Azerbaijan Stuns with 3 Wrestlers in Finals at #WrestleUfa

Monday, August 16, 2021 - 22:01 By Vinay Siwach

UFA, Russia (August 16) – Two former world medalists were leading their nation's junior teams in Ufa but it was Jabrayil HASANOV's Azerbaijan that came out on top with three wrestlers reaching the final on the first day of the Junior World Championships Monday.

Abdulsalam GADISOV, the head coach of Russia, was disappointed with only two Russian wrestlers reaching the final out of the five possible in the freestyle weight classes. Iran and Turkey also had two wrestlers in the final while USA finished the lineup with one.

The Junior World Championships got underway with 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, and 97kg weight classes with Azerbaijan dominating its semifinals.

Azerbaijan were led by a strong performance by U23 and Junior European champion Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) who denied Stanislav SVINOBOEV (RUS) a spot in the 70kg final with a 6-1 win.

Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) entered the 70kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The former cadet world champion looked impressive throughout the day, winning his previous two bouts via technical superiority. He now has a chance to win his third title of the year.

“We came here to become champions. That’s the only goal I have,” Gadzhiev said. “All the opponents are really good, everything went well for me, we will keep working on our mistakes.”

He will be sure to not make any mistake when faces Erfan ELAHI (IRI), a silver medalist from the same cadet Worlds in 2019 as Gadzhiev won the gold in 65kg. He defeated Stanislav NOVAC (MDA) 8-3. He scored two stepouts to lead 2-0 but Novac scored a takedown.

Elahi then changed levels and scored a takedown and exposed Novac with an arm-trap to lead 6-2. Two more stepouts sealed the deal for him.

Another Azerbaijan-Iran bout will be held at 79kg as Mohammad NOKHODILARIMI (IRI) will take on Ashraf ASHIROV (AZE) in the final Tuesday.

Mohammad NOKHODILARIMI (IRI) defeated Gourav BALIYAN (IND) in the 79kg semifinals. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

While Nokhodilarimi had a strong 10-0 win over Gourav BALIYAN (IND) in the semifinal, Ashirov had some trouble before beating Makhambet NURZHAUBAYEV (KAZ) 11-3 in the last four.

Nokhodilarimi scored his 10-0 win in 3:31 seconds with a takedown and gut wrenches which gave him a 6-0 lead. His strength was far superior than Baliyan who gave up two more takedowns to lose.

In the other semifinal, Nurzhaubayev used a head lock to score two points and was ahead 4-3 but Ashirov came back strongly. He was awarded for caution and then he added a takedown and exposure to win 11-3.

But Ashirov said that wrestling the quarterfinal against Mukhammad ABDULLAEV (KGZ) was harder than the semifinal.

“The match with Kyrgyz wrestler was much harder than the semifinal,” he said. “I just felt a bit more responsibility

“My Iranian opponent is good, we will have to analyse his wrestling. With the help of God we will win the gold medal tomorrow.”

Russia also denied Azerbaijan a chance to qualify for another final as Ramazan BAGAVUDINOV (RUS) defeated Nuraddin NOVRUZOV (AZE) 7-0 in the semifinal at 57kg.The Russian has been guilty of underperforming at the international level but he stepped up his game Monday with a controlled win over Novruzov.

Ramazan BAGAVUDINOV (RUS) entered 57kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

He scored his first point via stepout before a double leg takedown gave him a 3-0 lead. A single-leg lift was converted into a takedown before he defended a double leg attack and countered for his own to win 7-0.

But he will face a dynamic wrestler in Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR) who has outscored his opponents 28-4 in the tournament so far. The former Euro cadet silver medalist wrestled Manvel KHNDZRTSYAN (ARM) in the semifinal and won 8-4.

Karavus began with a quick takedown and then showed some strong defence to counter the attacks from Khndzrtsyan and lead 6-0. In the second period, the Armenian shot a quick double leg and managed to get a takedown. He then went for a duck-under but Karavus was ready for it and exposed Khndzrtsyan to lead 8-2. A consolation takedown for the Armenian did not matter much.

“My opponent [Karavus] in the final match is a good wrestler,” Bagavudinov said. “He is very enduring and fast. I am pretty confident I don’t feel any pressure yet.”

Incidentally, Russia and Azerbaijan will face each other in the final at 65kg. Ziraddin BAYRAMOV (AZE) will wrestle Shamil MAMEDOV (RUS) Tuesday in what can be a mouthwatering clash.

Shamil MAMEDOV (RUS) defeated Seyedhassan EBADIMERMETI (IRI) in the semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Bayramov defeated Beau BARTLETT (USA) 6-2 to advance while Shamil MAMEDOV (RUS) had a tough day. He was trailing 0-5 against Seyedhassan EBADIMERMETI (IRI) before mounting a comeback and winning 14-8.

“I concentrated and won,” Mamedov said. “The semifinal was a bit tough. I was loosing 5-0, but then I pulled myself together and won it.”

On the other hand, after winning the European Championships, Bayramov wants to win his first World title as well.

“I am really excited becuase I was only European championships medalist and it’s the first time I’ll be in the world championship’s final. In final I’ll wrestle only for the gold medal,” Bayramov said.

The only final which does not have a name from Russia or Azerbaijan is the 97kg where Polat POLATCI (TUR) setup a final against Braxton AMOS (USA).

Polat POLATCI (TUR) pulled off a big move at the buzzer against Ali ABDOLLAHI (IRI). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Polatci, son of Olympic champion Aydin POLATCI, scored a stunning exposure to beat the buzzer and claim a 9-8 win against Ali ABDOLLAHI (IRI). The Iran wrestler was leading throughout the bout and going into the last 10 seconds lead 8-7. But he dropped his guard in the final one second in which Polatci got an exposure from the chest lock. Abdollahi was calling for time expiration but when action finished there was still time left on the clock.

Polatci will face Amos who defeated DEEPAK (IND) 9-1 in a exciting way. Amos scored a takedown before a stepout and two more takedowns and win.

RESULTS: Freestyle

57kg
GOLD: Ramazan BAGAVUDINOV (RUS) vs Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR)

SF 1: Ramazan BAGAVUDINOV (RUS) df Nuraddin NOVRUZOV (AZE), 7-0
SF 2: Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR) df Manvel KHNDZRTSYAN (ARM), 8-4

65kg
GOLD: Ziraddin BAYRAMOV (AZE) vs Shamil MAMEDOV (RUS)

SF 1: Ziraddin BAYRAMOV (AZE) df Beau BARTLETT (USA), 6-2
SF 2: Shamil MAMEDOV (RUS) df Seyedhassan EBADIMERMETI (IRI), 14-8

70kg
GOLD: Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) vs Erfan ELAHI (IRI)

SF 1: Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) df Stanislav SVINOBOEV (RUS), 6-1
SF 2: Erfan ELAHI (IRI) df Stanislav NOVAC (MDA), 8-3

79kg
GOLD: Mohammad NOKHODILARIMI (IRI) vs Ashraf ASHIROV (AZE)

SF 1: Mohammad NOKHODILARIMI (IRI) df Gourav BALIYAN (IND), 10-0
SF 2: Ashraf ASHIROV (AZE) df Makhambet NURZHAUBAYEV (KAZ), 11-3

97kg
GOLD: Polat POLATCI (TUR) vs Braxton AMOS (USA)

SF 1: Polat POLATCI (TUR) df Ali ABDOLLAHI (IRI), 9-8
SF 2: Braxton AMOS (USA) df DEEPAK (IND), 9-1

#WrestleZagreb

World Championships 2025: Day 4 WW 50kg, 57kg, 65kg, 76kg Highlights

Tuesday, September 16, 2025 - 08:29 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 16) -- The fourth day of the Women's Wrestling will see all Women's Wrestling action. Weight classes on the mat are 50kg, 57kg, 65kg and 76kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 3 RESULTS

The 2026 World Championships will be held in Bahrain from September 5 to 13.

13:44: Welker got to Medet Kyzy's legs and then converts it to a takedown. Welker scores a stepout to start the second period and extender her lead to 3-0. Medet Kyzy gets the takedown to make it 3-2 with a minute remaining. The Asian champion tries to find a way to get the one point and tries a pushout. Welker blocks it but Medet Kyzy slips her arm out and scores a takedown. She continues the action with a turn and leads 6-3 with 10 seconds remaining. An easy go-behind and she wins 8-3 to enter the semifinals.

13:41: Genesis REASCO (ECU) goes right to the lace lock in a first-period attack and before Enrica RINALDI (ITA) knows what hit her, she's behind 6-0. Reasco then gets behind and levers her over for an exposure to make it 10-0. A bit of a delay for a challenge, but nothing changes and officially Reasco wins 11-0 to advance to the 76kg semifinals.

13:37: European champion Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) uses the leg lace to great effect and wins her 76kg semifinal against Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL), 10-0.

13:36: Milaimy MARIN (CUB) bulls her way into the 76kg semifinals with a one-sided 10-0 win over Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN). Marin gets behind for the takedown, then reels off four gut wrenches to end the match in 57 seconds.

50kg semifinals
SF 1: Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) vs. Myonggyong WON (PRK)
SF 2: Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL) vs. Yu ZHANG (CHN)

13:32: Yu ZHANG (CHN) scores a takedown in the first period, then adds two more and a thigh-lock roll to secure a semifinal spot at 50kg with an 8-0 win over Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA).

13:31: Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL) gets a stepout while on the activity clock in the second period to put her up 2-0, then makes that score hold up to defeat Nohalis LOYO JIMENEZ (VEN) and advance at 50kg.

13:28: Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) gets a takedown and lace turn on Oksana LIVACH (UKR) to open the scoring in their 50kg quarterfinal. After the 4-0 lead, she adds two different takedowns to lead 8-0 at the break. Livach with a big throw out of nowhere but Yoshimoto survives the attempted pin and scores a reversal. An exposure to make it 11-4 which was the winning score for her.

13:25: Asian bronze medalist Myonggyong WON (PRK) catches Madison PARKS (CAN) in a lace and finishes her quarterfinal 12-0. Parks just could not stop Won's powerful turns.

57kg semifinals
SF 1: Helen MAROULIS (USA) vs. Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW)
SF 2: Il Sim SON (PRK) vs. Kexin HONG (CHN)

13:19: Tamara DOLLAK (HUN) found a way to takedown Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW) in the final 20 seconds of their 57kg semifinal. Down 6-1, she scored two points from that takedown and then turned Khoroshavtseva for two more points to make it 6-5. She needed one more turn for a win but the 10 seconds ran off and Khoroshavtseva booked her spot in the semifinal with a 6-5 win.

13:15: Il Sim SON (PRK) is looking sharp at 57kg, as she finishes off a 12-0 victory over Iryna KURACHKINA (UWW) with a 4-point fireman's carry throw in the second period to book her place in the semifinals later today.

13:13: Kexin HONG (CHN) learns her lesson after giving up a counter-lift 2-pointer to Evelina HULTHEN (SWE) in their 57kg quarterfinal. Hong is more deliberate as she drives to three takedowns, going into the lace lock after the final one and reeling off three rolls to win 13:2 in 2:49.

13:12: Helen MAROULIS (USA) pins Himeka TOKUHARA (JPN) in the 57kg quarterfinals! She trips Tokuhara and holds her for a fall and enter the semifinals at 57kg.

65kg semifinals
SF 1: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) vs Irina RINGACI (MDA)
SF 2: Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL) vs. Alina KASABIEVA (UWW)

13:05: Irina RINGACI (MDA) with a suplex for four against Kadriye KOCAK AKSOY (TUR) in the 65kg quarterfinals. She then adds a two-pointer to make it 6-0. Aksoy seems to have hurt herself during that throw. A stepout for Ringaci but it is challenged by Turkiye and it is awarded four points to Aksoy to cut it to 6-4. A takedown and turn for Ringaci in the second period as she extends to 10-4. Aksoy tries to comeback but Ringaci with a lace and she wins 16-6.

13:01: Grace BULLEN (NOR) sees her bid for an elusive first world title when she falls behind 8-3 in the second period off a scramble with Alina KASABIEVA (UWW), then in a desperation attack, gets slammed to her back for a fall with :08 left in their 65kg quarterfinal.

13:00: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) gets a stepout to get on board after Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) scored the opening takedown in their 65kg quarterfinal. In the second period, Morikawa with a leg attack and comes out on top with a takedown and leads 3-2. She manages to turn Koliadenko to make it 5-2 with 50 seconds left. She scores a stepout and hangs on to her 6-2 lead to win and enter the semifinals.

12:59: After the two trade two points in a first-period scramble, Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL) catches Vaishnavi PATIL (IND) with a counter directly to her back and secures a fall to advance to the 65kg semfinals.

Quarterfinals

12:48: Asian bronze medalist Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN), holding the fort at 76kg for Japan as Olympic champion Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) remains on hiatus, survives a dangerous situation to edge QIANDEGENCHAGAN (CHN) 6-5. With the Chinese leading 1-0 but on the activity clock in the second period, Yamamoto drives forward for a 4-point takedown that is upheld on challenge. The activity point gives her a 6-1 lead. But Qiandegenchagan catches her in a headlock and Yamamoto spends some anxious time fighting off her back. Qiandegenchagan then gains a stepout and a late takedown, but can't turn the Japanese in the final seconds.

12:35: Genesis REASCO (ECU) scores two takedowns in the first period to lead 4-0 at the break against PRIYA (IND) at 76kg. Priya gets on back in the second period but that is all in the bout and Reasco wins 4-2 and advance to the 76kg quarterfinals.

12:28: Former world U20 champion Yu ZHANG (CHN) worked on two takedowns and a roll before launching a big attack on Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) at 50kg. She gives up two exposure points but manages six points from the exchange to win 12-2 and reach the 50kg quarterfinals.

12:18: Asian bronze medalist Myonggyong WON (PRK) storms into the 50kg quarterfinals with a 10-0 victory over Svetlana ANKICHEVA (KAZ). After a stepout, Won gains a takedown with Ankicheva on the clock and whips off two lace-lock rolls. Another takedown and that's all she wrote.

12:10: Paris Olympic bronze medalist Milaimy MARIN (CUB) makes short work of Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (UWW), getting a takedown and gut wrench, then coming back and doing it again, with an added roll to finish off a 10-0 victory in their 76kg match in just over a minute.

12:07: Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) shrugs off giving up an early takedown by coming back to take Ozoda ZARIPBOEVA (UZB) down directly to her back and securing a fall at 76kg.

12:04: World U20 silver medalist Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) finds the going tough in her senior world debut at 50kg, as Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA) grabs a stepout for the lone point of the first period. But Jimenez gets in gear and opens the second period with a takedown, only to get flagged for fleeing, giving Liuzzi a point and the top position of par terre -- from which she hits a gut wrench. In the final seconds, Liuzzi scores a 2-point counter exposure as Jimenez gets behind, but time runs out, giving the Italian a 6-3 win.

11:55: She had a slow start in the first bout but Himeka TOKUHARA (JPN) wins via technical superiority against Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) at 57kg. Tokuhara with a big four-pointer in that bout.

11:50: A wild one on Mat C as European bronze medalist Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) and Paris Olympic bronze medalist Kexin HONG (CHN) trade 4-point moves in a non-stop thriller at 57kg that sees Hong go from a 4-0 deficit to a 7-6 lead at the break. Hong gets two more takedowns off a single in which she fights off Vynnyk's counter attempts, and adds an exposure after the second one to go up 13-7. Another takedown and an exposure gives her a 17-6 with 18 seconds to spare.

11:45: Paris Olympic bronze medalist and two-time reigning European champion Grace BULLEN (NOR) absolutely devastates 2023 world 59kg champion Qi ZHANG (CHN) in their opener at 65kg, scoring two takedowns in the first period, then starting the second with a 4-point throw. A double-leg takedown gives her an 11-0 victory.

11:40: Helen MAROULIS (USA) with her trademark arm-bar to get the fall against Emine CAKMAK (TUR) at 57kg. Maroulis is looking to add to her world medal collections.

11:35: Olympic silver medalist at 62kg Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) has no trouble in seeing off Alexis GOMEZ (MEX), 10-0, in 46 seconds at 65kg.

11:31: 2024 world U23 silver medalist Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) scores 4 with a reverse throw against two-time world medalist Macey KILTY (USA) at 65kg. The two then trade takedowns to put Kasabieva up 6-2 at the break. But Kilty goes on the attack and scores two takedowns, but Kasabieva has the big-point criteria, and she holds on for a 6-6 win.

11:21: A historic moment for wrestling, as Aylah MAYALI (PLE) becomes the first Palestinian woman to take the mat at a World Championships. Unfortunately, the (un)luck of the draw at 65kg put her against three-time world medalist Irina RINGACI (MDA), who is looking to regain the world title she won in 2021. Ringaci proved too much for the Canadian-born Mayali, using a back-trip twice and a throw to score three 4-point moves and win 12-0 in 1:03. Mayali, who won a silver medal at the 2021 Pan Am Championships, first appeared for Palestine at this year's Asian Championships, where she placed eighth.

11:20: World champion Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) just started off with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN) at 65kg. She is looking for her second world title. Morikawa finished with a bronze medal last year at 65kg

11:12: Tokyo Olympic silver medalist and four-time world medalist Iryna KURACHKINA (UWW) breaks open a close match with a takedown and gut wrench in the second period, then goes on to post a 10-2 victory over Magdalena GLODEK (POL) at 57kg.

11:05: Myonggyong WON (PRK) built an 8-2 lead and tried defending it against Elizaveta SMIRNOVA (UWW) at 50kg. But Smirnova kept coming back against Won. However, it was Won who managed to score another takedown and win 10-8.

10:55: Himeka TOKUHARA (JPN), a former world U23 champion, handles her match against Samantha STEWART (CAN) with great strategy. She works slowly before getting two takedowns in the second period to win 5-0 at 57kg.

10:30: Welcome to day four of the World Championships with all women's wrestling action. The weight classes in action are 50kg, 57kg, 65kg and 76kg.

Azerbaijan Stuns with 3 Wrestlers in Finals at #WrestleUfa

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World Championships 2025: Day 4 WW 50kg, 57kg, 65kg, 76kg Highlights