U23 World C'ships

Pataridze Seeks Sixth World Title

Monday, November 20, 2017 - 00:17 By Andrew Hipps

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BYDGOSZCZ, Poland (Nov. 18) – The U-23 World Wrestling Championships take place Nov. 21-26 in Bydgoszcz, Poland. The inaugural event follows on the success of the European U-23 Championships in 2016 where more than 400 wrestlers from 34 nations competed.

Five-time world champion Zviadi PATARIDZE (GEO) headlines the Greco-Roman competition, which takes place Tuesday and Wednesday. In August, the 20-year-old Pataridze captured his third junior world title to go along with two cadet world titles.

Greco-Roman

Tuesday, Nov. 21: 71kg, 75kg, 85kg, 98kg

Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO), a two-time junior world champion, is the favorite at 71kg. He claimed gold at the European Under-23 Wrestling Championships. Finishing with a bronze in that weight class was Artur POLITAIEV (UKR), who is also entered in the World Championships. Other top contenders at 71kg include cadet world champion Matias LIPASTI (FIN) and cadet world bronze medalist Armen HAKOBYAN (ARM).

Georgia has another junior world champion entered at 75kg, Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO). He was a runner-up at the European U-23 World Championships to Alex KESSIDIS (SWE), who is entered at 80kg. Fatih CENGIZ (TUR) was fifth in Paris at the World Championships. Zotlan LEVAI (HUN) and Akhmed KAYTSUKOV (RUS) are multiple-time junior world medalists who should contend at 75kg. Other junior world medalists to keep an eye on in this weight class are Nasir HASANOV (AZE), Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO), Shohei YABIKU (JPN), Paulius GALKINAS (LTU), George Vlad MARIEA (ROU) and Pavlo MOLNAR (UKR).

A pair of junior world champions, Islam ABBASOV (AZE) and Ali CENGIZ (TUR), are among the top contenders at 85kg. Abbasov was fifth at the World Championships in Paris this year. Junior world bronze medalists Mikita KLIMOVICH (BLR) and Dimitrios TSEKERIDIS (GRE) will look to challenge.

While there is no strong favorite at 98kg, there are several wrestlers who have claimed world medals at the junior or cadet level. Wrestlers to watch at 98kg include Bopembe SYCHEV (BLR), Muhammed SEVER (GER), Zsolt TOEROEK (HUN) and Romas FRIDRIKAS (LTU).

Wednesday, Nov. 22: 59kg, 66kg, 80kg, 130kg

Junior world champions Keramat ABDEVALI (IRI) and Dato CHEKHARTISHVILI (GEO) are among the most credentialed wrestlers at 59kg. Abdevali won his junior world title this year in Tampere, Finland, while Chkhartishvili won gold in 2016. If Abadevali does not compete, Iran could send junior world bronze medalists Meysam DALKHANI (IRI). Erik TORBA (HUN), Masuto KAWANA (JPN), Sergey EMELIN (RUS) and Zoltan LEVAI (SVK) have all been junior medalists and should challenge at 59kg.

Three past junior world champions, Karen ASLANYAN (ARM), Elman MUKHTAROV (AZE) and Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO), are on the entry list at 66kg. Aslanyan placed fifth at the Paris World Championships this year. Others to watch in this weight class include Asian junior champ Amin Yavar KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) and past junior world bronze medalist Mihai MIHUT (ROU).

The 130kg weight class on Wednesday could feature a showdown between the five-time world champion Pataridze and Olympic bronze medalist Sergey SEMENOV (RUS). Semonov won two junior world titles before Pataridze prevented him from winning a third title in 2015. Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) is a three-time junior world medalist who will look to play the role of spoiler. The field also includes junior medalists Konsta Johannes MAEENPAEAE (FIN), Ferenc ALMASI (HUN), Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU) and Tracy HANCOCK (USA).

#WrestleZagreb

Buchanan spoils Yazdani’s return at Zagreb Open

Friday, February 6, 2026 - 00:58 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (February 5) -- For the modestly attended Zagreb Open 2026, Thursday brought a noticeable lift in attendance as Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) returned to competition.

Yazdani, who injured his shoulder in the Paris Olympics final, was returning 18 months and another surgery later. The Olympic champion at 74kg in 2016 and silver medalist at 86kg in 2020 and 2024, is now up at 97kg.

Over the past decade, Yazdani has enjoyed stardom with fans not just in Iran but across the globe.

So when a bulkier Yazdani walked out to the mat in Zagreb, his silhouette under the spotlights looked different. The 13 kilogram jump was clearly visible. There was no traditional jump from him before coming to the center of the mat.

Stephen BUCHANAN (USA)Stephen BUCHANAN (USA) launches Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) for a four-point throw. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Yazdani’s decision to switch Olympic weight classes was a move born out of necessity, especially after two shoulder surgeries.

In the early rounds of the Zagreb Open, the experiment seemed to be working. The signature underhooks were there, the gas tank seemed fine and his movement, despite the bulk, did not seem unnatural.

Before reaching the final, Yazdani had seen off his opponents with rather ease. He scored points via stepouts, takedowns and go-behind in typical Yazdani fashion. He gave up only four points in his three bouts and reached the final without much trouble.

But then he hit a wall.

In the second period of the final, Yazdani's underhooks stopped working and his gas tank showed a leak. His movement became slower although his mind wanted him to be quick against Stephen BUCHANAN (USA).

Buchanan matched Yazdani for position and let Yazdani take only a 2-1 lead at the break. But he caught Yazdani in the second period and launched the Iranian for a suplex for four. It's rare for Yazdani to be thrown around like that.

And with him falling behind 5-2, Yazdani tried to attack more and that's when opportunities for Buchanan opened up as he scored three takedowns and two steps, beating Yazdani 13-3 and capturing the gold medal in Zagreb.

This was Yazdani's only tenth loss at the senior level and first to a U.S. wrestler other than David TAYLOR (USA). It was also the first a wrestler defeated Yazdani via technical superiority.

With Buchanan's gold, the United States finished the tournament with five gold medals in Freestyle.

Trent HIDLAY (USA)Trent HIDLAY (USA) scores a takedown against Mobin AZIMI (IRI). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

World champion at 92kg Trent HIDLAY (USA) forfeited his final against Mobin AZIMI (IRI). But Hidlay had defeated the Iranian 5-5 in their round robin bout.

Hidlay, known for his insane comeback in bouts, was down 5-0 against Azimi when he mounted a comeback. He scored a takedown and then a point to make it 5-3. He then scored a step out on Azimi which cut the lead to 5-4. Iran challenged the stepout call but lost it to tie the score 5-5 with Hidlay holding criteria. Hidlay then defended his criteria for the rest of the bout.

In another bout against an Iranian, Hidlay came back from 8-0 down to beat Abofazl RAHAMANI (IRI) 11-9 as he took the top spot in his group.

Rahamani and Azimi clashed as well in the round robin and it was Azimi who scored a takedown in the final seconds to beat his compatriot 4-3 and finish second in the group.

Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN)Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) pins Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) in the 125kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 125kg, Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) is quickly emerging as the biggest challenger to world champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) at the weight class.

Sharipov captured the gold medal at 125kg with a incredible cradle and turk position against Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA). Shapirov locked Hendrickson in a leg-turn and then turned him on his back, keeping him down and securing the fall.

With a dominant performance in Zagreb, the Bahrain wrestler has put his name as a serious medal threat at the 2026 World Championships that will be held in Bahrain in October.

European silver medalist Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) defended his gold medal from 2025, winning a close 4-4 final against Dean HAMITI (USA) at 79kg.

Khadjiev was leading 4-1 when he was put on the activity clock. As the clock expired and he failed to score, Khadjiev also gave up a takedown which tied the score 4-4. But the French wrestler get the criteria due to his two two-point scoring moves.

RESULTS

Freestyle

79kg
GOLD: Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) df. Dean HAMITI (USA), 4-4

BRONZE: Evan WICK (USA) df. Daniel BRAUNAGEL (USA), 8-6
BRONZE: Adel PANAEIAN (IRI) df. Otari ADEISHVILI (GEO), via fall

92kg
GOLD: Mobin AZIMI (IRI) df. Trent HIDLAY (USA), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Dustin PLOTT (USA) df. Michael MACCHIAVELLO (USA), 6-1

97kg
GOLD: Stephen BUCHANAN (USA) df. Hassan YAZDANI (IRI), 13-3

BRONZE: Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO) df. Richard VEGH (HUN), 12-2
BRONZE: VICKY (IND) df. Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA), 8-2

125kg
GOLD: Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) df. Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA), via fall

BRONZE: Mortaza JANMOHAMMADZADEH (IRI) df. Robert BARAN (POL), 8-4
BRONZE: DINESH (IND) df. Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL), via fall

Women's Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Haruna MORIKAWA (JPN) df. NEELAM (IND), 5-2

BRONZE: MUSKAN (IND) df. Agata GOLUCHOWSKA (POL), 11-0
BRONZE: Elizaveta SMIRNOVA (UWW) df. Natalia WALCZAK (POL), 9-6

55kg
GOLD: Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) df. Karla GODINEZ (CAN), 6-0

BRONZE: Nagisa HARADA (JPN) df. Beatrice FERENT (ROU), 2-1
BRONZE: Areana VILLAESCUSA (USA) df. Amani JONES (USA), 4-0