#WrestleBelgrade

Chamizo Storms into FS Finals, Russia Advances 3

By United World Wrestling Press

BELGRADE, Serbia (December 16) -- Two-time world champion Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) stormed into the 74kg finals on the first day of freestyle competition at the Individual World Cup in Belgrade, Serbia.

The 28-year-old Chamizo, a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, finished the day 4-0, capped off by a 10-0 technical superiority over Azamat NURYKAU (BLR) in the semifinals. After getting a pair of takedowns in the opening period, Chamizo blew the match open in the second period after a four-point takedown, which was challenged and upheld. He then finished the match with a step out. 

Chamizo will meet Razambek ZHAMALOV (RUS) in the 74kg final. Zhamalov moved into the 74kg final with a 5-0 shutout over Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK). The Russian scored his first three points off step outs before adding a two-point exposure late in the match off a desperation attempt by Salkazanov.

Zhamalov was one of four semifinal winners for Russia on Wednesday. Russia's other semifinal winners included Zavur UGUEV (57kg), Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (92kg) and Shamil SHARIPOV (125kg).

Two-time world champion Zavur UGUEV (RUS) advanced to the 57kg final (Photo: Kadir CALISKAN, UWW)

The two-time world champion Uguev earned his spot in the 57kg final with a fall over two-time cadet world champion Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI). The first period was competitive, with Uguev holding a 2-1 lead at the break. In the second period, Ugaev was able to expose Amouzadkhalili before getting the fall. He will face Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) in the 57kg final. The Armenian earned a 7-4 win over Stevan MICIC (SRB) in the semifinals. 

Zhabrailov was dominant in his 92kg semifinal, rolling to a 10-0 technical superiority over Arkadzi PAHASIAN (BLR). He quickly went up 6-0 after a takedown and a pair of gut wrenches. Zhabrailov ended the match with a takedown and two-point exposure. 

Georgii RUBAEV (MDA) came from behind to win in his semifinal at 92kg (Photo: Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

Georgii RUBAEV (MDA) won the other 92kg semifinal with a comeback victory over Gadzhimurad MAGOMEDSAIDOV (AZE). Magomedsaidov was in control for much of the match. He scored his first point off a passivity before getting a takedown to go up 3-0, which he took into the break. The Azerbaijani wrestler extended his lead to 5-0 in the second period after a takedown. The tide turned, however, in the second period when Rubaev countered an attack and threw Magomedsaidov for four points. The call was challenged and upheld, giving Rubaev the 5-5 criteria lead. He would then hold on for the victory. 

Shamil SHARIPOV (RUS) was dominant in his semifinal match at 125kg (Photo: Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

Russia's fourth semifinal winner, Sharipov, advanced to the gold-medal match with a 13-2 technical superiority over Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (BLR). After going up 4-0 after the opening period, Sharipov added three more takedowns and a step out before ending the match with a gut wrench.  

Robert BARAN (POL) advanced to the 125kg final with a 6-0 shutout over Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ). Baran held a narrow 1-0 lead before pulling away in the second period on the strength of a takedown, step out and two-point exposure off a crotch lift. 

At 70kg, Haydar YAVUZ (TUR) blanked Islambek OROZBEKOV (KGZ) 6-0 to reach the 70kg final. He will face Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) for gold. GADZHIEV won by injury default over Chermen VALIEV (RUS) in his semifinal match.

Freestyle Semifinal Results

57kg
Zavur UGUEV (RUS) df. Rahman Mousa AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI) by VFA, 4-1
Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df. Stevan Andria MICIC (SRB) by VPO1, 7-4

70kg
Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) df. Chermen VALIEV (RUS) by VIN, 0-0
Haydar YAVUZ (TUR) df. Islambek OROZBEKOV (KGZ) by VPO, 6-0

74kg
Razambek ZHAMALOV (RUS) df. Tajmuraz Mairbekovic SALKAZANOV (SVK) by VPO, 5-0
Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA) df. Azamat NURYKAU (BLR) by VSU, 10-0

92kg
Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (RUS) df. Arkadzi PAHASIAN (BLR) by VSU, 10-0
Georgii RUBAEV (MDA) df. Gadzhimurad MAGOMEDSAIDOV (AZE) by VPO1, 5-5

125kg
Robert BARAN (POL) df. Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ) by VPO, 6-0
Shamil SHARIPOV (RUS) df. Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (BLR) by VSU1, 13-2
 

#WrestleTirana

Kadzimahamedau, Sadulaev Return to European Finals

By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (April 24) -- Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW), David BAEV (UWW), and Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) were among the wrestlers who reached the final of the European Championships 2026 in Tirana on Friday.

Kadzimahamedau set up a rematch of the final from 2024 against Akhmed USMANOV (UWW) who defeated Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA), 3-0, in a rematch of last year's European final.

After last year's European quest at 86kg, Kadzimahamedau returned to 79kg and continued his crafty wrestling, beating Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE), 5-1, in the semifinals. He used two different takedowns and an activity period point for his scores.

But it was the quarterfinals in which Kadzimahamedau showed his class, Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO), 11-10. He lead 5-0 when Gaphrindashvili scored a double-leg four-pointer to make it 5-4, changed to 7-5 for Kadzimahamedau after a challenge. After a scramble and stepout, the scores read 10-9 for Gaphrindashvili with 11 seconds left but Kadzimahamedau snuck out a takedown with 3 seconds left to win.

At 97kg, five-time European champion Sadulaev returned to the final after six years after a clinical display throughout the day. In the finals, he got the better of Akhmed MAGAMAEV (BUL), 12-2, using his gut-wrench to score points.

Sadulaev used a outside single-leg attack to score his first takedown and then turned Magamaev to get a four-point lead. But as he was trying to turn Magamaev again, the Bulgarian blocked him for two points but Sadulaev managed to sneak out of any control. He then managed a takedown and two turns for a 10-2 lead before an easy go-behind finished the bout.

Former world silver medalist Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) will challenge Sadulaev in the final after he defeated Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO), 12-1, using the leg-lace for five turns.

Defending champion Baev had no trouble in defeated Oleksii BORUTA (UKR), 9-2, and returning to the final. But a rising star awaits him next in the 70kg final as U23 European champion Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) defeated Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), 11-0, in the other semifinals.

Gaidarli, who won silver at the U20 World Championships last year, did not give any chance to Muszukajev and turned the match into a one-sided affair.

Dudaev Returns to Final

Home-favorite and Olympic bronze medalist Islam DUDAEV (ALB) returned to the final of European Championships at 65kg after a 4-0 victory over Islam GUSEINOV (UWW). Dudaev scored a stepout to start the bout before getting a activity point in the first period and lead 2-0. He doubled the lead to 4-0 in the final minute with a takedown which he defended.

Dudaev will take on Bashir MAGOMEDOV (UWW) for the gold medal after Magomedov handed former European champion Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) a heartbreaking, 3-3, criteria loss in the semifinals.

Tevanyan scored a takedown and also a point for stepout but in a later scramble, Tevanyan got countered on a leg attack and gave up a takedown on the edge for two points to Magomedov. Armenia challenged, asking for two points for Tevanyan during the scramble.

However, Tevanyan never got complete control over Magomedov and the lost challenge added to the latter's score to give him criteria. Tevanyan waited to launch the attack and when he did during the final moments of the bout, he could not gets a stepout or takedown despite all the action taking place in the zone.

At 57kg, Musa MEKHTIKHANOV (UWW) and Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) will battle it out for the gold medal on Saturday. Mekhtikhanov defeated Manvel KHNDZRTSYAN (ARM), 5-0, in the semifinals after two counter takedowns and point for passivity.

Bazarganov was more active in his semifinal against Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO) and worked on his lace to beat the Georgian 11-1.

RESULTS

57kg
SF 1: Musa MEKHTIKHANOV (UWW) df. Manvel KHNDZRTSYAN (ARM), 5-0
SF 2: Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) df. Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO), 11-1

65kg
SF 1: Islam DUDAEV (ALB) df. Islam GUSEINOV (UWW), 4-0
SF 2: Bashir MAGOMEDOV (UWW) df. Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM), 3-3

70kg
SF 1: David BAEV (UWW) df. Oleksii BORUTA (UKR), 9-2
SF 2: Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) df. Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), 11-0

79kg
SF 1: Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) df. Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE), 5-1
SF 2: Akhmed USMANOV (UWW) df. Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA), 3-0

97kg
SF 1: Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) df. Akhmed MAGAMAEV (BUL), 12-2
SF 2: Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) df. Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO), 12-1