draws are out for the final day of Olympic wrestling, and both bring tough roads to the finals. However, one is decidedly tougher.

Nothing has come easy to Frank Molinaro this year, and his Olympic bracket is no different. He lands on the top side of an extremely stacked half, starting with Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (POL).

One of the guys involved in the Meldonium controversy earlier this year, Gadzhiev is on a 26-match winning streak since last September. In that time, he won the 70kg Euro title, as well as the Dan Kolov and European qualifier.

Molinaro will absolutely need to use the same gameplan he has been using since February, of not caring about the shot clock and getting four pointers. Cutting down Gadzhiev's leg attacks and dictating the pace will be crucial in the first match of the day.

Follow that up with the reigning Olympic champ in Toghrul Asgarov (AZE), whom we saw come back from five down to beat Molinaro in the Grand Prix of Germany finals last month. Asgarov is not quite the same wrestler he was four years ago, but it is hard to think he won't be in peak form tomorrow.

The key in their first match was that Molinaro's feet stopped moving in the second period, and Asgarov was able to repeatedly push him out.

Should he navigate those buzzsaws, the semifinals holds Frank Chamizo (ITA), the defending world champion and all around best wrestler at this weight. There is perhaps no one else at 65kg with his array of defensive counters and ability to stalemate precarious positions.

On the bottom side, Ramonov has a great shot to make the semis, where he can definitely prove whether or not he is better than Navruzov or Novachkov. Those two gave him fits at worlds last year, with Novachkov losing what many consider to be a controversial match and then Navruzov pinning Ramonov in the semis. Very curious to see if Ramonov has modified his gut wrench at all to prevent getting stepped over.

For world champ Kyle Snyder, a very favorable draw. It is no tougher than his worlds bracket last year and in fact might be easier.

It starts off with Javier Cortina Lacerra (CUB), whom Snyder has beaten several times. Next up is 2011 bronze Albert Saritov, though that bronze came with Russia. Now with Romania, Saritov presents a likely low scoring defensive match that Snyder will need to win with one takedown. Snyder's shot hasn't been quite as crisp lately, so hopefully that has been tightened up in preparation for tomorrow.

Snyder's semi could either be Odikadze (GEO) or the world's hairiest man Georgi Ketoev (ARM). Snyder was very close with Odikadze at the World Cup, so that could be another tight match.

Ketoev had an excellent run from 2007-09, winning a world title, Olympic bronze and making two Euro finals. Snyder will need to avoid the big move, like what cost him the match against Gatsalov.

Down below, Anzor Boltyukaev (RUS) is a mortal lock to make the semis. But down at the very bottom, Khetag Gazyumov (AZE) and Reza Yazdani (IRI) should meet in the round of 16 to decide who gets Boltukeav. We know Gazyumov is very difficult to get leg attacks on and that he has the best leg lace at this weight. As for Yazdani, he's been hurt for so long it's anyone's guess as to what kind of shape he is in for Rio.

In 2013 when Yazdani won his second world title, he beat Gazyumov 4-2 in the finals after the Azeri beat Boltukaev 4-2 in the semis. Three years later though, I think this is Boltukaev's weight to lose.

To the previews!

65kg Preview

The Contenders

#1 Frank Chamizo (ITA) - The defending world champ has the most tools in his shed of anyone at 65
#2 Soslan Ramonov (RUS) - He was one step over away from being a back-to-back finalist
#5 Toghrul Asgarov (AZE) - The reigning 60kg Olympic gold medalist is still the class of the weight

The Dark Horses

#6 Meysam Nasiri (IRI) - Nasiri has been a secret to most of the world, but is finally getting his chance on the big stage.
#11 Alejandro Valdes Tobier (CUB) - The American coaches feel Tobier is one of the most dangerous wrestlers in the field.
#13 Frank Molinaro (USA) - The world has taken note of the  former Nittany Lion star.

The drama surrounding America's entry into the Olympic fold at 65kg was a constant topic of conversation for several weeks earlier this year. Regardless of the circumstances, Frank Molinaro is in the field, and he's facing a tall task ahead of him to win a medal in Rio.

We'll see all three different world champs from this quad, but my favorite is the 60kg Olympic gold medalist from London. Despite taking some losses the past few years, Toghrul Asgarov is still one of the biggest and strongest wrestlers in this weight. In my opinion, he probably has the third highest ceiling of any men's freestyle wrestler in the world.

Asgarov gets in wild scramble with Chamizo at Euro Games:


Things change in an Olympic year, and Azerbaijan has a way of putting their best foot forward every four years. In London, Asgarov shocked the world by manhandling the late Besik Kudukhov. Four years later, there are questions about how much fire is left in his belly, but he hasn't lost any skill. His slideby is the best offensive non-leg attack in the world.

How Molinaro Can Medal

Whatever change happened to Molinaro, he has emerged as a real threat to bring home some hardware. He has put together a formula to win matches that has been remarkably consistent.

The shot clock is something he uses to his advantage, and he is willing to give up a point early rather than take chances and fall in a bigger hole. This is because he usually gets the point back late in the match when his opponent receives a caution-and-one for a hard club to Molinaro's head.

Besides the gratuitous point for getting slugged in the head, Molinaro also developed a penchant for finishing double legs to his opponent's back and picking up four points. This shot is eerily similar to what 2012 gold medalist Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu used in London; Yonemitsu trains with Molinaro at the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club.

But that can't be his only score, as we witnessed when he lost 5-4 after Asgarov got five stepouts against Molinaro in the second period in Germany. We also know that nearly every European in this weight has a hard gut wrench in their back pocket.

We know the 2012 NCAA champion for Penn State doesn't have a very strong par terre game. If Molinaro wants to come back to Happy Valley with something around his neck, he'll need to be able to take all of his opponents down multiple times.

Molinaro comes through in the clutch at World Cup against world silver Mohammadi

Keep Your Eye On...

Polish star Magomedmurad Gadzhiev is 26-0 since last year's world championships. The only "loss" he had this year was reversed, when WADA reinstated him after an alleged violation due to Meldonium. As a usual 70kg guy, Gadzhiev might be the only guy who can match Asgarov in terms of size and strength.

Mustafa Kaya loves to slow down his opponent with a 2-on-1 that he can turn into a leg attack. When Kaya is able to dictate the pace as he did at Euros he can be one of the best in the world. Let's hope the inconsistent Kaya doesn't show up in Rio, as he has been known to take a few google losses in his career.

Kaya gives Chamizo all he can handle


Every country seemed to have multiple guys at this weight who could represent them on August 21st at Arena Carioca 2 when this weight is wrestled. That includes Iran, who will be sending Meysam Nasiri over two-time world medalist Sayed Ahmed Mohammadi. Nasiri had legitimate claims to go to worlds in 2013 and 2014, but was finally able to break through this year when Mohammadi hurt himself. His title in Armenia in late June guaranteed his ticket to Brazil.

The Defending Champ

This weight is virtually impossible to repeat at, no one has done it since Ramazan Sahin of Turkey in 2007-08. Even more rare is a Cuban freestyle champ at the Olympics, which hasn't happened since 2004. Though Chamizo wrestles for Italy, he was born and raised in Cuba, and even won a bronze medal for them in 2010 down at 55kg.

He might be the most complete wrestler in this weight. His repertoire includes both a single and double leg, as well as creative counter and scrambling ability. Part of what makes Chamizo so special is his creativity and that he never stops wrestling. When an opponent gets to his legs, he will drop to a knee and scoop their knee. Once they drop, he will explode up and counter to not only prevent their takedown but score one of his own.

Skill set alone, though, does not guarantee gold. You play with fire enough times and you'll get burnt. Chamizo is going to let someone get to his legs one too many times and lose. That being said, he is too talented not to medal.

Predictions

GOLD: Toghrul Asgarov, Azerbaijan
SILVER: Magomedmurad Gadzhiev, Poland
BRONZE: Frank Chamizo, Italy
BRONZE: Boris Novachkov, Bulgaria
FIFTH: Frank Molinaro, USA
FIFTH: Ikhtiyor Navruzov, Uzbekistan

97KG Preview

Today, I'm previewing the weight I'm most excited about! Let's take a look at 97kg and who will place.

The Contenders

No. 1 Anzor Boltukaev (RUS) - 2013 world bronze, 2016 European champ
No. 3 Khetag Gazyumov (AZE) - two-time Olympic bronze medalist
No. 4 Kyle Snyder (USA) - 2015 Pan-Am and world champion

Boltukaev has been so impressive this year that I'm starting to think he will moonwalk to a gold medal. He dominated his way through Yarygin, the European Championships, and Russian Nationals.

Anyone that big who can do a backflip to get out of a single leg is in the mix. He derives tremendous pressure from his overhook, and is not afraid to use his head for leverage.

To beat Boltukaev, you have to not get taken down. If you end up on the mat, he can transition into a gut wrench or a leg lace and end the match.

Boltukaev in Russian Nationals finals:


The gold standard of 97kg the past two Olympic cycles has been Khetag Gazyumov. While he "only" has one world title, there's a reason he continues to medal year after year.

Boltukaev isn't the only one who can end a match with a leg lace, and Gazyumov takedowns can sometimes end in his opponent bailing to set himself up to better defend the lace.

Gazyumov laces his way into the bronze-medal match:

The Dark Horses

No. 8 Valerii Andriitsev (UKR) - 2014 world bronze and 2012 Olympic silver
No. 10 Reza Yazdani (IRI) - 2011 and 2013 world champ
No. 12 Georgi Ketoev (ARM) - 2007 world champ and 20008 Olympic bronze

Yazani is not a dark horse due to skill level, but he is the second-best wrestler in the weight. That said, he hasn't been healthy since 2013, and injuries ruined his last Olympics as well.

The Leopard of Juybar has the best leg attacks in the bracket, and will handfight his opponents to death. Even though he isn't at 100 percent, he could still medal.

This would be problematic for Valerii Andriitsev. The Ukrainian 97s have traded bronze medals this quad, but we saw him take silver behind Jake Varner in London. If there's one thing you can count on, it's rock-solid performances from Ukrainian upperweights.

Of all the Olympic previews I've written, Ketoev might be the biggest dark horse. The former Russian resurfaced this year in Armenia.

Ketoev was a 2007 world champion and 2008 Olympic bronze medalist for Russia. Last we saw him before this year was the 2013 Ivan Yarygin.

Ketoev goes big at the Olympic qualifier:


One thing most 97s have a difficult time getting is four-pointers, which Ketoev has been able to do in almost all of his matches this year. Though it may not be the same quality of opponent he will see in the Olympics, having fours in your back pocket is crucial to winning criteria matches.

How Kyle Snyder Can Medal

Everything is predicated on his ability to draw passive calls and finish low single leg attacks. To do that, Snyder will need to keep his foot planted in that center circle and commit to his ankle pick.

Last year, we saw Snyder's low single and ankle pick get progressively better from World Team Trials to the Pan-Am Games to the World Championships in Vegas, but they have not been as effective this year.

Good variety of takedowns from Snyder:



Snyder has struggled clearing ties, and often ends up trying to shoot through his opponent's elbows. There also is clearly a scouting report on him, as evidenced by Gazyumov's straight leg stance at the Grand Prix of Germany.

It seems unlikely that Snyder has developed a par terre turn in the past few months, which already leaves him behind the competition. It didn't hurt him last year at worlds, so the hope is Lou Rosselli and the Team USA coaches have corrected any set-up issues Kyle may have with his shot.

Predictions

GOLD: Anzor Boltukaev, Russia
SILVER: Khetag Gazyumov, Azerbaijan
BRONZE: Reza Yazdani, Iran
BRONZE: Kyle Snyder, USA
FIFTH: Georgi Ketoev, Armenia
FIFTH: Valerii Andriitsev, Ukraine