Kyle Dake vs Frank Chamizo Tech Notes
On July 25th, FloWrestling aims to put on a freestyle card with a variety of matches with some of the most interesting style matchups we’ve seen on a mat. Essentially acting as the “main event” in the mind of many wrestling fans, we see two perennial contenders for the 74kg World and Olympic titles Kyle Dake and Frank Chamizo wrestle, but at 79kg, the weight class Dake has held firmly under his thumb for the past two years. The trash talk in the build up between the two has been in rare form, especially for a spot that breeds humility and keeping your head down. Chamizo has gone on record claiming Dake simply didn’t want to cut to make 74kg, while Dake has cited Chamizo “ducking” him at the Matteo Pellicone. Trash talk aside, this matchup between elite scramblers has a couple positions that will make or break the match for either wrestler. Today we’re looking at the bodylock position, Chamizo’s outside step attacks, and the scrambling abilities of both and how they differ.
The Bodylock
Chamizo, at the beginning of every match, gives off an air of not entirely caring for where he is. He moves loosely, a tad slowly, and overall lazily. It’s all deception. When Chamizo engages in a handfight his pace rapidly accelerates, becoming akin to that of an Iowa wrestler rather than a defensive scrambler produced by the Cuban system. So why does this matter? Dake will be aiming to hold the center of the mat. Chamizo starts his flurries when he is either not in control of the center, or aiming for a pushout. I can’t recall the last time Dake gave up a pushout. Once Chamizo picks up the handfight, it favors Dake as Dake’s best positions are a chest wrap and any position with his arms around the body. Historically, Chamizo’s worst position has been the bodylock. I personally wouldn’t see Dake looking to take leg attacks, and if he waits for those shot clock’s where chamizo has to open up it could be a couple 4 pointers for the American.
Chamizo’s Leg Attacks
Chamizo’s scrambling and ability to reverse positions with instincts akin to Buvaisar Saitiev may be his primary source of points, and most analyzed portion of his gameplan, but the offensive exchanges in this match are likely to be opened up by Chamizo. Chamizo’s primary shot is an outside step. He’ll use it to take a hi-c, where he’ll convert to a double or a single leg, treat it as a knee pull single leg, or on rare occasion pull off a super duck. Dake’s tendency to be
in perfect position means we likely won’t see a super duck be entirely successful, but Chamizo is highly likely to make contact with the leg. And as fast as Dake is, Chamizo has used this shot to score on some of the fastest wrestlers on the planet, the standout being Jordan Oliver at a previous Beat The Streets. What makes the outside step the X factor in my mind in regards to the leg attacks in this match is the little opportunity it leaves for a chest wrap, or as many would call it, a signature Dake Bomb. Taking this 4 point move out of the equation makes this match infinitely more even, despite many assuming Dake’s size advantage acts hugely in his favor. Dake has always been one of if not the best in the world at scrambling, and specifically in any single leg position. His ability to force the attacker out of his base has been consistent and hard to get by. But against Chamizo, any scramble is up in the air.
The Scrambling
The elephant in the room for this matchup is the scrambling ability. Against either of these wrestlers, the match only truly starts once someone touches a leg, then it’s off to the races. Slight edge to Chamizo in this sense, as Dake’s scrambling isn’t quite as dynamic and flashy. But what it lacks in crowd pleasing maneuvers, it makes his defense that much more sound. Chamizo’s tendency to lean into the flurries means his attempts often end in his own scoring, but leaves opportunity for a positionally sound opponent to capitalize. To summarize, Chamizo’s scrambling aims to score off his opponent’s offense, whereas Dake’s scrambling has historically been used to shut his opponent’s offense down completely to edge out low score matches. Dake’s explosive offense, if timed right, could even shut Chamizo’s scrambling down completely as he focuses on quick conversion on leg attacks rather than lengthy setups from an underhook or collar, as Chamizo’s ability to attack off a slide by or two on one would favor him in a long handfight.
Wrap Up
In a match that would seem to be immovable object vs immovable object, technique analysts like Mike Mal will no doubt have a field day with this matchup in the weeks to come leading up to and after. The unique stylistic matchup of offensive scrambler and defensive scrambler, and overall stark difference in individual flair means we are likely in for the highest scoring match of Dake’s career. This match, as Chamizo has said “will change wrestling”, not only at a technical standpoint, but in the coming Olympic year this only makes more hype for the already incredible 74kg division.
Kyle Dake
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Frank Chamizo
Kyle Dake
