World Cup, Iran

With Raucous Support in Los Angeles, Iran Tops Host United States to Win Freestyle World Cup

By Jason Bryant

LOS ANGELES (April 12) – Anywhere Iran wrestles, the horns, the chants and the singing follows. Whether it be at World Championships in Turkey or World Cups in Los Angeles, Iran is regarded as having some of the most engaged wrestling fans in the world.

On Sunday at the Forum in Los Angeles, the pattern would hold as hundreds of Iranian wrestling fans waved flags, blew horns and sang as Iran would defeat the United States 5-3 to win the championship at the United World Wrestling Freestyle World Cup.

“We see more Iranians here in Los Angeles than any other City,” said Iranian 61kg wrestler Behnam EHSANPOOR. “The crowd helped me 100 percent. It’s like wrestling in Tehran.”

While tensions between the United States and Iran are strictly political, there have been epic battles between wrestlers from both nations throughout the course of history. The way things started and then finished on Sunday night, that list of epic battles grew.

Iran’s Hassan RAHIMI gave his nation the first win of the finals with a tight 6-5 victory over Tony RAMOS at 57kg. The key sequence occurred in the second period where Ramos, trailing 2-1, looked to score a two-point takedown, then give up two points on a roll and then settled back on top for two more exposure points. After a challenge and a review, Ramos trailed 5-3 after losing a point for the lost challenge. Rahimi gave up a caution point to cut his lead to 5-4. Rahimi scored a pushout countering a Ramos attack to extend his lead to 6-4 and held on despite some question marks surrounding the finish of the bout.

The U.S. looked to steal one quickly at 61kg as 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Coleman SCOTT jumped out to a 5-0 lead against Iran’s Behnam EHSANPOOR, but the Iranian persevered. Trailing 7-2, the 18th-ranked Ehsanpoor closed the gap with takedowns and exposure points. Ehsanpoor completed the comeback with a single leg takedown with 17 seconds left in the second period, sending the Iranian fanbase into boisterous applause.

“It was good wrestling,” said Ehsanpoor. “Scott is an Olympian and I really, really worked hard to get here. The biggest help during the match was the tips my coach gave me. He was watching and made important tips to me on how to change my wrestling.  The coaching was important and made the difference.”

 

Brent METCALF gave the United States its first win with a 3-1 victory at 65kg over World No.2 (at 61kg) Masoud ESMAILPOUR. Metcalf converted a takedown midway through the first period, but Esmailpour, last year’s World silver medalist at 61kg, was unable to muster any offense.

Iran would take a key swing match at 70kg as World No.10 Hassan YAZDANI would show keen mat awareness to defeat No. 11 Nick MARABLE 3-1. Marable came close to scoring a tying takedown in the final minute, but Yazadani’s flexibility allowed him to defend as Marable feverishly tried to drop one of Yazdani’s knees to the mat for the tying score. Yazdani fought off the attack and prevailed to give Iran a 3-1 lead after four weights.

Iran’s Morteza REZAEI had defeated two World medallists already in the tournament, but with World No.2 Jordan BURROUGHS of the United States looming, Rezaei would have to wrestle a perfect match. Burroughs wasn’t going to allow that.

Burroughs struck in the first 10 seconds with a takedown and then scored a two-point exposure and three additional takedowns to earn a 10-0 technical fall to run his international record to 102-2 and bring the U.S. within 3-2 after the first five matches.

 

World No.4 Meisam MOSTAFA JOUKAR (IRI), the reigning World University champion, would face American Clayton FOSTER at 86kg. Foster wrestled both matches on Sunday after American No.1 Ed RUTH was injured in Saturday’s competition.

Foster, ranked No.10 in the world, struck first with a takedown, but MOSTAFA JOUKAR came right back with a big four-point move 30 seconds later. The Iranian would lift and return the American again in the first period for another four points, building an 8-2 lead after 120 seconds of wrestling. Mostafa Joukar would use the same single leg attack to score a pushout to extend his lead to 10-2 after a pair of pushouts. Mostafa Joukar would finish off Foster with another single leg, but he’d double off for two points and earn the 12-2 technical fall and give Iran a 4-2 lead with two bouts remaining.

After an up-and-down performance all weekend, 2012 Olympic champion Jake VARNER (USA) picked the last three seconds to strike and steal a victory away from 2014 World bronze medalist Mohammad HOSSEIN MOHAMMADIAN. Varner led 1-0 after scoring a caution point in the first period for Mohammadian, normally an 86kg wrestler, failing to score on his 30-second shot clock. Mohammadian scored a takedown and a pushout in the second period to take a 3-1 lead before Varner hit a duckunder and converted the takedown attempt with just four seconds remaining to earn a 3-3 criteria victory and send championship down to the event’s last match.

 

World and Olympic medalist Khomeil GHASEMI (IRI) stepped to the mat at 125kg to try to bring the World Cup title back to Iran. He’d face off with World No.15 Zach REY of the United States.

Rey took a 1-0 lead, scoring a caution point after Ghasemi was unable to score during the 30-second shot clock window in the first period. Ghasemi would match Rey’s caution point in the second and would hold criteria as the two were tied 1-1 with a minute remaining in the bout. Ghasemi scored a pivotal takedown with 25 seconds remaining in the match, countering a Rey attempt with a go-behind. After a restart, Ghasemi prevented any Rey attack to give Iran the 5-3 team victory.

Both the U.S. and Iran won their respective pools. Iran won what was essentially a pool final on Sunday afternoon 7-1 over rival Azerbaijan. Iran jumped out to a 6-0 lead before dropping the only match of the dual. Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) would lay a 9-1 loss on two-time world champion Reza YAZDANI at 97kg.

Azerbaijan, which has become a world power in wrestling the past decade, has strong ties to Iran and the two nations have developed a fierce rivalry on the mat in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.

One of the key victories came from World No.2 Sayed MOHAMMADI (IRI) at 65kg. Mohammadi had a wild 14-10 victory over 2012 Olympic champion Toghrul ASGAROV (AZE), who was wrestling down at 65kg for the first time in a year.

“I managed to win due to the tough training we do in Iran,” said Mohammadi. “We prepare for a day like this.”

Coming into the finals, Mohammadi wasn’t worried about his individual outcomes.

“The performance is not about me, it’s about the team,” he said. “I’m happy that I played my role on the team.”

Azerbaijan topped Russia by criteria for third place. The two teams were deadlocked at 4-4 and classifcation points were tied at 15-15 sending the match to technical points, which Azerbaijan won 34-28.

Belarus defeated Mongolia 5-3 for fifth place and Cuba defeated Turkey 5-3 for seventh place.  

Final Pool A Standings: United States 3-0, Russia 2-1, Mongolia 1-2, Cuba 0-3
Final Pool B Standings: Iran 3-0, Azerbaijan 2-1, Belarus 1-2, Turkey 0-3

CHAMPIONSHIP
IRAN 5, UNITED STATES 3
57 kg - No.8 Hassan RAHIMI (IRI) df. No.19 Tony RAMOS (USA), 6-5
61 kg - No.18 Behnam EHSANPOOR (IRI) df. Coleman SCOTT (USA), 9-7
65 kg - No.8 Brent METCALF (USA) df. No.2 Masmoud ESMAILPOUR (IRI), 3-1
70 kg - No.10 Hassan YAZDANI CHARATI (IRI) df. No.11 Nick MARABLE (USA), 3-1
74 kg - No.2 Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) df. Morteza REZAEI GHALEH (IRI) by TF, 10-0
86 kg - No.4 Meisam MOSTAFAJOUKAR (IRI) df. No.10 Clayton FOSTER (USA) by TF, 12-2
97 kg - Jake VARNER (USA) df. No.3 Mohammad HOSSIEN MOHAMMADIAN (IRI), 3-3
125 kg - No.2 Komeil GHASEMI (IRI) df. No.15 Zach REY (USA), 3-1

THIRD PLACE
AZERBAIJAN 4, RUSSIA 4 (15-15)
Azerbaijan wins by technical points 34-28
57 kg - Viktor RASSADIN (RUS) df. Yashar ALIYEV (AZE), 8-1
61 kg - No.12 Haji ALIYEV (AZE) df. No.15 Murshid MUTALIMOV (RUS), 9-4
65 kg - No.4 Magomed MUSLIMOV (AZE) df. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS), 6-0
70 kg - No.8 Israil KASUMOV (RUS) df. No.12 Ruslan DIBIRGADZHIYEV (AZE), 6-4
74 kg - Iakubali SHIKHDZHAMALOV (RUS) df. Murad SULEYMANOV (AZE), 4-1
86 kg - Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS) df. Aleksandr GOSTIYEV (AZE), 4-0
97 kg - No.5 Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) df. No.13 Yury BELONOVSKIY (RUS), 1-1
125 kg - No.11 Jamaladdin MAGOMEDOV (AZE) df. Timur KOTSOEV (RUS) by TF, 12-1

FIFTH PLACE
BELARUS 5, MONGOLIA 3
57 kg - No.10 Tsogtbaatar DAMDINBAZAR (MGL) df. No.7 Vladzislav ANDREEV (BLR) by FALL
61 kg - Dzianis MAKSIMAV (BLR) df. Nemekhbayar BATSAIKHAN (MGL), 10-10
65 kg - No.6 Mandakhnaran GANZORIG (MGL) df. No.5 Azamat NURIKOV (BLR), 11-5
70 kg - Ankhbayar BATCHULUUN (MGL) df. Zhan SAFYAN (BLR), 11-9
74 kg - No.4 Ali SHABANOV (BLR) df. No.14 Unurbat PUREVJAV (MGL), 8-2
86 kg - Amarhajy MAHAMEDAV (BLR) df. Usukhbaatar PUREVEE (MGL), 8-5
97 kg - Ivan YANKOUSKI (BLR) df. No.9 Khuderbulga DORJKHAND (MGL), 7-5
125 kg - No.7 Aleksei SHEMAROV (BLR) df. No.9 Chuluunbat JARGALSAIKHAN (MGL), 11-1

SEVENTH PLACE
CUBA 5, TURKEY 3
57 kg - No.4 Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB) df. Sezar AKGUL (TUR) by TF, 10-0
61 kg - Munir RECEP AKTAS (TUR) won by forfeit
65 kg - Franklin MAREN CASTILLO (CUB) df. Mustafa KARTAL (TUR) by TF, 10-0
70 kg - Andy YOAN MORENO GONZALEZ (CUB) df. Sefa AKSOY (TUR), 4-2
74 kg - No.5 Livan LOPEZ AZCUY (CUB) won by forfeit
86 kg - Serdar BOKE (TUR) won by forfeit
97 kg - No.7 Javier CORTINA LACERRA (CUB) df. Ibrahim BOLUKBASI (TUR) by FALL
125 kg - Tanju GEMICI (TUR) won by forfeit

Day 1 & 2 Results, Notes & Standings: http://uww.io/zuR7L
Event Information page (Photos, Live Stream, Results):
 https://unitedworldwrestling.org/event/world-cup-senior-7

#WrestleBratislava

Olympic champ Novikov sets up Paris rematch with Losonczi

By Vinay Siwach

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 11) -- Olympic champion Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) had to make three comebacks in three bouts to reach the European Championships final.

Novikov was up against Islam ABBASOV (AZE) in the semifinal and got the par terre advantage first. He scored a gut-wrench to lead 3-0. Abbasov got the chance in the second period and scored exposure with reverse lock. Novikov blocked Abbasov after the exposure and got the one point for reversal and keep the lead 4-3. A late stepout made it 5-3 for Novikov.

In a rematch of the Paris Olympic semifinal, Novikov will face world champion David LOSONCZI (HUN) who defeated defending champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) in the other semifinal. Losonczi hit a perfect suplex for four points to win 5-1 against Komarov.

Armenia and Turkiye were the most successful countries of the semifinals session as they had two finalists each. Armenia had Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) and Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) while Turkiye put Kerem KAMAL (TUR) and Hamza BAKIR (TUR).

Kamal, who won the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series, entered his fourth European Championships with an inspiring performance in which he defeated former champion Murad MAMMADOV (AZE), 5-4.

He will face Aslanyan for the gold medal after he made it to his first-ever final after he scored a takedown four-pointer and a turn to beat Andrii SEMENCHUK (UKR), 8-0.

Bakir made sure a Turkish wrestler was in the final of 130kg after he defeated Jello KRAHMER (GER) 3-2 in the semifinal. Bakir made a turn from par terre to lead 3-0. Krahmer hit a takedown in the final seconds of the bout but time ran out for any further action.

Bakir will take on defending champion Sergei SEMENOV (UWW) who pinned Dzmitry ZARUBSKI (UWW) in the other semifinal.

In an entertaining 77kg semifinal, Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) earned his first trip to the European Championships final after he defeated Per Albin OLOFSSON (SWE) 10-2.

Zoidze scored a takedown before hitting a headlock throw to get a fall. But Olofsson defended and reversed the positions to get two points. Zoidze escaped and had Olofsson in danger again for two points and the scramble ended with Zoidze leading 8-2. Sweden challenged the scoring and lost a point for the lost challenge.

A stepout finished the bout and Zoidze booked a face-off with four-time European champion Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) who defeated Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL), 5-1, in the other semifinal of 77kg. Amoyan got the first par terre advantage and he scored two turns to lead 5-1. Mnatsakanian never got off to a start despite getting two par terre.

In the 55kg final, four-time world and two-time European champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) will take on Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) for the gold medal.

Azizli defeated Manvel KHACHATRYAN (ARM) after scoring two exposures from front locks and defended his par terre position to win 5-1.

Sefershaev defeated defending champion Artiom DELEANU (MDA), 4-1, in the other semifinal.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) vs. Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW)

SF 1: Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Manvel KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 5-1
SF 2: Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) df. Artiom DELEANU (MDA), 4-1

63kg
GOLD: Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) vs. Kerem KAMAL (TUR)

SF 1: Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) df. Andrii SEMENCHUK (UKR), 8-0
SF 2: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) df. Murad MAMMADOV (AZE), 5-4

77kg
GOLD: Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) vs. Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM)

SF 1: Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) df. Per Albin OLOFSSON (SWE), 10-2
SF 2: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) df. Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL), 5-1

87kg
GOLD: Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) vs. David LOSONCZI (HUN)

SF 1: Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) df. Islam ABBASOV (AZE), 5-3
SF 2: David LOSONCZI (HUN) df. Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB), 5-1

130kg
GOLD: Sergei SEMENOV (UWW) vs. Hamza BAKIR (TUR)

SF 1: Sergei SEMENOV (UWW) df. Dzmitry ZARUBSKI (UWW), via fall
SF 2: Hamza BAKIR (TUR) df. Jello KRAHMER (GER), 3-2

Morning session qualification results and blog follows below

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 4 RESULTS

13:48: In the final match of the session, David LOSONCZI (HUN) makes sure he secures his place in the semifinals in 87kg. He defeated Hannes WAGNER (GER) 2-1 to enter the semifinal. Wagner got the first par terre advantage but Losonczi scored a stepout. However, according to the new rule, Wagner held the criteria advantage as the score was 1-1. But Losonczi gets the second par terre and wins 2-1

13:42: Defending 87kg champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) with a turn from par terre to lead 3-1 against Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW). He tries to defend the lead but Alirzaev scores a stepout to make it 3-2. Another stepout for Alirzaev with 45 seconds remaining to make it 3-3 but Komarov leads on criteria for the turn. Komarov defends the 3-3 lead and enters the semifinal. Alirzaev challenges for a finger grabbing foul but he loses the challenge and Komarov wins 4-3.

13:35: Olympic champion Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) with a second come-from-behind victory at 87kg. He fell behind 3-1 after European silver medalist Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) blocked him during the turn which Novikov challenged and lost. Novikov began the second period with a pushout to cut the lead to 3-2. He gets the second par terre as well to make it 3-3 but Filchakov who still leads on criteria. With time running out, Novikov is desperate and he tried a double-arm lock on which Filchakov tried to evade and stepped in the danger zone and Novikov scored a stepout to win 4-3. Filchakov challenges but no change in decision as Olympic champion Novikov wins 5-3.

13:22: If you watched Mat A and wonder why Jello KRAHMER (GER) won against Heiki NABI (EST) despite getting the first par terre advantage and not the second, it is because UWW is testing a new rule change that if the Greco-Roman bout ends 1-1, the wrestler with first point will win on criteria. That is only for 1-1 bouts.

13:00: Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) with a big 6-1 win over Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) in the 77kg quarterfinals. Levai got the third passivity and as he tiring to headpinch Mnatsakanian, he failed to move his leg and got thrown for two points and then put his hand on Mnatsakanian's face to be docked two more points. Levai challenged the call but lost and Mnatsakanian won 6-1.

12:48: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) with four reverse lift throws after getting par terre to beat world U23 champion at 63kg Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA). He moves into the semifinals.

12:42: Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW) counters Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) when the Georgian scored a turn from par terre and then scored a stepout to lead 5-3. Bolkvadze challenges the call but he is docked a point for fleeing as well. He goes down 6-3 to Alirzaev at 87kg 

12:30: Islam ABBASOV (AZE) with two takedowns against Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) to post a 4-1 win and advance at 87kg. Azerbaijan is gunning for that team title in Greco-Roman after it won it in Freestyle.

12:28: Defending champion at 87kg Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) streamrolls Muhutdin SARICICEK (TUR) 9-0 and moves into the quarterfinals.

12:22: Olympic champion Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) got turned from par terre and fell 3-0 behind against Karen KHACHATRYAN (ARM) but he answers with six points in the second period and wins 6-3 at 87kg

12:15: Ahmet YILMAZ (TUR) hangs on for a 2-1 win over Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) at 77kg. Big result for Yilmaz and Turkiye at the European Championships. 

12:10: Defending champion and Paris Olympic bronze medalist Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) stuns with two back-to-back four points throws to win 9-0 against Mateusz BERNATEK (POL) at 77kg.

12:05: Big match at 77kg as World silver medalist Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) takes on Sergei STEPANOV (UWW) who won the Zagreb Ranking Series in January. Levai with a counter four-pointer to start off the bout. Stepanov tried locking Levai but failed to lock his hands behind Levai who threw him on the mat for four. A stepout made it 5-0 at the break for Levai. There is no more scoring action or any par terre decisions and Levai beats Stepanov 5-0 to move into the quarterfinals.

11:45: Dzmitry ZARUBSKI (UWW) pins Apostolos TSIOVOLOS (GRE) at 130kg. While two-time Olympic medalist Sergei SEMENOV (UWW) is the favorite at 130kg, their are others who can upset him.

11:40: Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) pins European U23 champion Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR) at 130kg. Kandelaki with two head throws which shocked Vysgnyvetskyi

11:35: Sergei SEMENOV (UWW), the defending champion at 130kg, with a 6-0 win over Darius VITEK (HUN) to begin his title defense. Semenov denied Riza KAYAALP (TUR) his historic 13th European title last year which would have put him ahead of Aleksandr KARELIN.

11:30: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) opens his European Championships with a 6-0 win over Tino OJALA (FIN) at 63kg. Kamal won the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series gold at 63kg and has new-found motivation.

11:20: Hannes WAGNER (GER) rolls to a 10-0 technical superiority win over Vladimeri KARCHAIDZE (GEO) in the opening round at 77kg. Karchaidze was hoping to build on his European U23 silver medal but falls at the first step

11:00: Mairbek SALIMOV (POL) with the first big move of the day with a flowing suplex over Dinislam BAMMATOV (UWW) for a 9-0 win at 63kg.

10:30: Greco-Roman will begin at the European Championships with five weight classes. The morning session will run with it and semifinals at 16:45. Women's Wrestling medal bouts will be at 18:00.