#Grappling

Hansen breaks new ground with Grappling gold

Tuesday, October 18, 2022 - 14:49 By Vinay Siwach

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PONTEVEDRA, Spain (October 18) -- Over the years, John HANSEN (USA) has been to United World Wrestling's Grappling World Championships with an aim to win the gold. But until 2022, he failed to achieve that.

But in Pontevedra, Spain, Hansen became the Grappling world champion in 130kg with a dominant run at the World Championships. Out of his four wins, two were by submission and the others were a testimony of how dominant Hansen is in Grappling.

Like Ivan SNIHUR (UKR) realized in the final when Hansen scored two points by bringing him down before adding three points for his control. Even as Snihur tried to escape out of the control, Hansen kept the offense going, adding two four-point movements before ultimately winning by submission with 1:42 remaining on the clock.

In the semifinal against Ioannis KARGIOTAKIS (GRE), he allowed his opponent to be on top before reversing the position and taking control for a 5-2 lead. He won that bout 5-3.

Overall, Hansen expressed his satisfaction by not just winning the tournament but also how his team was able to win the team title.

"I am very satisfied," Hansen said. "The USA won the Grappling team title for the first time and I am very proud of that. Such an incredible experience to be part of like the gold-winning team. I wanted to win the gold but ran into a good opponent in 2019 and could not get it done last year either. This is a huge accomplishment. I have wanted this for a long time."

Out of the six finals, the USA reached finals with Richard ALARCON (USA) and Kevin CRANE (USA) joining Hansen as the world champion while Brady WICKLUND (USA) and Paul ARDILA (USA) finished with silver medals.

"The group has been coming together over the last couple of years," Hansen said. "We have been recruiting collegiate wrestlers and a lot of guys in their 20s."

The major reason Hansen believes in the success of the USA at the UWW World Championships is the advantage it gives to wrestlers and the various countries it brings together.

"The UWW rule set prioritizes wrestling as it should be," he said. "Like if I pull guard, I should be penalized two. That's great for wrestling and records it fairly. I don't think wrestlers should be allowed to sit down. That's why I love UWW. There are more countries [at these World Championships]. How many other events draw that much talent from other countries? It's really cool. To let our guys know in the USA, this is the real World Championships."

Hansen has been one of the biggest names in Grappling and even at the age of 40 years, he participates around the world. With more understanding of the sport than he first began at the UWW tournaments, Hansen said it is one of the biggest competitions out there.

"If you take a UWW grappler with a high-pace rule set, he will wrestle 10 minutes easily. Other grapplers coming to UWW will be called for stalling. UWW grappler will go challenging anywhere."

While Pontevedra saw grapplers from Japan, India and Angola apart from the dominant grappling countries, Hansen hopes the variety continues at future tournaments, an important step to growing the sport.

"Australia is there [to grow]," he said. "Their style is very action-oriented and very aggressive which is perfect for UWW. When I saw it first, I was like why is someone called passive when you are mounted?

"But Australia and Japan are the teams. The grapplers from eastern Europe are also top. They are good on top, good at the bottom, and good in wrestling. UWW rule set is what people in eastern Europe play and that sets them apart. If they come to other rule sets competition, they will not take much time to adapt. Another country is Canada. They won't take to come up. Argentina will be out as well."

Though he has not his calendar set for next year, Hansen believes that the World Championships will always be on his schedule.

"As long as I can keep my spot in the USA, I will be at every UWW Worlds until somebody takes it from me," he said. "There is a legit commodity with 30 countries showing up. This is a completely different experience."

RESULTS

Grappling

62kg
GOLD: Amit BURSHTEIN (ISR) df. Mayis NERSESYAN (ARM), 7-4

BRONZE: Shervani ABDULAYEV (KAZ) df. Eric MEDINA (USA), 2-2
BRONZE: Arulan KURMANALIYEV (KAZ) df. Daniele CALDARERA (ITA), 6-3

66kg
GOLD: Richard ALARCON (USA) df. Yurii CHERKALIUK (UKR), 1-1

BRONZE: Anthony DE OLIVEIRA (FRA) df. Bekzat KAPASHOV (KAZ), 7-1
BRONZE: Wojciech PAJAK (POL) df. Sergio CALDERON (ESP), via submission

71kg
GOLD: Nurbek TALBUDIN (KAZ) df. Nico PULVERMUELLER (GER), 4-1

BRONZE: Alessio SACCHETTI (ITA) df. Nadav BAR GIL (ISR), 7-2
BRONZE: Magomed DJABRAILOV (FRA) df. Sarsen ZHETIBAYEV (KAZ), via submission (1-5)

77kg
GOLD: Fernando MEDINA (ESP) df. Brady WICKLUND (USA), 9-0

BRONZE: Nadir IMAMALIYEV (AZE) df. Pierre MANZO (FRA), 2-2
BRONZE: Djabrail DJABRAILOV (FRA) df. Nahman BITON (ISR), 13-1

84kg
GOLD: Kevin CRANE (USA) df. Muhammet BAYRAKTAR (FRA), 8-0

BRONZE: Matteo VERMIGLIO (ITA) df. Artur ZAKARYAN (ARM), via submission (0-2)
BRONZE: Mateusz MAZUR (POL) df. Zaireden MUKHAMBETZHANOV (KAZ), via submission (0-2)

92kg
GOLD: Roman KIZIUK (UKR) df. Paul ARDILA (USA), 2-1

BRONZE: Manuel PILATO (ITA) df. Pedro GARCIA (ESP), 3-2
BRONZE: Pawel NEDZI (POL) df. Mykhailo MUZYCHENKO (UKR), 6-2

100kg
GOLD: Andrzej IWAT (POL) df. Aleksandre TEVZADZE (GEO), 10-0

BRONZE: Ivan MALIN (UKR) df. Dominik OLSZEWSKI (POL), 2-1
BRONZE: Eduardo RIEGO (ESP) df. Eliot KELLY (USA), 3-2

130kg
GOLD: John HANSEN (USA) df. Ivan SNIHUR (UKR), via submission (13-0)

BRONZE: Tobin CAHILL (USA) df. MARCOS GONZALEZ (ESP), via submission (11-2)
BRONZE: Alexandr ROMANOV (MDA) df. Ioannis KARGIOTAKIS (GRE), 12-2

U20 men's results

58kg
GOLD: Karshyga ABDRAKHIM (KAZ) df. Zhyldyzbek ABYLBEKOV (KGZ), 3-2

BRONZE: Alejandro REYES (ESP) df. Alikhan ALSHINBAY (KAZ), via submission (6-0)

62kg
GOLD: Vadym SKRYNYTSIA (UKR) df. Chingis IDRISSOV (KAZ), via submission (0-2)

BRONZE: Ori WEISMAN (ISR) df. Guillermo GUTIERREZ (ESP), via overtime (2-2)

66kg
GOLD: Zhanuzak AITBAYEV (KAZ) df. Ali BEKISH (KAZ), 3-3

BRONZE: Nursultan KUSHTARBEK UULU (KGZ) df. Avelino SANTOS (ESP), via submission (6-6)
BRONZE: Ethan FORREZ (FRA) df. Giovanni SUAREZ (ESP), via submission, (2-0)

71kg
GOLD: Aldiyar SERIK (KAZ) df. Aron HERNANDEZ MONTERO (ESP), via submission (2-0)

BRONZE: Vincenzo BUSSOLOTTI (ESP) df. Syimyk SADYRBEK UULU (KGZ), via submission (2-0)
BRONZE: Milan NIKOLENKO (UKR) df. Noam KOREN (ISR), 5-2 

77kg
Round 5: Miguel NAVARRO (ESP) df. Yizhaq AMAR (ISR), via submission
Round 5: Amirzhan SIKHIMBAYEV (KAZ) df. Ramon PLACER (ESP), via default

GOLD: Miguel NAVARRO (ESP)
SILVER: Yizhaq AMAR (ISR)
BRONZE: Amirzhan SIKHIMBAYEV (KAZ)

84kg
GOLD: Levente LAKY (HUN) df. Alikhan KHABIBULLA (KAZ), 4-1

BRONZE: Hugo DESCHEEMAKER (FRA) df. Kutkeldi ZHOROKUL UULU (KGZ), via forfeit
BRONZE: Yarin DABOOL (ISR) df. Saul CHAYA (ESP), 7-2

92kg (3 entries)
GOLD: Jhonatan ORELLANA ALIAGA (ESP) df. Yerlan MUKHIT (KAZ), via submission

130kg (3 entries)
GOLD: Ramazan ABDRAKHIMOV (KAZ) df. Ismael CASTILLO JIMENEZ (ESP) 

U17 men's results

50kg
GOLD: Heorhii HUDZ (UKR) df. Ibraim ISKANDAROV (KGZ), 7-1

BRONZE: Emanuel SEGADO (ESP) df. Alex PINTER (HUN), via forfeit

54kg
Round 5: Ismail KUNAYEV (KAZ) df. Nurbol ZHYRGALBEKOV (KGZ), 7-6
Round 5: Guy BURSHTEIN (ISR) df. Rakhymzhan TURGANBEK (KAZ), 4-3

GOLD: Ismail KUNAYEV (KAZ)
SILVER: Nurbol ZHYRGALBEKOV (KGZ)
BRONZE: Guy BURSHTEIN (ISR)

58kg
GOLD: Bekzat KAZTAYEV (KAZ) df. Illia SVIATUN (UKR), 15-9

BRONZE: Tigran GHAZAKHYAN (ARM) df. Daniel GONZALEZ FERRER (ESP), via submission (0-2)

63kg
GOLD: Wassim CHAINE (FRA) df. Sergey ZELENKEVICH (KAZ), 2-1

BRONZE: Nurassyl TURUSPEKOV (KAZ) df. Ilay PELTZ (ISR), 2-1

69kg
GOLD: Ethan FORREZ (FRA) df. Danil VAKHTINOV (KAZ), 8-4

BRONZE: Nahapet EKIZYAN (ARM) df. Emilijus KAGANOVICIUS (LTU), via submission (0-2)
BRONZE: Gafur UZHAKHOV (KAZ) df. Amit AVIV (ISR), via submission (0-2)

76kg
GOLD: Sungat SANSYZBAYEV (KAZ) df. Tamir BARHAM (ISR), 6-4

BRONZE: Kalys SOODALIEV (KGZ) df. Jorge FERNANDEZ (ESP), 12-0

85kg
GOLD: Stefan LOBODA (ROU)
SILVER: Dorian FARKAS (HUN)
BRONZE: Karim ADEM (FRA) 

Key bout: Stefan LOBODA (ROU) df. Dorian FARKAS (HUN), 11-3 (Round 3)

110kg
GOLD: Dinmukhamed KUANGALIYEV (KAZ)
SILVER: Ibrahim MANARBEK (KAZ)
BRONZE: Antonio HERRERA (ESP)

Key bout: Dinmukhamed KUANGALIYEV (KAZ) df. Ibrahim MANARBEK (KAZ), via submission (5-0 in Round 2)

Grappling Gi

62kg
GOLD: Daiki YONEKURA (JPN) df. Dmytro BARANOV (UKR), via submission (0-2)

BRONZE: Mayis NERSESYAN (ARM) df. Ander SANCHEZ (ESP), 13-0
BRONZE: Raimbek TAZHIBAEV (KGZ) df. Daulet ZHUMADULLAYEV (KAZ), 6-5

66kg
GOLD: Anthony DE OLIVEIRA (FRA) df. Yurii CHERKALIUK (UKR), 5-1

BRONZE: Wojciech PAJAK (POL) df. Sergio CALDERON (ESP), via walkover
BRONZE: Mykyta DUSHKO (UKR) df. Galymzhan OMAR (KAZ), 7-0

71kg
GOLD: Haniel SCHUCMAN (ISR) df. Sarsen ZHETIBAYEV (KAZ), 9-1

BRONZE: Magomed DJABRAILOV (FRA) df. Alessio SACCHETTI (ITA), 2-2
BRONZE: Ivan RASIUK (UKR) df. Zoltan TOTH (HUN), 2-1

77kg
GOLD: Fernando MEDINA (ESP) df. Djabrail DJABRAILOV (FRA), 2-1

BRONZE: Dumitru CEBAN (MDA) df. Nahman BITON (ISR), 7-2
BRONZE: Adlan MADAYEV (KAZ) df. Jakub NAJDEK (POL), 2-2

84kg
GOLD: Arturo SALAS (ESP) df. Inelton BOMBO (ANG), 4-2

BRONZE: Alberto GONZALEZ (ESP) df. Mateusz MAZUR (POL), 6-4
BRONZE: Aurel PIRTEA (ROU) df. Samy MEZACHE (FRA), 11-2

92kg
GOLD: Roman KIZIUK (UKR) df. Ravshan URAZOV (KAZ), 8-8

BRONZE: Pablo ESTEPA (ESP) df. Martin BARTHEL (GER), via submission (5-2)
BRONZE: Eldar RAFIGAEV (MDA) df. Vasile CUBLESAN (ROU), via submission (0-3)

100kg
GOLD: Ivan MALIN (UKR) df. Bakdaulet ABYZOV (KAZ), 2-2

BRONZE: Serhii HAVRYSH (UKR) df. Wendy KOHILI (FRA), 9-6
BRONZE: Martin NUSSMANN (GER) df. Ilias BOUKIS (GRE), 6-1

130kg
GOLD: Alexandr ROMANOV (MDA) df. Ioannis KARGIOTAKIS (GRE), via submission (9-0)

BRONZE: Guglielmo CECCA (ITA) df. Juan HEREDIA (ESP), 4-2
BRONZE: Talgat ZHIYENTAYEV (KAZ) df. Ivan SNIHUR (UKR), via submission (6-0)

U20 men's results

58kg
GOLD: Karshyga ABDRAKHIM (KAZ) df. Zhyldyzbek ABYLBEKOV (KGZ), 3-2

BRONZE: Alejandro REYES (ESP) df. Alikhan ALSHINBAY (KAZ), via submission (6-1)

62kg
GOLD: Kostiantyn MIZUN (UKR) df. Vadym SKRYNYTSIA (UKR), 3-1

BRONZE: Ori WEISMAN (ISR) df. Acoidan ARBELO (ESP), via submission (2-2) 

66kg
GOLD: Giovanni SUAREZ (ESP) df. Alikhan AKHMETZHANOV (KAZ), 7-3

BRONZE: Ethan FORREZ (FRA) df. Nursultan KUSHTARBEK UULU (KGZ), via submission (2-0)
BRONZE: Ali BEKISH (KAZ) df. Volodymyr DYMED (UKR), overtime (2-2)

71kg
GOLD: Aldiyar SERIK (KAZ) df. Vincenzo BUSSOLOTTI (ESP), via submission (7-2)

BRONZE: Mani GRIMAUDO (FRA) df. Syimyk SADYRBEK UULU (KGZ), via submission (6-0)
BRONZE: Aron HERNANDEZ (ESP) df. Artem KHVAN (KAZ), 14-4

77kg
GOLD: Yizhaq AMAR (ISR)
SILVER: Amirzhan SIKHIMBAYEV (KAZ) 
BRONZE: Bilal SAFI (FRA)

Key bout: Yizhaq AMAR (ISR) df. Amirzhan SIKHIMBAYEV (KAZ), 3-2 (Round 2)

84kg
GOLD: Alikhan KHABIBULLA (KAZ) df. Kutkeldi ZHOROKUL UULU (KGZ), via submission (9-2)

BRONZE: Yarin DABOOL (ISR) df. Akmaldin KUSHANLO (KGZ), via submission (2-4)
BRONZE: Saul CHAYA LOPEZ (ESP) df. Hugo DESCHEEMAKER (FRA), via submission

92kg (3 entries)
Round 1: Nurdaulet KARBOZOV (KAZ) df. Pablo TORRES JIMENEZ (ESP), 6-1

130kg
GOLD: Arystan AITMOLDIN (KAZ)
SIVER: Ramazan ABDRAKHIMOV (KAZ), 6-1
BRONZE: Ismael CASTILLO JIMENEZ (ESP)

Key bout:  Arystan AITMOLDIN (KAZ) df. Ramazan ABDRAKHIMOV (KAZ), 6-1 (Round 3)

U17 men's results

42kg (2 entries)
GOLD: Azamat MENGAIR (KAZ) df. Yersultan KAIYRZHAN (KAZ), 8-0

50kg
GOLD: Imran MAGZUM (KAZ)
SILVER: Leo CLIMENT (ESP)
BRONZE: Ibraim ISKANDAROV (KGZ)

Key bout: Imran MAGZUM (KAZ) df. Leo CLIMENT WODEY (ESP), 6-2 (Round 2)

54kg
GOLD: Heorhii HUDZ (UKR)
SILVER: Guy BURSHTEIN (ISR)
BRONZE: Rakhymzhan TURGANBEK (KAZ)

Key bout: Heorhii HUDZ (UKR) df. Guy BURSHTEIN (ISR), 4-4 (Round 2)

58kg
GOLD: Bekzat KAZTAYEV (KAZ) df. Nurbol ZHYRGALBEKOV (KGZ), via submission (2-2)

BRONZE: Akdoolot ABYLBEKOV (KGZ) df. Daniel GONZALEZ (ESP), 12-3

63kg
GOLD: Sergey ZELENKEVICH (KAZ) df. Matei BRIE (ROU), via submission (10-1)

BRONZE: Wassim CHAINE (FRA) df. Nurassyl TURUSPEKOV (KAZ), 5-1
BRONZE: Tytus MACINSKI (POL) df. Eduard ROSIQUE (ESP), via submission (10-0)

69kg
GOLD: Gafur UZHAKHOV (KAZ) df. Ethan FORREZ (FRA), via submission (0-2) 

BRONZE: Ron FRIEDMAN (ISR) df. Alvaro GOMEZ (ESP), 14-8
BRONZE: Emilijus KAGANOVICIUS (LTU) df. Amit AVIV (ISR), via forfeit

76kg
GOLD: Sungat SANSYZBAYEV (KAZ) df. Tamir BARHAM (ISR), 5-4

BRONZE: Kalys SOODALIEV (KGZ) df. Islam SAGDANBEKOV (KGZ), 11-10

85kg
GOLD: Karim ADEM (FRA)
SILVER: Dorian FARKAS (HUN)
BRONZE: Stefan LOBODA (ROU)

Key bout: Karim ADEM (FRA) df. Dorian FARKAS (HUN), 4-2 (Round 3)

110kg
GOLD: Ibrahim MANARBEK (KAZ)
SILVER: Juan GOMEZ (ESP)
BRONZE: Dinmukhamed KUANGALIYEV (KAZ)

Key bout: Ibrahim MANARBEK (KAZ) df. Juan GOMEZ (ESP), 9-2 (Round 2)

Stadnik retires: Europe's best who rewrote history

Wednesday, February 5, 2025 - 11:06 By Vinay Siwach

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BAKU, Azerbaijan (February 4) -- Four Olympic medals, six World Championships medals, 10 European titles, two European Games golds, many triumphs and heartbreaks later, Mariya STADNIK (AZE) has called it a day.

Stadnik, who debuted 22 years ago in 2003, announced her decision to retire from wrestling in an event organized by Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation in Baku on Monday. In an emotional video, Stadnik can be seen removing her shoes on the mat in front of a crowd and then speaking about her career.

"I recorded my name in the history of Women's Wrestling. Thank you to everyone who created this story together with me," Stadnik wrote on Instagram. "Now it's time to close this page of my life and write a new history."

Back in 2003, Stadnik began with a gold medal at the U17 European Championships, won a U20 world title two years later, added senior one as well and had a storied Olympic career which was laden with heartbreaks.

"I always had the motivation and will to win," Stadnik said last year. "I have had this will since early childhood, and this is endless."

READ MORE: Stadnik, 34, remains unbeaten in Europe

Though her will has stretched her career over two decades, Stadnik's decision to retire came after a lot of thought.

"In wrestling, I used all my chances," Stadnik said. "Now I understand that the time has come when I can be useful for wrestling in another role."

The 36-year-old, who was born in Ukraine but competed for Azerbaijan, will be moving into a caretaker role with the Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation in Women's Wrestling and will be responsible for churning out new stars.

When Stadnik made her debut in 2003, Japan, China, United States and Canada were top nations. However, Stadnik changed that. She won her first World Championships medal in 2007 and qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in which she won a bronze medal as an 18-year-old.

Soon, she won her first world title in 2009 and emerged as the new force from Europe. She went on to win the European Championships as well. Stadnik brought competition to Women's Wrestling.

"For these countries, the competition with me was always serious," she said. "We always had tense and intriguing fights that were followed by the whole world. Mariya Stadnik from Azerbaijan was always a danger for them."

Mariya STADNIK (AZE)Mariya STADNIK (AZE) won a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Martin Gabor)

Perhaps it was no surprise that she was in the final of 2011 World Championships and 2012 London Games. However, she came up short both times to Hitomi OBARI (JPN).

"I give a lot of respect to Obara because she was stronger than me at that moment and the London gold was hers," she said. "She was my strongest opponent whom I respect very much."

Barring those Japanese hurdles, Stadnik was unstoppable. She added more medals at the continental level and always stood on the podium at the World Championships.

Mariya STADNIK (AZE)A dejected Mariya STADNIK (AZE) at the 48kg medal ceremony of the 2016 Rio Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Tony Rotundo)

Then came the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Stadnik was at the peak of her wrestling her. A Olympic gold would take so much off her back. She was in the final of the 48kg in Rio and the gold medal was within touching distance as she was leading Eri TOSAKA (JPN) 2-1 in the final. But Tosaka crushed those dreams in the final five seconds, beating Stadnik 3-2.

Stadnik till today has no explanation as to what happened in those last five seconds of the final against Tosaka.

"I didn't watch my match from Rio for two years and still can't find an explanation why that competition ended like that," Stadnik said. "I knew and felt that the Rio gold should have been mine."

Stadnik geared up for one more time. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics would have been perfect ending for her. But by then, wrestling had changed with two-day weight ins, a newer generation of wrestlers had come up and Yui SUSAKI (JPN) was on a mission.

Mariya STADNIK (AZE)Mariya STADNIK (AZE) lost her first meeting with Yui SUSAKI (JPN) 2-2 at the Klippan Lady Open in 2018. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Max Rose-Fynn)

The first time Stadnik and Susaki faced each other was in the Klippan Lady Open final in 2018. Stadnik was winning the final but Susaki scored a stepout in the final second to shock Stadnik.

People doubted Stadnik and her mental strength. The 2019 World Championships gave a huge boost of confidence for Stadnik who won her second of the two world titles in Astana, exactly ten years after winning her first.

The Tokyo Olympics were just 10 months away and Stadnik was ready for it. However, with COVID-19 pandemic, it got pushed to 2021 and Susaki went on to win the gold medal with a 41-0 record in four bouts including a 10-0 rout of Stadnik in the semifinals.

Stadnik still managed to win a bronze medal, her fourth of the Olympics, tying her with Kaori ICHO (JPN) and Saori YOSHIDA (JPN). Icho was four golds and Yoshida has three silver and one bronze.

"I know people talk about the gold medal but I am so happy with this bronze. It's satisfying," she said back in 2021.

But Stadnik wasn't satisfied with wrestling. After being away from the mat in 2022, she returned in 2023 and won her ninth European title, the most in Women's Wrestling, extending her unbeaten streak in European Championships to 34 bouts.

Then she made a run for the Paris Olympics and though that meant taking losses to opponents she used to toy with in the past, the mother of two secured her place for Paris in the final qualifiers in Istanbul. Her body was ageing, reducing weight was becoming gruesome and her opponents were becoming quicker.

She returned home without a medal but became the first female wrestler to compete at five Olympics. Soon after Paris, Stadnik reflected on what she has left for wrestling and decided that a role off the mat was more suited now. Letting go off something so big in her life was hard and emotional for her.

"When I watched the video in which I take my shoes off, I had tears," she said. "This is the end of an important part of my life. What I loved so much for many years is ending."