PSU -llinois Dual Thread

[El-Jefe]

Martinez "didn't seem right" because Nolf was ready for him. Martinez tried to maul him. Martinez is a very good 157-lb mauler. Matt Brown is a very good 174-lb mauler. The strength difference is worth less if you've seen it a lot before. That gave Nolf the lead and put him in position to win.

Nolf won because of the half-shot Martinez took -- Nolf's sprawl put him right into the ankle pick. (Or, if you saw Nolf shooting a split-second later, not countering: the half-shot put Martinez's ankle directly into the pick.) Then Martinez countered the ankle pick with the Delgado dive -- the entire Illinois team did that, and the entire Penn State team was ready for it.

Martinez gave up the back points because Nolf slipped his ankle free, then aggressively went for a near-side cradle in the scramble -- not sure anyone would've been ready for that.

Martinez got decked because Nolf is hit him with a brutal finish. Trapped arm with all of his weight on his knee, into Martinez's upper chest -- ouch. That's a Zain-like pain move. Can't imagine it's real easy to breathe like that.

 

[Chickenman Testa]

Martinez "didn't seem right" because Nolf was ready for him. Martinez tried to maul him. Martinez is a very good 157-lb mauler. Matt Brown is a very good 174-lb mauler. The strength difference is worth less if you've seen it a lot before. That gave Nolf the lead and put him in position to win.

Nolf won because of the half-shot Martinez took -- Nolf's sprawl put him right into the ankle pick. (Or, if you saw Nolf shooting a split-second later, not countering: the half-shot put Martinez's ankle directly into the pick.) Then Martinez countered the ankle pick with the Delgado dive -- the entire Illinois team did that, and the entire Penn State team was ready for it.

Martinez gave up the back points because Nolf slipped his ankle free, then aggressively went for a near-side cradle in the scramble -- not sure anyone would've been ready for that.

Martinez got decked because Nolf is hit him with a brutal finish. Trapped arm with all of his weight on his knee, into Martinez's upper chest -- ouch. That's a Zain-like pain move. Can't imagine it's real easy to breathe like that.

Nolf's win stopped a lot of smug "I told you so" posts in their tracks - we're now left with excuses. Oddly, Imar has made no excuses

 

[El-Jefe]

Nolf's win stopped a lot of smug "I told you so" posts in their tracks - we're now left with excuses. Oddly, Imar has made no excuses

Kinda like how the words "average officials," "long bus ride," and "flu" never crossed Stieber's lips.

 

[NittanyLion84]

Long time reader, first time poster. I think dunke hit the nail on the head about the Penn State Room. Bo even mentioned it in his interview on BTN after the match, that with all the great wrestlers in their room, he's been in every position/situation imagineable. Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to diminish Jason's skill and instincts as a wrestler, but combine that off the chart skill, with the guys he rolls around with daily and learns from and now you have the complete package. Nolf seemed prepared and ready whether you're talking about the double under books by IMar or the different scrambles that took place. I do not know much about the Illinois Room, but IMar appeared to be completely unprepared for quite a few of these scramble situations.

 

[Franklin_Restores_TheTradition]

Martinez "didn't seem right" because Nolf was ready for him. Martinez tried to maul him. Martinez is a very good 157-lb mauler. Matt Brown is a very good 174-lb mauler. The strength difference is worth less if you've seen it a lot before. That gave Nolf the lead and put him in position to win.

Nolf won because of the half-shot Martinez took -- Nolf's sprawl put him right into the ankle pick. (Or, if you saw Nolf shooting a split-second later, not countering: the half-shot put Martinez's ankle directly into the pick.) Then Martinez countered the ankle pick with the Delgado dive -- the entire Illinois team did that, and the entire Penn State team was ready for it.

Martinez gave up the back points because Nolf slipped his ankle free, then aggressively went for a near-side cradle in the scramble -- not sure anyone would've been ready for that.

Martinez got decked because Nolf is hit him with a brutal finish. Trapped arm with all of his weight on his knee, into Martinez's upper chest -- ouch. That's a Zain-like pain move. Can't imagine it's real easy to breathe like that.

Yes agree. Also saw the two times Jason came dangerously close to be put on his back via a combination move that you generally don't get out of because I-Mar's weight would have been squarely over his upper chest - mentioned the same thing in a couple other posts (Jason was dangerously close as in 1 wheel being out over the cliff on a hairpin turn!). Jason did out-scramble I-Mar a couple times, but that just may make I-Mar go for the "Delgado stalemate" in those situations next time they meet. I-Mar scored the cleanest move of the match by far which probably suggests he'll dial it back, be patient for that really clean scoring opportunity and just look to fend everything else off with stalemate if necessary....and then try to force Nolf to make a mistake by wrestling from in front. Still say the re-match is 50/50 because I-Mar looked like he could make it difficult for Jason to get to his offense if I-Mar wrestles a little more conservatively in the scrambles and is willing to parry with stalemates rather than engage the scrambles.

 

[El-Jefe]

Martinez did the Delgado Dive on Nolf's ankle pick -- that's what initiated the scramble that led to the pin.

 

[Franklin_Restores_TheTradition]

Martinez did the Delgado Dive on Nolf's ankle pick -- that's what initiated the scramble that led to the pin.

Agree, but I-Mar seemed willing to scramble rather than try to move up off his foot and try to do the crotch-lock stalemate. Delgado often stalemate via that exact route....flop over grab foot/anckle then lock onto leg in crotch area....hug to chest until stalemate.