Grappling

Grappling World Championship Day 4 Recap

Monday, September 10, 2018 - 04:04 By Marc Berman

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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)

 

2026 World Championships

Yazdani Returns to World Championships After Beating Azarpira

Friday, June 19, 2026 - 11:56 By Vinay Siwach

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KEMRAN, Iran (July 19) -- Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) made his World Championships debut at 70kg in 2015. The Olympic champion will be at 97kg for his eighth World Championships, 11 years later.

Yazdani, a three-time world champion, booked his spot on Iran's team for the 2026 World Championships after beating world silver medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) in two straight matches in Kemran on Friday.

Azarpira needed to win only one bout to earn his spot as he was a returning world medalist but Yazdani secured two wins, 4-2 and 5-3, to end Azarpira's hopes. 

According to selection criteria set by Iran, a returning world medalist needed to win only one bout while the opponent needed two straight wins to claim the spot.

Hassan YAZDANI (IRI)Hassan YAZDANI (IRI), blue, shakes hands with Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) after beating him in the second bout. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

In the first bout, Yazdani scored three stepouts and a point for passivity while Azarpira managed a takedown to the lead but he could not find another takedown or two one-point scoring actions needed to win.

An hour later, the two wrestlers returned for their second bout. Azapira, needed just a win to secure his place, led 3-3 on criteria in the second period. After Yazdani led 3-0, Azarpira fired back a takedown and stepout to earn the criteria.

In the final minute, Azarpira pressured Yazdani towards the zone and just went it seemed that he has scored a stepout, Yazdani circled back and scored a takedown to take a 5-3 lead. A shocked Azarpira protested the decision but he had no challenge left as he had used and lost the challenge in the first period.

Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI)Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) tries to score on Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) during the 97kg bout. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Yazdani, with all his experience, managed to hold on to his two point lead and confirm that he will return to the World Championships three years later. The Iranian will be chasing his eighth medal as he already has medals from every edition he has participated in.

The 31-year-old began with a silver medal at 70kg in 2015, won gold at 86kg in 2017, 2019 and 2021, and won bronze in 2018. At the 2022 and 2023 World Championships, he finished silver medals, losing those finals to David TAYLOR (USA).

This, however, won't be Yazdani's debut at 97kg. He wrestled at the Zagreb Open Ranking Series in February and reached the final before Stephen BUCHANAN (USA) defeated him, 13-3.

Yazdani's next challenge will be to win a medal at the October 24-November 1 World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. The 97kg weight class will most likely have returning world champion Kyle SNYDER (USA), Paris Olympic champion and world bronze medalist Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) and world bronze medalist Arash YOSHIDA (JPN).

Former Olympic and world champion Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) will also be in the mix if he makes the Russian team. Olympic silver medalist Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO), former world champion Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ), will also be challenging for the three-time Olympic medalist Iranian.

Yazdani, Firouzpour Win

Two other weight classes, 74kg and 97kg, were also contested to confirm the Iran Freestyle team for the World Championships.

Former world silver medalist Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) defeated Yones EMAMI (IRI) in two straight bouts to clinch the spot at 74kg, a weight class that Emami has ruled in Iran for quite a few years now.

In two high-scoring bouts, Yazdani won 10-6 and 11-7, mostly using his counters in the zone to book his spot.

At 92kg, world bronze medalist Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) defeated Mobin AZIMI (IRI), 2-1, in the second bout of the series to claim the spot. As he was the returning world medalist, Firouzpour needed only one win to qualify.

Azimi won the first bout 2-2 on criteria, scoring a late stepout after three points were awarded for passivity. However, there was no such comeback in the second bout as Firouzpour kept his lead.

On Tuesday, a wrestle-off was held in Greco-Roman in which Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) defeated world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI), 5-1, at 130kg to secure his spot for the World Championships.

Iran's Freestyle Team for 2026 World Championships

57kg: Milad VALIZADEH (IRI)
61kg: Ahmad JAVAN (IRI)
65kg: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI)
70kg: Sina KHALILI (IRI)
74kg: Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI)
79kg: Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI)
86kg: Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI)
92kg: Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI)
97kg: Hassan YAZDANI (IRI)
125kg: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI)