Aaron Brooks vs Zahid Valencia - 86kg Final - 2024 U.S Olympic Team Trials

[@saljablo2767]

That ref was a little too enthusiastic about calling that singlet grab.

[@RD-sz4ii]

That really was a terrible call. I don’t know that I’ve seen one that big before with so little time left. Congrats to Aaron, but wow that’s a gift with 6 seconds left from the ref

[@jstrusins8753]

That was a bad call in my book.

[@briancobbin1412]

They should never host these things at a college. Let alone psu. Zahid got screwed. And we all know him or David would medal. Nothing against brooks. I'll b rooting for him. But he shouldn't b going. I'm zahid I'm livid.

[@anushirwanirani2950]

🤣

[@morgott13]

He admitted that he grabbed it

[@BhavyaRama]

As a ref, I’d say it’s best for the ref to not get involved in situations like that, with 10 seconds left, let them finish the match, zahid got robbed

[@tillbialek436]

then why he didnt take the challenge?

[@qbitz08]

Zahid didn't get robbed, he choked.

[@Fullsendfilosophy]

Zahid threw the brick back change my mind

[@nimail]

There was so much pressure on Valencia that he returned the challenge without thinking My uncle is also a referee and he said that the referee gave one point by mistake or intentional

[@Fullsendfilosophy]

@@nimail He’s a grown adult. “Without thinking” isn’t a valid excuse in court or on the Mat. Come back with a better excuse that flies in court.

[@jeffneedham7062]

I was rooting for brooks but gotta say zahid got totally screwed. That call with only 6 seconds left doesnt even give him a chance to win. Brutal.

[@michaellanoue9156]

Pen State is not a neutral site.

[@frankiecal3186]

That ref screwed Zahid.

[@donatoiacovino6968]

Yep

[@user-fg3he4bd5b]

No I think he did that all on his own

[@scott729]

@@user-fg3he4bd5b Yup.... had nothing left and was going out anyway.. Brooks should have finished it sooner, but Zahid was spent.

[@Noscrap909]

And he screwed brooks on the first takedown

[@williamsmoltz1079]

Not if he grabbed the singlet.. also zahid just pulled a zahid he always gasses

[@MrOhyea92]

U can't stop action for negative wrestling from zhaid after 2 legit shots but say nothing to brooks about negative wrestling

[@salvajeasp757]

Exactly! Wtf was that? How many points did the ref just gift to AB

[@dannymurphy3907]

The golden child was gifted a win

[@williamsmoltz1079]

Clearly you don’t watch a lot of freestyle wrestling if you back straight out they almost always stop it

[@devogoddard3799]

@@williamsmoltz1079 Everyone on this post is literally going against the ref and Zahed, he denied the challenge brick because there’s an obvious singlet pull, he had a caution first half of the match but didn’t get on the clock for passivity, caution and passivity are one in hand they work together, he got his second caution which results in a point. Y’all think that’s he’s the first this has happened to? No! N won’t be the last

[@Thebluesky0311]

Terrible call. That ref single-handedly decided that Valencia was not going to represent the US

[@donatoiacovino6968]

Agreed

[@williamsmoltz1079]

He would’ve lost to DT..

[@KevinStetka]

Then another ref gave Brooks the match against DT. It was clear that USA Wrestling wanted Aaron "passivity" Brooks to represent the U.S in Paris.

[@trevorhsu6357]

Agreed

[@giacalonebuilding4443]

A ref gave brooks the DT match? lol what were u watching DT had nothing for brooks he dominated him both matches. DT didn’t even get to legs once

[@markchandler7089]

Zahid's attacking style is great to watch. Refs were influenced by the crowd the whole tournament.

[@dannymurphy3907]

Nothing said to Brooks about negative wrestling when he was backing away the last 10 seconds, even though Zahid was warned earlier. We know who they wanted to win.

[@markchandler7089]

@@dannymurphy3907 Agree, I thought the same thing.

[@veggiemanx]

Valencia being put on an activity clock is laughable - he is always high volume shooting

[@101662napo]

Not true

[@xzjayz7925]

No where near true…

[@philipj.sherman2987]

And the score was 1 to 0 at the time. Part of the job of the ref in freestyle, is to induce scoring. Therefore, with only 1 on the board, someone’s going to get called for passivity.

[@ravenhedden875]

Getting put on the activity clock seconds after shooting a deep, committed shot is ridiculous.

[@nategalvan3907]

​@101662napo he had just taken two shots. The shot clock is stupid

[@mikelewis5164]

You can’t make that call with a few seconds left!

[@philipj.sherman2987]

Obviously you can and Zahid didn’t want to challenge it.

[@lukeebes4275]

@@philipj.sherman2987that last part isn’t true

[@HighPleasure]

@@lukeebes4275 why wasn't it challenged then?

[@jceepoker3256]

they clearly threw the brick then wanted to challenge. They weren’t allowed to is BS

[@cloudnine6630]

@@jceepoker3256 No Zahid threw it back and dint want to challenge it cause he knew he grabbed it, he didnt get robbed, he robbed himself sadly

[@dsmartinez6350]

Brooks did incredible in the final to over throw DT's dominant reign. But, I don't understand how refs can give points for nothing, this mans potential olympic dream was crushed because of your poor officiating. Having said that, I admire Zahid's determination to score with 6 seconds remaining. But he also made a poor decision cancelling his corners challenge, It was the next best decision to allow the challenge to expose such nonsense.

[@billjohnsonpgc]

We came to watch wrestling. Not refs. I like brooks but that was a shitty call. That ref decided the match on a BS call. Sucks for the sport. Congrats to brooks though.

[@jakobfolmar6604]

It’s a rule. You can’t grab singlet. That’s wrestling. You do it you loose a point pretty simple.

[@focojeepr]

What a fucking stupid rule. At least make it a warning first. Fingers get accidentally caught and a whole match deciding point? And the ref has the audacity to call it in the final seconds?! What a douche!

[@billjohnsonpgc]

@@jakobfolmar6604 bad call.

[@joseguzman3279]

This is the type of situation that gave us a bad rap to the extent the Olympic Committee almost dropped us several years back.

[@focojeepr]

Terrible call. I feel for zahid.

[@Eyring2053]

I've watched it at .25 speed at least 6x. I can't see a singlet pull. I suppose that Valencia didn't have them review it because he inadvertently caught his finger on the singlet. I just don't feel good about this call.

[@BigBoyWoogie]

The passivity warnings are some a bit too much. At 2:37 remaining in the 2nd the announcer praises Brooks for excellent defense after Valencia attack and less than 10 seconds later a warning is issued against Valencia.

[@Culvey]

I absolutely agree, however with how the rules are written, if no points scored in 2minutes of a round, a passivity clock will be started. They called passivity on Brooks the first round. If no points scored in the 2nd round by the 2min mark, then it almost always goes to the wrestler it didn't go to in the first round unless there is some SERIOUS levels of passivity going on. This isn't a solid rule that it goes to the other wrestler, its more of an unwritten standard that everyone just follows. Its absolutely stupid and awards a wrestler for being passive in the 2nd after being passive in the first, but its also a standard that wrestlers and coaches know will happen, so its kind of something you expect to happen.

[@ShadomanG]

Love Brooks, hell of a wrestler, but as a fellow Sun Devil this hurts, man. Feel like Zahid, has had some crazy matches against Brooks & was screwed here smh

[@jdog299]

bro zahid looks huge

[@davidcox502]

indeed, it is strange seeing a great wrestler looking well fed.

[@aaronalldredge2260]

Zahid got screwed by the penn state refs

[@paulmaldonado5157]

The ref litteraly made contact with athletes during the action. How the heck does not consider that out of bounds.

[@xzjayz7925]

Bro stepped out before the contact lmfao. Even if it wasn’t a takedown that’s still 1. Hush

[@Tdinh79]

That was 100% Zahids- wow!!! That was horrific reffing

[@aaronalldredge2260]

That was zahids win all the way

[@KOUROSHjan]

Regardless of what happened here, I think Brooks is more suitable for Olympic. He's got more stamina.

[@briancobbin1412]

Everything brooks is good at the Russians r better. Zahid or taylor were better candidates. They screwed zahid. Should not have this event at psu. W that said I'll b rooting for brooks. Likely won't medal

[@TheUkaners]

@@briancobbin1412totally agree brooks is too defensive, he’s gonna get ran over

[@shellshock8505]

Really a singlet hold? SMH! Zahid looked good, got a little tired towards the end also brooks has heart and a good Gas tank

[@TstanDa-Man]

Zahid constantly gives up late leads🤦🏻‍♂️ love him so it stinks

[@BenJamin-iz6yc]

correct, he did not finish the match

[@1158scott]

I had no idea Brooks easily could have never gotten to wrestle Taylor. Can someone knowledgeable and unbiased say if the penalty was justified ?

[@khyvongrace2672]

That penalty point was deffly unjustified, even international refs wouldn’t have called the singlet grabbing unless it was clear as day effecting the action in the match

[@HighPleasure]

@@khyvongrace2672 You don't understand English. You can only use the word even there if both calls were the same but the ref ehre called it and you are saying international ones would not. Plus who cares about international refs anyways, what would a great ref call there that is important. Also the rules state that a singlet grab is illegal regardless if it effects the action and on top of that there was no way to say that one didn't effect the action. So you are saying a bad international ref ignoring the rules wouldn't make that call ok got it thanks.

[@SJ-gk2km]

I kept rewatching and could not see any singlet grab. Fid anyone see it?

[@zagortenay33]

Yankees clearly don't know how to ref a wrestling match. That one point bonus given to Brooks in the last second was the weirdest thing I have ever seen in wrestling.

[@thoughtbubble7546]

In the last Olympic cycle, this same referee rigged a match in the Olympic team trials finals. Look it up. Match 1 John Stefanowicz vs Joe Rau.

[@shortwidgets]

That ref should not have called that at the end. That was very bad. Zahid got screwed.

[@SuperAnouri]

Aron will Olympic champion. I'm from iran.

[@michaellurz6449]

Penn State has favoritism everywhere….it’s honestly disgusting and disrespectful to the sport..

[@princexwoox4l]

Yeah yeah yeah….shut that shit up boi

[@ozguraydn8407]

Aaron literally got fucked over many times in the match. He should've won 9-6 AT LEAST

[@bubbaluvv]

Shut up

[@bubbaluvv]

Penn state is a big reason why the sport is on the up swing. You're a hater. Nothing more

[@maliklowry1236]

This comment didn't age well considering Brooks went on to beat Taylor.

[@michaelhayes6209]

Im at the beginning of the 2nd.. thats tuff. Ref wanted Zahid to never stop shooting, and that 2 he tried to award, Jesus

[@guillen9210]

The officiating this tournament has been subpar, I feel like it has something to do with the Penn state really has a long arm even in freestyle tournaments 😂

[@westcovinawildcatswc4660]

There’s nothing wrong with the officiating. You’re just a baby and want everything given away. Valencia has only himself to blame for losing.

[@philipj.sherman2987]

I’ve watched almost every match, I’ve only seen an issue with a couple of calls. It does take two out of three to make a call. If something’s out of whack, it will be challenged.

[@lukeebes4275]

Idk Philip that ref seemed a little shady to me

[@dannymurphy3907]

@@philipj.sherman2987spoken like a PSU fan

[@gabecrawford47]

How did Valencia get out on the shot clock after just taking a shot??

[@zombiefireman]

I have never been a big fan of Valencia, but WOW. That's about as bad a call as I have ever seen. The ref absolutely decided the match. Shameful.

[@aldonisenberg537]

I slowed out down and still couldn’t see the singlet grab, anyone got a different angle?

[@jawonjones1877]

Yeah he had a little tug on the shoulder part during the last shot, slow it down to .25 and watch zahid taped hand. It was only for a split second

[@rotisseriebear5394]

At least we get to relive memories of bumbling refs who never wrestled adding chaos to an important match.

[@mohammedzaman9422]

The ref waited all of 2 secs from match clock 34 to 32 secs to warn Valencia of activity/contact...when Zahid just took 1 step back and another step circling...bullshit

[@HighPleasure]

From the rulebook. Passivity: penalty for not actively scoring points or attempting to score points. Any attempt to avoid wrestling - by blocking, by pushing, by going out of bounds, by “playing the edge” can be deemed to be passivity. In matches where neither athlete is scoring many points, passivity can be called to help stimulate scoring. Passivity is not to be confused with “fleeing. Zahid had not offensively scored any point in over 3.5 mins of action when he was put on the clock. Learn wrestling

[@edwardhousemaniii2732]

Zahid backed out a lot, get over it 😮😢

[@jolIyjoeker]

Zahid threw his own challenge brick back because he knew he grabbed the singlet (unintentionally or not it’s still a point).

[@fatcatattack]

Dude lost off of a singlet grab lol

[@cabusheart]

I want to say that he did give up those push outs, but also losing because you grabbed the guy singlet. Ridiculous.

[@jakobfolmar6604]

Yeah they should ignore the rules if the guy is winning. That would be fair and balanced huh.?

[@cabusheart]

​@@jakobfolmar6604 it's hard for me to explain this to a person that's not about the scrap life. Let the boys scrap! Guy clearly was pushing him away and the singlet was pulled. But right on, win by a technicality. 👍

[@Scott-qs5ij]

Zahid showed a lot of class if he actually threw the brick back because he pulled the singlet. I like Zahid’s style of wrestling, but he usually has a problem running out of gas. Hats off to him for sportsmanship!

[@steventhury8366]

It didn't help Zahid that he gassed out at the end, but still, that grabbing the singlet call was bogus.

[@qbitz08]

Right call. Brooks had him on the ropes. Zahid was out of gas and getting pushed back and panicked that he was going to step out.

[@SJ-gk2km]

Man a siglet grab here has after that headgear grab cost him against Hall at NCAAs. Crazy

[@NickL-zk2hu]

That’s amazing, brooks use , Yazdani techniques 😮😮😮

[@user-hn8eb3hh5r]

Судя ошибся, таких людей надо наказывать!!!

[@eltoroloco1936]

Refs been watching too much of Angel Hernandez and the match became all about him. I get it if the singlet was stretched and contributed to a disadvantage but there was nothing blatant about it. Even if you slow it down 1/4 speed, you cant see anything.

[@yscombat]

Side ref passed it he had the best angle. The Chair had no look at it. So I don't understand how he can confirm it.

[@joecascone8113]

Even if the thumb caught the singlet, it had no bearing. If I was Brooks, I would feel empty with that win. He did not earn it

[@101662napo]

Don’t be a Karen

[@joecascone8113]

I have no horse in the race. Do you? I have a life.

[@BarefootMediaTV]

well he didnt want them to review the challenge for some reason

[@krymsix574]

This ref was dog shit from the opening whistle. What the actual fuck? The ref was looking for ways to get Brooks points the whole match. Not to mention, Brooks already had multiple cautions for passivity/stalling by the end of the match. The ref wanted to call ticky tacky bullshit against Valencia for a singlet grab, but doesn't call passivitiy on Brooks for back pedaling away and refusing to engage? The trials tournament had some of the worst reffing we've seen in a long time.

[@rickikammerer9729]

I feel bad for Zahid. You work that hard to have something ripped from your soul.

[@anthonybrown7650]

Refs should not decide these types of matches

[@jasonswift9310]

That was some huge wood to the hole!

[@jurrytaalib-deen9788]

For those saying Valencia got screwed, what about the first two points Brooks got, but was ruled as a step out. Then, Valencia does the exact same move & is awarded the points. Chalk up the one point for Brooks because Valencia "grabbed the singlet" as karma.🤷‍♂️

[@Culvey]

Continuing action is kind of hard to call when the ref gets in the way and there is no ability for the defending wrestler to defend...

[@ethanksiazek5548]

Chael and Bo had no idea their was a singlet pull in the corner

[@grawakendream8980]

why are wrestling matches so short

[@widehead1234]

Are you autistic?

[@davidmccue1969]

Brooks has got Jesus on his side

[@Zane_Zaminsky]

Sloppy job by ESPN spelling Valencia’s name incorrectly.

[@codynochingarbrandt2457]

Jordan vs nolf next please

[@Vlad_cod]

🔜

[@codynochingarbrandt2457]

@@Vlad_cod 🙏🙏

[@quincyspielberger4366]

Valencia scored 6 so easily we were sure he had it. If you give up 6 points in Paris it’s unrecoverable.

[@davidvincent3959]

LFG!! Hagerstown, MD!!!!

[@matthewlee8618]

10:55 not a single singlet grab happened the reff wasn’t even in position to see it UNLESS you’re going to count Zahid thumb blocking which requires you to touch a shoulder AKA touching a singlet either way screw job

[@tyriley8441]

Ref should never be allowed to officiate high level matches again!! Terrible hitting Zahid with passivity literally after a leg attack. SMH disgusting

[@outdooraddictionpa8218]

Shouldn’t have been this close. Brooks should have dominated him more.

[@jbedwards1871]

Singlet pull or not, Brooks was going to score another push out and win. Watch enough wrestling and you know Zahid had nothing in the tank.

[@JuanMartinez-dr8yl]

That ref should be fired or not allowed to officiate olympic freestyle events

[@stt5v2002]

Well that was a stupid match.

[@salvajeasp757]

In my 17 years of wrestling This is the most disgraceful reffing job I’ve ever seen in a match. Zahid was STRAIGHT ROBBED!

[@williamsmoltz1079]

Did he grab the singlet?? If so it’s a point

[@salvajeasp757]

@@williamsmoltz1079 it wasn’t just the accidental singlet “grab”, it was also the passivity point (right after Zahid got deep in on a shot to a stalemate), and also the unnecessary stalling point. Add in the singlet grab and that’s 3 points the ref gifted AB. Fckn terrible

[@thoughtbubble7546]

In the last Olympic cycle, this same referee rigged a match in the Olympic team trials finals. Look it up. Match 1 John Stefanowicz vs Joe Rau.

[@salvajeasp757]

@@thoughtbubble7546 yo wtf?! How is he allowed to ref AGAIN?

[@thoughtbubble7546]

@@salvajeasp757 He was given the "Referee of the year" award a few months later by his son, who is high up in USA wrestling.

[@theriskid]

The foul is clearly visible @10:56 from our angle in HD. Wasn't incidental, either. Valencia grabbed Brooks' singlet and pulled down to counter a head snap. Ref made the right call 100%.

[@LittleIggy2010]

Tell us you are a penn state homer without telling us..

[@theriskid]

@@LittleIggy2010 Tell us you are a penn state hater without telling us..

[@morgott13]

He admitted to the grab

[@perryhartmann7219]

That’s unfortunate that it was decided by a rules infraction BUT …………………..this is the OLYMPIC Trials! Athletes held to a higher standard and all that……………….so don’t blame the ref for sticking to the RULES. If you have a problem with it, then say the rules need to be changed! I commend Valencia for(eventually) throwing the brick back! He knew he had broken the rules and finished the match instead of trying to fight it. Good for him!

[@thoughtbubble7546]

In the last Olympic cycle, this same referee rigged a match in the Olympic team trials finals. Look it up. Match 1 John Stefanowicz vs Joe Rau.

[@zenmar2415]

Brooks is relentless

[@dannymurphy3907]

Relentlessly negative wrestling 😂

[@zenmar2415]

@@dannymurphy3907 that is how most freestyle wrestlers wrestle from what i saw.

[@KOUROSHjan]

Probably ref acted based on us wrestling federation's desire.

[@CharlieB-gs5uk]

Man. Zahid gets his conditioning together? And that’s not even close.

[@frankpersianrug6019]

That was not a fair call from reff but zahid made a bigger mistake by canceling the chalenge i think brooks will do ok he is in better shape but reff help zahid loose this match that is wasting a lifetime of extreme hard work of a yonge man .how can you do that?

[@trillyray1353]

You can tell the ref didn’t like Valencia LMAOO

[@reptylexnaima]

The Ref was right

[@joshuajames4227]

I love to watch both wrestlers, but how can you as a ref make that BS call. You shouldn't be the deciding factor here. Shameful.

[@farrierss1724]

Didn't see a grab. But it would still have 6-6 and Z was gassed. Same as the last time I saw him, fantastic wrestling, no tank. SV in freestyle? Or was there a Criteria decision coming? Much prefer they would have wrestled @ 6-6.

[@KevinStetka]

Brooks is going to get whooped in Paris. I wouldn't be surprised if he lost on passivity calls alone.

[@robertkauffman8137]

You Forgot to include PED user and suspended from competition to his list of accomplishments.

[@ciriloreyes3184]

Im a huge zhaid fan but he gave up.at the end, he was comfortable wrestling about 5 minutes but Brooks was ready to wrestle 10 minutes sorry Valencia but if u really didn't pull that singlet u should have challenged it but u didn't so can't blame the ref on that 1, again from California and was there when he won his first title about 15 years ago so huge huge fan

[@grawakendream8980]

so the winner here goes on to face david taylor this weekend? confused

[@onlyonehoudini5302]

Tournament is over

[@Vlad_cod]

Yes

[@user-hb1ci1nz5k]

Should have at least challenged the singlet call

[@1populist]

Ref should be barred.

[@lolol1725]

Read the comments about the ref prior to watching. This dude for sure was way to involved in the action. Pretty disgraceful

[@ubaidulaosmanov6357]

Zahid won this match, the referee decided in favor of Brooks, it's terrible (

[@charlescharlemagne4907]

i didnt see a single singlet grab

[@nachobellgrande3494]

Ref had money on brooks

[@artisthorne6602]

One thing is for sure after watching these two wrestle…..I think they both go on to beat DT.

[@Eyring2053]

I think you are right.

[@Ben-gb4sd]

Zahid was the better wrestler, weak call and win for Brooks.

[@LeslieRodriguez-yb5ro]

Valencia out gas last 30 seconds. He could and can beat many people but gas tank runs out

[@Givven]

Brooks has zero chance against Yazdani

[@user-hb1ci1nz5k]

Everybody knows who really won

[@devogoddard3799]

How is it a bad call? Zahid is always out of shape and tired at the end of his matches. He needs to condition more. He always loses because of fatigue. He has no motor. He’s a great wrestler he just doesn’t have to lungs to be finish all the way thru.he grabbed the singlet. And admitted to it!? Like stfu y’all don’t know nothing about wrestling lol can’t do something illegal and blame the ref for calling it? Why you think he threw the brick back? He lost!

[@user-sr6gi2iy7m]

Off the score board Valencia was the better wrestler or the one WHO did more work. Pity he ended up loser. He won in my eyes. I am sure the result would have been different if another referee had judged the competition.

[@davudsulo7938]

Яздани 10-0 его сделает. Почему он Тейлора выйграл потомучто они с одного зала он выучил каждое его движение. Лидеры уберут его на Олимпиаде

[@trevorhsu6357]

Way to be in the damn way ref

[@English.for.better]

Upload new videos faster!

[@ceciltuttle743]

Good ref there…

[@thoughtbubble7546]

In the last Olympic cycle, this same referee rigged a match in the Olympic team trials finals. Look it up. Match 1 John Stefanowicz vs Joe Rau.