#BuchaWrestU23

Russia and USA Put Multiple Wrestlers in #BuchaWrestU23 Finals

Saturday, November 17, 2018 - 17:18 By Taylor Miller

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Photo of Artur NAIFONOV (RUS) by Martin Gabor. 

BUCHAREST, Romania – In the final full day of the U23 World Championships in Bucharest, Romania, four Russians advanced to Sunday’s finals and the USA sent two to the finals.

Finalists for Russia include Magomedrasul IDRISOV (RUS), Artur NAIFONOV (RUS), Aslanbek SOTIEV (RUS) and Said GAMIDOV (RUS). USA’s finalists are Sean FAUSZ (USA) and Youssif HEMIDA (USA).

Both nations will go head-to-head in two finals.

At 61 kg, 2018 U23 European champion Idirisov will face Fausz, who took ninth at the 2013 Cadet World Championships.

Idrisov produced an 11-0 technical superiority over Nikolai OKHLOPKOV (ROU) to advance to the finals, and Fausz defeated two-time Junior World champion Iman SADEGHIKOUKANDEH (IRI) with a tight 2-0 win.

The other Russia-USA head-to-head features 2015 Junior World champion Gamidov and international newcomer Hemida.

Both wrestlers tallied 4-2 decisions in the semifinals. Gamidov defeated 2014 Junior World bronze winner Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL), while Hemida took out 2011 World bronze medalist Rolandi ANDRIADZE (GEO).

Also heading to the finals from Russia is 2017 Junior World champion Naifonov who put up 14 points in a semifinals win over 2018 U23 European bronze medalist Murad SULEYMANOV (AZE).

Waiting for Naifonov on the other side is of the bracket is 2013 Cadet World bronze medalist Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI).

At 92 kg, Aslanbek SOTIEV (RUS) knocked off 2016 Junior World champion and 2012 Cadet World bronze medalist Hossein SHAHBAZIGAZVAR (IRI) with a 10-10 victory.

For gold, Sotiev will face 2018 U23 European champion Shamil ZUBAIROV (AZE), who edged out 2016 University World and 2012 Cadet World bronze medalist Bohdan HRYTSAY (UKR), 4-3.

On the top side of the 74 kg bracket, host country Romania sent an athlete to the finals as Maxim VASILIOGLO (ROU) defeated Andranik GABRIELYAN (ARM) by an 11-0 victory.

Vasilioglo is set to battle 2018 Senior World silver medalist and 2017 U23 World bronze medalist Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO).

To get to the finals, Kentchadze outlasted 2013 Cadet World bronze medalist Timur BIZHOEV (RUS), 4-2.

The finals are set for Sunday at 6 p.m. local time (11 a.m. ET) live on unitedworldwrestling.org.

Finals pairings
61 kg: Magomedrasul IDRISOV (RUS) vs. Sean Christian FAUSZ (USA)
74 kg: Maxim VASILIOGLO (ROU) vs. Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO)
86 kg: Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) vs. Artur NAIFONOV (RUS)
92 kg: Aslanbek SOTIEV (RUS) vs. Shamil ZUBAIROV (AZE)
125 kg: Said GAMIDOV (RUS) vs. Youssif HEMIDA (USA)

Semifinals results

61 kg
Magomedrasul IDRISOV (RUS) df. Nikolai OKHLOPKOV (ROU), 11-0
Sean Christian FAUSZ (USA) df. Iman SADEGHIKOUKANDEH (IRI), 2-0 

74 kg
Maxim VASILIOGLO (ROU) df. Andranik GABRIELYAN (ARM), 11-1
Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) df. Timur BIZHOEV (RUS), 4-2

86 kg
Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) df. Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL), 4-0
Artur NAIFONOV (RUS) df. Murad SULEYMANOV (AZE), 14-4

92 kg
Aslanbek SOTIEV (RUS) df. Hossein Lotfali SHAHBAZIGAZVAR (IRI), 10-10
Shamil ZUBAIROV (AZE) df. Bohdan HRYTSAY (UKR), 4-3

125 kg
Said GAMIDOV (RUS) df. Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL), 4-2
Youssif HEMIDA (USA) df. Rolandi ANDRIADZE (GEO), 4-2

#WrestleNoviSad

U23 Worlds 2025: Forrest wins epic final to hand U.S. team title

Tuesday, October 28, 2025 - 00:40 By Vinay Siwach

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NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 27) — For a second time this year, the United States and Iran were involved in a thrilling team title race in Freestyle at a World Championships with the U.S. eventually winning the title.

After being tied at 102 points each at the U23 World Championships in Novi Sad, the U.S. needed one win and Iran needed to win all three bouts on the final day of the competition.

The U.S. sealed the team title as soon as Jaxen FORREST (USA) won the 61kg final, giving his country an unassailable lead of 137 points over Iran, which finished second with 127 points. Japan was third with 85 points.

With the team title, U.S. won the top spot in Freestyle in all age-group World Championships while Iran won the title in senior Worlds.

Three gold medals already in pocket, the U.S. won a fourth one on Monday through Forrest who had an unforgettable bout against Omurbek ASAN UULU (KGZ).

Both teenagers, U20 world bronze medalist Forrest and U17 world champion Asan Uulu put on a match that will be remembered for ages. Both wrestlers settled in, Forrest came up with an over-underhook for four but Asan Uulu soon fired back with two takedown to make it 4-4. After a back-and-forth scramble, Asan Uulu managed to score a push out for a 5-4 lead.

But Forrest took a big lead when he threw Asan Uulu from quad pod position for four points. Kyrgyzstan’s lost challenge added one more point to make it 9-5.

Jaxen FORREST (USA)Jaxen FORREST (USA) scores a takedown against Umurbek ASAN UULU (KGZ). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The two were not done yet. As soon as the second period began, Asan Uulu scored a stepout, Forrest got a takedown to make it 11-6. Asan Uulu managed to get a takedown and score via exposure. He took a 12-11 lead with a takedown on edge with 1:30 left.

There was more left in the match as Forrest got on a low single to get a takedown and as the wrestlers returned to standing, he threw Asan Uulu for a big four, the third of the match to make it 17-12. He was happy to give one takedown to Asan Uulu in the final 10 seconds and win the gold medal 17-14, in what was perhaps the match of the year.

SUJEET (IND)SUJEET (IND) scores the match-winning takedown against Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 65kg, SUJEET (IND) upgraded his bronze from last year to gold this year after he blanked world bronze medalist Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) in the final, his third 10-0 technical superiority over Jalolov this year.

Sujeet began like favorite underhook and snapdowns and Jalolov was put on the clock. Sujeet scored a takedown during that period to lead 3-0 before a stepout made it 4-0, a lead which Sujeet carried into the break.

The second period was no different as Sujeet did not let Jalolov settle down. He scored using a counter takedown to lead 6-0 with 1:52 remaining. Jalolov tried to hit a far reaching leg attack but Sujeet throws thew himself backward before scoring a takedown. A double leg takedown to make it 10-0 with 1:06 remaining.

Arash YOSHIDA (JPN)Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) celebrates after beating Merab SULEIMANISHVILI (GEO) in the 97kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Japan went past Turkiye in the team race by one point, all thanks to Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) winning the gold medal at 97kg by beating Merab SULEIMANISHVILI (GEO), 12-2, in the final.

For a split second Suleimaniashvili was about to pin Yoshida but apart from that, Yoshida never looked in any kind of trouble. His body frame and power were too much for the Georgian who just folded in the battle.

Yoshida managed to score from various position and used the underhook to perfection to earn his first world title.

One of the most dominant wrestlers in this tournament, Arsen BALAIAN (UWW), capped off his incredible run with a 10-0 victory over Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA), 10-0.

RESULTS

61kg
GOLD: Jaxen FORREST (USA) df. Omurbek ASAN UULU (KGZ), 17-14

BRONZE: Akito MUKAIDA (JPN) df. Mykyta ABRAMOV (UKR), 10-0
BRONZE: Tolga OZBEK (TUR) df. Erdal GALIP (BUL), 11-1

65kg
GOLD: SUJEET (IND) df. Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB), 10-0

BRONZE: Bilol SHARIP UULU (KGZ) df. Aykhan ABDULLAZADA (AZE), 10-0
BRONZE: Bashir MAGOMEDOV (UWW) df. Yuto NISHIUCHI (JPN), 7-5

86kg
GOLD: Arsen BALAIAN (UWW) df. Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA), 10-0

BRONZE: Ali TCOKAEV (AZE) df. Tornike SAMKHARADZE (GEO), 13-2
BRONZE: Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) df. Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA), 7-5

97kg
GOLD: Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) df. Merab SULEIMANISHVILI (GEO), 12-2

BRONZE: Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) df. Abolfazl BABALOO (IRI), 7-1
BRONZE: Soslan DZHAGAEV (UWW) df. David MCHEDLIDZE (UKR), 4-2