#WrestleBelgrade

World Championships GR 63kg, 67kg, 87kg semis set

By Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 23) -- The final full day of the World Championships, which has been unimaginable, is here. Two more Olympic weight classes in Greco-Roman and one non-Olympic weight class will be in action. The Olympic weight classes are 67kg and 87kg while 63kg is the non-Olympic weight class.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER | DAY 7 RESULTS

14:28: In an entertaining match between the Olympic and world champions that caps the session, Luis ORTA (CUB) gets a stepout in the second period to clinch a 3-2 victory that ends the world reign of Mate NEMES (SRB) at 67kg. Nemes opens the match with a 2-point throw, and Orta responds with a takedown. Noticeably and unusually, there were no passivity points. Orta, the Tokyo Olympic champ at 60kg, is looking for his first world medal.

14:22: Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) comes up with a pair of big throws -- although one bordered on the dangerous -- to oust Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) 10-0 in their 67kg quarterfinal. Ismailov, a bronze medalist a year ago, gets a takedown and immediately secures a reverse body lock. He executes a lift-and-dump for 5, then repeats it. But the second doesn't go as well, and Khetsuriani hits chest-first on the mat. Ismailov still gets 2 for it, which the Georgian side challenges and loses.

15:24: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) gets it done! He gets two four-pointers in his big win over Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) for a 10-0 win in the 67kg quarterfinals. He will take on Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) who moved on with a 9-0 win over Alejandro SANCHO (USA).

15:16: Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) gets it done with a 5-3 win over Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) and he moves into the 87kg semifinals. He will take on Losonczi.

15:15: David LOSONCZI (HUN) celebrated his 9-1 win as he got a four-pointer against Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN) but on a challenge, it was just two. The score was reversed to 6-1 but Losonczi still got it done to move into the semifinals at 87kg.

15:14: Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) avenges his loss in the final of the Asian Championships in April to Naser ALIZADEH (IRI), nailing a 4-point headlock throw in the second period to clinch a 9-4 win and a place in the semifinals at 87kg.

15:11: 2022 bronze medalist Ali CENGIZ (TUR) makes the most of the point-less second chance at par terre, scoring with a gut wrench to edge two-time world medalist Jalagasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) 3-3 on last-point criteria and grab a place in the 87kg semifinals.

15:00: Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) with some strong defense against Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM) and wins 3-1 in the 63kg quarterfinal. On Mat D, Stefan CLEMENT (FRA) with a victory via superiority against Astemir BIZHOEV (AIN). He will take on Leri ABULADZE (GEO)

15:00: Leri ABULADZE (GEO) gets the second passivity point and that's enough to get by Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR) 1-1 on last-point criteria, putting last year's silver medalist into the 63kg semifinals. 

14:58: Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) gives the host country its first semifinalist of the night, hitting a 4-point throw from par terre in the second period to defeat Ivan LIZATOVIV (CRO) 5-2 at 63kg. Tibilov was a European bronze medalist at 60kg who is making his senior world debut. 

We are beginning with the quarterfinals on day eight at 63kg, 67kg and 87kg

14:40: If only wrestling was easy! Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN) got a 7-0 lead over Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) in the first period but Geraei began the second with a takedown, big lift for four points which Sogabe reversed and won 16-5. Iran challenged for a foul and on review, the score was reversed to 8-7 Geraei leading. Sogabe is aware of the Geraei's low gas tank. Geraei is penalized for fleeing. He holds 10-10 criteria lead. Geraei with an 11-10 win after Japan's challenge for fleeing but Japan lost the challenge

14:30: Olympic champion Luis ORTA (CUB) makes short work of Mihai MIHUT (ROU) in the 67kg bout and he earns a shot at world champion Mate NEMES (SRB) in the quarterfinals.

14:20: Former world silver medalist Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN) with a 5-3 win over Hannes WAGNER (GER) after he hit a big four-pointer in the second period. He moves into the 87kg quarterfinals

14:06: Mate NEMES (SRB) stays on track toward a second straight title at 67kg with a 5-1 victory over Vinayak PATIL (UWW). Nemes will know in a few minutes if he will be facing Olympic champion Luis ORTA (CUB) in the quarterfinals.

14:03: A classic 5-1 win for returning bronze medalist Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) over Krisztian VANCZA (HUN) as he moves into the quarterfinals at 67kg    

13:57: Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ), a bronze medalist a year ago, launches a 5-point throw to finish off Madamadassa SYLLA (FRA) 8-0 and book a spot in the 67kg quarterfinals.

13:50: Ali CENGIZ (TUR) ends the gold-medal aspirations of Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) with a 3-1 victory at 87kg to advance to the quarterfinals. Cengiz has the criteria after receiving the second passivity point, and he gets 2 when he stops a front-headlock roll attempt by the Olympic champion.

13:48: Lasha GOBADZE (GEO), the 2019 champion at 82kg and a three-time medalist, is out of the gold hunt at 87kg after being dealt a 3-1 loss by Semen NOVIKOV (BUL), who is into the quarterfinals.

13:45: Victor CIOBANU (MDA) tries an arm spin when leading 7-6 in the final 15 seconds but  Liguo CAO (CHN) defends the moves and is awarded two points. Moldova challenges for a slip but loses the challenge and the match 9-7 in the 60kg repechage

13:26: Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB), the silver medalist last year at 82kg who has moved up to the Olympic weight of 87kg, gets into the quarterfinals by the skin of his teeth. Trailing 2-0 against world U23 champion Exauce MUKUBU (NOR), he gets the passivity point. He can't fully complete his throw attempt, but upon challenge, is awarded 1 for a stepout. That gives him a 2-2 win on last-point criteria.

13:08: Olympic silver medalist Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) falls at the first hurdle at 67kg to 2022 European champion Murat FIRAT (TUR). Firat scores a pair of rolls from par terre in the first period and never looks back in posting an 8-1 win.

12:57: Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) is on his way to giving up a stepout when hits a lateral drop for 4 against Asian champion Abror ATABAEV (UZB). Atabaev gets a gut wrench from par terre in the second period, but it's not enough and the Iranian star advances to the 67kg 1/8 finals with a 6-3 win. He will next face the Asian silver medalist, Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN), who annihilated Niklas OEHLEN (SWE) 9-0.

12:44: Defending champion Mate NEMES (SRB) survives a last chance for a throw by Minseong KWON (KOR) and adds a last-second takedown for a 6-2 win at 67kg and a place in the quarterfinals. Nemes got both passivity points, adding a gut wrench after the first one. Kwon scored a takedown in the first period and, trailing 4-2 in the second period, had a chance on top in par terre. He got Nemes off his feet, but could not execute a proper throw for points.

12:30: Luis ORTA (CUB), the Tokyo Olympic champion at 60kg, made quick work of Souleyman NASR (TUN) in his opening match at 67kg, scoring a takedown and reeling off four gut wrenches for an 8-0 win in 1:30. Orta comes into Belgrade coming off a pair of third-place finishes at Ranking Series events in Bishkek and Zagreb.

12:17: It was third-time lucky for three-time Asian champion Naser ALIZADEH (IRI), who twice lost points on challenges until a third one was overruled, giving him the lead with 15 seconds left in a 6-4 victory over Ilias PAGKALIDIS (GRE). Pagkalidis led 4-3 when Alizadeh appeared to score on two occasions, but both times the Greek side successfully challenged. But as time was running out, Pagkalidis was flagged for fleeing. This time, the Greeks lost the challenge, and Alizadeh added a stepout at the end.

12:02: Returning bronze medalist and top seed Ali CENGIZ (TUR) falls behind but hits a 4-point move at the end of the first period to go ahead 4-3 against Toni METSOMAEKI (FIN) at 87kg. He adds a takedown and ends up with a 7-3 win. But he can't relax now: next up is Olympic champion Zhan BELENIUK (UKR).

11:50: Olympic champion Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) returns to the World Championships after four years and wins his first bout over Zachary BRAUNAGEL (USA) 5-1 at 87kg. He turned Braunagel twice from par terre to secure the win

11:47: David LOSONCZI (HUN), a bronze medalist here a year ago, reels off two gut wrenches from par terre in the first period against 2020 Asian silver medalist Azat SALIDINOV (KGZ), then ends it with a takedown at the edge for an 8-0 win at 87kg.

11:29: Enes BASAR (TUR) welcomes world U23 bronze-medalist to the big time, reeling off four rolls from par terre for a 9-0 whitewashing at 63kg. Basar will next face top seed and last year's silver medalist Leri ABULADZE (GEO).

11:19: Masato SUMI (JPN), coming off a 2nd-place finish at the Grand Prix of Germany in August, picks up his first-ever win in his fifth trip to the World Championships when he gets both passivity points in a 2-0 win over Andreas VAELIS (EST) in an 87-kg qualification match.

11:05: Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) breaks Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN) and rolls to a 7-1 win at 87kg, the Olympic weight class he moved up to from 87kg.

11:04: Two-time former world U23 bronze medalist Islam ABBASOV (AZE), looking to join the Azeri medal parade, gets a pair of gut wrenches in par terre and comes out a 5-1 winner in his qualification match at 87kg over Viorel BURDUJA (MDA).

10:52: Ali ARSALAN (SRB) gets the home crowd fired up with some nasty front headlock throws en route to a 12-3 victory over Jamol JUMABAEV (UZB) in the 72kg repechage to earn a place in the bronze-medal match tonight.

10:30: Welcome to yet another full day, though the last, of the World Championships. The insane talent of 67kg will be on display and wrestlers at 87kg also taking the mat. The non-Olympic weight is 63kg.

#WrestleSamokov

Kyrgyzstan, Moldova earn chance to end U20 World title drought

By Vinay Siwach

SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 17) -- Kyrgyzstan and Moldova earned a chance to end their gold-medal drought at the U20 World Championships.

On the first day of the 2025 World U20 Championships in Samokov, four Freestyle weight classes were in action. Adilet AKYLBEKOV (KGZ) was the surprised finalist at 74kg and will try to become Kyrgyzstan's first gold medal at the U20 World Championships in 20 years. He will take on European U23 champion Ismail KHANIEV (UWW) in the final.

At 70kg, Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) earned the final and will now try to become Moldova's first U20 world champ in Freestyle since 1999. He will take on returning bronze medalist PJ DUKE (USA) in the gold-medal bout.

The 125kg weight class will see an all-Asian final as Asian U20 champion Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) earned a shot for the world title against Abolfazl MOHAMMAD NEZHAD (IRI), a wrestler over whom Kassimbek has a 3-0 head-to-head record.

Two returning bronze medalists, Duke and Justin RADEMACHER (USA), upgrade their bronze medals from last year and earn themselves a chance to win gold on Monday at 70kg and 97kg respectively.

Akylbekov, who had finished at 17th at 79kg last year, had a dream run on Sunday and ended one for Raul CASO (ITA) in the semifinals. Caso had posted two last-second victories, however, he failed to repeat those heroics in the semifinal against Akylbekov.

Caso was 3-2 and went attack-mode in the final 15 seconds. He almost scored a takedown over Akylbekov who managed to sneak out and then Caso jumped over to take control for a takedown. However, the Kyrgyz wrestler stood up to avoid giving up any points. Italy challenged for two points but lost that on review, giving one more point to Akylbekov.

While Caso was leaving it late in his wins, Akylbekov was contrastingly dominating them. He defeated Nicholas HOOPER (CAN), 12-0, in the opening bout, blanked Titas PIJORAITIS (LTU), 10-0 and then handed Dosszhan KUL GAIYP (KAZ) a 6-1 loss.

Ismail KHANIEV (UWW)Ismail KHANIEV (UWW) defeated Kanata YAMAGUCHI (JPN), 7-3, in the semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

He will now face Khaniev, who earned himself his first world medal at any level. Khaniev defeated Kanata YAMAGUCHI (JPN), 7-3, in a very close semifinal than the scoreline suggests.

Khaniev led 3-3 on criteria but Yamaguchi constantly threatened to score in the final 25 seconds. He hit a double-leg attack and planted Khaniev, who somehow managed to not land in danger. In a counter, Khaniev exposed Yamaguchi for two points and took a 5-3 lead. Yamaguchi tried a desperate throw in the final 15 seconds but Khaniev blocked it for two more points to win.

Earlier in the day, Khaniev avenged his European U20 Championships loss to Manuel WAGIN (GER) with a technical superiority win after he had beaten returning silver medalist Ladrion LOCKETT (USA).

Duke had his first big challenge of the day in the semifinals against former world U17 champion Erfan ELAHI (IRI) at 70kg. Duke scored a takedown while Elahi had a point for stepout and Duke's passivity. Duke's two-point scoring move gave him the criteria.

However, Elahi somehow thought he has the criteria and did not think of attacking in the final 30 seconds. When the bout was over, Elahi celebrated as if he had won only to realize that he has lost 2-2.

Duke will look to win his first a world title before wrestling at the senior World Championships later in September. He will take on Gaidarli for the gold-medal after the Moldovan won his semifinal 7-4 against Nurlan AGHAZADA (AZE).

Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA)Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) reached the 70kg final in Samokov. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Gaidarli became the first Moldovan Freestyle wrestler to reach the final at U20 Worlds since 2019 after a stunningly good run in Samokov. He defeated European U20 champion Goga OTINASHVILI (GEO), 13-3, avenging his loss from Carole, Italy.

In the semifinals, he scored three takedowns in the second period against Aghazada to win 7-4, bettering his 18th-place finish from last year and earning a chance to end the gold-medal drought for Moldova.

Returning bronze medalist at 97kg Rademacher defeated European U20 champion Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO) in the semifinals and will now try to win gold. Rademacher led 4-3 at the break extended his lead with a takedown for two points to start the second period, add another go-behind and single-leg to takedown to lead 10-3.

Petriashvili got an attack for two points but Rademacher was relentless in his wrestling and scored three more takedowns to win 16-5.

Magomedgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (UWW)Magomedgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (UWW) survived to win 11-9 against VISHAL (IND) in the 97kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

For the gold medal, he will face Magomedgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (UWW) who survived, with some help, for an 11-9 win over VISHAL (IND) who had Magomedov in all sorts of trouble. Magomedov led 10-4 when Vishal mounted a comeback against an absolutely broken Magomedov. He scored a takedown and Magomedov was cautioned for a singlet-pull foul which made it 10-7.

As the bout was restart in par terre, India challenged for two more points but the referee had blown the whistle before control from Vishal. That challenge gave enough breathing time to Magomedov to managed to hang on to his lead and win 11-9.

Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ)Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) celebrates after winning his 125kg semifinal against Cole MIRASOLA (USA). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Kassimbek had a very dominant semifinal as he defeated Cole MIRASOLA (USA), 11-0, inside the first period. He had two excellent counter takedowns and then locked up Mirasola's legs around his head and turns him twice. He finished things with a double-leg takedown.

Kassimbek has lost to two World U17 Championships finals before but he will have a good chance to win his first world title. He will take on Mohammad Nezhad, a wrestler he has defeated three times before.

The Iranian denied former world U17 champion Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE) after a 1-1 victory in the semifinal. Mohmmad Nezhad got the one point for passivity in the second period which gave him the criteria.

Mohammad Nezhad lost to Kassimbek for the first time in 2023 Asian U17 Championships final, 8-1, then at the same tournament in 2024, 2-2 in the semifinals. His third loss to Kassimbek came in the semifinals of the 2024 World U17 Championships, 4-3.

RESULTS

70kg
GOLD: PJ DUKE (USA) vs. Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) 

SF 1: Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) df. Nurlan AGHAZADA (AZE), 7-4
SF 2: PJ DUKE (USA) df. Ebrahim ELAHI (IRI), 2-2

74kg
GOLD: Ismail KHANIEV (UWW) vs. Adilet AKYLBEKOV (KGZ)

SF 1: Adilet AKYLBEKOV (KGZ) df. Raul CASO (ITA), 4-2
SF 2: Ismail KHANIEV (UWW) df. Kanata YAMAGUCHI (JPN), 7-3

97kg
GOLD: Magomedgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (UWW) vs. Justin RADEMACHER (USA)

SF 1: Justin RADEMACHER (USA) df. Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO), 16-5
SF 2: Magomedgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (UWW) df. VISHAL (IND), 11-9

125kg
GOLD: Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) vs. Abolfazl MOHAMMAD NEZHAD (IRI)

SF 1: Abolfazl MOHAMMAD NEZHAD (IRI) df. Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE), 1-1
SF 2: Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) df. Cole MIRASOLA (USA), 11-0