#WrestleIstanbul

Live Blog: Yasar Dogu, Vehbi Emre & Hamit Kaplan Day 1

Thursday, February 24, 2022 - 07:26 By United World Wrestling Press

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ISTANBUL, Turkey (February 24) -- The first day of the Yasar Dogu, Vehbi Emre & Hamit Kaplan Ranking Series event is here. Seven weight classes will be in action. There are 55kg, 60kg, 63kg, 67kg, 87kg, 97kg and 130kg. Riza KAYAALP (TUR), Zarubi DATUNASHVILI (SRB), Tadeusz MICHALIK (POL) will be in action Thursday.

LIVE STREAM | MATCH ORDER

14:30: Mahmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB) and Furkan YILDIZ (TUR) were in a cut-throat battle in the 67kg semifinals. Bakhshilloev leads 3-0 but then Yildiz leads 3-3 on criteria. The Uzbek doesn't give up and wins 4-3

1415: Felix BALDAUF (NOR) and Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) are on Mat A for their 97kg semifinal. Assakalov is up 6-0 in quick time and then is awarded 4 for a body throw. Challenge from Baldauf and he wins since it was a trip from Assakalov. It ultimately ends 7-1 for Assakalov

1410: Victor CIOBANU (MDA) is making his way to the 63kg final. He gets it done with two big points throws and wins 10-0.

14:05: Is that the upset of the tournament? Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) stuns local favourite and world champion Riza KAYAALP (TUR) with a pin in the quarterfinals.

13:55: Norway has two in the semifinals. Morten THORESEN (NOR) makes his way to the 67kg last four with a 5-3 win over Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ).

13:50: Felix BALDAUF (NOR) and Murat LOKIAYEV (AZE) on Mat C. Baldauf with a 3-0 lead in the first period. He scores a stepout to start the second period. He keeps his calm to claim a 5-0 win

13:42: Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) had built a 5-0 lead over Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) in their 60kg quarterfinal but Azizli calls for a medical timeout. The medical staff rules out future competition for Azizli. Ozturk moves into the semifinals

13:33: We're going to roll right into the semifinals. They'll start first on Mat A. Mats B and C will follow once their quarterfinals conclude.

13::29: In champion-like fashion, Basar picked up the match-deciding takedown in the second period. He'll square off against fellow world champion Datunashvili for a spot in the finals.

13:22: Kulynycz has two-time world champion Basar in trouble. He spun behind the Turkish wrestler and picked up the first takedown of the bout. His opponent felt that he stepped out, but after further review, Kulynycz was awarded a point for the lost challenge. He leads, 3-1, after the opening frame.

12:49: Reigning world champ Datunashvili picked up his second victory of the day -- a 5-1 win over  Mehmetali KUCUKOSMAN (TUR) -- and pushed himself into the 87kg semifinals. He'll take on the winner of Arkadiusz KULYNYCZ (POL) and Metehan BASAR (TUR) (Mat C / Bout 78) for a finals berth.

 

Can you name a more important electric ⚡️ duo? #WrestleIstanbul

• Olympic? Elmurat TASMURADOV ??
• ?? Victor CIOBANU ?? pic.twitter.com/XHgVmVI39E

— United World Wrestling (@wrestling) February 24, 2022

 

12:44: Kayaalp, the four-time world champion, picked up a 4-1 win over Savenko in his opening round match. He'll wrestle Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) for a spot in the 130kg finals. 

On the other side of the 130kg bracket, Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) and Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) will square off the second finals spot.

12:30: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) comes on the mat with loud cheers from the crowd. He is taking on Anton SAVENKO (KAZ) at 130kg

12:20: Tokyo bronze medalist Tadeusz MICHALIK (POL) and Mihail KAJAIA (SRB) on Mat A. Kajaia is warned for passivity. 1-0 for Michalik. Kajaia will lead 1-1 on criteria after Michalik is warned for passivity in the second period. Kajaia wins 1-1

12:00: Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) is going strong at 97kg. He beats Abdul CEBICEBI (TUR) 9-1 in the pre-quarterfinals. He gets in a front headlock position before getting two guts to finish the bout

11:30: World champion at 87kg is making his way to Mat B for his first bout of the day. Early passivity call against Datunashvili and he is down 0-1 at the break. He levels it as he gets the activity point. 8 straight points and he wins 9-1

11:00: World champion Victor CIOBANU (MDA) gets going with a win as well. He has little trouble going past Abdurahman ALTAN (TUR). 

10:45: Mihail KAJAIA (SRB) was down 0-3 but scores 7 unanswered points to win 7-3 against Ibrahim TIGCI (TUR) at 130kg

10:30: We are beginning with the matches here in Istanbul. The Greco-Roman wrestlers are ready and warmed-up

#WrestleTirana

Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series Day 2 Recap

Thursday, February 27, 2025 - 10:32 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (February 27) -- Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series day two is underway with the four Freestyle and two Women's Wrestling weight classes. Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI), Kyle SNYDER (USA), Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) and Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) in action.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 RESULTS

15:40: Paris Olympic silver medalist Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) is into the 125kg final after a 3-0 win over Hakan BUYUKCINGIL (TUR). Zare was given two points for inactivity from Buyukcingil and he scored a stepout late in the match to make it 3-0. He will face Zelimkhan KHIZRIEV (UWW) in the final who defeated Paris Olympic 97kg silver medalist Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) 7-4 in the other semifinal. The finals begin 18:00.

Who is Arash Yoshida who beat Kyle Snyder?

15:25: Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) has done it! He beats Kyle SNYDER (USA) in the semifinals at 97kg. Yoshida, who seems small for 97kg, was in all sorts of trouble for five minutes and 30 seconds of the match. The match saw Snyder score a takedown on the edge and as Yoshida was trying to sneak out of the hold, Snyder scored a pushout, all while Yoshida was on activity time. Snyder led 4-0 before giving up a stepout. Both wrestler continued the pressure in the second period but Snyder's strength and positioning didn't let Yoshida get his on his attacks. However, Yoshida managed to get a cut-back and a turn to lead 5-5 on criteria with 30 seconds on the clock. Despite Snyder's efforts, Yoshida managed to remain in contact and not get scored on. A stunning win for the Yoshida.

Yoshida, whose father is Iranian married to a Japanese national, will face Erfan ALIZADEH MALAFEH (IRI) in the final after he defeated Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK), 3-2, in the other semifinal.

15:10: Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) just gut-wrenched Feyzulla AKTURK (TUR) in the 92kg semifinal to win it in a minute and 41 seconds. He will face Alan BAGAEV (UWW) in the final after he defeated Michael MACCHIAVELLO (USA). Bagaev came out with a arm throw for four and transitioned into a lace for two turns to lead 8-0. No points scored in the second period as Bagaev moved into the final

15:00: Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) is into the 79kg final with a very controlled win over Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN). He scored a takedown, two setpouts and got another point for caution while Saipudinov scored one takedown and got one point for fleeing from Gamkrelidze. His opponent will be Gadzhimurad ALIKHMAEV (UWW), who got a walkover after Evan WICK (USA) pulled out injured.

14:50: Haruna MARUYAMA (JPN) with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR). No much to show from Khomenets and she gets rolled over as Maruyama uses a trap-arm gut. She will face Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW) in the final after she defeated Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) with a takedown in the last 30 seconds.

14:40: Umi ITO (JPN) gets done with her semifinals at 50kg with a fall over Katie DUTCHAK (CAN). Arm-barred her for the win in a minute and seven seconds. In the second semifinal, Oksana LIVACH (UKR) gets a good win over Erin GOLSTON (USA). After leading 5-0 at the break, Livach scored one more takedown to win 7-0

Semifinals will begin at 14:30

14:15: Kyle SNYDER (USA) with another controlled win over Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (UWW). He kept his distance after leading 3-0 and won to advance to the 97kg semifinals. Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) also advances with a big 11-1 win over Dato PIRUZASHVILI (GEO)

14:00: When in full flow, Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) is a delight to watch. He gets four takedowns in his 8-0 win over Mirani MAISURADZE (GEO) at 92kg. Effortless from Ghasempour.

13:55: Feyzulla AKTURK (TUR) with a takedown with seven seconds left on the clock to beat Boris MAKOEV (SVK) at 92kg. Makoev with a meek surrender. Akturk was leading 4-1 but Makoev scored a takedown to cut it to 4-3. Akturk then added a stepout to make it 5-0 with 38 seconds left. With 17 seconds on the clock, Makoev with a takedown to lead 5-5 on criteria but seemed to have been caught off guard by Akturk's quick attack from center and the Turk gets the takedown and the win.

13:45: Umi ITO (JPN) gets to work as soon as she is on the mat but she doesn't get a clean win here against Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (UWW). Two takedowns, a double-leg fireman carry gave Ito an 8-0 lead but Sokolova surprised her with a headlock for four. Ito survived the fall to get a reversal and another takedown later she led 11-4 at the break.

She scores a four-pointer with a cut-back but gives up a reversal. The 15-5 score gives her the win but Sokolova challenges, asking for two points for the cut-back. The challenge is lost and Ito wins 16-5

13:30: Oksana LIVACH (UKR) with a clutch takedown and defense to beat MEIDUOLAJI (CHN), 6-5, at 50kg and advance to the semifinals. Meidoulaji led 5-4 and looked like she would defend her lead with ease but Livach managed to get a takedown in the second period to win.

13:20: At 55kg, Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW) with a fall over Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW). Khoroshavtseva was leading only 1-0 at the break but changed levels in the second to lead 8-0 before getting the fall.

13:15: Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) manages to get the job done against Karla GODINEZ (CAN) at 55kg. Not much action in the match but Murayama wins 2-0 to advance to the semifinals.

13:00: Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) with a first-period 10-0 technical superiority over Irena BINKOVA (BUL) at 55kg. Khomenets will most likely face Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) next

12:50: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI), first time on mat since winning silver medal at the Paris Olympics, looks in good form. While he did not go on a rampage, he was content with a 7-0 win over Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (UWW) at 125kg.

12:35: 2023 Asian champion Arash YOSHIDA (JPN), wrestling at his first Ranking Series, begins with a fall. He made it 10-0 before pinning Gurgen SIMONYAN (ARM). A mix of Iranian underhooks and Japanese speed there. Read more about Arash Yoshida here

12:20: Kyle SNYDER (USA) is a machine! He was down 2-0 at the break but finds a way to break through in the second period to beat Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) 3-2 at 97kg. Huge win for Snyder. Goleij was up 1-0 and then added a stepout to start the second period. Snyder kept his calm and got a takedown by elevating Goleij off the mat to lead 2-2 on criteria with two minutes and 10 seconds remaining. Snyder kept himself away from Goleij for the remaining time but Goleij forced an opening and got a single leg attack going. However, he landed Snyder in the zone and forced a pushout. The referees scored it grounded with no points. That was with nine seconds remaining. Iran challenged after restart but there was no change in decision and Snyder led 3-2. Goleij had four seconds to score a takedown for the win but that never happened.

12:10: Feyzulla AKTURK (TUR) with a great start at 92kg. Samuel SCHERRER (SUI) tried matching the ties but Akturk too good for him and wins 8-1 to advance at 92kg.

11:45: Umi ITO (JPN) at 50kg starts with a first period technical superiority win over Aida KERYMOVA (UKR). Ito was in Tirana for the U23 World Championships last year but was pinned to suffer her first-ever international loss.

11:30: Day two of the Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series and we start at 11:30 as the number of bouts are lesser than Wednesday. Some big names competing today.