Les Gutches vs. Cael Sanderson - 2000 U.S. National Open

[@sharonsweat6078]

Chael sonnen brought me here. Les the toughest man he ever knew.

[@joshhegarty1820]

Same

[@Taijhrobnson]

Same

[@sharonsweat6078]

First rule of fight club . Is there is no fight club. Chael sonnen the 21st century mark twain .. Seriously great story teller.

[@jake66]

Same

[@cliffworks748]

same

[@ToddMargolisBJJ]

What an amazing match!! Gutches is a beast. Cael is a beast. WOW! One of the sickest throws I've seen in a high level match in a long time. This was a clinic that can be watched over and over again for learning. Thanks to both of these guys for giving us this treat!!

[@dlake145]

For those of you who don't know the points system for Freestyle wrestling, take downs are only worth one point. That one throw, (Suplex), by Les Gutches gave him 5 points. That pretty much decided the match. Its been awhile since I've been in the freestyle loop, but that's how I remember it. I've met Cael and his brothers and they are all great men.

[@poolboyinla]

They look so much a like I can't even tell them apart.

[@tlapower]

To me Cael pretty much shows greatness all the time, always moving gracefully, attacking and getting his target, flowing from position to position, never stalemating.

[@Kegtop]

Wow. I just stumbled upon this video. Les Gutches is the man. People please keep in mind that Les was 28 years old in this match and Cael was in his prime at age 21.

[@jamesward6057]

In fairness o would say 25 tp 30 is in your prime 21 your still wet behind the ears theres an adult strength that comes along

[@scarred10]

21 isnt prime in elite wrestling,youre not even long in senior level so 25 to 30 more like it .

[@ralphiewigs2208]

I was there, man, right there! I'm a Les Gutches fan for life, but I knew that the times, they were a changin'!

[@kapoguns640]

Uncle sonnen sent me

[@52000rightwing]

The big throw comes in around 6:00.

[@jukesduck9363]

That was a really god throw by Gutches, dang.

[@brianegal2286]

Kyle Dake now has more than 40 losses. People need to realize just how much it means to beat a guy like Sanderson. Les Gutches is a MONSTER!

[@chrislaverick6413]

Damn it must have been exhausting wrestling cael, every 10 seconds he is in on your leg, what a machine

[@eyedyllist4540]

Cael is a beast and even loses with honor. Props to Les for taking on a titan in the sport and winning.

[@cjmusser4996]

Les had such a bad back at this point in his career, I think its so impressive what he did. He never made excuses, he never talked about it, he just dealt with it. Watch him when he gets up off the ground, his back was so tender at this point.

[@SBayne762]

The problem is a lot of people have no idea about Greco or freestyle. You have to be technical to be good. Just because somebody is fast, aggressive and exciting to watch doesn't mean they are any good or are going to win. This match is evidence of that. I believe we should scrap folkstyle and just be purely freestyle and greco just like the rest of the world, but take that with a grain of salt.

[@chade1983]

@6:12 Gutches shows you how to do it right. Just a beautiful example of how to throw without thinking and just reacting to the situation. Great match.

[@s-plannone9605]

that throw was sick!! glad gutches won..oregon represent

[@kaelbrown6053]

Lee gutches's brother is my wrestling coach and a phenomenal one too!

[@kaelbrown6053]

yes sir, I am a freshman and he was my mat club coach for several years as well.

[@DadiusPrime]

I wrestled Brock Gutches from Crater a little over a decade ago (probably related somehow)... Needless to say... I got my shit rocked.

[@purpleheartscott8553]

I had the pleasure of wrestling Les when I was in high school and like everyone else, he made short work of me. He was a great wrestler and from what I remember, he was respectful and didn’t humiliate me even though he could have.

[@joeguerra8435]

The guy with the red singlet won. The referee raised his hand. I think that was Gutches. Very cool archival video of two greats of the sport. Loved watching this “old school “ grainy video. Toughness between two worthy opponents transcends the ages.

[@Sam10830]

wait who won? i couldnt tell, lol they both look alike.

[@conerkaden36]

The guy in the white wiping him off with the yellow towel is my wrestling coach at my high school, that’s jason gutches

[@jukeydude]

I play football, rugby, and I wrestle. wrestling is the hardest practice I have no doubt

[@airnate2324]

That awkward moment when cael and les are both wearing Gutches lol (Les Gutches Shoe)

[@averagejoe1059]

I like how Cael is wearing gutches' signature shoes...lol

[@80zdbrown]

Huge fan of Cael, (named my son after him) I just gained a lot of respect for Les.

[@canadianbacon451]

Sanderson is a four time national champion and a three time outstanding wrestler award winner(first to ever do that). and gold in the olympics

[@Roarke6]

Just so you all know Les was hurt going into this match.

[@jmbzrx1200]

Didn’t watch Les later in his career, it was interesting to see this in how patient he was throughout the match. Even more so with how relentless Sonnen was pressing the pace. I kept waiting for the unreal explosion and speed from Les. The stuff that guy could do….got one of those suplex throws once, for his size man he was just unreal quick. Nice guy too.

[@Rider.WhiteHorse]

Sonnen?

[@annettenpaul]

very weird to see Cael dominate with every move, take Gutches down at will, then Gutches' hand is raised at the end??? Some of the best wrestling I've seen, thanks for posting!

[@John_James21]

It's about the points. Gutches let him wear himself out. He won the match on the throw. The fact that Sanderson allowed himself to be thrown just goes to show that Gutches was the more intelligent wrestler. Gutches would win 79 matches out of a 100 versus Sanderson. Do you think Gutches cared about the stupid take downs? He let him do that to wear himself out.

[@caveman726]

​@@John_James21I don't think Les allowed Sanderson to take him down, but I agree "The Throw" saved him. Les was exhausted 😵‍💫

[@HerreraCam]

@ideamark That "handkerchief" is what is known as a blood rag in Greco-Roman and Freestyle wrestling. It is still used and is a requirement for all wrestlers to show the ref they have it upon stepping on the mat.

[@Roarke6]

I wrestled with Les, and I know you all can say Cael Sanderson was and is better than Les Gutches, but i assure you Les is the and will always be the better wrestler. Even though Cael has more Accolades.

[@Pulstreiber]

Awesome match with two outstanding athletes. Nice throw at 6:12.

[@HellNaught]

ughh I like freestyle and all but some of the scoring is terrible. I lost a round (match due to the round) where I got the only take down, and then stepped out of bounds in neutral position later (1point for him) and they told me since he was the last to score the round was his. I felt robbed =x

[@pranadragon]

this is why folkstyle rules..always- a clear winner!!

[@Jns27j]

Thank goodness they have changed the scoring. I've got 12-8 Cael with the current scoring

[@chopstyx141]

Jns27j how did they used to score because Sanderson took him down like 5+ times

[@chadsdadbrad]

Josh Nesbitt takedowns used to be only 1 point

[@slucchesislucchesi]

8-5 Les at the brick toss... 12-11 Les by the end with the current rules NOW? :)

[@ArmandKachigian]

Do you have the Ricky Stewart/Jim Zalesky match? A real classic.

[@norrinradd8923]

If Cael coached himself backed then he would've been an Olympic Champ coming out of college.....

[@xenonmaster6668]

Probably 😂

[@eyedyllist4540]

they both are legends in the sport- I used to go watch Les at Oregon State- I grew up in Utah wrestling in 3A with the Sanderson boys- all stand up guys

[@hotzpizza10]

He was in College. This is a freestyle match, and I'm not sure if Cael is in college or not. Les is a few years older than him, and had a lot for freestyle experience.

[@evanpete]

I'm just glad wrestling is back in Olympics and kudos to FILA for making the changes that needed to be made.

[@cougarfanparkingonly]

Quickness, strength, flexibility, determination, endurance, knowledge are attributes that make a good wrestler. Cael's the best at all of them. Gutches got lucky here.

[@hectorcrumudgeon]

I was at this tournament in Vegas. Cael was not awarded a point for the snap at 7:30. NO BS. I could not believe it. I found it strange at the time and still do. The ref called it a snap and no points were awarded. Both of these guys were handing out "A__ woopin's "the entire weekend.

[@nicolelykins2073]

Great match. Les exposed Caels back to the mat twice...3:50 and 6:11. Free and Greco points system is based more on showing your opponents back to the mat than takedowns and control. A good toss from feet to back can get you a quick 5. can't get that with an ankle pick.

[@zekegaeta9169]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Cael get thrown like that ever lol

[@pureblood3388]

Best Beaver wrestler ever. Les was my hero when I was a HS grappler!

[@DWQJVB]

What he did with the ladies isn’t important. How don’t care how many beavers he wrestled with.

[@scottstiegler4976]

That is a great match. FANTASTIC. So how did they score that throw back then? What was the final score?

[@TheJustinminks]

these two are some the greatest wrestlers of all time them and dan gable i think are the best

[@senghunter1010]

Coolest name in Wrestling, "Les Gutches".

[@juntjoonunya9216]

True. Never heard the first or last anywhere and they both sound of a bad ass

[@Boredoutofmywits]

Nick Nutter (1996 NCAA All American) beats him to the punch namewise.

[@blakkat4126]

"Mark Ironside"

[@larrybaxter6881]

A great example of how the old method of scoring really hurt the sport of freestyle wrestling. Cael technically dominated this match 6 take downs to only 2 by Les. BUT, that one 5 point move completely pulled off the upset - for Les. (No pun intended.)

[@sanitary103]

incorrect. Cael got 5 takedowns and Gutches got one 1 pt takedown, one 2 point exposure and one 3 point exposure. with today's scoring of 2 pts for a takedown instead of 1 pt, it would have changed the outcome no doubt. I would say Cael dominated on the feet but Les got more exposure points when it counted.

[@HellNaught]

The lady announces the score to be 6-5 for Gutches, but I thought the score was 6-6 after that last one, and that was a 3 point throw.

[@Crapperz]

in december of 08 me and my team went to hawaii for a wrestling tournament. and a kid by the name of brock gutches (which i found out quick that day was les gutches nephew) was their. that kid was crazy good. never seen anyone (let alone on varsity) take someone down 12 times in one period let alone the first period.

[@Rush66crp]

Thank you, I know who Cael Sanderson is...I was just pointing out the credentials of "This guy," for Coach5k. I'm hoping you understand that I was implying that Les Gutches wasn't some scrub...a point that clearly many other people who watched this video seem to grasp.

[@fightingfan21]

you can hear the announcer call dan henderson at about 7:50

[@johnjensen2112]

Gutches short offence was amazing,

[@Rush66crp]

@coach5k16022 Tech Fall 'this guy.' Umm, this guy is Les Gutches who was a 2x National Champion in Folkstyle/Hodge Winner in addition to his world championship in Freestyle. Questionable.

[@Sam10830]

@TheMundleBundle well, it could either go each way. are you saying if Les Gutches lost, he wouldnt get frustrated? as i said, i couldnt tell who was who, and its hard to follow a match not telling who's who.

[@CoachAlbaughChiefpigskin]

Definitely a good call on the 5 point throw

[@ICouldNever]

Rules were different then. The new freestyle rules didn't come in until 2005. This is 2000.

[@lou4brew]

Back when Freestyle (and Greco) was an actual match instead of a stall-fest!

[@ideamark]

Les Gutches is in red; he pulled out a hankerchief, which was required of all wrestlers at one time -- an old-time tradition.

[@avehombre]

@Jwokk4Atl That's because it was a freestyle match. If you base up or try to stand up you'll either get gut wrenched or thrown. You also don't get any points for an escape.

[@Jwokk4Atl]

Ohh okay thanks that makes more sense. I just didnt believe that they would just go flat on olympic level. I was expecting explosive standups

[@Rascaltastic]

That was a great match. Les wrestled smarter. Cael gassed himself with all the shots. He gets in on the legs easy enough but Gutch was able to turn him and get that throw when Cael got a little too aggressive and went over top. It's one of those tough matches when being too aggressive didn't pay off. Either one of those guys would f up just about anyone out there though.

[@coach.jakobnyc]

both are great wrestlers. Super good action moves and true wrestling match...-!

[@Gametosh]

@JCrain03 It is also pretty tiring. You need alot of conditioning to last a long match.

[@evansusmc]

That match confused the crap out of me. Very difficult to tell those 2 apart.

[@micahlee78]

its from the movie conan.....his other two brothers have them too in different places

[@grizzbamf68]

What was the final score

[@psychobomberninja]

Why did Gutches win after only two periods? Cael won the first one in overtime because the score was tied 3-3, correct? Or is this the second and third periods, and Gutches already won the first one?

[@XxOffTonexX]

@cunnarattus the match ended 8-6 Gutches didn't score 11 or 13, he had 1 takedown! and he had a back exposure making the score 3-3, then a 5 point move, the score is now 8-3 and then Cael scored 3 unanswered takedowns and thats it.

[@Sam10830]

@TheMundleBundle i know that, but i cant tell who's who. who won? Sanderson?

[@ekkeman]

Seriously? I counted 6-8 and I am giving Cael the takedown at the beginning. If you wanna take your own knee out like that it should get shredded and/or you give up the points. I also gave Gutches the second turn which was REALLY IFFY because if you are reversing someone you can expose your back as long as you immediately get the reversal as Sanderson did (in the rules back then).

[@Marcnshae2011]

Awesome match🎉

[@Deleonandsons]

This is just one of those times where cael was the much better folkstyle wrestler but gutches was the better freestyle wrestler because cael worked gutches pretty good.

[@surreptitiouswritings]

Cael dominated him all match. He just "got caught." Proof it still happens, even to the greatest.

[@jitzmaster]

Sonnen said = Les Gutches < Mark Schultz

[@SuperTrollercoaster]

@cunnarattus people usually do folk or highschool wrestling and dont know how the scoring on freestyle works

[@MAMP]

Watch your ankle son.

[@jake66]

I wanted the Les gutches wrestling shoes when I was in high school. When I joined the air force, I bought my brother the Cal's

[@p320cory]

A: both men are AMERICAN competing at the US Nationals one being Cael, the other LES Gutches,( another nationally renowned wrestler), B: The shirt says AMERICAN EAGLE, C: Gutches was in the red, he won. One of Caels few defeats, although at this point in his Freestyle career Gutches had plenty of experience and Cael did not.

[@smizzlebdemented]

Rules are rules, in freestyle the key point is to expose the back, which is very very hard thing to do against a well trained athlete, let alone an Olympic champ. Yes if this were a collegiate match Sanderson would have won for sure. It wasn't and toss might have looked easy, but it's not especially against someone of sanderson's ability.

[@stage1media247]

it also looks weird for a spectator, because it seems Cael dominated it

[@AnythingForState]

When he threw cael for five...I almost shit my pants.

[@michaeldeangelis6542]

Was that dan Henderson in Cael’s corner?!?

[@001snipe]

I'm not too familiar with freestyle rules or scoring, having said that, can somone tell me why the ref had them go neutral again at 3:19 and at 5:45??

[@tylernicholson5319]

I didn't know Jordy Nelson wrestled.

[@littleroots]

Cael just finished his sophomore year at ISU so it makes sense his collegiate style isn't suited here..... But if you're a 1997 World Champion you shouldn't be taken down so many times by a 20yr old lol

[@JohnSmith-jt3bh]

ROOT S you do know Cael is the guy in the blue right?

[@thecop-arazzi653]

John Smith actually its orange

[@JohnSmith-jt3bh]

DAGO 60707 no it's red and blue. You must be color blind.

[@jakp212]

Hold on, After 10+ times Blue take Red down, Red win?, how? i don't get it....

[@chadsdadbrad]

Default Name rules and scoring were different back then

[@deadbob12344]

Cael was the one taking on the titan he had just come out of college

[@jasonstockman406]

He was only a sophomore when this match happened

[@garyisasavage]

im going to penn states camp this summer cant wait to meet cael

[@IrishxCarey]

@Darrylsacct same here take downs should be two they arent the easiest to get sometimes.

[@joeydaboss1001]

I could watch 3:37 over and over agian

[@ChadLowman]

He does have a point though.. with takedowns worth two as they are today this would have been a different match

[@SanLewy]

What a great counter to an ankle pick. No one fucked with Gutches and got away with it!

[@supermanndango6025]

look at the way he wrestles he dont waste any time always looking for a takedown gives everything he gotwhen he wrestles , its no wonder how he went undefeated in college and earned a olympic championship

[@nigritobandito]

what did he put in his singlet in the beginning

[@nicolelykins2073]

can't expose your back to the mat, it happened to cael twice, the latter, he went from his feet to his back= 3/5 pts

[@ods1ODS]

Feet to back is 3? or 5? And is it the same with the current rules as it was at the time of this video?

[@chade1983]

DSdouble At the time that was a 5 point throw. You get a bonus point for lifting your opponent, you get a bonus point for making your opponent's feet fan through the air. Then you get 3 points for the throw itself. Although, if the ref didn't feel the throw was high enough, the wrestler may only be awarded 3 points, instead of 5. When you perform such a move you get rewarded for taking the risk of performing it at this level of competition. These guys are the elite of the elite. No one at this level should ever get thrown like that. That's why you get bonus points when you perform it effectively. And the rules have changed several times since this video. The current system is different. The scoring system seems to change every year, there was actually a time when the rings on the mat were considered multipliers. So, if you threw your opponent in the center of the mat, it was like a bullseye and you got two times as many points, so basically, you could tech fall your opponent simply by completing a 5-point throw on the bullseye. Effectively scoring 10 points with one move. Of course, this system was abandoned shortly after implementation. The scoring system used at all levels of wrestling evolve over time. Slight changes occur pretty regularly year to year.

[@tankjujitsu]

The reason why Cael lost this match was #1 because Les put a good old fashioned ass whipping on him and more importantly when Les executed that beautiful throw in case some of you didn't notice it caused Cael to mess in his singlet. It's embaressing but anyone who has wrestled long enough has had an accident lke this before or at least been thrown and ripped a nasty gas bubble. If you look close at 8:06 you can see the brown stain. Sorry Cael! you're still a total badass!!!!

[@winfever9074]

Chael Got hit with a five pointer dang great suplex though

[@Jwokk4Atl]

Thats a wierd referee's position, cael just went down to the mat.. they didnt base up or anything back then?

[@tellmestraight]

I am no wrestling expert but it seemed to me that other than the "throw" ,Cael was in control much more.

[@tellmestraight]

@Les Gutches Like I said I do not know the rules and point values of all the moves. No disrespect intended. I was arguably the best athlete in a highly competitive high school but my wrestling buddies threw me around like a rag doll. Humbling and embarrassing to say the least. But it was fun and then we drank beer.

[@tellmestraight]

@Les Gutches :)