Jordan Burroughs wins gold again on final day of men’s freestyle at 2013 Worlds

Jordan Burroughs ended any speculation about his health status and won five more international matches — extending his winning streak to 65 straight wins — and defeated Iran’s Ezzatollah Akbarizarinkolaei, 4-0, to claim his second World Championship in men’s freestyle at 163 pounds today (Sept. 18) in Budapest, Hungary.

Burroughs, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist, only led 1-0 after one period before he added a second pushout and a takedown (at the 5:21 mark) to add a second World title to his resume.

Burroughs, who kissed the mat after his victory, was rumored to be injured prir to the start of the 2013 Worlds, but did not show any physical problems, except for a bloody lip, during his five matches at the Papp Laszlo Sports Arena.

Burroughs broke his ankle Aug. 22, had surgery the next day and said he didn’t resume live wrestling until arriving in Budapest less than a week ago.

“The doctor put five screws in my left ankle,” Burroughs said. “I’m like Iron Man now. I was running sprints at the OTC and tried to jump off the wall to stop my momentum and snapped it. The doctor made it extra stable for me to be able to compete. He said he could do the type of surgery that would guarantee I would be able to compete. I was on crutches and I couldn’t walk for a couple weeks. I rode the bike and lifted and stayed in great shape when I couldn’t wrestle. I have only wrestled live once in the last four weeks and that was here.”

He won his first four bouts by technical fall, including a disqualification over Ali Shabanov (Belarus) for slapping Burroughs face.

This gold medal match concluded the men’s freestyle portion of the week-long World Championships with the U.S. team leaving Budapest with just one medal, the fewest by an American freestyle team since 2010 when the U.S. was shutout in Moscow.

Women’s freestyle, which also began today with two weight classes, will continue through Friday, when Greco-Roman begins. The 2013 Worlds will end this Sunday.

2013 FILA World Championships

Sept. 18 • Budapest, Hungary

Men’s Freestyle • U.S. Highlights

74 kg/163 lbs. – Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids), Gold Medalist
1^st round — won by TF over Gamid Dzhalilov (Tajikistan), 9-2

Burroughs actually gave up a double leg takedown to his opponent and was nearly taken down again when he turned a tripod into a move of his own for a fourth takedown that ended the bout in the first period.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-TH0w-yVig&feature=player_detailpage&list=PLDo9M4UVhQm5rGCkikCZ_xOQb9v01Epef
2^nd round — won by TF over Narasingh Yadav (India), 7-0

Burroughs did not score until two minutes was gone in the bout when a double also turned into an exposure point off a leglace. Then after beginning the second period with a 4-0 lead, Burroughs used a similar double and leglace to end the bout early in the second frame.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=dYSMpRwgf20&list=PLDo9M4UVhQm5rGCkikCZ_xOQb9v01Epef
Quarterfinal — won by TF over Yabrail Hasanov (Azerbaijan), 7-0

Burroughs was leading just 1-0 — off a pushout at the 1:55 mark after Burroughs was put on a shotclock — before he exploded for a pair of double leg takedowns and then a counter spin-around for the final points in about that lasted 5:06.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&list=PLDo9M4UVhQm5rGCkikCZ_xOQb9v01Epef&v=t_wThunxVz8
Semifinal — won by disqualification over Ali Shabanov (Belarus)

In a very physical match, Shabanov was penalized a third and final time for slapping Burroughs in the face at the 5:19 mark and Burroughs leading 6-1. Shabanov actually led 1-0 midway through the first period when Burroughs was unable to score after officials put him in a 30-second shot clock. Burroughs battled back to score a double with about 15 seconds before intermission. Once in the second period, Shabanov was twice penalized with a caution-and-one before a Burroughs double off a scramble gave the American a 6-1 lead.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLDo9M4UVhQm5rGCkikCZ_xOQb9v01Epef&feature=player_detailpage&v=s2unH7hpUco

http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLDo9M4UVhQm5rGCkikCZ_xOQb9v01Epef&feature=player_detailpage&v=oO6sxXOlV40

Gold Medal — defeated Ezzatollah Akbarizarinkolaei (Iran), 4-0

Burroughs’ first point came off a pushout with 2:09 gone — after he was put in a 30-second “shot” clock — and then added a second pushout (4:48) and finally a takedown off a counter at 5:21 to clinch his 65^th straight international win, second World title to go along with his 2012 Olympic gold medal.

Other Medal Matches

Bronze — Ali Shabanov (Belarus) defeated Narasingh Yadav (India),

Bronze — Rashid Kurbanov (Uzebekistan) won by TF over Jakob Makarashvili (Georgia), 11-4