#BudaWrestle2018

Staebler Tops Korpasi to Claim No.3, Bacsi Wins No.2 in Home Country

Friday, October 26, 2018 - 18:48 By Andrew Hipps

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 26) -- Frank STAEBLER (GER) came from behind late to claim his third world title on Friday night at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. 

The 29-year-old Staebler faced crowd favorite Balint KORPASI (HUN), a 2016 world champion, in the gold-medal match at 72kg. The German star scored the first point of the match off a passivity, but Korpasi took the lead in the second period with a passivity point of his own.

Trailing on criteria late, Staebler scored a step out with less than a minute remaining to take a 2-1 lead and held on for the victory.  

Wrestling in his home country, Peter BACSI (HUN) came back to win his second world title, beating Emrah KUS (TUR) 4-3 in the finals at 82kg. Kus controlled the early part of the match and took a 3-0 lead into the second period. The 35-year-old Bacsi rallied in the second period, scoring a passivity point before locking up a gut wrench and turning Kus. He then added a step out with a minute and half remaining to grab a 4-3 lead, which proved to be the difference. 

Two-time junior world champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) captured his first senior world title with a dominant 10-0 technical fall over Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) in less than a minute in the gold-medal match at 55kg. 

Azizli wasted little time putting points on the scoreboard, using a front headlock to secure a four-point throw and adding an additional two points off a leg foul. The match ended a short time later as Azizli lifted Sharshenbekov and scored a four-point throw for the technical fall.

After winning a world bronze last year, Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) upgraded his world medal by claiming a gold medal at 63kg with a 6-3 win over Olympic bronze medalist Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB). 

Maryanyan picked up a takedown 40 seconds into the match and added a passivity point to lead 3-0 at the break. Tasmuradov scored a passivity point in the second period and then used a gut wrench to score another two. However, a flurry ensued and Maryanyan received two exposure points. After a failed challenge by Uzbekistan, the Russian led by three and held on to win.

Bronze medals at 55kg went to Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) and Ekrem OZTURK (TUR). Tsurtsumia used a pair of arm throws to roll to an 11-0 technical fall over Liguo CAO (CHN). It's the Georgian's first senior world medal after winning two junior world medals. Ozturk, a university world champion, shut out Norayr HAKHOYAN (ARM) 4-0. 

Lenur TEMIROV (UKR) topped Erbatu TUO (CHN) 3-1 in the first bronze-medal match at 63kg. Temirov, a 2010 junior world bronze medalist, used a late first-period takedown to pace him to the victory. Rahman BILICI (TUR) defeated Hassan MOHAMED (EGY) 6-1 for the other bronze medal at 63kg. The 28-year-old Bilici broke open a close match in the second period with a headlock to go up 4-1. He would add a takedown to win by five.

Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) used a gut wrench to cruise to a 9-0 first-period technical fall over Tarek BENAISSA (ALG) in the first bronze-medal match at 72kg. Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE), a 2015 world champion, added his fourth world-level medal with a 4-3 win over Abuiazid MANTSIGOV (RUS).

In a battle of returning world medalists, 2017 world champion Maksim MANUKYAN (ARM) defeated Saeid ABDVALI (IRI) 4-1 in the first bronze-medal match at 82kg. Abdvali led 1-1 on criteria in the second period before Manukyan scored two points from the front headlock position and held on to win by three after a failed challenge by Iran. Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR) used two second-period turns to defeat Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ) 5-1 in the other bronze-medal match at 82kg. It's Azisbekov's second world medal after winning a silver in 2015. 

Finals Results

Greco-Roman

55kg
GOLD: Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) by VSU, 10-0
BRONZE: Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) df. Liguo CAO (CHN) by VSU, 11-0
BRONZE: Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) df. Norayr HAKHOYAN (ARM) by VPO, 4-0

63kg
GOLD: Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) df. Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) by VPO1, 6-3
BRONZE: Rahman BILICI (TUR) df. Hassan MOHAMED (EGY) by VPO1, 6-1
BRONZE: Lenur TEMIROV (UKR) df. Erbatu TUO (CHN) by VPO1, 3-1

72kg
GOLD: Frank STAEBLER (GER) df. Balint KORPASI (HUN) by VPO1, 2-1
BRONZE: Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE) df. Abuiazid MANTSIGOV (RUS) by VPO1, 4-3
BRONZE: Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) df. Tarek BENAISSA (ALG) by VSU, 9-0

82kg
GOLD: Peter BACSI (HUN) df. Emrah KUS (TUR) by VPO1, 4-3
BRONZE: Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR) df. Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ) by VPO1, 5-1
BRONZE: Maksim MANUKYAN (ARM) df. Saeid Morad ABDVALI (IRI) by VPO1, 4-1
 

#WrestleBudapest

Big-throwing Machado claims debut Ranking Series gold

Monday, July 21, 2025 - 11:08 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 20) -- Thamires MACHADO (BRA) made brief headlines at the Pan-American Olympic Games Qualifiers in Mexico. She threw Amit ELOR (USA) for a lateral drop for four points. Machado had Elor in trouble which could have seen Elor, the champion in Paris Games, lose early. However, Machado fizzled out and lost her bout 6-4.

A year later on Saturday, the Brazilian won her first major gold medal at the Budapest Ranking Series after a stunning show of strength and big throws at the Ranking Series over the weekend.

"In every practice back home, I try to do the four-point moves. I want to throw," Machado said after receiving the gold medal.

In other weight classes, Grace BULLEN (NOR) had another epic match with Irina RINGACI (MDA) and won gold at 65kg and Kennedy BLADES (USA) won another Ranking Series gold to remain undefeated at 68kg going into the World Championships.

European champion Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) and Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) won at 55kg and 62kg respectively.

Machado, competing in her first-ever Ranking Series event, won the 76kg gold medal with wins over Asian champion Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) and world U20 champion PRIYA (IND) in semifinal and final, respectively.

In the gold-medal bout, Machadofaced former world U17 and U20 champion Priya and used a similar lateral drop like she did against Elor to score a four-pointer over Priya in the first minute.

Priya was pushing for a stepout and Machado used that momentum to drop her for four-points. It was catch-up from there on for Priya who failed to score any points in the first period. She got a stepout in the second get on board. Struggling to get to Machado's legs, Priya forced another stepout to make it 4-2.

Machado was put on the activity clock in the last minute but she was happy to conceded that point than to go for all-out attack during those 30 seconds. Priya also waited for the activity clock to expire before pushing for a point, perhaps a mistake to take her foot of the pedal in the final minute.

During that time, Machado managed to catch her breath and defended all attacks, including one in the last five seconds to win 4-3 and the gold medal.

"I am happy to win this gold medal in Ranking Series," she said. "This is so special for me"

In the semifinals, Machado got the better of Medet Kyzy, who opened the scoring with a double-leg takedown for two points. She led 3-0 at the break as Machado failed to score after being put on the 30-second activity clock.

Machado got her first points when she defended a leg attack from Medet Kyzy and scored a go-behind takedown. She then launched a powerful gut-wrench and turned her three times to lead 8-3. Two stepouts in quick succession for Medet Kyzy cut Machado's lead to 8-5 but the Kyrgyzstan wrestler had only a minute left to score more points and secure the win.

As they scrambled for the final minute, Machado and Medet Kyzy locked each other at the edge but it was the latter who fell outside of the zone first which gave another point to Machado with 33 seconds left. Machado held her positions better than Medet Kyzy and managed to score another stepout to lead 10-5 and win the bout.

Born in one of the favellas in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Machado was part of one of the social project by the local council which taught wrestling to young kids. She joined the program and managed to learn wrestling.

In 2019, she won gold medal at the Pan-Am U20 Championships, her second ever competition. For five years, she was away from wrestling, but in 2024, she returned and won the Henri Deglane Grand Prix and was second at the 2025 Pan-Am Championships.

Bullen survives Ringaci

If both remain at the same weight class in the future, the Bullen-Ringaci rivalry can be the most fearsome in Women's Wrestling. The latest example was their 65kg final in Budapest where Bullen, down 16-8, pinned Ringaci was claim her second win over the former world champion in four months.

Ringaci, who needed one more turn from par terre or just survive the pin from Bullen, was frustrated with yet another loss and pushed aside Bullen after the bout.

The match began with a wonderful counter from Ringaci, who hit a cut-back after a Bullen snap to pass-by and got four points. Watch above. While Bullen survived the fall attempt, she fell behind 6-0.

A little later, it was Ringaci's chance survive a pin attempt from Bullen who lifted Ringaci well over her waist-level and slammed her for four. The first period ended with Bullen leading 6-6 on criteria.

Bullen tried the exact move of snap to pass-by in the second period and this time she succeeded, scoring two points and taking a clear 8-6 lead. Ringaci scored a takedown 30 seconds into the second period and scored six more points using three gut-wrenches. As she was going for the final turn to win the bout, Bullen blocked and got the headlock to pin Ringaci.

An aghast Ringaci was left in tears as Bullen herself was shocked to have won the bout, having snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

At 68kg, Kennedy BLADES (USA) had a fine tournament, winning her second Ranking Series event and third tournament of 2025. In the final, she defeated Noemi SZABADOS (HUN), 13-2, a wrestler she had defeated 10-0 at the Zagreb Open in February.

The only bout she was not able to win via technical superiority was her semifinal against Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) as the Bulgarian was able to stop Blades to a 6-2 win. Blades had little injury scare in the final few seconds of the match but managed to continue.

Verbina captured the 55kg gold medal after a controlled 6-1 win over Karla GODINEZ (CAN) in the final while Tandelova blanked Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) 3-0 in the 62kg final.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) df. Karla GODINEZ (CAN), 6-1

BRONZE: Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) df. Amory ANDRICH (GER), 10-0

62kg
GOLD: Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) df. Alina KASABIEVA (UWW), 3-0

BRONZE: Ana GODINEZ (CAN) df. Nikolett SZABO (HUN), 10-0
BRONZE: MANISHA (IND) df. Krystsina SAZYKINA (UWW), via fall (9-0)

65kg
GOLD: Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Irina RINGACI (MDA), via fall (10-16)

BRONZE: Eniko ELEKES (HUN) df. Ekaterina KOSHKINA (UWW), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Macey KILTY (USA) df. Kadriye KOCAK AKSOY (TUR), 10-4

68kg
GOLD: Kennedy BLADES (USA) df. Noemi SZABADOS (HUN), 13-2

BRONZE: Brooklyn HAYS (USA) df. Hyeonyeong PARK (KOR), 5-4
BRONZE: Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) df. Alina SHEVCHENKO (UWW), 11-1

76kg
GOLD: Thamires MACHADO (BRA) df. PRIYA (IND), 4-3

BRONZE: Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) df. Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW), 11-0
BRONZE: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Seoyeon JEONG (KOR), 12-1