#WrestleBelgrade

Live Blog: World Championships, Day 2

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 11) -- After the finals of the four Greco-Roman weight classes were set on Saturday, the World Championships enter day two in Belgrade with four more Greco weights.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 WRAP

Here are the semifinals for the evening session

63kg
Sebastian NAD (SRB) vs. Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE)
Leri ABULADZE (GEO) vs. Ali Reza Ayat Ollah NEJATI (IRI) 

67kg
Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) vs. Mate NEMES (SRB) 
Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) vs. Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) 

82kg
Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) vs. Tamas LEVAI (HUN)
|Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) vs. Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) 

97kg
Kiril MILOV (BUL) vs. Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE)
Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) vs. Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) 

15:15: Pejman POSHTAM (IRI) will not advance to the semifinal as Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) wins 5-3 and another huge hit to Iran's team title hopes here.

15:11: Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) was knocked off the 82kg throne in dramatic fashion. 2019 world bronze medalist Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZ) drops the Olympic bronze medalist with a bear hug for 4, with another 2 tacked on as Huseynov is penalized for fleeing. Brought back to the mat in par terre, Berdimuratov gets a 4-point throw for an 11-0 win.

15:10: Tamas LEVAI (HUN) is close to joining his brother as a finalist. He beats Roland SCHWARZ (GER) via fall at 82kg.

15:05: Kiril MILOV (BUL) got the rare two par terre positions in his quarterfinal against (ITA). Though he failed to get any rolls, he wins 2-0 to move into the semifinals at 97kg.

15:03: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) proves too much for aging Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB), advancing to the 97kg semifinals with a one-sided 7-0 win.

14:56: Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE) needs just 1:12 to roll to a 10-2 technical fall over Alex SZOKE (HUN) and into the 97kg semifinals.

14:58: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) is moving into the semifinals for the first time in his career as he beats HUSIYUETU (CHN) 7-0. 

14:51: Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) slams former world champion Hansu RYU (KOR) down onto his neck during their 67kg quarterfinal. The move is judged as 'brutality' and the points taken away. But Ryu is unable to continue due to the impact on his ribs, and Geraei advances with a 5-1 win by injury default.

14:49: On Mat C, Olympic silver medalist Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) has no answers to Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) and falls in the quarterfinals 7-0.

14:47: Mate NEMES (SR) scores a gut wrench from par terre and books a place in the 67kg semifinals with a 2-1 win over Mateusz BERNATEK (POL), much to the delight of the partisan crowd.

14:36: Olympic champion Luis ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB) won't be taking home a world gold after losing a razor-close 2-1 decision to Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) at 63kg. Mammadov gets a late stepout to go ahead 2-1, and in the final seconds, manages to keep from touching down as the Cuban scrambles to get behind for a takedown.

14:31: Leri ABULADZE (GEO) takes a 5-2 lead off an early scramble, then holds on for a 7-2 victory over Tynar SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) in their 63kg quarterfinal.

14:20: Ali Reza NEJATI (IRI) takes out world champion Victor CIOBANU (MDA). Both wrestlers got a chance in par terre but it was Nejati who got two rolls to win 5-3 in the quarterfinal.

14:15: Serbia has another semifinalist at the World Championships. Sebastian NAD (SRB) gave no openings to Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM) and scored a 4-0 win

14:09: After a long wait, defending 82kg champion Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) finally takes the mat. The Olympic bronze medalist scores a cross-body roll from par terre against Yuya OKAJIMA (JPN) and easily advances to the quarterfinals with a 7-1 win.

14:00: European champion Kiril MILOV (BUL), a world silver medalist in 2018, rips off four gut wrenches from par terre to put away Deepanshu AHLAWAT (IND) 9-1 and gain a spot in the 97kg quarterfinals.

13:37: Defending 97kg champion and Olympic bronze medalist Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) gets a pair of gut wrenches from par terre against Felix BALDAUF (NOR). A takedown and a stepout in the second period to finish the 8-0 technical fall. 

13:30: Mihai MIHUT (ROU) has pulled off an upset. He led 1-1 on criteria and defended the par terre position against Hansu RYU (KOR) when the Korean got the second passivity. Mihut was warned for fleeing and with 4 seconds remaining, he is penalized with two points. Challenge from Mihut but the negative wrestling is confirmed. Ryu wins 4-1.

13:19: Reigning Olympic and world champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) gets a 4-point lift from par terre, then finishes off a 9-0 technical fall over Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) with a takedown just before the end of the first period to advance to the 67kg quarterfinals. 

13:19: In a classic battle between former world champions, Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM)--looking for his sixth world medal---scores a 3-1 victory at 97kg over Metehan BASAR (TUR).

13:13: Sebastian NAD (SRB) continues to feed off the energy from the home crowd, scoring a pair of gut wrenches from par terre and advancing to the 63kg quarterfinals with a 5-1 win over Razvan ARNAUT (ROU). 

13:06: Asian champion Tynar SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) with a winning start. He beats  Nikolay VICHEV (BUL) 6-1 at 63kg.

13:03: 2021 world silver medalist Leri ABULADZE (GEO) gets a pair of stepouts in the final 30 seconds to secure a 4-1 win over 2019 Asian champion Erbatu TUO (CHN) and gain a place in the 63kg quarterfinals. 

12:41: The refugee wrestler, Aker AL OBAIDI (UWW), looked fearless in facing 2021 world champion Victor CIOBANU (MDA). But put on the bottom of par terre, courage can only get you so far, as Ciobanu lifts and rolls his way to a 9-0 technical fall to advance to the 63kg quarterfinals. 

12:39: Olympic champion Luis ORTA (CUB) up against Neeraj CHHIKARA (IND) at 63kg. He gets the par terre and out comes the chest wrap. Strong grip from Orta and he wins 9-0 with four exposures

12:31: Roland SCHWARZ (GER), a 2021 world bronze medalist at 77kg, has moved up to 82kg. He got a takedown and roll combination just before the end of the first period and rode that to a 5-1 victory over David ZHYTOMYRSKY (ISR).

12:20: Ali Reza NEJATI (IRI) is up against Abdolmohammad PAPI (GER) at 63kg. He was included in the team after world champion Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) failed to recover from an injury. He opens the account with an exposure for two. 

12:02: At 38, two-time world medalist Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) is showing more grey in his facial hair, but he still knows how to win. A headlock for 4, and a later takedown-gut wrench combination gives him an 8-0 technical fall at 97kg over Islam UMAYEV (KAZ). 

11:56: More success for the home team, as two-time world bronze medalist Mihail KAJAIA (SRB) foils a bear-hug attempt by Mathias BAK (DEN) late in the match, stepping over for 2 to finish off a 5-1 victory at 97kg. 

11:52: The indomitable Hansu RYU (KOR), still going strong at 34, advanced at 67kg when his opponent Nestor ALMANZA (CHI) defaulted due to injury in the second period. Ryu, the world champion in 2013 and 2017, had just taken a 7-1 lead.

11:45: U20 world bronze medalist Braxton AMOS (USA) with two big arm throws in his 12-6 win over Vladen KOZLIUK (UKR) at 97kg. 

11:22: In a barn-burner on Mat B at 67kg, Parviz NASIBOV (UKR), the Tokyo Olympic silver medalist at 63kg, took a 5-point lead, only to fall behind to Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM). But he got the points he needed to pull out a 7-7 victory. Galstyan was a 2019 world bronze medalist at 63kg.

11:20: A bout that should be a thriller. Olympic bronze Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY) is taking on upcoming star Abror ATABAEV (UZB). Elsayed with a stepout and a caution for fleeing to lead 2-0. Atabaev has slowly crawled back into this bout with two stepouts. But El Sayed still has 2-2 criteria lead due to the caution for fleeing. El Sayed is warned for fleeing the hold. With 8 seconds remaining, El Sayed is penalized for second fleeing. Atabaev gets the 3-2 lead. A lost challenge from El Sayed as Atabaev wins 4-2.  

11:10: 2021 European champion Mate NEMES (SRB), whose twin brother Viktor will wrestle for a bronze medal at 77kg tonight, made it to the next round at 67kg with a 9-0 technical fall over ASHU (IND).

11:08: 60kg Victor CIOBANU (MDA) is competing at 63kg this year and has begun well as he got two rolls from par terre against one from Jinseub SONG (KOR) to win 5-3

11:05: Luis ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB), the Tokyo Olympic champion at 60kg, made a successful start in moving up to 63kg, powering to a 10-0 technical fall over European bronze medalist Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR). 

10:56: Sebastian NAD (SRB) gets the home crowd fired up, scoring all his points in the first period and cruising to a 7-1 victory at 63kg over Abdeldjebar DJEBBARI (ALG).

10:51: Representing the UWW team, refugee wrestler Aker AL OBAIDI (UWW) begins his campaign at 63kg with an 8-0 win over Emerson FELIPE (GUA).

10:45: After Iran failed to get into any of the four finals yesterday, Ali Reza NEJATI (IRI), a 2019 world bronze medalist, gets his campaign at Greco 63kg started with a solid 5-0 win over European bronze medalist Ahmet Uyar (TUR). 

10:27: Hello again from Belgrade! If Day 2 is anything like yesterday's opening day, we're in for plenty of fast-paced action and high-level drama. Today's morning session will see wrestlers at Greco 63kg, 67kg, 82kg and 97kg try to battle their way into the semifinals. Buckle up!

#WrestleBudapest

Budapest Ranking Series Greco-Roman Highlights

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 20) -- The Budapest Ranking Series final day will see Greco-Roman action in seven weight classes -- 55kg, 60kg, 63kg, 67kg, 77kg, 82kg, 97kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 3 RESULTS

16:30: The end of the semifinals in Budapest. Giorgi MELIA (GEO) makes it to the 97kg final after a 5-1 victory over Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE). He will take on  Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM) who sneaks through with a 5-4 win over Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN).

16:12: Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) gets the benefit of Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) defensive fouls and win 4-3 at 82kg semifinals. He will face Adlet TIULIUBAEV (UWW) for the gold who defeated Rafael IUNUSOV (UWW), 5-1.

16:00: Robert Attila FRITSCH (HUN) launches Sergei STEPANOV (UWW) for a huge four-pointer in the last minute and wins the 77kg semifinal 6-3 to set up a final against Sergei KUTUZOV (UWW) after he defeated Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) 8-6. Suleymanov was going well with a 6-0 lead but when Kutuzov got the par terre, he reverse lifted Suleymanov for a four and another for two points to lead 7-6. A lost challenge made it 8-6 for the win.

15:40: European bronze medalist Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) rolls to a 8-0 technical superiority win over Daniial AGAEV (UWW) in the 67kg final. But there will be no all-Georgian final as Leri ABULADZE (GEO) drops his semifinal to Valentic PETIC (MDA) 5-3.

15:25: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) takes out European silver medalist Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) 5-3 to enter the final at 63kg. Surprising win for Eriomenco but he will face Sergey EMELIN (UWW) for the gold medal. Emelin had a injury walkover in the other semifinal.

15:05: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) showing why he is the best in the world at 60kg as he beats Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) in a rematch of the European final. He defends most of Tibilov's attacks to win 3-2. He will face SUMIT (IND) in the 60kg final after the Indian pinned Galym KABDUNASSAROV (KAZ).

14:45: Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) needs all the luck he can as he beats Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB), 5-5, on criteria in the 55kg semifinal. He will take on Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ) for the gold medal after he defeated Alpamys DASTANBEK (KAZ), 8-0, in just a minute and 20 seconds.

Semifinals

14:15: Sergei KUTUZOV (UWW) scores turns from par terre and beats Asian champion Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) 9-0 to book a place in the semifinal against Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) at 77kg.

14:00: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) keeps and simple and gets both par terre advantages in the against Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB) and beats him 4-0 at 60kg. This avenges his loss to Bakhramov at the Zagreb Open earlier this year.

13:55: Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) takes out Amiran SHAVADZE (GEO) 5-5 in the 60kg quarterfinals via criteria. Tibilov will face Mammadli in the semifinal, a rematch of the European final which Mammadli won

13:40: SUMIT (IND) breaks Dahyun KIM (KOR) down with his pace and secures the fall after an early scare in the 60kg bout. He moves into the semifinals of the Ranking Series.

13:35: European champion Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) comes strong in defense, blocking Anil MOR (IND) when the Indian was trying to turn Sefershaev from par terre. He also pushed him out for a point. Sefershaev win 4-1 at 55kg. 

13:25: Alex SZOKE (HUN) sends the local crowd into frenzy after beating Artur SARGASIAN (UWW) 6-6 on criteria at 97kg. Szoke had three two point techniques while Sargasian managed only two and the Hungarian kept the criteria.

13:15: European silver medalist Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) puts another clinical show and beats Ellis COLEMAN (USA) 6-1 at 63kg. He enters the semifinals.

12:45: World and European champion Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) takes a little injury timeout before par terre but gets to work and finishes the bout against Seunghak KIM (KOR), 9-0, at 60kg.

12:20: Two huge losses as Sadyk LALAEV (UWW) drops his match 9-3 to SUMIT (IND) and on Mat D, Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (UWW) loses 9-0 to Dahyun KIM (KOR) at 60kg. Both were looking to be on the team to Zagreb but what unexpected losses.

12:00: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) manages to blank Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) in the opening round at 77kg. A takedown to open the scoring for Suleymanov before he scores a turn from par terre. Gutu challenges for the hand-below-waist but it's lost. A takedown in the second period and Suleymanov wins 8-0.

11:50: European champion Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) gives no chance to Artium DELEANU (MDA) and wins an easy 7-1 opening round.

11:45: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) and Dinislam BAMMATOV (UWW) are involved in a battle but it's the Moldovan who comes out on top 5-5 on criteria.

11:35: European silver medalist Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) bosses his opening round bout at 63kg and beats Yerkebulan ARDAKOV (KAZ), 9-0 to advance. In the next match on Mat D, 

11:20: World U23 champion Alisher GANIEV (UZB), one of the most explosive wrestler in the world, wins his first bout at 63kg via disqualification of Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ). Ganiev was already leading 7-0 by then.

11:05: Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) opens with a 10-0 victory over Seungjun KIM (KOR) at 97kg. Savolainen has not enjoyed similar success like he did before the Paris Olympic cycle.  

10:55: Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) needs a challenge to overturn a defeated to victory against Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB). Vardanyan got a exposure at the end but was not scored. However, he won the challenge and Nakibov is devasted.

10:40: Former world champion Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE) wins his first bout at 77kg with a 1-1 score against Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO) as he was the first to get the par terre points.

10:30: Welcome to the final day of the Budapest Ranking Series. It will be Greco-Roman action the whole day in seven weight classes