Russian Athlete’s “Impressive” Mind-Games Outmaneuver USA’s Champion Wrestler to Seize 2023 Wrestling World Championship Gold

The Russian and US rivalry is pretty famous throughout the world, but this rivalry has been extended to sports too and even showed up in the wrestling world championship. From the famous Bobby Fischer vs. Boris Spassky and the 1972 Olympic Basketball final Rocky to Balboa vs Ivan Drago, the rivalry between both countries has been one of the key ingredients in the increased efficiency of athletes from both countries.

One of the earliest wrestling rivalries seen on the mats was of Bruce Baumgartner and David Gobejishvili, both winning gold over each other. Now another rivalry has wrestling fans excited.

Zaurbek Sidakov vs Kyle Dake at the World Championship

This modern rivalry between two Olympians is pretty well-known and Sidakov was recently found playing mind games just about ten minutes before their final showdown at the World Wrestling Championship in Belgrade, Serbia. He entered the room minutes before the match was about to start and started warming up right next to Dake, even though there was enough space in the room. He warmed right next to Kyle Dake, trying to make a point – a strong point.

They both went toe-to-toe on the mat in the finals of the World Championship. The hype around the game was real. As the match went ahead, Sidakov wrestled through the challenge to emerge victorious. He won 10-7 over Dake. Despite the mind games and the rivalry, Sidakov appreciated Dake, calling him a worthy opponent.

A matchup in sight for years

Sidakov vs. Dake was something that the wrestling fans had been wishing for for a long time. They were both world champions at the same time in 2018 and 2019. Back then, Dake was wrestling at 79 kgs. Dake moved down to 74 in time for the Tokyo Olympics. He took home the bronze while Sidakov took home the gold.

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They didn’t cross paths at the Olympics, but the seed of rivalry was sown there, with fans hoping for them to match up in the near future. The world wrestling championship in Serbia proved to be the perfect place for their matchup, with both wrestlers living up to the hype. Was it Sidakov’s mind games before the showdown that worked? As a wrestler, he has the technical ability to bring in the wins for the team no matter what and that attitude is also one of the reasons he stands tall at the number 1 spot.

One thing is clear, it is not over. This is one of the most amazing modern-day rivalries in wrestling. Everyone is hooked and is waiting for the moment they are matched up again. Will Sikadov’s mind games work again or will Kyle Dake steal a win? It is something that all the wrestling fans are hoping to look forward to.

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