Grappling

Grappling Shines Bright in Kazakhstan as 2019 World Champions Decided

Monday, September 23, 2019 - 13:17 By United World Wrestling Press

Share this article

NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (Sept. 23 and 24) --- Athletes from 18 nations made the trip to Kazakhstan to claim individual and team world titles in No-Gi Grappling and Grappling Gi styles. The competition took place in Bary’s Arena following the Greco Roman, Women’s Wrestling and the Freestyle Wrestling World Championships. This was the second year in which Kazakhstan played host to No-gi Grappling and Grappling Gi world championships. These events are part of the lead up to Nur-Sultan hosting the 2021 World Combat Games which the Grappling styles will be a participant. 

Men’s No- Gi Grappling

In the 62KG division, Anthony Guy DE OLIVEIRA (FRA) caught the attention of many with his positional and submission expertise. Winning his first qualification match 7-0, he then scored submission victories in the Quarter and Semi-Finals to advance to a finals match showdown with Magomedbek TEMEEV (RUS). After a brief exchange on the feet, DE OLIVEIRA (FRA) pulled guard giving TEMEEV (RUS) a 2-0 lead. After defending some aggressive guard passing from the Russian, DE OLIVEIRA (FRA) was able to sweep to bring the score to 2-2. With time running short DE OLIVEIRA (FRA), was awarded 1 point for a leg lock attempt.

 

Dmytro Baranov (UKR) was another highlight reel at 62KG and would go on to take home a bronze medal. After falling short in the opening round against DE OLIVEIRA (FRA) in a rematch of this year's European Finals. Baranov (UKR) would score two exciting submission victories to land his spot on the podium.

Gairbeg IBRAGIMOV (RUS) capped off a dominant run at Men’s No-gi Grappling 71KG with a 15-0 technical decision in the Finals match. He used a variety of takedowns and guard passes to overwhelm his opponent. He scored submission victories over opponents from Georgia and USA on Day 1 to reach the finals.

Team Russia once again proved their dominance, putting a finalist in all 8 final’s matches. They walked away with 7 golds and 1 silver as well as the team title. Team USA advanced 4 members to medal matches with Carlos SOTO walking away with the only medal, a silver at 92KG

Women’s Grappling No-gi

Zofia Maria SZAWERNOWSKA (POL) met Kateryna SHAKALOVA (UKR) in the 58KG final. SZAWERNOWSKA (POL) jumped ahead early leading 2-0, she quickly attacked to secure the back control. SHAKALOVA (UKR) defended the back attack but got caught in a triangle choke as she worked her way out of the bad position and was again forced to defend. SHAKALOVA (UKR) found her way out of the submission attempt but, time ran out as she fell short on points 4-2.

 

 

At 64KG Meshi ROSENFELD (ISR) scored a submission victory over Iuliia TORIANSKAIA (RUS) after leading 4-3. She used an active guard during the tournament, scoring 3 submission victories, 1 victory on points and a victory by forfeit. Iuliia TORIANSKAIA (RUS) reached the final after making her Italian opponent tap-out in the Semifinals

Rimma ANUFRIEVA TROPINA (RUS) claimed her world championship title at 71KG in a come from behind victory. She trailed Magdalena Zofia LOSKA (POL) most of the match until LOSKA (POL) attacked a toe-hold. TROPINA (RUS) defended well and scrambled out and snatched up her own submission. Forcing her opponent to tap to a kneebar with less than 30 seconds remaining.

Russia once again lead all teams with 3 team members landing in the finals. Ukraine came second with 2 members in finals matches. Team France walked away with its 2nd gold medal No-gi Grappling with Claire France THEVENON’s gold medal at +71KG 

Men’s Grappling Gi

Anthony Guy DE OLIVEIRA (FRA) once again secured gold this time in Men’s Grappling Gi at 62KG. He faced off against Dmytro Baranov (UKR). Baranov (UKR) had defeated him in the finals of this year's European Championship. Tied 2-2 with 3 minutes remaining in the match, DE OLIVEIRA (FRA) hit a slick backstep pass to go-ahead 5-2.  He worked his way to the back control and finished a choke to win his 2nd gold medal of the day. Also at 62KG, hometown favorite Vladislav MUKHORTOV (KAZ) bounced back from a Quarterfinal’s points loss to submit his opponent in the bronze medal match.

Gairbeg IBRAGIMOV (RUS) had a scare early in his finals match against Abdyldabek KEKENOV (KGZ) in the 71KG final. With the matched tied 2-2, KEKENOV (KGZ) got behind IBRAGIMOV (RUS) and secured one hook from the back position forcing IBRAGIMOV (RUS) to defend his neck and back to not give up the 4 points. After scrambling back to the top position the Russian star racked up 14 more points to win big and secure his 2nd gold medal of the event.

Team Russian again advanced the most competitors to finals matches with 5, followed by team Poland with 3.  Abdurahmanhaji MURTAZALIEV made sure Kyrgyzstan walked away with gold when he submitted his opponent in the 84KG final

 

 

Women’s Grappling Gi

Zofia Maria SZAWERNOWSKA (POL) squared off against Barbara CARIANI (ITA) in the 58KG Final. SZAWERNOWSKA (POL) opted for the guard pull after a minute of standing work. CARIANI (ITA)  quickly forced her to the turtle position to avoid giving up points on the guard pass. After an exchange of leglock submissions, SZAWERNOWSKA (POL) worked her way on to the back of CARIANI (ITA) sinking in the hooks to take a 6-2 lead with 32 seconds remaining. A reversal by CARIANI (ITA) brought the score to 6-4 as time expired. Making Zofia Maria SZAWERNOWSKA (POL) champion of the world after 5 victories.

Meshi ROSENFELD (ISR) advanced past Irina GROMOVA (RUS) to win her 2nd gold medal of the day at 64KG.  ROSENFELD (ISR) pulled guard at the start of the match giving GROMOVA (RUS) the 2-0 lead. Using a slick back take from the spider-guard ROSENFELD (ISR) took a 6-4 lead. She locked in a choke and it looked as though the match would end there.  GROMOVA (RUS) displayed her toughness as she worked her way out and brought the score to 7-4. Time would run out there in an exciting finals match.

#WrestleBudapest

Budapest Ranking Series 2026 Day 1 Results & Highlights

Wednesday, July 15, 2026 - 08:23 By Vinay Siwach

Share this article

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 15) -- The last stop for the Ranking Series in Budapest will kick off with Freestyle. Wrestlers in  57kg, 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 74kg and 86kg will take the mat and aim to win the medals.

Wrestling UWW+

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

86kg semifinals: Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) moves into the 86kg final after a 10-0 win over Nan CAO (CHN) using leg lace to score his points. He seemed injured at the end and needed medical assistance. He will, if healthy, wrestle Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) for the gold medal after the Georgian defeated compatriot Tornike SAMKHARADZE (GEO), 12-4.

74kg semifinals: Feng LU (CHN) with a stepout in the final second of the 74kg semifinals against Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) to complete a stunning, 2-2, criteria win and advance to the final. He will now face former 70kg world champion Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) who got the better of Muhammed BESIR (TUR). Besir led 2-2 on criteria but Kaipanov got on the legs and scored exposure for two points, a counter from Besir made it 4-4 criteria lead for Besir. However, Kaipanov did not let go off his hold and exposed Besir again to win 6-4. Besir challenged the scoring but lost it to add one more point to Kaipanov's score.

70kg semifinals: Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO) stuns world silver medalist Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL), 3-2, in the semifinals. He will face Ridge LOVETT (USA) for the gold medal after the American pinned U23 world champion Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE).

65kg semifinals: Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL) reaches his second straight Ranking Series final after a 10-0 win over Mohit KUMAR (IND). He used a strong gut-wrench and leg lace to complete a 10-0 win over Kumar. He will now try to claim the gold medal when he faces Abbas EBRAHIMZADEH (IRI) who got the better of Vishal KALIRAMANA (IND), 5-5 on criteria. Up 2-1, Ebrahimzadeh gave up a takedown and turn but countered the next attempt and scored two points. He also scored a turn to take the criteria lead and the win.

61kg semifinals: Tolga OZBEK (TUR) gives Turkiye a finalist in Budapest after beating Adilet ALMUKHAMEDOV (KAZ), 15-7, in a high-scoring semifinal. Ozbek with constant takedowns that rattled Almukhanmedov. Ozbek will now try to beat another Kazakhstan wrestler for the gold medal when he takes on Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ) in the final. Aitakyn reached the final after beating DEEPAK (IND), 2-1, in the other semifinal. Deepak, who won gold at the Ulaanbaatar Open, failed to find any opening in the second period in which Aitakyn scored a takedown for two points.

57kg semifinals: An 11-0 victory for AMAN (IND) over European champion Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) in the 57kg semifinals. Aman works stepouts in the first period and Bazaganov is called passive as well. A takedown and turn make it 7-0 for Aman at the break. He comes back to score a takedown and one turn using Figure 4 to win

For the gold medal, Aman will take on Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO) who blanks Nurdanat AITANOV (KAZ), 4-0, in the others semifinal. He scored two points in each period for the win.

Semifinals will start soon after the last quarterfinals.

13:30: Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) scores eight points in the second period and beats Sagar JAGLAN (IND), 8-1, at 74kg. He scored a stepout before getting a point for Jaglan's passivity to add to the takedown he scored. He then comes out with big throw for four points to make it 8-1 and secure the win.

13:15: Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL) blanks Nachyn KUULAR (KAZ), 10-0, at 65kg. No trouble for Mamedov as he scored five different takedowns for an easy win advance to the semifinals

12:52: Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ) scored the opening takedown on AMAN (IND) in their 57kg bout he could not sustain the pressure and counter Aman's relentless attacks. Aman eventually wins 10-3 

12:43: At 70kg, Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) and Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) traded four pointers but it was Tumur Ochir who did it in the last minute and pinned Muszukajev. Tumur Ochir led 2-0 after two activity clock points but Muszukajev hit a four-pointer soon after to make it 4-2. He challenged asking for more points but there were none in that sequence, losing the challenge. Tumur Ochir, lead 4-3 now, scored a stepout but Muszukajev still had a 4-4 criteria lead. Then both went in a bear hug position and Tumur Ochir hit the throw for four and the fall.

12:38: A huge win for Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) as he takes out European champion Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), 5-0, at 74kg. Kuramagomedov blocked out Salkazanov who failed to find any scoring moves.

12:30: European champion Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) with scores off two counters to beat RAHUL (IND), 5-3, at 57kg. Both were called passive but it was Bazarganov who scored a stepout and takedown to maintain a lead.

12:25: Sagar JAGLAN (IND), who won gold medal at the Ulaanbaatar Open, produces the leg lace and rolls to a 10-0 win over Sangho HAN (KOR) at 74kg.

12:22: Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) and his conditioning gave up against Tornike SAMKHARADZE (GEO). Leading 5-0 in the 86kg bout, Savadkouhi dropped the match 15-5 and 15 seconds remaining.

12:15: Peiman BIABANI (CAN) got two points for Quentin STICKER (FRA) passivity and then stuck to that lead despite giving up a point. Sticker, down 2-1, tried a few moves late in the bout but Biabani managed to counter it and score four points and win 6-1 at 65kg.

12:10: Farhad NOURI (UWW), a refugee wrestlers and European bronze medalist, starts his 74kg campaign with a technical superiority 10-1 win over Jorge GATICA (CHI). Here's Nouri's story.

12:05: Nachyn KUULAR (KAZ) manages to secure a fall over U23 European champion Magomedkhan MAGAMEDKHANOV (BLR) using a cradle and advance at 65kg.

12:00: Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) moves into the next round at 86kg after Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) abandons the bout due to injury. It seemed that Sakayev hit head first on the mat that caused the bleeding. Magamdov was leading 4-0 when the stoppage occured.

11:50: Stunning result for Giorgi GONIASHVILI (GEO) as he pins Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) at 61kg. Abakarov had a comfortable 6-0 lead but Goniashvili used a head pinch for four points and then pinned Abakarov who tried find a foul in the move but there was none.

11:30: Ebrahim ELAHI (IRI) stuns Asian champion ABHIMANYOU (IND) at 70kg. Elahi scores a takedown and then rolls Abhimanyou four times for a technical superiority win.

10:45: Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL) begins with a technical superiority win over Adil OSPANOV (KAZ) at 65kg. Mamedov competed at the Ulaanbaatar Open and reached the final. He was on the verge of upsetting Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) in the final as he led 8-0. But Amouzad mounted a comeback and won 17-10.

10:45: Nachyn KUULAR (KAZ) controls the first match against Ali KHORRAMDEL (IRI) throughout and wins 13-2 at 65kg. Khorramdel opened a few attacks but Kuular never looked in trouble. He even had a solid cardio