Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! April 10, 2018

Tuesday, April 10, 2018 - 17:31 By Eric Olanowski

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Reviewing the #WorldCupIowaCity and Aliyev's adjustment to 65kgs. Also taking a look at the upcoming Commonwealth Games and the European Championships.

1. USA Strikes Gold in Iowa City 
The United States of America capped off a historic weekend at the 2018 Freestyle World Cup winning four duals and bringing home their first title since 2003. The Americans wrapped up group action with wins over India (10-0), Japan (6-4) and Georgia (7-3). Their 3-0 record in the group stage locked up a spot in the finals with the winners of Group B, Azerbaijan. 

As they did all tournament, the red, white and blue rode on the coattail of the breakout performer of the World Cup, Kyle DAKE (USA) to in the gold-medal bout. To finish off his undefeated weekend, Dake used his lone takedown of the second period to knock off 2016 Rio bronze medalist, Jabril HASANOV (AZE), 5-3.

James GREEN (70kg), Jordan BURROUGHS (74kg), David TAYLOR (86kg) and Kyle SNYDER (97kg) also finished the weekend with undefeated 4-0 records. 

2018 #WorldCupIowaCity Medal Match Results: 
1st place: USA df. Azerbaijan, 6-4. 
3rdplace Japan df. Cuba, 6-4.
5th place: Georgia df. Mongolia, 6-4. 
7th place: Kazakhstan df. India, 10-0.

FULL RESULTS

2. Japan Grabs Bronze. Highest Finish Since 1985 
Sparked by their trio of defensive wizard lightweights, Japan captured their first World Cup trophy since 1985. 

In group action, Japanese lightweights went an impressive 9-0 and catapulted Japan to their first medal match in 33 years. 

Ignited by 2017 world champion Yuki TAKAHASHI (57kg), the first three weights continued their winnings ways and remained undefeated in the bronze-medal bout against Cuba. After Cuba stormed back to win four of the last six bouts, Japan’s hopes of winning the bronze was placed on the back of their final wrestler, Taiki YAMAMOTO (JPN). 

Yamamoto trailed 5-4 heading into the final 30 seconds of the match before getting to a high crotch on the right side. He took the lead on criteria after driving Y. ALPAJON ESTE (CUB) out of bounds to pick up the step out point. After Cuba’s failed challenge and a late flurry from Alpajon Este, Yamamoto hung on to win the match, 6-5. 

FULL RESULTS

3. Haji ALIYEV's (AZE) Adjusting to 65kg 
Three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE) won the 2017 world championship at 61kg. Around three months ago, the decision was made by Aliyev and the Azerbaijani coaching staff to bump up four kilograms and compete at 65kg. 

This weekend at the 2018 Freestyle World Cup, Aliyev went 2-2. In his first bout of the weekend, Aliyev was on the wrong side of a pin after trailing 8-2 to Cuban A. VALDES TOBIER. He then came back and picked up two straight wins, only to close out his weekend by falling 6-3 to 2016 world champion Logan STIEBER (USA). 

In speaking with Aliyev regarding the recent move up, he said “I changed weight categories and moved up to 65kg. It’s different, it’s difficult. I need to focus, but I think I’ll be fine…I changed to 65kg three months ago and just need to train more."

This was Haji's final competition before heading to Kaspiisk, Russia where he will be the 65kg representative for Azerbaijan at the European Championships. 

4. Commonwealth Games Kick Off This Week 
Canada, Nigeria, and India highlight the 2018 Commonwealth Games which begin April 12-14 in Gold Coast, Australia. 

At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, Canada and Nigeria dominated the field in women’s wrestling, winning five of the six gold medals. India's Vinesh VINESH snagged the last gold medal of the competition. Of those six gold medalist, five will make their return to the Commonwealth Games with hopes of repeating as Commonwealth Games champions. 

In freestyle, it was Canada winning four gold medals while India captured the remaining three. Although only one champion in Korey JARVIS (CAN) returns, three other finalists return with hopes of bettering their performance from 2014. 

5. Europeans Championships Are Three Weeks Away 
The European Championships, United World Wrestling’s third continental (African and Asian) championship of the 2018 calendars begins April 30 at the Palace of Sport and Youth named after Ali Aliev.

The winners of the European Championships will be awarded 12 rankings points, second place will be given eight points and third place will be six points. 

Greco-Roman action begins Monday, April 30, women's wrestling takes over on Thursday, May 3, and the tournament will be wrapped up with freestyle beginning on Friday, May 5. 

FULL SCHEDULE

Weekly FIVE! in Social Media

1. Kyle Dake back at it again! @kyledake444 

2. A. VALDES (CUB) With a huge 5 point throw!! ?? ? 

3. Georgia comes out on top after a crazy match against Mongolia ending 22-17!!! ? ? ?? ?? 

4. @alliseeisgold getting hyped after his big win in the final dual at the World Cup this weekend! ? ? 

5. Team Cuba got some serious skills on the court ? ?? ?? -

2026 Muhamet Malo

'Important Gold’: Sadulaev Relishes Successful 97kg Return

Thursday, February 26, 2026 - 21:58 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (February 26) -- World champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) could have challenged him. Up-and-coming Mukhamed KHANIEV (UWW) could have caused trouble. Or maybe Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) would have caused an upset.

None of that happened. A calm and composed Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) marked his return to the mat with yet another gold medal, winning the 97kg weight class at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series event on Thursday in Tirana, Albania.

READ MORE: Khaniev Beats Snyder, Iran Wins 2 FS Golds

It has become increasingly rare to see Sadulaev wrestle internationally, but when he does, the results tend to be a foregone conclusion. Sadulaev last wrestled at a global event at the same Feti Borova Arena in Tirana in October 2024 when he claimed his sixth world title, stunningly dropping to 92kg.

After 15 months, he was back -- at 97kg and, the top of the podium.

"Thank you to everyone who supported me, those in the arena and those watching on TV and smartphones," Sadulaev said. "Everyone who cheered, worried, and prayed for me. I want to say a huge, heartfelt thank you to all of you."

When Sadulaev stepped on the mat on Thursday, he rolled back the years. Right hand on his opponent's forehand, circling while standing tall. He would throw himself back if someone tried to attack his legs and then get a front headlock to score.

A true throwback in Tirana would have been a Sadulaev and Snyder clash but Khaniev decided to postpone that for now by beating the United States wrestler in the quarterfinals. Sadulaev got Khaniev in the final.

He was the first on board with a double-leg attack which gave him four points. He then made Khaniev toil to find an opening and when he did, Sadulaev defended like a rock. Khaniev was able to score only through stepouts -- managing four points from it while Sadulaev added three more takedowns to finish the final 10-4.

While the gold medal was a satisfactory result for Sadulaev, there was an added incentive that he was chasing.

"For me, this gold means qualifying for the European Championships, which will take place here in this same arena in two months, in April. It was very important for me to qualify there," he said.

Sadulaev, if he competes, will be at the European Championships after six years having last competed at the tournament in 2020. He won gold medal at 97kg in Rome.

Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW)Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) scores on Mukhamed KHANIEV (UWW) in the 97kg final in Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The final against Khaniev was a virtual wrestle-off to win the spot for the continental championships, to be held from April 20 to 26. And despite beating Khaniev, Sadulaev was all praise for the youngster.

"Khaniev is young and promising," he said. "I thought we might meet before the final, but [because of the bracket] we faced each other only in the final.

"I know him well, we train in the same region, we’ve been at training camps together and worked side by side. He’s very tough, with a really good stamina. He hasn’t gained that much experience yet, but I believe he has everything ahead of him."

Khaniev, making his debut at 97kg internationally, sprung a surprise when he defeated Snyder 10-4, using some crafty counters in the second period. He also defeated Magomedov in the semifinals.

 Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW)Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) completes a fireman's carry move. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

However, Sadulaev isn't reading much into Snyder's loss as the U.S. wrestler had lost to Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) in Tirana but went on to win the world gold in September.  

"At tournaments like this, he [Snyder] usually doesn’t come in at peak form the way he does for the World Championships or the Olympic Games, where he’s been in his best shape," Sadulaev said. "So this loss doesn’t really say much. Maybe he will win the next World Championships."

The World Championships in Manama, Bahrain is scheduled in October and there is a good chance that both Sadulaev and Snyder will be there. But Sadulaev is hoping for a more decorated field.

"If everything goes well and I make it for the World Championships, four Olympic champions could compete in this weight class [in Bahrain] -- Hassan YAZDANI (IRI), Kyle [SNYDER] and Ahmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) and myself, and other medalists," he said. "I think it will be the most competitive and exciting weight category."

Sadulaev, in his subtle humor, would go on.

"It’s hot enough there [Bahrain], but I think at the World Championships, it will be even hotter."