Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! February 26, 2018

By Eric Olanowski

Reviewing Chamizo's recent move to 74kg, the Ukranian Memorial results, the return of Taha Akgul, Thursday's world rankings and the Cuban Women dominating the Cerro Pelado. 

1. Chamizo to 74kg Rumors Proven True
The rumors that 2017 70kg world champion Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) is bumping up to 74kg to try to dethrone four-time world and Olympic champion, Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) have been proven true. For over a month, these two giants have had a highly publicized social media war-of-words going over a possible super match-up.

Chamizo made his 74kg debut at the XXII Outstanding Ukrainian Wrestlers and Coaches Memorial in Kiev, Ukraine this past weekend where he snagged the gold medal by going 5-0, beating 2011 world silver medalist, Franklin GOMEZ (PUR) in the gold medal bout, 4-0.

After the tournament, Chamzio took to Instagram to post a podium photo titled “The king is back…74kg.”

2. Akgul Captures Gold in Return
Taha Akgul (TUR), the two-time world and Olympic champion returned to competition after suffering a loss to Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) in the finals of the 2017 World Championships

Akgul, who had been training in Columbus, Ohio with the two-time world and Olympic champion, Kyle SNYDER (USA) made the journey down to Havana, Cuba to compete in the Cerro Pelado.

Taha, who departed Cuba with the 125kg gold medal went 3-0 over the two-day competition, outscoring his opponents 32-0, including an 11-0 victory over Ben DURBIN (USA) in the finals.

RESULTS: http://uww.io/LbtgH

3. Azerbaijan leaves Ukraine with Four gold medals
Azerbaijan, on the heels of Olympic bronze medalist Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) and 2016 world bronze medalist, Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov (AZE) left Kiev, Ukraine with four Ukranian Memorial gold medals.

A pair of Olympians in Andrey KVIATKOVSKI (UKR) and Aleksander KHOTSIANIVSKI (UKR) won golds medals for the host nation, Ukraine.

In the 125kg final bout, Khotsianivski beat reigning world champion, Geno PETRIASHVILI(GEO), 6-0.

Iran, Italy, Poland and the United States each had a solo gold medalist. 

On his way to the 65kg title, 2017 world runner-up Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) knocked off Olympic champion Vladimir KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO), 3-2, and three-time world champion Haji ALIEV (AZE), 5-2.

Up from 70kg, Chamzio gave Italy their lone champion at 70kg by defeating 2011 world silver medalist, Franklin GOMEZ (PUR), 4-0 in the gold medal bout.

The 79kg title went to American, Alex DIERINGER (USA) as he defeated Olympic bronze medalist, Yabrail HASANOV (AZE), 7-4.

At 86kg, Iran’s Kamran GHASEMPOUR beat Dave Schultz Memorial International runner-up, Richard PERRY (USA), 4-1.

RESULTS: http://uww.io/OU0TY

4. Second Set of World Rankings to Be Release Thursday, March, 1
United World Wrestling will be releasing the second set of world rankings on Thursday, March 1.

The rankings will reflect the results from the first women’s ranking event of the season, the Klippan Lady Open and the second Greco-Roman ranking event, the Granma y Cerro Pelado.

The next three rankings events will all take place in June. They are the Tbilisi GP (GEO) (Freestyle), Mongolia Open (MGL) (Women's Wrestling) and the Hungarian GP (HUN) (Greco-Roman).               

FEBRUARY RANKINGS

5. Cuban Women Claim Six Golds Cerro Pelado Golds
Cuban women, led by junior world silver medalist and U23 world bronze medalist, Yudari SANCHEZ (CUB) captured an impressive six out of eight possible gold medals at the Cerro Pelado. There were not participants entered at 65kg or 62kg.

Betzabeth angelica ARGUELLO VILLEGAS (VEN) and Alejandra ROMERO (MEX) were the two wrestlers who captured gold medals that did not hail from Cuba.

RESULTS: http://uww.io/ckjQ6

Weekly FIVE in Social Media

Big Move Monday! 

Fan reactions of Khotsianivski's routing of reigning world champion, Geno Petriashvili. 

Olympic champion, Kevin JACKSON (USA) posts a picture of a young fan with Ukranian Memorial champion, Alex Dieringer and Olympic Bronze medalist, J'den COX (USA). 

#WrestleAthens

U17 World Wrestling Championships 2025: Day 1 Highlights

By Vinay Siwach

ATHENS, Greece (July 28) -- The World U17 Championships kicks off in Athens, Greece with five Greco-Roman weight classes. Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia will be in contention to win the team title.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | FULL PREVIEW

READ THE REPORT OF ALL SEMIFINALS HERE

18:00: Welcome back to the World U17 Championships coverage! The semifinals in 48kg, 55kg, 65kg, 80kg and 110kg will begin now!

15:00: The semifinals will begin at 18:00 hours local time! The opening ceremony will be at 17:00 hours. Stay tuned!

14:45: Asian domination at 55kg! Alkham ABDIRASULOV (KGZ) will face Aditya GUPTA (IND) and Makhdi BAROTOV (TJK) will take on Nurali ASKAR (KAZ) in the semifinals.

14:35: Asian champion HARDEEP (IND) beats European bronze medalist Anatolii NOVACHENKO (UKR), 9-0, with turns from par terre and enters the semifinals at 110kg.

14:30: Yazdan DELROUZ (IRI) holds his positions good and gets both par terre points in the match against Hu Anshi NUERLEBIEKE (CHN) and makes it to the 110kg semifinal.

14:20: Aditya GUPTA (IND) with a takedown in the final second of the bout to beat Rakhman GAMIDOV (UKR) 4-2. He was down 2-2 on criteria but manages to wrap his arm around Gamidov to score a takedown. Ukraine challenges for time but it was inside the last second.

14:02: Madness on Mat A! Luka MARTIASHVILI (GEO) was trying to stop a pin from Nijat YEYLAGALIYEV (AZE) and turns it around and manages to pin the Azerbaijan wrestlers for the win at 80kg!

13:50: Makhdi BAROTOV (TJK) continues his good show at 55kg as he pins Osman OZDEMIR (TUR) and advances to the quarterfinals.

13:45: Asian silver medalist Sadriddin TULKINBOEV (UZB) drops his 55kg 1/8 final to Aditya GUPTA (IND), 4-1. Gupta did not get any turn from par terre but Tulkinvoev scored a stepuot in the second period and made it 1-1. But due to a new rule currently being tested by UWW, a 1-1 scoring in Greco-Roman will see the wrestler who scored the first point, win on criteria. Gupta keeps his attacks and there is no par terre for Tulkinboev. Uzbekistan throw a challenge for "nothing", as the review team said. Gupta wins 4-1

13:25: Rakhman GAMIDOV (UKR) digs deep and pulls off a four-pointer later in the match to win 5-2 against Naru SEMBA (JPN) at 55kg. He was down 2-1 with just 30 seconds left.

13:15: Big win for ANUJ (IND) at 65kg as he beats Asian bronze medalist Xusan GIEZIDINOV (UZB) 8-0. High pace match from Anuj to block Geizidinov.

13:05: Janes NAZARYAN (ARM), European silver medalists, reaches the quarterfinal at 65kg, after a technical superiority 9-1 win over Huseyn ISGANDAROV (AZE).

12:50: Nijat YEYLAGALIYEV (AZE) bounces back from 5-0 down by blocking a throw from Mardanbek MAKHKAMBAYEV (KAZ) and gut wrenches his way to a 13-5 win at 80kg.

12:46: Ismail BEREKET (TUR) continues his big-throwing streak as he beats Stepan DANHEL (CZE) 9-0 in a minute 50 seconds at 80kg. The European bronze medalist is looking better with every win.

12:45: How do you win with one second remaining?! Kaisei YAMAMOTO (JPN) hits a four-pointer in the final second after getting thrown by Martin MANJIKYAN (ARM) and wins 6-6. He can't believe it as well

12:40: Zhanarbek SEIITOV (KGZ) uses the gut-wrench to great effect and wins his 48kg bout against Fuhua KANG (CHN) 10-2. He gets Asian bronze medalist Bunyod HASANOV (UZB) in the next round after Hsanov pulled off a late throw against Amirmohammad HAJIVAND (IRI) and win 4-3.

12:35: HARDEEP (IND), Asian champ at 110kg, gets both the par terre points and beats Baktur SOVETKHAN (KAZ), 2-0, in the opening round.

12:30: Quick work from Sayidamir NEMATOV (UZB) at 110kg as he beats European champ Rihad IBRAHIMLI (AZE) 10-0 in the first period.

12:20: Hu Anshi NUERLEBIEKE (CHN) was so calm despite being down 8-1 against Vasileios BOUNTOULIS (GRE) at 110kg. Nuerlebieke locked Bountoulis in bodylocks twice in last 15 seconds and threw him for two four-pointers to win 9-8. He was thrown for two four-pointers in the first period by Bountoulis.

12:15: A 2024 Asian U15 champ Makhdi BAROTOV (TJK) stops European silver medalist Giorgi CHACHUA (GEO) 4-2 in their 55kg bout.

11:50: Alkham ABDIRASULOV (KGZ) pulls off a stunning win over Amirreza  TAHMASBPOUR (IRI) 5-3 at 55kg. Abdirasulov scores a correct throw to lead 3-3 on criteria but Iran challenges for no points. The challenge is won but on review, it's four points for Abdirasulov wins the bout

11:20: Pan-Am champion Arseni KIKINIOU (USA) has a hard time against Janes NAZARYAN (ARM), who is an European silver medalist, as he cannot get a turn but Nazaryan manages to score. Nazaryan wins 4-1

11:05: Big match between Asian champion Abdulaziz KHOLMIRZAEV (UZB) and European silver medalist Benediktas BUBELEVICIUS (LTU). Kholmirzaev and Bubelevicius go back-and-forth but Kholmirzaev manages to hang on for an 11-6 win.

10:45: Luka MARTIASHVILI (GEO), who finished 5th at 92kg at the European Championships, is back at 80kg and finishes with two front headlocks to win 9-0 in just 21 seconds against David VILK (CRO).

10:40: Big throws right from the start in Athens! European bronze medalist Ismail BEREKER (TUR) launches Samarth GOVEKAR (IND) for big throws and wins the opening bout at 80kg 11-0 in just a minute and 28 seconds.

10:30: Welcome to the World U17 Championships in Athens. It is being held at the iconic Ano Liosia Olympic Hall, the venue where wrestling competition during the 2004 Olympics was held.