#WrestleZagreb

Azarpira ends Tazhudinov's two-year dream run in Zagreb

Monday, September 15, 2025 - 16:07 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (September 15) -- Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) burst on to the wrestling scene with stunning victory over Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) and eventually becoming world champion in 2023.

He followed that up with gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Unbeaten since 2023, it seemed Tazhudinov will dominate the weight classes for the coming years.

Enter Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI).

The Paris Olympic bronze medalist ended Tazhudinov's two-year dream run with victory in the semifinal of the 2025 World Championships in Zagreb on Monday.

During this two-year reign, Azarpira was the only wrestler who came close to beating Tazhudinov. The two faced each other in the Paris Olympics and the Iranian had a 3-0 lead before giving up four points in the second period to lose 4-3.

There were no such comeback in the second period on Monday. Azarpira took a 2-0 lead with two stepouts but Tazhudinov took criteria lead with a takedown. But Azarpira kept his calm and scored a stepout to make it 3-2.  

Tazhudinov tried reaching for Azarpira's legs with his long reach but the Iranian seemed in no trouble at all defending his lead. After one of Tazhudinov's attack, he scored a go-behind and won the bout 5-2.

It is after 12 year that an Iran wrestler has reached the final of the 96/97kg weight class. Reza YAZDANI (IRI) won gold at 96kg at the 2013 World Championships in Budapest.

Azarpira will try to match with Yazdani when he takes on Kyle SNYDER (USA) in the final on Tuesday after the United States wrestler defeated upcoming star Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) in the other semifinal.

Snyder, who had lost to Yoshida at the Tirana Ranking Series, dominated the semifinal, winning 9-1. He scored four different takedowns and looked liked the Snyder of old. Since 2015, Snyder has won a medal at all World Championships including gold in 2015, 2017 and 2022.

Azarpira has two wins over Snyder in the past, the first coming in Zagreb in 2023 at the Ranking Series. The second win came at the Paris Olympics in the bronze-medal bout.

In the other Freestyle weight class -- 65kg -- on Monday, the Olympic final will be replayed after champion Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) and silver medalist Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) made it to the final at the World Championships.

Amouzad saw off Paiman BIABANI (CAN), 5-0, scoring three stepouts and a takedown while Kiyooka managed to score two takedowns in his 5-0 win over Umidjon JALALOV (UZB).

Onishi on track for first gold

A month after winning gold at the U20 World Championships, Sakura ONISHI (JPN) is on the verge of winning her first senior world title after she made it to the final at 59kg.

Like the age-group World Championships, Onishi has not given up a point so far in three bouts in Zagreb. In the semifinals, she wasted no time to secure a fall over Altjin TOGTOKH (MGL).

"While keeping in mind what the opponent would do, I made it clear what I wanted to do," Onishi said. "I was able to execute and that [pin] was the result. I think it creates good momentum going into tomorrow [for final]."

In the final, Onishi will face European U23 silver Maria VYNNYK (UKR) who used a big four-pointer in her 9-5 victory over Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN).

"From the warmup before the first match, I felt like my legs were moving well," she said. "The way I dictated the flow of the matches also was pretty good, so I think I can do it my own way. I feel peace of mind to make it to the final. I came here to become the senior world champion and tomorrow, I want to win and set off on a winning run (around the mat)."

At 55kg, Asian 53kg champion Kyong Ryong OH (PRK) reached the final after pinning Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN), who was making her senior debut. Oh scored a huge under-over and kept Uchida on the mat until the fall was called.

The DPR Korea is returning to the World Championships after six years; last appearance coming in 2019. The nation had one champion in women's wrestling in Astana.

For a gold medal on Tuesday, Oh will face European champion Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) who survived a late attack from Andreea ANA (ROU) to beat the Romanian 5-3.

RESULTS

Freestyle

65kg
GOLD: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) vs. Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN)

SF 1: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) df. Peiman BIABANI (CAN), 5-0
SF 2: Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) df. Umidjon JALALOV (UZB), 5-0

97kg
GOLD: Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) vs. Kyle SNYDER (USA)

SF 1: Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) df. Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN), 5-2
SF 2: Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Arash YOSHIDA (JPN), 9-1 

Women's Wrestling

55kg
GOLD: Kyong Ryong OH (PRK) vs. Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW)

SF 1: Kyong Ryong OH (PRK) df. Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN), via fall
SF 2: Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) df. Andreea ANA (ROU), 5-3

59kg
GOLD: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) vs. Maria VYNNYK (URK)

SF 1: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) df. Altjin TOGTOKH (MGL), via fall
SF 2: Maria VYNNYK (URK) df. Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN), 10-5

#WrestleBudapest

Budapest Ranking Series Day 3 Wrestling Results & Highlights

Friday, July 17, 2026 - 08:05 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 17) -- UWW Wrestling: The Budapest Ranking Series will enter its third day with four Women's Wrestling weight classes -- 59kg, 62kg, 65kg and 68kg -- and two Greco-Roman weight classes -- 67kg and 77kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | TAZHUDINOV BOUNCES BACK | BULLEN'S MOVE

GR 77kg semifinals - Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) with a stepout, 13 seconds before the time expired to beat Danil GRIGOREV (RUS) at 77kg. Grigorev led 1-1 on criteria after both wrestlers exchanged par terre. But Solovei clearly kept the pressure and pushed Grigorev out. Russia challenged the call but lost it giving the Moldovan a 3-1 win. In the other semifinal, Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) hangs on for a 2-2 criteria beat Sergei KUTUZOV (RUS). Both scored points in the first period and Alameldin kept that lead.

GR 67kg Semifinals - U23 world champion Mohamed ABDELREHIM (EGY) turns it around against Ruslan BICHURIN (RUS) with a four-point throw and a foul from Bichurin that gave him a 6-3 lead. He defended the lead to reach the final in which he will take on another Russian wrestler Dinislam BAMMATOV (RUS) who defeated Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM), 6-2. Bammatov scored two turns from par terre to lead 5-1. Galstyan got the par terre but did not score but challenged for a foul which was not there, giving Bammatov another point and a 6-2 win.

WW 68kg semifinals - Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) led 1-1 on criteria but she manages a takedown when Noémi SZABADOS (HUN) tries a throw. The defense from Kyrgyzstan wrestler always troubles her opponents. She will now face Jia LONG (CHN) in the final after the China wrestler defeated Nesrin BAS (TUR). Bas scored a stepout to make it 2-1 with Long leading. But Long exposed when Bas tried to hit a leg attack. She then managed a go-behind to lead 6-1. Turkiye challenged the scoring but lost it to add one more point for Long gave up a late stepout but wins 7-2

WW 65kg semifinals - Jennifer PAGE (USA) hangs on for a 4-2 win over Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ). She will take on compatriot Reese LARRAMENDY (USA) who defeated Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN), via fall. She countered an attack from Rowbottom and then used the arm bar to get the pin.

WW 62kg semifinals - MANSI (IND) builds a 6-0 lead using the lace and then two takedowns to win 10-0 against compatriot SAVITA (IND). But she seems to have hurt her knee. In the other semifinals which went back and fourth, Ana GODINEZ (CAN) used a four-pointer in the first period to lead 7-7 criteria against Veranika IVANOVA (BLR) and then managed to win 13-7 to enter the final.

WW 59kg semifinals - Abigail NETTE (USA) gets two four-point throws against Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) to win 10-0 and move into the final in which she will face NEHA (IND) who defeated Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ). Neha scored a takedown and two turns using the gut-wrench to lead 6-2. She gave up a takedown at the start of the second period but defended her lead to win 6-4.

13:22: It was only a 46-second bout but Salvik GALTSYAN (ARM) shocks world champion Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) with a fall. Galtsyan used an arm-throw to score first two points but Khalmakhanov also scores exposure for two points. However, Galtsyan never let's go of the arm and then stop on top of Khalmakhanov till the fall is confirmed.

13:20: Ana GODINEZ (CAN) reaches the 62kg semifinals after another top win. She scores a couple of stepouts and a takedown in her 6-2 win over Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA). 

13:07: Jia LONG (CHN) takes out former European champion Alina SHAUCHUK (BLR), 8-2, at 68kg. Shauchuk scored the first takedown but Long took the 2-2 criteria lead. She then got another takedown in the second period and two turns to change the bout.

13:00: Sergei KUTUZOV (RUS) denies Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO) at 77kg with a 1-1 criteria win. He got the first par terre position which gave him the criteria

12:45: Grace BULLEN (NOR) has been saved by her pinning abilities and it looked like she once again managed to pull off an incredible fall over Ana GODINEZ (CAN) at 62kg. Down 6-4, Bullen gets an opening when Godinez tries an attack and Bullen throws her off for two points and holds her for a fall. However, Canada challenges asking for a foul as Bullen locked bout her hands behind Godinez's head. The challenge is won and the fall cancelled with Bullen leading 6-6 on criteria and 12 seconds left in the match. Godinez however manages a stepout and win 7-6 

12:37: Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) stuns the home fans by throwing Levente LEVAI (HUN) twice in the 77kg bout and win 8-0. The second throw, when Alameldin was loading for a suplex, he dropped Levai in front to surprise the Hungarian

12:35: World champion at 63kg, Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) rocks Mustafa YILDIRIM (TUR) with a 9-0 win at 67kg. No troubles for Khalmakhanov here.

12:15: Qi ZHANG (CHN) works on a throw for four points and holds her 6-2 lead to beat European champion Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR), who had moved up from 59kg to 62kg.

12:10: Surprising slow win for world bronze medalist Jia LONG (CHN) at 68kg against Sophia SCHAEFLE (GER). In fact, it was Schaefle who got the opening takedown and held Long in the position for fall. However, Long survived that. She scored just two takedowns and managed a 4-2 win.

12:05: Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) pins Irina KAZYULINA (KAZ) in the first period to win at 68kg and advance.

12:00: Incredible comeback from Alina SHEVCHENKO (RUS) over NISHA (IND) at 68kg. Nisha led 6-1 when she committed an offensive foul of twisting the ankle. At one point, Nisha led 7-2 but Shevchenko kept the pressure and added three takedowns to make it 8-7. Nisha tried hitting a head pinch but failed and Shevchenko got two points for the win.

11:40: Levente LEVAI (HUN) advances at 77kg after an 8-2 win over Rui LIU (CHN). Levai built a 7-1 lead before Liu was awarded passivity in the second period. He completed a body throw but was not awarded any points as Levai rotated in the air and landed back on his chest. China challenged but lost it, giving one more point to Levai

11:20: Nesrin BAS (TUR) with total control of her bout against Nigar MIRZAZADA (AZE) as she wins 10-0 at 68kg. She did not complete the bout in one move but manages to work on different techniques to achieve the five takedowns

11:10: In an all-China match-up at 68kg, Jia LONG (CHN) uses the gut-wrench to beat compatriot Zelu LI (CHN) 10-0 to advance.

10:55: Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) with four different takedowns against Laura KOEHLER (GER) to win 8-0 at 68kg. Solid defensive performance as well from the Olympic silver medalist

10:50: Ali ARSALAN (SRB) and Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB) in a heated bout at 77kg. Arsalan scored a takedown in the first period before a stepout made it 3-0 for him. Nakibov took a huge advantage when he began the second period with a stepout. He got the passivity in the second period and scored a turn from par terre to win 4-3.

10:35: What a start to the day! Former European champion at 72kg Levente LEVAI (HUN) with a four-pointer and then a huge five Idris IBAEV (GER) to complete a 9-0 win at 77kg.