Grappling

Wrestling Signs Streaming Agreement with FloGrappling for World C'Ships

Wednesday, August 29, 2018 - 18:37 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (August 29) – United World Wrestling has partnered with US-based FloGrappling to provide live stream and on-demand coverage of the World Grappling Championships through 2020. The three-year deal will include all men’s and women’s, gi and no-gi championships.

Grappling is a non-Olympic style of United World Wrestling with several events held annually around the world. United World Wrestling’s Grappling Commission oversees the competitions, sets rules and awards host cities for events like the World Grappling Championships.

“Grappling is a worldwide phenomenon and we are looking forward to working with FloSports to showcase our style to fans everywhere on FloGrappling.com,” said United World Wrestling president Nenad Lalovic. “We’re confident FloGrappling’s coverage of the World Grappling Championships will give the sport new energy and attract more athletes and fans.”

The 2018 Grappling World Championships will feature national teams from Russia, Poland, France, Iran, Ukraine, Italy, Azerbaijan, Kryzgstan, Brazil, the United States and more.

The four-day competition will run September 6-9 at the Daulet Sports Complex in Astana, Kazakhstan.

About FloSports

FloSports, the innovator in live digital sports and original content, partners with event rights holders, governing bodies, and other media companies to unlock a world of sports coverage that true fans have been waiting for. Through live streaming of premier events, original video programming, and weekly studio shows, FloSports is growing the sports, the events, the athletes, and the fans. Current verticals under the FloSports header include Rugby, Basketball, MMA, Football, Wrestling, Track, Gymnastics, Hockey, and more.

 

Saitiev, three-time Olympic champion, passes away aged 49

Sunday, March 2, 2025 - 17:40 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (March 2) -- Wrestling legend, three-time Olympic gold medalist and six-time world champion Buvaisar SAITIEV passed away Sunday. He was 49 years old and nine days short of his 50th birthday.

Saitiev was buried in the village of Novokuli in the Novolaksky district of Dagestan on Tuesday, March 4.

Saitiev, widely considered the best Freestyle wrestler of all time, was born in Dagestan but moved to Krasnoyarsk, Siberia to train at the Mindiashvili wrestling academy under the legendary coach Dmitri Mindiashvili.

The 49-year-old announced his retirement soon after winning his third Olympic title in Beijing 2008. His other two titles came in 1996 Atlanta Olympics and 2004 Athens Olympics. In 2000 Sydney Olympics, Brandon SLAY (USA) defeated him.

Apart from the world and Olympic titles, Saitiev was six-time European champion.

 

United World Wrestling President Nenad LALOVIC expressed his shock on the untimely passing of Saitiev.

"The wrestling family is in shock with the passing of Saitiev," Lalovic said. "He was a legend of the sport and we lost him at a very young age of 49. Saitiev inspired wrestlers around the world and many took up the sport because of him. It's an unrepairable loss to the wrestling community and we are with the Saitiev family during this time of grief."

In 2007, Saitiev was awarded as the best Freestyle wrestler in history by UWW [then FILA].

Wrestling majorly in the 74kg weight class, Saitiev stood at 183 centimetres and made his World Championships debut in Atlanta, 1995. A year later, he won the gold medal at 74kg at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

He became world champion in 1997 and 1998 but did not participate in 1999. He lost to Slay in early rounds of the 2000 Sydney Olympics and finished ninth.

But he captured the gold medals again at the 2001 and 2003 World Championships and returned to the top at the 2004 Athens Olympics. He became the world champion in 2005 and 2006 and claimed his third Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games.