Nolf rallies past U20 world champ Khaniev 5-5 on criteria
A late takedown flipped a 4-3 deficit into a criteria win over the guy Flo and Jon Kozak both rank second at the weight.
Jason Nolf beat Ismail Khaniev 5-5 on criteria, coming from behind in the final period of a 79 kg freestyle match.
Justin Basch, who had the match on deck after Anatoly Malykhin vs Pouya Rahmani, posted that Khaniev led 4-3 after two periods. FloWrestling reported that Nolf used a late takedown to get the winning score, and both Flo and Jon Kozak listed Khaniev as the number two man at the weight. Khaniev is this year's U20 world champion and Russia's 79 kg world team rep.
That is about as good a scalp as exists at 79 outside of a world final, and Nolf got it by scoring last rather than by controlling the match.
The buildup
Khaniev did the talking first. CHÉ posted a translation of the Russian's pre-match comments, in which Khaniev said he had heard what Nolf was saying and planned to correct it.
The quote, per CHÉ's translation, was that Khaniev would straighten Nolf out and make him say Khaniev is very good in a few days. The result landed the other way.
The reaction
The American wrestling internet enjoyed it. Kozak went with all caps, posting "JASON NOLF BEATS #2 ISMAIL KHANIEV!" Christian Pyles posted "LETS GO! NOLF OVER KHANIEV!!!!!!" and then followed up with "Bingo. CDP's gameplan lol." Kozak's own follow-up was a single "lol."
Bingo. CDP's gameplan lol.
Ben Askren, posting as Funky, called it a huge win for Nolf over a very tough Khaniev.
Nobody in the sources has said what CDP's gameplan actually was, so read Pyles' line for the tone rather than the tactics. The scoreboard detail is the one that matters, a 4-3 hole through two periods and a takedown late enough that criteria decided it.
Our take, a one point criteria win over the reigning U20 world champ and Russia's senior 79 kg rep is the kind of result that reframes how people talk about Nolf at the weight, and the pre-match trash talk only makes the clip travel further.
I've heard Nolf say that im not bad we will straighten him out and make him say im very good in a few days
Jason Nolf used a late takedown to beat Russia’s 79 kg world team rep #2 Ismail Khaniev!