#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.

#Grappling, #Pankration

Grappling, AMMA 2026 European C'ships in Armenia, Asians in Vietnam

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 10) -- United World Wrestling has announced the dates and host cities for its 2026 Grappling, Pankration and Amateur MMA continental championships.
 
The 2026 Grappling, Pankration & AMMA European Championships will take place in Yerevan, Armenia from May 24 to 31. The event will feature competitions in the U15, U17, U20, Senior and Veteran age categories, bringing together top athletes from across the Europe.

Shortly after, the 2026 Grappling, Pankration & AMMA Asian Championships will be held Da Nang, Vietnam, from June 4 to 9 June. The competition will be in all age categories barring the Veterans.

European Championships Schedule:
- 2026 Senior, U20, U17, U15 & Veteran Grappling European Championships, May 24-27 (Yerevan, Armenia)
- 2026 Senior, U20, U17 & U15 AMMA & Pankration European Championships, May 28-31 (Yerevan, Armenia)

Asian Championships Schedule:
- 2026 Senior, U20, U17 & U15 Grappling Asian Championships, June 4-6 (Da Nang, Vietnam)
- 2026 Senior, U20, U17 & U15 AMMA & Pankration Asian Championships, June 7-9 (Da Nang, Vietnam)

Importantly, both Championships will be held in only Grappling style and will not have Grappling Gi style.

Open Grappling Tournament

Vietnam will also host an open Grappling international tournament, 2026 Tri-Titans Grappling Open, from June 2 to 3. The tournament will be open to athletes of all ages from around the world.

Further information regarding event regulations, entry deadlines, and logistical details will be communicated in due course by UWW. National Federations are encouraged to mark the dates and contact UWW for any queries.