What a great time to be an American wrestling fan. We’re on top of the world and we haven’t even assembled our best team. This year should be the first time we see the perennial 74kg logjam thinned out, which on paper is Jordan Burroughs at 74kg, Kyle Dake at 79kg, and David Taylor at 86kg. 

Here’s the thing though, Final X isn’t going to be contested on paper and there are a few people that may have an objection to the USA’s lineup being a foregone conclusion. Namely, three-time NCAA champion Alex Dieringer. 

Dake and Dieringer have met up three times. Dake has gotten his hand raised each time, but the margin of victory has gotten smaller each time. The last time the two met was in the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament finals and Dake won 2-1. There is a good chance that we see Dake vs. Ringer Part 4 at the U.S. Open final this weekend in Las Vegas (although guys like Zahid Valencia might object to that as a foregone conclusion). 

Watch the 2018 U.S. Open LIVE on FloWrestling

When: April 25-28 | Where: Las Vegas, NV

Dake’s Left Elbow

Ringer put on a near-arm far-leg clinic at the Bill Farrell Invite last month, using the technique to score feet-to-danger takedowns and to trap an arm when he only scored two on the first exchange. 

The problem that Ringer has run into with Dake is that every time that he gets close to him Dake pulls his left elbow back up into his body, making it near impossible for Ringer to get the inside control that he needs to hit that dump. 

Check out the GIF below and watch how Dieringer tries to get to Dake’s elbow. Dake then pulls it back, and when he does, Dieringer chases after it. When Dieringer realizes he’s not going to be able to get the inside control that he wants, he peels away from the tie-up and starts fresh. If Ringer wants to score he will probably have to find a way to get to that left elbow or switch to different attack.

Dake Is A Puzzle That Ringer Is Starting To Solve

The first time that Dake and Ringer met was at the Paris Open in January 2017. It didn't go well for Ringer. He got blanked 10-0 and he looked baffled the entire time. The next time was in the 2017 U.S. Open semifinals, a 3-0 win for Dake in which the only points scored were step-outs and shot-clock points. The third time they met—in last year's WTT finals—was much more compelling. 

The only takedown was scored in the first 30 seconds of the bout, but here's what I find interesting: Dake scored off a Ringer ankle pick when his head and shoulder slipped too far to the outside of Dake's legs. Dake sat on the corner and collected a fairly easy win. 

So, why is that so interesting? I'm glad you asked. First off, in the previous two matches, Ringer didn't come close enough to Dake's legs to see what color shoes he was wearing, not to mention the fact that Dieringer primarily shoots a left-handed single leg and a left-handed fireman's carry/dump. 

The fact that he took a right-handed ankle pick shows that he is adapting. With about 1:15 left in the first period, Ringer fired off a lefty high crotch and it took Dake's freakishly heavy hips to ward off the takedown—that is major progress. With minor adjustments and more reps, those two attempts could turn into scores. 

Confidence Is Key 

I'm pretty certain that Kyle Dake has known (not thought, known) that he is one of the best in the world since 2013. Whether that is fact or opinion is irrelevant. 

I'm also sure, without having spoken to Dake about this, that he truly believes that this is his year. That type of confidence is difficult to beat. That type of confidence combined with Dake's athletic gifts, well that's darn near impossible to overcome.