The United States has won the 2022 world cup after beating Iran in the finals, and what a match it was.
Full Match Results:
57kg- Zane Richards (USA) VPO1 Reza Momeni (Iran)
Zane Richards has looks absolutely incredible with his tech over Zandanbud in his first match and now a win here. This looked to just be routine and he took care of business.
61kg- Seth Gross (USA) VSU Ebrahim Elahi (Iran)
Seth Gross scored pretty early and pretty much just dominated this match against one of Iran’s weaker guys. Definitely a big win getting the 10-0 tech here.
65kg- Rahman Amouzad (Iran) VPO1 Yianni Diakomihalis (USA) 5-4
This is one of the matches that a lot of people have been waiting to see after Amouzad downed Yianni 13-8 in the world finals just a couple of months ago. Amouzad proved it was not a fluke and took out the American again to put Iran on the board.
70kg- Alec Pantaleo (USA) VPO1 Amir Yazdani (Iran) 4-3
Pantaleo pulled a massive upset here over the 2021 world silver medalist. This match was not without controversy as Yazdani got a takedown and a turn to go up 5-4 with seconds left on the clock and later having the turn waved off and losing 4-3. Pantaleo adds another big win to his resume.
74kg- Mohmmad Firouzpour (Iran) VPO1 Jason Nolf (USA) 2-1
Massive win here for Iran after dropping a match at 70kg which not many expected to happen. Firouzpour wrestled smart and Nolf was not able to get any offense going and Firourpour would get away with the 2-1 win.
79kg- Ali Savadkouhi (Iran) VPO1 Jordan Burroughs (USA) 6-6
Yeah you read that score right… Ali Savadkouhi has had himself a phenomenal year defeating Zaurbek Sidakov last month and now adding the 2x reigning 79kg World Champion Burroughs to his hitlist.
Savadkouhi would be down 4-0 heading into the second period but mount a spectacular comeback. Burroughs would get a push out along with a caution and one to make it 6-6 but Savdkouhi having criteria, and this is how it would end.
86kg- Zahid Valencia (USA) VPO1 Alireza Karimi (Iran) 5-3
Zahid Valencia without a doubt has been the brightest spot in the USA lineup this weekend showing his dominance over and over again. He gets a big win over Alireza Karimi here and goes 3-0 on the weekend.
92kg- Nate Jackson (USA) VPO1 Amirhossein Firouzpour (Iran) 8-4
Nate Jackson showed up here in a match where he was close to getting taken down a good amount of times. He was able to defend a turn late and turn it into his own leg attack and secure a takedown which would win him this match and give the USA a 5-3 lead forcing Iran to win out.
97kg- Kyle Snyder (USA) VPO1 Kamran Ghasempour (Iran)
This would be Snyder’s biggest test since Sadulaev and this match played out how most thought it would. It was pretty much scoreless in the first period except for Snyder getting the shot clock point.
The second period Snyder picked things up getting two push outs and a takedown to go up 5-0 with his size and pace looking to break Ghasempour down. This is how the match would end with just a smart and dominant performance by Captain America.
125kg- Amirreza Masoumi (Iran) VPO1 Hayden Zillmer (USA) 6-1
This match went pretty much how most thought it would. The 18 year old phenom Masoumi continues his reign of dominance at the senior level with a 6-1 win. The main question a lot of people have is who will start next year for Iran, him or Zare.
Overall-
The pivotal match was at 70kg with Alec Pantaleo getting the challenge to beat Yazdani. Couple big wins for Iran but the USA looked more solid around and that is without Kyle Dake who most likely would have won at 74kg.