Grappling

Grappling World Championship Day 3 Recap

By Marc Berman

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (September 8th) - In a fast paced and action packed day, Team Russia stole the show, taking six gold medals in the Men’s division. Gairbeg IBRAGIMOV (RUS) defended his title in the 66kg division, winning two of four matches by submission. At 92kg, Abu GUDANATOV (RUS) showed solid wrestling and a dangerous submission game, scoring submissions in both the semifinals and finals.

At 62kg, all eyes were on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu star Joâo MIYAO (BRA). However, Joâo did not disappoint, ultimately taking gold in the 62kg division. His strategy was clear, pull quick and look to use his dangerous guard to reverse or attack arm-locks and triangle chokes. Joâo saved his best performance of the day for the final, extending his Russian opponents arm in a nasty armlock before switching to a triangle choke to finished the job.

Team Russia was just as dominate in the Senior Women’s division, where they also took home the gold medal. Russia had grapplers in three finals matches, winning two. Irina GROMOVA (RUS) was aggressive from the feet scoring often. When the action hit the mat, Gromova was just as dangerous , scoring the submission in the 64kg final.

62kg

Quarter-Final- J. Bordignon MIYAO (BRA) defeats A. Kaidybaev (KGZ) by points (13-4)

Quarter-Final- N. Vince ORTIZ (PHI) defeats N. MYNBAYEV (KAZ) by submission

Quarter-Final- K. GOODSITE (USA) defeats D. NYKONETS (UKR) by points (6-0)

Quarter-Final- A. IASAEV (RUS)  defeats A. Colazingari (ITA) by points( 8-2)

Semi-Final -J. Bordignon MIYAO (BRA) defeats N. Vince ORTIZ (PHI) by points (9-2)

Semi-Final-A. IASAEV (RUS) defeats K. GOODSITE (USA) by points (7-2)

Final- J. Bordignon MIYAO (BRA) defeats A. IASAEV (RUS) by submission

66kg

Quarter-Final- A. YUNUSOV (UZB) defeats P. MIYAO (BRA) by disqualification

Quarter-Final- A. Tomer (ISR) defeats E. Uulu MANASBEK (KGZ) by points (3-2)

Quarter-Final- L. QUINONES (USA) defeats L. STANIKAS (LTU) by points (9-2)

Quarter-Final- G.IBRAGIMOV (RUS) defeats A. BAURZHAN (KAZ) by submission

Semi-Final -  A. TOMER (ISR) defeats A. YUNUSOV (UZB) by points (6-2)

Semi-Final- G.IBRAGIMOV (RUS) defeats L. QUINONES (USA) by submission

Final-G.IBRAGIMOV (RUS) defeats A. TOMER (ISR)  by points (8-0)

71kg

Quarter-Final- C. Lullan IORGA (ROU) defeats B. Chimol MOSHE (ISR) by points (2-0)

Quarter-Final- J.Witkowski (POL) defeats J. MORGAN (USA) by submission

Quarter-Final- D. IBRAGIMOV (KAZ) defeats A. MIRZA by criteria (0-0)

Quarter-Final- A. ZAINALKHANOV (RUS) defeats B. USENOV (KGZ) by points (3-2)

Semi-Final - J.Witkowski (POL) defeats C. Lullan IORGA (ROU) by submission

Semi-Final- A. ZAINALKHANOV (RUS) defeats  D. IBRAGIMOV (KAZ) by points (6-4)

Final- A. ZAINALKHANOV (RUS) defeats J.Witkowski (POL) by submission

77kg

Quarter-Final- D. NETKACHEV (UKR) defeats E. OMER (ISR) by submission

Quarter-Final- S. DUMINICA (ROU) defeats T. RYUSKE (JPN) by submission

Quarter-Final-  A. SHAMSHIEV (KGZ) defeats T. NOWAKOWSKI (POL) by submission

Quarter-Final-  S. RAMOS (USA) defeats T. SMIRNOVAS (LTU) by points (5-2)

Semi-Final - D. NETKACHEV (UKR) defeatsS. DUMINICA (ROU) by points (5-0)

Semi-Final- S. RAMOS (USA) defeats A. SHAMSHIEV (KGZ) by points (5-2)

Final- D. NETKACHEV (UKR) defeats S. RAMOS (USA) by points (2-2 OT)

84kg

Quarter-Final- Y. BAYSULTANOV (FRA) defeats I.POGACSAS (HUN) by points (3-0)

Quarter-Final- H. HORODETSKYI (UKR) defeats G. STEFAN (ROU) by disqualification

Quarter-Final-  D. SKIBISKI (POL) defeats H.MASAYUKI (JPN) by points (17-0)

Quarter-Final-  S. MAGOMEDOV defeats H. PURTIYEV (AZE) by submission

Semi-Final -Y. BAYSULTANOV (FRA) defeats H. HORODETSKYI (UKR) by points (6-1)

Semi-Final- S. MAGOMEDOV (RUS) defeats D. SKIBISKI (POL) by points (3-1)

Final- S. MAGOMEDOV (RUS) defeats Y. BAYSULTANOV (FRA) by points (3-2)

92kg

Quarter-Final-  C. MIRSEA (ROU) defeats C. SOTO (USA) by points (6-1)

Quarter-Final- B. OMURZAKOV (KGZ) defeats I. SERKIBAYEV (KAZ) by points 5-4

Quarter-Final-  A. GUDANATOV (RUS) defeats Y. ISICHKO (UKR) by points 7-3

Quarter-Final-  W. EDMUND (FRA) defeats I. AVRAHAM (ISR)  by points 2-1

Semi-Final -  B. OMURZAKOV (KGZ) defeats C. MIRSEA (ROU) by submission

Semi-Final- A. GUDANATOV (RUS) defeats W. EDMUND (FRA) by submission

Final-  A. GUDANATOV (RUS) defeats B. OMURZAKOV (KGZ) by points (7-2)

100kg

Quarter-Final- K. UMISKI (POL) defeats J. ANDERSON (USA) by forfeit

Quarter-Final- A. FONTES (FRA) defeats N. ISMAILOV (KGZ) by points (10-2)

Quarter-Final-  A. BILAROV (RUS) defeats K. TULESHEV (KAZ) by submission

Quarter-Final- A. HALETA (UKR) defeats C. VASILE-MICREA (ROU) by disqualification

Semi-Final - K. UMISKI (POL) defeats A. FONTES (FRA) by submission

Semi-Final- A. BILAROV (RUS) defeats A. HALETA (UKR) by submission

Final- A. BILAROV (RUS) defeats  K. UMISKI (POL) by points (8-2)

100+kg

Quarter-Final- D. SOKOL (LTU) defeats I. NENCIONI (ITA) by submission

Quarter-Final- V. MATEIKO (UKR) defeats R. SARTBAYEV (KAZ) by points (11-3)

Quarter-Final- T. CLARK (USA) defeats U. NUROV (UZB) by points (7-3)

Quarter-Final-  H. STAMBULOV (RUS) defeats A ABDYLDAEV by submission

Semi-Final -  V. MATEIKO (UKR) defeats D. SOKOL (LTU) by points (5-2)

Semi-Final- H. STAMBULOV (RUS) defeats T. CLARK (USA) by points (11-1)

Final- H. STAMBULOV (RUS) defeats  V. MATEIKO (UKR) by points (9-0)

Women’s Grappling

53kg

Quarter-Final- N. ANAIANSI (ESP) defeats A. Tonelli (ITA) by submission

Quarter-Final- G. SEYDILDAYEVA (KAZ) defeats B. LAETITIA (FRA) by criteria (2-2)

Quarter-Final- A. AUGUSTYN- MITKOWSKA (POL) defeats J. PHILIPPUS (USA) by points (6-3)

Quarter-Final- S. SKRYPNK (UKR) defeats N. SAPARAI (RUS) by criteria (2-2)

Semi-Final -  N. ANAIANSI (ESP) defeats  G. SEYDILDAYEVA (KAZ) by submission

Semi-Final- S. SKRYPNK (UKR) defeats A. AUGUSTYN- MITKOWSKA (POL) by submission

Final-   N. ANAIANSI (ESP) defeats S. SKRYPNK (UKR) by points (9-0)

58kg

Quarter-Final- M.C. MASUDA (PHI) defeats G. OMAR (KAZ) by points (8-2)

Quarter-Final- B. CARIANI (ITA) defeats W. ZYGMUNT (POL) by points (6-0)

Quarter-Final- O. VLADIMIROVA (RUS) defeats K. SHAKALOVA (UKR) by points (7-0)

Quarter-Final- B. STIKKELMAN (USA) defeats M. MONTERO (ESP) by points (3-2)

Semi-Final - B. CARIANI (ITA) defeats M.C. MASUDA (PHI) by points (10-1)

Semi-Final-  O. VLADIMIROVA (RUS) defeats B. STIKKELMAN (USA) by points (6-4)

Final-  B. CARIANI (ITA) defeats  O. VLADIMIROVA (RUS) by points (3-1)

64kg

Quarter-Final- I. PAVESE (ITA) defeats R. RYSSAEYVA (KAZ) by points (7-2)

Quarter-Final-  B.UZGENBAEVA (KGZ) defeats M. Mar Gaitan GUITERREZ (ESP) by points (2-2 overtime)

Quarter-Final- T. HRYNKO (UKR) defeats S. PNIAK (POL) by points (5-3)

Quarter-Final-  I. GROMOVA (RUS) defeats C. SAFI (FRA) by points (8-3)

Semi-Final - I. PAVESE (ITA) defeats B.UZGENBAEVA (KGZ) by points (4-2)

Semi-Final-  I. GROMOVA (RUS) defeats T. HRYNKO (UKR) by points (5-0)

Final-  I. GROMOVA (RUS) defeats  I. PAVESE (ITA) by submission

71kg

RR RND 1- I. MUNGAI (ITA) defeats O. SUSKO (UKR) by submission

RR RND 1- R. ANUFRIEVA (RUS) defeats K. SAGINDYKOVA (KAZ) by submission

RR RND 2- R. ANUFRIEVA (RUS) defeats O. SUSKO (UKR) by submission

RR RND 2- I. MUNGAI (ITA) defeats K. SAGINDYKOVA (KAZ) by points (12-8)

RR RND 3-O. SUSKO (UKR) defeats  K. SAGINDYKOVA (KAZ) by submission

RR RND 3- R. ANUFRIEVA (RUS) defeats  I. MUNGAI (ITA) by submission

71+kg

RR RND 1- H. KOVALSKA (UKR) defeats Z. AITMAGAMBETOVA (KAZ) by submission

RR RND 1- M. ZASZCUZUDKOWICZ (POL) defeats D. NIKOLAEVA (RUS) by points (4-3)

RR RND 2-  C. BAREE (FRA) defeats Z. AITMAGAMBETOVA (KAZ) by points (11-0)

RR RND 2- H. KOVALSKA (UKR) defeats M. ZASZCUZUDKOWICZ (POL) by submission

RR RND 3-C. BAREE (FRA) defeats M. ZASZCUZUDKOWICZ (POL) by submission

RR RND 3- D. NIKOLAEVA (RUS) defeats H. KOVALSKA (UKR) by submission

RR  RND 4- D. NIKOLAEVA (RUS) defeats C. BAREE (FRA) by points (9-1)

RR RND 4- M. ZASZCUZUDKOWICZ (POL) defeats  Z. AITMAGAMBETOVA (KAZ) by submission

Grappling GI is up tomorrow, make sure you catch the action live tomorrow on Flograppling.com in the United States and internationally on United World Wrestling.

2026 World Championships

Hedayati Beats World Champ Mirzazadeh to Claim Iran's World Team Spot

By Vinay Siwach

KERMAN, Iran (June 16) -- World champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) decided to skip the second bout of the best-of-three series against Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI), ending his hopes of defending his world title this year.

Hedayati, who has been knocking on the door of Iran's world team for more than two years, defeated Mirzazadeh, 5-1, in the opening selection bout at 130kg to secure a spot on Iran's Greco-Roman team for the 2026 World Championships, to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan, from October 24 to November 1.

Mirzazadeh still had a chance to claim the spot if he won the remaining two bouts, but he chose not to continue in the series, effectively conceding the berth to Hedayati.

Hedayati scored on a passivity point, two pushouts and a two-point go-behind. Mirzazadeh's only point came from passivity as he failed to score from par terre.

"I respect Mirzazadeh a lot as he is a world champion," Hedayati told UWW. "But we worked a lot for one year to beat him."

In the selection bout last year, Hedayati hoped to hang on for a 1-1 criteria victory but Mirzazadeh scored a par terre turn to win 3-1. Hedayati switched his strategy this year and did not wait for the par terre position. He even asked for a standing restart when Mirzazadeh was called passive.

"Last year, I waited for the second period to win 1-1, but now I started to push right off the whistle," he said. "My plan was to push him out because I can do it. When I got passivity advantage, I asked for a start in standing."

Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI)Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) defeated Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI), 5-1.

The 22-year-old Hedayati, who hails from Amol, the same town as 125kg freestyle world champion Amirhossein ZARE (IRI), will be making his senior World Championships debut in Astana as part of a strong Iran team that features three champions among seven returning medalists.

Zare was present in Kerman to support and coach Hedayati, who calls the Freestyle wrestler 'a brother'.

"I train with Zare because of our weight classes and he came here for my match," he said. "Outside of the mat, we run together, go for hiking, cross country and share a lot of time together to discuss wrestling. We always talk about winning the gold medal together, especially at the Olympics."

The Olympics are still two years away, but Zare and Hedayati can both win gold at the World Championships in Astana.

Hedayati, despite his debut, will enter as the favorite at 130kg. He has already won golds at the U20 and U23 World Championships, the Asian Championships and Ranking Series. He has registered wins over all major 130kg wrestlers including Riza KAYAALP (TUR), Oscar PINO (CUB), Pavel HLINCHUK (BLR), among others.

His only international loss came in 2022 in the U20 World Championships final, 6-4, against Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR) that he has since avenged.

"I am training with Ghasem REZAEI (2012 London Olympic champion at 96kg) to improve my par terre offense so I can be a complete wrestler. My defense in par terre is good," he said.

In other weight classes, Iran will be bringing seven medalists including three champions. Olympic champion Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) will be at 67kg and Hadi SARAVI (IRI) at 97kg. Both are defending world champions along with Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) who will be at 82kg.

The returning silver medalists are Payam AHMADI (IRI) at 55kg and Alireza MOHMADI (IRI) at 87kg, while Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI) at 63kg and Danial SOHRABI (IRI) at 72kg are returning bronze medalists.

Former U20 world champion Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI), who finished 17th last year, will look to win a medal for his team along with Ali OSKOU (IRI) at 77kg who will be making his World Championships debut.

Iran's Freestyle team for the 2026 World Championships will be selected on Friday, June 19 with Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) and Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI), both at 97kg. 

Iran's Greco-Roman Team for 2026 World Championships

55kg: Payam AHMADI (IRI)
60kg: Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI)
63kg: Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI)
67kg: Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI)
72kg: Danial SOHRABI (IRI)
77kg: Ali OSKOU (IRI)
82kg: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI)
87kg: Alireza MOHMADI (IRI)
97kg: Hadi SARAVI (IRI)
130kg: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI)