European Championships 2025 Day 1 Freestyle Semis Set

Monday, April 7, 2025 - 08:15 By Vinay Siwach

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 7) -- The European Championships begins in Bratislava with Freestyle weight classes 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg and 97kg.

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57kg semifinals
SF 1: Aryian TIUTRIN (UWW) vs. Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB)
SF 2: Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) vs. Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE)

65kg semifinals
SF 1: Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) vs. Goga OTINASHVILI (GEO)
SF 2: Ali RAHIMZADA (AZE) vs. Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA)

70kg semifinals
SF 1: Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO) vs. Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM)
SF 2: David BAEV (UWW) vs. Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE)

79kg semifinals
SF 1: Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) vs. Ion MARCU (MDA)
SF 2: Mohammad MOTTAGHINIA (ESP) vs. Akhmed USMANOV (UWW)

97kg
SF 1: Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) vs. Richard VEGH (HUN)
SF 2: Magomed KURBANOV (UWW) vs. Radu LEFTER (MDA)

The semifinals will begin at 18:00 local time

13:30: In the final bout of the morning session, Ali RAHIMZADA (AZE) books his spot in the 65kg semifinal with a 10-0 win over Nico MEGERLE (GER). Rahimzada led 2-0 at the break, adds a takedown, two chest-wrap turns and a takedown with a minute and 18 left to win 10-0.

13:20: In a marquee 65kg match, European champion Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) takes on world U23 champion Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW). Tevanyan is put on the activity clock first and he falls behind 1-0 at the break. The second period sees more action and Tevanyan gets on the leg-attack but Ibragimov manages to keep it down to a step down. A fleeing caution is hit on Ibragimov which gives Tevanyan a 2-1 lead. Ibragimov with a fake snap for takedown on the edge to claim a 3-2 lead with a minute remaining. Tevanyan can't break the defense and Ibragimov gets the 3-2 win to enter semifinals at 65kg.

13:12: Magomed KURBANOV (UWW) adds to the misery of the local fans as he beats Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) at 97kg. Kurbanov relied on his defense to counter Tsakulov and win 9-1 and advance to the semifinals.

13:08: For a place in the 97kg semifinals, Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) takes on Richard VEGH (HUN). Abakarov scores a takedown just before the break to lead 2-1. Vegh gets a stepouts to make it 2-2 but Abakarov leads on criteria for his takedown. Vegh scores another stepout in the final 25 seconds to lead 3-2. He squares up to defend and Abakarov tries to reach the far leg but Vegh evades and spins behind for two. He wins 5-2.

13:02: Veteran Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) pulls off a 4-0 win over Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) at 79kg and enters the semifinal. Two points for activity and a takedown are enough for Khadjiev. He celebrates the win with a sigh of relief. Local fans heartbroken with the loss.

12:55: Big match at 79kg as world champion Akhmed USMANOV (UWW) takes on former European champion Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR). Both wrestlers start slow but it is Usmanov who gets on the scoreboard first with an activity point. Mykhailov gets on the clock as well and leads 1-1 on criteria. In the final minute, Mykhailov is put on the activity clock again and the lead switches to Usmanov, 2-1, with a 20 seconds left on the clock. Usmanov defends the time and advances to the semifinals at 79kg

12:47: Mohammad MOTTAGHINIA (ESP) had built an 8-0 lead in the first period over Okan TAHTACI (TUR) in their 79kg quarterfinal but Tahtaci scored a takedown and turn to cut it to 8-4 against a tiring Mottaghinia. But as it looked like Tahtaci would make a match of it, Mottaghinia scores a takedown and two lace turns to win 14-4.

12:40: Defending 70kg champion Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) advances to the semifinals with a controlled 4-0 win over Oleksii BORUTA (UKR) and takes a step closer to defend his gold medal.

12:30: Defending 97kg champion Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) opens with a 11-0 win over Radoslaw BARAN (POL). He got a point for Baran's passivity, scored a takedown before adding three gut-wrenches to lead 9-0 at the break. A go-behind in the second period is enough for the win.

12:25: Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) with an over-under lock and throw for four to lead 4-1 against Manvel KHNDZRTSYAN (ARM) at break in their 57kg quarterfinal. That remained the only scoring move of the match even as Khndzrtsyan tried breaking the shackles in the second period. Mongush into the semifinals with a 4-1 win.

12:10: David BAEV (UWW) is looking unstoppable. He now gut wrenches Viktor VOINOVIC (SRB) and advances to the semifinal at 70kg which will be held at 18:00 local time

12:05: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) in defense is one of the best you get out there. He works up a 3-0 win over Islam GUSEINOV (UWW) at 65kg enters the quarterfinals.

11:55: Magomed KURBANOV (UWW) started off slow but he takes just 2 minutes and 17 seconds to beat Gurgen SIMONYAN (ARM) 10-0 at 97kg.

11:40: Defending 79kg champion Akhmed USMANOV (UWW) gets two activity points and a stepout as he wins 3-0 against Paris Olympian and world silver medalist Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO). Usmanov had defeated Gamkrelidze in the 79kg final at the 2023 World Championships.

11:30: Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE), moving up to 97kg for the European Championships, opens up a 8-2 win over Vasyl SOVA (UKR)

11:20: Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) posts a technical superiority win over Hayk PAPIKYAN (ARM) and advances at 79kg. He is chasing his second European gold

11:05: Aryian TIUTRIN (UWW) hands Kamil KERYMOV (UKR) a 10-0 humbling at 57kg. Tiutrin is one of the hopefuls to win the gold. In the next match at 57kg, Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW), who won the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series gold at 61kg, wins 100- against Ivaylo TISOV (BUL)

11:00: Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB), former European champion, gets on the scoreboard with a activity clock point to lead 1-0 against Niklas STECHELE (GER) at the break in their 57kg bout. He adds a stepout to make it 2-0. A double-leg takedown to make it 4-0 and Stechele can't break the defense.

10:56: Former world U20 champion Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) makes quick work of Benedikt HUBER (AUT) in the 70kg opening round bout.

10:50: Battle of two world champions on Mat B as Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), world 65kg champion in 2023, takes on David BAEV (UWW), who won gold medal at 79kg in 2019. Baev opens up a 4-0 lead with a takedown and two stepouts as Muszukajev evades most of the attacks in the first period. Baev starts the second period with a double-leg. Muszukajev avoids a takeodwn but Baev laces him and spins him for an in-air leg lace and gets four and two to win 10-0 and advance at 70kg.

10:42: On Mat C, three-time European champion Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) opens his defense of 70kg gold with a takedown class and finishes with a 10-0 win over Mateusz LUSZCZYNSKI (POL).

10:35: World U23 champion Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) takes a minute and 46 seconds to roll to a 10-0 victory over Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL)

10:30: The European Championships are underway in Bratislava. Big names are wrestling with five gold medals on line.

#WrestleTirana

World Championships: Sadulaev tops two world champs en route 92kg final

Wednesday, October 30, 2024 - 17:14 By Ken Marantz

TIRANA, Albania (October 30) -- The paths of two of the greatest wrestlers of the past decade-plus crossed for the first and only time, and it was Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) who swatted aside David TAYLOR (USA) to stay on course for a sixth world medal.

Sadulaev put up an impregnable defense in posting a 7-0 victory after the luck of the draw pitted the superstars against each other in the first round at freestyle 92kg at the Non-Olympic Weight Categories World Championships on Wednesday in Tirana.

Two-time Olympic champion Sadulaev, who was left off the list of Russian and Belarussian wrestlers eligible for the Paris Olympics, later advanced to Thursday's final with a dramatic, last-second 5-3 victory over 2021 and 2022 world champion Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI).

Two other big names in the tournament did not fare so well, as Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) saw his bid for a seventh career world title end with a quarterfinal loss at 79kg, while Tokyo Olympic and two-time world champion Zavur UGUEV (AIN) fell at the first hurdle at 61kg.

In the most anticipated match of the tournament, Sadulaev was content to sit back and let Taylor go on the offensive, fending off each attack and twice scoring go-behind takedowns, while also adding a counter lift for 2. He also scored a stepout, but otherwise made no legitimate tackle attempts.

The closest Taylor came to scoring came on his first shot, when he got in deep on a single and tried to come out the back door, only for the surprisingly nimble Sadulaev to escape the hold.

Sadulaev and Taylor both won Olympic golds at Tokyo 2021, at 97kg and 86kg, respectively, and Wednesday's match saw them meeting in the middle. It's the first time Sadulaev is wrestling below 97kg since moving up to that weight after winning the 86kg gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Taylor, who won his third world title in 2023 but retired after losing at the U.S. Olympic Trials to Aaron BROOKS (USA), had taken the head coaching job at powerhouse Oklahoma State University but returned to the mat for one last go-round.

Sadulaev followed up his win over Taylor by beating Aslan ABAKAROV (AZE) 3-1 and Lars SCHAEFLE (GER) by a 10-0 technical fall to set up his clash with Ghasempour that turned into another classic victory by the Russian great.

Sadulaev had gone ahead 1-1 on criteria after each received an activity point when Ghasempour finally broke through the defenses and scored a double-leg takedown with 30 seconds left. But with the final seconds ticking down, he snapped the Iranian down, spun behind, then managed to fling him to the mat for a 4-point takedown.

In the final, he will face 2022 world bronze medalist Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), who won an at-times tempestuous semifinal over surprising Benjamin HONIS (ITA) 9-2.

At 79kg, the 36-year-old Burroughs was unable to turn back the clock and fell 6-4 in the quarterfinals to Asian champion and two-time world medalist Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI).

Burroughs' hopes for a 10th world medal overall, however, ended when Nokhodi was dealt a tough 14-8 loss in the semifinals by four-time European bronze medalist Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO).

Nokhodi looked to be cruising to victory when he built up a 6-0 lead in the second period. But Kentchadze secured a takedown that allowed him to wrap up Nokhodi's legs and he ripped off three lace-lock rolls. Nokhodi halted the flow for a moment for a 2-point exposure, but he also appeared to injure his knee during the exchange and the Georgian was able to easily add a pair of late takedowns.

Kentchadze will look to improve on the silver medal he won at 74kg in 2018 when he faces 2023 and 2021 world U23 champion Magomed MAGOMAEV (AIN), who defeated 2021 European champion Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) in the other semifinal.

Earlier, Uguev tumbled out at the hands of world U20 champion Masanosuke ONO (JPN), who rode the momentum of that victory into the 61kg final.

Uguev, seemingly hampered by an ankle injury, had no answer for the lightning-quick speed of Ono, who chalked up two takedown-gut wrench combinations in the first period en route to a 10-2 victory.

Ono never let up after the victory, chalking up three straight technical falls without giving up a point, capped with a dominating 12-0 victory in the semifinals over defending champion Vitali ARUJAU (USA). Ono sealed the victory with a slick 4-point front headlock throw.

In Thursday's final, Ono will face Ahmet DUMAN (TUR), the 2022 world U23 silver medalist at 57kg who edged Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN (MGL) 3-1 in the other semifinal.

Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) joined Ono -- his former teammate at Yamanashi Gakuin University -- in the gold-medal matches when he avenged a loss in last year's world U23 final to Inalbek SHERIEV (AIN) with a 6-1 victory in the 70kg semifinals.

Aoyagi, who won a bronze at this year's World U23 Championships held last week at the same Tirana venue, will face 2019 world bronze medalist Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) in an all-Asian final.

Kaipanov rolled to a 13-2 victory over Russian-born Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK), who will still get a chance to become just the second world medalist in any style from Tajikistan.

Freestyle Results

61kg (27 entries)
SF: Ahmet DUMAN (TUR) df. Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN (MGL), 3-1
SF: Masanosuke ONO (JPN) df. Vitali ARUJAU (USA) by TF, 12-0, 4:20

70kg (25 entries)
SF: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) df. Inalbek SHERIEV (AIN), 6-1
SF: Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) df. Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) by TF, 13-2, 3:47

79kg (33 entries)
SF: Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) df. Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI), 14-8
SF: Magomed MAGOMAEV (AIN) df. Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK), 9-3

92kg (29 entries)
SF: Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) df. Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI), 5-3
SF: Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) df. Benjamin HONIS (ITA), 9-2

European Championships 2025 Day 1 Freestyle Semis Set

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World Championships: Sadulaev tops two world champs en route 92kg final