#WrestleBelgrade

2023 World Championships GR 55kg, 77kg, 82kg, 130kg semis set

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 21) -- The Greco-Roman begins at the World Championships! With the results in Freestyle and Women's Wrestling, it will be no surprise that Greco-Roman also sees some big upsets in the early rounds.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER | DAY 5 RESULTS

15:16: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) hits a 4-point counter lift in the second period, giving the 2021 silver medalist a 5-1 victory over Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) and a place in the 77kg semifinals. He will face European champion Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM), a bronze medalist last year, who defied the home crowd and Viktor NEMES (SRB) by scoring a 2-point throw to secure a 3-1 victory.

15:15: Nao KOSUKA (JPN) is on a roll! He moves into the 77kg semifinals with a 10-0 thrashing of Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) on Mat A. Kosuka tweeted yesterday about his desire to win a spot for the Paris Olympics in Belgrade. If he wants to achieve that today, he will have to beat Olympic silver and world champ Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) who blanked Aram VARDANYAN (ARM) 6-0.

15:05: Adem UZUN (TUR) sees his world turn upside down in an instant. He seemingly went ahead with a stepout in the second period at 55kg against Poya DAD MARZ (IRI), but upon challenge was instead hit with a 2-point penalty for a push below the waist. Uzun was coming off a victory over Azizli in the final of this year's European Championships.

15:01: Another defending champion is into the semifinals as Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) scores a stepout, a gut wrench from par terre and a takedown in the first period to handily defeat Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ) at 55kg. 

15:00: Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO), chasing his second world title, moves into the semifinals with a 10-0 win over Artiom DELEANU (MDA) at 55kg. But to move into the final, he will have to beat Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB). Tsurtsumia beat Ortikboev 5-2 in the quarterfinals last year. Ortikboaev defeated Denis MIHAI (ROU) 9-0 in the quarterfinals.

14:50: Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) comes on top 4-1 against Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) in the 82kg quarterfinals. He will face a surprise candidate Mihail BRADU (MDA) who down Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) 4-3

14:49: Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) moved a step closer to a second straight 82kg title when he defeated Kristoffer BERG (SWE) with what turned out to be a 7-point play. Leading 1-1 on criteria when he got a reversal from par terre in the first period, Akbudak hit a 4-point throw from the top of par terre in the second. Berg was hit with a 2-point leg-touch penalty, and a lost challenge added another point to end the match. Next up is a semifinal clash with 2021 world champion Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE), who rallied from a 5-0 deficit to defeat Aues GONIBOV (AIN) 10-5.

14:37: Lingzhe MENG (CHN) takes out Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO). Meng was down 1-1 on criteria but scored a stepout to be up 2-1. Kajaia challenged it for pushing but lost. Meng moved on with a 3-1 win. He has to wrestle Riza KAYAALP (TUR) in the semifinals

14:36: Amir MIRZAZADEH (IRI) is through to the semifinals at 130kg with a 1-1 criteria win over Romas FRIDRIKAS (LTU). Mirzazadeh received the latter of the passivity points, which alone put him on top by criteria. He nearly got Fridrikas over, but in the end, it didn't matter.

14:34: Oscar PINO (CUB) is back in the semifinals as he beats Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) 9-0 in the semifinal. Alexuc was penalized for two singlet grabs before Pino finished the match with a takedown.

14:32: There's no stopping Riza KAYAALP (TUR), who makes short work of 38-year-old Heiki NABI (EST) to reach the semifinals at 130kg. Put on top in par terre, Kayaalp goes back and forth with a gut wrench, then repeats the process for a 9-0 technical fall in 1:48.

14:10: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) looks in complete control. He gets a grand amplitude five-pointer over Mohamed KHALIL (EGY) and won 9-0 at 77kg

13:54: Demeu ZHADRAVEV (KAZ), a four-time Asian medalist looking for his first world medal, ousts last year's silver medalist Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) at 77kg, with a second-period gut wrench capping a 4-1 win.

13:48: In a repeat of their semifinal at the 2019 worlds, Aram VARDANYAN (UZ) edges Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) 2-2 at 77kg. The Bulgarian has only himself to blame. A 2-point penalty for blocking the legs in the second period gave Vardanyan the victory.

13:38: 2021 world champion Rafiq HUSEYNOV (AZE) has to battle hard but manages to win 4-3 against Erik SZILVASSY (HUN). The next match has Idris IBAEV (GER) and Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) exchanging takedowns but Bolkvadze wins 3-2. A few words were exchanged at the end between the two wrestlers.

13:25: Asian champion Poya DAD MARZ launches Sabolc LOSONC (SRB) with a 4-point arm throw, then tops it off with a pair of gut wrenches for an 8-0 win in 1:15 to advance to the 55kg quarterfinals.

13:32: Eldiniz AZIZLI (AZE), pursuing his second straight gold at 55kg and third overall, gets the roll from par terre in the first period and eases to a 3-1 victory over teenager Taiga ONISHI (JPN), a 2022 world U20 bronze medalist.

13:20: Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) with another 1-1 victory and this time Elias KUOSMANEN (FIN) falls to the Olympic silver medalist at 130kg.

13:18: Defending 82kg champion Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) gets his title defense started with a 4-point lift to beat Asian bronze medalist Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB) 5-1 and book his place in the quarterfinals.

13:14: Asian champion Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) gets the stepout to finish off an 8-0 victory over Branko KOVACEVIC (SRB) to secure a spot in the 82kg quarterfinals. Kovacevic's loss ended the tournament of Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Shohei YABIKU (JPN).

13:08: Amir MIRZAZEDEH (IRI) stays on track for a rematch in the final with Kayaalp, getting a reversal in the first period and a passivity point in the second to defeat Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR) 2-1 and move into the 130kg quarterfinals. 

13:05: A Japanese wrestler denied Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) a bronze medal in Tokyo and now Nao KUSAKA (JPN) beats Geraei at 77kg in the World Championships. Kusaka led 5-2 using two takedowns. Geraei got the par terre and turn to make it 5-5 but Kusaka held on for a criteria win as he had two two-point techniques to Geraei's one.

12:59: Superstar Riza KAYAALP (TUR), the defending champion at 130kg, begins his campaign for a sixth world title by putting away Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) 7-2 to advance to the quarterfinals. Kayaalp reels off three gut wrenches from par terre for all of his points in the first period. Mohamed gets a passivity point and a stepout in the second period as Kayaalp seems to be conserving his energy.

12:48: Yunus BASAR (TUR) will long regret not being able to throw Georgios PREVOLARAKIS (GRE) when he had him in the air in their 77kg match. Prevolarakis gets 2 with a front headlock from par terre in a 5-3 victory over Basar, a bronze medalist last year and two-time European silver medalist. In the first period, Basar lifted up Prevolarakis, but spent too much time setting up his throw. It allowed the Greek to grab his waist, and Basar didn't have the leverage to complete a throw.

12:45: Returning bronze medalist Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) with a technical superiority win over Paulius GALKINAS (LTU). That match is followed by world champion Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) pinning Per Anders KURE (NOR) after the Norwegian managed to get a big throw.

12:25: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA), a young and exciting talent from Moldova, begins his campaign at 77kg with a 9-3 win over Per Albin OLOFSSON (SWE). Next, he will have 2021 World silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) who defeated Kamal BEY (USA).

12:22: 2017 world champion Maksim MANUKYAN (ARM) returned to wrestling after three years but had his run cut short by Idris IBAEV (GER) who won 9-6 at 82kg. Manukyan, 36, could not match the pace of wrestling in that bout 

12:15: Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), the silver medalist last year at 77kg, gets off to an explosive start, slamming Gurpreet SINGH (UWW) to the mat for 4 and finishing him off with a fall.

12:09: There will be an Irina RINGACI (MDA)-Ami ISHII (JPN) showdown after all. Ringaci, the 2021 world champion at 65kg, advanced to a 68kg bronze-medal match against Ishii with a victory by fall over Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) in the repechage final. Ringaci had suffered a stunning first-round defeat yesterday to Bose TOSUN (TUR), who surprisingly manhandled 2022 silver medalist Ishii in the semifinals.

12:06: Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ)'s courageous bid for her first world medal since 2010 ends with a heart-breaking 3-2 loss to Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) in the women's 68kg repechage final.

11:52: Branko KOVACEVIC (SRB) thrills the home crowd when he hangs on for a 7-6 victory at 82kg over Tokyo Olympic  77kg bronze medalist Shohei YABIKU (JPN). Kovacevic gets three gut wrenches from par terre to take a 7-0 lead. Yabiku, who moved up to 82kg when he failed to make the Japan team at 77kg, had a problem handling the extra weight. He never came close to turning Kovacevic after scoring two takedowns and being put on top in par terre.

11:40: Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) with a 1-1 win over Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) at 130kg. Kajaia got his par terre position in the second period to keep the criteria.

11:32: In a battle of oldies, 38-year-old Heiki NABI (EST), London Olympic silver medalist, beats 35-year-old Vitalii SHCHUR (AIN) 1-1 after the two trade passivities. Nabi qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, originally scheduled for 2020, but was banned for 2 years in June 2021, two months before the delayed Tokyo Olympics.

11:30: Oscar PINO (CUB), who has long toiled in the shadow of the great Mijain LOPEZ (CUB), gets a victory by forfeit over Daniel GASTL (AUT) as he looks to add a first world gold to his silver and two bronzes. 

11:26: Returning 130kg silver medalist Amir MIRZAZADEH (IRI) rips off a series of gut wrenches and that's it for  Eduard SOGHOMONYAN (BRA), a quick 9-0 victory by technical superiority. 

11:05: Three-time world bronze medalist Mohammadaii GERAEI (IRI) begins his bid for an elusive gold at 77kg by getting past a difficult opponent in Adlet TIULIUBAEV (AIN) 2-0. Geraei gets the passivity call in each period and, although he can't budge Tiuliubaev, those two points prove the difference when he defends while on the bottom in the final minute.

10:50: In the repechage at 72kg in women's wrestling, Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) moves into the bronze medal bout after beating Nesrin BAS (TUR). Morikawa was the world champion at 65kg last year but has made the jump to 72kg after failing to make the Japan team in the Olympic weight class of 68kg.

10:47: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), the 2021 silver medalist at Greco 77kg, gets a 4-point throw after a walk from the center to the edge, and advances with a 5-1 victory over Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN).

10:40: Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) starts the action on Mat B with a victory by fall over Emilja JAKOVLJEVIC (SRB) in the repechage round at women's 68kg.  The 36-year-old Shalygina is a 2008 Olympic bronze medalist and three-time world medalist who was inactive between 2013 and 2021. An Asian bronze medalist this year, she will next face Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) for a place in a bronze-medal match later in the evening.

10:30: Nothing prepares anyone for Greco-Roman! Today is the day as the World Championships will see Greco-Roman in 55kg, 77kg, 82kg and 130kg with 77kg and 130kg being the Olympic weight classes

#WrestleBelgrade

2023 Wrestling World Championships 57kg, 74kg, 79kg, 92kg semis set

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 17) -- The World Championships enters its second day with more Freestyle action. Four new weight categories will be on the mat 57kg, 74kg, 79kg and 92kg with the first two being Olympic weight classes. Later in the evening, Paris Olympic quotas will be handed out.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

The semifinals at 57kg, 74kg, 79kg and 92kg

79kg
Akhmed USMANOV (AIN) vs. Orkhan ABASOV (AZE)
Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) vs. Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR)

92kg
Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) vs. Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ)
Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) vs. Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE)

57kg
Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) vs. Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ)
Stevan MICIC (SRB) vs. Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB)

74kg
Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) vs. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN)
Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) vs. Kyle DAKE (USA)

15:48: Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN) avoids the fate of fellow Olympic champion Zavur UGUEV (AIN) when he staves off the upset bid of a hometown favorite, beating former world champion Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) 6-4 to make the 74kg semifinals. Sidakov trailed 3-2 going into the second period when he scored a takedown with just under two minutes left. Cabolov gets a stepout, but he still trails on criteria. Sidakov seals the deal with a late stepout for the win.

15:45: Kyle DAKE (USA) survives a scare in his bid to defend his 74kg title, scoring a stepout with 27 seconds left to go ahead en route to a 6-4 win over Daichi TAKATANI (JPN). Takatani gained a 4-point move off a lift-up-and-dump in the first period, and that kept him ahead on criteria when Dake tied the score in the second period. A late but futile challenge added the final point. 

15:45: If you need any more surprises! Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) with a 4-3 win over Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) at 74kg! Kougioumtsidis had a 3-3 criteria lead but tried throwing Salkazanov in the final seconds. The referees gave Salkazanov two points as Kougioumtsidis fell on his back. But a challenge from Greece saw it overturned. Salkazanov's head had moved out first.

He will meet Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) in the semifinals who survived a comeback from Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) to win 5-4.

15:34: Stevan MICIC (SR) pulls off the biggest surprise of the day, much to the thrill of the hometown crowd, when he overcomes a five-point deficit in the last 40 seconds, scoring the winning takedown at the buzzer to stun Olympic champion Zavur UGUEV (AIN) 9-7 in their 57kg quarterfinal.

15:30: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) stunned Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) with a four to start and then transitioned into a leg lace but Higuchi held on. Harutyunyan comes out leading 7-2. But Higuchi settles back and gets a takedown and gut to cut it to 7-6. A double from Higuchi for four and a lead of 10-7 at the break. A takedown to start the second period for Higuchi. Looks like Harutyunyan is out of steam. Higuchi with another four. He now leads 16-8. A takedown from Harutyunyan cut the lead to 16-10 with a minute to go. Two stepouts for the Armenian and it's 16-12. He adds another with a caution and Harutyunyan closes in with 16-14. Higuchi hangs on!

15:20: Osman NURMAGAOMEDOV (AZE), a bronze medalist last year, is trailing on criteria when he scores two takedowns in the final 40 seconds to upend Zahid VALENCIA (USA) 5-1 and secure a place in the 92kg semifinals. 

15:15: Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) with a fall over Pruthviraj PATIL (UWW) to move into the 92kg semifinals. He will take on Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) who beats Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL).

15:05: Akhmed USMANOV (AIN) takes the lead for the first time with a double-leg takedown with 45 seconds left, then gets a late one off a desperation leap in a 5-2 victory at 79kg over 2022 silver medalist Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI). Usamanov will face Orkhan ABASOV (AZE), a 9-3 winner over Chance MARSTELLER (USA), in the semifinals.

15:05: U23 world champion Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) worked hard for a 5-1 lead over Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) and kept attacking to finish the bout 7-1 and move into the semifinals against Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR). The Ukrainian came out all guns blazing against Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) and won the quarterfinal 5-2

14:54: Defending 74kg champion Kyle DAKE (USA) comes out like gangbusters against two-time Asian champion Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ), bulldozing to a 9-0 first-period lead. But he takes his foot off the gas in the second and gives up four points, but he's into the quarterfinals with a 9-4 win. He will face Daichi TAKATANi (JPN), whose older brother Sohsuke he defeated at the 2018 World Cup.

14:35: Stevan MICIC (SRB) was up 5-0 at the break and added another takedown in the second period against Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) to win 7-2 at 57kg. Top win for Micic there

14:25: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) will get a chance to avenge his quarterfinal loss from last year at 61kg to Rei HIGUCHI (JPN), and in the same round, after he mauled Vladimir EGOROV (MKD) 11-0 at 57kg.

14:18: Two Olympic champions, Zavur UGUEV (AIN) and Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN), both won by the same score in back-to-back matches on Mat B to advance to the quarterfinals. Uguev takes out Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) 6-0 at 57kg, then Sidakov scores three takedowns to beat Yones EMAMI (IRI) by the same score at 74kg. 

14:15: Arash YOSHIDA (JPN), on his world debut, beats Vladislav VALIEV (AIN) 7-0 at 92kg. What a start for the teenager. Valiev was a 2019 European champion.

14:05: Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) with a strong arm throw and gets a four over AMAN (UWW). He gets to a leg lace and an 11-0 win over Aman at 57kg.

14:00: Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) continues to use his low single to maximum effect, advancing to the 57kg quarterfinals by scoring a pair of stepouts and a takedown in the first period and holding off any attacks in a 4-0 victory over Wanhao ZOU (CHN).

13:55: Both returning bronze medalists at 92kg, Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) and Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), with technical superiority win. The Georgian wins over Rustam SHODIEV (UZB) while the Azerbaijan wrestler wins over Denys SAHALIUK (UKR).

13:50: Chance MARSTELLER (USA), who had to beat former world and Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) just to make the U.S. team and get to Belgrade, scores three hard-fought takedowns in a 7-2 victory over Chems FATAIRIA (ALG) to advance to the 79kg quarterfinals. 

13:20: Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN) with a 3-0 win over Bekzod ABDURAKHAMANOV (UZB) at 74kg. An activity point and a takedown for Sidakov as he moves into the 1/8 finals

13:00: Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) needed some time but he won 10-0 over Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) at 74kg. He moves into the 1/8 finals

12:57: Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) with a technical superiority win over Gayan Kathurangana (SRI) as he warms up at 57kg. Next up on Mat D is Asian champion AMAN (UWW) against Igor CHICHIOI (MDA). He gets one takedown and a point for Chichioi's passivity to lead 3-0 at the break. He gets a figure-four and wins 11-2

12:55: Stevan MICIC (SRB) gets the crowd going as he wins at 57kg, a technical superiority over Gukhyeon KIM (KOR). He was a bronze medalist last year at 61kg.

12:52: Tokyo Olympic and two-time former world champion Zavur UGUEV (AIN) gets off to a roaring start at 57kg. He scores two quick takedowns against Levan METREVELI (ESP)  and after the second one, he applies an arm bar and levers the Spaniard over three times for a 10-0 win in 1:34.

12:49: An upset on Mat C as Niklas STECHELE (GER) scores a takedown with 30 seconds to go and defeats two-time world medalist Suleyman ATLI (TUR) 7-6 at 57kg.

12:35: Rei HIGUCHI (JPN), the 61kg champion last year who is on a mission to win the Olympic 57kg gold that he barely missed out on at Rio 2016, shows no mercy in pummeling Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) in a 10-0 victory in 1:10. Higuchi counters Vangelov's counter with legs and a cross-face to go up 4-0. When Vengelov squirms out, Higuchi goes to a tight lace lock and forces the three rolls he needs to end the match.

12:30: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) with a 14-2 win over Simone PIRRODU (ITA) at 57kg. Seems like that leg lace has hurt Pirrodu as he limps off the mat

12:16: A thriller on Mat C puts Olympic silver medalist Magomedkhabib KADIMAGOMEDOV (AIN) out of the gold-medal chase. Georgis KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) scores a takedown and stepout off a subsequent scramble to go up 5-4 with 40 seconds left. But Kadimagomedov gets 2 off a counter lift with 7 seconds left, only to see the Greek scramble out and get a 2-point exposure with 2 seconds left for a dramatic 7-6 win.

12:10: Daichi TAKATANI (JPN) knocks off two-time world champion Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) 7-2 at 74kg! Chamizo scored two points but Takatani scored a takedown and a stepout. But he got on a double-leg and got the turn to win 7-2

12:05: Veteran Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) doesn't seem to have lost a step at 33 as he aims for his third world medal and first since 2018. The Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist uses his sweeping low singles to knock off Kamil RYBICKI (POL) with a comprehensive 12-1 technical fall at 74kg.

12:00: Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN) and Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) in a rematch of the 2018 World Championships final on Mat D. Kentchadze is put on activity clock but fails to score. He manages a stepout and lead 1-1 at the break. Sidakov shoots for single leg in the second period but Kentchadze gets the cradle for four and a danger position gives Sidakov two points. Sidakov challenges the call but it holds. 6-3 lead for Kentchadze. Sidakov switches levels and gets a takedown to cut the lead to 6-5. And the Tokyo Olympic champion hits a double leg for takedown to take the 7-6 lead which he maintains for the end of the clock. What a start for Sidakov at 74kg.

11:45: Returning bronze medalist Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) has a tight bout against Tim MUELLER (GER) but manages to hang on for a 3-1 win. Budazhapov would hope to win a bronze again and qualify Kyrgyzstan for the Paris Olympics.

11:41: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), a bronze medalist at 61kg the past two years, begins his foray at the Olympic weight of 57kg by overwhelming gritty Kamil KERYMOV (UKR). He fights off a whizzer for a takedown and a 14-3 technical fall with one tick left on the clock.

11:35: Vladislav VALIEV (AIN) warms up with a 10-0 win over Dan CHEPTAI (KEN) at 92kg. The 2019 European champion is a huge gold medal favorite

11:31: Amirali AZAPIRA (IRI), the two-time reigning world U23 champion at 97kg, gets Iran off to a winning start, gaining a driving takedown early in the second period to finish off an 11-0 technical fall over Woomin JANG (KOR) at 92kg. That sets up an Iran-USA clash with Zahid VALENCIA (USA) in the round of 16.

11:20: 2021 European champion Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) holds on to a 2-2 win over Gurbanmyrat OVEZBERDIYEV (TKM) in the 79kg opening bout. Both wrestlers did not stop their pace.

11:12: Consecutive matches at 79kg on Mat B show why coaches tell their athletes to fight to the end, no matter how badly they are losing. Shuhrat BOZOROV (TJK) trails Mihail GEORGIEV (BUL) 6-0 late in the second period, but scores a takedown, then uses a cross-face ride to secure a fall with 40 seconds left. Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL) follows by spotting Peilong LI (CHN) an eight-point lead, then whittles it down before putting Li on his back and going ahead 10-8. Bat Erdene stops a last-ditch throw attempt and gains a fall in the final seconds.

10:55: Akhmed USMANOV (AIN) opens the action at 79kg by scoring a late stepout off a scramble to hold on for a 3-2 victory over European bronze medalist Ahmad MAGOMEDOV (MKD).

10:30: Big day of wrestling in front of us. Two Olympic weight classes, 57kg and 74kg, will be in action along with 79kg and 92kg, the two non-Olympic weight classes.