Rivalry

Wrestling Showcases Heavyweight Battle in Short Film, "Rivalry: Taha v. Geno" 

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (April 15) -- They are the largest men in the sport of wrestling and for the past several years they've been exchanging some of its most epic battles.

With back-and-forth action and incredible stamina leading to nail-biting outcomes, Rio Olympic champion Taha AKGUL (TUR) and three-time world champion Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) have become appointment viewing for wrestling fans around the world. The duo has competed more than a half dozen times, exchanging wins and losses in what are often high-scoring matches with exertion that often seems in defiance of what is possible.

The documentary highlights the action on the mat, but also the incredible respect and admiration the duo shares for each other. 'I'm extra prepared and motivated each time we wrestle," says Akgul in the film. "He's an incredible sportsman with a strong will," replies Petriashvili.

While the action on the mat can get heated, the duo has showcased the power of respect in a rivalry and that wrestling -- while intense and without forgiveness -- can be a platform for building character.

Fans can watch the documentary for free on YouTube, IGTV, Facebook, and the UWW website.

#AmateurMMA

Amateur MMA World Championships 2025 Entry List

By United World Wrestling Press

NOVI SAD, Serbia (September 30) -- United World Wrestling's senior Amateur MMA World Championships will be held in Novi Sad, Serbia from October 17 to 19.

Both men's and women's competition will be held in nine weight classes. All matches will be live on the UWW Website.

Men's Amateur MMA

57kg
Aboubakary COULIBALY (FRA)
Nidhan JUNAIZ (IND)
Arian BABAEI (IRI)
Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR)
Stanislav DREMLIUHA (UKR)
Ilia RAIU (UWW)

62kg
Fakhri ALIYEV (AZE)
Cedrick BISSOUT (CMR)
Abdoulmalick BAILLOT (FRA)
Aayush DIPU (IND)
Reza GHOLINIA (IRI)
Karo GABRIEL (NGR)
Mykhailo KAZYMERCHUK (UKR)
Aleksandr MARIENKO (UWW)

66kg
Sardar SARDARLI (AZE)
Cedric EYENGA (CMR)
Matej DRAVINAC (CRO)
Adil IKHLAZOV (FRA)
Alexander LUSTER (GER)
Arash SAMIEI (IRI)
Chukwuemerie OKOLI (NGR)
Yurii PASYCH (UKR)
Magomed ELZHARKIEV (UWW)

71kg
Nihad GULIYEV (AZE)
Max KAMA (CMR)
Antoni GONCZ (FRA)
Ali GUENDUEZ (GER)
Rudransh AZAD (IND)
Mohammadreza FADAEE (IRI)
Denis PALANCICA (MDA)
Emmanuel NWORIE (NGR)
Oleksandr HULIAIEV (UKR)
Safar RAMAZANOV (UWW)
Anvarjon GOYIBOV (UZB)

77kg
Kieto PACHECO (ANG)
Vasif AHLIMANOV (AZE)
Salomon MAYENGUE (CMR)
Mathys DEGOULET (FRA)
Fazli ERYILMAZ (TUR)
Kyryl KYSELOV (UKR)
Andrei MIADZUN (UWW)
Gairbek DALGATOV (UWW)

84kg
Gunduz NABIYEV (AZE)
Mike KANCEL (FRA)
Dominic KYLE (IND)
Gheorghe BALAUR (MDA)
Eduard ZAHARIA (ROU)
Oleksii STRYZHKO (UKR)
Eduard KUTSKO (UWW)
Magomed MAKHAMAEV (UWW)

93kg
Abdoulkhadre DRAME (FRA)
Sina VARMAGHANI (IRI)
Vadym ZHUKOV (UKR)
Artsiom ZHURAULIOU (UWW)
Makhmud MAKHMUDOV (UWW)

100kg
Joao SALOMAO (ANG)
Yanko FALEU (FRA)
Elvis GROHMANN (GER)
Javad REZAEI (IRI)
Yurii BOHORODCHENKO (UKR)
Ali ALIEV (UWW)
Asrorbek ANVARJONOV (UZB)

130kg
Nezar ALKHABBAZ (GER)
Liviu MALUDA (MDA)
Oleksandr KHODAKOV (UKR)
Vladimir DAINEKO (UWW)

Women's Amateur MMA

50kg
Pernelle ABOMO (CMR)
Anna BEZHENAR (UKR)
Daria ROMANOVA (UWW)

53kg
Daria KRAPIVINA (UWW)

57kg
Katarina KUFEK (CRO)
Justine TAILFER (FRA)
Divya RAHI (IND)
Daria CHIBISOVA (UKR)
Viktoriia DUDAKOVA (UWW)

61kg
Sonia BOUCHAIR (FRA)
Lorena CUBERO (GER)
Yana MELNYCHUK (UKR)
Veronika SUSHINA (UWW)
Khilola SOBIROVA (UZB)

65kg
Ismahane BOUZIDI (FRA)
Yuliia MELNYCHUK (UKR)
Khalida TIMOFEEVA (UWW)

70kg
Fanny MOUNGOUN (CMR)
Sofiia ZHENEVSKA (UKR)
Lilit TAMAZIAN (UWW)

75kg
Anna ERSHOVA (UWW)

80kg
Dana DROZHZHINA (UWW)