#Grappling, World Grappling Championships

Crane defends as U.S. takes charge at Grapping World Championships

Tuesday, August 22, 2023 - 11:19 By Vinay Siwach

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WARSAW, Poland (August 23) — It may have only won two finals out of the five its grapplers reached, but the result was good enough for the United States to win the team title over Kazakhstan for the second straight year at the Grappling World Championships in Warsaw.

Led by defending champion Kevin CRANE (USA), the U.S. accumulated 135 points to win team title while Kazakhstan finished second with 108 points. Home team Poland stepped on the podium at third with 91 points.

Crane defended his gold medal at 84kg by beating Defending champion Kevin CRANE (USA) home favorite and returning bronze medalist Mateusz MAZUR (POL), 5-4, in a thrilling final. Crane got the final underway with two points as Mazur decided to play from the bottom. Crane was called passive on the top and a point was added to Mazur’s score.

Mazur, the European champion, managed to get Crane off the top and brought him down on his back to score two points. As time passed, Mazur failed to continue his active grappling and was cautioned for stalling which gave a point to Crane who now led 3-3 on criteria.

With just over a minute left, Crane got a single leg for two while Mazur tried to match his pace. Crane was happy to concede a point for stalling but Mazur gave it one final go with 15 seconds on the clock. He got out of the bottom position and tried getting Crane down. However, Crane managed to survive a slip and kept Mazur on his back as the clock ran out.

Perhaps that win hyped up compatriot Mario GONZALEZ (USA) as he dominated the 130kg final against Lukasz OLECH (POL), winning the gold medal 12-1. In earlier rounds, Gonzalez upset returning world champion John HANSEN (USA) 6-2.

For the first two minutes of the final, both Gonzalez and Olech seemed to be playing the waiting game and it was after two minutes that Gonzalez got a point for Olech’s passivity. He scored two stepouts to make it 3-0.

With the clock ticking, Olech tried building some forward pressure but Gonzalez was quick to get out of the underhooks. As Olech fell because of his forward movement, Gonzalez scored two points by Olech on his back. With Olech’s shoulders touching the mat, Gonzalez was awarded three points and later awarded four as he continued to lock Olech. Only in the final seconds was he called for stalling, giving up a point in the 12-1 win.

Poland won a gold medal as defending champion at 100kg Andrzej IWAT (POL) won via submission against Eliot KELLY (USA), who was sporting a full-sleeve, in the final. Kelly finished fifth last year while Iwat has not lost in United World Wrestling’s Grappling competitions since the Grappling Gi loss in Pontevedra last year.

Iwat began from the bottom but never let Kelly get control from the top. As the two scrambled, Iwat got hold of Kelly’s leg and locked it despite them rolling over twice. With 3:40 left in the match, Kelly tapped out giving Iwat his second gold medal at the World Championships.

Poland could have had another world champion but Saar SHEMESH (ISR) came back to beat Piotr FRECHOWICZ (POL) 5-5 in the 92kg final after the two dominated their runs to the final.

Expectedly, both did not give an inch to each other in the gold medal match which went down to the wire. Frechowicz scored the opening two points as he controlled Shemesh from the top and tried to lock Shemesh. But Shemesh took the 2-2 criteria lead by putting Frechowicz on the mat.

Shemesh was called for passivity and Frechowicz got the one point. But his lead was short lived as Shemesh went on top again and kept Frechowicz’s back on the mat with control. The referee did not award two points but Shemesh challenged and got the three points on review to lead 5-3 with 2:51 left on the clock.

Frechowicz did not give up and scored two points for control on top and took the 5-5 criteria lead and remained on top for the rest of the bout. Shemesh challenged the criteria as he had a three-point technique. Shemesh was declared the winner which left Frechowicz in complete disarray.

At 62kg, Temerlin AZIZOV (FRA), a freestyle wrestler till two years ago, won the gold medal over Gavin TEASDALE (USA), beating the U.S. grappler via submission. Azizov won three out of his four bouts before the final via criteria decisions but was a completely different force in the final against Teasdale.

Azizov used his wrestling traits in the final by putting collar ties and trying single-leg attacks. But Teasdale locked him from behind and looked to put him down. However, Azizov got a trip with headlock to control Teasdale before a headchoke got him the submission with 2:37 left in the match.

Kazakhstan crowned a world champion last year’s bronze medalist at 77kg  Adlan MADAYEV (KAZ) stepped up on the podium after beating Brady WICKLUND (USA) via submission in the final.

Wicklund remained on top for majority of the final scoring two points and Madayev got two points for Wicklund’s stalling. But Madayev got Wicklund’s arm and rolled over with his legs across Wicklund’s head, forcing the American to tap out instantly.

Bekzat KAPASHOV (KAZ), however, could not repeat his compatriot’s exploits and ended up with a silver medal at 66kg after Giorgi RAZMADZE (GEO) defeated him in the final.

Razmadze began the gold medal bout with a stepout and got another as Kapashov tried to evade one of his attacks. Kazakhstan challenged the second stepout call but lost, giving Razmadze two more points.

Kapashov got Razmadze in control quite a few times but was never able to control him on the mat. Razmadze reversed one of Kapashov’s attack with a toss and got the control to lead 6-0. Kapashov tried a head lock submission but failed to get it as Razmadze ran out the clock.

In one of the most entertaining weight classes, European Championships silver medalist Iker CAMARA (ESP) won gold over Euro bronze medalist Dzhimsher RAZMADZE (GEO) in the 71kg final 7-2 decision.

Razmadze, who defeated returning champion Nurbek TALBUDIN (KAZ) in the semifinals, opened the scoring with an ankle pick but was called for stalling, giving Camara his first point. As the two remained in the same position, Camara tried different locks but Razmadze was happy blocking which cost him another point.

The bout had to be restarted in neutral with Razmadze on top but failed to show activity and the referees score another point for Camara who now led 3-2. Propelled by the lead, Camara reversed the positions and scored two points in the final 20 seconds to lead 5-2 as the clock expired. Razmadze challenged only to see two more points added to Camara’s score.

The grapplers will return on Thursday, the final day of the World Championships, for the Grappling Gi competition.

RESULTS

62kg
GOLD: Temirlan AZIZOV (FRA) df. Gavin TEASDALE (USA), via submission (2-0)

BRONZE: Arulan KURMANALIYEV (KAZ) df. Mayis NERSESYAN (ARM), 8-3
BRONZE: Loris ZANOLINI (ITA) df. Farhad BAGIROV (AZE), 13-2

66kg
GOLD: Giorgi RAZMADZE (GEO) df. Bekzat KAPASHOV (KAZ), 6-1

BRONZE: Omri HAVIV (ISR) df. Wojciech PAJAK (POL), via disqualification
BRONZE; Anthony DE OLIVEIRA (FRA) df. Yeldos UALI (KAZ), via submission

71kg
GOLD:  Iker CAMARA (ESP) df. Dzhimsher RAZMADZE (GEO), 7-2

BRONZE: Nico PULVERMUELLER (GER) df. Donat DEMETER (HUN), 2-2
BRONZE: Nurbek TALBUDIN (KAZ) df. Hamid HAMIDLI (AZE), 8-3

77kg
GOLD: Adlan MADAYEV (KAZ) df. Brady WICKLUND (USA), via submission (2-2)

BRONZE: Evyatar PAPERNI (ISR) df. Sergio IBARRA (USA), via submission (4-4)
BRONZE: Nahman BITON (ISR) df. Djabrail DJABRAILOV (FRA), via forfeit

84kg
GOLD:  Kevin CRANE (USA) df. Mateusz MAZUR (POL), 5-4

BRONZE: Pawel JAWORSKI (POL) df. Dmitrii TKACHENKO (UKR), via cautions (4-2)
BRONZE: Aurel PIRTEA (ROU) df. Manuel PILATO (ITA), via submission (5-2)

92kg
GOLD:  Saar SHEMESH (ISR) df. Piotr FRECHOWICZ (POL), 5-5

BRONZE: Pawel NEDZI (POL) df. Roman KIZIUK (UKR), 4-4
BRONZE: Paul ARDILA (USA) df. Levente LAKY (HUN), via submission (0-3)

100kg
GOLD:  Andrzej IWAT (POL) df. Eliot KELLY (USA), via submission (0-2)

BRONZE: Aleksandre TEVZADZE (GEO) df. Mourad BENGHOUNE (FRA), via submission (2-0)
BRONZE: Kamil WOJCIECHOWSKI (POL) df. Ramazan ABDRAKHIMOV (KAZ), 5-3

130kg
GOLD: Mario GONZALEZ (USA) df. Lukasz OLECH (POL), 12-1

BRONZE: John HANSEN (USA) df. Ioannis KARGIOTAKIS (GRE), via submission (6-0)
BRONZE: Talgat ZHIYENTAYEV (KAZ) df. Wojciech WILK (POL), 8-1

Obituary

Abdullah Movahed: Iranian Legend Who Elevated Wrestling to Art Form

Friday, May 1, 2026 - 10:44 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland, (May 1) -- Abdullah MOVAHED (IRI), one of the all-time greats of world wrestling and a dominant force in Freestyle during the 1960s, passed away in the United States on Thursday, April 30, after suffering a heart stroke. The Iranian legend was 86.

A member of the United World Wrestling Hall of Fame, Movahed’s name became synonymous with technical brilliance and relentless discipline. A five-time world champion, an Olympic gold medalist and twice Asian Games winner, Movahed was at the forefront of an era of Iranian excellence on the global stage. Competing in the 68kg and 70kg Freestyle weight classes, Movahed achieved a level of sustained dominance rarely seen in the sport.

Born in March 1940 in Babolsar, in Iran’s Mazandaran province, Movahed was introduced to volleyball as a young boy and was known locally for his exploits as a spiker. However, he quit the sport as he felt he wasn’t tall enough and didn’t believe he was suited for it. Ultimately, it was on the wrestling mat that he would carve out his legacy. 

He went on to join the Tehran Javan Sports Club, and as a youngster, Movahed didn’t have it easy. He frequently lost to established wrestlers like Mohammad SANATGARAN (IRI). However, he persevered, and coaches recognized his rare blend of agility, intelligence, and composure under pressure. These traits would define his career.

Movahed emerged during a time when Iranian wrestling was rich in talent. He shared the stage with wrestling legends such as Gholamreza TAKHTI (IRI), Mansour MEHDIZADEH (IRI), Ebrahim SEYFPOUR (IRI), and Emamali HABIBI (IRI). In such a company, greatness was neither guaranteed nor easily attained, but Movahed’s rise was swift.

His breakthrough came in 1962, when the erstwhile Soviet Union’s Freestyle champions travelled to Iran for a series of friendly bouts. His win over Zarbag BERYASHVILI made him an overnight sensation in Iran, and the following year, Movahed made his debut for the Iranian national team at the World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.

As a 23-year-old rookie, Movahed didn’t make much of an impact -- he shared sixth place with well-known Bulgarian wrestler Enyu VALCHEV (BUL). At the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, he showed signs of improvement and finished fourth. A year later, at the World Championships in Manchester, he claimed his first world title, beginning an extraordinary run.

Abdullah MOVAHED (IRI)

From 1965 to 1970, Movahed was virtually untouchable. He won six consecutive major global titles at 68kg and 70kg, including World Championships in 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, and 1970, along with Olympic gold at the 1968 Summer Olympics. That 1968 triumph, often cited as the pinnacle of his career, showcased his tactical mastery and unyielding determination. He also won the gold medal at the 1966 and 1970 Asian Games.

He returned for the 1972 Summer Olympics, but an unfortunate shoulder injury cut his campaign short, preventing a final chapter that might have further illuminated his already illustrious record. After the Games, Movahed, who had a master’s degree, moved to the USA, where he pursued a PhD at George Washington University. He continued to live there after earning his doctorate and worked as a mechanic.

Abdullah MOVAHED (IRI)

Beyond his medals, Movahed’s legacy lies in the standard he set. He helped define a golden generation of Iranian wrestling and inspired countless athletes who followed in his footsteps. His induction into the United World Wrestling's Hall of Fame secured his place among the all-time greats.

In mourning his passing, the wrestling world remembers not just a champion, but a craftsman whose sustained excellence elevated freestyle wrestling to an art form.