World Club Cup

Titan Mercury, Kashan into Semis

Friday, December 8, 2017 - 03:07 By Ali Feizasa

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The 2017 World Clubs Cup semifinalists were determined in Tehran, Iran, as two-time champion, Bimeh Razi (IRI) was eliminated.

13 teams from four pools competed in the fourth edition of World Clubs Cup with the best teams of each group advancing to the semifinals.

In the first semifinal, Titan Mercury (USA) matches up with Khimori (MGL). Two Iranian sides in Setaregan Sari and Easy Pipe Kashan will meet in the second semifinal.

Pool A: Titan Mercury advance to the semifinals with three consecutive wins

Defending champions, Titan Mercury (USA) advanced to the semifinals with three straight victories. Four Olympic and world medalists picked up wins for TMWC including Kyle SNYDER (USA), Thomas GILMAN (USA), Franklin GOMEZ (PUR), and Nick GWIAZDOWSKI (USA).

The Iranian fans treated Snyder like a true hero, even taking a few selfies with him. “Iranian fans take wrestling seriously, so it’s one of the best places to wrestle”, Snyder said. “I would have really liked to wrestle Reza YAZDANI (IRI) and Abdurashid SADULAEV (RUS) this weekend. They are among the best wrestlers in the world and it would be a challenge to wrestle them, but it didn’t happen here” he added. 

 

 

Kyle SNYDER (USA) is close to picking up a fall at 97kg of the World Clubs Cup. 

Pool B: Mongolian team edged Hungary and Tajikistan clubs

In pool B, Khimori (MGL) downed Budapest SC (HUN) and Tajikistan to advance to semifinals to take on Titan Mercury (USA).

Pool C: Elimination of Bimeh Razi (IRI) in battle of Russian wrestlers

Everyone expected to see two-time World Clubs Champion Bimeh Razi (IRI) in the semifinals, but Setaregan Sari (IRI) defeated Bimeh Razi (IRI) in an early battle.

Five Russian wrestlers competed for Bimeh Razi, including Olympic champion Abdurashid Sadulaev, Olympic silver medalist Aniuar GEDUEV (RUS), and 2014 world champion Khetik TSABOLOV (RUS). Tsabolov and Geduev both found themselves in trouble as they lost their bouts.  Tsabolov (Bimeh Razi) was defeated by 2015 world champion, Magomed Rasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (AZE), 8-4. Geduev suffered a 10-7 loss to Omid HASSANTABAR (Setaregan Sari).

Abdurashid Sadulaev kept Bimeh Razi’s hopes alive as he beat Abazar ESLAMI (11-0), but Esmaeil NEJATIAN sealed the match with a narrow 4-3 victory over recent U-23 World Champion, Mojtaba GOLEIJ.

Two other important results from the match were Asian champion Meysam NASIRI (Bimeh Razi) defeating three-time world champion Haji ALIEV (AZE) at 65kg, and Magomed KURBANALIEV (Setaregan) pinning Hamed RASHIDI.

 

 

 

 

Abdualrashid SADULAEV (RUS) looks to pick up a takedown at the 2017 World Clubs Cup.

Pool D: Iranian Easy Pipe Kashan goes to semifinal

Another tournament favorite, Easy Pipe Kashan (IRI) came in strong as they beat Kirgizstan (10-0) and Georgia (7-3). Easy Pipe didn’t have as difficult of a time on their way to the semifinals as they enjoyed success from Georgian stars Geno PETRIASHVILI and Vladimir KHINCHEGASHVILI. They also received success from 2015 world bronze medal winner Alireza KARIMI and Russian Vladislav BAITSAEV (RUS).  

The semifinals of the World Clubs Cup start Friday morning 10 a.m. local time and the third place and final matches starts at 4 p.m. in Azadi Sport Complex of Tehran.

RESULTS

Titan Mercury (USA) df. Montreal (CAN), 9-1
57kg- Thomas GILMAN (Titan) df. Steven TAKAHASHI (Montreal), 13-6
61kg- Ghara MANIVA (Montreal) df. Alan WATERS (Titan), 7-6
65kg- B.J. FUTRELL (Titan) df. Hashem MOKHTARI (Montreal), 7-2
70kg- Franklin GOMEZ (Titan) – No wrestler (Montreal)
74kg- Nazariy KULCHYTSKYY (Titan) TF. Guseyn RUSLANZADA (Montreal), 10-0
79kg- Kyle DAKE (Titan) TF. Ahmed SHAMIYA (Montreal), 11-0
86kg- David TAYLOR (Titan) TF. Alexander MOORE (Montreal), 14-4
92kg- Nickolas HEFLIN (Titan) TF. Jordan STEEN (Montreal), 10-0
97kg- Kyler SNYDER (Titan) df. Masoud KHAJE SALEHANI (Montreal), 9-2
125kg- Nick GWIAZDOWSKI (Titan) TF. Korey JARIVS (Montreal), 10-0

Titan Mercury (USA) df. India Club (IND), 8-2
57kg- Thomas GILMAN (Titan) df. Amit KUMAR (IND), 6-3
61kg- Ravinder (IND) TF. Alan WATERS (Titan),12-2
65kg- B.J. FUTRELL (Titan) df. Sonu (IND), 9-8
70kg- Vinod KUMAR (IND) df. Franklin GOMEZ (Titan), 6-5
74kg- Nazariy KULCHYTSKYY TF. (Titan) Ver Dev GULIA (IND), 10-0
79kg- Kyle DAKE (Titan) TF. Jitender (IND), 10-0
86kg- David TAYLOR (Titan) TF. Pawan Kumar (IND), 10-0
92kg- Nickolas HEFLIN (Titan) Pinned Viky (IND)
97kg- Kyler SNYDER (Titan) TF. Somveer (IND), 10-0
125kg- Nick GWIAZDOWSKI (Titan) TF. Pushpender Singh (IND), 10-0

Other results of Pool A:
Titan Mercury (USA) df. NSA Academy (Bulgaria),10-0
India Club df. Montreal (CAN), 6-4
Montreal (CAN) df. NSA Academy (BUL), 7-3
India Club df. NSA Academy (BUL), 9-1

Setaregan Sari (IRI) df. Bimeh Razi (IRI), 6-4
57kg- Nader HAJAGHANIA (Setaregan) pinned Younes SARMASTI (Bimeh Razi)
61kg- Iman SADEGHI (Bimeh Razi) df. Mohammad RAMEZANPOUR (Setaregan), 7-4
65kg- Meysam NASIRI (Bimeh Razi) df. Haji ALIEV (Setaregan), 8-4
70kg- Magomed KURBANALIEV (Setaregan)pinned Hamed RASHIDI (Bimeh Razi)
74kg- Magomed Rasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (Setaregan) df. Khetik TSABOLOV (Bimeh Razi), 8-4
79kg- Omid HASSANTABAR (Setaregan) df. Aniuar GEDUEV(Bimeh Razi), 10-7
86kg- Mohammad Javad EBRANHIMI (Bimeh Razi) df. Esmaeil MAHMOUDI (Setaregan), 5-0
92kg- Abdulrashid SADULAEV (Bimeh Razi) TF. Abazar ESLAMI (Setaregan), 11-0
97kg- Esmaeil NEJATIAN (Setaregan) df. Mojtaba GOLEIJ (Bimeh Razi), 4-3
125kg- Jaber SADEGHZADEH (Setaregan) df. Komeil GHASEMI (Bimeh Razi)by forfeit

Other matches of Pool C:
Setaregan Sari (IRI) df. BS Brothers (KAZ), 9-1
Bimeh Razi (IRI) df. BS Brothers (KAZ), 10-0

Easy Pipe Kashan (IRI) df. Raindi (GEO), 7-3
57kg- Reza ATARI (Easy Pipe) df.  Roberti DINGASHVILI (Raindi), 8-0
61kg- Vladimir KHINCHEGASHVILI (Easy Pipe) TF. Teimuraz VANISHVILI (Raindi), 10-0
65kg- Farzad Amouzad KHALILI (Easy Pipe) df. Edemi BOLKVADZE (Raindi), 6-0
70kg-Levan KELEKHSASHVILI (Raindi) df. Hamidreza ZARRINPEYKAR (Easy Pipe), 6-0
74kg- Hossein ELYASI (Easy Pipe) df. Giorgi LOBJANIDZE (Raindi), 10-2
79kg- Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (Raindi) df. Reza AFZALI (Easy Pipe), 6-4
86kg- Alireza KARIMI (Easy Pipe) TF. Zaur BERADZE (Raindi), 11-0
92kg- Hossein SHAHBAZI (Easy Pipe)  TF. Saba CHIKLADZE (Raindi), 12-2
97kg- Vladislav BAITSAEV (Easy Pipe) TF. Zurabi AKHOBDZE (Raindi), 19-6
125kg- Levani GOGRICHIANI (Raindi) df. Geno PETRIASHVILI (Easy Pipe) by forfeit

 

 

 

 

 

 

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)