View source for Matt Ghaffari

{{Short description|Olympic Wrestler, Iranian-American professional wrestler, amateur wrestler, mixed martial artist}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Matt Ghaffari
| image              = Ghaffari, Matt New Head Shot.jpg
| birth_name         = Siamak Ghaffari
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1961|11|11|mf=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Tehran]], [[Pahlavi dynasty|Imperial State of Iran]]
| height             = {{height|m=1.93|precision=0}}
| alma_mater         = [[Cleveland State University]]
| years_active       = 1984–2000<br>2002–2004
| module             = {{Infobox sportsperson
| embed            = yes
| club             = [[Sunkist Kids]]
| country          = United States
| sport            = [[Amateur wrestling]]
| universityteam   = [[Cleveland State Vikings]] <small>(1981–84)</small><br>[[Fairleigh Dickinson Knights]] <small>(1979–80)</small>
| event            = [[Greco-Roman Wrestling|Greco-Roman]]
| module2  =
{{Infobox martial artist
| weight_class     = [[Heavyweight (MMA)|Heavyweight]]
| image            =
| name             = Matt Ghaffari
| embed            = yes
| reach            = 
| reach_in         = 
| reach_cm         = 
| style            = 
| stance           = 
| fighting_out_of  = 
| team             = 
| teacher          = 
| trainer          = 
| rank             = 
| wrestling        = 
| mma_koloss       = 1
| sherdog          = 5055
|medaltemplates={{MedalSport | Men's [[Greco-Roman Wrestling]]}}
{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
[[File:Olympic rings.svg|center|80px]]
{{MedalSilver| [[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]] | [[Wrestling at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's Greco-Roman 130 kg|130 kg]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FILA Wrestling World Championships|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalSilver| [[1991 World Wrestling Championships|1991 Varna]] |130 kg}}
{{MedalSilver| [[1998 World Wrestling Championships|1998 Gävle]] |130 kg}}
{{MedalBronze| [[1995 World Wrestling Championships|1995 Prague]] |130 kg}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Wrestling World Cup|World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|Gothenburg 1990|130&nbsp;kg}}
{{Medal|Gold|Thessaloniki 1991|130&nbsp;kg}}
{{Medal|Gold|Kecskemét 1994|130&nbsp;kg}}
{{Medal|Gold|Schifferstadt 1995|130&nbsp;kg}}
{{Medal|Bronze|Heinola 1993|130&nbsp;kg}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[1991 Pan American Games|1991 Havana]] | [[Wrestling at the 1991 Pan American Games|130 kg]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[1995 Pan American Games|1995 Mar del Plata]] | [[Wrestling at the 1995 Pan American Games|130 kg]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Pan American Wrestling Championships|Pan American Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|1984 Mexico City|130 kg}}
{{MedalGold|1989 Colorado Springs|130 kg}}
{{MedalGold|1990 Colorado Springs|130 kg}}
{{MedalGold|1992 Albany|130 kg}}
{{MedalGold|1994 Mexico City|130 kg}}
{{MedalCompetition | Aleksandr Karelin Cup}}
{{MedalSilver |1995 Novosibirsk| 130&nbsp;kg}}
{{MedalCompetition | Grand Masters of Olympic Wrestling}}
{{MedalSilver |1990 Pittsburgh| 130&nbsp;kg}}
{{MedalSport | Men's [[Freestyle Wrestling]]}}
{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Pan American Wrestling Championships|Pan American Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|1990 Colorado Springs|130 kg}}
{{MedalGold|1992 Albany|130 kg}}
}}
}}
}}

'''Siamak "Matt" Ghaffari''' ({{IPAc-en|ɡ|@|'|f|ɑr|i}} {{respell|gə|FAR|ee}};<ref name="The Washington Post">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/olympics/longterm/wrestlng/grecbios/ghafarri.htm |title=Matt Ghaffari |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |accessdate=November 11, 2014}}</ref> {{langx|fa|سیامک غفاری}}, {{IPA|fa|siːɒːmæk-e ɢæˈffɒːɾiː}}; born November 11, 1961, in [[Tehran]], [[Pahlavi dynasty|Imperial State of Iran]]) is an Iranian-born [[United States|American]] [[Greco-Roman wrestling|Greco-Roman wrestler]], MMA Fighter and [[professional wrestler]]. Ghaffari was a two-time USA Olympic team member, obtaining a silver medal at the [[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Games]]. Ghaffari finished his career with the most [[Greco-Roman wrestling|Greco-Roman]] World and Olympic medals by a United States wrestler. Ghaffari is considered the greatest Greco-Roman wrestler in American history,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ford |first=Bob |date=2000-06-23 |title=Avon Lake's Ghaffari wins first match in Olympic wrestling trials |url=https://www.morningjournal.com/2000/06/23/avon-lakes-ghaffari-wins-first-match-in-olympic-wrestling-trials/ |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=Morning Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> and is regarded as the standard for Greco-Roman wrestling in the United States.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Matt Ghaffari |url=https://nwhof.org/hall_of_fame/bio_by_name/matt-ghaffari |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=nwhof.org}}</ref>

In all, he won six national championships,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ford |first=Bob |date=2000-06-23 |title=Avon Lake’s Ghaffari wins first match in Olympic wrestling trials |url=https://www.morningjournal.com/2000/06/23/avon-lakes-ghaffari-wins-first-match-in-olympic-wrestling-trials/ |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=Morning Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> four World Cups, two Pan-American Games, seven Pan-American championships (including titles in 1990 and 1992 in [[freestyle wrestling]]), and 13 Grand Prix tournament titles.<ref name="The Washington Post" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Klingman |first=Kyle |date=2020-09-10 |title=10 U.S. World medalists who deserve a closer look |url=https://staging.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?postId=866430135 |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=Trackwrestling}}</ref> He further represented his adopted country six times in World Championships and was twice named the United States Olympic Committee Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year, in 1996 and 1998.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2009-11-23 |title=Ghaffari, Matt |url=https://www.clevelandsportshall.com/ghaffari-matt/ |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Early life==
Born in Tehran, Iran, Ghaffari came to the United States at a young age, he attended [[Paramus High School]] in [[Paramus, New Jersey]].<ref name="NYT2000" />

==Greco-Roman wrestling career==
He was runner-up to [[Aleksandr Karelin]] at the 1995 Karelin Cup.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Matt Ghaffari |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/olympics/longterm/wrestlng/grecbios/ghafarri.htm |access-date=2023-09-23 |website=www.washingtonpost.com}}</ref> While representing the United States at the [[1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Barcelona Summer Olympic Games]] and [[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Games]], Ghaffari reached the final of the heavyweight [[Wrestling at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's Greco-Roman 130 kg|Men's Greco-Roman 130 kg]] division at the latter, where he lost 0–1 to Russian overwhelming favorite Aleksandr Karelin in overtime.<ref name="NYT2000">Robbins, Liz. [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9904EFDE1430F937A15755C0A9669C8B63 "OLYMPICS; Wrestler Two Victories From Dream"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', June 24, 2000. Accessed October 17, 2007. "To advance, Ghaffari had to pull out a trick he first used two decades ago at Paramus High School in New Jersey.... At 38, and a loss away from retirement, Ghaffari is still crafty and accomplished, compiling more Olympic and world championship medals than any other Greco-Roman wrestler with four."</ref> Ghaffari was a six-time United States wrestling champion and a two-time USA Olympic Committee Greco-Roman Athlete of the Year, in 1996 and 1998.<ref name=":0" /> Ghaffari ended with a 0–23 record against Karelin.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=John |date=2000-06-22 |title=PAYING THE PRICE |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2000/06/22/paying-the-price/ |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2000-09-29 |title=Fall of a Giant |url=https://cornellsun.com/2000/09/29/fall-of-a-giant/,%20https://cornellsun.com/2000/09/29/fall-of-a-giant/ |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=cornellsun.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

Ghaffari is currently the only American to win a combined four World and Olympic medals in Greco-Roman. Also, he holds 3 American Records the Most World and Olympic total medals, plus he was 4-time World Cup Champion, also 9-time Pan-American Champion. Ghaffari is the 2-time US Olympian and 2-time US Olympic team alternate.  

In 2013, Ghaffari was inducted in the [[National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum|National Wrestling Hall of Fame]] as a Distinguished Member.<ref>[https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/bio/2939 Matt Ghaffari]. ''National Wrestling Hall of Fame''. Retrieved September 16, 2022.</ref>

==Mixed martial arts career==
In 2002, Ghaffari fought in the Tokyo Dome in front of 28,000 spectators at a [[mixed martial arts]] bout in UFO-  Universal Fighting-Arts Organization against [[judo]] Olympic Silver Medalist [[Naoya Ogawa]]. Ghaffari managed to take Ogawa down and attack him with a brief [[ground and pound]], but back to standing, Ogawa landed a punch which shifted Matt's left eye [[contact lens]] and forced him to quit.<ref>[http://www.onzuka.com/news_2002Aug2.html Hawaii Martial Arts News & Rumors – August News Part 2]</ref>

===Mixed martial arts record===
{{MMArecordbox
| wins=0
| losses=1
| ko-wins=0
| ko-losses=1
| sub-wins=0
| sub-losses=0
| dec-wins=0
| dec-losses=0
}}
{{MMA record start}}
|-
| {{no2}}Loss
| align=center | 0–1
| {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Naoya Ogawa]]
| TKO ([[Punch (combat)|punch]])
| UFO Legend
| {{dts|2002|August|08}}
| align=center | 1
| align=center | 0:56
| [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]]
|
{{end}}

==Professional wrestling career==
{{Infobox professional wrestler
| name        = Matt Ghaffari
| names       = Matt Ghaffari<ref name="http://wrestlingdata.com">{{cite web|url=http://wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=8561&bild=1&details=3|title=Matt Ghaffari|publisher=wrestlingdata.com|accessdate=November 11, 2014}}</ref>
| height      = {{Convert|6|ft|5|in|cm|abbr=on}}<ref name="http://wrestlingdata.com"/>
| weight      = {{Convert|280|lb|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name="http://wrestlingdata.com"/>
| billed      = 
| trainer     = 
| debut       = 8 December 2002<ref name="http://wrestlingdata.com"/>
| retired     = 
}}
In 1996, Ghaffari was scouted by [[professional wrestling]] promotion [[World Championship Wrestling]] and was featured in several [[Vignette (professional wrestling)|vignettes]], but did not sign up with the company.<ref>Dimitri Groell, Jan Niedbala, ''La face cachée du catch: Ring, Coulisses & Business''</ref>

After his stint in MMA, Ghaffari started to work in the Japanese promotion [[Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE]], where he won the [[NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship]] with [[Tom Howard (wrestler)|Tom Howard]] on December 15, 2002, by defeating [[Shinya Hashimoto]] and old opponent [[Naoya Ogawa]].<ref name="NWAICtag" /> They held the championship until April 29, 2003, when they lost it to Hashimoto and Ogawa.<ref name="NWAICtag" />

In 2004, Ghaffari made an appearance for [[Hustle (professional wrestling)|HUSTLE]], pinning Ogawa after a beatdown from the [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] faction Monster Army ([[Mark Coleman]], [[Kevin Randleman]], [[Dusty Rhodes Jr.]], [[Giant Silva]] and [[Dan Bobish]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.purolove.com/misc/hustle/results/results04.php |title=HUSTLE Results: 2004 |accessdate=2014-10-12 |publisher=PuroLove.com |language=German}}</ref> He retired from wrestling in 2004. 

===Championships and accomplishments===
* '''[[Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE]]'''
** [[NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship]] (1 time) – with [[Tom Howard (wrestler)|Tom Howard]]<ref name="NWAICtag">{{cite web |url=http://www.zerooneusa.com/title_ictag.php |title=NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champions |accessdate=July 15, 2013 |publisher=[[Pro Wrestling ZERO-1]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728220559/http://www.zerooneusa.com/title_ictag.php |archive-date=July 28, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
** ZERO-ONE O-300 Super Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=83 |title=NWA ZERO-ONE O-300 Super Heavyweight Champions |accessdate=July 6, 2016 |publisher=cagematch.net}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120722202042/http://mattghaffari.com/ Official website]
{{Intercontinental Tag Team Championship (Zero1)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ghaffari, Matt}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Olympic competitors from Iran who represented other countries]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for the United States in wrestling]]
[[Category:Paramus High School alumni]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Paramus, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Wrestlers at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Wrestlers at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Wrestlers from New Jersey]]
[[Category:American male sport wrestlers]]
[[Category:Iranian emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Iranian male mixed martial artists]]
[[Category:American male mixed martial artists]]
[[Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing Greco-Roman wrestling]]
[[Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing collegiate wrestling]]
[[Category:American male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:Iranian professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:World Wrestling Championships medalists]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Sportspeople of Iranian descent]]
[[Category:Wrestlers at the 1991 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Wrestlers at the 1995 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1991 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1995 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in wrestling]]
[[Category:Zero1 Intercontinental Tag Team Champions]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]