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Budapest Ranking Series 2026 Day 2 Results & Highlights

Thursday, July 16, 2026 - 08:34 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 16) -- The second day of the Budapest Ranking Series will see four Freestyle and two Women's Wrestling weight classes. In Freestyle, it will be 79kg, 92kg, 97kg and 125kg while for Women's it will be 50kg and 55kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 RESULTS

WW 55kg semifinals - Nataliia KLIVCHUTSKA (UKR) scored one takedown before the break and then hung on that 2-1 lead to beat Karla GODINEZ (CAN) and enter the final. She will face Hansika LAMBA (IND) for the gold medal after the Indian mounted a comeback to beat Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER), 10-7. Down 7-2, Lamba powered her way to four different takedowns to claim the win and a spot in the final.

WW 50kg semifinals - Samara CHAVEZ (USA) with a fall over Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ) to move into the final at 50kg. She scored a takedown and then turn to hold Bayanova in the position and secure the pin. She will face Ziqi FENG (CHN) for the gold after she rolled to a 12-2 victory over Jacqueline MOLLOCANA (ECU).

125kg semifinals - Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) uses the lace to beat BUHEEERDUN (CHN) via technical superiority and set up a clash against Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL) in the final. Kosciolek used a headlock and three turns to be up 6-0 against Mason PARRIS (USA) and got one point for lost challenge from the United States. He then used a bodythrow to get his 13-0 victory.

97kg semifinals - Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) forfeits his 97kg semifinal against Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) due to an injury. Tsakulov, the European silver medalist, will face Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) for the gold medal after the Bahrain wrestler pinned Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL). Tazhudinov built a 6-0 lead before a takedown and cradle for the fall.

92kg semifinals - Mukhammed ALIIEV (UKR) has no problem in seeing off Zeteny GANGL (HUN) completing an 11-0 win. But he will have his task cut out in the final against European champion Ali TCOKAEV (AZE) who also posted an 11-0 win over Fatih ALTUNBAS (TUR).

79kg semifinals - Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) with a late takedown to complete a 5-3 win over Luka CHKHITUNIDZE (GEO) and make the final. He will take on Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) who scored a come-from-behind victory over Aykan SEID (BUL), winning 9-7.

13:05: Upset of the day as U17 world champion Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) scores a takedown in final 10 seconds to beat world bronze medalist Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) 4-3 at 125kg and advance to the semifinals.

12:55: Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) with a comeback and win over Karadeniz SULEYMAN (TUR) to advance to the 97kg semifinal. Aitmukhan was down 3-1 but scored a takedown to make it 3-3 on criteria before chipping away for a 6-4 win.

12:40: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) into the 97kg semifinals with a 12-0 win over Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA). He began with a stepout when Viskhanov was on the activity clock and then scored two points for exposure to lead 4-0. Viskhanov was cautioned for fleeing and the bout restarted in par terre with Tazhudinov leading 6-0. He did not score there but managed four-pointer little later to win

12:30: A stunning result at 50kg as Samara CHAVEZ (USA) beats European champion Oksana LIVACH (UKR), 11-0, in the quarterfinals. She did not let Livach settle down and went for it straight off the whistle. Solid win for Chavez

12:05: Asian bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) with that strong gut-wrench to beat Katie DUTCHAK (CAN) and advance at 50kg.

12:00: Priyanshi PRAJAPAT (IND) with a fall over Pan-American champion Katie GOMEZ (USA) at 50kg. Gomez was the first to take the lead but Prajapat gets on the legs and finishes the bout with a pin.

11:45: Aykan SEID (BUL) will move into the second round at 79kg after Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (BLR) forfeits due to an injury. 

11:40: Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) left it late but still managed to beat DINESH (IND) in his opening bout at 125kg. Sharipov was called passive and then gave a stepout as Dinesh built a 2-0 lead. But Sharipov with a takedown and turn in the final 30 seconds to claim the victory.

11:30: European champion Ali TCOKAEV (AZE) survives a scare against Dustin PLOTT (USA) at 92kg. After a sequence, Tcokaev was down 6-2 but managed to score a four-point throw when Plott tried to hit a head pinch but Tcokaev blocked him. He then scored a takedown to claim an 8-6 win.

11:25: 2023 world champion at 92kg Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) with a fall over Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO) at 97kg. Aitmukhan trailed Margishvili but managed to score a takedown and hold the Georgian till the fall was called. 

11:20: Olympic champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) rolls to a 10-0 technical superiority win over Ivan PRYMACHENKO (UKR) in his opening bout.

11:15: Mukhammed ALIIEV (UKR) and Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) kept scoring on each other and put on 28 points in the 92kg bout. Aliiev comes out as a 16-12 winner against Maisuradze is really bizarre bout

11:05: Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) holds on to his 3-1 lead against Robert BARAN (POL) and start his campaign at 125kg with a win.

11:00: Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (BLR) manages to hold on for a 5-3 win over Yerkhan ABIL (KAZ) at 79kg. He led 4-3 and went into the defensive. Kazakhstan challenged at the end for fleeing but lost the challenge to add one more point to his score.

10:50: A close win for European champion Oksana LIVACH (UKR) in her opening bout against former U17 world champion Kaura COLES (CAN) at 50kg. Livach with a double-leg attack for the takedown and two stepouts to claim a 4-0 win.

10:40: Former world silver medalist Deepak PUNIA (IND), who is wrestling to at 97kg, drops his opening bout against Benjamin HONIS (ITA), 6-3. He led 1-0 at the break but Honis clearly had the upper hand in strength and answered with three takedowns in the second period.

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Sharshenbekov Cuts Down, Rises to Win Gold in Budapest Ranking Series

Sunday, July 19, 2026 - 20:27 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 19) -- Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) appears to be rounding into form just in time for the World Championships.

After almost two years away from the mat, the Paris 2024 bronze medalist won the 63kg title at the Ulaanbaatar Open. On Sunday in Budapest he returned to his original Olympic weight of 60kg and rolled to another gold medal with a dominant run.

"It has been two years since I was at 60kg," Sharshenbekov said. "There was a break after the Olympics. I feel like I am just beginning to feel it again."

Sharshenbekov did not wrestle in the final after his opponent, Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ), forfeited because of an injury. Before that, however, Sharshenbekov was in dominant form.

He opened the day against Dalton ROBERTS (USA) and secured a fall in one minute, throwing Roberts on the mat using underhook. It set the tone for the rest of the day.

In his second bout, Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) offered little resistance in a 10-0 loss. Sharshenbekov earned the first par terre opportunity, turned Aliyev for two points and followed with a four-point throw. In the second period, he added a takedown that Azerbaijan challenged. The call stood, and the unsuccessful challenge gave Sharshenbekov another point.

Against Mahmoud SAAD (EGY) in the quarterfinals, Sharshenbekov built a 2-0 lead with a chasing takedown before extending it to 5-0 with a par terre turn. Just before the break, he circled behind Saad for another takedown to make it 7-0.

He needed only 25 seconds of the second period to complete another technical superiority victory and book a semifinal against world silver medalist Alisher GANIEV (UZB).

Asian champion Alisher GANIEV (UZB), wrestling with a heavily taped left knee, came out aggressively from the opening whistle but could not break through Sharshenbekov's defense. Sharshenbekov countered with ease and scored the opening takedown just 15 seconds into the bout.

Ganiev then limited the damage in par terre, defending Sharshenbekov's turn attempts to keep the deficit at 3-0 heading into the break.

The second period opened with both wrestlers battling for position as Ganiev searched for a takedown. But the relentless pace began to take its toll and after a minute of high-intensity wrestling, a tiring Ganiev surrendered a go-behind to fall further behind.

Ganiev threw everything at Sharshenbekov, working from body locks and underhooks to headlocks and two-on-one ties, but he could not move the Kyrgyzstan wrestler. Sharshenbekov eventually pull his arm out of Ganiev's hold and control Ganiev for another takedown to lead 5-0.

During a late scramble, Ganiev managed two exposure points, but Sharshenbekov immediately spun and came on top, brought Ganiev the mat and secured the fall.

As he prepares for the World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, in September, Sharshenbekov's dominant return to 60kg sent a message to the rest of the field.

"This isn't my peak," he said. "It is merely the beginning. I have plans and goals to prepare even better for the Asian Games, the World Championships and the Olympics. I need to reach an even higher level of fitness for those events."

Szoke Wins 97kg

Alex SZOKE (HUN) gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about, defeating Ilia ERMOLENKO (RUS), 5-1, in the 97kg final. In one of the standout performances of the tournament, Szoke combined patience, strength and tactical awareness, scoring from par terre before sealing the victory with a counter takedown.

The final began at a high pace, with both wrestlers battling to secure the first par terre advantage. It was the Hungarian who received the activity point in the opening period to take a 1-0 lead. Szoke then capitalized from par terre with a turn to extend the lead to 3-0.

The second period saw Ermolenko on top but Szoke was at his best defense and did not allow the Russian to score any points. But there was a heart stopping moment for Szoke late in the match when Ermolenko locked Szoke and dragged him towards the zone. But Szoke showed exceptional skills and broke the lock.

Ermolenko earned the par terre advantage in the second period, but Szoke's defense held firm, denying the Russian any scoring opportunity. The home crowd was briefly on edge late in the match when Ermolenko locked up Szoke and drove him toward the edge of the mat. Szoke, however, showed exceptional composure, breaking the lock to escape the danger.

Moments later, Szoke circled behind Ermolenko for a takedown to stretch the lead to 5-1, effectively putting the match out of reach. Ermolenko slammed the mat in frustration as the Hungarian closed out the victory.

Russia Wins 3 Golds

It was not all disappointment for Russia, as its experienced wrestlers claimed three of the six Greco-Roman gold medals on offer Sunday.

European champion Sergey EMELIN (RUS) once again showcased the qualities that have made him one of the world's best at 63kg. Whether winning on criteria, scoring when an opening appears or protecting a lead, Emelin has an answer for almost every situation. He displayed all three in a 5-2 victory over Kerem KAMAL (TUR).

Emelin and Kamal were locked in a thrilling contest, with the Russian taking a 2-2 criteria lead. Kamal maintained the pressure and looked set to force a stepout, but Emelin circled behind for a takedown to move ahead 4-2. A stepout in the final minute extended the lead to 5-2, allowing Emelin to close out another Ranking Series title.

The 82kg final was a tactical affair as Gamzat GADZHIEV (RUS) edged Asian champion Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT), 1-1 on criteria, to secure Russia's second gold medal.

Russia's third title came at 130kg, where Marat KAMPAROV (RUS) held on for a 1-1 criteria victory over U20 world champion Laszlo DARABOS (HUN), quieting the vocal home crowd.

Asian champion Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) added a Ranking Series title to his growing résumé with a comfortable 5-1 win over Brady KOONTZ (USA) in the 55kg final. Botirov set the tone from the opening whistle, earning the first par terre opportunity and scoring two gut-wrench turns for a 5-0 lead.

Koontz received the par terre opportunity in the second period, but Botirov defended it comfortably to seal the victory.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) df. Brady KOONTZ (USA), 5-1

BRONZE: Iskhar KURBAYEV (KAZ) df. LALIT (IND), 18-10
BRONZE: Artiom DELEANU (MDA) df. Max NOWRY (USA), 3-0

60kg
GOLD: Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) df. Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Alisher GANIEV (UZB) df. Mahmoud SAAD (EGY), 14-2
BRONZE: Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (RUS) df. Yerbol KAMALIYEV (KAZ), 5-3

63kg
GOLD: Sergey EMELIN (RUS) df. Kerem KAMAL (TUR), 5-2

BRONZE: Aref MOHAMMADI (QAT) df. Murad MAMMADOV (AZE), 7-0
BRONZE: Zhambolat LOKYAEV (RUS) df. Sunny KUMAR (IND), 3-1

82kg
GOLD: Gamzat GADZHIEV (RUS) df Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT), 1-1

BRONZE: Tornike MIKELADZE (GEO) df. Azimjon SOATULLAEV (UZB), 3-1
BRONZE: Mihail BRADU (MDA) df. Ognjen JAKOVLJEVIC (SRB), 3-1

97kg
GOLD: Alex SZOKE (HUN) df. Ilia ERMOLENKO (RUS), 5-1

BRONZE: Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) df. Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE), 1-1
BRONZE: Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM) df. Musa EVLOEV (RUS), via inj. def.

130kg
GOLD: Marat KAMPAROV (RUS) df. Laszlo DARABOS (HUN), 1-1

BRONZE: Wenhao JIANG (CHN) df. Olzhas SYRLYBAY (KAZ), 2-2
BRONZE: Konsta MAEENPAEAE (FIN) df. Aden ATTAO (USA), 3-1