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Discussion Topic: Finals Predictions
Hank Kornblut added to this discussion on March 21, 2011
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Re: Robles
I think a lot of us used the term "fairness" carelessly. What we meant is that Robles opponents could not use their conventional wrestling skills, esp on their feet, against him. Having said that--Robles learned to control the variables on the mat to such a high degree that it was going to be almost impossible to beat him unless he made a significant mistake. That's a skill and he deserves credit for developing it.
I used to watch Mike Buddie use his leverage in a way that no one ever could. Everyone knew he was going to work his one on one wrist series from top but the pressure he exerted prevented their ability to counter. Luke Fickell did the same thing.
Robles did not win four national titles so obviously he improved immensely over the course of his career. What he figured out (as Rex mentioned) was how to use his lack of a limb to create advantage situations for himself. He did it brilliantly just as Buddie and Fickell with their leverage skills.
Incidentally, Ben Kjar, whom Robles met in the semis, gave him a very good match. He had the right build (short and powerful) to negate some of Robles strength advantage, and understood how to wrestle him from neutral and bottom.
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