Ivan Yarygin

Sadulaev and Snyder Seek Second Yarygin Crowns

By Eric Olanowski

KRASNOYARSK, Russia (January 27) -- Russia, Turkey and the United States each have representatives competing in the final championship session at the 2018 Ivan Yarygin. Russia leads the way with five finalists, followed by the United States with two and Turkey with one.  

The finals will feature a pair of Olympic champions in Abdulrashid Sadulaev (RUS) and Kyle SNYDER (USA) who are looking to win their second Yarygin titles. Sadulaev’s last Yarygin title came in 2014 and Synder’s came last season. If Synder wins tonight, he’d become the second American to ever win back-to-back Yarygin titles. 

Also included in tonight’s finals will be 2017 world silver medalist, Khetik TSABOLOV (RUS) and 2017 Grand Prix of Paris champion, David TAYLOR III (USA).

Heading into the final two women’s wrestling weight categories, China and Japan are tied with three gold medals apiece. The Chinese have an opportunity to take the gold medal lead as they have two wrestlers competing in tonight's finals. The remaining two representatives in the final championships session hail from Japan and Russia.

FINAL MATCH-UPS
74kg
GOLD - Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) vs. Khetik TSABOLOV (RUS)
BRONZE – Dovletmyrat ORAZGYLYJOV (TKM) vs. Mandakhnaran GANZORIG (MGL)
BRONZE - Muhammet DEMIR (TUR) vs. Kakhaber KHUBEZHTY (RUS)

86kg
GOLD - David TAYLOR III (USA) vs. Fatih ERDIN (TUR)
BRONZE – Zaur BERADZE (GEO) vs. Vladislav VALIEV (RUS)
BRONZE - Yurieski TORREBLANCA QUERALTA (CUB) vs. Artur NAIFONOV (RUS)

92kg
GOLD - Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) vs. Anzor URISHEV (RUS)
BRONZE – Serda BOKE (TUR) vs. Yury BELONOVSKIY (RUS)
BRONZE - Turtogtokh LUVSANDORJ (MGL) vs. Nicholas HEFLIN (USA)

97kg
GOLD - Rasul MAGOMEDOV (RUS) vs. Kyle SNYDER (USA)
BRONZE – Yunus DEDE (TUR) vs. Vladislav BAITCAEV (RUS)
BRONZE - Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) vs. Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)

Women’s wrestling

72kg

GOLD - Juan WANG (CHN) vs. Masako FURUICHI (JPN)
BRONZE – Tatiana KOLESNIKOVA MOROZOVA (RUS) vs. Nasanburmaa OCHIRBAT (MGL)
BRONZE - Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) vs. Alena PEREPELKINA (RUS)

76kg
GOLD - Qian ZHOU (CHN) vs. Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS)
BRONZE – Viktoriia FROLOVA (RUS) vs. Paliha PALIHA (CHN)
BRONZE - Epp MAE (EST) vs. Anzhela KATAEVA (RUS)

THIS IS THE START OF THE DAY THREE LIVE NOTEBOOK

The final day of wrestling at the 2018 Ivan Yarygin kicks off at 11:00am. Here is where you can WATCH the four men's freestyle and two women's wrestling categories that are in action today. 

Here is everything that you may have missed from DAY TWO of the #Yarygin2018.

LIVE UPDATES 

10:59 AM - ONE MINUTE UNTIL GO TIME! 

11:09 AM - The final day of wrestling is offically underway at the 2018 Ivan Yarygin. 

11:29 AM  - Qualification matches are being wrestled on Mats A and B. 

11:49 AM - WW 72kg QUARTERFINAL -  Alena PEREPELKINA (RUS) picks up a fall over Nomin Erdene PURVEE (MGL) after being down 12-4! 

12:02 AM -WW 72kg QUARTERFINAL -  Masako FURUICHI (JPN) df. Tatiana KOLESNIKOVA MOROZOVA (RUS), 6-0 to make the Yarygin semifinals. 

12:15 AM - The crowd erupts as PUREVJAV Unurbandat (MGL) throws T. STEFANIK (USA) and picks up the fall in the FS 86kg QUALIFICATION round. 

12:48 PM - K. SNYDER (USA) is wrestling on Mat C. 

12:54 PM - Olympic champions finish back-to-back matches with 10-0 victories. 

1:26 PM - V. VALIEV (RUS), 2017 world bronze medalist is up on Mat A. 

1:44 PM - D. TAYLOR (USA) uses two takedowns to defeat Olympic silver medalist, S. YASAR (TUR), 4-0. 

1:50 PM:  A. NAIFONOV (RUS) hangs on and defeats D. KURUGLIEV (RUS), 3-2 to make the 86kg semifinals. 

1:51 PM:  Khetik TSABOLOV (RUS), 2017 world silver medalist picks up the 13-2 victory.

1:55 PM: Kyle Snyder is wrestling over on Mat 6 where he has a 3-0 lead.

2:15 PM:  A. Sadulaev  (RUS) just picked up the 10-0 technical superiority victory over Nicholas HEFLIN (USA). 

2:18 PM - FS 97kg SEMIFINALS are starting over on Mat C. 

2:22 PM - R. MAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. B. ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL), 12-1 to make the finals at 97kg. 

2:35 PM: FS 97kg FINAL:  R. MAGOMEDOV (RUS) v. K. SNYDER (USA).

#WrestleTirana

Mohmadi shuts Novikov down to avenge Paris Olympic loss

By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (February 28) -- Alireza MOHMADI (IRI) and Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) flexed their achievements in their own ways. Both acknowledged each other but a sense of supremacy also followed.

In a rematch of the 2024 Paris Olympic Greco-Roman 87kg final, Novikov and Mohmadi met in the quarterfinal of the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series to add another chapter to the exciting rivalry. While the stage wasn't as grand as Paris, Mohmadi avenged his loss from the final, blanking Olympic champion Novikov 5-0 and dominating the proceedings in the match.

Mohmadi went on to win the gold medal at 87kg after David LOSONCZI (HUN) pulled out of the final injured but the purpose of getting a match against Novikov and winning was served.

"This match was very important to me," Mohmadi said. "Wrestling against Novikov, who I wrestled in the Olympics, I expected myself to wrestle better than I did in the Olympics. I was able to win and wrestle without mistakes. I hope I can maintain this winning streak against Novikov in the World Championships as well."

Novikov won 7-0 in Paris in a very one-sided final and Mohmadi, perhaps learning from that experience from Paris where he wasn't awarded the forced par terre, began on an aggressive note. He got the par terre but failed to score and led only 1-0 at the break. However, the second period was also saw Mohmadi dominate proceedings as he scored a stepout and takedown to make it 4-0.

The world silver medalist was awarded the par terre in the second period as well which extended his lead to 5-0 but he once again failed to score. He shut Novikov down for the remaining time to win the bout.

He blew a kiss like an archer release the arrow whereas Novikov flexed his biceps, perhaps reminding Mohmadi that he is still the Olympic champion.

"I expected this match to be intense because the wrestler is both an Olympic champion and a world medalist, and a very good wrestler," he said. "But fortunately, I was able to use my opportunities well and get my points in this match."

Alireza MOHMADI (IRI) Alireza MOHMADI (IRI) defeated Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) 5-0 at 87kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Mohmadi seems to have became the mainstay for Iran at 87kg for the foreseeable future but given the international depth at the weight class, Mohmadi knows he cannot let his guard down. 

"The 87 kg weight class has many contenders, even in these competitions," he said. "With the help coaches, I work on each of them individually and plan for each of them. They will do the same because this weight class has many contenders and has always been a busy weight class."

Novikov wasn't the only big win for Mohmadi on Friday. He began with a 8-0 sweep of Tamas LEVAI (HUN) and defeated European champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) 5-1 in the semifinal.

A mouthwatering final against Losonczi was set but the Hungarian injured his elbow in the semifinal against Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) and decided to skip the gold medal match.

"I hurt my right shoulder in the semifinals," Losonczi said. "It is a little swollen. I don’t think it’s too serious and I will be fine for the Europeans, but this is why I made this decision to sit out of the finals, just to make sure it does not get worse."

In the other Greco-Roman weight class that was in action on Friday, Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ) defeated Idris IBAEV (GER), 3-2, to win the gold medal at 77kg.

Ibaev raced to a 5-0 lead after getting the first par terre position but Kyrgyzstan challenged the call for a leg-foul that was confirmed on review and Ibaev's lead was cut to 1-0. Maksatbek Uulu scored a takedown just before the break to claim a 2-1 lead.

Maksatbek Uulu got the par terre in second period but did not score any point. He, however, led 3-1 before Ibaev managed to get a stepout to make it 3-2.  However, that was not enough as Maksetbek Uulu defended his one point lead till the end of time to win the gold medal.

RESULTS

77kg
GOLD: Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ) df. Idris IBAEV (GER), 3-2

BRONZE: Per Albin OLOFSSON (SWE) df. Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO), 3-3
BRONZE: Kodai SAKURABA (JPN) df. Aleksa ILIC (SRB), 7-4

87kg
GOLD: Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) df. David LOSONCZI (HUN), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Tamas LEVAI (HUN) df. Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB), 3-1
BRONZE: Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) df. Nursultan TURSYNOV (TUR), 3-1