End of the year freestyle rankings

Friday, November 11, 2022 - 11:18 By Eric Olanowski & Vinay Siwach

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (November 11) -- The final set of rankings for the freestyle wrestlers is out. With more than six ranking events and two championships, wrestlers had the opportunity to finish in the top three and collect the prize money.

The wrestlers managed to claim the points from the four Ranking Series events, continental championships and the World Championships. Two Games were also included in the Rankings Series but a total of only four events were counted for awarding the points.

Here are the rankings after the 2022 season.

Thomas GILMAN (USA) claimed the top spot at 57kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

57kg
1. Thomas GILMAN (USA) - $5000
2. Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) - $3000
3. Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) - $2000

Thomas GILMAN (USA) earned the top billing at 57kg after medaling in three point-earning events. He won the Pan-American Championships and the Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series event before closing the season with a runner-up finish at the World Championships. Altogether, the Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist was 10-1 on the season.

Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) grabbed gold in Belgrade and collected 45,000 Ranking Series points, which was good enough to catapult him to the No. 2 spot in the 57kg rankings. With his win over Gilman in the 57kg world finals, the 29-year-old Albanian made history for his country, becoming the first wrestler to win a world title.

Abakarov’s gold in Belgrade also earned a berth on the All-World team for the 2022 Freestyle World Cup, which will take place in Coralville, Iowa, USA, December 10-11.

Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) finished the season tied with Abakarov with 45,000, but due to the Albanian’s higher placement at the World Championships, the Mongolian ended up in the third position in the 57kg rankings. His 2022 body of work included fifth-place finishes at the Asian Championships and Yasar Dogu Ranking Series event, before finishing the season with a bronze medal at the 2022 World Championships.

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) won the world title and the top spot at 61kg. (Photo: UWW /Kadir Caliskan)

61kg
1. Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) - $5000
2. Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) - $3000
3. Suleyman ATLI (TUR) - $2000

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) went 8-0 during his 2022 season and finished the year as the 61kg’s top guy. He won four matches in each of his outings and submitted to the podium at the Asian Championships and World Championships.

Armenian youngster Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) rounds out the year ranked second in the world at 61kg after collecting European gold and a world bronze.

Harutyunyan had his handed raised in 11 of the 12 bouts he competed in this season, and only fell to eventual world champion Higuchi in the world quarterfinals. Despite it not counting towards his senior-level point total, the 23-year-old native of Masis, Armenia, won his second consecutive U23 world title.

Suleyman ATLI (TUR) ended the year ranked third in the world at 61kg with 39,120 points. He was a runner-up at the European Championships and a bronze-medal finisher at the Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series. Although he didn’t win a medal, he did finish in the top ten of the World Championships and Yasar Dogu Ranking Series event.

Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) won the Asian and world titles to leapfrong his opponents for the number one rank at 65kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

65kg
1. Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) - $5000
2. Bajrang BAJRANG (IND). - $3000
3. Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) - $2000

Belgrade world champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) topped the rankings at 65kg after snagging golds at the Continental and World Championships. During his 2022 campaign, the 20-year-old Iranian youngster beat Tokyo Olympic medalists Haji ALIYEV (AZE) and Bajrang BAJRANG (IND).

Amouzad took out Bajrang, a Tokyo bronze medal winner, to win the Asian title. Then, he cruised to a 9-2 win over three-time world champion and two-time Olympic medalist Aliyev in the world semifinals.

Bajrang edged Hungary’s Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) by 200 points for the No. 2 spot at 65kg.

Bajrang earned a silver medal at the Asian Championships and bronze medals at the Bolt Turlykhanov Cup and World Championships and finished the season with 44,200 points.

Muszukajev won the European Championships and took home a bronze from the World Championships, completing the year with 44,000 points.

Sebastian RIVERIA (PUR) also had 44,000 points but he did not win a medal at the World Championships while Muszukajev did to finish ahead of Riveria.

Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) finished with 57720 points to claim the top rank at 70kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

70kg
1. Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) - $5000
2. Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) - $3000
3. Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) - $2000

At 70kg, 2,720 points were the difference between the first and third-ranked wrestlers.

Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) edged Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) and Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) for the top spot with three medals in point-based events. He won European gold in Hungary and finished with bronze medals at the World Championships and Yasar Dogu Ranking Series events.

Akmataliev laid it on the line at a pair of Ranking Series events, and the Asian and World Championships. He medaled in three of those events, finishing with gold, silver and bronze at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup, Asian Championships and World Championships, respectively. He fell short of the top spot by 2,200 points – which could have happened with a mere 10th place or better finish at a Ranking Series event.

Despite winning Asian and world gold, Narikuni fell 2,720 points -- equivalent to a ninth-place finish at a Ranking Series event -- short of claiming the top spot at the weight.

Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) and Kyle DAKE (USA) finished 1-2 respectively at 74kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

74kg
1. Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) - $5000
2. Kyle DAKE (USA) - $3000
3. Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) - $2000

Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) grabbed the No. 1 spot in the world rankings after winning 15 consecutive matches before falling in the world finals to No. 2 Kyle DAKE (USA).

Salkazanov won his second consecutive European title and grabbed Ranking Series titles at the Matteo Pellicone and the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup. He competed in two more competitions than his American foe and outscored him by 13,000 points.

This season, Dake competed at the World and Pan-American Championships and won gold at both events. It was his fourth consecutive gold-medal finish at the World Championships and second title-winning effort at the Pan-Am C’ships. He finished the season with 58,000 ranking points, which was 11,000 points ahead of the third-ranked wrestler.

Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) rounded out the season ranked No. 3 in the world after a trio of top ten finished. He started the season with a gold-medal win at the Yasar Dogu, then finished in fifth and eighth place at the World and European Championships, respectively.

Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) remained untouched at the top spot at 79kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

79kg
1. Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) - $5000
2. Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) - $3000
3. Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) - $2000

There was no one challenging Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) for the top spot at 79kg and he never gave anyone a chance as well. In Belgrade, Burroughs won a record sixth world title. He finished at the top of the rankings with 63000 points with 45000 points coming from the gold in Belgrade. Apart from that, he won the Yasar Dogu event at the beginning of the year for 13000 points before the Pan-Am gold awarded him 5000 points.

The second spot sees a surprise as Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) jumped from 14th to second. He has 51700 points with 31000 points coming from the bronze medal at the World Championships. He was also a bronze medalist at the Yasar Dogu for 10200 points. Another bronze at the Asian Championships awarded him 6500 points. He decided to participate in the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup as well and finished fifth for 4000 points.

But his participation in various events helped him finish better than World Championships silver medalist Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) who has 45000 points. The silver in Belgrade was worth 37000 points and the other 8000 points were won at the Zouhaier Sghaier event as he finished that with a gold medal.

Boris MAKOEV (SVK) outclassed other acclaimed wrestlers at 86kg and won the top spot. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

86kg
1. Boris MAKOEV (SVK) - $5000
2. Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) - $3000
3. David TAYLOR (USA) - $2000

There was little separating the top two at 86kg but Boris MAKOEV (SVK) clinched the top spot with 100 points more than Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ). Makoev finished with 49100 points thanks to his participation in four events. He began with a ninth-place finish at the European Championships for 6500 points before winning silver at Bolat Turlykhanov Cup and bronze at Matteo Pellicone. The two medals were worth a combined 11600 points. He finished the season with a bronze medal at the World Championships for 31000 points.

Dauletbekov also participated in four events with Asian Championships being his first. He won gold at 86kg for 10000 points before adding 4000 points for a fifth-place finish at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup, perhaps the most crucial tournament in hindsight.

The Kazakhstan wrestler did win the Zouhaier Sghaier event but the gold was worth only 4000 points for him. He matched Makoev for the bronze at the World Championships but failed to overtake him for the top rank.

The third spot was claimed by world champion David TAYLOR (USA) who finished with 45000 points, all of which came from the gold he won in Belgrade.

Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) also finished with 45000 points but in fourth place as Taylor won gold in Belgrade while Yazdani won silver.

Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) finished with 53000 points in 2022. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

92kg
1. Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) - $5000
2. Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) - $3000
3. Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) - $2000

World champion Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) was the clear favorite to finish at the first spot and he did that by winning the gold medal in Belgrade at 92kg. He got 45000 points for the win and 8000 points more from the gold he won at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup for a total of 53000 points.

Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) made a big jump from the 11th spot to the second by winning a bronze medal at the World Championships. With 49700 points, the made sure he was clear of the other bronze medalist Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE). In the three events he participated in for points, Maisuradze won bronze at the European Championships for 6500 points, the same as Nurmagomedov who also won a bronze.

At the Matteo Pellicone, the two met in the final that was won by Nurmagomedov who got 8000 points while Maisuradze got 6400 points. Both then went on to win the bronze medals at the Worlds.

Maisuradze's 5800 points more than Nurmagomedov came from the Yasar Dogu event in which he finished ninth.

Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) were in the world finals and finished number one and two in the rankings. (Photo: UWW / Kostandin Andonov)

97kg
1. Kyle SNYDER (USA) - $5000
2. Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) - $3000
3. Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) - $2000

The world finalists Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) were in a close battle for the top spot and the former clinched it with 500 points more than Tsakulov.

Snyder won the Pan-Am gold medal for 10000 points before winning the Zouhaier Sghaier gold and World gold for 8000 points and 45000 points respectively to finish with 63000 points.

Tsakulov began with a bronze medal at the European Championships for 6500 points before winning two rankings series -- Bolat Turlykhanov and Matteo Pellicone -- for 8000 points and 11000 points respectively. His silver at World Championships was worth only 37000 points as he fell short of Snyder's tally.

Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) claimed the third spot with 47520 points which he accumulated by winning the European Championships for 10000 points, finishing seventh at Matteo Pellicone for 6520 points and winning bronze at World Championships for 31000 points.

Taha AKGUL (TUR) claimed the world gold and the first rank at 125kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostandin Andonov)

125kg
1. Taha AKGUL (TUR) - $5000
2. Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) - $3000
3. Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) - $2000

Taha AKGUL (TUR) and Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) exchanged the top two spots for a long time but the former raced ahead after winning the European and World Championships. The two gold medals were worth 55000 points and he also won the gold at Yasar Dogu for 13000 points, taking his total to 63000 points.

Petriashvili won silver at the European Championships for 8000 points but won the Matteo Pellicone and Zouhaier Sghaier rankings events, for 8000 points each. With 24000 points, gold at World Championships would have taken him to the top but he finished with bronze and 31000 points to settle for the second spot with 55000 points.

The third spot went to Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) who stunned Petriashvili to reach the World Championships final at 125kg. He reach the final at Yasar Dogu and got 11400 points. A bronze medal at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup added 5200 points more to his account. With 37000 points from the World Championships, he finished with 53600 points and the third spot.

#WrestleBelgrade

World Championships day six semis set

Thursday, September 15, 2022 - 08:00 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 15) -- The freestyle action in men's begins on day six of the World Championships in Belgrade with superstars competing in 70kg, 79kg, 86kg and 125kg at the Stark Arena.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

The semifinals for the evening session

70kg
Zain RETHERFORD (USA) vs. Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO)
Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) vs. Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN)

79kg
Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) vs. Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL)
Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) vs. Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI)

86kg
Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) vs. Boris MAKOEV (SVK)
Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) vs. David TAYLOR (USA)

125kg
Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) vs. Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL)
Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) vs. Taha AKGUL (TUR)

14:38: Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL) trailed Yudai TAKAHASHI (JPN) 3-2 till the final five seconds when he got Takahashi's knee touching the mat to win 4-3. Japan challenges the call but there is a clear touch. Umarpashaev wins 5-3.

14:36: Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR), the winner of the Rome tournament in June, plows into the 79kg semifinals with a 10-0 technical fall over Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE). After a first-period takedown, Mykhailov gets a takedown and two exposures in the second period and then ends the match with a third takedown.

14:35: Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) puts on a takedown clinic, scoring four in a 10-5 victory over Olympic bronze medalist Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) to make the 79kg semifinals.

14:30: Jordan BURROUGHS (USA), chasing his sixth world title, looks as good as ever. He makes it look so easy as he did against Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ), steamrolling to an 11-0 win.

14:25: Amir ZARE (IRI) and Taha AKGUL (TUR) set up a mouth-watering semifinal at 125kg with similar one-sided victories on adjacent mats. Zare uses a spin-behind takedown to finish up a 10-0 technical fall over Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR). About a minute later, Akgul defeats Amarveer DHESI (CAN) 8-2. The only difference was a nifty ankle pick that Dhesi used to score a takedown against Akgul.

14:25: Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) led Oleg BOLTIN (KAZ) 4-2 in the 125kg quarterfinals but Boltin kept the pressure on. Munkhtur, however, manages to keep the score and win. He will face Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO).

14:23: Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) is moving into the semifinals at 125kg as he beats Hayden ZILLMER (USA) 9-4 in a very controlled bout.

14:13: Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) gets a stepout in the first period and an activity point in the second, and that's all the scoring in a tense 70kg quarterfinal victory over Servet COSKUN (TUR).

14:11: Zain RETHERFORD (USA) keeps his gold-medal hopes alive with a solid 5-0 victory over Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) to make the 70kg semifinals. After getting an activity point in the first period, Retherford stays on the attack and scores a takedown and three stepouts for the win.

14:07: Ernazar AKMATELIEV (KGZ) completes a technical superiority win as well. Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL) did try some tricks but Akmataliev keeps the counters coming and wins 11-0. He will face Narikuni in the semifinals, a rematch of the Asian Championships final which was won by Narikuni.

14:06: Asian champion Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) with an anti-climatic technical superiority win over Ilyas BEKBULATOV (UZB). He goes for a big four exposure and then a chest wrap gut for a 10-0 win at 70kg.

13:56: Boris MAKOEV (SVK) got a 4-0 lead against Tarzan MAISURADZE (GEO) but the Georgian has since bounced back with two takedowns and a stepout to lead 5-4. Slovakia challenge the call and the two points are taken off. 4-3 lead for Makoev. He got a takedown but Maisuradze changed the direction and got the two. He is awarded two more but Slovakia challenges asking for two and two. The review takes out two from Maisuradze. 5-4 lead for the Georgian. But Makoev with a two in the final second to win 6-5.

13:53: Asian champion Azamat DAULETBEKOV gets a 4-point cradle to the back in the second period against Olympic bronze medalist Myles AMINE (SMR) and he's into the 86kg semifinals with a 9-1 victory.

13:48: David TAYLOR (USA) looks just awesome in his quest for a second world title, putting away Ethan RAMOS (PUR) by technical fall 11-0 in 1:34. A takedown and two gut wrenches, then another takedown and another gut wrench finished the job. A capricious challenge at the end was unsuccessful, adding another point.

13:45: The quarterfinals begin at 86kg Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) taking on Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL) on Mat C. He gets a stepout to start. Takedown and gut to make it 5-0. Yazdani keeps the pressure and wins 11-0 within three minutes.

13:38: Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) is through to the 79kg quarterfinals with a 10-0 technical fall over Aulguun ALTANZUL (MGL), much to the delight of the horn-honking, chanting Iranian fans at Stark Arena.

13:36: Yudai TAKAHASHI (JPN), who went to his first senior worlds while still in high school in 2021, makes it to the quarterfinals this time at 79kg when he scores a stepout with :28 left to defeat Arman AVAGYAN (ARM) 7-6. Takahashi was trailing on criteria at the time.

13:27: Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) hits those doubles like no one else. He moves into the 79kg quarterfinals with a 12-1 win over Dejan MITROV (MKD).

13:26: Taha AKGUL (TUR), going for his third world title and seventh medal overall, gets a pair of takedowns near the edge in the first period and that was enough for a 4-0 victory over DANIEL LIGETI (HUN) and place in the 125 quarterfinals.

13:19: European champion and returning bronze medalist Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) encounters stiff resistance from Temuulen EHKHTUYA (MGL) to start his campaign at 70kg. An activity point gives him a 2-1 lead, and that's how it ends to put Iakobishvili into the quarterfinals.

13:14: Olympic silver medalist Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) warms up with a fall over DINESH (IND) and moves into the quarterfinals at 125kg. His match is followed up by Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) against Zhiwei DENG (CHN). Zare leads 2-0 at the break. A passivity against Deng in the second period makes it 3-0. That will be the final score of the bout.

13:09: Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) gets the fall on Mat A over Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ) to make the 70kg quarterfinals, but not without some drama. Narikuni is trailing 4-2 in the second period when he gets in on a tackle. Talgat gets on top to defend, but Narikuni rises up and rolls forward. He is awarded 2, but Kazakhstan challenges—and the call is changed to 4! With the lost challenge point, now it's 7-4. Narikuni gets a takedown, a roll, then stacks up Talgat for the fall with :38 left.

13:09: At 125kg, Hayden ZILLMER (USA) hangs on for a 3-2 win over European bronze medalist Robert BARAN (POL). That means the USA will get team points at 125kg, a huge aspect in the team race.

13:02: Olympic champion David TAYLOR (USA) needs just 51 seconds to get a takedown, lock up an arm and roll back and forth four times to defeat Aron CANEVA (ITA) by 10-0 technical fall and advance to the 86kg quarterfinals.

13:00: Tarzan MAISURADZE (GEO) goes into the break at 86kg against 2021 bronze medalist Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) leading 3-1 after giving up a takedown and a fleeing penalty. Abakarov gets in on leg late in the second period, but Maisuradze defends and comes away with the win and a spot in the quarterfinals.

12:56: Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) gives up a takedown against Maxim SACULTAN (MDA) but remains unfazed. In the second period, Sacultan tries to trip Akmataliev who counters with a four and gut wrenches to a 13-2 win.

12:50: Russian-born Iakub SHIKHDZHAMALOV (ROU) gets the early takedown against Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI), the returning silver medalist from 2021 at 79kg. Nokhodi spins behind for 2, then adds a pair of rolls to go up 6-2. A counter lift by the bearded Shikhdzhamalov and a Nokhodi reversal makes it 7-4 at the break. Shikhdzhamalov gets behind to cut the gap to 1 midway through the second period, but Nokhodi holds on for a 7-6 win.

12:48: Olympic bronze medalist Myles AMINE (SMR) up against Ivars SAMUSONOKS (LAT) and he takes the 2-0 lead with a takedown. He adds one more in the second period and will hold on for a 4-0 win.

12:43: Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) is walking out and you know that as the Iran fans cheer him. He is facing Ivan ICHIZLI (MDA) at 86kg. A slow start from the defending world champion but he works more in the second period for a 10-0 technical superiority win.

12:32: Arman AVAGYAN (ARM), a 2021 world U23 bronze medalist, wins points on both offense and defense in beating Adam THOMPSON (CAN) by 11-0 technical fall at 79kg.

12:25: Big match at 79kg as Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB), who won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics at 74kg, facing Muhammet AKDENIZ (TUR). Abdurakhmonov went up to 86kg but has come back to 79kg for this tournament. He is up 1-0 at the break. A scramble gives two points for Abdurakhmanov and one for Akdeniz. A second scramble results in a four-pointer for Akdeniz but Uzbekistan and it's only two. Turkey leads 3-3 on criteria. A double from Abdurakhmonov and he takes the lead. An attack from Akdeniz but he gives up points. Challenge from Turkey as Akdeniz suffers a 7-3 loss. A lost challenge and Abdurakhmonov wins 8-3

12:21: 2020 Asian champion Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) leaves it late but gets a double-leg takedown with :25 left to defeat 2021 European silver medalist Saifedine ALEKMA (FRA) 2-2 on criteria at 79kg.

12:20: European champion Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) could not have asked for a tougher start to his World Championships. Facing Alans AMIROVS (LAT) at 79kg, he scores a stepout a point for passivity and another stepout to win 3-1.

12:11: A 7-0 victory on Mat B by Daniel LIGETI (HUN) over Taiki YAMAMOTO (JPN) at 125kg earns him a date in the round of 16 with former world and Olympic champion Taha AKGUL (TUR).

12:05: Five-time world champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) is coming up on Mat C against Sahergeldi SAPARMYRADOV (TKM). Burroughs gives up a stepout but comes back to hit the iconic double to complete a 12-1 win

12:00: World bronze medalist Zhiwei DENG (CHN) up on Mat C against Aydin AHMADOV (AZE) and he keeps it moving for six minutes and completes a 5-0 win over Ahmadov.

11:58: Two-time world medalist Reineris SALAS (CUB), a Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist at 97kg who has moved up to 125kg, falls behind on criteria when he gives up a takedown to Pan Am champ Amarveer DHESI (CAN) with two minutes left in the second period. Dhesi, with Salas on the activity clock, adds a stepout. With a minute to go, Dhesi is up 4-2, then squirms out of a takedown attempt for the win.

11:45: Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM) got the opening arm-spin four against Hayden ZILLMER (USA) but the American rallied back to win 15-4 at 125kg.

11:39: Asian champion Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN), whose mother Akiko IIJIMA was a two-time world champion and his coach as a youth, took the first step in emulating his mom in his senior world debut with a 6-1 victory over Naveen MALIK (IND) at 70kg.

11:35: Zain RETHERFORD (USA), a big favorite to win the gold medal at 70kg, shows why is it so. He rocks and roll Kevin HENKEL (GER) for a technical superiority win.

11:28: A bit of bad blood on Mat A. Fati VEJSELI (MKD) gives European bronze medalist Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL) a shove as the two are on the mat at the end of their 70kg match, which was won 7-4 by Ramazanov.

11:20: Ilyas BEKBULATOV (UZB), making his debut at the World Championships, wins his opening match via technical superiority against Anthony WESLEY (CPV) at 70kg. Bekbulatov has been wrestling for Uzbekistan since 2019.

11:18: Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA), coming off a gold-medal run at last month's World U20, storms out to an 8-point lead at 86kg against Ethan RAMOS (PUR), only to see his opponent come back with six of his own, all in the first period. Magamadov gets a takedown and roll, but Ramos comes back with a takedown. Then the ceiling falls on the Frenchman, as Ramos muscles him over for a fall as if to say, welcome to the big league.

11:09: At 86kg, European champion Myles AMINE (SMR), the U.S.-raised star who became a hero in his grandfather's homeland of San Marino when he won the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, comes out the back door to score a 2-point exposure against Zushen LIN (CHN) and go-ahead 2-2 on criteria. He does the same move in the second period, then gives up a stepout. An unsuccessful challenge gives him a 5-3 win.

11:08: Returning bronze medalist Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) against Khasan ZAKARIIEV (UKR) on Mat D. He gives up four early points but then bounces back in the second period with two takedowns to lead 4-4. He scores a stepout as the time expires to win 5-4

11:03: Tarzan MAISURADZE (GEO) trailed for most of the bout but he scored a takedown with 34 seconds remaining to pick up a 4-4 win over Sanjeet KUNDU (IND) at 86kg.

10:54: Fatih ERDIN (TUR) gets a takedown and gut against Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL) to lead 6-0 but the Poland wrestler returns to secure a 16-6 technical superiority using a lace.

10:49: Ivan ICHIZLI (MDA) gets a couple of rolls in defeating Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL) 7-0 at 86kg in the opening match on Mat A. That sends him into the next round, where he will be the opening opponent for formidable three-time world champion Hassan YAZDANI (IRI).

10:29: Greetings from Belgrade for another great day of wrestling (what day isn't?) In today's morning session, the men return to the mat for the qualification rounds in freestyle at 70kg, 79kg, 86kg and 125kg. You can expect the action to be hot and heavy.

End of the year freestyle rankings

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World Championships day six semis set