#WrestleYakutsk

Russia Rolls Over Iran, Wins Freestyle World Cup Title

Sunday, March 17, 2019 - 09:46 By Eric Olanowski

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YAKUTSK, Russia (March 17) - Deafening chants of “Russia” echoed throughout Yakutsk’s Triumph Sports Training Center as the Russian Federation claimed their seventh overall Freestyle World Cup title and first gold since their title-winning performance at the 2011 Makhachkala World Cup.  

The goal for the Russian Federation coming into the 2019 Freestyle World Cup was simple and well stated, “Win the Freestyle World Cup on home soil.” 

That’s exactly what Russia did, and they did so in dominant fashion. Russia closed out the weekend with a perfect 4-0 team record while having a combined individual record of 36-4. Even more impressive, the host nation strung together a 25 match win streak that extended through three duals. The streak began at the 65kg match in the Japan dual, went through the 10-0 shutout win over Turkey, and finally ended after the 92kg match in the Iran dual. 

The host nation proved that they were without a doubt the deepest team entered into the tournament, wrapping up the World Cup on Sunday by easily halting Iran from winning their seventh World Cup title in the last eight years.

In the finals, Russia stomped Iran, 9-1, and ended the country's eight-year World Cup title drought.

The Russians cruised, winning the first seven matches and clinched the dual after Magomed RAMAZANOV (RUS) stuck Mojtaba ASGHARI OSMAVANDANI (IRI) in the 79kg bout. 

Russia’s final win against Iran was their fourth win of the weekend. They went 2-0 on the opening day of competition, tallying wins over Cuba and Japan, then followed that up with a third-round win over Turkey. That Sunday morning win over Turkey locked up the perfect 3-0 record in Group A and handed Russia their spot in the World Cup finals for the first time since 2011. 

This was Russia’s seventh Freestyle World Cup title-winning performance, and sixth on home soil. The last time Russia won a World Cup that wasn’t on home soil came at the 1998 Freestyle World Cup which was held in Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA.

Meanwhile, in the third-place bout, the defending champion the United States edged Japan, 6-4. 

The pair traded blows and were tied three-all after the first six matches. Sohsuke TAKATANI (JPN) broke that tie after his 14-3 routing of Samuel Joseph BROOKS (USA), but three consecutive American wins from Hayden ZILLMER, Kyven Ross GADSON, and Anthony NELSON gave the Stars and Stripes the 6-4 advantage, and ultimately the third-place finish. 

Cuba finished fifth place after they defeated Mongolia, 6-4, and Georgia claimed seventh place after beating Turkey, 8-2. 

RESULTS

First-Place Match
Russia df. Iran, 9-1 
57kg - Aryian TIUTRIN (RUS) df. Alireza Nosratolah SARLAK (IRI), 11-2 
61kg - Ramazan FERZALIEV (RUS) df. Iman SADEGHIKOUKANDEH (IRI), 8-2 
65kg - Viktor RASSADIN (RUS) df. Morteza Hassanali GHIASI CHEKA (IRI), 10-2 
70kg - David BAEV (RUS) df. Meisam Abolfazl NASIRI (IRI), 6-1
74kg - Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) df. Reza Alireza AFZALIPAEMAMI (IRI), 6-0 
79kg - Magomed RAMAZANOV (RUS) df. Mojtaba ASGHARI OSMAVANDANI (IRI), via fall 
86kg- Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS) df. Mersad MARGHZARI (IRI), 10-0 
92kg - Mohammadjavad EBRAHIMIZIVLAEI (IRI) df. Magomed KURBANOV (RUS), 2-1  
97kg - Vladislav BAITCAEV (RUS) df. Ali Khalil SHABANIBENGAR (IRI), 2-1 
125kg - Zelimkhan KHIZRIEV (RUS) df. Amin Hossein TAHERI (IRI), 10-0 

Third-Place Match 
United States df. Japan, 6-4 
57kg - Zachary Luke SANDERS (USA) df. Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN), via inj. def. 
61kg - Yudai FUJITA (JPN) df. Nicholas Daniel MEGALUDIS (USA), 4-4
65kg - Zain Allen RETHERFORD (USA) df. Daichi TAKATANI (JPN), 10-0
70kg - Kojiro SHIGA (JPN) df. Jason Lyle CHAMBERLAIN (USA), 5-3
74kg - Isaiah Alexander MARTINEZ (USA) df. Yuto MIWA (JPN), 10-0
79kg - Yuta ABE (JPN) df. Thomas GANTT JR (USA), 3-2
86kg - Sohsuke TAKATANI (JPN) df. Samuel Joseph BROOKS (USA), 14-3
92kg - Hayden Nicholas ZILLMER (USA) df. Atsushi MATSUMOTO (JPN), 10-0
97kg - Kyven Ross GADSON (USA) df. Naoya AKAGUMA (JPN), 3-2 
125kg - Anthony Robert NELSON (USA) df. Nobuyoshi ARAKIDA (JPN), 5-3 

Fifth-Place Match
Cuba df. Mongolia, 6-4 
57kg - TUMENBILEG Tuvshintulga (MGL) df. Reineri ANDREU ORTEGA (CUB), 2-1
61kg - Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB) df. GANSUKH Otgonbaatar (MGL), 3-2
65kg - BATCHULUUN Batmagnai (MGL) df. Alejandro VALDES TOBIER (CUB), via forfeit 
70kg - Franklin MAREN CASTILLO (CUB) df. ENKHBAYAR Byambadorj (MGL), 4-0
74kg - BYAMBASUREN Bat-Erdene (MGL) df. Cristian COLOMBAT RIVERA (CUB), via fall 
79kg - Reinier PEREZ ABREU (CUB) df. BAT ERDENE Byambadorj (MGL)10-0
86kg - ORGODOL Uitumen (MGL) df. Yurieski TORREBLANCA QUERALTA (CUB), 4-4
92kg - Lazaro HERNANDEZ LUIS (CUB) df. BAASANTSOGT Ulziisaikhan (MGL), 11-0
97kg - Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB) df. ULZIISAIKHAN Batzul (MGL), 2-0
125kg - Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB) df. DORJKHAND Khuderbulga (MGL)

Seventh-Place Match 
Georgia df. Turkey, 8-2 
57kg - Ali KARABOGA (TUR) df. Lasha LOMTADZE (GEO), via inj. def. 
65kg - Munir Recep AKTAS (TUR) df. Tornike KATAMADZE (GEO), via inj. def.
70kg - Amiran VAKHTANGASHVILI (GEO) df. Cengizhan ERDOGAN (TUR), via forfeit 
74kg - Mirza SKHULUKHIA (GEO) df. Serhat ARSLAN (TUR), 6-2
70kg - Zurabi ERBOTSONASHVILI (GEO) df. Nazim Selami KARA (TUR), 11-0
74kg - Davit KHUTSISHVILI (GEO) df. Abdulkadir OZMEN (TUR), 7-2
79kg - Tarzan MAISURADZE (GEO) df. Fatih ERDIN (TUR), via inj. def. 
86kg - Dato MARSAGISHVILI (GEO) df. Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR), 6-2
97kg - Mamuka KORDZAIA (GEO) df. Ali BONCEOGLU (TUR), 9-6
125kg - Rolandi ANDRIADZE (GEO) df. Abdullah OMAC (TUR), 6-5

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open 2025 Day 2: Iran continues domination

Thursday, February 6, 2025 - 09:39 By United World Wrestling Press

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ZAGREB, Croatia (February 6) -- Zagreb Open day two with four Freestyle weight classes and Women's Wrestling in two weight classes. Day one saw six Freestyle classes with the United States and Iran winning two gold medals each. Azerbaijan and Slovakia won the remaining two.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | WATCH LIVE | 2025 SEASON PREVIEW

13:25: In the women's wrestling semifinal at 55kg, veteran Sam STEWART (CAN) leg laces Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) and wins 12-1. She will face world bronze medalist Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA) who got the better of Ekaterina VERVINA (AIN) 5-4.

13:15: Mason PARRIS (USA) holds off Hayden ZILLMER (USA) 4-2 in the 125kg semifinal. But his big test will come in the final against Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) who beats Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL) 8-0.

13:05: Kyle SNYDER (USA) back in the Zagreb Open final at 97kg. He blanks Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) 10-0 and he like take on Abolfazl BABALOO (IRI) who just about managed to beat Jonathan AIELLO (USA) 6-5 in the other semifinal. Aiello was down 6-3 but added two stepouts and almost got the third but the time ran out.

12:55: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) may have confirmed his European Championships spot at 92kg as he beats Abubakar ABAKAROV (AZE) in the semifinal. Abakarov built a 3-2 but struggled with his shoulder which needed constantly medical attention. He changed the score to 5-4 with a minute remaining but Nurmagomedov scored a takedown to lead 6-5. Abakarov got hold off Nurmagomedov's leg for a good 10 seconds but failed to get a takedown. Nurmagomedov will wrestle Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) in the final

12:40: Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) breaks Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) with his pace and wins the 79kg semifinal 4-1. Gamkrelidze got a point for Yousefi's passivity in the first period but the Iranian up the pace in the second period, scoring two stepouts and a takedown on the edge to win 4-1. He will face Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) who defeated Rocco WELSH (USA) 4-2

12:30: Semifinals on day two! Paris Olympian at 86kg Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) is up against U20 world champion Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) at 79kg and Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) has Rocco WELSH (USA).

11:45: Match of the tournament so far! Abubakar ABAKAROV (AZE) has to come back multiple times as Iuza TSERTSVADZE (GEO) threatened to upset him. Tsertsvadze scored a takedown and two turns using a gut wrench to lead 6-0 before Abakarov began the second period with a stepout. He close the differnce to 6-5. Tsertsvadze was on the verge of extending his lead but Abakarov scored a four-pointer using a cut back to make it 9-7. A takedown and turn later, Tsertsvadze led 11-9 but Abakarov hit a single leg attack with 10 seconds left and score the two points needed to win. He is into the 92kg semifinals.

11:41: Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) wrestle with so much authority on the mat. No missed shots or efforts which can get countered. Just controls his way, like he did in a 5-0 win against Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR) and enter the semifinal at 125kg.

11:35: Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) with another controlled win. He gets the better of Michael MACCHIAVELLO (USA) 5-0. He will wrestle in the semifinals

11:25: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), coached by his uncle and Olympic champion Sharif SHARIPOV (AZE), puts on a great show of defense and counters to beat Uri KALASHNIKOV (ISR) 5-0 at 92kg.

11:22: Paris Olympian Mason PARRIS (USA) faced compatriot Trent HILLGER (USA) in the opening round at 125kg and after a few stutters, he comes out as a 12-3

11:20: Kyle SNYDER (USA) who won a silver medal here in Zagreb last year begins with a 11-0 win over Richard VEGH (HUN) and moves into the semifinal at 97kg.

11:15: World bronze medalist Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) looked rusty to begin with and he got U20 world champion Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) in the first bout. Yousefi pounced on him and won 10-0 inside four minutes at 79kg.

10:55: Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) holds off former U20 world champion Mohammadmobin AZIMI (IRI). Abakarov led 6-1 before giving up a takedown and turn for four points. He still wins 6-5

10:40: Asian champion Amirhossein FIROZPOUR (IRI) kicks off proceedings in dominant fashion. He scores a 11-0 technical superiority win over Zaur BERADZE (GEO) inside the first period.

10:30: Welcome to day two of the Zagreb Open and we have the remaining four Freestyle weight classes in action along with two in Women's Wrestling.