#WrestleTirana

Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series Freestyle Finals

Wednesday, February 26, 2025 - 09:26 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (February 26) -- The second Ranking Series of 2025, Muhamet Malo, is underway in Tirana, Albania. Kicking off with Freestyle, six weight class will be held on day one -- 57kg, 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 74kg and 86kg

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15:30: Chandler MARSTELLER (USA) and Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) enter the 86kg final after contrasting wins. Marsteller controlled his way to a 4-0 win over Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL) while Sakayev hangs on for a 4-4 criteria win over Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO).

15:20: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) finds a way to beat Yones EMAMI (IRI) 8-3 in the 74kg semifinal. A big armthrow for two points for Valiev which he challenged to ask for four points. Emami with a takedown to lead 3-2 at break. But Valiev switches levels in the second period with six points including a takedown and gut wrench to win 803. He will face Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) in the final. Salkazanov will be aiming for his second straight Ranking Series gold medal after he defeated Magoma DIBIRGADZHIEV (UWW) 5-0 in the other semifinal. Two takedowns in his win.

15:15: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) blanks Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO) 6-0 to enter the 70kg final. He will take on Asian silver medalist Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) who hangs on for a 2-1 win over James GREEN (USA) despite Green's multiple efforts to score. Aoyagi with some sneaky defense.

15:05: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) is into another Ranking Series final but not without a fight. Real WOODS (USA) had him in trouble in the first period with a takedown but Amouzad kept the pace of the bout and score seven stepouts, two takedowns and a point for Woods fleeing to win 13-2

Amouzad will face Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) in the final after the Kyrgyz beat Kaisei TANABE (JPN) 14-3 in the other semifinal. Zhumashbek led 1-1 on criteria but was put on activity clock again but he scored two points via attempted suplex. Tanabe blocked his second throw attempt and scored two. Tanabe challenged but there was no change in scoring and it gave Zhumashbek Uulu another point. A takedown later, Zhumashbek led 8-3 before he finished the bout with another throw for four and turn for two.

14:50: Takara SUDA (JPN), making his international debut at senior level, blanks Artem GOBAEV (UWW) 9-0 in the 61kg semifinals. After leading 3-0, Suda with a huge suplex for four and two stepouts to win 9-2. He will take on Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) in the final who beat Stilyan ILIEV (BUL) 7-1 in the other semifinal.  

14:40: Ali Hossein MOMENI (IRI) takes out Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ) 6-2 in the first semifinal of 57kg. Huge win for Momeni who will now take on Aiaal BELOLYUBSKII (TJK) who just became the first Tajik wrestler to reach a Ranking Series final after beating Sultan KURMANALIYEV (KAZ) 10-4.

14:10: Cherman VALIEV (ALB) sets up a 74kg semifinal against Yones EMAMI (IRI) after a 5-1 win over Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ). Valiev was down 1-1 on criteria but he gets on Toktomambetov's leg and blocks a chest wrap for two points. A gut wrench gives him two more as he settles for a 5-1 win.

14:00: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) continues to be solid his underhook game and U23 world silver medalist Kaiji OGINO (JPN) found no way to break that grip. Amouzad posts a 4-0 win and marches into the semifinals at 65kg.

13:53: Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) with a front headlock exposure over Bilol SHARIP UULU (KGZ) with two seconds remaining in the 65kg quarterfinal to win 3-2. Sharip Uulu challenges but the move was in time. One more point for Zhumashbek Uulu to make it 4-2 

13:45: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) will be upset with himself for not attacking from the word go but he manages to survive a huge upset against Vasile DAICON (MDA). Daicon was leading 2-0 when Tevanyan made desperate attempts to score. He gets a stepout and Daicon a fleeing caution to give Tevanyan a 2-2 criteria lead. Daicon challenges the call but the original fleeing decision is confirmed. A lost challenge added to Tevanyan's score who wins 3-2

13:40: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) blanks William LEWAN (USA) 11-0 at 70kg. The Asian silver medalist is likely to go all the way and has looked in stunning form this tournament. James GREEN (USA) waits next in the semifinals.

13:25: Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) looks very good at 61kg. He rolls to an 11-0 win over Daviti ABDALADZE (GEO). Arten GOBAEV (UWW) wins his bout as well and a Mongush vs Gobaev final looks inevitable at 61kg.

13:05: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) was with unreal speed in his attacks as Narek HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) fails to stop him and Valiev wins 9-0 in his first bout at 74kg. Valiev retuning to the mat since his bronze medal in Paris.

12:50: Big upset on Mat A as Bilol SHARIP UULU (KGZ) beats U23 world champion Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) 14-4 at 65kg. Ibragimov was leading 4-2 but Sharip Uulu with a traparm gut-wrench and 12 straight points to claim victory.

12:40: Islam DUDAEV (ALB) faces a tough one in Kaisei TANABE (JPN). Dudaev with a cut-back using his hands but it is scored two points each with Dudaev leading on criteria. Tanabe with a takedown and gut wrench to make it 8-2. Dudaev scores to cut the lead to 8-4 at the break. Dudaev continues his comeback with another takedown and is now down 8-6 with 45 seconds remaining. Tanabe throws himself on the mat once Dudaev gets to his leg and Dudaev scores a takedown to lead 8-8 on criteria. Dudaev on the legs, Tanabe sitting in the final few seconds and Tanabe scores exposure to win 10-8 just within time.

12:30: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) with a underhook masterclass in his bout against Goderdzi DZEBISASHVILI (GEO). He scores two stepouts and then gets an activity point. A stunning takedown to lead 5-0 at the break. He adds two more takedowns in the second period, and a throw for four to win 13-0 with around two minutes remaining.

12:20: Nachyn KUULAR (KAZ), a former U23 world champion, is turning up for Kazakhstan at 70kg. This is his first UWW event in six years. He takes on Vasile DAICON (MDA) in the 1/8 final. Kuular put on activity clock and Daicon leads 1-0 at the break. Daicon with a single leg attack and converts it into a takedown for a 3-0 lead. He adds another takedown with a minute remaining to lead 5-0. Leg lace on Kuular and Daicon wins 11-0. Kuular's comeback ends in unfortunate way.

12:00: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) got two activity points and a takedown as he beats Mihail GEORGIEV (BUL) 4-0 at 70kg. He is wrestling a weight class up than his preferred 65kg.

 

11:45: Artem GOBAEV (UWW) has no trouble seeing off Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ) at 61kg. In the next UWW vs KAZ bout at 61kg, Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) with two takedowns in his 4-0 win over Mukhamed BALGABAY (KAZ).

11:25: Ali Hossein MOMENI (IRI) and Hadi REZAEI (IRI) were clubbed together in the opening round of 57kg and Momeni comes out unscathed 6-1. Rezaei with a desperate headlock throw in the final seconds but is awarded only two. He challenges for a four but loses the challenge. Momeni's win revised to 7-3

11:20: Asian champion Kento YUMIYA (JPN) was stuck in a leg lace and fell behind 14-6 against Manvel KHNDZRTSYAN (ARM) at 57kg. But he unleashes a leg lace on Khndzrtsyan and cuts to score to 14-10. A stepout to make it 14-11. Underhook dense till the end of the time by Khndzrtsyan and he wins 14-11.

11:10: At 74kg, Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) with a 2-1 win over Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN). All three points scored were activity points!

11:00: Paris Olympic bronze medalist Islam DUDAEV (ALB) up against Klevisi PRECI (ALB) and he impresses with a 12-0 blanking of his compatriot. Dudaev looked on the mat with

10:40: A little warm up for Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) but he manages to post a controlled 7-0 win over Nursultan SDYK (KAZ) at 65kg. Soon after, Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ) with a thrilling 8-7 win over Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG).

10:30: Welcome to Tirana for the second Ranking Series of the year. Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI), the Olympic silver medalist from Paris, is up on the mat straightaway.

#WrestleBratislava

Young stars make Azerbaijan best team at Europeans

Sunday, April 13, 2025 - 23:03 By Vinay Siwach

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BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 13) -- Azerbaijan is the best team of Europe and its way ahead of others.

The country claimed the Greco-Roman team title at the European Championships in Bratislava with 151 points, 41 points more than second-placed Turkiye which had 110 points. Hungary managed to put itself on the podium at the third place with 104 points.

After only a silver and bronze medals on Saturday, Azerbaijan bounced back with three gold medals and a bronze medal to finish on the top of the standings.

Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE)Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) initiates a throw against Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) in the 60kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Starting the gold rush world 63kg champion Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) who downed Georgij TIBILOV (SRB), 7-3, in the 60kg final.

"The final started well and even though I had made seven points, I was more confident in winning," Mammadli said. "In the second period, I made a mistake. I gave two moves to my opponent but I was still able to hold on to the victory."

Mammadli got the first par terre advantage and completed a standing to danger suplex for four points and a turn to lead 7-0. He tried one more turn but Tibilov defended the attempt. Tibilov managed to turn Mammadli in the second period when he got the par terre position but that was all the action from him.

The 7-3 win gave Mammadi his second straight European gold medal and confirmed his spot on the Azerbaijan team for the World Championships.

"I am very happy with the second [title]," he said. "I felt ready for this, I was overwhelmed with myself. When I came to the competition, I was thinking about the gold medal. I had prepared myself well, both physically and technically. I achieved what I wanted."

In his three earlier bouts, Mammadli completed three technical superiority wins including a thunderous 8-0 win over former world champion Victor CIOBANU (MDA) in the semifinal, a rematch of the final of European Championships last year which Mammadli won.

"The competition was very good and there were very talented wrestlers," he said. "The gold last year at 60kg is almost a year past and every competition is very high. Because it was an Olympic weight class, this was expected. It was like a European World Championship in wrestling."

The 22-year-old will now wants to repeat as the world champion but in 60kg weight class. The challenge with that category is that it is dominated by wrestlers from Asia. At both the 2023 World Championships and the 2024 Paris Olympics, all four medalists at 60kg were from Asia.

"[For Asian wrestlers] I can say that it will be a very difficult match," Mammadli said. "Hopefully, the next match will be at the World Championship. I know that it is a very difficult match but I will prepare even better for them."

Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE)Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) celebrates after winning the 67kg final at the European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 67kg, Paris Olympic bronze medalist Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) continued his dominance at the continental event, winning his third straight European gold medal.

Facing Abu AMAEV (BUL), who Jafarov had defeated last European Championships in the quarterfinal, in the final in Bratislava, Jafarov turned him in par terre for two points. At the end of the mat, Jafarov lifted Amaev and completed the throw for four points to lead 7-0.

Amaev failed to break Jafarov's defense from par terre and got only one point as he dropped the bout 7-1. By reaching the final, Amaev earned his best European Championships medal -- a silver. He has two bronze medals from past editions.

"This European Championships was really tough for me," Jafarov said. "I managed to retain my title for the third time. I have endured a lot of hardships and hard work during this time. I injured my ear when I was playing the Zagreb tournament. An operation was performed, I continued to work hard, regardless of the surgery. I could not stay in camp in Croatia. I returned and continued to work hard in Azerbaijan."

Jafarov, who has an Olympic bronze medal and two medals at the World Championships, is determined to win the gold medal at the World Championships now.

"I haven't been a world champion. I'm want to be a world champion," he said. "I have to work hard for Azerbaijan so that I can win a gold medal at the upcoming world championships. I really want that medal and God willing it will be like that because I really want that medal in any way."

Gurban GURBANOV (AZE)Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) defeated world silver medalist Erik SZILVASSY (HUN), in par terre, in the 82kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Another young star gave Azerbaijan its third gold as Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) won the top medal at 82kg. He defeated world silver medalist Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) 6-0 in the final.

Earning a par terre advantage in the first period, Gurbanov scored from a turn to lead in the first period before blocking an armthrow from Szilvassy to earn two points. Hungary challenged the call for slip throw but lost it, giving one more point to Gurbanov for a 6-0 lead.

The gold medal is Gurbanov's first major senior gold medal as he already has two European U23 golds and one U17 gold. Gurbanov has won the World Championships gold medal at U17, U20 and U23 levels.

Milov completes golden run

Kiril MILOV (BUL) completed is glorious run at the European Championships with the 97kg gold medal, his second in the continental history. In the final, he beat Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER), 7-1, a day after he defeated seven-time European champion Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM).

"This is one of the most long-awaited medals because in the semifinals I managed to defeat Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM), who is a great wrestler, and I am glad that I managed to win the title," Milov said.

Milov scored two gut wrench turns from par terre to lead 5-0 and then was saved by a challenge in the second period. Lazogianis completed a throw from par terre which was blocked by Milov and he never landed in danger. But Lazogianis was awarded four points which gave him a 5-5 criteria lead for a bigger move.

Bulgaria challenged the decision and got two points as he had blocked Lazogianis and made him land in danger instead. He then defended his 7-1 lead for the gold medal.

"We trained very differently, very hard, we did very good training, we prepared well and I managed not to make a mistake in the matches and that is why I managed to win," he said.

Kiril MILOV (BUL)Kiril MILOV (BUL) celebrates after winning the 97kg final at the European Championships. (Photos: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In his semifinal against Aleksanyan, Milov countered the Armenian's strongest suit -- the gut wrench. Milov led 1-1 on criteria after getting the first par terre position. Aleksanyan, in the second par terre position, tried to turn Milov who managed to stay in his position and scored a reversal.

With a 2-1 lead, Milov defended his position in the remaining 90 seconds and handed Aleksanyan his first-ever European defeat since 2017.

"With Artur, I know that whatever I do, I have to defend myself from the ground [par terre], because that's his best grip." Milov said. "He's very good from there and I'm glad I was able to defend myself from the ground."

The 28-year-old was at the Paris Olympics at 130kg after the spot was offered to Bulgaria due to reallocation of quotas. Milov underwent surgery before Olympic qualifiers in 2024 and missed qualifying at 97kg.

"Yes, before the two Olympics, even in Tokyo, I had an operation before the Olympics itself and in Paris too, I underwent a very serious operation," he said. "I wasn't able to get a quota but I got the chance to participate. I participated at 130kg, but I couldn't get prepared and the results. I was shaking. So now I'm training to succeed at the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles."

At 72kg, two gold medals were awarded after a scoreboard glitch gave Levente LEVAI (HUN) a 4-4 criteria win over Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) in the final.

RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) df. Georgij TIBILOV (SRB), 7-3

BRONZE: Victor CIOBANU (MDA) df. Amiran SHAVADZE (GEO), 10-0
BRONZE: Sadyk LALAEV (UWW) df. Olivier SKRZYPCZAK (POL), 5-0

67kg
GOLD: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) df. Abu AMAEV (BUL), 7-1

BRONZE: Arslanbek SALIMOV (POL) df. Yanis GUENDEZ NIFRI (FRA), 5-0
BRONZE: Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) df. Murat FIRAT (TUR), 3-1

72kg
GOLD: Levente LEVAI (HUN) and Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) [NO SILVER]

BRONZE: Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) df. Aliaksandr LIAVONCHYK (UWW), 2-1
BRONZE: Mehmet SAHIN (TUR) df. Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU), 9-1

82kg
GOLD: Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) df. Erik SZILVASSY (HUN), 6-0

BRONZE: Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) df. Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR), 5-3 
BRONZE: Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Samvel GRIGORYAN (ARM), 3-1

97kg
GOLD: Kiril MILOV (BUL) df. Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER), 7-1

BRONZE: Kiryl MASKEVICH (UWW) df. Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED), 8-5
BRONZE: Alex SZOKE (HUN) df. Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM), via inj. def.