Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! May 28, 2019

Wednesday, May 29, 2019 - 01:37 By Eric Olanowski

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Discussing Aleksanyan's return, and results from the Sassari. Also looking at David Taylor's injury and the next set of world rankings. 

1. World and Olympic Champ Aleksanyan Victorious in Return
Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM), the three-time world and Olympic champion made his return to competition this weekend for the first time since failing to medal at the 2018 World Championships in Budapest. 

Aleksanyan, who had medaled at six consecutive World Championships and Olympic Games, dropped his semifinals match in Budapest against eventual world champion Musa EVLOEV (RUS) and forfeited out of the 97kg bronze-medal bout falling to a fifth-place finish. 

This weekend, the “White Bear” returned to the mat at the B. Turlykhanov Cup in Almaty, Kazakhstan, winning the 97kg gold medal. Aleksanyan went 5-0, scoring wins against A. ALIZADEH (IRI), A. ISKAKOV (KAZ), R. NADAREISHVILI (GEO), D. SOTNIKOV (RUS), and A. GOLOVIN (RUS).

The Armenian scored three points in each of his matches and only conceded a single point in his quarterfinals and finals match against Nadareishvili and Golovin, respectively.   

FINALS RESULTS
60kg - Ali reza ayat ollah NEJATI (IRI) df. Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ), via injury default 
67kg - Zaur KABALOEV (RUS) df. Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO), via injury default
77kg - Askhat DILMUKHAMEDOV (KAZ) df. Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (RUS), 3-1 
87kg - Bekkhan OZDOEV (RUS) df. Ramin soltanmorad TAHERISARTANG (IRI), 3-1 
97kg - Arturn ALEKSANYAN (ARM) df. Aleksandr GOLOVIN, (RUS), 3-0 
130kg - Kiryl HRYSHCHANKA (BLR) df. Vitalii SHCHUR (RUS), 3-0 

2. Wiebe Pins Vorobeva in Battle of Olympic Champions; Chamizo wins Gold in Home Country 
In arguably the most anticipated women’s wrestling match in the Ranking Series' two-year history, Rio Olympic champion Erica WIEBE (CAN) only needed two minutes to pick up the fall over London Olympic champion Natalia VOROBEVA (RUS). 

In the first period of the 76kg finals, Wiebe ducked a front headlock attempt from her Russian opponent and used an unorthodox inside leg hook to throw Vorobeva on her back for the fall. “The secret to my success is I’m pretty dangerous from every position,” Wiebe said when asked about the unconventional maneuver she used to pick up the fall. She went on to say, “Today was a test, and I’m happy with how I competed. I love being creative on the mats, and I love to get to wrestling positions. That’s my bread and butter, so I went for it.”

With her win in Italy last weekend, Wiebe jumps Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) for the No. 5 spot in the world at 76kg with 52 points. 

Meanwhile, Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) capped off his run to a Sassari title in front of his home nation with a 6-4 win over tenth-ranked Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ) in a battle of reigning 74kg continental champions. 

Chamizo used the support from the ruckus Italian crowd to push him past Kaisanov in the finals. “I’m so happy for (the fans). They support me; I needed that. I love the fans.” 

The Italian, who won the European Championships last month in Bucharest, Romania, found himself in a four-point hole against the reigning Asian champion after surrendering a takedown and a leg lace - but closed the Kazakh wrester’s lead to two points with a takedown of his own before the ending whistle of the first period sounded. 

In the second period, Chamizo picked up his offensive attack rate and gained the criteria lead with an early two. The two-time world champion tacked on his second takedown of the period and third overall for the match and took the 6-4 advantage into the final 30 seconds. Chamzio fought off several attacks and won his first career Sassari gold medal, improving on his eighth-place finish from 2014. 

Chamizo entered the Sassari as the fourth-ranked wrestler in the world with 56 points and will jump Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) and Jordan Ernest BURROUGHS (USA) after collecting 16 points for his gold-medal performance on Saturday.

Final Results 
Freestyle 
Greco-Roman 
Women's Wrestling

3. David Taylor Out For Final X, Nur-Sultan World Championships 
David TAYLOR (USA), the reigning 86kg world champion and one of the best pound-for-pound wrestlers in the world, announced on is social media channels that he’s withdrawing from Final X, the United States’ World Team selection tournament. Taylor recently underwent surgery to repair right knee damage sustained in his Beat the Street’s charity bout while wrestling Drew FOSTER (USA). 

In the opening sequence of the May 6 bout, Foster got to a low-level shot to the right leg of Taylor and came up through the middle. Foster peaked out the back door and isolated the right leg of Taylor. Foster, who was posted on his right hand, threw his left hip to the mat, which is when Taylor stopped wrestling and immediately grabbed his right knee.

If David Taylor weren't injured and had been healthy enough to compete at Final X, he would have had to defeat Pat DOWNEY (USA) in a best-of-three series for the 86kg spot. With Taylor out, Downey, the winner of the 86kg bracket at US Open, will now be awarded the United States' World Team spot. 

Also of note, Taylor’s departure from the Final X means that Fatih ERDIN (TUR), who has 84 Ranking Series points, has locked up the No.1 seed at the World Championships. 

Here's what the 86kg rankings look like after removing Taylor:
No. 1 - Fatih ERDIN (TUR) (86 points) 
No. 2 - Hassan YAZDANI (43 points) 
No. 3 - Taimuraz FRIEV (ESP) (39 points)
No. 4 - Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS) (36 points)

Henna JOHANSSON (SWE) won the 62kg Sassari title, outplacing two other wrestlers from Sweden in her bracket. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

4. Important In-Country Battles Take Place Sassari 
There were 13 in-country battles that took place at the Sassari, but three matches, in particular, are expected to have further implications on the selection process for the upcoming European Games (when applicable) and the 2019 World Championships. 

In Greco-Roman, Hungary's Viktor LORINCZ won his third Ranking Series gold medal of the year, to improve his 2019 record to 13-0, and picked up his third consecutive Ranking Series victory over fellow Hungarian Erik SZILVASSY. Lorincz now has wins over the U23 world champion at the Zagreb Open, the Hungarian Grand Prix, and the Sassari, and cemented himself as Hungary’s top 87kg wrestler. 

In women’s wrestling, Sweden, who is stumbling over the decision of who to enter into the European Games and World Championships, inserted three world-class athletes into the 62kg bracket in Sardinia: Henna JOHANSSON (SWE), Malin MATTSSON (SWE), and Moa NYGREN (SWE). 

The decision is extremely tough because Johansson and Mattsson both have world bronze medals, and Nygren is coming off a European bronze-medal finish in Bucharest last month.

In Sardina, Mattsson and Nygren met in the first round, where Mattsson came out on top, 6-2. Mattsson ultimately settled for a bronze medal finish – but it was Johansson who went undefeated and came out on top of the bracket, defeating Elmira GAMBAROVA (AZE), 6-4. 

In freestyle, Iran’s senior Asian champion Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI stopped U23 Asian champion Arashk MOHEBI (IRI), 7-0, and gained supremacy at 92kg. Karimi went on to win the tournament and Mohebi fought back and finished in third. 


After winning titles at the Sassari and Asian C'ships, and finishing the World C'ships, Zagreb Open, and Hungarian Grand Prix in third place, KIM Hyeonwoo (KOR) has locked up the 77kg No. 1 seed at the World Championships. (Photo: Gabor Martin) 

5. New World Rankings to be Released Next Week
United World Wrestling will be releasing the latest point-based rankings next week. The June edition of the world rankings will include results from the Budapest World Championships, all five of the Continental Championships, and the first three Ranking Series events. 

There are two Ranking Series events left where wrestlers can earn additional points before the 2019 World Championships, which take place in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan on September 14-22.

Istanbul, Turkey will host the final freestyle and women's wrestling Ranking Series event, the Yasar Dogu, on July 11-14, and Minsk, Belarus will be the host site for the Oleg Karavaev (July 26-28), which is the remaining Greco-Roman Ranking Series event. 

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media

1. Big Move Monday -- P.OLLI (FIN) -- 2018 World C'ships
2. What a second period! Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) erases a three-point second-period deficit by scoring a pair of takedowns to defeat Khetik TSABOLOV, 5-4 #WrestleSassari#freestylewrestling#unitedworldwrestling
3. World Wrestling Day
4. In arguably the most anticipated women’s wrestling match in the Ranking Series' two-year history, Rio Olympic champion Erica WIEBE (CAN) only needed two minutes to pick up the fall over London Olympic champion Natalia VOROBEVA (RUS). “The secret to my success is I’m pretty dangerous from every position.”
5. Gold Medal Matches - Sassari 2019 - Day 1. The Greco-Roman final matches from the Ranking Series event in Italy.

#WrestleBratislava

European Championships Day 2: Sidakov beats Salkazanov 4-2

Monday, April 7, 2025 - 21:37 By Vinay Siwach

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BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 8) -- The European Championships enters day two with five Freestyle weight 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg and 125kg. Olympic champions Zavur UGUEV (UWW), Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) and Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) will be in action.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 RESULTS | SAITIEV TRIBUTE

Semifinals

61kg
SF 1: Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) vs. Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)
SF 2: Dzmitry SHAMELA (UWW) vs. Zavur UGUEV (UWW)

74kg
SF 1: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) vs. Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE)
SF 2: Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) vs. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW)

86kg
SF 1: Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) vs. Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL)
SF 2: Artur NAIFONOV (UWW) vs. Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW)

92kg
SF 1: Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) vs. Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE)
SF 2: Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) vs. Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR)

125kg
SF 1: Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) vs. Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (UWW)
SF 2: Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) vs. Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL)

14:05: In the final match of the session, Artur NAIFONOV (UWW) beats European U23 silver Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA). Naifonov is given a par terre advantage after Magamadov is cautioned for fleeing out-of-bounds on his knees. But Magamadov stunningly escapes from par terre with no damage. He is put on the activity clock and Naifonov gets another point for a 2-0 lead. Naifonov seems to have hit Magamadov in the head as he tried escaping a leg-attack. Magamadov calls for a medical timeout. In the second period, Naidonov gets a stepout and takedown to lead 5-0 and wins. He will face Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) in the semifinals.

13:56: Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) puts in the work and beats Benjamin HONIS (HUN) 12-2 to enter the 92kg semifinal and will face Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) for the place in the final. 

13:48: Zavur UGUEV (UWW) had to wait three hours for his first bout at 61kg but he makes sure to not get any surprises from Andrii DZHELEP (UKR). Uguev wins 11-1 to enter the 61kg semifinal.

13:46: Olympic champion Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) books his spot in the 86kg semifinal with a 10-0 victory over Matthew FINESILVER (ISR).

13:40: Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) got Nuraddin NOVRUZOV (AZE) in a lace and led 9-0 at the break in their 61kg quarterfinal. Novruzov tried getting back with a takedown but Abakarov sails through with an 11-2 win. He will face Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) for a place in the final.

13:30: No problems for Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) as he laces Leomid COLESNIC (MDA) and wins 12-2 to enter the semifinal at 61kg.

13:25: Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) pulls off a 4-2 win over four-time European champion Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK). The 74kg marquee match saw Salkazanov begin with a bodylock but Sidakov was quick and defended it. Only a stepout for Salkazanov. Sidakov hits the leg attack which Salkazanov tries to defend with a chestwrap. Sidakov breaks it for takedown and two points. Sidakov leads 2-1 at the break. Second period is off to a flyer -- a leg-attack from Salkazanov, Sidakov with the defense. Both in a tangle and referee calls for the center. After dull phase, Sidakov hits a single leg attack and drives Salkazanov out of bounds which is called par terre but Sidakov challenges and get the stepout point for a 3-1 lead with a minute left.

Sidakov defends his lead but Salkazanov pushes his opponent towards the zone and gets a stepout as the time runs out. He challenges for fleeing but it's a normal defense. Sidakov gets a point for lost challenge and he wins 4-2 to enter the semifinal at 74kg.

13:17: Olympic bronze medalist and the favorite to win gold at 125kg Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) blanks Vlagyiszlav BAJCAJEV (HUN) 5-0 and moves on to the semifinals.

13:10: Olympic bronze medalist Chermen VALIEV (ALB) scores a quick 10-0 technical superiority win over Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL) at 74kg. We now have the big match between Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) and Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK).

13:05: Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (UWW) takes out Zelimkhan KHIZRIEV (UWW) 7-2 at 125kg. This weight class will have a champion not named Taha AKGUL (TUR) or Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) for the first time since 2012. 

12:50: Former European champion Artur NAIFONOV (UWW) is up against European  U23 champion Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE). Naifonov gets the 1-0 lead after Dzhioev is put on the clock and he fails to score. Dzhioev is put on the clock in the second period as well and Naifonov's lead swells to 2-0. Dzhioev gets a point when Naifonov is put on the clock in the final minute. With 18 seconds remaining, Dzhioev tries to get a move on but Naifonov defends well and scores a 2-1 win.

12:35: Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA) stuns Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) with an arm-throw for four at the start of the bout but Kadzi throws him off for exposure and two points in the same scramble. Kadzimahamedau seems a little hurt from Mihalcean throw and comes out blazing with a takedown and turn. He then adds a crafty throw for four to lead 10-4 at the break. A takedown and turn to finish the bout 14-4 and he moves into the 86kg quarterfinals.

12:20: Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA) defends and defends to beat Benjamin GREIL (AUT) 4-2 at 92kg. Viskhanov must thank Greil who challenged for an extra exposure from takedown but lost which put the French wrestler in a safe position of two-point lead in the final minute.

12:17: Olympic champion Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) and Osman GOCEN (TUR) go head-to-head in the 86kg pre-quarterfinals. Ramazanov gets the first point as Gocen fails to score when put on the activity clock in the first period. Ramazanov was about to be hit with passivity call in the second period but he scores a takedown just on time to stretch his lead to 3-0. Gocen slowly slips in keeping up with Ramazanov and gives up a takedown before going down 5-0.

12:15: World silver medalist Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) takes his own time but wins 11-0 against Cezary SADOWSKI (POL) to advance at 92kg.

12:11: Olympic 86kg bronze medalist Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) at his best in defense he opens his European campaign with an 5-0 win over Ahmed BATAEV (BUL). He scored a stepout and point for activity in the first period. A stepout and takedown in the second period and won 5-0 at 92kg.

12:10: Andrii DZHELEP (UKR) with a beautiful suplex for five against Besir ALILI (MKD) and quickly rolls Alili to win 10-0 at 61kg. We will get the video of the move soon.

12:07: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) is brutal when it comes to the lace. He marches on at 61kg with a 11-0 victory over Stilyan ILIEV (BUL).

12:00: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), a world 92kg silver medalist in 2023, starts off with a 11-0 victory over Denys SAHALIUK (UKR) and moves into the quarterfinals.

11:50: Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) is at his first European Championships up at 86kg and faces Theodoros SINGIRIDIS (GRE) in first bout. Despite giving up a takedown, Kadzimahamedau looked strong at the weight as he gut wrenched Singridis for a 9-2 lead at the break. He made to work for the rest of the points but he manages to finish 13-2 for a technical superiority win.

11:42: In the first match at 61kg, former world champion Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) rolls to a 10-0 win over Nils LEUTERT (SUI) in just two minutes.

11:30: Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW), world champion at 74kg in 2023 and wrestling only at his second European Championships, begins with a 11-0 technical superiority win over Rasul SHAPIEV (MKD). He gets on the board with a point from activity clock and scored a takedown to lead 3-0 at the break. He needed only a minute in the second period to finish the match. He shoots deep and laces Shapiev for an three turns to win 11-0.

11:22: Mohsen SIYAR (GER) holds his head in his hands but he falls 8-8 to Zelimkhan KHIZRIEV (UWW) at 125kg despite a resounding comeback and crash into the digital scoreboard. Khizriev led 5-2 and Siyar had him struggling for conditioning. Siyar scored a stepout and both wrestlers crashed into the scoreboard which delayed the action. That proved to be a lifeline for Khizriev who bounced back, scored a out-of-bounds point, a takedown and held on to his 8-8 criteria lead for the win.

11:10: Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA) brings down Azamat ZAKUEV (UWW) in the 92kg opening round. Viskhanov got countered every time he scored a takedown but he hangs on for a 7-6 win, thanks to two successful challenges.

11:00: Vlagyiszlav BAJCAJEV (HUN), a mainstay at 97kg, has moved up to 125kg for the European Championships. He begins with a 8-2 victory over European U23 champion Gerogi IVANOV (BUL).

10:30: Welcome to the second day of European Championships. We have three Olympic champions wrestling. After the morning session, the semifinals will begin at 16:45 local time and then the medal bouts will begin at 18:00 local time.