#WrestleParis

10 seeded showdowns we need to see at Paris 2024 (No. 1-5)

Friday, July 19, 2024 - 11:28 By Eric Olanowski

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PARIS, France (July 18) --- Yesterday, we launched the No. 6-10 must-watch seeded matches that could take place in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the upcoming Paris Olympic Games. We continue the series with the top five matchups that could be between seeded athletes in the quarterfinals and semifinals.

SCHEDULE | PARIS 2024 EVENT PAGE 

The top eight Ranking Series point scorers from the 2023 World Championships, 2024 Continental Championships, and the Croatian and Hungarian Ranking Series events earned a top eight seed in Paris. The remaining eight wrestlers will be randomly drawn into their respective brackets.

Here are the top-five seeded showdowns that can take place in Paris:

5. 97kg SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) vs. No. 4 Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB)
If you were to rank the ten Greco-Roman favorites expected to win gold at last year’s World Championships, Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) would have been either at the top or second on that list.

Unfortunately (or fortunately), no one told Gabriel Rosillo that the list existed.

In their lone career meeting, Rosillo, with the most perfectly timed arm drag that the wrestling world has seen in recent memory, stopped Aleksanyan from winning his fifth world gold medal. The Cuban sucked in an arm drag to Aleksanyan’s right arm, then perfectly timed a re-drag to the left side just as the Armenian pulled away, giving him the go-ahead takedown with 23 seconds left.

After the match, Aleksanyan said he relaxed at the most inopportune time and he’ll use the loss to Rosillo as motivation heading into Paris.

The second meeting between Aleksanyan and Rosillo could happen on August 6 in the 97kg semifinals.

4. 125kg SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Amir ZARE (IRI) vs. No. 4 Taha AKGUL (TUR)
Zare and Akgul have been going blow for blow for the last three years, with Zare grabbing the 2-1 advantage from his 2021 and 2023 wins, which were sandwiched between a 2022 world championship loss.

Zare picked up the biggest win of his career (at the time) with his win 4-0 shutout win over Akgul at the 2021 Oslo World Championships. Up until that point, the Iranian was looked at as a tier-two heavyweight. His win over Akgul in Norway pushed him into the ranks with Akgul, Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) and Gable STEVESON (USA).

In the second meeting, Akgul stood tall on the United World Wrestling logo in the center of the mat and didn't budge. He evened the score at one match apiece, striking late with a counter-offensive 360 spin, moving into the world finals with a 3-3 win.

Zare regained his crown in the third meeting, with a tactical heavy-handed 4-0 win.

Zare knew Akgul wasn’t much of an offensive threat and couldn't afford to make a similar mistake as he did the year before, giving up the match-deciding takedown with no time left. He remained composed and scored a pair of stepouts and a takedown to win 4-0, giving him the 2-1 advantage heading into Paris.

The fourth meeting between world champions Zare and Akgul could happen on August 9 in the 125kg semifinals.

3. 57kg SEMIFINAL –  No. 2 Rei HIGUCHI (JPN ) vs. No. 3 Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)
Harutyunyan and Higuchi are two guys with unlimited offensive and have gas tanks that rival a nuclear submarine.

That was on display in last year’s Freestyle Match of the Year, where Harutyunyan and Higuchi put up a combined 30 points in one match—17 points in the first period and 13 in the second.

In their epic second meeting, Higuchi surrendered an early 6-0 lead, but clawed his way back before the ending whistle in the first, taking the 10-7 lead with a beautiful four-point arm-throw. Higuchi’s onslaught of attacks continued as the second period started, scoring six straight points and extending his lead to 16-8. From there, Higuchi seemingly shut it down to conserve energy for the semifinals, as he gave up six unanswered points but still won the bout, 16-14.

The second meeting between Higuchi and Harutyunyan would go down on August 8 in the 57kg semifinals.

2. 97kg SEMIFINAL – No . 2 Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) vs. No. 3 Kyle SNYDER (USA)
Coming into the 2023 World Championships, Tazhudinov was a relatively unknown 20-year-old. The most fans knew about the 21-year-old was that he was a young guy trained by Sadulaev’s coach but left Russia to compete for Bahrain.

That all changed for Tazhudinov after his sub-three-minute quarterfinal routing of world and Olympic champion Kyle SNYDER (USA). The lengthy pupil of the Sadulaev’s School of Wrestling threw Snyder twice for four, using all four of the American’s shot attempts to score his 10 quick points.

Heading into Paris, there’s nothing more that Snyder wants more than revenge against Tazhudinov on his way to a potential third Olympic medal.

“I’m pumped about the bracket. It worked out great, in my opinion,” said Snyder in an interview with FloWrestling. “The third match of the day, that’s probably my best match. Once I start getting warm, I feel like I can wrestle forever.”

Round two of the Snyder vs. Tazhudinov rivalry will take on August 10 in the 97kg Olympic semifinals.

1. 60kg SEMIFINAL  –  No. 1 Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) vs. No. 4 Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN)
The Sharshenbekov and Fumita gold-medal bout from the 2023 World Championships was voted as the 2023 Match of the Year by fans.

In their second career meeting, the pair of two-time world champions wowed the crowd from whistle to whistle, with Sharshebekov scoring the first four-pointer of the match five seconds after the referee blew the whistle.

The points continued to pile up throughout the match. The pair collectively scored 15 points in the opening 90 seconds. They ultimately scored 17 points in the six-minute bout, with Sharshenbekov taking ownership of the world title with an 11-6 victory.

Sharshenbekov and Fumita are scheduled to meet on August 5 in the 60kg semifinals.

Wrestling at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games starts August 5-11 and can be followed on www.uww.org.

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar Open Day 4 Freestyle: Results & Highlights

Sunday, June 7, 2026 - 03:21 By Vinay Siwach

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ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (June 7) -- Freestyle day at Ulaanbaatar Open with seven weight class. World champions Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) and Chongsong HAN (PRK) are in action at 65kg and 57kg respectively.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

14:20: 65kg semifinal - Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) has unreal pace and Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ) has no answers for it. The world champion enters the 65kg final after a win over the Kazakhstan wrestler. Amouzad led 3-0 and then scored a stepout before Askarov also got a stepout to make it 4-1. Amouzad managed another before scoring a takedown to lead 7-1 at the break. He starts the second period with a takedown as well and then needs a stepout and go-behind to finish the bout 12-1.

14:07: 61kg semifinal - In a match that saw the lead switch hands on several occasions, Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ) scores a late takedown to  beat Batnasan GANKHULEG (MGL), 3-2, and reach the 61kg final

14:07: 125kg semifinal - DINESH (IND) breaks Timur KOTAEV (RUS) in the 125kg semifinal and scored easy go-behind takedowns for a 11-0 victory in 3:13

14:00: 125kg semifinal - Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) with a late takedown to beat Jose DIAZ (VEN) 2-2 on criteria. Diaz had two activity points but Kassimbek's takedown takes the upper hand in the score

13:58: 61kg semifinal - DEEPAK (IND) in the 61kg final after a 7-1 victory over Adilet ALMUKHAMEDOV (KAZ). Deepak with relentless pressure to score his takedowns while Almukhamedov could never break through

13:51: 97kg semifinal - Demchigdorj TUMURBAATAR (MGL) hangs on for a 2-1 win over TUXIGE (CHN) at 97kg. He will face Takhir KHANIEV (RUS) for the gold medal

13:48: 65kg semifinal - Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL) took his time but comes alive in the second period, finishing his semifinal 12-1 against Ossimzhan DASTANBEK (KAZ) at 65kg. He led 4-1 at the break but scores eight points in the second period to win 45 seconds after the break

13:47: 97kg semifinal - Takhir KHANIEV (RUS) scores a takedown and four turns using the gut-wrench to finish off his semifinal in 53 seconds against VICKY (IND) and advance to the final.

13:44: 79kg semifinal - Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) with a 13-2 victory over Shamsat TAIR (KAZ). Tair scored the first takedown but Yousefi with a takdown and turn to lead. Tair gives up a stepout and fleeing caution as Yousefi leads 7-2. A takedown later, he makes it 9-2 before finishing the bout with a techncial superiority win.

13:43: 70kg semifinal - Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) holds on to a 2-0 win over Magomed ELTEMIROV ((RUS) after the Russian was called passive two times in the bout. Both passivity calls gave Tumur Ochir gave one point each.

13:40: 57kg semifinal - Musa MEKHTIKHANOV (RUS) uses the leg lace to build a 6-0 lead before finishing his 57kg semifinal with a 12-1 victory over Abzal OKENOV (KAZ) with the lace in the second sequence.

13:33: 57kg semifinal - World champion Chongsong HAN (PRK) advances to the final at 57kg after a 4-1 win over Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ). A stepout and activity point gave Han two points but he lost a challenge. He added a takedown in the second period to lead 4-1, the winning score.

13:31: 70kg semifinal - Rustamzhan KAKHAROV (KGZ) dominates his 70kg semifinal against Usukhbayar BAATARKHUU (MGL) and posts a 10-0 win. Kakharov never looked in trouble against the Mongolian

13:30: 79kg semifinal - Barring a four-pointer from Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) which extended the bout, Ismail KHANIEV (RUS) dominated his semifinal to complete a 14-4 victory and advance to the final.

Semifinals on all three mats with three different weight classes

13:15: Last match of the qualification rounds and Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ) hangs on for a 3-2 win over Ahora KHATERI (IRI) at 61kg. He score two activity points and a stepout while Khateri scored a takedown 

12:30: World Champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) keeps it simple in his first bout of the tournament with a 5-0 controlled win over Kwang Jin KIM (PRK). Kim had not idea how to break those underhooks. Amouzad into the 65kg semifinals.

12:15: Cross WASILEWSKI (USA) with two takedowns at the end against Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) to make it 5-4 but he cannot score a point needed for the win and Tumur Ochir advance to the semifinals at 70kg with the narrow win 

12:05: Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL) looks in great form at 65kg as he now beats Christopher COMPOSTO (USA), 10-0. He scores a takedown and gut-wrench to go 4-0 up. He then gets an easy go-behind for a 6-0 lead. Composto tries a fake but Mamedov counters with a takedown and exposure to win.

11:50: The Khaniev brothers -- Ismail and Takhir -- begin with contrasting victories at 79kg and 97kg respectively. Takhir goes first at 97kg and scores a 2-0 win over Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) with no action points. However, Ismail is scores multiple different takedowns to complete an 11-0 win over Khangaibayar GANBOLD (MGL) at 79kg 

11:30: Magomed ELTEMIROV (RUS) starts off with a 10-0 victory over Zandanbat BATSAIKHAN (MGL) at 70kg. He scores an easy takedown and then turns the Mongolia using gut-wrench and lace to complete the victory.

11:15: Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) lost the Asian Championships final to ABHIMANYOU (IND) at 70kg. But he avenges that loss with a 9-0 victory over the Indian on Sunday. Tumur Ochir with total control of the bout while Abhimanyou looked tired.

11:05: Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL) steps on the mat at 65kg against MOHIT (IND). He lifts and slams Mohit for a four-pointer before finishing the bout 10-0. Mamedov is on the way to clash with world champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) if both do not suffer an upset

10:55: European silver medalist Musa MEKHTIKHANOV (RUS) scores six points and then holds on to his 6-2 lead throughout to beat Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ) at 57kg.

10:45: World champion Chongsong HAN (PRK) needed his strong leg lace to survive a scare in the opening round at 57kg against Aiaal BELOLYUBSKII (TJK). Han and Belolyubskii exchanged a few scrambles but the former led 10-8 when he unleashed the leg lace to complete an 18-8 win at 57kg. 

10:30: The fourth day of the Ulaanbaatar Open will feature 57kg, 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, 97kg, and 125kg.