#WrestleAcapulco

Burroughs, Dake, Hildebrandt Headline Stacked Pan-American C'ship Entry List

Tuesday, April 26, 2022 - 13:20 By Eric Olanowski

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ACAPULCO, Mexico, (April 26) --- The Pan-American Championships are headed to the beautiful Mexican seaport city of Acapulco next week, May 5-8. The red-hot entry list features 285 athletes from 20 different nations – including nine champions from last year’s Guatemala City Pan-Am Championships.

The stacked women’s wrestling side of the event will feature returning champs Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA), Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA), Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) and Kayla MIRACLE (USA). Oslo world bronze medalists Samantha STEWART (CAN) and Forrest MOLINARI (USA) will also in action.

Outside of the established senior-level talent, rising stars and 2021 U23 world champions Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) and Ana Paula GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN) are looking to make some noise on the senior level. They are entered into the competition at 55kg and 62kg, respectively.

In Greco-Roman, Benjamin PROVISOR (USA), Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON) and Leo Dalis SANTANA HEREDIA (DOM) are the trio of returning champs heading to Mexico.

Despite Cuba sitting out some of their top-tier talent on their Greco-Roman squad, superstars Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB) and Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB) are planning to return to the mat in Mexico.

Borrero, the two-time world champion and Rio Olympic gold medalist, will be lacing his boots up for the first time since the Tokyo Olympic Games. After dominating his way gold at the 2019 World Championships, the Cuban was favored to win gold at the Tokyo Olympics. But after battling COVID twice, Borrero lacked his ’19 strength and conditioning and failed to medal in Japan.

Pino Hinds, the ’19 world runner-up, will be jumping back into the Cuban lineup after taking a bench seat due to the return of four-time Olympic champion Mijain LOPEZ (CUB).

Headliners Kyle DAKE (USA) and Kyle SNYDER (USA) round out the list of last year’s gold medalists heading to Mexico.

Dake, the Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist, is set to return to action for the first time since winning his third consecutive world title. He’ll compete at the Olympic weight of 74kg.

Snyder, the seven-time world and Olympic medalist, will step on the mat for the third time this season. He opened the year with a gold at the Ivan Yariguin. He’ll wrestle at 97kg. He defeated J'den COX (USA), who'll be in USA's lineup at 92kg, in a best-two-of-three series, two-matches-to-none.

Other freestyle guys to pay attention to are reigning world champions Thomas GILMAN (USA) and Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) Gilman will wrestle at the Olympic weight of 57kg, while Burroughs and Cox will wrestle at the non-Olympic weights of 79kg and 92kg, respectively.

All the action from Mexico starts April 5 and can be followed live on www.uww.org.

Three-time world champion Kyle DAKE (USA) will be looking to defend his 74kg Pan-Am title. He's entered at 74kg. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Freestyle

57kg
Bryan Lucas DE OLIVEIRA PEREIRA (BRA)
Darthe CAPELLAN (CAN)
Pedro Alfredo GALAZ PAVEZ (CHI)
Oscar Eduardo TIGREROS URBANO (COL)
Alexei ALVAREZ BLANCO (CUB)
Juan Rubelin RAMIREZ BELTRE (DOM)
Guesseppe Ricardo REA VILLARROEL (ECU)
Edwin Alexi SEGURA GUERRA (GUA)
Brandon Jesus ESCOBAR AMADOR (HON)
Roberto ALEJANDRO BLANCO (MEX)
Enrique Armando HERRERA HUACRE (PER)
Darian Toi CRUZ (PUR)
Thomas Patrick GILMAN (USA)
Joshua Andrew RODRIGUEZ (USA)
Pedro Jesus MEJIAS RODRIGUEZ (VEN)

61kg
Logan James SLOAN (CAN)
Pedro Bryan FLORES SALAZAR (MEX)
Joseph Andres SILVA (PUR)
Daton Duain FIX (USA)
Zachary R ESPOSITO (USA)

65kg
Agustin Alejandro DESTRIBATS (ARG)
Dom Juan MARTINS FERREIRA (BRA)
Jacob Tizoc ALEXANDER TORRES (CAN)
Andre Renato QUISPE FAJARDO (CHI)
Wber Euclides CUERO MUNOZ (COL)
Cristian Damian SOLENZAL LOPEZ (CUB)
Albaro RUDECINDO CAMACHO (DOM)
Mauricio Javier SANCHEZ SALTOS (ECU)
Jonnathan Alejandro PEREZ CASTELLANOS (GUA)
Cristian Bernardo SANTIAGO PEREZ (MEX)
Sixto Miguel AUCCAPINA PEDRAGAS (PER)
Sebastian C RIVERA (PUR)
Julian Andres PEREZ CONDE (URU)
Joseph Christopher MC KENNA (USA)
Adonys Josue MONTERO CHIRINOS (VEN)

70kg
Cristian Andres KARLIKOWSKI (ARG)
Vinicius DA SILVA JOAQUIM (BRA)
Emmanuel Olufemi OLAPADE (CAN)
Alexis OLVERA MAGALLANES (MEX)
Jhon Wilmer CHUNGA CARRENO (PER)
Zain Allen RETHERFORD (USA)

74kg
Cesar BORDEAUX REGO ALVAN (BRA)
Jasmit Singh PHULKA (CAN)
Leon Juan Pablo PERALTA LANAS (CHI)
Andres Alexander RAMIREZ MEJIAS (COL)
Franklin MAREN CASTILLO (CUB)
Julio Rafael RODRIGUEZ ROMERO (DOM)
Sergio Peter GODOY VITE (ECU)
Enrique Josue PEREZ CASTELLANOS (GUA)
Diego Antonio SANDOVAL ZARCO (MEX)
Angel Eduardo CORTES BONILLA (PAN)
Pablo Dario VERA INSFRAN (PAR)
Antony Gaston IPARRAGUIRRE PEREYRA (PER)
Franklin GOMEZ MATOS (PUR)
Kyle Douglas DAKE (USA)
Anthony Jose MONTERO CHIRINOS (VEN)

79kg
Samuel Jacob BARMISH (CAN)
Juan Sebastian RIVERA GARCIA (COL)
Miguel Angel ORNELAS REYNOSO (MEX)
Raymin Mir HOSSEINI (PAR)
Victor J SANTOS ACOSTA (PUR)
Jordan Ernest BURROUGHS (USA)

86kg
Jorge Ivan LLANO (ARG)
Andrew Gonzalo VERA JACKSON (BOL)
Giovanni DE OLIVEIRA GAION PIAZZA (BRA)
Taran William GORING (CAN)
Eduardo Ivan GAJARDO MENESES (CHI)
Carlos Arturo IZQUIERDO MENDEZ (COL)
Lazaro Daniel HERNANDEZ LUIS (CUB)
Jorge Klever ANDY TIWI (ECU)
Christian Alejandro ANGUIANO FLORES (MEX)
Ethan Adrian RAMOS (PUR)
Zahid VALENCIA (USA)
Pedro Francisco CEBALLOS FUENTES (VEN)

92kg
Cassio BARBOSA DE OLIVEIRA (BRA)
Jeremy Adam POIRIER (CAN)
Cristian Leopoldo SANCHEZ HERNANDEZ (MEX)
Jden Michael Tbory COX (USA)
Gilberto Segundo AYALA RODRIGUEZ (VEN)

97kg
Ricardo Adrian BAEZ (ARG)
Huberth Efrain SOLIZ MAYSER (BOL)
Ailton BRITO ROCHA (BRA)
Nishan Preet Singh RANDHAWA (CAN)
Matias Ignacio URIBE SEPULVEDA (CHI)
Miller MONDRAGON ARBOLEDA (COL)
Maxwell Lemar LACEY GARITA (CRC)
Arturo SILOT TORRES (CUB)
Luis Miguel PEREZ SOSA (DOM)
Esdras Carlos LOPEZ PEREZ (MEX)
Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA)
Cristian Jose SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN)

125kg
Catriel Pehuen MURIEL (ARG)
Gabriel DE SOUSA SILVA (BRA)
Amarveer DHESI (CAN)
Diego Jesus ALMENDRAS RODRIGUEZ (CHI)
Jhoan Andres OCORO PALOMINO (COL)
Ibrain TORRES ESPINOSA (CUB)
Elison ADAMES GARCIA (DOM)
Brandon Eloin ANGUIANO FLORES (MEX)
Charles Zachary MERRILL (PUR)
Nicholas Edward GWIAZDOWSKI (USA)
Jose Daniel DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN)

Olympic champion Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB) will return to the mat at the Pan-American Championships. He'll compete at 67kg. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman

55kg
Gemerson MOURA DOS SANTOS (BRA)
Brandon Jesus ESCOBAR AMADOR (HON)
Axel Andre SALAS ESQUIVEL (MEX)
Brady Andrew KOONTZ (USA)

60kg
Marat GARIPOV (BRA)
Pedro Maximiliano GUTIERREZ URRUTIA (CHI)
Dicther Hans TORO CASTANEDA (COL)
Leonardo HERRERA HECHEVARRIA (CUB)
Maikol JOSEFA (DOM)
Antonio Jordan RUIZ MORA (ECU)
Emerson Isaias FELIPE ORDONEZ (GUA)
Samuel GURRIA VIGUERAS (MEX)
Joao Marco BENAVIDES ROCHABRUN (PER)
Randon Drew MIRANDA (USA)
Raiber Jose RODRIGUEZ OROZCO (VEN)

63kg
Jose Alberto RODRIGUEZ HERNANDEZ (MEX)
Samuel Lee JONES (USA)

67kg
Mauricio Alejandro LOVERA (ARG)
Kenedy Anderson MORAES PEDROSA (BRA)
Cristobal Alonso TORRES NUNEZ (CHI)
Julian Stiven HORTA ACEVEDO (COL)
Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB)
Enyer Manuel FELICIANO (DOM)
Cristhian Alberto RIVAS CASTRO (ECU)
Andres Roberto MONTANO ARROYO (ECU)
Jose Alejandro VARELA GARCIA (GUA)
Diego Alberto MARTINEZ DE LEIJA (MEX)
Lisandro Manuel CABRERA ORTIZ (PAR)
Nilton Gonzalo Marcos SOTO GARCIA (PER)
Hayden Daniel TUMA (USA)
Neiser MARIMON HIDALGO (VEN)

72kg
Horacio Oscar MIRANDA (ARG)
Cristian Estuardo MEJIA TEPEN (GUA)
Edsson Rafael OLMOS GUTIERREZ (MEX)
Angel Eduardo CORTES BONILLA (PAN)
Patrick Harrison SMITH (USA)

77kg
Jerome Kamel HOYTE (BAR)
Cristian Alberto NOVA ROCA (BOL)
Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA)
John YEATS (CAN)
Diego Alonso MORENO OLGUIN (CHI)
Jair Alexis CUERO MUNOZ (COL)
Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB)
Luis Alfredo DE LEON (DOM)
Daniel Alejandro PINARGOTE SORNOZA (ECU)
David Elias CHOC HUOC (GUA)
Emmanuel Alexis BENITEZ CASTRO (MEX)
Alvis Albino ALMENDRA JIMENEZ (PAN)
Raymin Mir HOSSEINI (PAR)
Ryan CUBAS CASTILLO (PER)
Ravaughn Richard Ravelle PERKINS (USA)
Daniel David BELLO VEGA (VEN)

82kg
Michael Hendson NASCIMENTO DA SILVA LIMA (BRA)
Ioannis NARLIDIS (CAN)
Nestor Joaquin TAFUR BARRIOS (COL)
Reinier JIMENEZ TERRY (GUA)
Daniel VICENTE GOMEZ (MEX)
Benjamin Errol PROVISOR (USA)

87kg
Andre Luiz RAMOS PINTO (BRA)
Guillermo Andres GONZALEZ SEPULVEDA (CHI)
Carlos Andres MUNOZ JARAMILLO (COL)
Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB)
Johan Antonio BATISTA (DOM)
Ariel Andres ALFONSO RODRIGUEZ (HON)
Alfonso Antonio LEYVA YEPEZ (MEX)
Pool Edinson AMBROCIO GREIFO (PER)
Richard James CARLSON (USA)
Luis Eduardo AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN)

97kg
Igor Fernando ALVES DE QUEIROZ (BRA)
Eduardo Ivan GAJARDO MENESES (CHI)
Carlos Andres VALOR DOMINGUEZ (COL)
Juan Luis CONDE IBANEZ (CUB)
Carlos Alberto ADAMES PALMER (DOM)
Jean Paul NAZARENO NAZARENO (ECU)
Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON)
Luis Gerardo RIVERA ALVARADO (MEX)
Tracy Gangelo HANCOCK (USA)

130kg
Eduard SOGHOMONYAN (BRA)
Jacob Fredrick PHILLIPS (CAN)
Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI)
Crhistian David BRAVO VALENCIA (COL)
Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB)
Leo Dalis SANTANA HEREDIA (DOM)
Christian Rafael CHAJON GARCIA (GUA)
Gino Tanislado AVILA DILBERT (HON)
Paul Baltazar MORALES BOJORQUEZ (MEX)
Edgardo Juan LOPEZ MORELL (PUR)
Tanner Richard FARMER (USA)
Moises Salvador PEREZ HELLBURG (VEN)

USAOlympic bronze medalist Sarah HILDEBRANDY headlines the women's wrestling entries. She'll compete at 50kg. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Women’s Wrestling

50kg
Patricia Alejandra BERMUDEZ (ARG)
Kamila BARBOSA VITO DA SILVA (BRA)
Madison Bianca PARKS (CAN)
Margarita Priscila GONZALEZ GREZ (CHI)
Alisson Camila CARDOZO REY (COL)
Yoannia PEREZ  NUNEZ (CUB)
Fabiana DIAZ (DOM)
Jacqueline Del Rocio MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU)
Laura Gabriela PEREDO TORRES (MEX)
Rita Fatima ROJAS CHAVEZ (MEX)
Yorlenis Milagros MORAN SANCHEZ (PAN)
Thalia Jihann MALLQUI PECHE (PER)
Shammilka Alondra MIRANDA DIAZ (PUR)
Sarah Ann HILDEBRANDT (USA)
Mariana Raimary ROJAS DIAZ (VEN)

53kg
Sabrina GAMA TAPAJOS (BRA)
Samantha Leigh STEWART (CAN)
Javiera Belen ORTEGA FERNANDEZ (CHI)
Sandy Yalixa PARRA PARRA (COL)
Amanda HERNANDEZ RODRIGUEZ (CUB)
Anny Guillermina RAMIREZ PEREZ (DOM)
Luisa Elizabeth VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU)
Karla Abigail ACOSTA MARTINEZ (MEX)
Lourdes Veronica GRENNO MAUNE (PAR)
Nathaly Marilu HERRERA HUACRE (PER)
Gabriela Nicole RAMOS DIAZ (PUR)
Dominique Olivia PARRISH (USA)
Betzabeth Angelica ARGUELLO VILLEGAS (VEN)

55kg
Lislly LIMA DA SILVA (BRA)
Karla Lorena GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN)
Lucia Yamileth YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU)
Brenda Esmeralda Isay FERNANDEZ SALAZAR (MEX)
Nadia Comanecci TRUJILLANO LA ROSA (PER)
Jacarra Gwenisha WINCHESTER (USA)

57kg
Camila Agustina AMARILLA (ARG)
Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA)
Alexandria Rebekkah TOWN (CAN)
Antonia Alejandra VALDES ARRIAGADA (CHI)
Tatiana HURTADO LERMA (COL)
Yaynelis SANZ VERDECIA (CUB)
Maria Marilin GONZALES DE LA ROSA (DOM)
Heidy Katherine ALCIVAR MOREIRA (ECU)
Alma Jane VALENCIA ESCOTO (MEX)
Nes Marie RODRIGUEZ TIRADO (PUR)
Mayra Alejandra PARRA ALVAREZ (VEN)

59kg
Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN)
Ameyalli Sayil JESSEL ROJAS (MEX)
Xochitl Citalli MOTA PETTIS (USA)

62kg
Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA)
Ana Paula GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN)
Javiera Fernanda ROCO PARDO (CHI)
Andrea Yurani GONZALEZ GONGORA (COL)
Yolanda Mercedes CORDERO VARGAS (CUB)
Gloria Saray SEGURA FEBLES (DOM)
Leonela Aleyda AYOVI PARRAGA (ECU)
Alejandra ROMERO BONILLA (MEX)
Ashley Chantelle ZARATE CAMPBELL (PAN)
Kayla Colleen Kiyoko MIRACLE (USA)
Astrid Paola MONTERO CHIRINOS (VEN)

65kg
Miki Elizabeth ROWBOTTOM (CAN)
Saidy Lorena CHAVEZ FIGUEROA (HON)
Atzimba Morelia LANDAVERDE MORENO (MEX)
Forrest Ann MOLINARI (USA)

68kg
Grabriela PEDRO DA ROCHA (BRA)
Kayla Mary BEDNARCIK BRODNER (CAN)
Isidora Romina Manuela DIAZ MARTINEZ (CHI)
Paula Andrea MONTOYA GARCIA (COL)
Hangelen LLANES ECHEVARRIA (CUB)
Yessica Coraima OVIEDO PEREZ (DOM)
Silvia Esperanza HERNANDEZ GONZALES (GUA)
Ambar Michell GARNICA FLORES (MEX)
Yanet Ursula SOVERO NINO (PER)
Ginamarie SANTIAGO AYALA (PUR)
Alara Lea BOYD (USA)
Soleymi Antonieta CARABALLO HERNANDEZ (VEN)

72kg
Brenda AGUIAR DOS SANTOS (BRA)
Taylor Ann FOLLENSBEE (CAN)
Maria Guadalupe GARCIA BAUTISTA (MEX)
Skylar Allison Elizabeth GROTE (USA)

76kg
Linda Marilina MACHUCA (ARG)
Ruthy Hellen PINHAL DOS SANTOS (BRA)
Justina Renay DI STASIO (CAN)
Nataly Maria OVANDO ROJAS (CHI)
Tatiana RENTERIA RENTERIA (COL)
Milaimys de la Caridad MARIN POTRILLE (CUB)
Emelyn Anyelina BAUTISTA CORCINO (DOM)
Genesis Rosangela REASCO VALDEZ (ECU)
Luz Maria HERNANDEZ HERNANDEZ (MEX)
Diana Luisa Victoria CRUZ ARROYO (PER)
Dymond Precious GUILFORD (USA)
Maria Jose ACOSTA ACOSTA (VEN)

2026 Muhamet Malo

Sadulaev Returns to Tirana as Stacked 97kg Field Awaits

Friday, February 20, 2026 - 14:01 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (February 20) -- For four years the 97kg weight class was considered the premier one in international wrestling. Then all of a sudden it was not. Rivalries is what makes divisions and following the absence of Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW), the 97kg category had lost one half of it's.

Sadulaev's rivalry with Kyle SNYDER (USA) had begun in 2017, peaked at the Tokyo Olympics and just when it seemed the Russian was emerging dominant, he disappeared from the scene.

Then Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) came and went. Snyder picked up two world titles in Sadulaev's absence. Newer wrestlers threatened but none appeared to be as good as Sadulaev and Snyder.

Slowly other weight classes gave fans more. Like 86kg with David TAYLOR (USA) and Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) becoming the two pillars. 65kg was the deepest weight every year. In fact, no world or Olympic champion has won the gold medal consecutively at 65kg since 2008.

At 74kg, shake-up kept happening with Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) making way for Kyle DAKE (USA). But Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) was the leader until Razambek JAMALOV (UZB), Chermen VALIEV (ALB), and Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) came along.

But 97kg is back in the spotlight.

Five months after he became the world champion, Snyder will be part of a new chapter of the 97kg series as Sadulaev returns to competition in this weight class after more than two years.

Wrestling at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series event in Tirana, Albania, Sadulaev will join Snyder, Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE), Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ), Batyrbek TSUKALOV (SVK), Mukhamed KHANIEV (UWW), among others. If Sadulaev and Snyder clash, it will be their first match since the 2021 World Championships final in Oslo, Norway.

Snyder is still the rock he is, pressuring wrestlers into giving up at his pace. It is how he won his fourth world title in Zagreb. He easily overpowers everyone except Sadulaev.

But will Sadulaev be at his best? The 29-year-old last competed at the 2024 Non-Olympic World Championships, winning gold at 92kg after that epic semifinal against Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI). From his social media, Sadulaev seems to be in shape, sharing videos of his training from the gym, mat and even outdoors. He also had an interesting training session with Greco-Roman Olympic champion Musa EVLOEV (UWW), who has now decided to skip the event after initially registering.

The challengers will definitely have their chances in Tirana. Aitmukhan leads the pack, spurred by his victory over Tazhudinov at the Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 in October. The 2023 world champion at 92kg has slowly improved and was fifth at the World Championships.

Olympic bronze medalist Magomedov will be another threat but his struggles with conditioning are evident from past tournaments. Khaniev, a 92kg silver medalist at U23 World Championships, is another exciting talent making his debut at 97kg. With veterans in the mix, Khaniev has to find a way to move past them.

Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE)Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) defeated Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IR) at 86kg at the ISG 2025. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

A few other weight classes will see match-ups that may or may not occur again.

World bronze medalist Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) starts his 2026 season at 86kg. He defeated Ghasempour for a tactical victory at the ISG 2025 in Riyadh. At the World Championships, he dropped his quarterfinal to Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN), 13-8, before returning to win the bronze medal.

Dzhioev will be wary of two wrestlers in particular -- Kyle DAKE (USA) and Ibragim KADIEV (UWW). Dake, a world champion at both 74kg and 79kg, will make his first international appearance at 86kg and first since the 2024 Paris Olympics. Dake, who will turn 35 on February 25, is still adjusting to the new weight and Tirana will be a huge test.

Kadiev, a former U20 world champion, lost a close bout to Ghasempour at the World Championships but has what it takes to go all the way in Tirana.

Earlier in February, former world silver medalist at 79kg Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) impressed with a silver medal performance in Zagreb. The same was not true for 79kg world champion Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) who made his 86kg debut. Both will return at 86kg in Tirana. Another wrestler moving up is Alp Arslan BEGENJOV (TKM), a former U20 world champion at 79kg. Veteran of this weight, Osman GOCEN (TUR), would like to disrupt the order as well.

Zavur UGUEV (UWW)Zavur UGUEV (UWW), world champion at 61kg, is the favorite in Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

World champion Zavur UGUEV (UWW) will be at 61kg and the favorite despite the presence of Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) and world bronze medalist Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB).

Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ), world silver medalist from 57kg, will also try his hand at 61kg. Zagreb Open gold medalist Austin DESANTO (USA) is also among the names at 61kg.

Former 61kg world champion Vitali ARUJAU (USA) is moving to 65kg. He is expected to have a challenging field though. World bronze medalist Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) will be the biggest threat as he begins the new season. U23 world champion and Zagreb Open champion SUJEET (IND) has also entered the second straight Ranking Series event.

U23 world bronze medalist Bilol SHARIP UULU (KGZ), who lost the semifinals to Jalolov, world fifth-placer Peiman BIABANI (CAN), and former U20 world champion Mohit KUMAR (IND) are also part of the weight class.

European champion at 65kg Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) will be wrestling at 70kg in Tirana. He had a rather underwhelming World Championships, losing the bronze medal bout to Jalolov. In Tirana, he will be checked by Asian champion Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ), who was once the most versatile wrestler but has faded a little recently.

Austin GOMEZ (MEX) and Islam DUDAEV (ALB) are also at 70kg and the former can run through the field on his day.

Azerbaijan will have a domestic battle at 74kg as Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) will be challenged by 70kg U23 world champion Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE). The jump to 74kg from Heybatov sets up an intense battle in Azerbaijan as both eye the spot on the European and World Championships teams later. However, the weight difference may give Bayramov the edge.

But both also have to face competition from former world medalist Yones EMAMI (IRI), Asian silver medalist Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), and Inalbek SHERIEV (UWW), a 2024 world bronze medalist at 70kg.

Iran will hope that Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI), one of their choices at 92kg, returns with a gold medal, just like Mobin AZIMI (IRI) did at the Zagreb Open. Azimi, however, lost his Nelson bracket bout to world champion Trent HIDLAY (USA) before the American forfeited the final.

The 125kg weight class will throw a few battles. World silver medalist Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) will be the favorite in a field that also has Mason PARRIS (USA), Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA), Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB), and Abdulla KURBANOV (UWW).

Freestyle action will kick off the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series 2026 on February 25 in Tirana on UWW+. Click here for full schedule. Click here for Mumahet Malo 2026 entries.