#WrestleBelgrade

2023 World Championships FS 65kg, 97kg; WW 55kg, 59kg semis set

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 18) -- The third day of the World Championships and women's wrestling is being introduced. The final two Freestyle weights, 65kg and 97kg, will be in action along with WW 55kg and 59kg in action. Remember that Olympic weight classes offer 5 Paris Olympic quotas, four to the medal winners and one to the winner of the playoff which has the bronze-losing wrestlers.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

15:24: What a finish to the morning session! After Kyle SNYDER (USA) was unceremoniously ousted by Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) in the 97kg quarterfinals, Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) was on the verge of slaying the other half of the Snyderlaev beast when Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) pulled off a miracle victory in the final seconds. Asian champion Tazhudinov scored two 4-point moves off counter lifts, the second giving him an 11-0 victory over Snyder at 2:52. Meanwhile, Goleij had gone ahead of Sadulaev 4-2 with a lift-and-dump takedown, only for the five-time world champion to gain a reverse headlock and put Goleij onto his back for a fall with just seconds remaining.

15:10: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) appears to be cruising into the 65kg semifinals with a seven-point lead in the second period when Nicholas LEE (USA) comes to life and pancakes him to his back. But it is too little, too late as the Iranian fights out of it and holds on for a 7-4 victory.

15:00: Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) has taken out another hammer. He scored two takedowns in his 5-4 win over Shamil MAMMEDOV (AIN). On Mat D, Sebastian RIVERIA (PUR) rolls to a 15-4 win over Maxim SACULTAN (MDA) to reach the semifinals against Vagzen TEVANYAN (ARM)

14:43: A takedown in each period and veteran Yullia TKACH (UKR) is into the 59kg semifinals with a 5-0 victory over Othelie HOEIE. Tkach is pursuing her fifth world medal and first since 2018. She's nine years removed from her lone title won in 2014.

14:18: Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) earns a shot at Sadulaev in the quarterfinals, overwhelming Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) 11-1.

14:15: Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) gives up a late takedown to Vladislav BAITCAEV (HUN) but the Olympic champ wins 4-2 at 97kg and sets up a bout with Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI)

14:12: One thing is for sure, Kyle SNYDER (USA) doesn't like to waste time. He scores a stepout four seconds into his match against Radu LEFTER (MDA) and then it's off to the races. A run of takedowns and he's a 12-1 winner with 30 seconds to spare in the first period. Lefter got his point with a stepout, but the fact that he got Snyder's leg in the air and only came out with 1 point shows the tenacity of the American.

14:00: Iszmail MUSZUKAJAEV (HUN) pins Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN)! A bodylock controlled by Muszukajaev and Otoguro, who isn't aware of the fall, is in disbelief.

13:54: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) remains on track to defend his 65kg title with a silky smooth 12-0 rout of Stefan COMAN (ROU) to advance to the quarterfinals. He starts with three stepouts, then gets a takedown with a barrel roll. Another stepout, another takedown, then he stops a counter lift for 4 and the bout is over with seven seconds to go in the first period.

13:39: Haruna OKUNO (JPN) takes the mat at 55kg with tape wrapped around her face after suffering a gash on her nose in her previous match. She shows obvious discomfort, especially when Otgontuya CHINBOLD delivers a forearm to the face. Okuno gets only an activity point in the first period, but turns it on in the second, scoring a takedown-gut wrench combination and two more takedowns for a 9-2 win and a place in the quarterfinals. 

13:23: 2014 world champion Yuliia TKACH (UKR) comes back from 4-0 down to pin Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (AIN) at 59kg. The arm bar to use. In the same weight class, Qi ZHANG (CHN) 12-0 over Tamara DOLLAK (HUN)

13:19: Iran is dealt a setback in the freestyle team race as Yones EMAMI (IRI), a bronze medalist a year ago, falls to former world champion Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) in the repechage at 74kg. That not only means one less medal for Iran, but it will also miss out on the Paris Olympic berth in the weight class -- although that will likely be acquired at the Asian qualifying tournament.

13:10: Sae NANJO (JPN), chasing her first senior world title, gets her first bout against Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) underway with a takedown to lead 2-0 at the break. He adds another takedown in the second period to win 4-0

12:26: Haji ALIYEV (AZE), back on the mat with little turnaround time after a tough win over Shaohua YUAN (CHN), breaks open a close match with Georgii OKOROKOVV (AUS) to stay alive at 65kg. Aliyez leads 2-2 by criteria, but scores a takedown and gut wrench, then another takedown in the final two minutes for an 8-2 win. 

12:10: Defending champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) warms up for the journey ahead at 65kg with a carefree 10-0 win over Yanisse MADI (COM). Amouzad expends little effort in scoring a takedown and lace lock, then reeling off three takedowns to end it at 2:46.

11:57: Otoguro has no problem putting away Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR). He scores a takedown and a pair of gut wrenches to go up 6-0. Another takedown, another gut wrench, and it's all over at 10-0 with 12 seconds left in the first period. Next up for Otoguro could be Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), who he beat in the quarterfinals at the Tokyo Olympics to avenge a loss in the bronze-medal match at the 2019 worlds.

11:45: Three-time world champion and Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Haji ALIYEV (AZE) had to take an extended medical break as he wrestles Shaohua YUAN (CHN). Aliyev leads 3-2 at the break as he answered Yuan's takedown with an underhook throw of his own. Another takedown for Aliyev to start the second period and he calls bleeding time instantly. Yuan tried challenging but Aliyev with a 10-4 win

11:32: Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN), wrestling in his first international match since his triumph in Tokyo, meets some resistance from Islam DUDAEV (ALB) in his opener at 65kg, but scores three takedowns in the second period to secure a 9-2 win.

11:12: Two-time former world champion Haruna OKUNO (JPN), back at women's 55kg because of Japan's depth at 53kg, gets a 4-pointer off a late scramble to clinch an 8-2 victory over world U20 champion Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN). Okuno, who won her third world U23 gold last year, is making her first senior world appearance since 2018.

11:00: Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) hit a monster five-pointer on Krystsina SAZYKINA (POL) and secured the fall to start the day at 59kg.

10:30: Another day and we got two more Olympic weight classes going on the mat. Perhaps the deepest weight class in wrestling, 65kg, and 97kg will be on today in Freestyle. Women's Wrestling will see non-Olympic weight classes 55kg and 59kg

#WrestleZagreb

Duke stuns Diakomihalis to make U.S. team for World Championships

By United World Wrestling Press

NEWARK, United States (June 14) -- United States determined its Freestyle team in nine weight classes for the World Championships after the Final X which was held Saturday in Newark, New Jersey.

One spot -- 61kg -- will be determined on a later date as Vitali ARUJAU (USA) was allowed a delay in his playoff against Jaxen FORREST (USA) due to an injury.

Despite the 61kg playoff not scheduled for Saturday, there was no lack of surprises at the Final X, a tournament designated to select the final 10 wrestlers for the U.S. team.

World Championships Tickets

The biggest surprised came at 70kg as high school sensation Peter DUKE defeated former world silver medalist John DIAKOMIHALIS in a best-of-three series and make his first senior World Championships team.

The win for Duke came in dramatic fashion as he pinned Diakomihalis the third and final bout of the series. Diakomihalis opened with a big 10-0 technical superiority win over Duke in the first bout. However, Duke bounced back with a big 17-10 win in the second bout. Diakomihalis led 9-2 but Duke hit a pair of four-point moves, followed by turns in par terre to win and force the third bout.

In the third bout, Diakomihalis and Duke were in a scramble and the former tried a split-leg defense but was pushed on his back on the mat and Duke kept him there for the fall.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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"That first match, [I] didn't wrestle my best," Duke said. "It's a feel match. Didn't doubt myself once."

Duke later revealed that he saw an interview in which Diakomihalis said he would "try to mangle" Duke.

"I took that personal," Duke said. "I'm not going to let that slide. He's a good mentor to me, but I work my butt too hard to be mangled."

Apart from Diakomihalis, Kyle DAKE was fell short in his bid to make the team at 86kg, a big jump from 74kg, in which he won bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.

Read More: Maroulis, Baldes make U.S. World Championships team

Dake fell to Zahid VALENCIA who won two straight matches to make the team. After winning his first bout 5-3, Valencia scored a takedown and leg-lace turn for a 4-0 lead in the first period, and went on to win 4-1. Valencia is a bronze medalist from 2023 World Championships at 92kg.

Paris Olympic silver medalist Spencer LEE made his first-ever World Championships team two-match sweep over world U20 champion Luke LILLEDAHL at 57kg. Lee won the second match 6-0, scoring all of his points in the first period with a takedown, a leg lace and an exposure from the feet. Lee won the first match 7-2, with a key takedown and two gut wrenches in the first period.

At 74kg, age David CARR defeated Mitchell MESSENBRINK in two straight matches. Carr won the first bout 4-3, scoring two takedowns in the second period. He completed the series win with another comeback. Trailing 4-2 in the second period, Carr scored a clutch takedown to tie the match at 4-4 to win by criteria.

Former world U23 champion Wyatt HENDRICKSON the 125kg series in two straight matches over Trent HILLGER. After a 10-0 technical superiority win in the fist bout, Hendrickson was tested in the second but he eventually won 20-14 to wrap up the series over Hillger. Hendrickson made global headlines in March when he won an NCAA title beating 2020 Olympic champion Gable STEVESON in the final.

Trent HIDLAY needed just two bouts at 92kg to defeat Joshua BARR and earn a spot on the team. Hidlay won the first bout 6-1 but the second win proved much difficult to come. All five points were stepout points with Hidlay winning 3-2.

At 65kg, Real WOODS denied Joseph MCKENNA a spot on the world team after posting two straight wins. Both matches had a key four-point move by Woods that made the difference. In the second match, Woods opened the match with a four-pointer, which held up when the match ended 4-4, giving Woods criteria. McKenna challenged, seeking a point on a singlet pull, which was denied, making in 5-4. 

Levi HAINES swept his 79kg series in two straight over Evan WICK. In the second match, Haines scored a 6-1 win, with a key takedown and an exposure in the second period for the margin of victory. In the first match, Haines scored an impressive 10-0 first-period technical fall.

Past world and Olympic champion Kyle SNYDER made his 11th straight world/Olympic team for the U.S. after he defeated Hayden ZILLMER. In the deciding second match, Snyder broke a 2-2 tie with two takedowns and a turn in the second period for an 8-2 win. 

The 61kg playoff to decide the winner between Arujau and Forrest will be held Monday, July 14 at the Fargodome in Fargo.

RESULTS (Best of three)

57kg
Spencer LEE df. Luke LILLEDAHL, 2-0

Bout 1: Lee df. Lilledahl, 7-2
Bout 2: Lee df. Lilledahl, 6-0

65kg
Real WOODS df. Joseph MCKENNA, 2-0

Bout 1: Woods df. McKenna, 7-3
Bout 2: Woods df. McKenna, 5-4

70kg
Peter DUKE df. John DIAKOMIHALIS, 2-1

Bout 1: Diakomihalis df. Duke, 10-0
Bout 2: Duke df. Diakomihalis, 17-10
Bout 3: Duke df. Diakomihalis, via fall

74kg
David CARR df. Mitchell MESENBRINK, 2-0

Bout 1: Carr df. Mesenbrink, 4-3
Bout 2: Carr df. Mesenbrink, 4-4

79kg
Levi HAINES df. Evan WICK, 2-0

Bout 1: Haines df. Wick, 10-0
Bout 2: Haines df. Wick, 6-1

86kg
Zahid VALENCIA df. Kyle DAKE, 2-0

Bout 1: Valencia df. Dake, 5-3
Bout 2: Valencia df. Dake, 4-1

92kg
Trent HIDLAY df. Joshua BARR, 2-0

Bout 1: Hidlay df. Barr, 6-1
Bout 2: Hidlay df. Barr, 3-2

97kg
Kyle SNYDER df. Hayden ZILLMER, 2-0

Bout 1: Snyder df. Zillmer, 8-0
Bout 2: Snyder df. Zillmer, 8-2

125kg
Wyatt HENDRICKSON df. Trent HILLGER, 2-0 

Bout 1: Hendrickson df. Hillger, 10-0
Bout 2: Hendrickson df. Hillger, 20-14