#Yariguin2019

Ten "Must Watch" Matches from the Ivan Yariguin

By Eric Olanowski

There were countless great matches that took place over the four days of wrestling at the first Ranking Series event of the year, the Ivan Yariguin, and we took the time to compile a list of the ten best matches with the most action and biggest storylines. 

1. FS 74kg FINALS - Reigning world champion Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) squared off against two-time world medalist Yakup GOR (TUR) in the 74kg gold-medal bout, and was the victor, 5-4. 

2. WW 72kg FINALS -  Tamyra MENSAH (USA) defeated Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) to become the first American wrestler in any style to win three Yariguin titles. 

3. FS 125kg FINALS - Anzor KHIZRIEV (RUS) stopped the two-time world and Rio Olympic champion Taha AKGUL (TUR) from winning his first Yariguin title 

4. FS 97kg Qualification - Rasul MAGOMEDOV (RUS) stunned the two-time world and Rio Olympic champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) in the opening round at 97kg. 

5. WW 68kg Qualification - Khanum VELIEVA (RUS), the four-time age-level world champion, got revenge on Cuba's first-ever women's wrestling world champion Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUES (CUB) in the opening round. This was a rematch of the U23 world championships, where Sanchez Rodrigues was victorious over Velieva, 5-0. 

6. FS 65kg Semifinal  - Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS), the two-time world bronze medalist, locked up his finals spot with a win over fellow Russian, Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS), who is a two-time world silver medalist. This was Rashidov's second tournament up at 65kg. He usually competes down at 61kg but will attempt to move up to 65kg this season. 

7.  WW 57kg Semifinal - SUKHEE Tserenchimed (MGL) stopped U23 world champion Grace BULLEN (NOR) and earned her spot in the Yariguin finals. 

8. FS 125kg Semifinal - Taha Akgul shut out 2018 world runner-up Zhiwei DENG (CHN) and earned his first trip to a Yariguin gold-medal bout.

 9. FS 79kg Qualification - Magomed RAMAZANOV (RUS) halted 2018 world bronze medalist Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) in the opening round, but later fell to Gadzhimagomedov in the round-robin finals at 79kg. 

10. WW 68kg Quarterfinals - ENKH AMAR Davaanasan (MGL) picked up a huge win over Russia's four-time age-level world champion and UWW's Junior Female Wrestler of the Year Khanum Velieva in the semifinals and eventually went on to win the silver medal at 68kg. 

#WrestleTirana

European Championships 2026 Greco-Roman Brackets, Live Streaming

By United World Wrestling Press

TIRANA, Albania (April 19) -- The European Championships will kick off on April 20 in at the Feti Borova Olympic Park arena.

Five Greco-Roman weight classes will in action on Monday -- 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg, and 130kg. The qualification rounds for all five weight classes will begin at 10:30 hours local time in Tirana. The semifinals will be begin at 18:00 hours.

UWW Plus

Full schedule for European Championships 2026

The brackets for the Greco-Roman were released Sunday. Riza KAYAALP (TUR) will take first steps towards breaking Aleksandr KARELIN's long-standing record of 12 European Championships gold medals when he steps on the mat for his 130kg match.

World champion Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) will be aiming for his fifth European title at 77kg. Amoyan has four European titles at 77kg and one at 72kg.

European Championships 2026 Live Streaming: UWW+

Olympic champion Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) will be in action at 87kg along with world champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB), Olympic bronze medalist Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN), Alan OSTAEV (UWW), and Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR).

World champion at 55kg Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) will be aiming for his first European title. Defending champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR) will be at 63kg.

Click here for full European Championships 2026 Preview

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