Michael Todd’s style is very original. Many people criticize his “bad” technique, others see nothing wrong with it. Everyone knows that he has a very strong side attack, deadly to many opponents. I remember the Larratt – Todd armfight, where Devon was in control and ready to win, when Michael “got up” from under the table and beat him with a barrage of attacks. The UAL 8 saw a similar fight with Lupkes. He held position, giving no chances to his opponent. Suddenly Michael attacked, utilizing his triceps and body mass. Richard couldn’t hold his arm and was pinned down. However, this strategy hasn’t worked with Brzenk, on neither arm, because John took the attacks and held them, and then took initiative. As a result – Todd took two 2^nd places in UAL 8. John Brzenk is in the lead.

I’d like to remind you that John Brzenk took 3^rd place in A1 Russian Open 2014, behind Denis Tsyplenkov and Andrey Pushkar. Dave Chaffee was fourth. Tired from his fight with Tsyplenkov, he lost to Brzenk, who came out strong after he lost to Pushkar.

Before UAL 8 Michael Todd was counted among those ready to take on Denis Tsyplenkov.

However, after the tournament he’s lost his position a bit. Brzenk, in his present shape, is placed after Tsyplenkov and Pushkar (some put Chaffee on this list, after his backstage performance during last year’s WAL). Many armwrestling fans claim that Michael cannot get close to the leading European armwrestlers. Why? If Brzenk lost to Pushkar, then all people Brzenk beat are weaker than Pushkar. Is this reasoning correct? Of course not. You cannot tell who’s won before a fight. The table has to make the verdict.

It wasn’t his failure to “the Professor”, but his fight with Lupkes that lowered Todd’s chances. They are very strong opponents, of course, but Michael was way stronger before the audience than Jerry Richard. The fans wanted to see a win from Todd, not an even fight. Hence the doubts.

Is Michael Todd’s nomination for the strongest man still on? Let me reply with Dave Chaffee’s example. In the summer of last year he's lost to Michael Todd, but in the Nemiroff he beat Tsyplenkov. Who knows, maybe Todd’s failure was just a momentary weakness, but when the time comes – will he be able to show what he’s got?
 

Artur Grigorian