#Zagreb2018

Amirli and Kerkvliet Return to Cadet World Finals

Monday, July 2, 2018 - 20:40 By Taylor Miller

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ZAGREB, Croatia – Returning World champions Alihasan AMIRLI (AZE) and Daniel KERKVLIET (USA) sealed spots in the Cadet World finals for the second year in a row.

The weights contested in the first day of action were 48 kg, 55 kg, 65 kg, 80 kg and 110 kg.

Four countries put multiple wrestlers into tomorrow’s Cadet World men’s freestyle finals, including Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia and USA.

Making it to the finals at 48 kg was 2017 World champion at 42 kg Alihasan AMIRLI (AZE), who beat out two-time Cadet World medalist Giorgi GEGELASHVILI (GEO) with a convincing 8-2 decision to move onto his second-consecutive World Championship final.

Waiting for him there is Richard FIGUEROA II (USA), who made his international debut on Monday. To get to the gold-medal bout, Figueroa defeated Mykyta ABRAMOV (UKR) in the semis with a 10-4 victory.

At 55 kg, both semifinals were determined were won within the final seconds.

This year’s Cadet Asian champion Hayato FUJITA (JPN) edged out Daviti ABDALADZE (GEO) with a 4-4 win on criteria. Fujita picked up a late takedown to secure his chance to go for gold tomorrow night.

On the other side of the bracket, Jamshidbek MARUFOV (UZB) fought off several persistent attacks from Simone PIRODDU (ITA). Marufov trailed on criteria within the final minute but scored a takedown for an eventual 5-4 win to move onto the finals.

Inalbek SHERIEV (RUS) and Dmitrii ELKANOV (RUS) will compete for gold at back-to-back weights tomorrow.

Sheriev moved on to the 65 kg finals after defeating 2018 Cadet Asian silver medalist Bekzat ZHALGASSOV (KAZ). After going up 10-0, Sheriev sealed the win with a pin at the 3:46 mark.

The other finalist at 65 kg is Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE), a 2017 Cadet World silver medalist and 2018 Cadet European champion. Bayramov landed a spot in the finals with a dominant 8-2 win over 2018 Cadet Asian champion Mohammad KARIMISEIFABAD (IRI).

The 80 kg finals will pit Elkanov against 2018 Cadet Asian champion Mohammadreza GHIYASI (IRI), who took out Sagadulla AGAEV (AZE) with a 6-1 victory.

At 110 kg, Daniel KERKVLIET (USA), a 2017 Cadet World champion, punched a ticket to his second-consecutive World finals on Monday with a close-call win over 2018 Cadet European champion Sergey KOZYREV (RUS), 2-2. Kerekvliet’s second-period takedown gave the American the win on criteria.

Looking to challenge the reigning champ is Amir ZARE (IRI), the 2018 Cadet Asian champion. Zare made it to the finals with Islam ABUEV (AZE) with an 11-0 shutout in the semifinals.

The finals are set for Tuesday at 6 p.m. local time (12 p.m. ET). The repechage for today’s five weights as well as the preliminary rounds for 45 kg, 51 kg, 60 kg, 71 kg and 92 kg will begin at 10:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m. ET).

Finals pairings
48 kg: Richard FIGUEROA (USA) vs. Alihasan AMIRLI (AZE)
55 kg: Hayato FUJITA (JPN) vs. Jamshidbek MARUFOV (UZB)
65 kg: Inalbek SHERIEV (RUS) vs. Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE)
80 kg: Dmitrii ELKANOV (RUS) vs. Mohammadreza GHIYASI (IRI)
110 kg: Amir ZARE (IRI) vs. Daniel KERKVLIET (USA)

2026 World Championships

Hedayati Beats World Champ Mirzazadeh to Claim Iran's World Team Spot

Wednesday, June 17, 2026 - 10:33 By Vinay Siwach

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KERMAN, Iran (June 16) -- World champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) decided to skip the second bout of the best-of-three series against Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI), ending his hopes of defending his world title this year.

Hedayati, who has been knocking on the door of Iran's world team for more than two years, defeated Mirzazadeh, 5-1, in the opening selection bout at 130kg to secure a spot on Iran's Greco-Roman team for the 2026 World Championships, to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan, from October 24 to November 1.

Mirzazadeh still had a chance to claim the spot if he won the remaining two bouts, but he chose not to continue in the series, effectively conceding the berth to Hedayati.

Hedayati scored on a passivity point, two pushouts and a two-point go-behind. Mirzazadeh's only point came from passivity as he failed to score from par terre.

"I respect Mirzazadeh a lot as he is a world champion," Hedayati told UWW. "But we worked a lot for one year to beat him."

In the selection bout last year, Hedayati hoped to hang on for a 1-1 criteria victory but Mirzazadeh scored a par terre turn to win 3-1. Hedayati switched his strategy this year and did not wait for the par terre position. He even asked for a standing restart when Mirzazadeh was called passive.

"Last year, I waited for the second period to win 1-1, but now I started to push right off the whistle," he said. "My plan was to push him out because I can do it. When I got passivity advantage, I asked for a start in standing."

Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI)Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) defeated Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI), 5-1.

The 22-year-old Hedayati, who hails from Amol, the same town as 125kg freestyle world champion Amirhossein ZARE (IRI), will be making his senior World Championships debut in Astana as part of a strong Iran team that features three champions among seven returning medalists.

Zare was present in Kerman to support and coach Hedayati, who calls the Freestyle wrestler 'a brother'.

"I train with Zare because of our weight classes and he came here for my match," he said. "Outside of the mat, we run together, go for hiking, cross country and share a lot of time together to discuss wrestling. We always talk about winning the gold medal together, especially at the Olympics."

The Olympics are still two years away, but Zare and Hedayati can both win gold at the World Championships in Astana.

Hedayati, despite his debut, will enter as the favorite at 130kg. He has already won golds at the U20 and U23 World Championships, the Asian Championships and Ranking Series. He has registered wins over all major 130kg wrestlers including Riza KAYAALP (TUR), Oscar PINO (CUB), Pavel HLINCHUK (BLR), among others.

His only international loss came in 2022 in the U20 World Championships final, 6-4, against Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR) that he has since avenged.

"I am training with Ghasem REZAEI (2012 London Olympic champion at 96kg) to improve my par terre offense so I can be a complete wrestler. My defense in par terre is good," he said.

In other weight classes, Iran will be bringing seven medalists including three champions. Olympic champion Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) will be at 67kg and Hadi SARAVI (IRI) at 97kg. Both are defending world champions along with Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) who will be at 82kg.

The returning silver medalists are Payam AHMADI (IRI) at 55kg and Alireza MOHMADI (IRI) at 87kg, while Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI) at 63kg and Danial SOHRABI (IRI) at 72kg are returning bronze medalists.

Former U20 world champion Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI), who finished 17th last year, will look to win a medal for his team along with Ali OSKOU (IRI) at 77kg who will be making his World Championships debut.

Iran's Freestyle team for the 2026 World Championships will be selected on Friday, June 19 with Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) and Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI), both at 97kg. 

Iran's Greco-Roman Team for 2026 World Championships

55kg: Payam AHMADI (IRI)
60kg: Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI)
63kg: Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI)
67kg: Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI)
72kg: Danial SOHRABI (IRI)
77kg: Ali OSKOU (IRI)
82kg: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI)
87kg: Alireza MOHMADI (IRI)
97kg: Hadi SARAVI (IRI)
130kg: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI)