#WrestleZagreb

Lee strikes gold as U.S., Iran shine at Zagreb Open

Thursday, February 6, 2025 - 01:15 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (February 5) -- Spencer LEE (USA) did not compete internationally, for circumstances beyond his control, for eight years after winning his U20 world title in 2016. But in a year since he came back in February 2024, Lee has competed in six tournaments in less than a year.

Lee competed at the Henri Deglane Grand Prix in January and won gold. Two weeks later he won the Zagreb Open gold medal at 57kg on Wednesday, marking his debut at a Ranking Series event.

The Paris Olympic silver medalist led a strong performance of the wrestlers from United States as they won two gold medals as six weight classes concluded on day one of the Zagreb Open at Arena Zagreb.

Lee did not look as dominant as he did in Paris before the final but still managed to pull out a good defensive game and win the gold medal with rather ease.

In the final, Lee defeated Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE), 6-2, after a similar win over Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX) in the semifinals. He opened the day with an 11-0 drubbing of Luka GVINJILIA (GEO).

"It's good to get competition right now," Lee said. "[It] showed that I'm really not ready yet."

Though Lee was not convinced about his readiness, his coach Dan DENNIS kept pushing Lee and reminded him of the progress he is making bout after bout.

"I think it [progress] comes from being more successful early and then I was in on three shots, kicked out of all three of them," he said. "He's (Dan Dennis) just saying that you just kind of kept progressing. You even got taken down, good counter from him, got to keep wrestling, keep moving."

In the final, Lee scored two takedowns, first one a double-leg and second a counter, as his scoring actions to beat Bazarganov, a bronze medalist at the European Championships last year.

The win takes second-ranked Lee to 43000 ranking points, same as top ranked Rei HIGUCHI (JPN), the gold medalist from Paris Olympics. If Lee can finish top eight at any other Ranking Series or Pan-Am Championships, he will move to the top. However, Lee was not sure if he will be in action internationally before the World Championships.

"I think that ranking tournaments are awesome because good guys come," he said. "The points are obviously a nice bonus to that just because you can get seeded in the bracket. I love competing. Obviously I need more of it. So maybe. This tournament was tough. So good for me."

Zahid VALENCIA (USA)Zahid VALENCIA (USA) won the 86kg gold medal in Zagreb. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Zahid VALENCIA (USA) was the second gold medalist for the U.S. as he won gold medal at 86kg after beating Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE), 8-0, in the final. Valencia was good with his counters and after building a 4-0 lead at the break, he scored two more takedown in the second period to win the gold medal.

The two bronze medals at this weight class went to Nathan JACKSON (USA) and Trent HIDLAY (USA), making sure all three U.S. wrestlers finish on the podium at the weight class.

Ahmad JAVAN (IRI)Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) defeated Ibrahim KHARI (IRI) 10-0 in the 61kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Iran wins 2 golds

Iran also won two gold medals but the tournament left it with more questions than answers for the Asian Championships team.

At 61kg, Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) defeated Ebrahim KHARI (IRI) 10-0 to confirm his spot for the Asian Championships. Khari, who won silver at the U20 World Championships last year, failed to give Javan a fight in the final.

Prior to the final, Javan defeated Nashon GARRETT (USA) 7-2 in the quarterfinals and Giorgi GONIASHVILI (GEO) 9-3 in the semifinals.

Abbas EBRAHIM (IRI)Abbas EBRAHIM (IRI) defeated Joseph MC KENNA (USA) 8-6 in the 65kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Abbas EBRAHIM (IRI) undoubtedly gave Iran its biggest win of the day as he came back to beat Joseph MC KENNA (USA) 8-6 in the 65kg final.

McKenna got the first two takedowns to lead 4-0 before Ebrahim answered with his own to lead 4-4 at the break. Ebrahim began the second period with another takedown to go ahead 6-4 but with less than a minute to go, McKenna hit ankle pick and transitioned into a leg-attack. He scored a takedown to lead 6-6 on criteria.

In the dying seconds of the bout, Ebrahim  tried a front headpinch but McKenna defended it as he had Ebrahim's one leg locked. However, the Iranian managed to get his leg out of McKenna's hands, he tried to circle back and complete a takedown but McKenna held his knee pad which was penalized as one point, giving the win to Ebrahim 7-6.

The United States challenged that call but it remained and McKenna was docked one more point for lost challenge, making the score 8-6.

Both Iran and the U.S. had two silver medalists as well after Sina KHALILI (IRI) lost the final at 70kg and David CARR (USA) dropped the final at 74kg.

Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE), a former U20 world champion, gave no chance to Sina KHALILI (IRI) in the final and shut him down for a 12-1 win victory.

The weight class also had Paris Olympian and 2023 world champion Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) who was stunned in the first bout of the day by Jarrett JACKQUES (USA) who scored a takedown in his 3-2 win Muszukajev.

Carr ran into three-time world medalist Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) in the final and finished with a silver medal at 74kg.

Salkazanov scored a takedown on each side of the break to complete a 4-0 win.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Spencer LEE (USA) df. Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE), 6-2

BRONZE: Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX) df. Luka GVINJILIA (GEO), 11-2 
BRONZE: Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB) df. Ahora KHATERI (IRI), 11-0

61kg
GOLD: Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) df. Ebrahim KHARI (IRI), 10-0

BRONZE: Nahshon GARRETT (USA) df. Giorgi GONIASHVILI (GEO), 16-11
BRONZE: Nuraddin NOVRUZOV (AZE) df. Reza MOMENI (IRI), 8-4

65kg
GOLD: Abbas EBRAHIM (IRI) df. Joseph MC KENNA (USA), 8-6

BRONZE: Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA) df. Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR), 2-2
BRONZE: Ali RAHIMZADA (AZE) df. Goga OTINASHVILI (GEO), 6-0

70kg
GOLD: Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) df. Sina KHALILI (IRI), 12-1

BRONZE: Austin GOMEZ (MEX) df. Ebrahim ELAHI (IRI), 9-3
BRONZE: Vasile DIACON (MDA) df. James GREEN (USA), via inj. def.

74kg
GOLD: Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) df. David CARR (USA), 4-0

BRONZE: Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) df. Kamil RYBICKI (POL), 10-0
BRONZE: Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO) df. Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE), 3-2

86kg
GOLD: Zahid VALENCIA (USA) df. Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE), 8-0

BRONZE: Nathan JACKSON (USA) df. Matthew FINESILVER (ISR), 12-2
BRONZE: Trent HIDLAY (USA) df. Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO), 10-4

2026 U17 World Championships

U17 World Championships 2026 Day 5 Freestyle Video Highlights

Friday, July 31, 2026 - 06:20 By Vinay Siwach

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BAKU, Azerbaijan (July 31) -- The U17 World Championships enters day five with five Freestyle weight class -- 48kg, 55kg, 65kg, 80kg and 110kg. The matches will go on till semifinals before the Women's Wrestling medal bouts at 18:00 hours.

Use code BUNDLE20 to get 20 percent off on UWW+ subscription for the U17, U20 and U23 World Championships.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 4 RESULTS

Freestyle semifinals will begin at 17:00 hours local time

14:50: Amirhossein ESMALI (IRI) needed a four-pointer to steer clear of Behruz ASHIROV (UZB) and win 7-4 at 110kg and advance to the semifinals.

14:35: A 10-0 blanking of Hanto HAYASHI (JPN) by Magomed OMAROV (RUS) as he moves into the 110kg semifinals. Can the U17 European champion double up with a U17 world title?

14:30: AARYAN (IND) with another comeback at 48kg to beat Kooper DEPUTY (USA) in the quarterfinals. Deputy led 4-2 before Aaryan with a duckunder for four and then two more for exposure to lead 8-4. He got another exposure for two more points but Deputy was working on an armbar for a fall. But Aaryan managed to defend it and win 10-7

14:10: Jakhongir TULKUNOV (UZB) downs U17 Asian champion Arman ELAHI (IRI) at 55kg. Elahi, who had beaten Tulkonov, 9-6, at the U17 Asians failed to find any openings and Tulkunov was right in it to win 5-1

13:58: Amirhossein ESMALI (IRI) storms past Sergko CHOUTSISVILI (GRE) at 110kg after a 10-0 win. No issues for Esmali. He will face Behruz ASHIROV (UZB) in the quarterfinals.

13:40: First quarterfinal and Sam ARSHAD (IRI) comes from behind to beat Tymur ABUMISLIMOV (UKR) 13-6 at 65kg. Abumislimov just could not match Arshadgh in his pace

13:20: High stake match at 48kg as U17 European champion Huseyn RZAZADE (AZE) and AARYAN (IND) square off. Rzazade with an early takedown before a stepout from Aaryan. Rzazade leads 2-1 at the break. He continues to add stepouts in the second period and even got a point for lost challenge to lead 5-1. But Aaryan continued the pressure and got a stepout and point for fleeing, making it 5-3 with 18 seconds left. He goes a duckunder for his last move and gets the takedown for a 5-5 criteria lead and the win. Azerbaijan challenges to find its saviour but there is none. Aaryan moves on with a 6-5 win

13:10: Amirali FERASATI (IRI) in complete control of his 80kg bout against Kantemir ELMESOV (RUS). He scores a takedown on edge before getting an activity point. He scored a stepout to lead 4-0. Elmesov missed his attack which gave Ferasati chances to jump over for takedowns. The Iranian wins 8-2

12:52: Arsenii KIKINIOU (USA), who won silver and bronze medals last year in Greco-Roman and Freestyle, has lost his 65kg bout against Jovani SOLIS (PUR). Solis got a takedown and turn to get a 5-1 lead in the second period which changed the match. The U.S. challenged the two and two call but lost it which gave Solis a 6-1 win. Kikiniou did not win a medal in Greco-Roman this year but still has a chance to win bronze in Freestyle if Solis reaches the final

12:50: Chase KARENBAUER (USA) with a very tactical match against Kyosuke IKEDA (JPN) for a 6-4 win at 55kg. He got a takedown and turn in the second period and despite giving up a takedown, he comes out as a winner

12:45: Arman ELAHI (IRI) wrestles till the last second and is rewarded with a thrilling win against Temirlan MURAT (KAZ) at 55kg. Murat led 3-1 thanks to two stepouts and one passivity point. But Elahi scored a stepout to make it 3-2 with around 30 seconds left. He then caught Murat but failed to bring him down so went the other way to throw Murat and get two points for the win. Kazakhstan challenges and on review, the two is changed to four with a reversal for Murat. Elahi wins 6-4

12:35: Magomed IBRAGIMOV (RUS) with another second period show to beat Erik PAPIKYAN (ARM), 8-1, at 65kg. Papikyan led 1-0 at the break but Ibragimov with two takedowns to lead 4-1. He then launches Papikyan for a four

12:10: Returning bronze medalist Hakim TAGHIYEV (AZE) falls 3-2 against Behruz ASHIROV (UZB) at 110kg. Ashirov was up 2-1 when he got put on activity clock. The one point gave Taghiyev a 2-2 criteria but Ashirov with a stepout with 5 seconds left to win 3-2

12:00: Returning bronze medalist at 80kg Ayubjon BOZORZODA (TJK) completes an 8-6 victory over Jayden OFARRILL (USA). He was leading 5-2 at the break but was struggling with his conditioning. However, he still managed to defend the late attacks from Ofarrill

11:58: AARYAN (IND) with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Amirali RAGHEB (IRI) at 48kg. Aaryan with some beautiful duckunders to score his takedowns as Ragheb looked clueless in that bout

11:48: Deepanshu KHOKHAR (IND) was down 6-1 until the final 15 seconds against Layden ACEVEDO (PU). But he scores a four-pointer to make it 6-5 with 9 seconds left. Using all he got, Khokhar gets a stepout with less than two seconds left and wins 6-6 on criteria at 80kg

11:42: Chase KARENBAUER (USA) uses cradles to score exposure points on Valentin DELEANU (MDA) and completes a 10-0 win in the first period at 65kg.

11:33: KRISHAN (IND) and Magomed IBRAGIMOV (RUS) with an electric bout at 65kg. Leading 6-2, Krishan gave up a stepout. Ibragimov then hit a headlock throw which was initially scored two point, then a headpinch for two more before Krishan got the reversal making the score 7-7 on criteria. But India challenged perhaps because of all the confusion on the scoreboard. On review, the two for headlock was changed to four and Ibragimov got a 9-7 lead with 16 seconds left. Ibragimov got a double-arm lock and two rolls in that time to win 11-7

11:30: Saba MINDIASHVILI (GEO) with a 3-2 victory over Mustafa BERSANUKAEV (RUS) at 55kg. It needed a challenge from Mindiashvili to remove the a takedown that was awarded to Bersanukaev. With 3-1 lead and 36 seconds left, Mindiashvili gave up a stepout but held on to win the match.

11:10: Erik PAPIKYAN (ARM) was called passive in the first period Rashid NAZAROV (AZE) got one point. But in the second period, Papikyan scored a takedown on a missed shot from Nazarov, turned him three times using the gut-wrench and take an 8-1 lead. He also scored a stepout and in 9-1 and advance at 65kg.

10:55: Arseni KIKINIOU (USA) opens his Freestyle campaign at 65kg with a 7-0 blanking of Bidzina JINTCHARADZE (GEO). While he won't be a medalist in both styles this year, he can still repeat as Freestyle medalist

10:30: Freestyle will take centrestage in Baku with five weight classes. Russia, Iran and the U.S. will be eyeing the team title as well with hosts Azerbaijan also in with an outside chance.