#RankingSeries

UWW releases latest freestyle rankings

By Vinay Siwach

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (March 20) -- With two Ranking Series events done, the United World Wrestling has released the latest ranking in freestyle. While there were a few changes in the first spot, a considerable movement was seen throughout the top ten.

The latest rankings will be crucial to determine the top four seeds of the continental championships which begin with the Asian Championships on April 9 followed by the European Championships in the same month. The Pan-Am Championships and African Championships will be held in May.

The ranking points considered are that of the World Championships and the two Ranking Series events. Here's a breakdown of the rankings:

57kg
The weight class continues to be headlined by world champion Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) who has 45000 points, all from the gold medal in Belgrade. He is followed by Thomas GILMAN (USA) with 37000 points for his silver.

Previously number three Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) has been pushed to fourth by Wanhao ZOU (CHN). He has 35555 points over Zandanbud's 31000 points. Zou collected 5480 points in Zagreb and 5075 points in Alexandria to jump to third.

Darian CRUZ (PUR) was the next big jumper who moved from ninth to sixth spot after his eighth-place finish in Zagreb for 6200 points and 5100 points for 12th finish in Egypt.

Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO), who began the year at the 12th spot, has moved up to eighth with 23880 points, thanks to his bronze medal in Zagreb and 10th place finish in Alexandria. Aliabbas RZAZADE also accumulated 18400 points and has moved from 13th to ninth spot in the rankings.

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN)Rei HIGUCHI (JPN), red, and Reza ATRI (IRI), blue, are equal at 45000 points but the former in ranked number one. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

61kg
Reza ATRI (IRI), a silver medalist from World Championships, began the year at 37000 points and was second-period world champion Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) who has 45000 points. Atri now has come equal to Higuchu with 45000 points for his gold medal in Zagreb. However, he still remains second to Higuchi.

The third and fourth places, Narankhuu NARMANDAKH (MGL) and Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), have switched places. The latter has 41200 points while the former is at 37400 points from the earlier 31000 points for both.

Harutyunyan won the bronze medal in Alexandria worth 10200 points while Narmandakh was a silver medalist in Zagreb for 6200 points. Harutyunyan got more points since the number of participants in 61kg in Alexandria was much higher.

The only other mover in this weight class is Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB) who is now at the seventh spot with 22500 points, up from 14300 points. He achieved this feat after an eighth-place finish in Alexandria.

Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ) broke into the top 10 after getting 7800 points at the Ibrahim Moustafa, replacing Islam DUDAEV (ALB) from the list.

Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI)Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) and Ismail MUSUKAEV (HUN) are one and two at 65kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

65kg
The top spot at 65kg remains unchanged as world champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) sits first with 45000 points. However, other positions have seen a lot of moving.

Bronze medalist in Belgrade Ismail MUSUKAEV (HUN) has jumped to the second spot from third with 9000 points for his fifth-place finish at Zagreb Open. He now has 40000 points to replace John DIAKOMIHALIS (USA).

Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) has also moved from fifth spot to third after getting 14050 points in two tournaments. He finished 14th in Zagreb for 5050 points but managed to reach fifth in Alexandria to claim 9000 points.

These changes have pushed Belgrade silver medalist Diakomihalis to fourth and bronze medalist Bajrang PUNIA (IND) to fifth.

Joseph MCKENNA (USA) has broken into the top 10 with silver medals in Zagreb and Alexandria which were worth 11400 points each. His total of 22800 was enough for him to get the seventh spot.

Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) was 11th with 9000 points at the start of the year but won the gold medal in Alexandria to get 13000 points and push his place to eighth with a total of 22000 points.

Coming at number nine is Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG) who is just behind with 21880 points as he finished 10th in Zagreb for 7480 points and improve one spot to ninth in Alexandria for another 7800 points to break into the top-10.

Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB) has slipped from seventh to 10th with 18200 points.

Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN)Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) is the top ranked wrestler at 70kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

70kg
Another world champion who continues to keep the top spot is Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) who has 45000 points. But the silver medalist, Zain RETHERFORD (USA) has been displaced by bronze medalist Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) who now has 42000 points to Retherford's 37000 points. He got 11000 points for his gold medal in Alexandria.

Coming in at four is the fifth placer in Belgrade Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) with 31520 points as he finished seventh in Alexandria for 6520 points. He has overtaken Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) who has not competed since the World Championships.

No other changes were seen in this weight class.

Kyle DAKE (USA)Kyle DAKE (USA) has 45000 points at the top spot at 74kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

74kg
Kyle DAKE (USA) continues to be at the top spot with 45000 points at 74kg. He won the World Championships for those points and no one has challenged him thus far.

Bronze medalist Yones EMAMI (IRI) has jumped to second with his gold medal in Zagreb as he got 11400 points for that effort. He now has 42400 points, 325 more than Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) who finished 13th in Zagreb.

The lower half has seen many changes as Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) is out of the top 10 and the fourth spot it taken by Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) while Sagar JAGLAN (IND) comes in at fifth with 30800 points.

At number seven, Mitchell FINESILVER (ISR) has accumulated 18720 points with his bronze in Alexandria and seventh place finish in Zagreb. Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) remains at eighth despite him improving from 17000 points to 18200 points.

The only other change is the number 10 spot which is now taken over by Lawrence LAVALLEE (USA) with 16800 points, replacing Daichi TAKATANI (JPN).

Jordan BURROUGHS (USA)Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) continues to be the top ranked wrestler at 79kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

79kg
The top two at 79kg have remained changed for the second year running as Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) sits at the number one spot and Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) is second.

At the start of the year, Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) was fifth but he has got 10200 points in the new year to jump to number three with 35200 points. He has pushed world bronze medalists Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) and Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) to number four and five.

Arman AVAGYAN (ARM) has changed his position from 10th to seventh with a fifth place finish in Alexandria. He got 9000 points for that performance.

The other entrant into the top 10 is Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) who is at number nine with 19400 points, thanks to his silver in Zagreb and gold in Alexandria. Since those were his first two competitions at 79kg, he did not have any previous points.

Hassan YAZDANI (IRI)Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) replaced David TAYLOR (USA) at the top in 86kg. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

86kg
Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) won the gold medal at Zagreb Open and that was enough for him to overtake world champion David TAYLOR (USA) for the top spot with 48000 points. Taylor has 45000 points. Taylor slipped to third when Boris MAKOEV (SVK) jumped from 31000 points to 46200 points with eighth place in Zagreb and fifth at Alexandria.

Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL) improved two ranks to fourth with 38275 points. He finished 13th in Zagreb but managed to win a bronze medal in Alexandria which gave him 10200 points.

Ethan RAMOS (PUR) remains fifth but has 9000 points more than he began the year with 25000 points. Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) has not competed since the World Championships and is in the sixth spot.

Myles AMINE (SMR) has improved one spot to seventh while Zahid VALENCIA (USA) has broken into the top 10 after the two Ranking Series events. He began at 15th with a bronze medal in Zagreb but added a silver in Alexandria to move to the eighth spot with 19600 points.

Tarzan MAISURADZE (GEO) is in the ninth spot while Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) is tenth with 16000 points.

Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI)Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) is clear on the top in the 92kg rankings. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

92kg
The four World Championships medalists continue to occupy the top four spots in the rankings at 92kg but the order has changed. World champion Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) has 45000 points at the top.

Earlier in the fourth spot, Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) is now second with 42600 points. He won a silver medal in Zagreb for 6400 points and a bronze in Alexandria for 5200 points.

He replaced Jden COX (USA) who has now slipped to third while fellow world bronze medalist Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) remains fourth with 36200 points, 5200 points more than at the start of the year.

Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) moves from ninth to seventh with 20700 points as he got 5200 points for his bronze medal in Zagreb. He managed to keep Illia ARCHAIA (UKR) at eighth who got 2480 points more than his 17000 points at the start of the year. Simone IANNATTONI (ITA) moves down to ninth with 18200 points.

Kollin MOORE (USA) is the newcomer in the rankings and he is at number 10 with 16000 points. He got 8000 points each for his gold medals in Zagreb and Alexandria.

Kyle SNYDER (USA)Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) are the number one and two at 97kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostandin Andonov)

97kg
Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) managed to trim the gap between him and number one ranked Kyle SNYDER (USA) to 6000 points from 8000 points but he still remains at the second spot. Snyder has 56000 points while Tsakulov has 50000 points.

He was replaced by Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) after Zagreb Open but Tsakulov managed to retake that position from Magomedov by winning the gold medal in Alexandria. Magomedov has now been pushed to number four as Vladislav BATISAEV (HUN) improved from fifth to third after a ninth-place finish in Zagreb and a bronze medal in Alexandria. Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO), who was third, is now fifth despite improving his points from 31000 points to 36013 points.

Benjamin HONIS (ITA) and Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) 17920 are the new entrants in the top 10. Honis has 20280 points for his appearances in Zagreb and Alexandria in which he finished 10th and fifth respectively. Honis began his year at the 15th spot with 5800 points but got 5480 points in Zagreb to jump to 11th and 9000 points more in Alexandria to improve to seventh.

Baranowski began his rankings from Zagreb as he got 6520 points to be placed 20th. However, he won silver in Alexandria and moved to the ninth spot with 17920 points.

Taha AKGUL (TUR)Taha AKGUL (TUR), blue, is number one at 125kg and Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) is number two. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

125kg
Taha AKGUL (TUR) wrestled in Alexandria and won gold to consolidate his top rank at 125kg with 56000 points, up from the 45000 points he got for winning the World Championships.

Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) replaced Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) from the second spot by winning the Zagreb Open for 11000 points. He was earlier at the fourth spot. Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) has also been pushed to the fourth spot.

Daniel LIGETI (HUN) moved from ninth spot to fifth after an increase of 11275 points for his bronze in Zagreb and 13th place finish in Alexandria. He also pushed Amarveer DHESI (CAN), Oleg BOLTIN (KAZ) and Hayden ZILLMER (USA) down one spot each. DINESH (IND) moved from the 10th spot to the ninth with a seventh-place finish in Alexandria which gave him 6520 points.

Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB) moved from 11th to 10th in the latest rankings as he won a bronze medal in Alexandria which was worth 8200 points.

#Grappling

Grappling: Romanov returns to win 130kg gold; Prendes repeats

By Vinay Siwach

NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 14) -- When the last time Alexandr ROMANOV (MDA) participated in the World Grappling Championships, he was close to completing a double gold in Gi and No-Gi. While he managed to win gold in Gi, Romanov fell short in No-Gi competition and won a bronze medal.

Three years later, the Moldovan has taken the first step towards achieving his dream. On Tuesday, Romanov had a comeback in the World Grappling Championships in Novi Sad, Serbia and won gold in the No-Gi competition at 130kg.

Romanov was in top form winning two bouts via submission and two, including the final, via decision but dominated his opponents to win gold medal.

Alexandr ROMANOV (MDA)Alexandr ROMANOV (MDA), red, defeated Aleksander KOLDOVSKI (UKR) in the 130kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Up against Aleksander KOLDOVSKI (UKR), Romanov stuck to his plan and started off slow. But as Koldovski slowed down after two minutes during the five-minute bout, Romanov hit a footsweep to score two points and controlled his opponent for three more points. Another control gave him two more points as he defeated Koldovski a 7-1 victory.

"I knew the Ukrainian as he is a freestyle wrestler," Romanov said. "I waited for the second half of the bout as they tend to slow down and I hit my favorite move to win."

In other finals, UWW grapplers dominated the finals, winning four golds while Farhad BAGIROV (AZE) defended his 58kg gold medal. In women's competition, Carlota PRENDES LARIOS (ESP) also defended his 53kg gold medal while Alycia QUENEE (FRA) won at 71kg. Alena VLASOVA (UWW) won her two bouts to claim the 90kg gold as the weight class had only three participants.

Bagirov maintained his control in the final by using a rear chokehold on Zedginidze who tried escaping a couple of time. But at the two-minute mark of the final, Zedginidze tapped out to give Bagirov his second successive gold medal at 58kg.

Kurban KADIEV (UWW)Kurban KADIEV (UWW) won the 71kg gold medal in Novi Sad. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 71kg, Kurban KADIEV (UWW) and Nurbek TALBUDIN (KAZ) failed to score any points in the regular five minutes and the final continued in overtime. Due to no technical points scored, a toss was needed to decide who will get the advantageous position. Talbudin won the toss to be on top and needed to score minimum one point in the designated one minute to win the match. However, Kadiev managed to defend his position for one minute to be declared winner.

In contrast, the 77kg final between Gazimagomed GAZIEV (UWW) and Illia SUKHODIEIEV (UKR) ended in just 36 seconds as the former caught Sukhodieiev in a triangle choke to win the final.

Murad ABDULATIPOV (UWW), who was moving up from 84kg to 92kg for this year, did not feel as weight of the jumping up a weight class and defeated Islam TAPPASKHANOV (UWW), 2-0, in the 92kg final to win his second straight gold medal.

Both the points for Abdulatipov were awarded when Tappaskhanov was called passive in the five-minute bout and he failed to score during the 15-second activity clock.

At 100kg, Mukhamed URUSOV (UWW) blanked Aleksandre TEVZADZE (GEO), 4-0, to win his first world title. He earned his first two points after a back-mount position after a scramble and later scored another similar takedown for two more points.

Carlota PRENDES LARIOS (ESP)Carlota PRENDES LARIOS (ESP) grapples in the 53kg final that she won. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Prendes Larios repeats

Carlota PRENDES LARIOS (ESP) won two of three bouts, including the final, via submission to capture her second straight world title at 53kg. She began by controlling Viktoriia ISAIEVA (UKR) right off the whistle for two points before scrambling herself in a triangle choke position which gave her two more points.

Isaieva tried defended different position but after a couple of failed attempts to get out of the triangle choke, she tapped with Prendes Larios winning the bout in one minute and 56 seconds.

In a thrilling 71kg final, Alycia QUENEE (FRA) managed to capture her first world title after beating Anna REMNEVA (UWW), 3-1. Quenee finished with a silver medal in 2022 and bronze last year.

But there was no one stopping Quenee this year. She began the final with a stepout and took a 1-0 lead. Remneva tried to control her with a triangle hold but Quenee never came in a position to gave up points.

The French grappler kept her position and controlled Remneva on the mat for two points, extending her lead to 3-0. During the same position, Quenee was called passive and she gave a point but that did not stop her from winning 3-1.

At 90kg, Alena VLASOVA (UWW) upgraded her bronze from last year to gold after winning both her bouts via submission. She defeated Tatiana KABANOVA (UWW) in the first bout and then submitted Justyna SITKO (POL).

RESULTS

Men's Grappling

58kg
GOLD: Farhad BAGIROV (AZE) df. Daviti ZEDGINIDZE (GEO), via submission (6-0)

BRONZE: Bohdan CHORNEI (UKR) df. Jaden SOSA (USA), via submission (0-2)
BRONZE: Alikhan ALSHINBAY (KAZ) df. Razmik MISAKYAN (ARM), 8-2

71kg
GOLD: Kurban KADIEV (UWW) df. Nurbek TALBUDIN (KAZ), overtime (0-0)

BRONZE: Apandi AMAGAEV (UWW) df. Zhassulan ZHETPISBAY (KAZ), via submission
BRONZE: Dzhimsher RAZMADZE (GEO) df. Nico PULVERMUELLER (GER), 2-0

77kg
GOLD: Gazimagomed GAZIEV (UWW) df. Illia SUKHODIEIEV (UKR), via submission

BRONZE: Sam SCHWARTZAPFEL (USA) df. Angelos NIKOLOPOULOS (GRE), 10-2
BRONZE: Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UWW) df. Dumitru CEBAN (MDA), 2-1

92kg
GOLD: Murad ABDULATIPOV (UWW) df. Islam TAPPASKHANOV (UWW), 2-0

BRONZE: Anthony ROBINSON (USA) df. Reda MEBTOUCHE (FRA), via submission (1-2)
BRONZE: Mateusz MAZUR (POL) df. Antonio SALTUPS CARETTO (ITA), 4-2

100kg
GOLD: Mukhamed URUSOV (UWW) df. Aleksandre TEVZADZE (GEO), 4-0

BRONZE: Saba DJAVAKHICHVILI (FRA) df. Khasan ZAPIROV (UWW), 1-0
BRONZE: Eldar RAFIGAEV (MDA) df. Herve REDON (FRA), via submission (0-2)

130kg
GOLD: Alexandr ROMANOV (MDA) df. Aleksander KOLDOVSKI (UKR), 7-1

BRONZE: Umar GAISUMOV (UWW) df. Abraham COBY MARTINEZ (ESP), via submission (2-0)
BRONZE: Nikita LOBOIKO (UWW) df. Nizami GAFAROV (AZE), 5-1

Women's Grappling

53kg
GOLD:  Carlota PRENDES LARIOS (ESP) df. Viktoriia ISAIEVA (UKR), via submission (4-0)

BRONZE: Evelina FLORIAK (UKR) df. Giulia ANGIOLINI (ITA), via submission (0-3)
BRONZE: Anorbi GRISHINA (UWW) df. Valeriia SHUVALOVA (UWW), 2-2

71kg
GOLD: Alycia QUENEE (FRA) df. Anna REMNEVA (UWW), 3-1

BRONZE:  Maja SALAMON (POL) df. Daniella SANTANA FABELO (ESP), 13-4
BRONZE: Valentina PAVLOVA (UWW) df. Anna KOTIUK (UKR), 4-1

90kg
GOLD: Alena VLASOVA (UWW)
SILVER: Tatiana KABANOVA (UWW)
BRONZE: Justyna SITKO (POL)