Rumble on the Rooftop Preview, Part 2
Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images
The Rumble on the Rooftop, an eight-match freestyle wrestling event on the roof of a Chicago parking garage, takes place Sunday night at 7 pm ET. If you missed the first part of the preview, check it out here.
Dylan Ness vs. Nestor Taffur
This match was put together just a few days ago when Ness’ original opponent, Dylan Palacio, pulled out. That bout always seemed strange, since Palacio has not competed since 2017 and is mostly known these days for his obviously staged “Homeless Wrestler” prank videos.
Instead, we get former Boston University 157 lb wrestler Nestor Taffur, who reached the round of 12 as a senior in 2013. (Sadly, that was the final year for Boston wrestling, as the school cut its program after the season). He now competes for the Colombian national team at 74 kg. Taffur is a stocky wrestler who doesn’t shoot much, scoring mainly from counters. He has a very good chest wrap and head pinch to punish opponents’ shots, as he showed against Robert Kokesh.
Training at the New York City RTC, he’s made noticeable improvements over the past few years in terms of staying in good position, and he doesn’t give up easy points. When he does shoot, it tends to be head-outside shots from space. He likes to lift to finish, which is always a plus in freestyle.
Ness was a four-time All-American for Minnesota with explosive hips and good scrambling ability. As a member of the Minnesota Storm RTC, he actually wrestled Greco-Roman in his first year out of college and was fairly successful, showing his power and upper-body acumen. He’s dangerous from the front headlock and over-under positions, and he has a low double that can catch opponents by surprise.
What he’s really known for, though, is one move in particular. Sometimes known as the high-flyer, the gator bacon, or the YBR, many college wrestling fans know it as The Ness.
He can hit it on almost anyone, off any attack, making shooting a very risky proposition. He was so deadly that he would often take massive risks to set it up, as seen against Derek St. John. The downside is that his conventional offense is more limited, and opponents have begun figuring out how to deny him his counters (check this match against the well-schooled James Green).
The unfortunate reality of a matchup between two counter-based opponents is that it probably turns into a staring contest. Ness can probably get away with shooting more easily than Taffur, and Taffur is probably the more likely of the two to try to force things. Ness is probably more likely to make Taffur uncomfortable with underhooks or two-on-ones, which could force a bad shot. Whoever gets put on the shot clock for passivity could play a major part in this match, and Taffur’s preference for open space could disadvantage him there. I don’t have a ton of confidence either way, but I’ll pick Dylan Ness by decision.
Zane Richards vs. Zach Sanders
Illinois’ Zane Richards is a rising contender at 57 kg, just short of the elite tier. After two All-American finishes at the University of Illinois at 133 lbs, he briefly joined the Hawkeye Wrestling Club in Iowa and cut down to 57 kg (125.5 lbs). Now he’s back at Illinois and has had pretty good results in freestyle, including wins over Nahshon Garrett, Vito Arujau, and Darian Cruz. He’s a crisp leg attacker both off his own tie and as a re-attack following the opponent’s shot. Since making the drop in weight, he’s increased his reliance on underhooks and forward pressure, moving much more straight ahead than he did in college. He controls the center very well, but it somewhat limits his offensive variety.
Zach Sanders is a seasoned vet and just about the definition of solid. At the University of Minnesota he was a four-time All-American, and has been a perennial trials qualifier (roughly top 8-10 in the country) ever since. He has a functional offensive approach, shooting mainly single legs, and doesn’t give up takedowns easily. Sanders is also known for his nearly decade-long rivalry with Frank Perrelli.
However, he’s never been much more than a steady gatekeeper to the top of the weight class, and hasn’t been all that close to making a team. It won’t be a blowout, but Richards will get to Sanders’ legs far more than Sanders will get to Richards’, and that’s about all there is to this match. Zane Richards by decision
Brett Pfarr vs. Zac Braunagel
Brett Pfarr was a two-time All-American for Minnesota at 197, including a national final appearance against J’den Cox. After taking a couple years off after his college career, Pfarr jumped into freestyle last spring and found immediate success. Like most Minnesota Storm wrestlers, he has solid par terre offense with but the gut and the lace. From the neutral position, he operates out of a lefty stance and works the two-on-one tie. He can attack head inside to the opponent’s right leg or head outside to their left leg, and his long reach helps him get to legs. That reach also plays a role in his excellent scrambling ability. When his opponent is in on his legs, or circling behind to counter his failed shot, Pfarr attacks the far ankle as well as anyone. If the opponent compromises his base, Pfarr can hip in and knock his opponent over for an easy two points; this threat usually allows him to recover his position and prevent a takedown. Watch him defeat Penn State phenom Aaron Brooks to qualify for the upcoming Olympic Trials:
Braunagel just completed his redshirt freshman season at Illinois, where he was a national qualifier at 184. He also uses a left leg lead, and likes to underhook with his left hand. He can shoot to both sides of the body, and has decent leg defense as well. He’s not a quick finisher on his shots, and the best wrestlers in the country can pull him badly out of position. In a couple more years he might reach an All-American level, but he’s not there yet. Check out the win that got him to the final of the junior 86 kg division in the US Open:
It makes sense from a logistical standpoint to include Zac (and his brother Danny, who will also compete) in this event, because he’s from Illinois and won’t have to travel as far to compete, but from a competitive standpoint it’s a bit strange. Braunagel is probably just stingy enough to go the distance with Pfarr, but if the Minnesotan can get his turns going on top it’ll be a short night. Brett Pfarr by decision
Nazar Kulchytskyy vs. Danny Braunagel
Nazar Kulchytskyy’s career has followed a very unconventional path. Born in Ukraine, he won age-level national freestyle championships before his family moved to the United States. He wasn’t able to develop as a folkstyle wrestler or become nationally known quickly enough to be a top recruit, and so he attended the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, where he was a three-time DIII champion. After becoming a US citizen in 2014, he became a perennial contender at 70 kg as a member of the Minnesota Storm. Now he’s been building his body up to 74 kg to make a run at the Olympic team.
As a wrestler, Kulchytskyy brings a nice blend of solidity and dynamism. He keeps a low stance, handfights hard, and wears on opponents with his head snaps. His go-to attack is a fireman’s carry, taking advantage of opponents who insist on controlling the inside and transitioning into his top game.
He also has a good front headlock game and parterre offense, and will shoot a double leg from space on occasion. All of Nazar’s best attributes were on display in his win at the 2019 Senior Nationals over reigning NCAA champion Mekhi Lewis.
The smaller of the Braunagel twins, Danny, has a similar game to Zac. Danny is also a left leg lead, but sometimes works from a righty stance as well. He seems to be slightly better, or at least more aggressive, from the front headlock, and often looks to lock up a cradle as he circles behind. He also shoots at a higher rate, as we might expect from a smaller wrestler (Danny wrestled at 165 lbs for Illinois last season). He’s a perfectly competent wrestler, but he’s simply not prepared for the senior level, and this matchup is not exactly forgiving. Nazar Kulchytskyy by technical fall
Nick Dardanes vs. Mitch McKee
Nick Dardanes was an All-American for Minnesota at 141, but after college has spent time at both the Hawkeye Wrestling Club and now the Illinois RTC. He built a fearsome reputation in college for his strength and aggression, and would often break opponents with his high pace. He works the head hard, and his snapdowns set up his leg attacks nicely. On the downside, he’s also very linear and often struggles to create angles or misdirection. While his aggression helps drive opponents to the edge for stepouts, it can also walk him straight into their attacks.
Like Lugo and Pletcher, McKee lost his final opportunity to compete at NCAAs this year, but he still finished his career as an All-American and a fan favorite at Minnesota. He’s another high-paced wrestler, but what sets him apart is his scrambling and counters. In particular, he has a nasty headpinch that should make everyone think hard about shooting on him. Because he’s so confident when opponents get to his legs, he sometimes gets a little wild with his positioning, resulting in lots of flurries. His matches are often high-scoring, back-and-forth battles, including his series to make the junior world team vs Seth Gross and Austin Gomez. In 2017, he earned a junior world silver by winning some wild bouts that showcased his relentlessness and his lethal counters.
This will be an intense match, with lots of heavy clubs and headbutts. Dardanes will probably control the center, but every shot brings him straight into McKee’s wheelhouse. Dardanes might make things ugly and try to force stepouts, but I’ll take McKee’s explosiveness over Dardanes’ static pressure. Mitch McKee by decision