#WrestleBudapest

Live Blog: #WrestleBudapest European Championships Day 6

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (April 2) -- Another Greco-Roman day at the European Championships in Budapest. The final five weight classes will be in action as the championships enter the business end.

After 10 action-packed sessions, it all comes down to Greco-Roman and the Budapest crowd loves the oldest form of wrestling.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

15:25: Felix BALDAUF (NOR) pulls out injured as Kiril MILOV (BUL) wins the 97kg quarters. That's the end of the morning session in Budapest. The semifinals will begin in an hour and 20 minutes. Do tune in later for the evening session

15:15: An 8-4 win and spot in the semifinal for Vladlen KOZLIUK (UKR) at 97kg. Beytullah KAYISDAG (TUR) will have to wait if he gets a chance for the bronze medal. On Mat B, Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) with a 9-0 win against Laokratis KESIDIS (GRE).

15:03: Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) with a come back from 5-0 down. He defeats world silver medalist and Ranking Series winner Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) at 82kg. That also means that a rematch between Akbudak and Huseynov will have to wait 

15:00: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) stops Mateusz BERNATEK (POL) in the quarterfinals. The junior world champion wins 5-2 to advance to the semifinals

14:55: Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) is riding on a first-period takedown and leads Tamas LEVAI (HUN) 2-0. A blank second period as Huseynov will win 2-0 over Levai

14:45: Krisztian VANCZA (HUN) enthralling the local crowd as he leads Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) 6-2 at the break. Incredible counter-attacking wrestling from Vancza. He extends that lead to 8-2 after exposure. He gets the win via technical superiority 10-2

14:25: Morten THORESEN (NOR) will have to wait for his second European gold. He goes down 9-0 against Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM).

14:15: Kristupas SLEIVA ((LTU) tried his best but a four-point throw from Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO) made the difference as the Georgian won 5-2

13:55: Into tonight's semifinals! Kerem KAMAL (TUR) is looking dominant at 60kg. He beats Helary MAEGISALU (EST) 12-1 and will wrestle in the semifinals later tonight

13:33: Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) with a 7-1 victory over Murat LOKIAYEV (AZE) at 97kg. He had finished with a silver medal at the Ranking Series event in Istanbul

13:25: Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) keeps it tidy with a 5-1 victory over Petr NOVAK (CZE) at 82kg. An exposure from par terre and two points for leg four by Novak.

13:18: Junior and U23 world champion Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) warms up with a 9-1 victory over Witalis LAZOVSKI (GER) at 67kg. He had finished 5th at the World Championships in Oslo.

13:15: U23 European champion Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) scrapes to a 4-4 win over Johnny BUR (FRA). He scored a takedown with 44 seconds remaining to win the bout.

13:00: Mateusz BERNATEK (POL) is looking unstoppable today. He has two technical superiority wins now. Ivo ILIEV (BUL) his latest victim

12:45: Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU) was down 7-0 against Jakub BIELESZ (CZE) but scores 15 unanswered points to win his opening bout at 72kg

12:40: Tokyo silver medalist Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) in trouble against Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL). He is down 7-2 after getting thrown for four and committing a leg-foul. But Sahakyan may be losing his bleeding time as he has a cut over his eye. But he manages to defend his lead and win 7-2

12:35: Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) begins his quest for the second European title with an 8-1 win against Erik TORBA (HUN)

12:20: Ali ARSALAN (SRB) with an incredible start to his first European Championships. A strong par terre game gets him a 9-0 win over Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR) 

12:00: Kerem KAMAL (TUR), chasing his first senior European title, begins with a 9-0 win over Razvan ARNAUT (ROU) 

11:55: Two technical superiority wins to start. Mateusz BERNATEK (POL) beats Christoph BURGER (AUT) at 67kg while Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) defeats Daniel BOBILLO VIGIL (ESP) at 60kg 

11:30: Welcome to day six of the European Championships. Another Greco-Roman day in Budapest as wrestlers from 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg and 97kg are competing.

Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 Day 4: Tazhudinov, Ghasempour lose

By Vinay Siwach

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (November 21) -- The final day at the Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 will see four Freestyle weight classes in action -- 74kg, 86kg, 97kg and 125kg. Every weight class has a world champion wrestling today.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

12:50: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) drops his semifinal against Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) 15-3. Aitmukhan with three exposure for six points in the second period. Tazhudinov struggled to finish his attacks. We have a Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) vs Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) final.

12:40: World silver medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) with a lace to beat Rifat GIDAK (TUR) 11-0 and enter the final at 97kg.

12:37: Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) reaches the 86kg final with an 5-1 win over Magomet EVLOEV (TJK) in the semifinal. Dzhioev will now take on Saipudunov for the gold medal.

12:33: Another Bahrain wrestler in the final as Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN) survives an late onslaught from Osman GOCEN (TUR) and wins 8-6 at 86kg. Gocen got a four-pointer which kept him in the match which was otherwise dominated by Saipudinov

12:30: Top match at 74kg semifinal as Younes EMAMI (IRI) holds off Norkhoza KAIPONOV (KAZ) 6-5. Kaiponov was up 4-1 and scored a stepout to make it 5-1. Emami got a stepout to make it 5-2 and a beautiful duckunder to close it to 5-4. He continued the action and used a gut-wrench to make it 6-5 with less than a minute remaining. He defended his lead to enter the final in which he will take on Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE)

12:22: Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE) with a takedown in the final 10 seconds to upset Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) who was leading 5-2 till the last 30 seconds. The takedown gave Novruzov a 5-5 criteria lead before Asluev tried to hit exposure. Novruzov got an counter exposure for the 7-5 win. 

12:15: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) is into the 125kg final after a 7-0 blanking of Hakan BUYUKCINGIL (TUR) in the semifinal. Easy win for the world champion

12:11: World silver medalist Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) goes down 7-6 against Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) in the 125kg semifinal. Sharipov scored a four-pointer and led 5-0. But in Meshvildishvili comes back in the second period to make it 6-4 and needed three points for a win. He scored a takedown to make it 6-6 but was down on criteria. In the final 10 seconds, he was close to scoring two times but Sharipov managed to defend. A lost challenge gave him another point.

12:06: Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) downs Olympic bronze medalist Mogomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) 12-2 at 97kg. Aitmukhan with a four-pointer and three takedowns in his victory. Solid defense as well whenever Magomedov seemed threatening.

11:55: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) with a cradle to get the fall over Abossolo CEDRIC (CMR) in the second period of his 97kg quarterfinal.

11:50: Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) wins his quarterfinal at 97kg against Muhammad GULZAR (PAK) 11-0 after three rolls from par terre. He will wrestle Rifat GIDAK (TUR) who defeated Oucif HOUSSEM (ALG) 13-2

11:42: After taking out Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI), Arsenii DHZIOEV (AZE) continues his winning run and enters the semifinal at 86kg with an 11-0 victory over Benferdjallah FATEH (ALG)

11:30: Younes EMAMI (IRI) with an strong defensive performance as he beats Orozbek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), 5-2, at 74kg. Emami got a point every time he seemed passive in the match.

11:20: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) powers his way to a 10-0 victory over Arslanbek TURDUBEKOV (KGZ) at 125kg. World champion Zare is a strong favorite to win gold here.

11:18: Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) stops Shams QURAISHI (AFG) from more upsets but not after an incredible match. Quraishi managed to score 9 points on Asluev before dropping his bout 12-9

11:10: Olympic champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) opens his 97kg with an 11-1 technical superiority win over 92kg U20 world champion Sherzod POYONOV (UZB).

11:00: Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) works his incredible underhook and manages an easy 11-0 victory over Iqbal AHMADI (AFG) at 97kg. Azarpira is a world silver medalist from Zagreb.

10:50: Former world 92kg champion Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) makes it look easy rolling to a 10-0 win over Mohamed SALAHELDIN (EGY) at 97kg.

10:45: Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) takes out Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) in the opening bout at 86kg. In a bout of two halves, Ghasempour got a takedown and passivity point in opening period before Dzhioev scored a takedown during Ghasempour's activity time to lead 3-3 on criteria with just over a minute left. Ghasempour tried a desperate leg attack at the end only to give a takedown and hand the win to Dzhioev

10:37: Osman GOCEN (TUR) hangs on for a 2-2 criteria win over Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB) at 86kg. It was a scramble in which both wrestlers were awarded two points each with Gocen getting it later and holding the criteria. No points were scored in the second period but both wrestler were involved in scrambles. Gocen manages to hold off and win.

10:33: Haider BUTT (PAK) led 3-0 against Farhad MALIK ZADA (AFG) and on the way to give Afghanistan it's first win of the tournament. However, Malik Zada with a comeback and beats the Pakistan wrestler 8-4 at 86kg.

10:25: Orozbek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) took his own time but he manages to beat Khaireddine BEN TLILI (TUN), 11-1, in their 74kg. A four-pointer in the first period for Toktomambetov

10:15: Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ), one of the four world champs in action today, starts off with an 11-0 victory over Jafar CHULIBOYEV (UZB) at 74kg. He got a stepout before a takedown and four turns.

10:10: Afghanistan is really having a solid Games for itself. After some impressive wins yesterday and a fifth-place finish, Shams QURAISHI (AFG) gets a fall at 74kg against Omar MOURAD (EGY).

10:00: Last day of the ISG 2025 with four weight classes in Freestyle. Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) vs Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) likely to face in the 97kg.