#BuchaWrestU23

Russia Wins Two Golds on Sunday, Claims #BuchaWrestU23 Team Title

By Taylor Miller

BUCHAREST, Romania – Russia claimed the men’s freestyle team title, producing two champions on Sunday night at the 2018 U23 World Championships in Bucharest, Romania.

2018 U23 European champion Magomedrasul IDRISOV (RUS) began the night with a gold medal for Russia, defeating Sean FAUSZ (USA), 11-1, in the 61 kg finals, fueled by three takedowns in the second period.

At 74 kg, Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) made his second World finals appearance in just a few weeks after claiming silver at the 2018 Senior World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, last month.

This time, he topped the podium, sticking host country’s Maxim VASILIOGLO (ROU) in the first period at the 1:51 mark.

Winning the crown at 86 kg was Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI), a 2013 Cadet World bronze medalist. Ghasempour controlled the entire match, giving up only one point to 2017 Junior World champion Artur NAIFONOV (RUS) in a 4-1 win.

Scoring 10 points in the second period, 2018 U23 European champion Shamil ZUBAIROV (AZE) toppled Aslanbek SOTIEV (RUS) with a 13-8 comeback win for the World title at 92 kg.

In the last 90 seconds, Zubairov scored two takedowns plus exposure points to get ahead.

Ending the night with another gold medal for Russia was 2015 Junior World champion Said GAMIDOV (RUS), who pinned Youssif HEMIDA (USA) in 2:07 for his second age-group World title.

Sending five to Sunday’s medal matches, Iran went 4-1, picking up one gold and three bronzes to earn a spot on the podium, taking third with 105 points. Georgia finished second in the team race with 108 points. Rounding out the top five was Japan and USA.

Final results

61 kg
GOLD: Magomedrasul IDRISOV (RUS) df. Sean FAUSZ (USA), 11-1
BRONZE: Minghu LIU (CHN) df. Iman Mokhtar SADEGHIKOUKANDEH (IRI), 3-3
BRONZE: Nikolai OKHLOPKOV (ROU) df. Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ), 10-4

74 kg
GOLD: Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) df. Maxim VASILIOGLO (ROU), fall
BRONZE: Timur BIZHOEV (RUS) df. Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK), 5-2
BRONZE: Navid ZANGANEH (IRI) df. Andranik GABRIELYAN (ARM), 10-0

86 kg
GOLD: Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) df. Artur NAIFONOV (RUS), 4-1
BRONZE: Murad SULEYMANOV (AZE) df. Alexander MOORE (CAN), 10-0
BRONZE: Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) df. Arif OZEN (TUR), 4-1

92 kg
GOLD: Shamil ZUBAIROV (AZE) df. Aslanbek SOTIEV (RUS), 13-8
BRONZE: Bohdan HRYTSAY (UKR) df. Sargis HOVSEPYAN (ARM), 4-0
BRONZE: Hossein SHAHBAZIGAZVAR (IRI) df. Irakli MTSITURI (GEO), 4-2

125 kg
GOLD: Said GAMIDOV (RUS) df. Youssif HEMIDA (USA), fall
BRONZE: Amin TAHERI (IRI) df. Kamil Tomasz KOSCIOLEK (POL), fall
BRONZE: Rolandi ANDRIADZE (GEO) df. Yasuhiro YAMAMOTO (JPN), 4-0

Team results
1. Russia – 181
2. Georgia – 108
3. Iran – 105
4. Japan – 93
5. USA – 92 

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open day one finals set

By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (February 1) -- The season-opening Ranking Series event Zagreb Open is here. Six freestyle weight classes are in action at the Dom Sportva in the Croatian capital. Stars in action include Hassan YAZDANI (IRI), Haji ALIYEV (AZE), Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) among others. Remember this tournament has a two-kilogram weight allowance in all weight classes and the medal winners will also receive prize money.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

Here are the gold medal bouts for the evening session

57kg
Yuto NISHIUCHI (JPN) vs. Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE)

61kg
Reza ATRI (IRI) vs. Narankhuu NARMANDAKH (MGL)

65kg
Joseph MC KENNA (USA) vs. Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL)

70kg
Haji ALIYEV (AZE) vs. Alec PANTALEO (USA)

74kg
Yones EMAMI (IRI) vs. Jason NOLF (USA)

86kg
Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) vs. Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) 

14:20: The last semifinal of the morning session. Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) taking on Ismail MUSUKAEV (HUN). Tulga gets the stepout before Musukaev adds a takedown in the activity period. Tulga with another stepout just before the break. Musukaev leads 2-2 on criteria at the break. The second period starts with another stepout from Tulga. That could have been more dangerous for Musukaev but solid defense. Musukaev is put on the activity period. Tulga gets Musukaev in cross and scores two before getting the passivity point to lead 6-2. Musukaev tries hard to comeback but cannot break the defense of Tulga who wins 6-2 and will wrestle McKenna in the final.

14:10: Yones EMAMI (IRI) moves into the 74kg final with a 3-2 win over Fazli ERYILMAZ (TUR). He will face Jason NOLF (USA) for the gold medal.

13:50: Joseph MC KENNA (USA) will take that 4-3 win over Ryoma ANRAKU (JPN) to reach the 65kg final. McKenna had a 4-2 lead at the break and gave up only a point in the second period. Anraku looked slightly tired in the second period. 

13:35: On Mat A, Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) continues his dream run at 86kg and beats Zahid VALENCIA (USA) 12-1. A series of gut wrenches to finish off the bout. He will face Hassan YADANI (IRI) in the final

13:30: Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) is coming up on Mat B against Mark HALL (USA) at 86kg. He starts with a takedown for two. Another easy takedown for Yazdani as he extends his lead to 4-0. Hall looks much smaller than Yazdani at 86kg. The pressure from Yazdani is immense. He gut wrenches Hall for a 10-0 win.

13:25: Huge underhook to four for Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) as he beats Evan HENDERSON (USA) in the 65kg quarterfinals. He will face Ismail MUSUKAEV (HUN) next

13:05: Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) and Jason NOLF (USA) left it all on the mat but it is Nolf who comes out on top with a 4-3 win. Gadzhiev is showing displeasure for Nolf's passivity but looks clean. Nolf will move into the 74kg semifinal.

12:55: Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) moves into the semifinal with a technical superiority win over Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE). Yazdani looks like a man on a mission. He will face Mark HALL (USA) in the semifinal

12:45: There is no stopping Ismail MUSUKAEV (HUN). He takes his time against Nick LEE (USA) in the 65kg quarterfinal but shifts gears so quickly. A takedown and exposure to lead 4-0. He works up two more takedowns and a double leg to win 10-0.

12:35: Mark HALL (USA) over Boris MAKOEV (SVK) at 86kg. Makoev got into positions to score on Hall but the American wrestler was solid in defense and countered with exposure to get his own points. He wins 7-2.

12:30: Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) with a takedown and a fall over European champion Myles AMINE (SMR) at 86kg! Amine looks devasted by that. Ishiguro caught Amine by surprise and got the pin.

12:20: Haji ALIYEV (AZE), wrestling at 70kg, survives a scare against Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO). After leading 4-0, Aliyev gave up a takedown and Elbakidze managed to go behind in the final seconds but the time ran out before Aliyev's three points touched the mat. He wins 4-2

12:00: Quentin STICKER (FRA) managed to score four points on Ismail MUSUKAEV (HUN) but that was all he could. Musukaev gave no more chance to him and won his 65kg bout 10-4 

11:20: Two-time world silver medalist Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) and bronze medalist Yones EMAMI (IRI) are now on Mat B. Both wrestlers take their time to get going. Emami is on the board for Salkazanov's passivity. Not much action in the bout but Emami has eked out a 5-0.

11:00: Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) looks strong as ever! His first victim is Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL) who has no answer to the pressure from the former world champion. Yazdani faces Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) in the next round who managed to beat Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO) in the final seconds. Trailing 8-6, Abakarov steps over and forces Gaphrindashvili to put his head on the mat and get the two points to win 8-8.

10:40: At 74kg, Yones EMAMI (IRI) and Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) both begin with wins. Emami gets the better of Kojiro SHIGA (JPN) and Gadzhiev defeats Krisztian BIRO (ROU).

10:25: In early action,  Zane RICHARDS (USA) and Rikuto ARAI (JPN) were involved in a tense battle and after a back-and-forth bout, Richards wins 10-6 at 57kg.

10:15: The tournament has seen an attendance of close to 550 wrestlers which means some long days of wrestling. Beginning with freestyle action in 57kg, 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 74kg and 86kg, wrestlers will wrestle for the medals on the same day.

10:00: Welcome to the Zagreb Open! The first tournament of the year as we build towards the World Championships later in September.