Freestyle World Cup

Snyder Clinches USA's First World Cup Title Since 2003

By United World Wrestling Press

IOWA CITY (April 8) - Seven and half months ago, Kyle SNYDER clinched a world title for the United States of America. On Sunday, the Olympic champion and multiple-time world champion clinched a Freestyle World Cup title for USA.

With USA leading 5-3 against Azerbaijan in the gold-medal match, Snyder came through with a dominant 14-3 victory over Roman BAKIROV (AZE) at 97kg. After Snyder built his lead to 4-1 with two takedowns he blew the match wide open with several consecutive tilts. He led 12-3 at the break and put the match away early in the second period with another takedown. 



"It was another opportunity to seal it up for the United States," said Snyder. "I would always pick myself to go out there and wrestle when it comes down to a team win. We have a lot of good guys, but I feel real confident in my ability to wrestle under those kinds of circumstances."

It is USA's 14th World Cup title and first since 2003. 

"This is a great team and they performed really well this weekend," USA freestyle coach Bill Zadick said. "It was really exciting to win a heated finals match against a very good team from Azerbaijan."


USA won two of the first three matches, highlighted by 2016 world champion Logan STIEBER (USA) knocking off three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE) 6-3 at 65kg.  Stieber led 2-1 at the break after a first-period takedown. He added to his lead early in the second period with another takedown. Aliyev responded with a takedown of his own to make the score 4-3. Stieber then closed out the victory with a takedown in the final 10 seconds to win by three.

At 70kg, Joshgun AZIMOV picked up a key win for Azerbaijan, edging multiple-time world bronze medalist James GREEN (USA) 4-4 on criteria at 70kg. 

But Jordan BURROUGHS, a 2012 Olympic champion and four-time world champion, would help ignite a string of three consecutive wins for the Americans. Burroughs, who is now 27-0 in World Cup competition, earned a second-period fall over U23 European champion Gadzhimurad OMAROV (AZE) at 74kg. 

Kyle DAKE followed up Burroughs' victory with a 5-3 win over Olympic bronze medalist Jabrayil HASANOV to put USA up 4-2 after six matches. 

American David TAYLOR gave the United States its fifth victory by beating world fifth-place finisher Aleksandr GOSTIYEV 12-2 at 86kg. Taylor built a 6-2 lead after the opening period, and then added two more takedowns and a late exposure to get the technical fall.


World bronze medalist Aslanbek ALBOROV kept Azerbaijan's hopes alive by edging another world bronze medalist, J'den Cox, 4-4 on criteria. 

After Snyder clinched the title for the United States at 97kg, Azerbaijan won the final match as Jamaladdin MAGOMEDOV used a late takedown to defeat returning world bronze medalist Nick GWIAZDOWSKI 4-3 at 125kg.


Japan captured the bronze medal by defeating Cuba 6-4. Japan won five of the first six matches, before Cuba had late surge, winning three consecutive matches from 86kg to 97kg. Japan led by one going into the final match before Taiki YAMAMOTO topped Yudenny ALPAJON ESTEVEZ 6-5 in a back-and-forth match at 125kg to give Japan the victory. 

Georgia came in fifth place with a 6-4 victory over Mongolia. After Mongolia won the first two matches, Georgia reeled off four consecutive wins to go up 4-2. Mongolia picked up a win at 86kg, but wins by Dato MARSAGISHVILI (92kg) and Givi MATCHARASHVILI (97kg) sealed the victory for Georgia. 

Kazakhstan finished in seventh place by shutting out India 10-0. 

1st place: United States 6, Azerbaijan 4
57kg: Giorgi Edisherashvili (Azerbaijan) dec. Thomas Gilman (USA), 8-7
61kg: Kendric Maple (USA) dec. Afghan Khashalov (Azerbaijan), 6-2
65kg: Logan Stieber (USA) dec. Haji Aliyev (Azerbaijan), 6-3
70kg: Joshgun Azimov (Azerbaijan) dec. James Green (USA), 4-4
74kg: Jordan Burroughs (USA) pin Gasjimurad Omarov (Azerbaijan), 3:15
79kg: Kyle Dake (USA) dec. Jabrayil Hasanov (Azerbaijan), 5-3
86kg: David Taylor (USA) tech. fall Aleksander Gostiev (Azerbaijan), 12-2
92kg: Aslanbek Alborov (Azerbaijan) dec. J’den Cox (USA), 4-4
97kg: Kyle Snyder (USA) tech fall Roman Bakirov (Azerbaijan), 14-3
125kg: Jamaladdin Magomedov (Azerbaijan) dec. Nick Gwiazdowski (USA) 4-3

3rd place: Japan 6, Cuba 4
57kg: Yuki Takahashi (Japan) dec. Reineri Andreeu Ortega (Cuba), 7-5
61kg: Kazuya Koyanagi (Japan) dec. Yowlys Bonne Rodriquez (Cuba), 9-6
65kg: Daichi Takatani (Japan) dec. Alejandro Enrique Valdes Tobier (Cuba), 10-8
70kg:  Franklin Maren Castillo (Cuba) dec. Keisuke Otoguro (Japan), 8-4
74kg: Yuhi Fujinami (Japan) tech. fall Livan Lopez Azcuy (Cuba), 16-5. 
79kg: Sohsuke Takatani (Japan) tech. fall Yoan Zulueta Morales (Cuba), 10-0
86kg: Yurieski Torreblanca Queralta (Cuba) dec. Shota Shirai (Japan), 4-1
92kg: Lazaro Hernandez Luis (Cuba) dec. Takashi Ishiguro (Japan), 4-4
97kg: Reineris Salas Perez (Cuba) tech. fall Taira Sonoda (Japan), 12-0
125kg: Taiki Yamamoto (Japan) dec. Yudenny Alapajon Estevez (Cuba), 6-5

5th place: Georgia 6, Mongolia 4
57kg: Bekhbayar Erdenebat (Mongolia) dec. Teimuraz Vanishvili (Georgia), 4-0
61kg: Tuvshintulga Tumenbileg (Mongolia) tech. fall Lasha Lomtadze (Georgia), 11-0
65kg: Magomed Saidovi (Georgia) by forfeit
70kg:  Levan Kelekhsashvili (Georgia) dec. Ganbayar Sanjaa (Mongolia), 2-1
79kg: Tarzan Maisuradze (Georgia) dec. Mandakhnaran Ganzorig (Mongolia), 7-1
79kg: Tariel Gaphrindashvili (Georgia) dec. Gantulga Iderkhuu (Mongolia), 22-17
86kg:  Uitumen Orgodol (Mongolia) dec. David Khutsishvili (Georgia), 12-5
92kg:  Dato Marsagishvili (Georgia) inj. dft. over Turtogtokh Luvsandorj (Mongolia), 0:45
97kg: Givi Matcharashvili (Georgia) tech. fall Batzul Ulziisaikhan (Mongolia), 10-0
125kg: Zolboo Natsagsuren (Mongolia) dec. Zviadi Metreveli (Georgia), 6-0

7th place: Kazakhstan 10, India 0
57kg: Mukhambed Kuatbek (Kazakhstan) by forfeit
61kg: Rassul Kaliyev (Kazakhstan) dec. Sandeep Tomar (India), 10-6
65kg: Sayatbek Okassov (Kazakhstan) tech. fall Sharvan (India), 10-0
70kg:  Meirzhan Ashirov (Kazakhstan) dec. Arun Kumar (India), 6-0
74kg: Daniyar Kaisanov (Kazakhstan) dec. Vinod Kumar Omprakash (India), 13-7 
79kg: Saken Aitzhanov (Kazakhstan) pin Sachin Giri (India), 1:31
86kg:  Elkhan Assadov (Kazakhstan) dec. Pawan Kumar (India), 3-0
92kg: Iliskhan Chilayev (Kazakhstan) dec. Deepak Punia (India), 10-3
97kg: Mamed Ibragimov (Kazakhstan) tech. fall Viky (India), 10-0
125kg: Daulet Shabanbay(Kazakhstan) tech. fall Pushpender Singh (India), 10-0
 

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar Open 2025: Day 1 highlights and recap

By Vinay Siwach

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (May 29) -- The third Ranking Series event, Ulaanbaatar Open, gets underway in the Mongolian capital. Seven Greco-Roman weight classes will be in action on Thursday.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | ULAANBAATAR OPEN PREVIEW

13:05: Ahmet YILMAZ (TUR) goes big from par terre and scores eight points before getting two points for a leg foul from Sumiyabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) to win 11-0. He will take on Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ) in the final. Yilmaz had beaten Maksatbek Uulu 11-3 in the round-robin bout earlier

13:02: Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ) takes just a minute to beat Nishant PHOGAT (IND) 9-0 in the first semifinal at 77kg. He will wrestle for gold.

13:00: The semifinals, only two in 77kg, will begin now. Nishant PHOGAT (IND) vs Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ) and Ahmet YILMAZ (TUR) vs. Sumiyabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) 

12:20: Danial SOHRABI (IRI) gets the par terre and then turn Mustafa SAHIN (TUR) for a 3-0 lead in his Round 5 bout at 72kg. He then defends his position from par terre and wins 3-1. He will take home 8000 ranking points.

12:05: NITESH (IND) reverses the par terre position to get a point after Uzur DZHUZUPEKOV (KGZ) scores two turns from par terre. Nitesh gets a turn from par terre to make it 5-3. A par terre position in second period for Nitesh but no points scored. With the score 5-4, Dzhuzupekov defends his lead and wins at 97kg

11:50: Asian champion Danial SOHRABI (IRI) with a big suplex and beats Ankit GULIA (IND) to top his group at 72kg. He will have his Round 5 match against Mustafa SAHIN (TUR) which will be a virtual gold medal bout.

11:40: Ahmet YILMAZ (TUR) with an 11-1 win over Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ) at 77kg to confirm his semifinal spot. Yilmaz is a bronze medalist from the European Championships.

11:25: Asian silver medalist Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) holds off Murat FIRAT (TUR) 5-1 at 67kg. Solid win for Beishekeev. His compatriot Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ) rolls to a 9-0 win over Lkhagvasuren DASHJAMTS (MGL) at 77kg.

11:20: Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) with another injury pull out at 82kg. Shahin BADAGHI (QAT) gets the victory.

11:10: Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) waits for the second period to unleash the gut-wrench as he beats  Bat-Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL) 9-1 in the 97kg Round 2 bout.

11:05: Yryskeldi KHAMZAEV (KGZ) was down 3-2 against Ankit GULIA (IND) but bounces back with takedowns and two rolls to win 8-3 in Round 2.

11:00: Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) comes on the mat but pulls out of the bout against PRINCE (IND) at 82kg. But he doesn't submit the injury report so we may see him again in later rounds.

10:50: Paris Olympic bronze medalist at 97kg Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) starts off a little rusty against Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) and gives up six points. But he manages to score at the right time using gut-wrenches and wins 10-6.

10:48: World U23 champion Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) with two front throws to stun NEERAJ (IND) 9-0 at 67kg. Remember these are round-robin matches and not eliminations.

10:45: Injury scare for Turkiye as Alperen BERBER (TUR) pulls out of his match against Karan KAMBOJ (IND) at 87kg. Berber got the par terre and got two front rolls for a 5-0 lead before a reversal and roll made it 5-3 as Berber held his hamstring in pain. He tried continuing but Kamboj pushed him for a stepout and Turkiye coach called to pull out due to injury.

10:40: Another quick finish at 72kg as Asian champion Danial SOHRABI (IRI) rolls to a technical superiority win over Zandanbat BATSAIKHAN (MGL). Sohrabi looking to gather those points for a better seed at the World Championships.

10:35: Mehmet SAHIN (TUR) with a 9-0 win over Yryskeldi KHAMZAEV (KGZ) in Round 1 of the competition. Six weight classes have round-robin competition while 77kg has Nelson system with two groups.

10:30: Welcome to day one of the competition at the Ulaanbaatar Open with seven Greco-Roman weight classes -- 55kg, 67kg, 72kg, 77kg, 82kg, 87kg and 97kg.