Thursday, May 16, 2019

My Favorite Wrestling Match of 2019

So a lot of you are probably going to be disappointed with this post, because this is likely not the wrestling that you are expecting. Today, I'm not talking Indy Wrestling, I'm talking International Freestyle Wrestling.

A few weeks ago, the Pan-American Championships took place, and the USA dominated, winning all ten freestyle weights. But nobody dominated more than J'Den Cox dominated "The Pride of Paraguay," Diego Ramirez Florentin. Usually you have to use video to show an entire wrestling match. Not this time.

To be fair, J'Den Cox is the #1 guy in the world at 92 kg (about 203 pounds). He's an incredible wrestler and nearly impossible to beat. That being said, it looks like Diego's most wrestling experience was going to the singlet store to have one made. But I love Ramirez Florentin's confidence. He is the aggressor as he takes a step forward before legitimately going for a snatch single. He doesn't come anywhere near completing it, but he at least attempted it. I admire that.

The biggest thing that you avoid in freestyle wrestling is going to your back. There is really no reason to go directly to your back on this low single, but Ramirez Florentin does just that. He tries bridging with his head, but Cox quickly scoops it up. Then he squirms before trying to bridge with his legs, but even before the pin is confirmed, he basically gives up on that too as his right leg flattens out. It was officially a 10-second match, and I absolutely love every second of it. They didn't even have time to change the graphic in the upper left corner to show who was wrestling.

For some reason, I love the aftermath of the match even more.

That look on his face as he stands up with his less-than-chiseled physique. He knew what was going to happen, but he took his beating anyway. His other match lasted only 26 seconds, so it was a quick exit for Paraguay's Proverbial Son.

But if you feel bad for Diego Ramirez Florentin, then the joke is on you. Because this man is still a winner.
That's our boy, who lasted a total of 36 seconds in two matches with a bronze medal around his neck. Yep, there were only three people that entered the weight class. God bless this man.

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