#WrestleIstanbul

Live Blog: Yasar Dogu, Vehbi Emre & Hamit Kaplan Ranking Series Day 3

By United World Wrestling Press

ISTANBUL, Turkey (February 26) -- The Yasar Dogu, Vehbi Emre & Hamit Kaplan Ranking Series event enters the third day with six women's and two men's freestyle weight classes in action.

Three-time Ranking Series gold medalist Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) will be in action at 55kg and can face world champion Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) in the later stages of the tournament. Junior world champion Emma MALMGREN (SWE) and world silver medalist Iulia LEORDA (MDA) are wrestling at 53kg with Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) also in the same bracket. In the men's 97kg bracket, Mohammad MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) makes a comeback since the Tokyo Olympics.

MATCH ORDER | LIVE STREAM

15:55: A pin for Winchester! She puts Phogat on the back and there is no resistance from the Indian wrestler. Winchester wins her semifinal. At 53kg, world silver medalist Iulia LEORDA (MDA) pulls off a 4-4 semifinal against Milana DADASHEVA (RWF)

15:50: No space given by either wrestler. Phogat is put on the clock in the second period. She has 30 seconds to score. Winchester gets the point. She leads 1-1. A go behind to extend the lead 3-1. She also gets exposure for two more. 5-1 Winchester. Phogat gets a stepout and a caution point. 5-3 Winchester.

15:40: Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) and Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) are on Mat C for their 55kg semifinal. A minute goes by and no points on the board by any wrestler. Both wrestlers get verbal warnings for inactivity. Winchester is put on the clock first. Phogat gets the one point. Phogat tried the whip while Winchester went for a double leg. None materializing. Phogat leads 1-0 at the break

15: 20: Anna SCHELL (GER) and Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR) is just what we needed. Tosun had a 9-2 lead but then Schell worked hard to get it to 11-13. Exposure to make it 13-13 for the German before she closed it out 15-13. 28 points in that 72kg semifinal

15:05: Taha AKGUL (TUR) is into the semifinal at 125kg. He beats Oleg BOLTIN (KAZ) 6-1 with a quick takedown and roll. On Mat B, Mohammad MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) rolls on with another technical superiority win at 97kg

15:00: Forrest MOLINARI (USA) avenges her Ivan Yargiun Grand Prix loss to Emma BRUNTIL (USA) with a pin at 65kg. A cradle to the back to get the fall

14:50: Zhabrailov's strength is just a notch higher than Moore's and he takes the bout 8-2. Taha AKGUL (TUR) coming up on Mat A 

14:45: Kollin MOORE (USA) and Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (RWF) are wrestling on Mat A. The RWF wrestler is up 4-2 at the break. Moore needs a big comeback here

14:35: Forrest MOLINARI (USA) vs Emma BRUNTIL (USA) is coming up on Mat B next!

14:30: Emilia VUC (ROU) moves into the semifinal at 50kg with a 10-5 win over Amy FEARNSIDE (USA). She looks on a mission here in Istanbul

14:25: A big bout at 97kg. Kollin Raymond MOORE (USA) will be up against Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (RWF) on Mat A shortly. Could be some fireworks. The other semifinal will have Mohammad MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) and Mustafa SESSIZ (TUR)

14:15: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) continues her winning run at 59kg. She has got another pin and will be moving into the semifinals later in the evening.

13:55: Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) over Ekaterina ISAKOVA (RWF) 9-5. Winchester completely tired out Isakova to move on at 55kg. A Phogat-Winchester bout on the line

13:45: Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) was in real trouble against ANJU (IND) after she gave up a four and lost the challenge. But she managed a takedown in the final 15 seconds to secure an 8-7 win. 

13:25: USA wrestlers Emma BRUNTIL and Frank MOLINARI remain on course to face each other as the former wins 10-0 while Molinari pins her opponent

13:05: Tokyo bronze medalist Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) in her elements as she goes past Pooja GEHLOT (IND) 12-1 at 53kg. Just too easy for the Mongolian

12:55: World silver medalist Iulia LEORDA (MDA) had two chances to pin Emma MALMGREN (SWE) but the Sweden wrestler survived both times. But Leorda gets in the third time. Looks like Malmgrem might have got stuck in a lock there. 

12:50: Taha AKGUL (TUR) is moving on! He dominates Magomedgadzhi NURASULOV (SRB) and makes it looks easy. 11-0 win for him

12:40: Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) with a statement win over Erin GOLSTON (USA). She moves on at 50kg. On Mat A, we have Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER) leading Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB) 6-1 at 125kg. He pins to win

12:20:  Two-time world medalist Emilia VUC (ROU) is on Mat B. She is wrestling Evin DEMIRHAN YAVUZ (TUR) who has a lot of support in the arena. Vuc leads 1-0 after Demirhan was called for inactivity. A takedown to add two more. Vuc defending every shot attempt from Demirhan. But the Turkey wrestler has a cradle looking for pin. But the clock runs out. Vuc hangs on for a 3-2 win. Wait... There's a challenge from Turkey. Demirhan is asking for another exposure. Challenge lost and it's actually Vuc's move. She gets two points for exposure. One point for Demirhan for reversal. 6-1 win for Vuc

12:00: European champion Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) was not starting the day in any other style. She pins Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) inside two minutes to win her first bout at 59kg

11:45: Former world champion Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) led 7-0 at the break and then needs 43 seconds more to finish her qualification bout 11-0 against KAPPAR (KAZ).

11:44: World bronze medalist Sartita MOR (IND) is up against Jowita WRZESIEN (POL). The two start off on a slow note. Wrzesin is called passive and Mor has a 1-0 lead. The Poland wrestler scores a takedown and leads 2-1. A takedown for Mor and it's 3-2 for her. Dying moments of the bout Wrzseien seals it with another to win 4-3

11:40: A single leg takedown to finish things off. It's 11-0 win for the Iran wrestler. A comeback on a positive note for the Tokyo Olympian.

11:35: Mohammad MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) is up on Mat C. He is wrestling Mukhammadrasul RAKHIMOV (UZB). A takedown on the edge for Mohammdian to begin the proceedings. He is up 2-0. A step out to add one more. He adds another takedown plus a gut wrench. One more and he leads 9-0 at the break.

11:25: Junior world champion Emma MALMGREN (SWE) begins the day with a convincing pin over Anzhelika VETOSHKINA (RWF). Some clean shots from her to be up 8-1 before getting the fall

11:10: Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB) is wrestling Asian champion Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) at 125kg. Back and forth from the two with Rakhimov leading Yergali 4-4 on criteria. He then gets a takedown close to the danger zone and makes it 6-4. Huge win on his comeback from Rakhimov. He wins 8-4

10:55: Taha AKGUL (TUR) is making his way to Mat A. A loud section of fans. He is wrestling Gabriel TYSZ (SVK). That was quick. Akgul begins with an 11-0 win

10:30: Welcome to the third day of the Ranking Series event here in Istanbul. Women's and men's freestyle wrestlers will be in action in what promises to be an action-packed day.

#WrestleBratislava

Sidakov vs Valiev set for European gold at 74kg

By Vinay Siwach

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 8) -- Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) will wrestle for the European gold medal for the first time in his career.

The four-time world champion, who last and only time wrestled at the European Championships in 2016, entered the 74kg final in Bratislava, Slovakia on Tuesday. He will take on Paris Olympic bronze medalist Chermen VALIEV (ALB) for the gold medal.

Sidakov defeated Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN), 2-0, in the 74kg semifinal after he took out four-time European champion Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), 4-2, in a close quarterfinal.

Valiev defeated Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE) 6-0 in the other semifinal as he countered in style while keeping his attacks. He scored from leg-attack when Novruzov was on the activity clock and countered an attempted attack from Novruzov for another takedown.

A stepout made it 6-0 as Valiev booked his spot in the final against Sidakov, who won their last meeting 3-2 three years ago.

Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) battles Zelimkhan HARUTYUNYAN (ALB) in the 61kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 61kg, Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) moved to the final after beating Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) 5-2 in a thrilling semifinal. Harutyunyan scored a takedown and lace to lead 4-0 in the first period and maintained the lead for a long time before Abakarov hit a arm-throw for two points. Harutyunyan kept the 4-2 lead despite Abakarov's desperate attempts to score.

The four-time European champion will face Zavur UGUEV (UWW) for the gold medal after the Tokyo Olympic champion rocked Dzmitry SHAMELA (UWW) 10-0 in a one-sided semifinal. Mixing his attacks, Uguev hit a double-leg for four to finish the bout.

Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW)Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) hits a cradle throw on Artur NAIFONOV (UWW) in their 86kg semifinal during the European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The 86kg final will between Olympic champion Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) and Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW), a rematch of the 2020 European final at 79kg which Kadzimahamedau won.

Kadzimahamedau had to pull out his iconic cradle for four to pull off a win over Artur NAIFONOV (GRE). He was trailing 3-2 when he hit the move and secured a 6-3 win.

Ramazanov entered the final after he had a field day in Bratislava. He secured a fall over over Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL) in the semifinal. He was ahead 5-0 before a big double-leg attack for two points and figure-four turn made it 9-0. He held Jezierzanski on the back and secured the fall.

Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) returned to the European final, although in a new weight class. The Paris Olympic bronze medalist at 86kg was wrestling at 92kg and survived a scare against former European champion Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR), winning 3-3 on criteria.

Akturk fell behind 2-1 and scored a stepout with 10 seconds left on the clock to make it 2-2 but Kurugliev led on criteria for his takedown in the first period. Turkiye challenged the call asking for a takedown but lost the challenge to make 3-2 for Kurugliev.

Akturk scored another stepout but that was all he could do in the final 10 seconds and Kurugliev won 3-3.

He will take on Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) for the gold medal after the Azerbaijan wrestler defeated world silver medalist Mirani MAISURADZE (GEO) 5-2 in the other semifinal.

At 125kg, Paris Olympic bronze medalist Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) will clash with Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) for the gold medal after the two had to dug deep in the semifinals.

Meshvildishvili hung on for a 8-5 win over Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (UWW) after the latter made it 6-5.

Manashvili scored a four-pointer to beat Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL), 8-3 and enter the gold medal bout.

RESULTS

61kg
GOLD: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) vs. Zavur UGUEV (UWW)

SF 1: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df. Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB), 5-2
SF 2: Zavur UGUEV (UWW) df. Dzmitry SHAMELA (UWW), 10-0

74kg
GOLD: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) vs. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW)

SF 1: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) df. Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE), 6-0
SF 2: Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) df. Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN), 2-0

86kg
GOLD: Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) vs. Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW)

SF 1: Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) df. Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL), via fall (9-0)
SF 2: Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) df. Artur NAIFONOV (UWW), 6-3

92kg
GOLD: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) vs. Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE)

SF 1: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) df. Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), 5-2
SF 2: Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) df. Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR), 3-3

125kg
GOLD: Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) vs. Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO)

SF 1: Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) df. Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (UWW), 8-5
SF 2: Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) df. Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL), 8-3