Freestyle World Cup, Los Angeles, United World Wrestling, Iran, Cuba, United States, Turkey, Mongolia, Azerbaijan

Freestyle World Cup: Updated Results and Notes

By United World Wrestling Press

Head to United World Wrestling's Freestyle World Cup page for links to the live stream, results and photographs. 
HERE: https://unitedworldwrestling.org/event/world-cup-senior-7

Pool A W L Pool B W L United States 3 0 Iran 3 0 Russia 2 1 Azerbaijan 2 1 Mongolia 1 2 Belarus 1 2 Cuba 0 3 Turkey 0 3

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL: United States vs. Iran
THIRD PLACE: Russia vs. Azerbaijan
FIFTH PLACE: Mongolia vs. Belarus
SEVENTH PLACE: Cuba vs. Turkey

THIRD PLACE
AZERBAIJAN 4, RUSSIA 4 (15-15)

Azerbaijan wins by technical points 34-28
Azerbaijan need to go to the second tiebreaking criteria to defeat Russia for third place at the World Cup. Jamaladdin MAGOMEDOV (AZE) picked up 12 crucial technical points in a 12-1 technical fall over Timur KOTSOEV (RUS) at 125kg. Magomedov's win was big because it tied the match score at four matches apiece, then tied the classification score at 15 apiece. With those 12 points, Jamaladdin's victory pushed Azerbaijan through. 

57 kg - Viktor RASSADIN (RUS) df. Yashar ALIYEV (AZE), 8-1
61 kg - No.12 Haji ALIYEV (AZE) df. No.15 Murshid MUTALIMOV (RUS), 9-4
65 kg - No.4 Magomed MUSLIMOV (AZE) df. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS), 6-0
70 kg - No.8 Israil KASUMOV (RUS) df. No.12 Ruslan DIBIRGADZHIYEV (AZE), 6-4
74 kg - Iakubali SHIKHDZHAMALOV (RUS) df. Murad SULEYMANOV (AZE), 4-1
86 kg - Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS) df. Aleksandr GOSTIYEV (AZE), 4-0
97 kg - No.5 Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) df. No.13 Yury BELONOVSKIY (RUS), 1-1
125 kg - No.11 Jamaladdin MAGOMEDOV (AZE) df. Timur KOTSOEV (RUS) by TF, 12-1

FIFTH PLACE
BELARUS 5, MONGOLIA 3

Despite upset wins by Tsogtbaatar DAMDINBAZAR and Mandakhan GANZORIG, Belarus proved to be too much for Mongolia. Wins by Ivan YANKOUSKI at 97kg and Aleksey SHEMAROV at 125kg lifted Belarus to a fifth-place finish. Shemarov defeated World No.9 Chuluunbat JARGALSAIKHAN 11-1 to finish off the dual. 

57 kg - No.10 Tsogtbaatar DAMDINBAZAR (MGL) df. No.7 Vladzislav ANDREEV (BLR) by FALL
61 kg - Dzianis MAKSIMAV (BLR) df. Nemekhbayar BATSAIKHAN (MGL), 10-10
65 kg - No.6 Mandakhnaran GANZORIG (MGL) df. No.5 Azamat NURIKOV (BLR), 11-5
70 kg - Ankhbayar BATCHULUUN (MGL) df. Zhan SAFYAN (BLR), 11-9
74 kg - No.4 Ali SHABANOV (BLR) df. No.14 Unurbat PUREVJAV (MGL), 8-2
86 kg - Amarhajy MAHAMEDAV (BLR) df. Usukhbaatar PUREVEE (MGL), 8-5
97 kg - Ivan YANKOUSKI (BLR) df. No.9 Khuderbulga DORJKHAND (MGL), 7-5
125 kg - No.7 Aleksei SHEMAROV (BLR) df. No.9 Chuluunbat JARGALSAIKHAN (MGL), 11-1

SEVENTH PLACE
CUBA 5, TURKEY 3

Cuba finished seventh after several wrestlers were unable to compete due to injury. In the four matches that were wrestled, the Cubans swept them all, with the biggest victory coming at 57kg as No.4 Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ earned a 10-0 technical fall over past World medalist Sezar AKGUL (TUR).

57 kg - No.4 Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB) df. Sezar AKGUL (TUR) by TF, 10-0
61 kg - Munir RECEP AKTAS (TUR) won by forfeit
65 kg - Franklin MAREN CASTILLO (CUB) df. Mustafa KARTAL (TUR) by TF, 10-0
70 kg - Andy YOAN MORENO GONZALEZ (CUB) df. Sefa AKSOY (TUR), 4-2
74 kg - Livan LOPEZ AZCUY (CUB) won by forfeit
86 kg - Serdar BOKE (TUR) won by forfeit
97 kg - No.7 Javier CORTINA LACERRA (CUB) df. Ibrahim BOLUKBASI (TUR) by FALL
125 kg - Tanju GEMICI (TUR) won by forfeit

Pool B, Round 6
IRAN 7, AZERBAIJAN 1

The only loss for Iran was one of its best as No.5 Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) topped No.4 Reza YAZDANI (IRI) at 97kg 9-1. Iran would win the other seven bouts, with solid wins registered by No.18 Benham EHSANPOOR (IRI) over World Champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE) at 61kg. A wild matchup occurred at 65kg as World No.2 Sayed MOHAMMADI (IRI) outlasted Toghrul ASGAROV (AZE) 14-10. Iran will face the host United States in the championship final.

57 kg - No.8 Hassan RAHIMI (IRI) df. Jalal SULEYMANOR (AZE), 8-2
61 kg - No.18 Behnam EHSANPOOR (IRI) df. No.12 Haji ALIYEV (AZE), 5-5
65 kg - No.2 Seyed AHMAD MOHAMMADI  (IRI) df. Toghrul ASGAROV (AZE), 14-10
70 kg - No.10 Hassan YAZDANI CHARATI (IRI) df. No.12 Ruslan DIBIRGADZHIYEV (AZE), 10-8
74 kg - Morteza REZAEI GHALEH (IRI) df. No.9 Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE) by TF, 10-2
86 kg - No.4 Meisam MOSTAFAJOUKAR (IRI) df. Aleksandr GOSTIYEV (AZE) by TF, 12-1
97 kg - No.5 Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) df. No.4 Reza YAZDANI (IRI), 9-1
125 kg - No.10 Parviz HADI (IRI) df. No.11 Jamalladin MAGOMEDOV (AZE) by TF, 12-2

Pool A, Round 6
RUSSIA 4, CUBA 4
Russia wins by classification points, 24-12
Russia won two of its four matches by forfeit and the other two by fall to get past an injury-depelted Cuban squad in the final round of Pool A competition. The big win was delivered at 125kg as Yuri BELONOVSKIY (RUS) bumped up from 97kg to pick up a fall and give Russia the dual-tying win. Russia would win on criteria. 

57 kg - No.4 Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB) df. Viktor RASSADIN (RUS), 12-6
61 kg - No.15 Murshid MUTALIMOV (RUS) by forfeit
65 kg - Franklin MAREN CASTILLO (CUB) df. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS), 5-4
70 kg - No.8 Israil KASUMOV (RUS) df. Andy YOAN MORENO GONZALEZ (CUB) by FALL
74 kg - No.5 Livan LOPEZ AZCUY (CUB) df. Isa DAUDOV (RUS), 7-2
86 kg - Akhmed MAGOMEDOV (RUS) by forfeit
97 kg - No.7 Javier CORTINA LACERRA (CUB) df. Azret SHOGENOV (RUS), 8-2
125 kg - No.13 Yury BELONOVSKIY (RUS) df. Eduardo MESA RABI (CUB) by FALL

Pool A, Round 5
UNITED STATES 8, MONGOLIA 0

The United States swept Mongolia 8-0 to win Pool A and move into the championship dual against the winner of the Iran-Azerbaijan dual in Pool B. The U.S. won three matches against higher-ranked opponents while Saturday's hero, Tervel DLAGNEV (USA), was dominant at 125kg, earning a 10-0 techincal fall over World No.9 Chluunbat JARGALSAIKHAN (MGL). 

57 kg - No.19 Tony RAMOS (USA) df. No.10 Tsogtbaatar DAMDINBAZAR (MGL), 1-1
61 kg - Coleman SCOTT (USA) df. Nemekhbayar BATSAIKHAN (MGL), 8-5
65 kg - No.8 Brent METCALF (USA) df. No.6 Mandakhnaran GANZORIG (MGL), 8-2
70 kg - No.11 Nick MARABLE (USA) df. Ankhbayar BATCHULUUN (MGL), 4-1
74 kg - No.2 Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) df. No.14 Unurbat PUREVJAV (MGL), 6-0
86 kg - No.10 Clayton FOSTER (USA) df. Usukhbaatar PUREVEE (MGL), 2-2
97 kg - Jake VARNER (USA) df. No.9 Khuderbulga DORJKHAND (MGL), 3-0
125 kg - No.8 Tervel DLAGNEV (USA) df. No.9 Chluunbat JARGALSAIKHAN (MGL) by TF, 10-0

Pool B, Round 5
BELARUS 5, TURKEY 3

57 kg - No.7 Vladzislav ANDREEV (BLR) df. Sezar AKGUL (TUR), 5-3
61 kg - Munir RECEP AKTAS (TUR) df. Dzianis MAKSIMAV (BLR) by TF, 14-4
65 kg - No.5 Azamat NURIKOV (BLR) df. Mustafa KARTAL (TUR) by TF, 11-0
70 kg - Zhan SAFYAN (BLR) df. (TUR) by forfeit, 0-0
74 kg - Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) df. No.4 Ali SHABANOV (BLR), 4-3
86 kg - Serdar BOKE (TUR) df. Amarhajy MAHAMEDAV (BLR), 8-7
97 kg - Ivan YANKOUSKI (BLR) df. Ibrahim BOLUKBASI (TUR) by TF, 20-9
125 kg - No.7 Aleksei SHEMAROV (BLR) df. Tanju GEMICI (TUR) by TF, 10-0

WORLD CUP NOTEBOOK
Cuban Contingent Happy to Participate in World Cup in Los Angeles

Cuba's Livan LOPEZ AZCUY was excited for the 2015 United World Wrestling World Cup. He wasn't exactly excited about the arrival time into Los Angeles as the Cuban delegation arrived at 2 a.m. local time, approxmiately 13 hours prior to competition.

"This is my first trip to Los Angeles and we arrived very late so I haven’t seen anything. I’d like to see a little of the city," said Lopez. "We arrived late and I haven't had any time to recover."

Being sleep-deprived adds another level of sluggishness. Heavy legs and new timezones can be problematic for timing and quickness. Lopez had to take that into consideration when facing his first opponent on Saturday -- American Jordan BURROUGHS. 

"Jordan is an amazing wrestler and he would have been tough even if I was rested," said Lopez, a three-time World and Olympic medalist, who was still looking forward to wrestling Burroughs for the second time. "I've been fighting at 65kg and just moved up," said Lopez. "I have a great opportunity to work on my tactics at this weight and I know when I get home, I'll need to work on my strength."

Cuban head coach Julio MENDIETA CUELLAR was a bit awestruck of the Forum.

“When I walked in the front entrance of The Forum and saw all the pictures of the people who have performed here, I felt “WOW.”   I felt elevated that I was in the same facility as all these important people," said Mendieta Cuellar.

Funding is always an issue for the small Caribbean island nation, which sits just 90 miles from the United States mainland. Bringing top wrestlers to the World Cup is an opportunity, but even Mendieta Cuellar doesn't know if everyone in Los Angeles will be on the quad that competes at the World Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada come September.

“It’s too soon to decide that, but I expect that some of the wrestlers here in Los Angeles will go to the World Championships," said Mendieta Cuellar. "Bottom line, it the best performers that will go to Las Vegas.”

The Cuban contingent will have to fight the rest of the way without the dynamic Reineris SALAS PEREZ. The multi-time World medalist was injured in competition leading up to the World Cup and re-injured his ankle in a wild 22-13 loss to Ed RUTH of the United States.

"We brought a doctor with us and he will check it, but we don’t want to make the ankle worse with the World Championships coming up," said Mendieta Cuellar. Salas reportedly had a cast on his ankle removed two days prior. 

Burroughs Wins 100th International Match

Three-time World and Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS of the United States won two matches on Saturday to push his senior-level international record to 100-2. Burroughs' 100th win was over Russia's Iakubali SHIKHDZHAMALOV. Burroughs jumped out to a 4-0 on four pushouts, then hit his trademark doubleleg to extend his lead to 8-0. Burroughs finished off the match with four points, converting on another double leg in the second period. Burroughs' only two losses are to fellow American Nick MARABLE and to three-time World and Olympic champion Denis TSARGUSH of Russia. 

Pool A, Round 4
MONGOLIA 5, CUBA 3
57 kg - No.4 Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB) df. No.10 Tsogtbaatar DAMDINBAZAR (MGL) by TF, 15-5
61 kg - Nemekhbayar BATSAIKHAN (MGL) df. Moikel ANTONIO PEREZ GONZALEZ (CUB), 9-5
65 kg - No.6 Mandakhnaran GANZORIG (MGL) df. Franklin MAREN CASTILLO (CUB) by TF, 11-0
70 kg - Ankhbayar BATCHULUUN (MGL) df. Andy YOAN MORENO GONZALEZ (CUB) by TF, 11-0
74 kg - No.5 Livan LOPEZ AZCUY (CUB) df. No.14 Unurbat PUREVJAV (MGL), 6-4
86 kg - Usukhbaatar PUREVEE (MGL) by forfeit, 0-0
97 kg - No.7 Javier CORTINA LACERRA (CUB) df. No.9 Khuderbulga DORJKHAND (MGL), 3-1
125 kg - No.9 Chuluunbat JARGALSAIKHAN (MGL) df. Eduardo MESA RABI (CUB) by TF, 10-0

Pool B, Round 4
AZERBAIJAN 6, BELARUS 2
57 kg - Jalal SULEYMANOR (AZE) df. Uladzislau ANDREYEU (BLR) by TF, 12-2
61 kg - Haji ALIYEV (AZE) df. Dzianis MAKSIMAU (BLR) by TF, 12-2
65 kg - Toghrul ASGAROV (AZE) df. Azamat NURYKAU (BLR), 6-2
70 kg - Ruslan DIBIRGADZHIYEV (AZE) df. Zhan SAFYAN (BLR), 8-0
74 kg - Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE) df. Ali SHABANAU (BLR), 1-1
86 kg - Amarhajy MAHAMEDAU (BLR) df. Aleksandr GOSTIYEV (AZE), 1-1
97 kg - Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) df. Ivan YANKOUSKI (BLR) by TF, 11-1
125 kg - Aleksei SHEMAROV (BLR) df. Jamaladdin MAGOMEDOV (AZE), 5-3

Pool A, Round 3
UNITED STATES 4, RUSSIA 4

USA wins by classification points, 17-16
Two-time World bronze medalist Tervel DLAGNEV (USA) came through in the clutch to beat Arslanbek ALIEV (RUS) 10-0 at 125kg to push the host United States to a tie-breaker victory over Russia in the second round of Pool A competition. Russia made things extremely interesting after Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS) pinned Ed RUTH (USA) in 52 seconds at 86kg and then No.13 Yuri BELONOVSKIY (RUS) scored two takedowns to beat Olympic champion Jake VARNER (USA) at 97kg. Dlagnev's 10-0 technical superiority gave the U.S. four classification points, but more importantly, the shut out kept Aliev from scoring a classification point, which would have sent the match to the next criteria. 

57 kg - No.19 Tony RAMOS (USA) df. Omak SYURUUN (RUS), 4-2
61 kg - No.15 Murshid MUTALIMOV (RUS) df. Coleman SCOTT (USA), 10-1
65 kg - No.8 Brent METCALF (USA) df. No.16 Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS) by TF, 13-3
70 kg - No.8 Israil KASUMOV (RUS) df. No.11 Nick MARABLE (USA), 6-4
74 kg - No.2 Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) df. Iakubali SHIKHDZHAMALOV (RUS) by TF, 12-0
86 kg - Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS) df. Ed RUTH (USA) by FALL, 0:52
97 kg - No.13 Yuri BELONOVSKIY (RUS) df. Jake VARNER (USA), 4-0
125 kg - No.8 Tervel DLAGNEV (USA) df. Arslanbek ALIEV (RUS) by TF, 10-0

IRAN 7, TURKEY 1
Sezar AKGUL (TUR) opened up the dual with an exciting 13-10 victory over World No.16 Younes SARMASTIDIZAJI (IRI) at 57kg. The Iranian jumped out to an 8-1 lead before Akgul began his comeback with several front headlock rolls for exposure. Akgul would score 12 of the next 14 points to pick up the win. Iran would power through the rest of the dual with two technical falls, two forfeits and a fall by second-ranked Komeil GHASEMI (IRI). Iran ends the day 2-0 and will face Azerbaijan at 12:30 p.m. Pacific. If Iran wins, they will advance to the World Cup final. 

57 kg - Sezar AKGUL (TUR) df. No.16 Younes SARMASTIDIZAJI (IRI), 13-10
61 kg - No.18 Behnam EHSANPOOR (IRI) df. Munir RECEP AKTAS (TUR), 5-0
65 kg - No.2 Masmoud ESMAILPOUR (IRI) df. Sefa AKSOY (TUR) by TF, 10-0
70 kg - No.10 Hassan YAZDANI CHARATI (IRI) df. (TUR) by forfeit, 0-0
74 kg - No.12 Peyman YARAHMADI (IRI) df. Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) by forfeit, 0-0
86 kg - No.4 Meysam JOKAR (IRI) df. Serdar BOKE (TUR) by TF, 10-0
97 kg - No.3 Mohammad HOSSIEN MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) df. Ibrahim BOLUKBASI (TUR), 4-4
125 kg - No.2 Komeil GHASEMI (IRI) df. Tanju GEMICI (TUR) by FALL 1:06

Pool A, Round 2
RUSSIA 5, MONGOLIA 3

Even without their best possible lineup, the Russian Federation fought past Mongolia in Pool A competition 5-3. Omak SYURUUN (RUS) opened up at 57kg with a crisp 8-1 victory over 2014 Asian silver medalist Tsogtbaatar DAMDINBAZAR (MGL). World No.9 Egor PONOZMARIOV (RUS) would give Russia a 2-0 lead with a 3-1 win over Nemekhbayar BATSAIKHAN (MGL) at 61kg. Russia stole any Mongolian momentum at 70kg as No.8 Israil KASUMOV (RUS) trailed Ankhbayar BATCHULUUN (MGL) 10-4 late in the first period, but Kasumov tossed Batchuluun to his back for the fall at 2:18. In a battle of ranked wrestlers, World No.13 Yuri BELONOVSKI (RUS) beat No.9 Khuderbulga DORJKAND (MGL) 2-0 at 97kg to clinch the dual victory for the Russians. 

57 kg - Omak SYURUUN (RUS) df. No.10 Tsogtbaatar DAMDINBAZAR (MGL), 8-1
61 kg - No.9 Egor PONOMARIOV (RUS) df. Nemekhbayar BATSAIKHAN (MGL), 3-1
65 kg - No.6 Mandakhnaran GANZORIG (MGL) df. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS), 6-4
70 kg - No.8 Israil KASUMOV (RUS) df. Ankhbayar BATCHULUUN (MGL) by FALL, 2:18
74 kg - Unurbat PUREVJAV (MGL) df. Isa DAUDOV (RUS), 6-6 (highest scoring move)
86 kg - Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS) df. Usukhbaatar PUREVEE (MGL) by TF, 10-0
97 kg - No.13 Yuri BELONOVSKI (RUS) df. No.9 Khuderbulga DORJKHAND (MGL), 2-0
125 kg - No.9 Chuluunbat JARGALSAIKHAN (MGL) df. Arslanbek ALIEV (RUS), 8-1

Pool B, Round 2
AZERBAIJAN 7, TURKEY 1

Yashar ALIYEV (AZE) got Azerbaijan off to a strong start at 57kg as he defeated two-time World medalist Sezar AKGUL (TUR) 9-4. Akgul was a World silver medalist in 2009 and a bronze medalist in 2013. Reigning World champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE) was ranked just 12th at 65kg, but he's back at 61kg and he put on a spectacular performance with several highlight-reel worthy throws to earn a 17-4 technical fall over Munir RECEP AKTAS (TUR). Togrul ASGAROV (AZE), the Olympic champion in 2012 at 60kg, is back at 65kg after competing at 70kg in two international events this year. He made quick work of Sefa AKSOY (TUR) 11-0. Turkey's lone win came at 125kg where Tanju GEMICI (TUR) rallied from an 8-0 deficit, hitting a lateral drop to pin No.11 Jamaladdin MAGOMEDOV (AZE) at 1:33. 

57 kg - Yashar ALIYEV (AZE) df. Sezar AKGUL (TUR), 9-4
61 kg - No.12 Haji ALIYEV (AZE) df. Munir RECEP AKTAS (TUR) by TF, 17-4
65 kg - Toghrul ASGAROV (AZE) df. Sefa AKSOY (TUR) by TF, 11-0
70 kg - Ruslan DIBIRGADZHIYEV (AZE) df. (TUR) by forfeit, 0-0
74 kg - No.9 Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE) df. Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR), 6-3
86 kg - Aleksandr GOSTIYEV (AZE) df. Serdar BOKE (TUR), 4-2
97 kg - No.5 Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) df. Ibrahim BOLUKBASI (TUR), 2-0
125 kg - Tanju GEMICI (TUR) df. No.11 Jamaladdin MAGOMEDOV (AZE) by FALL, 1:33

Session I
Pool A, Round 1
UNITED STATES 6, CUBA 2

Cuba opened up quickly by winning the first two bouts against the host Americans. Ranked fourth in the World at 61kg, Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB) made the move down to 57kg and rallied to pin No.19 Tony RAMOS (USA)  in the second period. Bonne Herndanez used a cradle to secure the fall. Unheralded Maikel ANTONIO PEREZ (CUB) picked up an outstanding 9-1 decision over 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Coleman SCOTT (USA) at 61kg. The United States would sweep the final six weights, with the first key victory coming at 74kg where three-time World and Olympic champion and World No.2 Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) topped two-time world medalist and World No.5 Livan LOPEZ (CUB) 6-2. It was wild at 86kg as Ed RUTH (USA) upended World No.2 Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB) 22-13. Ruth jumped out to a 6-3 lead before Salas scored 10 straight to take a 13-6 lead. Ruth would then score 16 straight points. Jake Varner (USA), the 2012 Olympic champion, defeated World No.7 and 2014 World bronze medalist Javier CORTINA LACERRA (CUB) 3-0 at 97kg to clinch the dual for the USA. 

57 kg - No.4 Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB) df. No.19 Tony RAMOS (USA) by FALL 4:57. 
61 kg - Moikel ANTONIO PEREZ (CUB) df. Coleman SCOTT (USA), 9-1
65 kg - No.8 Brent METCALF (USA) df. Franklin MAREN CASTILLO (CUB), 7-2
70 kg - No.11 Nick MARABLE (USA) df. Andy YOAN MORENO GONZALEZ (CUB) by TF, 10-0
74 kg - No.2 Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) df. No.5 Livan LOPEZ AZCUY (CUB), 6-2
86 kg - Ed RUTH (USA) df. No.2 Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB), 22-13
97 kg - Jake VARNER (USA) df. No.7 Javier CORTINA LACERRA (CUB), 3-0
125 kg - No.15 Zach REY (USA) df. Eduardo MESA RABI (CUB), 3-0

 

Pool B, Round 1
IRAN 8, BELARUS 0

Buoyed by a large contingent of fans in Los Angeles, Iran opened up with an impressive 8-0 shutout victory over Belarus. World No.8 and 2013 World Champion Hassan RAHIMI (IRI) opened up with a strong win over World No.7 and 2014 World bronze medalist Vladislav ANDREEV (BLR) at 57kg. One of the biggest victories came at 74kg where unranked Moteza REZAEI GHALEH (IRI) defeated Ali SHABANOV (BLR). Shabanov, a two-time World bronze medalist led 4-2 with 40 seconds left but Rezaei picked up a match-tying takedown to knot the score at four apiece. No further scoring would take place giving Rezaei the victory by criteria. Four-time World medalist and two-time champion Reza YAZDANI (IRI) was solid, earning a 10-0 technical fall over Ivan YANKOUSKI (BLR) at 97kg. The Iranians would make it a clean sweep after World No.10 Parviz HADI (IRI) would defeat World No.7 and 2011 World Champion Aleksey SHEMAROV (BLR) 6-0.

57 kg - No.8 Hassan RAHIMI (IRI) df. No.7 Vladislav ANDREEV (BLR), 5-2
61 kg - No.18 Behnam EHSANPOOR (IRI) df. Dzianis MAKSIMAU (BLR), 7-0
65 kg - No.2 Seyed AHMAD MOHAMMADI (IRI) df. No.5 Azamat NURYKAV (BLR) by TF, 11-0
70 kg - No.10 Hassan YAZDANI CHARATI (IRI) df. Zhan SAFYAN (BLR) by TF, 12-1
74 kg - Morteza REZAEI GHALEH (IRI) df. No.4 Ali SHABANOV (BLR), 4-4 (last point scored)
86 kg - No.13 Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) df. Amarhajy MAHAMEDAV (BLR), 7-4
97 kg - No.4 Reza YAZDANI (IRI) df. Ivan YANKOUSKI (BLR) by TF, 10-0
125 kg - No.10 Parviz HADI (IRI) df. No.7 Aleksei SHEMAROV (BLR), 6-0

 

Competition Schedule (All Times are PDT; GMT -7)
Sunday, April 12
Session IV
4:15 p.m. – Mat A: Third Place Dual
5:45 p.m. – Mat A: Championship Dual

Session I
Pool A, Round 1
ETATS UNIS 6, CUBA 2

Cuba a commencé par gagner les deux premiers matchs face aux Américains. Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB) , No. 4 à 61 kg, est descendu à 57 kg et a battu le No. 19 Tony RAMOS (USA) en seconde période. Maikel ANTONIO PEREZ (CUB) a battu le médaillé de bronze des Jeux Olympiques de 2012 Coleman SCOTT (USA) 9-1 à 61kg. Les Etats Unis ont gagné dans les six catégories de poids restantes. L’une des victoires les plus importantes a été remportée par le triple champion du monde et champion olympique Jordan BURROUGHS à 74 kg ; le lutteur a battu le doublé médaillé et No. 5 mondial  Livan LOPEZ (CUB) 6-2. Le combat était dur à 86kg, ou Ed RUTH (USA) a battu le No. 2 mondial No.2 Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB) 22-13. Ruth menait 6-3 au début du match avant que Salas de marque 10 points d’affilée et ne mène 13-6 ; Ruth a alors repris le dessus et a marqué 16 points consécutifs. Jake Varner (USA), champion olympique en 2012, a battu le No.7 mondial et médaillé de bronze des Championnats du Monde de 2014 Javier CORTINA LACERRA (CUB) 3-0 à 97kg.

57 kg - No.4 Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB) df. No.19 Tony RAMOS (USA) par tombé 4:57. 
61 kg - Moikel ANTONIO PEREZ (CUB) df. Coleman SCOTT (USA), 9-1
65 kg - No.8 Brent METCALF (USA) df. Franklin MAREN CASTILLO (CUB), 7-2
70 kg - No.11 Nick MARABLE (USA) df. Andy YOAN MORENO GONZALEZ (CUB) par sP, 10-0
74 kg - No.2 Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) df. No.5 Livan LOPEZ AZCUY (CUB), 6-2
86 kg - Ed RUTH (USA) df. No.2 Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB), 22-13
97 kg - Jake VARNER (USA) df. No.7 Javier CORTINA LACERRA (CUB), 3-0
125 kg - No.15 Zach REY (USA) df. Eduardo MESA RABI (CUB), 3-0

Pool B, Round 1
IRAN 8, BIELORUSSIE 0

Encouragés par leurs nombreux fans à los Angeles, les iraniens ont brillamment battu la Biélorussie 8-0. Le No. 8 mondial et champion du monde de 2013 Hassan RAHIMI (IRI) a battu le No. 7 mondial et médaillé de bronze mondial Vladislav ANDREEV (BLR) à 57kg. L’une des victoires les plus impressionnantes a été celle remportée par Moteza REZAEI GHALEH (IRI) à 74 kg ; le lutteur non classé a battu Ali SHABANOV (BLR). Shabanov, double médaillé de bronze des Championnats du monde, menait 4-2 à 40 secondes de la fin mais Rezeai a finalement marqué deux points et a gagné sur critères.

Le quadruple médaillé mondial et double champion Reza YAZDANI (IRI) n’a rien laché et a battu Ivan YANKOUSKI (BLR) 10-0 par supériorité technique à 97 kg. Le No. 10 mondial Parviz HADI (IRI) a finalement battu le No. 7 mondial et champion du monde de 2010 Aleksey SHEMAROV (BLR) 6-0.

57 kg - No.8 Hassan RAHIMI (IRI) df. No.7 Vladislav ANDREEV (BLR), 5-2
61 kg - No.18 Behnam EHSANPOOR (IRI) df. Dzianis MAKSIMAU (BLR), 7-0
65 kg - No.2 Seyed AHMAD MOHAMMADI (IRI) df. No.5 Azamat NURYKAV (BLR) par SP, 11-0
70 kg - No.10 Hassan YAZDANI CHARATI (IRI) df. Zhan SAFYAN (BLR) par sP, 12-1
74 kg - Morteza REZAEI GHALEH (IRI) df. No.4 Ali SHABANOV (BLR), 4-4 (dernier point marqué)
86 kg - No.13 Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) df. Amarhajy MAHAMEDAV (BLR), 7-4
97 kg - No.4 Reza YAZDANI (IRI) df. Ivan YANKOUSKI (BLR) par SP, 10-0
125 kg - No.10 Parviz HADI (IRI) df. No.7 Aleksei SHEMAROV (BLR), 6-0

Horaire de compétition (PDT; GMT -7)
Dimanche, 12 avril
Session III

11:00 a.m. – Tapis A: Etats-Unis vs. Mongolie; Mat B: Turquie vs. Biélorussie
12:30 p.m. – Tapis A: Azerbaïdjan vs. Iran; Mat B: Cuba vs. Russie
2:00 p.m. – Tapis A: match pour la 5ème place; Mat B: match pour la 7ème place
 
Session IV
4:15 p.m. – Tapis A: match pour la 3ème place
5:45 p.m. – Tapis A: match pour le championnat

#WrestleTirana

Vynnyk Wins First Career Gold Amid Ukraine Gold Rush

By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (April 23) -- Eight years. 23 competitions. Three silver medals. Nine bronze medals. 11 medalless tournaments.

Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) spent all these years watching others win the gold medals at various tournaments. She was close to winning a few herself but never could

She reached her first final in 2022 at the Ranking Series in Rome, then at the U23 European Championships in 2024. She fell short both times. Then in 2025, she reached the final of the World Championships in Zagreb before dropping the final 17-8 against Sakura ONISHI (JPN).

 

UWW Plus

But Vynnyk ended her wait for a gold medal in Tirana on Thursday by winning her career's first-ever gold medal at the European Championships.

"It’s actually been a very tough road to this victory," Vynnyk said. "I’ve been training since I was eight and I’ve always pictured myself on the podium with a gold medal. Today that dream came true. I’m absolutely delighted. I was certain I’d win. And it happened."

Vynnyk was one of the three Ukraine wrestlers who won gold medals in Tirana. Defending champion Oksana LIVACH (UKR) at 50kg and Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) at 76kg successfully managed to retain their titles.

Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU) denied Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) and Ukraine a fourth gold medal after beating her 10-0 in the 55kg final and winning her fourth gold European gold medal.

At 68kg, Nesrin BAS (TUR) won gold after defending champion Alina SHAUCHUK (UWW) withdrew due to an injury, giving Bas her second European title.

Mariia VYNNYK (UKR)Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) at the medal ceremony for 59kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Vynnyk won two matches on Wednesday to reach the final in which she faced veteran Jowita WRZESIEN (POL). Both wrestlers began on a slow note and Wrzesien was put on the activity clock first. Vynnyk hit a low single as soon as the clock start and scored a takedown. A powerful gut-wrench added two more points to score before the activity clock finished and Vynnyk led 5-0.

The next takedown came in the second period when Wrzesein hit a half-hearted attack and Vynnyk easily brought her down to the mat for two points and extend her lead to 7-0. Wrzesien managed to get a takedown to cut the lead to 7-2 and later Vynnyk was cautioned one point for blocking action.

Wrzesien tried a desperate throw but Vynnyk fell on top of her, earning herself two points. But Poland challenged the call and won it. The score was reset to 7-3 with four seconds remaining. Wrzesien got a point for Vynnyk's fleeing but failed to score any takedown in the final seconds. Poland challenged again but lost it this time, giving Vynnyk a 8-4 win and finally, a golden celebration for the first time in eight years.

"The most important thing, in my opinion, is mental preparation," she said about what changes she made to finally win the gold medal. "I’m sure it plays the most crucial role in this."

Mariia VYNNYK (UKR)Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) hits an attack on Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) during the 59kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Born in Chernivtsi, a city in south-west Ukraine close to the Romanian border, Vynnyk was introduced to wrestling, along with her other siblings, by her mother. While her brothers stopped wrestling, the Vynnyk sisters, Mariia and Solomiia, continued.

"My two older brothers used to wrestle, but they gave it up, whilst my sister and I carried on, striving for results and winning gold medals together," she said.

The two sisters couldn't win gold together but Mariia will cheer for Solomiia, who also doubles up as her friend and training partner, when she takes the mat for her bronze-medal bout on Friday at 57kg.

"I can’t imagine my journey without her, and I only want to win alongside her," Mariia said. "I was really upset that she lost. It was really hard for me to get in the right frame of mind for this final, but I’m sure my sister and I have a bright future ahead of us, and that there are plenty of gold medals in store for us. We never compete against each other, because I couldn’t bring myself to compete against my sister. But in training, we don’t let each other off the hook."

Oksana LIVACH (UKR)Oksana LIVACH (UKR) won her third European title at 50kg on Thursday. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Ukraine's Gold Rush

Livach began the mini gold rush for Ukraine by defending her 50kg gold medal against Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) in what was a rematch of the final from last year.

While last year Livach did not complete a technical superiority victory over Demirhan, she managed to dominate the final in Tirana on Thursday, winning her final 11-0.

At 76kg, Alpyeyeva controlled her final against Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) to post a 6-2 victory and defend her title. She scored three different takedowns while giving up one in the final.

Andreea ANA (ROU)Andreea ANA (ROU) celebrates winning the 55kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Ukraine could have won four gold medals but three-time European champion Ana denied Malanchuk, 10-0, in the 55kg final.

Ana had a slow start and but was the first to get a point when Malanchuk was warned for pulling hair. Ana's lead went 2-0 when Malanchuk failed to score in the 30-second activity period. Just before the break, Ana snapped Malanchuk and scored a takedown and a turn to make it 6-0.

In the last 20 seconds, Ana caught Malanchuk's leg and brought her down for a takedown and two more points for exposure to finish the bout 10-0 just before time expired. Ana's gold is her sixth European medal -- four golds, one silver and one bronze.

Defending champion at 68kg Shauchuk gave the final against Bas a miss due to an injury, giving a walkover to Bas, who is now a two-time European champion.

Photo

RESULTS

50kg
GOLD: Oksana LIVACH (UKR) df. Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), 11-0

BRONZE: Elizaveta SMIRNOVA (UWW) df. Svenja JUNGO (SUI), 4-0
BRONZE: Emilia GRIGORE VUC (ROU) df. Agata GOLUCHOWSKA WALERZAK (POL), 11-8

55kg
GOLD: Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU) df. Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR), 10-0

BRONZE: Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER) df. Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA), 4-3
BRONZE: Tuba DEMIR (TUR) df. Veronika KONSEVICH (MKD), 5-2

59kg
GOLD: Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) df. Jowita WRZESIEN (POL), 8-4

BRONZE: Svetlana LIPATOVA (UWW) df. Othelie HOEIE (NOR), via fall (6-1)
BRONZE: Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE) df. Marta HETMANAVA (UWW), 7-5

68kg
GOLD: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df. Alina SHAUCHUK (UWW), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE) df. Alina SHEVCHENKO (UWW), 10-0
BRONZE: Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) df. Noemi SZABADOS (HUN), 5-4

76kg
GOLD: Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) df. Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU), 6-2

BRONZE: Martina KUENZ (AUT) df. Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW), 4-0
BRONZE: Kendra DACHER (FRA) df. Enrica RINALDI (ITA), 9-8

Semifinals

53kg
SF 1: Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) df. Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (UWW), 9-3
SF 2: Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) df. Roksana ZASINA (POL), 6-6

57kg
SF 1: Magdalena GLODEK LISZEWSKA (POL) df. Evelina HULTHEN (SWE), 3-3
SF 2: Elvira SULEYMAN (TUR) df. Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE), 6-2

62kg
SF 1: Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) df. Naemi LEISTNER (GER), 9-0
SF 2: Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Johanna LINDBORG (SWE), 7-6

65kg
SF 1: Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) vs. Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE), 11-10
SF 2: Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) df. Natalia KUBATY (POL), 11-01

72kg
SF 1: Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR) df. Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW), via fall (8-0)
SF 2: Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) df. Buse TOSUN (TUR), 8-2