4x national champion and world silver medalist Yianni Diakomihalis has officially accepted his bid to wrestle at Final X this June. He will face off against the winner of the US Open in a best of 3 to see who gets to represent the USA at the world championships in Belgrade this year.
Diakomihalis picked up a big win over Armenia’s Vazgen Tevanyan at worlds last year avenging a 2021 loss. He would go on a good run getting to the finals but that was shut down by the young phenom Rahman Amouzad of Iran.
For the time being Diakomihalis is somewhere around 3-5 in the world depending on the status of a few guys competing. He took another loss to Amouzad at the world cup and Tulga Tumur-Ochir as well. This will be a big year for Yianni if he makes the world team as he will be able to wrestle a most likely full 65kg field.
Some of the names that potentially end up being challengers for Diakomihalis are Evan Henderson who Yianni wrestled last year at Final X, and Joey McKenna who Yianni wrestled in the world team trials finals in 2021.
Some people that could potential have a break out run would be Anthony Ashnault, Luke Pletcher, and Nick Lee if he enters the Open.
