#WrestleRome

Chamizo and Gazimagomedov to Collide in Sunday's European Finals

Saturday, February 15, 2020 - 17:49 By Eric Olanowski

Share this article

ROME, Italy (February 15) --- Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) and Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) will collide in a colossal matchup of two-time world champions on Sunday night for the 74kg European title. 

Chamizo, the 2015 and ’17 world champion, started his day off with a 6-5 win over fellow Rio Olympic bronze medalist, Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR). The pair combined to score ten points in the first period, but Chamizo’s three takedowns trumped Demirtas’ two takedowns, as the Italian won, 6-4.

In his second match, Chamizo tossed Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE) with a picturesque throw and moved into the quarterfinals with a fall over the young Azeri. 

In the quarterfinals, he shutout Valentin BORZIN (MDA), 8-0, setting up a semifinals matchup against Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN). Chamizo blanked the Hungarian, 6-0, and will wrestle in the European finals for the fifth time in his career. He’s 3-1 in his previous four trips to the finals and hasn’t dropped a gold-medal match since losing to Olympic champion Togrul ASGAROV (AZE) in the 2015 European Games finals. 

Chamizo will wrestle Gazimagomedov for the second time in their career and first since the 2017 Ali Aliev Tournament, where he won, 11-5. 

Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) finishes a shot against Stefanov KIROV (BUL) in the semifinals. (Photo: Gabor Martin) 

Gazimagomedov, the 2015 and ’18 world champion, won three matches on Saturday. His top win came in the quarterfinals when he grabbed the 9-2 victory over 2018 world runner-up Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO). Gazimagomedov’s other Saturday wins came against Jonatan ALVAREZ DIAZ (ESP) and Miroslav Stefanov KIROV (BUL). He defeated his Spanish opponent, 10-0, then downed his Bulgarian foe, 11-0.

Gazimagomedov, who replaced Russia's other two-time world champion Zaubek SIDAKOV (RUS), is wrestling in his second European finals. His lone appearance was in 2015, where he capped off the European Games with a win over Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL). 

Myles AMINE (SMR) is the first wrestler from San Marino to wrestle in the European finals. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Amine and Scherrer Lock up Finals Berth, Eyeing History 
Myles AMINE (SMR) and Samuel SCHERRER (SUI) cemented their spots in the European finals are on the verge of rewriting a page in their nation’s freestyle history books. 

Amine became the first wrestler from San Marino to reach the European finals, while Scherrer locked up Switzerland’s first trip to the continental gold-medal match in 74 years.  

At 86kg, Myles AMINE (SMR) edged Rasul TSIKHAYEU (BLR), 2-1, in the semifinals, and continued his streak of making history for San Marino. Last year, Amine finished in fifth place at the World Championships – becoming the first athlete from San Marino to qualify for the Olympic Games. He also won a bronze medal at the European Games, which was a first for his country.

Amine will wrestle Artur NAIFONOV (RUS) in a rematch of the bronze-medal bout from last year’s World Championships. Naifonov won that meeting, 6-0. 

Naifonov outscored his four Saturday opponents 21-2 and capped off his finals run with a 3-0 win over 2017 world silver medalist Boris MAKOEV (SVK). 

Samuel SCHERRER (SUI) became the first Swiss freestyle wrestler to reach the European finals since 1946.  (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Scherrer shutout Marzpet GALSTYAN (ARM), 6-0, in the semifinals and became the first Swiss wrestler to reach the European finals since Willy LARDON’S (SUI) trip to the 1946 European finals in Stockholm, Sweden. 

Scherrer will square off with Turkey’s Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR) for a shot at becoming the first Swiss wrestler to win European gold since Karl HEGGLIN (SUI) won gold at the 1935 European Championships in Brussels, Belgium. 

Karadeniz pancaked Irakli MTSITURI (GEO) to his back for the fall while holding a one-point lead with a short time left in the closing period. He’ll wrestle in the European finals for the first time in career. 

Aleksandr BOGOMOEV (RUS) celebrates his win over reigning champion Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM). (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Bogomoev Ends Harutyunyan’s Quest to Repeat as European Champion
Aleksandr BOGOMOEV (RUS) scored a dramatic takedown with five seconds left over Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), ending the young Armenian’s quest at repeating as European champion. 

Bogomoev hip tossed Harutyunyan in the first period and led 4-0. But the Russian surrendered six unanswered points and trailed by two points with under ten seconds left. Bogomoev fired off a late attack and scored the go-ahead takedown with under five seconds left, stopping the potential rematch between Harutyunyan and Beka LOMTADZE (GEO). 

Bogomoev will go toe-to-toe with the Georgian reigning world champion, Lomtadze, for the 61kg gold medal. 

Lomtadze earned his finals berth with a close 2-1 victory over Intigam VALIZADA (AZE). He fell behind 1-0 but scored two second-period points and claimed the one-point win. Lomtadze returns to the European finals for the fourth time in his career but is 0-3 in those appearances.

Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) smirks after reaching the 125kg European finals. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Petriashvili Moves into European Finals for the Fourth Time
Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) handled Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR), 6-2, in the semifinals, and locked up his fourth trip to the European finals. Petriashvili is 1-2 in his three trips to the European finals, and despite being the reigning three-time world champion, he hasn't won European gold since 2016.

He'll wrestle Poland’s Robert BARAN in the 125kg finals. Their Sunday matchup will be a rematch of the 2016 European finals, which was won by Petriashvili.

Baran blasted Levan BERIANIDZE (ARM), 9-0, in their semifinals meeting and will wrestle for European gold for the second time in his career. 

The final session of wrestling at the European Championships begins at 18:00 (local time) and can be followed live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org. 

RESULTS 
61kg
GOLD - Beka LOMTADZE (GEO) vs. Aleksandr BOGOMOEV (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Beka LOMTADZE (GEO) df. Intigam VALIZADA (AZE), 5-1 
SEMIFINAL - Aleksandr BOGOMOEV (RUS) df. Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), 6-4 

74kg 
GOLD - Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) vs. Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA)
SEMIFINAL - Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. Miroslav KIROV (BUL), 11-0 
SEMIFINAL - Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA) df. Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN), 6-0 

86kg
GOLD - Artur NAIFONOV (RUS) vs. Myles AMINE (SMR)
SEMIFINAL - Artur NAIFONOV (RUS) df. Boris MAKOEV (SVK), 3-0 
SEMIFINAL - Myles Nazem AMINE (SMR) df. Rasul TSIKHAYEU (BLR), 2-1 

92kg
GOLD - Samuel SCHERRER (SUI) vs. Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR)
SEMIFINAL - Samuel SCHERRER (SUI) df. Marzpet GALSTYAN (ARM), 6-0 
SEMIFINAL - Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR) df. Irakli MTSITURI (GEO), via fall 

125kg
GOLD - Robert BARAN (POL) vs. Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO)
SEMIFINAL - Robert BARAN (POL) df. Levan BERIANIDZE (ARM), 9-0 
SEMIFINAL - Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) df. Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR), 7-2

#WrestleTirana

Olympic medalists in strong field set to light up Tirana

Monday, February 24, 2025 - 12:21 By Vinay Siwach

Share this article

TIRANA, Albania (February 24) -- After he won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) was asked his wrestling journey. He replied that he "had many problems" but will go through it again without second thoughts.

Taking his first step in the new Olympic cycle for 2028 LA Olympic, Novikov won the prestigious Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov tournament in January and is now wrestling his first Ranking Series event of the year -- the Muhamet Malo in Tirana.

Novikov is the only Paris Olympic champion who has returned to a UWW tournament since winning gold in August last year. He will be up against a top 87kg Greco-Roman field at the second Ranking Series of the year.

The tournament will be held in Tirana from February 26 to March 2 with important Ranking Series points up for grabs. The Zagreb Open, held two weeks ago, and Muhamet Malo will be crucial for wrestler hoping to get seeded at the continental championships that begin in March.

Novikov will be expecting rematches with David LOSONCZI (HUN) and Alireza MOHAMADIPIANI (IRI), both of whom he beat in Paris. Losonczi has Istvan TAKACS (HUN) and Tamas LEVAI (HUN) to watch out for as Hungary to second its pick for the European Championships.

Georgia is doing the same with Gurami KHETSURIANI (GEO), Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) and Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) entered at 87kg while other strong contenders include Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) and Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB).

Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI)Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) is hoping to be Iran's mainstay at 60kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake KIRKMAN)

Despite the dropouts in other weight classes across styles just days before the tournament, it still throws quite a strong field.

At 60kg, Iran is pushing for Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) as it's flagbearer after struggling to find a world-beater. His first senior test will see him go up against a few stars including world champion Victor CIOBANU (MDA), Olympian Enes BASAR (TUR) and Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) among others.

Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) was at 60kg earlier and was about to retire after Paris Olympics. However, he is wrestling at 63kg in Tirana and Turkiye's Kerem KAMAL (TUR) is also returning to action.

At 72kg, Levente LEVAI (HUN), who surprisingly won Zagreb Open gold, will look to continue his run but has hurdles in the name of former world champion Ali ARSALAN (SRB) and European champion Selcuk CAN (TUR).

Paris Olympic bronze medalist Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) is warming up for the Asian Championships and will be the favorite to win the gold medal at 130kg. He has Tokyo silver medalist Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) and age-group world champion Hamza BAKIR (TUR) in the bracket as well.

Chermen VALIEV (ALB)Chermen VALIEV (ALB) is a Paris Olympic medalist at 74kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Freestyle

Albania's star Freestyle trio of Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB), Islam DUDAEV (ALB) and Chermen VALIEV (ALB) are wrestler in front of their home crowd. All three are returning to action since the Paris Games in which Dudaev and Valiev won bronze medals.

Abakarov will be tested by former European champion Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) and Artem GOBAEV (UWW) at 61kg.

Dudaev will have tougher challenges at 65kg. He is likely to have a Paris rematch with silver medalist Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) who is expected to be Iran's representative at the Asian Championships.

U23 world champion Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) is also entered and is always the biggest threat for the gold medal. Amouzad and Dudaev will be cautious of the rising star.

For Valiev, Yones EMAMI (IRI) and Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) could be the trouble-makers at 74kg, a weight class he is expected to dominate. Valiev and Salkazanov match for styles but Valiev seems to always find a way to score points while Salkazanov is more of a tactical wrestler who can play the clock well.

Naychn KUULAR (KAZ)Nachyn KUULAR (KAZ), a former U23 world champion, wrestling in Bundesliga. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 70kg, former U23 world champion Nachyn KUULAR (KAZ) is turning up for UWW competition after six years, this time for Kazakhstan. Kuular, who represented Russia previously, has kept himself in the news with a win over Olympic champion Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) in the Bundesliga, albeit at 71kg.

Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) won't have great memories of Tirana as he lost the World Championships semifinal to Abdulrashid SADULAEV in the last second and returned empty-handed. But he is back in Tirana with less expectations and pressure at 92kg as he begins an Olympic cycle in which he may finally get to be at the Olympics.

At 125kg, Olympic silver medalist Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) will be in action and the favorite to win gold medal as well.

Kyle SNYDER (USA) will be wrestling at back-to-back Ranking Series events. He won the gold medal in Zagreb and is expected to be in Tirana as well. A second gold medal this year will push him to the top of the ranking at 97kg.

Moe KIYOOKA (JPN)Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) is the world champion at 55kg but wrestling at 53kg in Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Women's Wrestling

Japan is sending its six Emperor's Cup winners to Tirana. The six include two world champions from last year as Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) and Ami ISHII (JPN) return to Tirana for another trip.

Others include former age-group world champion Umi ITO (JPN) who finished with a bronze at the U23 World Championships, will also be returning to Tirana. Former world champion Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) [nee OKUNO], is registered at 55kg, U20 world champion Sakura ONISHI (JPN) is at 59kg, world bronze medalist Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) at 65kg and Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN) is at 76kg.

China too is sending a strong but a relatively new team. It will be led by former 59kg world champion Qi ZHANG (CHN) who is moving up to 62kg for this tournament. She will be wrestling for the Asian Championships spot as well against teammate LILI (CHN) who won world bronze medal in 2023.

Grace BULLEN (NOR)Grace BULLEN (NOR) is returning to action at 62kg after Paris. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

However, Paris Olympic bronze medalist Grace BULLEN (NOR) will be the favorite in this weight class which also Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) and Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL). Bullen will be wrestling at her first competition since winning the first Olympic medal for Norway in Women's Wrestling in Paris.

62kg silver medalist at Paris Olympic Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) is wrestling at 65kg for the Ranking Series. She will be up against former world champions Irina RINGACI (MDA) and Morikawa in her bracket which will be divided into two groups as the weight class has only seven wrestlers. There is a chance that all three wrestler end up in the same group.

Another loaded weight class is the 55kg in which Zagreb Open champion Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) will be looking to add a second gold medal of the Ranking Series. In Zagreb, she wrestled only one match -- final -- but Albania has a bigger bracket which also includes Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW), Okuno, Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) and Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR).

At 72kg, three-time world silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) will hope to win gold in Tirana as she lost the World Championships final here last year despite leading it at one point. 

Her compatriot and former Asian champion Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) is registered at 76kg but her path to gold medal may not be as easy. The weight class also has Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) and Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) who will look to confirm her spot at 76kg for Ukraine in the new Olympic cycle.