Ranking Series

Sadulaev Among 8 Russians Ranked No.1 in Freestyle

Wednesday, May 9, 2018 - 18:13 By United World Wrestling Press

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Olympic champion Abdulrashid SADULEV is among eight Russian wrestlers occupying the top spot in the May 2018 Ranking Series for freestyle.  

The rankings come after Russia claimed six of the possible 10 gold medals in freestyle at the European Championships in Kaspiisk, Russia. 

The 22-year-old Sadulaev topped another Olympic champion, Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE), in the gold-medal match at the European Championships at 92kg. Sadulaev is expected to move up to 97kg for the Russian Nationals. 


Other top-ranked wrestlers for Russia in freestyle include Zavur UGUEV (57kg), Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (61kg), Ilias BEKBULATOV (65kg), Magomed KURBANALIEV (70kg), Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (79kg) and Vladislav BAITCAEV (97kg). 

Rashidov, Kurbanaliev, Gadzhimagomedov, Sadulaev and Baitcaev won gold medals at the European Championships, while Uguev and Bekbulatov won silver medals. 

Also sitting atop the freestyle rankings are Mandakhnaran GANZORIG (MGL) at 74kg and Nicholas GWIAZDOWSKI (USA) at 125kg.

Ganzorig, a two-time world bronze medalist, was a silver medalist at the Asian Championships in February and placed fifth at the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix. 


Gwiazdowski, a returning world bronze medalist, recently captured a Pan American gold medal by shutting out two-time Pan American silver medalist Yudenny ALPAJON ESTEVEZ (CUB) 9-0. 

The 2018 season is the first in which United World Wrestling is utilizing an objective ranking system. The points acquired at continental championships and select rankings series will determine the top four seeded athletes at the 2018 World Championships in October held in Budapest.
 
For more on the Ranking Series format, be sure to check out this article. 

View all the rankings on United World Wrestling's homepage. 

May Freestyle Ranking Series (Top 5)

57kg
1. Zavur UGUEV (RUS) // 42 Points
2. Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN (MGL) // 32 Points
3. Giorgi EDISHERASHVILI (AZE) // 26 Points
4. Kumsong KANG (PRK) // 26 Points
5. Reineri ANDREU ORTEGA (CUB) // 24 Points

61kg
1. Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) // 42 Points
2. Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB) // 32 Points
3. Nurislam (Artas) SANAYEV (SANAA) (KAZ) // 24 Points
4. Beka LOMTADZE (GEO) // 22 Points
5. Kazuya KOYANAGI (JPN) // 22 Points

65kg
1. Ilias BEKBULATOV (RUS) // 45 Points
2. Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR) // 39 Points
3. Haji ALIYEV (AZE) // 29 Points
4. Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) // 26 Points
5. Vladimer KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO) // 25 Points

70kg
1. Magomed KURBANALIEV (RUS) // 44 Points
2. Andriy KVYATKOVSKYY (UKR) // 34 Points
3. Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) // 25 Points
4. Ogbonna Emmanuel JOHN (NGR) // 24 Points
5. Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) // 24 Points

74kg
1. Mandakhnaran GANZORIG (MGL) // 32 Points
2. Dovletmyrat ORAZGYLYJOV (TKM) // 30 Points
3. Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) // 30 Points
4. Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) // 28 Points
5. Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA) // 26 Points

79kg
1. Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) // 42 Points
2. Rashid KURBANOV (UZB) // 31 Points
3. Muhammet KUTANOGLU (TUR) // 30 Points
4. Martin OBST (GER) // 25 Points
5. Ezzatollah Abbas AKBARIZARINKOLAEI (IRI) // 24 Points

86kg
1. Artur NAIFONOV (RUS) // 46 Points
2. David TAYLOR (USA) // 45 Points
3. Fatih ERDIN (TUR) // 42 Points
4. Yurieski TORREBLANCA QUERALTA (CUB) // 37 Points
5. Aleksandr GOSTIYEV (AZE) // 28 Points

92kg
1. Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) // 41 Points
2. Serda BOKE (TUR) // 31 Points
3. Turtogtokh LUVSANDORJ (MGL) // 27 Points
4. Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) // 24 Points
5. Mohammadjavad EBRAHIMIZIVLAEI (IRI) // 22 Points

97kg
1. Vladislav BAITCAEV (RUS) // 38 Points
2. Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) // 36 Points
3. Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB) // 25 Points
4. Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR) // 23 Points
5. Kyven GADSON (USA) // 23 Points

125kg
1. Nicholas GWIAZDOWSKI (USA) // 35 Points
2. Muradin KUSHKHOV (RUS) // 35 Points
3. Zolboo NATSAGSUREN (MGL) // 35 Points
4. Davit MODZMANASHVILI (UZB) // 25 Points
5. Taha AKGUL (TUR) // 23 Points

#WrestleZagreb

Yousofi wins gold in Zagreb to enter Iran's 130kg race

Sunday, February 9, 2025 - 19:32 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (February 9) -- Iran has selection headache at 130kg. But it's a good one to have.

With Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) and Fardin HEYDAYTI (IRI) already fighting for the spot, Aliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI) has thrown his hat in the process with gold medal at the Zagreb Open.

The 2021 world champion last competed internationally in the 2023 Budapest Ranking Series but returned as the new Olympic cycle began. And his first victim was European champion Sergey SEMENOV (AIN) who stunned Riza KAYAALP (TUR) in the 130kg final to win gold.

Yousofi defeated Sememnov 10-1 in the opening bout, stopped Koppany LASZLO (HUN) 6-1 and won 9-1 against Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE).

In the final, Yousofi was put in par terre first against Konsta MAEENPAEAE (FIN) tried the gut wrench but was blocked by Yousofi for two points. Then came the series of stepouts, a typical Iranian style of wrestling as Yousofi claimed a 9-1 victory the gold medal.

Iran's second gold medal came at 82kg as Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) defeated Erik SZILVASSY (HUN), 6-2, in the final. Szilvassy is a world silver medalist, having lost to Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) in the final in Tirana last year.

Farokhi was too much for Szilvassy who failed to keep up with the force of Farokhi and gave up stepouts as well.

But Iran would be disappointed at the results of 72kg as both Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) and Danial SOHRABI (IRI) lost to 19-year-old Levente LEVAI (HUN). Geraei suffered a loss in the semifinals while Sohrabi was stunned in the final by the teenager.

The final began in a very untraditional manner with Sohrabi getting cautioned for finger grabbing, which gave Levai a 2-0 lead. He was also put in par terre but Levai failed to score but still enjoyed a 3-0 lead.

Sohrabi came back with two stepouts and one point for par terre to make it 3-3 but he trailed on criteria as he was cautioned for two points early in the bout. Unaware of the criteria winner, Sohrabi was not in any attacking mode but with around a minute remaining, he realized that he is trailing on criteria.

A series of desperate attacks were made including one flying squirrel but Levai managed to defend all of them. Sohrabi asked for a challenge for the flying squirrel but no points were awarded on review, giving an extra point to Levai for lost challenge and a further cushion for victory.

In a weight class which had two world champions from Tirana, none finished on the podium. The 60kg weight class had Edlaniz AZIZLI (AZE) and Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) but both lost to the unheralded Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB) who in turn lost to U23 world champion and compatriot Alisher GANIEV (UZB) 9-0 in the semifinals.

From the other side of the bracket, Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) made it to the final against Ganiev who was leading 4-0 when a moment of brilliance from Tibilov changed it all.

In the second period of the match, Tibilov scissor jumped over Ganiev and the spun the Uzbek like a cartwheel for four points. The move gave Tibilov a 4-4 criteria lead and Uzbekistan challenged the call but lost to make the score 5-4. A second passivity further extended his lead to 6-4.

At 55kg, Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) denied Iran a gold medal, blanking Mahdi AHADI ZENAB (IRI), 6-0.

Sargsian beats Khaslakanau

Artur SARGSIAN (AIN) suffered a heartbreaking elbow injury at the World Championships in Belgrade in 2023. After more than a year of being away from action, Sargsian marked his return with a gold medal at 97kg. He defeated former U20 world champion and Paris Olympian Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN), 5-2, in the final.

Khaslakhanau was awarded the first par terre advantage of the final but he failed to score a point from that position. Soon, Sargsian launched a sag bodylock for four points which Khaslakhanau challenged for a leg four. But it was clean move from Sargsian who now led 5-1.

Khaslakhanau was giving another passivity advantage in the second period but he failed to score from that as well as Sargsian defended his 5-2 lead with ease.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) df. Mahdi AHADI ZENAB (IRI), 6-0

BRONZE: Brady KOONTZ (USA) df. Artium DELEANU (MDA), 9-1

60kg
GOLD: Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) df. Alisher GANIEV (UZB), 6-4

BRONZE: Sadyk LALAEV (AIN) df. Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB), 9-0
BRONZE: Pouya NASERPOUR (IRI) df. Huseyn GARIBOV (AZE), 9-1

72kg
GOLD: Levente LEVAI (HUN) df. Danial SOHRABI (IRI), 4-3

BRONZE: Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE) df. Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Krisztian VANCZA (HUN) df. Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE), via inj. def.

82kg
GOLD: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) df Erik SZILVASSY (HUN), 6-2

BRONZE: Mihail BRADU (MDA) df. Karlo KODRIC (CRO), 2-1
BRONZE: Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) df. Vasile COJOC (ROU), 9-0

97kg
GOLD: Artur SARGSIAN (AIN) df. Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN), 5-2

BRONZE: Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) df. Shayan HABIBZARE (IRI)
BRONZE: Alex SZOKE (HUN) df. Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN), 7-1

130kg
GOLD: Konsta MAEENPAEAE (FIN) Aliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI)

BRONZE: Marat KAMPAROV (AIN) df. Beka KANDELAKI (AZE), 3-2
BRONZE: Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE) df. Koppany LASZLO (HUN), via fall