Grappling

Grappling World Championship Day 4 Recap

By Marc Berman

Team Russia stole the show on day two of the senior-level grappling gi worlcd championships in Astana.

A total of six Russians competed in the men’s finals with five walking away with golds. Ruslan ABDULAEV (RUS) led his nation with a great performance in the 100+kg division, making use of great stand up work followed by a slick submission-oriented ground game to defeat his Italian opponent 8-0 in the semifinal. 

In the finals Abdulaev worked his way on top, passed the guard and finished the match with a beautiful arm lock from mount.

At 77kg, Yusef KADDUR (ESP) handed the Russians their only finals match loss by out working  Ruslan RIZANOV (RUS) in a tight match with a final score of 5-2.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu superstar Joâo MIYAO (BRA) in the 62kg final over Dmytro BARANOV (UKR) securing his second gold medal of the weekend. Miyao’s strategy was to pull guard and attacking the back position, though he did display a nice standing game - hitting a throw in his semifinal match before getting the submission victory.

Poland’s Sanda PNIAK (POL) brought home gold in the Women’s 64kg division. Pniak was able to find the submission victory in her first two matches of the day before winning big on points (9-1) in the finals match.

Defending her home turf in the 53kg division was Abilkadyrova Aigerim (KAZ), reaching the finals match against Anna Augustyn-Mitkowska (POL) after two submission victories. Mitkowska was at peak performance all day but, was unable to play spoiler falling 7-0 to Aigerim in the final.

62kg

Quarter-Final-  D. Baranov (UKR) defeats A. JOHNSON (USA) by submission

Quarter-Final- U. Naoki (JPN) defeat A. VERDEMARE (ITA) by submission

Quarter-Final- N. Vince ORTIZ (PHI) defeats C. BARRIOS by submission

Quarter-Final- J. Bordignon MIYAO (BRA) defeats M. TEMEEV (RUS) by points (5-2)

Semi-Final - D. Baranov (UKR) defeats U. Naoki (JPN) by points ( 6-4)

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

Final- J. Bordignon MIYAO (BRA) defeats D. Baranov (UKR) by points (7-6)

66kg

Quarter-Final- J. Uulu TOKTORBAY (KGZ) defeats M. GAVINO (ITA) by submission

Quarter-Final-  A. KHMELIUK (UKR) defeats O. Dorin JIMBOREAN (ROU) by points (5-4)

Quarter-Final-  B. HOUNZA (FRA) defeats T. ALROY (ISR) by points (4-1)

Semi-Final - J. Uulu TOKTORBAY (KGZ) defeats  O. Aibar (KAZ) by points (6-3)

Semi-Final- B. HOUNZA (FRA) defeats  A. KHMELIUK (UKR) by submission

Final- B. HOUNZA (FRA) defeats J. Uulu TOKTORBAY (KGZ) by points (5-4)

71kg

Quarter-Final- D. SEMENIUK (UKR) defeats F. ALCADLDE (ESP) by submission

Quarter-Final- K. DANIYAR (KAZ) defeats U. BAKBENGEN (KGZ) by points (14-9)

Quarter-Final-  C. Lullan IOGRA (ROU) defeats J. WITOWSKI (POL) by points (5-3)

Quarter-Final-  G. ALIBEKOV (RUS) defeats M. BAGGIERI (ITA) by points (4-0)

Semi-Final -  K. DANIYAR (KAZ) defeats  D. SEMENIUK (UKR) by points (10-2)

Semi-Final-  G. ALIBEKOV (RUS) defeats by points C. Lullan IOGRA (ROU) by points (9-1)

Final- G. ALIBEKOV (RUS) defeats K. DANIYAR (KAZ) by points (7-0)

77kg

Quarter-Final- R. NARUSVICIUS (LTU) defeats H. MIRJALAL (AZE) by submission

Quarter-Final-  Y. KADDUR (ESP) defeats D.NETKACHEV (UKR) by submission

Quarter-Final-  O. EMANOELY (ISR) defeats M. KALUSZEWSKI (POL) by points (8-2)

Quarter-Final-  R. RIZANOV (RUS) defeats M. BAILLOT (FRA) by submission

Semi-Final -  Y. KADDUR (ESP) defeats  R. NARUSVICIUS (LTU) by points (7-2)

Semi-Final- R. RIZANOV (RUS) defeats  O. EMANOELY (ISR) by points (10-0)

Final- Y. KADDUR (ESP) defeats R. RIZANOV (RUS) by points (5-2)

84kg

Quarter-Final-  I. POGACSAS (HUN) defeats A. ALI (PAK) by submission

Quarter-Final-  P. NIDZI (POL) defeats H. HORODETSKI (UKR) by points (5-4)

Quarter-Final- A. ANNABI (FRA) defeats P.HAJIMURAD (AZE) by submission

Quarter-Final- M. UMAROV (RUS) defeats M. TAIGAT (KAZ) by points (17-0)

Semi-Final - P. NIDZI (POL) defeats  I. POGACSAS (HUN) by submission

Semi-Final- M. UMAROV (RUS) defeats A. ANNABI (FRA) by points (3-1)

Final- M. UMAROV (RUS) defeats P. NIDZI (POL) by points (7-3) in the 84kg final

92kg

Quarter-Final- P. BAGINSKI (POL) defeats A. IBRAGIMOV (ISR) by submission

Quarter-Final- C. SOTO (USA) defeats Y. ISICHKO (UKR) by submission

Quarter-Final- O. BEKSULTAN (KGZ) defeats C. MIRSEA (ROU) by points (7-3)

Quarter-Final-  A. SHAPIEV (RUS) defeats A.ABU-BAKIR (KAZ) by points (3-2)

Semi-Final - A. SHAPIEV (RUS) defeats O. BEKSULTAN (KGZ) by submission

Semi-Final- C. SOTO (USA) defeats P. BAGINSKI (POL) by submission

Final- A. SHAPIEV (RUS) defeats C. SOTO (USA) by points (10-0) in the 92kg final

100kg

Quarter-Final- J. Becancor MORENO (ESP) defeats D. NSOMBOLI (FRA) by submission

Quarter-Final- A. BAKDAULET (KAZ) defeats B.TOMASETTI (ITA) by submission

Quarter-Final- I. UMAROV (RUS) defeats A. HALETA (UKR) by submission

Semi-Final - S. EVAENII (KGZ) defeats J. Becancor MORENO (ESP) by points (6-2)

Semi-Final- I. UMAROV (RUS) defeats A. BAKDAULET (KAZ) by points (5-3)

Final- I. UMAROV (RUS) defeats S. EVAENII (KGZ) by points (7-2)

100+kg

Quarter-Final- defeats U. NUROV (UZB) by criteria (3-3)

Quarter-Final- V. MANCUSO (USA) defeats. Ahmed Khan QASURI (PAK) by forfeit

Quarter-Final- R. ABDULAEV (RUS) defeats V. MATEIKO (UKR) by forfeit

Quarter-Final-  A. FREZZA (ITA) defeats A. SAULET (KAZ) by pointa (6-2)

Semi-Final - V. MANCUSO (USA) defeats N. ISMAILOV (KGZ) by submission

Semi-Final- R. ABDULAEV (RUS) defeats A. FREZZA (ITA) by points (8-0)

Final- R. ABDULAEV (RUS) defeats V. MANCUSO (USA) by points submission (armlock) in the 100+kg final

Women’s Grappling

53kg

Quarter-Final- A. ALGERIM (KAZ) defeats P. KRUPSKAIA (RUS) by submission

Quarter-Final- S. SKRPNYK (UKR) defeays M. MORGAN (USA) by criteria (2-2)

Quarter-Final- A. AUGUSTYN-MITKOWSKI (POL) defeats L. BOES (FRA) by points (9-3)

Quarter-Final- N. ANAIANSI (ESP) defeats S.GABRIELLI (ITA) by points (4-1)

Semi-Final - A. ALGERIM (KAZ) defeats S. SKRPNYK (UKR) by submission

Semi-Final- N. ANAIANSI (ESP) defeats A. AUGUSTYN-MITKOWSKI (POL) by points (5-2)

Final- A. ALGERIM (KAZ) defeats A. AUGUSTYN-MITKOWSKI (POL) by points (7-0)

58kg

Quarter-Final- K. FAIRZA (KAZ) defeats M. Aisa RATCLIFF (PHI) by points (9-1)

Quarter-Final-  M. MONTERO (ESP) defeats T. SONIA (FRA) by points (6-0)

Quarter-Final- Z. SZAWERNOWSKA (POL) defeats K. SHAKALOVA (UKR) by points (12-2)

Quarter-Final-  B. STIKKELMAN (USA) defeats B. CARIANI (ITA) by submission

Semi-Final - Z. SZAWERNOWSKA (POL) defeats B. CARIANI (ITA) by points (2-2 OT)

Semi-Final- K. FAIRZA (KAZ) defeats M. MONTERO (ESP) by submission

Final- Z. SZAWERNOWSKA (POL) defeats K. FAIRZA (KAZ) by points (13-4)

64kg

Quarter-Final- T. HRYNKO (UKR) defeats N.ASSEI (KAZ) by points (5-1)

Quarter-Final-  S. PNIAK (POL) defeats U. BARCHYNAI (KGZ) by submission

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

Semi-Final - T. ANNE (FRA) defeats T. HRYNKO (UKR) by points (5-4)

Semi-Final- S. PNIAK (POL) defeats  I. GROMOVA (RUS) by submission

Final- S. PNIAK (POL) defeats T. ANNE (FRA) by points (9-1)

71kg

RR RND 1- I. MUNGAI (ITA) defeats O.SUSKO (UKR) by points (9-4)

RR RND 1- R. ANUFRIEVA (RUS) defeats B. GUINUR (KAZ) by submission

RR RND 2- I. MUNGAI (ITA) defeats B. GUINUR (KAZ) by points (16-0)

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

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

RR RND 3- O.SUSKO (UKR) defeats  B. GUINUR (KAZ) by points (12-1)

71+kg

RR RND 1- H. KOVALSKA (UKR) defeats M. ZASZCZUDLOWICZ (POL) by points (11-1)

RR RND 1-I. SHOROKHOVA (RUS) defeats S. ZARINA (KAZ) by points (6-3)

RR RND 2- M. ZASZCZUDLOWICZ (POL) defeats C. BARRE (FRA) by points (9-2)

RR RND 2- H. KOVALSKA (UKR) defeats S. ZARINA (KAZ) by submission

RR RND 3- C. BARRE (FRA) defeats S. ZARINA (KAZ) by submission

RR RND 3- H. KOVALSKA (UKR) defeats I. SHOROKHOVA (RUS) by points (16-2)

RR RND 4- S. ZARINA (KAZ)  defeats M. ZASZCZUDLOWICZ (POL) 3-2 points

RR RND 4- I. SHOROKHOVA (RUS) defeats C. BARRE (FRA) by points (5-3)

 

#WrestleTirana

Sadulaev shuts down Taylor in World Championships showdown

By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (October 30) -- Two-time world champion at 92kg Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) would have expected his return to the World Championships to make all the noise in Tirana. After all, it had been two years since he last competed at the World Championships.

Enter Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) and David TAYLOR (USA). The former, who last won the world title in 2021, was not able to compete at the Paris Olympics and was injured during the semifinal of the 2023 World Championships.

Taylor, world champion in 2023, missed the Paris Olympics after losing the trials in the United States, announced his retirement and took a coaching job. He came out of retirement and decided to compete at the World Championships and retire.

Both are not 92kg wrestlers. Sadulaev has been a true 97kg for eight years now. Taylor is competing at this weight for the first time after dominating 86kg for years. But the two were pitted against each other in the opening round of the World Championships in Tirana at 92kg.

The small Feti Borova Sports Hall in Tirana did not have space to sit. So where one could, they stood to watch the two wrestle. Saudulaev in a singlet not meant for his 92kg body. Taylor, in his customary elbow on the thigh and waiting for his opponent.

No one knew what was going to happen. Sadulaev was reducing weight, and Taylor was gaining. How would the two match up? It was this lack that prompted the fans to cheer for both. But after the first period, the picture became much clearer. Sadulaev shut down Taylor's offense and came out of the pressure bout 7-0.

After the initial collar ties, Taylor went for the offense. He got on Sadulaev's leg and tried the lift but Sadulaev was swift to get out of the hold. Taylor continued his attack. That's the only way he knows wrestling. Taylor took another offensive shot and Sadulaev, with lessons from the previous attack, pressured forward to neutralize the attack and scored a go-behind for two. Sadulaev resorted to heavy snapdowns and Taylor wasn't able to defend the second one. Within two minutes, Sadulaev was up 4-0.

The speed and power was Sadulaev was impressively superior to that of Taylor who decided to change a little in the second period. He went for the far leg of Sadulaev. But Sadulaev was quick and spun behind Taylor and scored a takedown with less than two minutes left.

By this time, Ghasempour had finished his bout on the other mat. He defeated Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) 6-0 in a rather slow bout.

Sadulaev now had to defend his 5-0 lead. Taylor continued his aggressive approach and got on Sadulaev's right leg. What he did not expect was the quick counter from Sadulaev who pushed Taylor and scored an exposure for two. It was evident that Taylor could not match Sadulaev.

David TAYLOR (USA)David TAYLOR (USA) in the warm-up hall after his bout against Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) at 92kg in Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

"I did not score on the two times I shot and he did," Taylor said after the bout. "That was the difference. I needed to score on those two occasions."

Taylor and Sadulaev went to the warm-up hall but the former sat for more than 45 minutes in silence. He finally broke his silence and talked to the United States coaches after his leg attacks. After spending 30 more minutes gathering his thoughts, Taylor packed his bags and left.

On the training mats, Ghasempour and Sadulaev jogged before cooling down after their bouts. If both continue to win, they are expected to meet in the semifinals.

The match will be rather important for Taylor as well. He will hope for a Sadulaev win which will give him the chance to wrestle for the bronze medal.

"I expect him to make the finals and come back tomorrow," Taylor said. "I need to wrestle better that is my focus for now."

If he does wrestle Thursday, fans will only be treated to another blockbuster. A Ghasemoour-Taylor bout. The only downside will be that one will go home empty-handed.