European Championships FS 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, 97kg semis set

Friday, February 16, 2024 - 08:13 By United World Wrestling Press

BUCHAREST, Romania (February 16) -- Freestyle will take over the European Championships on day five with 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg and 97kg weight classes. Unfortunately, Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) will not be competing. Still, big matches coming up.

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Semifinals for the evening session

57kg
Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) vs. Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE)
Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO) vs. Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR)

65kg
Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (AIN) vs. Goderdzi DZEBISASHVILI (GEO)
Islam DUDAEV (ALB) vs. Ali RAHIMZADA (AZE)

70kg
Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL) vs. Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO)
Ismail MUSUKAEV (HUN) vs. Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM)

79kg
Akhmed USMANOV (AIN) vs. Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO)
Magomedkhabib KADIMAGOMEDOV (AIN) vs. Frank CHAMIZO (ITA)

97kg
Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) vs. Vladislav BAITCAEV (HUN)
Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) vs. Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR)

14:10: Top match between Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) and Gazdhimurad RASHIDOV (AIN). Rashidov was called passive which gave Tevanyan the first point but Rashidov hit a arm-trap and rolled to make it 4-1. The second period saw Tevanyan score a takedown and stepout. Rashidov held a 4-4 criteria lead and despite Tevanyan trying hard to score, Rashidov managed to hold on to the win.

13:55: Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) is into the semifinals of 79kg. He beats Orkhan ABBASOV (AZE) 6-5 in the quarterfinals. Once again, it was Chamizo's defense that made the difference. Abbasov scored a takedown and then a stepout. But Chamizo got a takedown and a point for Abbasov's passivity. Abbasov had Chamizo in all sorts of trouble but the Italian's defense saved him from a takedown. Abbasov was cautioned for fleeing when Chamizo scored a stepout. Azerbaijan challenged the fleeing call but lost. Abbasov did score a takedown but failed to change the winner.

13:45: Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) is toying with his opponents. After building a 6-0 lead against Marc DIETSCHE (SUI), he hits a four-point throw to finish the match 10-0. Perhaps the most casual four-pointer you will see

13:40: World champion Akhmed USMANOV (AIN) got the first point for Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) passivity and then hit a big four-pointer to lead 5-0. He added a takedown while Kougioumtsidis could not get a reversal and takedown. Usmanov moves into the semifinal with a 7-4 win.

13:30: Magomedkhabib KADIMAGOMEDOV (AIN) hits a huge throw for 5 and then a turn to beat Ramazan SARI (TUR) 10-0 and move into the 79kg semifinal. He will face the winner of Orkhan ABBASOV (AZE) and Frank CHAMIZO (ITA)

13:10: Batyrbek TCAKULOV (SVK) and Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) move into the 97kg quarterfinals. Tcakulov defeated Robert BARAN (POL) while Matcharashvili dominated Lukas KRASAUSKAS (LTU) 13-2

12:55: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) takes just two minutes to beat Kamil KERYMOV (UKR) 10-0 at 57kg and advance to this evening's semifinal. Harutyunyan is looking for his fourth European title.

12:40: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) is a different beast in the second period. He trailed Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL) 2-0 but hit a beautiful four-pointer in the second before adding a takedown. He wins 7-2. Next up for Tevanyan is Rashidov

12:20: Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (AIN), returning to the international scene for the first time since the Tokyo Olympics, begins with a solid 6-0 win over Andre CLARKE (GER). His defense still looks very strong.

12:00: Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) has a little more action in his second match as he beats Erik REINBOK (EST) 6-0 at 79kg. In the same weight category, Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) holds off Oleksii DOMANYTSKYI (UKR) 7-4 to advance to the quarterfinals.

11:50: Israil KASUMOV (AIN) was a late entry to the European Championships but his journey may have finished early. He drops his first match 4-3 to Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) at 70kg

11:45: 65kg world champion Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) is wrestling at 70kg and he takes his good time to win the first match. Up against Egzon XHONI (KOS), Muszukajev wins 11-0.

11:30: Little upset on Mat C as Erik THIELE (GER) beats Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD) 4-3 at 97kg. He hit an arm throw for four points when trailing 3-0. Batyrbek TCAKULOV (SRB) finishes his bout against Benjamin HONIS (ITA) 10-0 in 2 minutes and 45 seconds.

11:15: On Mat B, Iakub SHIKHDZHAMALOV (ROU) and Pouria TAHERKHANI (GER) wrestle it bout and Shikhdzhamalov wins 4-4 after a late takedown. On Mat C, Magomedkhabib KADIMAGOMEDOV (AIN) has an easy 4-0 over Miroslav KIROV (BUL)

11:00: First big clash of the day! Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) and Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) are coming up on Mat A at 79kg. Chamizo is warned multiple times for passivity. He was put on the activity clock as well. Cabolov led 1-0 at the break. Chamizo put on the clock again in the second period but this time he scored a takedown before the clock expired. He was happy to play out the remaining time and win 2-1

10:30: A blockbuster day is on the cards at the European Championships. The 79kg weight class has multiple world and European medalists competing. 65kg will see Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) and Gazdhimurad RASHIDOV (AIN).

2026 Muhamet Malo

'Important Gold’: Sadulaev Relishes Successful 97kg Return

Thursday, February 26, 2026 - 21:58 By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (February 26) -- World champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) could have challenged him. Up-and-coming Mukhamed KHANIEV (UWW) could have caused trouble. Or maybe Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) would have caused an upset.

None of that happened. A calm and composed Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) marked his return to the mat with yet another gold medal, winning the 97kg weight class at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series event on Thursday in Tirana, Albania.

It has become increasingly rare to see Sadulaev wrestle internationally, but when he does, the results tend to be a foregone conclusion. Sadulaev last wrestled at a global event at the same Feti Borova Arena in Tirana in October 2024 when he claimed his sixth world title, stunningly dropping to 92kg.

After 15 months, he was back -- at 97kg and, the top of the podium.

"Thank you to everyone who supported me, those in the arena and those watching on TV and smartphones," Sadulaev said. "Everyone who cheered, worried, and prayed for me. I want to say a huge, heartfelt thank you to all of you."

When Sadulaev stepped on the mat on Thursday, he rolled back the years. Right hand on his opponent's forehand, circling while standing tall. He would throw himself back if someone tried to attack his legs and then get a front headlock to score.

A true throwback in Tirana would have been a Sadulaev and Snyder clash but Khaniev decided to postpone that for now by beating the United States wrestler in the quarterfinals. Sadulaev got Khaniev in the final.

He was the first on board with a double-leg attack which gave him four points. He then made Khaniev toil to find an opening and when he did, Sadulaev defended like a rock. Khaniev was able to score only through stepouts -- managing four points from it while Sadulaev added three more takedowns to finish the final 10-4.

While the gold medal was a satisfactory result for Sadulaev, there was an added incentive that he was chasing.

"For me, this gold means qualifying for the European Championships, which will take place here in this same arena in two months, in April. It was very important for me to qualify there," he said.

Sadulaev, if he competes, will be at the European Championships after six years having last competed at the tournament in 2020. He won gold medal at 97kg in Rome.

Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) scores on Mukhamed KHANIEV (UWW) in the 97kg final in Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The final against Khaniev was a virtual wrestle-off to win the spot for the continental championships, to be held from April 20 to 26. And despite beating Khaniev, Sadulaev was all praise for the youngster.

"Khaniev is young and promising," he said. "I thought we might meet before the final, but [because of the bracket] we faced each other only in the final.

"I know him well, we train in the same region, we’ve been at training camps together and worked side by side. He’s very tough, with a really good stamina. He hasn’t gained that much experience yet, but I believe he has everything ahead of him."

Khaniev, making his debut at 97kg internationally, sprung a surprise when he defeated Snyder 10-4, using some crafty counters in the second period. He also defeated Magomedov in the semifinals.

Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) completes a fireman's carry move. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

However, Sadulaev isn't reading much into Snyder's loss as the U.S. wrestler had lost to Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) in Tirana but went on to win the world gold in September.

"At tournaments like this, he [Snyder] usually doesn’t come in at peak form the way he does for the World Championships or the Olympic Games, where he’s been in his best shape," Sadulaev said. "So this loss doesn’t really say much. Maybe he will win the next World Championships."

The World Championships in Manama, Bahrain is scheduled in October and there is a good chance that both Sadulaev and Snyder will be there. But Sadulaev is hoping for a more decorated field.

"If everything goes well and I make it for the World Championships, four Olympic champions could compete in this weight class [in Bahrain] -- Hassan YAZDANI (IRI), Kyle [SNYDER] and Ahmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) and myself, and other medalists," he said. "I think it will be the most competitive and exciting weight category."

Sadulaev, in his subtle humor, would go on.

"It’s hot enough there [Bahrain], but I think at the World Championships, it will be even hotter."

European Championships FS 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, 97kg semis set

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'Important Gold’: Sadulaev Relishes Successful 97kg Return