#WrestleBucharest

Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Russia Each Place Three into Tuesday's European Freestyle Finals

Monday, April 8, 2019 - 17:25 By Eric Olanowski

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BUCHAREST, Romania (April 8) - Azerbaijan, Russia, and Turkey each placed three wrestlers into Tuesday night’s freestyle European finals, but Azerbaijan and Turkey will meet twice in tomorrow’s gold- medal bouts. They’ll wrestle for the top spots at 65kg and 70kg. 

At 65kg, Azerbaijan’s three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV and Turkey’s Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN each scored come-from-behind wins to reach the finals. 

Aliyev, the defending European champion, trailed 2-0 in his semifinals match, but scored 12 unanswered points and reached the continental finals for the third time in his career. He’s been successful in reaching the top of the podium in his previous two trips to the European finals. 

His Turkish opponent Kilicsallayan trailed Ukraine’s Vasyl SHUPTAR 4-1, but outscored him 8-2 and reached the European finals for the first time after scoring the 9-6 victory. Kilicsallayan’s Monday night win helps him improve on his bronze medal finish from a year ago. 

Mustafa KAYA (TUR) reached the European finals for the first time since 2016 when he fell short to Italy's Frank CHAMIZO. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

The 70kg weight class featured world champions Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) and Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO), but it was Turkey’s Mustafa KAYA and Azerbaijan’s Aghahuseyn MUSTAFAYEV (AZE) who’ll wrestle under the lights on Tuesday night for 70kg gold. 

Kaya outlasted 2017 world runner-up Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) in a 12 point shootout, inserting himself into the European finals for the first time since 2016 with the 6-6 criteria win.  In his last trip to the European finals, Kaya fell to two-time world champion Frank CHAMIZO (ITA). 

Mustafayev, who kicked started his finals run by upsetting reigning world champion Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov in the opening round, capped off his day with a decisive 6-0 shutout over Great Britain’s Nicolae COJOCARU.


Suleyman ATLI (TUR) will wrestle No. 11Muslim SADULAEV (RUS) in the 57kg finals. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Turkey’s third freestyle finalist came at 57kg, where reigning world bronze medalist Suleyman ATLI (TUR) will meet reigning Ivan Yariguin champion Muslim SADULAEV, who is one of Russia’s three Day Two finalists. 

Atli, who’s the second-ranked wrestler in the world at 57kg, had a tougher road to the finals than his Russia finals opponent. 

The Turkish wrestler trailed 1-0 after the opening period, but quickly scored a pair of takedowns, one of which he transitioned to a gut wrench and grabbed the 6-1 lead. Atli surrendered three straight points, but answered with a third takedown, locking up his spot in the finals with an 8-4 victory.  

His finals opponent Muslim Sadulaev, who is currently ranked No. 11 in the world at 57kg,  quieted the friendly Romanian crowd with a rock-solid 10-0 shutout win over Andrei DUKOV (ROU), reaching the continental finals for the first time in his young career. 

Russia’s second semifinal winner was Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS).

The 2018 world bronze medalist reached the 79kg finals with a heroic 7-0 victory over Ukraine’s Oleksii DOMANYTSKYI (UKR). The Russian seriously injured his right knee 7 seconds into the final period and was forced to drop to one knee for the last three minutes. The Russian brought the local crowd to their feet after he closed out the match with a pair of takedowns and reached the finals with a 7-0 victory over his Ukrainian opponenet. 

It’s not clear if Gadzhimagomedov will compete in tomorrow’s gold-medal bout, but if he does, it’ll be against Azerbaijan’s reigning world finalist Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE), who defeated Andrei KARPACH (BLR), 9-4, to reach the European finals for the first time since winning back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011. 

The pound-for-pound best wrestler in the world Abdulrashid SADULAEV was the third and final Russian wrestler to reach Tuesday night’s finals. Sadulaev had an easy time with Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD), ending the match early with a 12-0 victory.

He’ll lace up against reigning European runner-up Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR), who scored a pair of second-period stepouts to knock off 2018 world bronze medalist Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO), 2-1. 

The European Championships resume tomorrow at 11:30 (local time). 


RESULTS
57kg 
GOLD - Suleyman ATLI (TUR) vs. Muslim SADULAEV (RUS) 
SEMIFINAL - Suleyman ATLI (TUR) df. Georgi Valentinov VANGELOV (BUL), 8-4
SEMIFINAL - Muslim SADULAEV (RUS) df. Andrei DUKOV (ROU), 10-0 

65kg
GOLD - Haji ALIYEV (AZE) vs. Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR)
SEMIFINAL -  Haji ALIYEV (AZE) df. Maxim SACULTAN (MDA), 12-2 
SEMIFINAL - Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR) df. Vasyl SHUPTAR (UKR), 9-6 

70kg
GOLD - Mustafa KAYA (TUR) vs. Aghahuseyn MUSTAFAYEV (AZE) 
SEMIFINAL - Mustafa KAYA (TUR) df. Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL), 6-6 
SEMIFINAL - Aghahuseyn MUSTAFAYEV (AZE) df. Nicolae COJOCARU (GBR), 6-0 

79kg
GOLD - Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE) vs. Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE) df. Andrei KARPACH (BLR), 9-4 
SEMIFINAL - Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. Oleksii DOMANYTSKYI (UKR), 7-0 
 

97kg
GOLD - Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) vs. Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR) 
SEMIFINAL - Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR) df.. Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO), 2-1 
SEMIFINAL - Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) df. Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD), 12-0 

SCHEDULE

Tuesday (April 9) 
9:30 - Weigh-in FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
9:45 - Medical Examination & Weigh-in FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg 
11:30 - Qualification rounds FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
11:30 - Repechage FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
15:00 - Draw WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
16:15 - Opening Ceremony
17:15 - Semi Final FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
18:00 - Finals FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg / Award ceremonies 

Wednesday (April 10) 
9:30 - Weigh-in FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
11:30 - Repechage FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
14:00 - Draw WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg 
17:15 - Semi Final WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg 
18: 00 - Finals FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg / Award ceremonies

Thursday (April 11) 
9:30 - Weigh-in WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg 
11:30 - Qualification rounds WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg page4image2914979424 page4image2914979968
14:00 - Repechage WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg 
14:00 - Draw GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg 
17:15 - Semi Final WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg 
18:00 - Finals WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg / Award ceremonies 

Friday (April 12) 
9:30 - Weigh-in WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg 
11:30 - Qualification rounds GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg 
11:30 - Repechage WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg 
15:40 - Draw GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
17:15 - Semi Final GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg 
18:00 - Finals WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg / Award ceremonies

Saturday (April 13) 
9:30 - Weigh-in GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg 
11:30 - Qualification rounds GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg 
11:30 - Repechage GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg 
17:15 - Semi Final GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg 
18:00 - Finals GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg / Award ceremonies

Sunday (April 14) 
9:30 - Weigh-in GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg 
16:00 - Repechage GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg 
18:00 - Finals GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg / Award ceremonies

#WrestleBudapest

Ranking Series: Tazhudinov wins gold; Sujeet, Suda champions in Budapest

Thursday, July 17, 2025 - 08:07 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 17) -- The final Ranking Series of the season begins Thursday in Budapest with seven Freestyle weight classes -- 57kg, 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, 97kg and 125kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | FREESTYLE PREVIEW

19:55: Bahrain gets a second gold medal as Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) hangs on for a 5-3 win over Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (UWW) in the 125kg final.

19:35: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) makes it another 11-0 victory and wins gold medal at 97kg. That is his fourth technical superiority win today. Since his Paris gold, Tazhudinov wrestled in Spain and won gold and now adds a second in two weeks.

19:10: Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) is so good in his defense and he uses it to great effect and beats Magomet EVLOEV (TJK) 5-0 and takes the gold medal at 79kg at the Budapest Ranking Series.

18:35: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) wins Ranking Series gold medal at 70kg after beating Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) 8-0 in the final. Just a really strong performance overall as he gets ready for World Championships.

18:10: SUJEET (IND) gives India a Ranking Series gold medal in Freestyle after beating Ali RAHIMZADE (AZE). A bit of Bajrang PUNIA (IND) in Sujeet as he only gives up a activity point in the first period and upped the pace in the second scoring two takedowns and point for activity to win the gold medal.

17:45: Takara SUDA (JPN) with a buzzer-beating four-pointer in the 61kg final to win gold medal! Suda was down 3-1 against Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) with 10 seconds remaining. Suda snaps Zhumashbek Uulu and then brings him down on the mat. Zhamashbek Uulu tries to defend but in clearly on his back and Suda has control. Suda is awarded a 3-3 criteria win.

Kyrgyzstan challenges but that is awarded four points to Suda and he wins 5-3

17:20: Luke LILLEDAHL (USA) is the champion at 57kg after he pulls off a takedown in the last 25 seconds against Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE). Both wrestlers exchanged activity points and Lilledahl led 1-1 on criteria but he scored a takedown to pull off a clear 3-1 victory.

17:00: The medal bouts in all weight classes begin now. The bronze medals will be held on Mat B and C while the gold-medal bout will be on Mat B.

Budapest Ranking Series 2025 Day 1 Semifinal Report

Olympic champions Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN), who wrestled at the Grand Prix of Spain last week in his first tournament since Paris Olympics, reached the 97kg final at the Budapest Ranking Series on Thursday.

Wrestling only in his third-ever Ranking Series, Tazhudinov posted three straight technical superiority wins and entered the final against Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL).

Opening his day with a 14-2 win, Tazhudinov manhandled Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA) and capitalized on the half-hearted attacks of the French wrestler. He hit a big double-leg attack for four points but Viskhanov got two points for exposure.

But that was only opening Tazhudinov allowed for the rest of the bout. Viskhanov tried a few leg attacks but Tazhudinov scored a takedown and two turns to be up 10-2 before an arm-bar attempt turned into takedown for his win.

Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (UWW) was next and Tazhudinov needed just a minute to beat him. In the semifinals, he took 1 minute and 48 seconds to see off Merab SULEIMANISHVILI (GEO), 10-0.

Baranowski had a contradictory run to the final as he won 6-6 on criteria against Jonathan AIELLO (USA) before a 7-5 victory over VICKY (IND) in the quarterfinals. He improved the score line to 7-3 in the semifinal against Juhwan SEO (KOR).

In other weight classes, world U20 champion Luke LILLEDAHL (USA) needed two last-second wins in quarterfinals and semifinals to book a place in the final. He defeated Niklas STECHELE (GER) 4-2 with a pushout in the last second and then handed RAHUL (IND) a 7-6 loss with a takedown in the final moments.

He will take on Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) for the gold medal after the Azerbaijan wrestler beat Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO), 5-2.

Asian champion at 61kg Takara SUDA (JPN) showed why he one of the medal threats at the World Championships in Zagreb. Suda wrestled two bouts before reaching the final and won them without much trouble. He began with a 12-2 win over Giorgi GONIASHVILI (GEO) and then posted a 4-3 win over Assylzhan YESSENGELDI (KAZ).

He will face Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) in the final after the Kyrgyzstan beat his compatriot Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ), 3-2. A win against Suda in the final can be a huge confidence booster for the Kyrgyz wrestler.

At 65kg, SUJEET (IND) was a surprise finalist after he got the better of Paris Olympic medalist Islam DUDAEV (ALB), 11-0, and then beat Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM), 6-1, in the semifinals.

He will take on Ali RAHIMZADE (AZE) in the final who defeated Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN), 9-2, in the other semifinal.

At 70kg, Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) and Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) set up the final which will be a clash between two continental silver medalists. Aoyagi was in red-hot form in Budapest and outscored his opponents 28-3 before the final.

Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO), after his small quest at 86kg, returned to 79kg and made it to the final in Budapest after a 2-0 win over Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) in the semifinal. He will face Asian silver medalist Magomet EVLOEV (TJK) in the final. The Tajik stunned Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) in the semifinal using a cradle in just 21 seconds.

Kougioumtsidis dominated his matches till the semifinals but could not stop Evloev from finishing the cradle and had to make his way to the bronze-medal bout instead of gold.