#WrestleBuenosAires

USA wins GR title; Elor secures Pan-Am gold on debut

Friday, May 5, 2023 - 04:29 By Taylor GREGORIO

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BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (May 5) -- USA and Cuba swept the nine Greco-Roman weights contested over two days as Greco action came to a close on Thursday, while three past World medalists emerged victorious in women’s weights.

On Friday, the USA won titles at 77kg and 82kg, while Cuba claimed the crown at 87kg.

Past U20 world champion Kamal BEY (USA) edged out Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB) in a 2-1 battle. The pair traded passivity points with Pena Flores getting on the board first. Halfway through the second frame, Pena Flores and his corner challenged a call in par terre that failed, resulting in a point and ultimately the win for Bey.

Spencer WOODS (USA) won a four-man round-robin at 82kg. Two of his three wins were tech falls and his third came in the form of an injury default.

Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB)Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB), red, won his third Pan-Am title. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Representing Cuba, Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB) earned his third-career Pan Am gold, winning at 87kg. The final was a win by injury default for Gregorio Hechavarria over Luis AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN). The Cuban also won titles in 2018 and 2022.

Women’s freestyle began with 55kg, 59kg, 65kg and 72kg. All four weights were round-robin contests. Of the four women’s freestyle winners, three own World Championships medals.

Amit ELOR (USA)World champion Amit ELOR (USA) won gold on Pan-Am debut. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan) 

Reigning senior, U23 and U20 world champion Amit ELOR (USA) made her Pan Am debut with four dominant wins without giving up a single point. She opened with a pin before rattling off three technical-fall wins. The longest match for Elor lasted 2:26.

Two-time World bronze medalist Mallory VELTE (USA) won her second Pan-Am Championships with back-to-back technical falls at 65kg, outscoring her opponents 22-2 on the day. Velte’s first title came in 2020.

Diana WEICKER (CAN)Diana WEICKER (CAN) defeated Alisha HOWK (USA) to win the 55kg gold. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Diana WEICKER (CAN), a 2018 World bronze medalist, won the 55kg class with a 5-0 win to start the day and a 12-2 technical fall to wrap up her tournament. This marks Weicker’s first Pan Am gold. She has a bronze from 2019.

The US women secured a third title on the night from international newcomer Xochitl MOTA PETTIS (USA), who topped the podium at 59kg. Mota Pettis’ most notable win came over U23 World champion Alexandria TOWN (CAN), 10-0.

Greco-Roman

77kg
GOLD: Kamal BEY (USA) df. Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB), 2-1

BRONZE: Jair CUERO MUNOZ (COL) df. Emmanuel BENITEZ CASTRO (MEX), 6-3
BRONZE: Wuilexis RIVAS (VEN) df. Luis CENTENO (PUR), win by injury default

82kg
GOLD: Spencer WOODS (USA)
SILVER: Jose MOSQUERA MURILLO (COL)
BRONZE: John YEATS (CAN)

87kg
GOLD: Daniel HECHAVARRIA (CUB) df. Luis ROJAS (VEN), win by injury default

BRONZE: Alan VERA (USA) df. Ronisson BRANDAO (BRA), 4-1
BRONZE: Carlos MUNOZ (COL) df. Ariel ALFONSO (HON), 9-0

Women’s freestyle

55kg
GOLD: Diana WEICKER (CAN)
SILVER: Alisha HOWK (USA)
BRONZE: Adrianny CASTILLO (ARG)

59kg
GOLD: Xochitl MOTA PETTIS (USA)
SILVER: Alexandria TOWN (CAN)
BRONZE: Jessica DERRELL (BAR)

65kg
GOLD: Mallory VELTE (USA)
SILVER: Paula MONTOYA GARCIA (COL)
BRONZE: Aleah NICKEL (CAN)

72kg
GOLD: Amit ELOR (USA)
SILVER: Luisa MOSQUERA PARRA (COL)
BRONZE: Katie MULKAY (CAN)

#WrestleBudapest

Budapest Ranking Series Greco-Roman Highlights

Sunday, July 20, 2025 - 08:52 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 20) -- The Budapest Ranking Series final day will see Greco-Roman action in seven weight classes -- 55kg, 60kg, 63kg, 67kg, 77kg, 82kg, 97kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 3 RESULTS

16:30: The end of the semifinals in Budapest. Giorgi MELIA (GEO) makes it to the 97kg final after a 5-1 victory over Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE). He will take on  Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM) who sneaks through with a 5-4 win over Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN).

16:12: Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) gets the benefit of Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) defensive fouls and win 4-3 at 82kg semifinals. He will face Adlet TIULIUBAEV (UWW) for the gold who defeated Rafael IUNUSOV (UWW), 5-1.

16:00: Robert Attila FRITSCH (HUN) launches Sergei STEPANOV (UWW) for a huge four-pointer in the last minute and wins the 77kg semifinal 6-3 to set up a final against Sergei KUTUZOV (UWW) after he defeated Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) 8-6. Suleymanov was going well with a 6-0 lead but when Kutuzov got the par terre, he reverse lifted Suleymanov for a four and another for two points to lead 7-6. A lost challenge made it 8-6 for the win.

15:40: European bronze medalist Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) rolls to a 8-0 technical superiority win over Daniial AGAEV (UWW) in the 67kg final. But there will be no all-Georgian final as Leri ABULADZE (GEO) drops his semifinal to Valentic PETIC (MDA) 5-3.

15:25: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) takes out European silver medalist Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) 5-3 to enter the final at 63kg. Surprising win for Eriomenco but he will face Sergey EMELIN (UWW) for the gold medal. Emelin had a injury walkover in the other semifinal.

15:05: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) showing why he is the best in the world at 60kg as he beats Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) in a rematch of the European final. He defends most of Tibilov's attacks to win 3-2. He will face SUMIT (IND) in the 60kg final after the Indian pinned Galym KABDUNASSAROV (KAZ).

14:45: Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) needs all the luck he can as he beats Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB), 5-5, on criteria in the 55kg semifinal. He will take on Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ) for the gold medal after he defeated Alpamys DASTANBEK (KAZ), 8-0, in just a minute and 20 seconds.

Semifinals

14:15: Sergei KUTUZOV (UWW) scores turns from par terre and beats Asian champion Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) 9-0 to book a place in the semifinal against Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) at 77kg.

14:00: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) keeps and simple and gets both par terre advantages in the against Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB) and beats him 4-0 at 60kg. This avenges his loss to Bakhramov at the Zagreb Open earlier this year.

13:55: Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) takes out Amiran SHAVADZE (GEO) 5-5 in the 60kg quarterfinals via criteria. Tibilov will face Mammadli in the semifinal, a rematch of the European final which Mammadli won

13:40: SUMIT (IND) breaks Dahyun KIM (KOR) down with his pace and secures the fall after an early scare in the 60kg bout. He moves into the semifinals of the Ranking Series.

13:35: European champion Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) comes strong in defense, blocking Anil MOR (IND) when the Indian was trying to turn Sefershaev from par terre. He also pushed him out for a point. Sefershaev win 4-1 at 55kg. 

13:25: Alex SZOKE (HUN) sends the local crowd into frenzy after beating Artur SARGASIAN (UWW) 6-6 on criteria at 97kg. Szoke had three two point techniques while Sargasian managed only two and the Hungarian kept the criteria.

13:15: European silver medalist Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) puts another clinical show and beats Ellis COLEMAN (USA) 6-1 at 63kg. He enters the semifinals.

12:45: World and European champion Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) takes a little injury timeout before par terre but gets to work and finishes the bout against Seunghak KIM (KOR), 9-0, at 60kg.

12:20: Two huge losses as Sadyk LALAEV (UWW) drops his match 9-3 to SUMIT (IND) and on Mat D, Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (UWW) loses 9-0 to Dahyun KIM (KOR) at 60kg. Both were looking to be on the team to Zagreb but what unexpected losses.

12:00: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) manages to blank Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) in the opening round at 77kg. A takedown to open the scoring for Suleymanov before he scores a turn from par terre. Gutu challenges for the hand-below-waist but it's lost. A takedown in the second period and Suleymanov wins 8-0.

11:50: European champion Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) gives no chance to Artium DELEANU (MDA) and wins an easy 7-1 opening round.

11:45: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) and Dinislam BAMMATOV (UWW) are involved in a battle but it's the Moldovan who comes out on top 5-5 on criteria.

11:35: European silver medalist Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) bosses his opening round bout at 63kg and beats Yerkebulan ARDAKOV (KAZ), 9-0 to advance. In the next match on Mat D, 

11:20: World U23 champion Alisher GANIEV (UZB), one of the most explosive wrestler in the world, wins his first bout at 63kg via disqualification of Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ). Ganiev was already leading 7-0 by then.

11:05: Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) opens with a 10-0 victory over Seungjun KIM (KOR) at 97kg. Savolainen has not enjoyed similar success like he did before the Paris Olympic cycle.  

10:55: Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) needs a challenge to overturn a defeated to victory against Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB). Vardanyan got a exposure at the end but was not scored. However, he won the challenge and Nakibov is devasted.

10:40: Former world champion Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE) wins his first bout at 77kg with a 1-1 score against Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO) as he was the first to get the par terre points.

10:30: Welcome to the final day of the Budapest Ranking Series. It will be Greco-Roman action the whole day in seven weight classes