#BudaWrestle2018

Russia Sweeps Greco Gold Medals on Final Day of World Championships

By Andrew Hipps

BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 28) -- Russia put the finishing touches on a world team title in Greco-Roman by sweeping the gold medals on the final day of the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. 

Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (77kg), Musa EVLOEV (97kg) and Sergey SEMENOV (130kg) came through to win gold medals in Greco-Roman for Russia on Sunday.

Russia finished with 178 team points in Greco-Roman, 89 points ahead of runner-up Hungary (89). Turkey finished third in the team standings with 75 points. 

Chekhirkin captured his gold medal by defeating crowd favorite Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) 3-1 in the gold-medal match at 77kg. The Russian led 1-1 on criteria after the opening period and added to his lead in the second period off a passivity and then scored a late step out to win by two. 

Evloev upgraded his world medal from silver to gold as he topped Kiril MILOV (BUL) 7-2 in the gold-medal match at 97kg. The Bulgarian scored the first point of the match off a passivity, but Evloev dominated the rest of the way. He came back with a takedown to lead 2-1 at the break. After extending his lead to 3-1, the 25-year-old Russian used a side lift to execute a four-point throw to extend his lead. 

Semenov dominated Adam COON (USA) 9-0 in the gold-medal match at 130kg. The 23-year-old Russian heavyweight used two four-point throws to cruise to the technical fall victory. Semenov was a gold medalist at the U23 World Championships last year and won two world gold medals as a junior. 

The bronze medals at 77kg were won by world champions Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) and Viktor NEMES (SRB)

Kim, a multiple-time Olympic medalist, picked up a 3-1 win over Bilan NALGIEV (UZB). The Korean scored a two-point throw in the first period, which proved to be the difference in the match. 

Nemes won his second straight world medal by defeating Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) 6-2 for bronze. The Serb held a 2-2 criteria lead after the opening period and tacked on four more points in the second period.

In the first bronze-medal match at 97kg, Mihail KAJALA (SRB) won his first world medal and denied Balazs KISS (HUN) a fourth world medal. Kiss seemed to be in control early after scoring off a passivity and adding a takedown to grab a 3-0 lead at the break. But Kajala used a four-point arm throw to grab the lead midway through the second period and hung on to win on criteria, 4-4. 

Mahdi ALIYARIFEIZABADI (IRI) won the other 97kg bronze medal by forfeit.

At 130kg, Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB) won his second straight world bronze medal with a 3-1 victory over Heiki NABI (EST). Pino Hinds scored his first point off a passivity. Nabi grabbed the lead in the second period after getting a passivity point of his own. But the Cuban would add another passivity point along with a point for a failed challenge to win by two. 

Minseok KIM (KOR), a past junior world bronze medalist, claimed his first senior world medal as he hung on to defeat Eduard POPP (GER) 2-1 in the second bronze-medal match at 130kg. Kim scored a two-point exposure in the first period, which was enough to get him the victory. 

Final Results

Greco-Roman

77kg
GOLD: Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (RUS) df. Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) by VPO1, 3-1
BRONZE: Viktor NEMES (SRB) df. Alex BJURBERG KESSIDIS (SWE) by VPO1, 6-2
BRONZE: Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) df. Bilan NALGIEV (UZB) by VPO1, 3-1

97kg
GOLD: Musa EVLOEV (RUS) df. Kiril MILOV (BUL) by VPO1, 7-2
BRONZE: Mahdi ALIYARIFEIZABADI (IRI) df. Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) by VIN, 0-0
BRONZE: Mihail KAJALA (SRB) df. Balazs KISS (HUN) df. VPO1, 4-4

130kg
GOLD: Sergey SEMENOV (RUS) df. Adam COON (USA) by VSU, 9-0
BRONZE: Minseok KIM (KOR) df. Eduard POPP (GER) by VPO1, 2-1
BRONZE: Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB) df. Heiki NABI (EST) by VPO1, 3-1
 

#WrestleBratislava

European Championships 2025 Day 1 Freestyle Semis Set

By Vinay Siwach

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 7) -- The European Championships begins in Bratislava with Freestyle weight classes 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg and 97kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS PREVIEW

57kg semifinals
SF 1:
Aryian TIUTRIN (UWW) vs. Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB)
SF 2: Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) vs. Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE)

65kg semifinals
SF 1:
Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) vs. Goga OTINASHVILI (GEO)
SF 2: Ali RAHIMZADA (AZE) vs. Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA)

70kg semifinals
SF 1:
Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO) vs. Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM)
SF 2: David BAEV (UWW) vs. Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE)

79kg semifinals
SF 1:
Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) vs. Ion MARCU (MDA)
SF 2: Mohammad MOTTAGHINIA (ESP) vs. Akhmed USMANOV (UWW)

97kg
SF 1:
Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) vs. Richard VEGH (HUN)
SF 2: Magomed KURBANOV (UWW) vs. Radu LEFTER (MDA)

The semifinals will begin at 18:00 local time

13:30: In the final bout of the morning session, Ali RAHIMZADA (AZE) books his spot in the 65kg semifinal with a 10-0 win over Nico MEGERLE (GER). Rahimzada led 2-0 at the break, adds a takedown, two chest-wrap turns and a takedown with a minute and 18 left to win 10-0.

13:20: In a marquee 65kg match, European champion Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) takes on world U23 champion Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW). Tevanyan is put on the activity clock first and he falls behind 1-0 at the break. The second period sees more action and Tevanyan gets on the leg-attack but Ibragimov manages to keep it down to a step down. A fleeing caution is hit on Ibragimov which gives Tevanyan a 2-1 lead. Ibragimov with a fake snap for takedown on the edge to claim a 3-2 lead with a minute remaining. Tevanyan can't break the defense and Ibragimov gets the 3-2 win to enter semifinals at 65kg.

13:12: Magomed KURBANOV (UWW) adds to the misery of the local fans as he beats Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) at 97kg. Kurbanov relied on his defense to counter Tsakulov and win 9-1 and advance to the semifinals.

13:08: For a place in the 97kg semifinals, Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) takes on Richard VEGH (HUN). Abakarov scores a takedown just before the break to lead 2-1. Vegh gets a stepouts to make it 2-2 but Abakarov leads on criteria for his takedown. Vegh scores another stepout in the final 25 seconds to lead 3-2. He squares up to defend and Abakarov tries to reach the far leg but Vegh evades and spins behind for two. He wins 5-2.

13:02: Veteran Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) pulls off a 4-0 win over Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) at 79kg and enters the semifinal. Two points for activity and a takedown are enough for Khadjiev. He celebrates the win with a sigh of relief. Local fans heartbroken with the loss.

12:55: Big match at 79kg as world champion Akhmed USMANOV (UWW) takes on former European champion Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR). Both wrestlers start slow but it is Usmanov who gets on the scoreboard first with an activity point. Mykhailov gets on the clock as well and leads 1-1 on criteria. In the final minute, Mykhailov is put on the activity clock again and the lead switches to Usmanov, 2-1, with a 20 seconds left on the clock. Usmanov defends the time and advances to the semifinals at 79kg

12:47: Mohammad MOTTAGHINIA (ESP) had built an 8-0 lead in the first period over Okan TAHTACI (TUR) in their 79kg quarterfinal but Tahtaci scored a takedown and turn to cut it to 8-4 against a tiring Mottaghinia. But as it looked like Tahtaci would make a match of it, Mottaghinia scores a takedown and two lace turns to win 14-4.

12:40: Defending 70kg champion Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) advances to the semifinals with a controlled 4-0 win over Oleksii BORUTA (UKR) and takes a step closer to defend his gold medal.

12:30: Defending 97kg champion Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) opens with a 11-0 win over Radoslaw BARAN (POL). He got a point for Baran's passivity, scored a takedown before adding three gut-wrenches to lead 9-0 at the break. A go-behind in the second period is enough for the win.

12:25: Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) with an over-under lock and throw for four to lead 4-1 against Manvel KHNDZRTSYAN (ARM) at break in their 57kg quarterfinal. That remained the only scoring move of the match even as Khndzrtsyan tried breaking the shackles in the second period. Mongush into the semifinals with a 4-1 win.

12:10: David BAEV (UWW) is looking unstoppable. He now gut wrenches Viktor VOINOVIC (SRB) and advances to the semifinal at 70kg which will be held at 18:00 local time

12:05: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) in defense is one of the best you get out there. He works up a 3-0 win over Islam GUSEINOV (UWW) at 65kg enters the quarterfinals.

11:55: Magomed KURBANOV (UWW) started off slow but he takes just 2 minutes and 17 seconds to beat Gurgen SIMONYAN (ARM) 10-0 at 97kg.

11:40: Defending 79kg champion Akhmed USMANOV (UWW) gets two activity points and a stepout as he wins 3-0 against Paris Olympian and world silver medalist Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO). Usmanov had defeated Gamkrelidze in the 79kg final at the 2023 World Championships.

11:30: Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE), moving up to 97kg for the European Championships, opens up a 8-2 win over Vasyl SOVA (UKR)

11:20: Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) posts a technical superiority win over Hayk PAPIKYAN (ARM) and advances at 79kg. He is chasing his second European gold

11:05: Aryian TIUTRIN (UWW) hands Kamil KERYMOV (UKR) a 10-0 humbling at 57kg. Tiutrin is one of the hopefuls to win the gold. In the next match at 57kg, Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW), who won the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series gold at 61kg, wins 100- against Ivaylo TISOV (BUL)

11:00: Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB), former European champion, gets on the scoreboard with a activity clock point to lead 1-0 against Niklas STECHELE (GER) at the break in their 57kg bout. He adds a stepout to make it 2-0. A double-leg takedown to make it 4-0 and Stechele can't break the defense.

10:56: Former world U20 champion Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) makes quick work of Benedikt HUBER (AUT) in the 70kg opening round bout.

10:50: Battle of two world champions on Mat B as Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), world 65kg champion in 2023, takes on David BAEV (UWW), who won gold medal at 79kg in 2019. Baev opens up a 4-0 lead with a takedown and two stepouts as Muszukajev evades most of the attacks in the first period. Baev starts the second period with a double-leg. Muszukajev avoids a takeodwn but Baev laces him and spins him for an in-air leg lace and gets four and two to win 10-0 and advance at 70kg. 

10:42: On Mat C, three-time European champion Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) opens his defense of 70kg gold with a takedown class and finishes with a 10-0 win over Mateusz LUSZCZYNSKI (POL).

10:35: World U23 champion Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) takes a minute and 46 seconds to roll to a 10-0 victory over Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL)

10:30: The European Championships are underway in Bratislava. Big names are wrestling with five gold medals on line.