#WrestleBaku

Iran beats Azerbaijan to win Greco-Roman World Cup

By Vinay Siwach

BAKU, Azerbaijan (November 6) -- What a Greco-Roman World Cup that was. Iran and Azerbaijan were neck-to-neck with both winning five bouts. But the classification points gave Iran the win. Iran claims the World Cup it last won in 2016. Azerbaijan finishes second for the second time in a row.

The All-World team finishes third.

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21:10: Iran wins the Greco-Roman World Cup! Aliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI) with a barrage of stepouts to beat Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) 6-3 and win the title for Iran on classification points. Kandelaki led 3-1 at the break but Yousofi broke Kandelaki and scored four stepouts in the second period along the fleeing point. Iran finishes with 21 classification points to 19 of Azerbaijan.

21:00: It all comes down to this bout. Aliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI) vs Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) at 130kg for the World Cup title. Both teams are tied for classification points with 18 each. The winner takes it all. Kandelaki begins with a turn from par terre to lead 3-0. Yousofi gets a stepout just before the break. He begins the second period with a stepout. Kandelaki's lead is cut to 3-2. A tiring Kandelaki can't stop the stepouts. He trails 5-3 with two minutes remaining. Another stepout and the win for Yousofi.

20:45: Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) beats Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE) and Iran has cut it down to 5-4. Balihamzehdeh was trailing 2-1 but a takedown and turn to lead 5-2 and the win. The title comes down to the final bout at 130kg. A win is all that is needed.

20:33: Abolfazl CHOUBANI (IRI) the hero for Iran! He keeps Iran in the match with a 2-1 win over Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE). Azerbaijan still leads 5-3 but Iran will hope to win the final two bouts and make it 5-5 to stand a chance.

20:20: Now at 82kg, Mohammadhossein MAHMOODI (IRI) will look to bring back Iran in this. But Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) with exposure when he was put in par terre to lead 2-1. He locked Mahmoodi's elbow to get the points. A par terre position for Huseynov in the second period. Mahmoodi is cautioned for two points but no more damage was done. Huseynov wins 5-1. Azerbaijan leads 5-2.

20:10: This is now turning out to be a difficult one for Iran. Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) with a controlled 7-1 win over Aref HABIBOLLAHI (IRI) at 77kg. The win has propelled Azerbaijan to a 4-2 lead. Two more wins out of four bouts will seal it for Azerbaijan.

19:50: A challenge that Iran will regret if the final result doesn't go in its favor. Mohammadreza ROSTAMI (IRI) was leading Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) 3-3 with over a minute remaining. A challenge for negative wrestling but it was clean. Ganizade got the 4-3 lead and the win. Azerbaijan is now in the lead 3-2.

19:35: Two young stars. Two of the best at 67kg. Two wrestlers who will be dominant for a long time. Seyed SOHRABI (IRI) and Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) on the mat now. Sohrabi gets the early call for passivity. But he doesn't get any turn from par terre. Relentless from both wrestlers. Sohrabi will go at the break leading 1-0. Sohrabi with a body lock and tries to throw Jafarov but, are you kidding me, Jafarov with a one-handed counter for four! Iran challenges the call but it is a clear four. Jafarov leads 5-1. A victory for Jafarov at 67kg over Sohrabi. The crowd is electric.

19:25: World bronze medalist Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) now wrestling Iman Hossein Khoon MOHAMMADI (IRI) at 63kg. He is cautioned for two points for negative wrestling. 2-0 lead for Khoon Mohammadi who scores a takedown as well to lead 4-0 at the break. The second passivity against Mammadov and Khoon Mohammadi asks for standing. Mammadov is cautioned again and Khoon Mohammadi leads 7-0. A stepout to complete an 8-0 win for Iran which leads 2-1 now.

19:15: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) replaces an injured Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) at 60kg. He is facing Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI). A passivity call against Mammadli but Mohsen Nejad doesn't get the turn. A stepout for Mohsen Nejad as he leads 2-0 at the break. In the second period, Mohsen Nejad gets the advantage again. This time he turns Mammadli but gets stuck on the second attempt. Mammadli with a turn as well to make it 5-4. But Mohsen Nejad hangs on for the win. It's tied 1-1.

19:05: The first match is at 55kg. Two-time world champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) takes on U23 world champion Poya DAD MARZ (IRI). Azizli wins 4-1 and puts Azerbaijan in the lead.

Now it is time for the big match! Iran is taking on Azerbaijan in Baku for the World Cup. 

18:55: U23 world champion Fatih BOZKURT (TUR) beats Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (UWW) 3-1 but it doesn't matter as the All-World team wins the bronze medal via classification points. Both teams have five wins but the All-World team has 22 points to Turkiye's 19. What a performance from the All-World team.

18:40: What a win for Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (UWW)! He beats two-time world champion Metehan BASAR (TUR) 1-1 at 97kg. The win all but confirms the third place for the All-World team. Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (UWW) has to avoid getting pinned at 130kg.

18:30: Ali CENGIZ (TUR) ties with for Turkiye! He beats Alex KESSIDIS (UWW) 4-2 at 87kg and it has become a thriller. The All-World team was looking very close to winning this but it has turned around.

18:20: A rematch of the World Championships final coming up at 82kg between Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) and Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UWW). The first passivity is against Akbudak and Berdimuratov scores a turn to lead 3-0. He starts the second period with a stepout. Akbudak then goes behind and scores a four before two turns make it 8-4. A point against Akbudak for being passive but that doesn't change the final result of the bout as Akbudak wins 8-5. The All-World team still leads Turkiye 4-3.

18:10: A long bout between world silver medalist Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) and Yunus BASAR (TUR) and it is the Turkiye wrestler who comes out on top 7-6. Basar first got the turn from par terre before a surprise arm throw for a 7-3 lead. Levai did score a takedown but Basar held on top a 7-6 win. Turkiye now has two wins from six bouts.

17:55: A battle between the two world bronze medalists and Selcuk CAN (TUR) looked like winning the bout after he got the turn from par terre against Andrii KULYK (UWW). But Kulyk jumped over and pinned Can for the win. The All-World team now leads 4-1.

17:40: Murat FIRAT (TUR) brings Turkiye back into this match. He beats Joni KHETSURIANI (UWW) 1-1 as the two exchanges passivity points in this 67kg bout. The All-World team still leads 3-1 but Turkiye is crawling back.

17:32: World silver medalist Leri ABULADZE (GEO) makes it 3-0 for the All-World team. He beats Ahmet UYAR (TUR) 3-1 after getting a turn in par terre.

17:20: At 60kg, Mukremin AKTAS (TUR) and Aidos SULTANGALI (UWW) going up against each other. Aktas gets the 1-0 lead for the passivity. But he fails to get any action. Sultangali goes behind and scores a throw for four. He continues the action for a gut wrench to lead 6-1 at the break. Aktas is called passive in the second period and Sultangali was happy to get the 7-1 win. A 2-0 lead for the All-World team.

17:05: The first bout of the Turkiye vs All-Star team is at 55kg between Muhammet CAKIR (TUR) and world silver medalist Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO). Early action in the bout as Tsurtsumia takes a 4-0 lead. But he tries an arm throw which Cakir defends and scores a takedown. He then goes for an arm throw and gets four to lead 6-4. A stepout makes it 7-4. Just before the break, Tsurtsumia gets a takedown on the edge. Turkiye challenges the call but loses. Cakir leads 7-7 on criteria at the break. Tsurtsumia is on the attack in the second period and scores a stepout. Cakir struggling with his conditioning now. A takedown for Tsurtsumia as he builds a 10-7 lead. No more scoring action in the bout and Tsurtsumia gives All-World team the lead.

17:00: Welcome to the medal bouts of the Greco-Roman World Cup in Baku. Turkiye will take on the All-World team for third place.

Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 Day 2 Highlights

By Vinay Siwach

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (November 19) — The Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 will enter the second day with two Greco-Roman weight classes, 97kg and 130kg, and three women’s wrestling weight classes — 50kg, 53kg and 57kg.

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13:15: Miesinnei GENEISI (NGR) with a fall over Chebila CHEIMA (ALG) in the 50kg semifinal and enter the final in which she will face Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB)

13:05: Mohamed ADELLATIF (EGY) scores a takedown in the second period to survive a passivity call and win his semifinal at 130kg against Fatih OZTURK (TUR) 3-0. He will face Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) for the gold medal

12:45: Tekouk ACHOUAK DJAMILA (ALG) with some strong counters after Elvira SULEYMAN (TUR) scored the first four points. Djamila made it 6-4 before Suleyman scored a go behind and led 6-6 and a turn to lead 8-6. The Turkiye wrestlers defends the late attacks from Djamila and wins 10-6 to enter the 57kg final.

12:30: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) reaches the final at 130kg after an 8-0 pounding of Roman KIM (KGZ) in the semifinal. He scored four points using a suplex. Kim was called for a leg foul which gave two more points to Hedayati. A takedown and he finishes with technical superiority.

12:05: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) has not trouble in his semifinal against Ibrahim FALLATAH (KSA), beating him 9-0 with four turns from par terre and advance to the final at 97kg.

11:45: World bronze medalist Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) gets a solid 5-1 win over Beytullah KAYISDAG (TUR) to advance to the final at 97kg. The big question is can Ahmadiyev challenge Saravi?

11:30: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) looks unstoppable at 130kg. He scores a takedown and three turns to beat Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) 8-0

11:25: Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) gets another dominant win at 57kg. She pins MIM (BAN) and moves into the semifinal with the top spot in the group.

11:10: World and Olympic champion Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) was in some trouble when put in par terre and Rouabah FADI (ALG) almost turned him but Saravi manages to defend that. Saravi then scores a takedown, gets par terre and scores two turns to lead 7-1 and also win with that score.

11:00: Miesinnei GENEISI (NGR) gets hold of a struggling Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) in Round 2 at 50kg and finishes with a 12-2 win. Mammadova clearly struggling with a knee injury

10:55: Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) began well again Mohamed ABDELLATIF (EGY), taking a 3-0 lead. However, the Egyptian managed to make a comeback and beat Kandelaki 4-3 at 130kg.

10:40: Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) and Elvira SULEYMAN (TUR) went neck-to-neck before the former stepped up her game and secured a five-point lead 13-8. Suleyman scored a four-point and two counters to score her 8 points while Aliyeva kept coming back every time Suleyman scored. But soon, Aliyeva scored two counter lifts to win the match 15-10 at 57kg.

10:25: Two quick finishes in Round 1 at 57kg in women’s. Elvira SULEYMAN (TUR) laces MIM (BAN) for a 10-0 win while Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) beats Veronica AYO (UGA) 10-0 as well.

10:15: World U23 champion Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) squares up against the Mohamed ABDELLATIF (EGY) in Round 1 at Greco 130kg. He begins with a stepout before securing the first par terre advantage. He scores one more point to win 3-0.

10:05: Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) takes little time to secure the fall over Chahd JELJELI (TUN) in the first bout at 57kg. The former world U23 champion is the favorite to win gold here.

10:00: Day two of the Islamic Solidarity Games and we have Olympic and world champion Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI), Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI), Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) among other stars in action.