Bullen brims with confidence after third European gold

Saturday, February 17, 2024 - 00:48 By Vinay Siwach

BUCHAREST, Romania (February 17) -- "Desperation."

Grace BULLEN (NOR) doesn't mince her words when asked about what forced her to switch training base from Norway to Georgia. For the past two years, Bullen has been training in Georgia and former world champion Zurabi IAKOBASHVILI (GEO) has been training her.

"I wanted to be great in wrestling," Bullen said. "I wanted to do good and not quit without knowing that I've done my full potential. And knowing that, it was not hard for me to pack my bag and move to another country."

Since that move, Bullen has changed weight classes, won two World Championships medals and now a European gold medal after four years.

In Bucharest for the European Championships, Bullen claimed her third European Championships gold medal and first since 2020 to continue her impressive return to the mat. Bullen had failed to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, lost in the first round in the Oslo World Championships and was slowly fading away.

"I needed to be surrounded by people who love what I do as much as I do and see the potential in me as well that I know that I have. Today was the place that you can see that I can do good even though I am not at my 100 [percent]," she said.

Grace BULLEN (NOR) takes down Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) in the 62kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

On Thursday, Bullen destroyed her opponents with three falls in as many matches. Though there was no fall in the final on Wednesday, she held on to a 5-4 win over Luisa NIEMESCH (GER).

"Luisa is a tough opponent. She wrestled good," she said. "I see how she wrestled in her bracket with good wrestlers. Everyone knows that I love to attack and love my double legs. So she was very low. It was just for me to be patient with my attacks and just take the easy point instead of doing the risky and big one. Because those can be easy for her to counter and just being on my offense but still not being too passive with my wrestling."

The 62kg final was sort of similar to how Bullen had planned it. She kept her attacks going and even got a stepout. She used her double-leg attacks to score a takedown. It was only towards the end of the match that Neimesch caught her off guard and scored a takedown, exposure and tried a pin. However, it was too little too late.

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"All worth it at the end," Bullen said. "It's good to get this type of competition, especially in this important year that we have ahead of us. This is my first competition back after the World Championship last year. So just getting the feeling of being back on the mat and especially in a big competition like this."

Bullen decided to wrestle at the Olympic weight class of 62kg at the World Championships and won a bronze medal which also gave her the Olympic quota for Paris. Now, she has a European title in the same weight class. She now hopes to become an Olympic medalist for Norway in Paris.

"It will be some tough six months," she said. "It's already been tough four years for me just getting to the spot of having a ticket to the Olympics. I'm looking forward to enjoying every moment that I have on the training mat. Then I want to work on the small stuff because I just changed weight class. It's been one year and I've done great things in a new place with new athletes that I haven't wrestled when I'm in this weight class. Just getting the opportunity to feel myself and being the Grace that I know I can be and my coaches have the confidence in me to be. Having that in mind, I think we will do good stuff this year just wrestling-wise."

Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN) denied Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) her third Euro title by winning the 53kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

World silver medalist Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN) earned her third European title as she won the gold medal at 53kg, denying Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) her third straight European title.

Kaladzinskaya defeated Malmgren 9-6 at the World Championships but was more dominant in Bucharest, beating her 10-2. Malmgren attempted her big throws and caught Kaladzinskaya in an arm spin twice but failed to score any points.

As soon as Kaladzinskaya was put on the activity clock in the first period, she scored a stepout and scored a takedown to lead 3-0 at the break. Malmgren tried hitting an arm spin but Kaladzinskaya blocked it and went behind to get two points. She hit a double-leg takedown to finally score and cut the lead to 5-2.

With 19 seconds left in the bout, Malmgren tried going deep on Kaladzinskaya's leg but she blocked Malmgren middle of the attack and flung Malmgren to her back for four points. While the pin was not secured as the time ran out, Kaladzinskaya won 10-2, securing her third European title.

Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN) celebrates after beating Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) for the 57kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In a battle of two Tokyo Olympic medalists, Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN) defeated Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) 7-2 to claim her third European title as well.

The final was off to a slow start to the final, there was only an activity point awarded to Kurachkina who scored a takedown in the second period. Her powerful snaps would trouble Nikolova as she scored her second takedown, and added a third with an ankle pick to lead 7-0. Kurachkina went a little inactive in the final minute of the final which cost her a stepout and a point for fleeing. But it was not enough to stop her from winning the gold medal at 57kg.

Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) won her second straight European title and third overall. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

At 65kg, Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR), who was wrestling a weight class up than last year, also won her third European Championships after she defeated Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU), a former Ukrainian wrestler in the final.

After a few scrambles in the opening minute, Zelenykh was put on the activity clock and as she tried to a big move on Koliadenko, the Ukrainian blocked the move and scored exposure, getting two points. As the activity period expired, her lead extended to 3-0.

Koliadenko added another takedown to make it 5-0 at the break and a stepout in the second period gave her another point. No more points were scored as Koliadenko won 6-0.

Nesrin BAS (TUR) stepped up and won the 72kg gold medal for Turkiye. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Nesrin BAS (TUR) earned her first senior European gold medal, defeating defending champion and home favorite Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) in a dramatic 72kg final.

Bas blocked Anghel when the Romanian was trying a front roll and then put her back on the mat. The fall was confirmed but Romania challenged as it appeared that the time had expired. A pin can be challenged only for technical reasons such as expiration of time or a foul. The jury confirmed that the fall was called after the time expired. But that delayed the final result as Bas would go on to beat Anghel 5-1.

RESULTS

53kg
GOLD: Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN) df. Jonna MALMGREN (SWE), 10-2

BRONZE: Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) df. Sztalvira ORSUS (HUN), 3-1
BRONZE: Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) df. Natalia MALYSHEVA (AIN), via fall (6-11)

57kg
GOLD: Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN) df. Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL), 7-2

BRONZE: Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) df. Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR), 10-6
BRONZE: Anhelina LYSAK (POL) df. Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA), via fall

62kg
GOLD: Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Luisa NIEMESCH (GER), 5-4

BRONZE: Yuliia TKACH (UKR) df. Johanna LINDBORG (SWE), 8-6
BRONZE: Veranika IVANOVA (AIN) df. Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE), 9-6

65kg
GOLD: Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) df. Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU), 6-0

BRONZE: Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) df. Anne NUERNBERGER (GER), 2-1
BRONZE: Irina RINGACI (MDA) df. Kadriye AKSOY (TUR), 10-4

72kg
GOLD: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df. Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU), 5-1

BRONZE: Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) df. Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) df. Viktoryia RADZKOVA (AIN), 6-2

2026 Muhamet Malo

Muhamet Malo 2026 Day 1 Results: Lee, Uguev, Kadiev Win Gold

Wednesday, February 25, 2026 - 08:25 By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (February 25) -- There were no surprises on day one of the second Ranking Series of the season as established starts made it to the top of the podium in Tirana.

The 2026 Muhamet Malo event began with six weight classes, 57kg, 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 74kg and 86kg with competition in the last weight class being most anticipated.

World champion at 79kg Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE), former world champion Kyle DAKE (USA), world bronze medalist Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) and upcoming star Ibragim KADIEV (UWW) were all gearing up to claim the gold.

In the end, it was Kadiev who moved through a tough bracket to come out on top at 86kg and win his first significant senior medal to start his season.

Kadiev second bout pitted him against birthday boy Dake, who was making his international debut at 86kg. Dake managed to get control of Kadiev few times but failed to convert them into takedowns. Kadiev led 5-1 at the break, before a mini-comeback from Dake which saw the score change to 7-4. However, Kadiev switched levels in the final minutes and raced to an 11-4 victory.

Awaiting Kadiev in the semifinal was Dzhioev, who had defeated Vladimir GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) in earlier rounds. Kadiev scored a takedown for two points before getting one more point for Dzhioev's passivity. The Azerbaijan wrestler managed to sore two stepouts in the second period but never finished his attacks as Kadiev hung on for a 3-2 victory.

Then came Kougioumtsidis who recovered from a disappointing Zagreb Open, where he lost in the first round, to reach the final in Tirana with three wins via technical superiority. He began well against Kadiev in the final with and led 4-2 but Kadiev locked the Greece wrestler in a lace to finish the bout 15-4.

Dzhioev and Dake clashed in the bronze medal bout and the former completed a 4-1 victory do deny Dake a medal on his 35th birthday.

Zavur UGUEV (UWW) scores a takedown on Chermen TAVITOV (UWW) in the 61kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Uguev Keeps It Simple

World champion Zavur UGUEV (UWW) showed first signs of struggle in the final in an otherwise flawless performance as he captured the 61kg gold medal.

Uguev, who is also the European champion at 61kg, used the duck-unders to great effect, first against Simone PIRODDU (ITA) to win 10-0 and then to beat Nathan TOMASELLO (USA), 7-1.

He faced a more stingy Austin DESANTO (USA) int the semifinals but managed to see him off 5-0, keeping his distance from the U.S. wrestler.

Perhaps that helped Uguev in the final as he felt the pressure from Chermen TAVITOV (UWW), especially in the final minute. He built a 3-0 lead and was avoiding getting into scramble when Tavitov managed to score stepout.

But Uguev challenged and won which removed the one point for Tavitov and gave him a breather. Soon after, Uguev attacked to get two points and extend his lead to 5-0. He gave up two points as well but managed to hold his lead and win 5-2.

The win also confirmed that Uguev will defend his 61kg title at the European Championships at the same venue in April.

"For me, this tournament was a wrestle-off," Uguev said. "The final is always tough. The strategy was to keep moving, attack, wrestle actively, with constant pressure. Some things worked, some didn’t. It was my first time facing him, he’s a worthy opponent."

Though he has not been at 57kg, the Olympic weight in which he won gold at the Tokyo Olympics, since finishing fifth at the 2023 World Championships, Uguev said he hopes to win a second Olympic gold in 2028.

"Look at Abdulrashid SADULAEV! He still loves to wrestle. We talk a lot, and I find it very interesting," he said. "He doesn’t even think about stepping away from wrestling. Guys like him motivate me, and I am aiming for a second Olympic gold."

Spencer LEE (USA) scores a turn on Ramiz GAMZATOV (UWW) during the 57kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Lee, Sujeet Repeat

At the season opening Zagreb Open Ranking Series, Spencer LEE (USA) and SUJEET (IND) won gold medals in contrasting styles. But in Tirana, both had similar runs as they repeated as champions at 57kg 65kg respectively. Both Lee and Sujeet won their respective four bouts via technical superiority.

Lee combined to outscore his opponents 49-8 while Sujeet made it 47-4.

Among the victims of Lee's incredible performance were former world bronze medalist Horst LEHR (GER) and Ramiz GAMZATOV (UWW). Lehr went for double-leg blast right off the whistle to shock Lee with a four-pointer. But Lee remained composed and quickly finished the semifinal, 14-4, using a leg lace.

Gamzatov never seemed to trouble Lee who again managed an early finish, beating the UWW wrestler 10-0 with a gut-wrench.

SUJEET (IND) completes an attack against Rashid BABAZADE (AZE) during the 65kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Sujeet warmed up with a 16-4 victory over Endrio AVDYLI (ALB), who tossed the Indian for a four at the start of the bout. Nika ZAKASHVILI (GEO) fell next, 10-0, before Sujeet defeated Joseph MC KENNA (USA), 11-0, the same score line as the one in the semifinals of the Zagreb Open.

Rashid BABAZADE (AZE), who pulled off an incredible buzzer-beating four-pointer in the semifinals against Vitali ARUJAU (USA) to win 16-13, failed to put up a fight in the final. Sujeet laced him to win 10-0 to capture a second straight Ranking Series gold medal.

Kyrgyzstan and Iran captured gold medals as well with Asian champions Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) and Yones EMAMI (IRI) winning at 70kg and 74kg respectively.

Akmataliev had to dig deep in the final against Alec PANTALEO (USA) as he fell behind 2-1 with less than 30 seconds remaining. He had to score a reverse lift exposure for two points to lead 3-2 and then keep both his hands locked around the U.S. wrestler to avoid giving up a point for counter.

It was originally scored two points for each wrestler, giving Pantaleo a 4-3 win but Akmataliev challenged the decision and the two points for Pantaleo were removed, making the Kyrgyzstan wrestler a 3-2 winner.

Orozbek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) was not so lucky as Emami never gave any opening to him in the 74kg final. After getting the first point via activity clock, Emami scored a takedown and turn to lead 5-0 in the first period. There were no more points scored in the bout.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Spencer LEE (USA) df. Ramiz GAMZATOV (UWW), 10-0

BRONZE: Horst LEHR (GER) df. Atish TODKAR (IND), 19-8
BRONZE: Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) df. Akshay DHERE (IND), 9-2

61kg
GOLD: Zavur UGUEV (UWW) df. Chermen TAVITOV (UWW), 5-2

BRONZE: Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) df Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ), 3-0
BRONZE: Austin DESANTO (USA) df. Nathan TOMASELLO (USA), 8-0

65kg
GOLD: SUJEET (IND) df. Rashid BABAZADE (AZE), 10-0

BRONZE: Joseph MC KENNA (USA) df. Nika ZAKASHVILI (GEO), 7-0
BRONZE: Vitali ARUJAU (USA) df. Joshua KRAMER (ECU), 11-7

70kg
GOLD: Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) df. Alec PANTALEO (USA), 3-2

BRONZE: Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) df. Maiis ALIYEV (KAZ), 5-1
BRONZE: Zalkarbek TABALDIEV (KGZ) df. Austin GOMEZ (MEX), via inj. def.

74kg
GOLD: Yones EMAMI (IRI) df. Orozbek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), 5-0

BRONZE: Quincy MONDAY (USA) df. Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO), 9-
BRONZE: Inalbek SHERIEV (UWW) df. Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN), via inj. def.

86kg
GOLD: Ibragim KADIEV (UWW) df. Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE), 15-4

BRONZE: Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) df. Alp Arslan BEGENJOV (TKM), 10-6
BRONZE: Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) df. Kyle DAKE (USA), 4-1

Morning Session Highlight Below

16:30: 86kg semifinals - Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) overcomes his Zagreb Open disappointment and reaches the final after a 10-0 technical superiority over Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ). He will face Ibragim KADIEV (UWW) for gold after Kadiev beat 3-2 over world bronze medalist Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE). Kadiev scored a takedown and a point was added for Dzhioev's passivity. Dzhioev managed to attack Kadiev multiple times but failed to finish them and scored only two stepouts.

16:20: 74kg semifinals - Orozbek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) with two activity clock points against Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO) to win 2-0. He will face Yones EMAMI (IRI) for the gold medal after the Iranian gets the win as Magomedrasul ASULEV (BRN) injures himself in the second period.

16:10: 70kg semifinals - ~~Kyrgyzstan with two heartbreaks in the semifinals as both Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) and Zalkarbek TABALDIEV (KGZ) lose.~~ Scratch that because Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) with a comeback to beat Maiis ALIYEV (KAZ). He had 15 seconds to overturn a 9-5 deficit and he did in style. He scored a takedown and then hooked Aliyev's leg to turn and score four-points before giving up a takedown. All this in the last 15 seconds. Akmataliev wins 12-9

He will face Alec PANTELO (USA) who completed a 10-0 technical superiority win over Tabaldiev.

15:50: 65kg semifinals - Vitali ARUJAU (USA) comes out as the winner in an entertaining semifinal against Rashid BABAZADE (AZE). Arujau with a counter four-pointer to take an early 5-1 lead. Both then exchange a few sequences with Arujau scoring takedowns to lead 13-7 at the break. Babazade scored a takedown and turn to cut the lead to 13-11 before Arujau scores a go-behind to lead 15-11. Babazade hits another exposure to cut the lead to 15-13. Lovely wrestling from both with Arujau defending his lead. That is till the final second when Babdaze dumps him using a duck-under to arm-grab throw for four and wins the bout. A lost challenge from the U.S. makes it 18-15 for Babazade

U23 world champion SUJEET (IND) beats Joseph MCKENNA (USA), 11-0, in the other semifinal, his second win over the American in three weeks.

15:40: 61kg semifinals - Zavur UGUEV (UWW) makes it to the final at 61kg after a 5-0 win over Austin DESANTO (USA). He led 1-0 at the break after the American was put on the activity clock but goes takedown and turn in the second to win. For the gold medal, he will face Chermen TAVITOV (UWW) who defeated Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB), 8-5.

Tavitov comes out with a huge double-leg for four points to start his semifinal against Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) to lead 4-0. Abakarov scores a takedown to cut the lead to 4-2 but Tavitov with a takedown and two turns while trying to pin Abakarov to lead 8-2. Tavitov challenges asking for two more points but loses it. Abakarov has little more than one minute to overturn that 8-3 deficit. A late takedown from Abakarov but Tavitov will take the 8-5 win.

15:30: 57kg semifinals: Spencer LEE (USA) was stunned by a double-leg attack for four off the whistle by Horst LEHR (GER). But Lee quickly gathers himself. He scores a sweep single takedown for two before using the lace to win 14-4. He will face Ramiz GAMZATOV (UWW) for the gold medal after he manages to hang on for a 3-1 victory over Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE).

So far, Ibragim KADIEV (UWW) defeated Kyle DAKE (USA), 11-4, at 86kg while Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) beat Vladimir GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) to set up a semifinal against Kadiev. Spencer LEE (USA), Zavur UGUEV (UWW), SUJEET (IND), Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ), Yones EMAMI (IRI) have made it to the semifinals in their respective weight classes

15:15: Ibragim KADIEV (UWW) with another controlled win at 86kg, this time beating Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN) 6-1 and advancing to the semifinals against Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE).

15:05: It was an 1-1 bout till five minutes but world champion Zavur UGUEV (UWW) then uses a duck-under to dump Nathan TOMASELLO (USA) to lead 3-1. He then turns the American twice for two points each and win the quarterfinal, 7-1, and advance to the last four

15:00: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) moves into the semifinals at 86kg with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Christopher FOCA MEJIA (DOM). Variations of takedowns from Kougioumtsidis in that technical superiority win.

14:40: Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) led 2-1, thanks to a takedown in the first period but world bronze medalist Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) shifts gears in the second period and scores two takedowns, one stepout against Gamkrelidze's one takedown to win the 86kg battle, 6-4, to advance to the semifinals

14:25: Joseph MCKENNA (USA) denies world bronze medalist Umidjon JALALOV (UZB) in the 65kg quarterfinals. A takedown to begin with before McKenna scored a point via pushout. He defended his 3-0 lead to enter the semifinal

14:20: Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) gives the home crowd more to cheer about as he rolls to a 10-0 victory over Leomid COLESNIC (MDA) and reach the semifinals at 61kg. Trap-arm gut from Abakarov to score his points

14:15: Spencer LEE (USA) recovers from an early four pointer from Robert DINGASHVILI (GEO) and completes a 15-4 victory at 57kg. Top class wrestling from the Olympic silver medalist as he moves into the semifinals

14:00: Ibragim KADIEV (UWW) takes out Kyle DAKE (USA) at 86kg. Kadiev, a two-time U20 world champ at 79kg, clearly with the physical advantage over Dake as he manages to defend Dake's three times. Kadiev scored a takedown and turn to lead 5-1 at the break. Dake managed to score stepout but in one sequence, Kadiev scored two points via counter. He led 7-4 before finishing the bout 11-4, leaving a bad taste for Dake, who is celebrating his 35th birthday today

13:45: SUJEET (IND) with another technical superiority win at 65kg and he moves into the semifinals. Nika ZAKASHVILI (GEO) had no answers to the pace of Sujeet who will now face the winner of Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) and Joseph MCKENNA (USA).

13:40: Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) with a 3-1 victory over Akhmed USMANOV (UWW) who has moved up from 79kg. Dzhioev added a stepout to the two activity clock points he had.

13:35: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE), world champion at 79kg but moving to 86kg, beats former U20 world champion at 79kg Alp Arslan BEGENJOV (TKM) 14-4 in his opening bout. It's only his second tournament at this weight class. He lost his opening bout at the Zagreb Open.

13:25: Austin DESANTO (USA) with another win at 61kg. He is happy to give a takedown with less than five seconds remaining to beat Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ), 3-2, in their 61kg bout.

13:20: Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) moves into the 86kg quarterfinals with a 10-0 victory over ARYAN (IND). He won a silver medal at the Zagreb Open. Can Gamkrelidze change it to gold this time?

13:03: World champion Zavur UGUEV (UWW) with a controlled 10-0 victory over Simon PIRODDU (ITA). Uguev scored a beautiful duck-under before throwing Piroddu for two points. Otherwise, Uguev seemed relaxed as he dictated the pace of the bout.

13:00: Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) unleashes a furry of attacks but none successful as he drops his opening bout at 61kg against former world champion Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB), 2-0. One stepout for Abakarov in the first period and another point when Abdullaev was put on the activity clock

12:45: Quick win for Spencer LEE (USA)! He scored a takedown against Ashish TODKAR (IND) and then turned him twice to lead 6-0. Todkar was about to get control but Lee escaped. Lee then leaps to complete another takedown and turn to win 10-0 at 57kg

12:30: Yones EMAMI (IRI) took his own time but he gets a 7-2 victory against William LEWAN (USA) at 74kg. A slow start to that match before Emami scored those points in that second period.

12:25: Quincy MONDAY (USA) beats Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE), 5-1, at 74kg. No openings for the crafty Bayramov in that match.

12:15: Orozbek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), who has had steady improvement at 74kg, wins 3-1 against Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE), was the U23 world champion at 70kg last year. He is most likely move down to 70kg for the European Championships

12:00: Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) with five stepouts in that 7-2 victory over Oskonbai ABDISAMATOV (KGZ) at 65kg. Jalolov won bronze at the World Championships last year and then a silver at the U23 Worlds

11:50: Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW), who is at 70kg may be only for this tournament, drops his bout 4-3 against former world silver medalist and Asian champion Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ). Ibragimov was leading 3-0 but gave up four points in the second period

11:40: Maiis ALIYEV (KAZ) with a four-point suplex over Islam DUDAEV (ALB) at 70kg to win 8-3. Dudaev led 3-3 on criteria but Aliyev got behind on the edge and slammed the home wrestler to take the win.

11:35: Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) continues to impress at 86kg. He opens in Tirana with an 11-0 win over Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA), who seems to have hurt his leg after that leg-lace.

11:30: Ibragim KADIEV (UWW) with a 10-0 victory over Shane JONES (PUR) at 86kg. Quick win for him and he sets up the next match against Kyle DAKE (USA), who is making his 86kg debut internationally.

11:10: Zagreb Open champion Austin DESANTO ((USA) takes on Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ), world 57kg silver medalist, at 61kg. The Kyrgyz with a head-pinch four-pointer to open the scoring. DeSanto answers with a takedown and two turns before adding a stepout to lead 5-4. Almaz Uulu with another four-pointer but gets countered for two and the score is now 8-7 in favor of the Kyrgyz. Akmaz Uulu pressures DeSanto but fails to take him out and gives up a takedown as the American takes a 9-8 lead at the break. DeSanto gets the first score of the second period with a takedown and now leads 11-8. Another failed stepout attempt from Almaz Uulu but DeSanto with a counter takedown to lea d13-8. Failed challenge from Kyrgyzstan. DeSanto gives up a takedown and caution for fleeing but wins 14-11.

10:50: Vitali ARUJAU (USA), a world champion at 61kg in 2023, has moved up to 65kg. In his debut, he scored a convincing, 6-0, win over Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL). He is coached by USA and Cornell teammate John DIAKOMIHALIS (USA) at this tournament.

10:35: Joseph MC KENNA (USA), at 65kg, with a quick win over Mohit KUMAR (IND). Three takedowns and two turns to complete a 10-0 victory.

10:15: The Muhamet Malo 2026 kicks off with six weight classes. Here's the preview of what to expect in Tirana -- read here

Bullen brims with confidence after third European gold

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Muhamet Malo 2026 Day 1 Results: Lee, Uguev, Kadiev Win Gold