#Grappling

Grappling Gi: Prendes doubles up as world champ; Gudanatov stunned

By Vinay Siwach

NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 15) - Whether it is Gi or No-Gi, it seems that Carlota PRENDES LARIOS (ESP) is making a habit of winning gold medals.

After winning double-gold at the 2024 World Grappling Championships, Prendes Larios repeated the feat in 2025, winning gold in Gi and No-Gi competition in Novi Sad.

The Spanish grappler won the 53kg gold in No-Gi on Tuesday with a dominant performance and continued the same form in Gi. She won her first two bouts via submission and in the final against Zuzanna KOWALSKA (POL) and won via submission.

She began by top control in the first minute but was called passive, giving one point to Kowalska to lead 2-1. She moved to a back mount and then performed a rear naked choke for submission to claim the gold medal at 53kg.

At 90kg, Tatiana KABANOVA (UWW) made amends and won gold medal after finishing with silver in No-Gi event. She was defeated by Alena VLASOVA (UWW) in that competition but Kabanova managed to remain unbeaten in a three-grappler bracket.

She defeated Vlasova via submission in the first bout and then won 3-1 against Justyna SITKO (POL) to claim the gold medal.

Gudanatov stunned

Defended 130kg world champion Abu GUDANATOV (UWW) was stunned by Bilal KURBABAGAMAEV (UWW) in thrilling final at 130kg. Gudanatov tried to set up a choke but Kurbabagamaev never gave up position and got two points for a controlling Gudanatov on ground.

As the two remained in the same position, Kurbabagamaev was called passive two times in which he failed to score. However, he still led 2-2 on criteria as he had a bigger scoring action than Gudanatov's sequence of one points.

But in the last minute, Gudanatov was called passive and cautioned one point which gave Kurbabagamaev a clear 3-2 lead in the final which he defended to win the gold medal.

In another thrilling final, Shamil MAZHIDKHANOV (UWW) defeated Eldar RAFIGAEV (MDA), 5-3, to win the gold medal at 100kg. Mazdhikhanov scored the first two points for control but he was called passive on top which made the score 2-1. But he managed to move into a side mount for three points and lead 5-1.

With only intention of defending his four-point lead, Mazhidkhanov was docked two more points for passivity but he won 5-3 and captured the gold medal.

At 71kg, making his senior debut, 20-year-old Stefanos VAVILIS (GRE) stunned Sandor LAKATOS (HUN), 2-1, in the final and win his first gold medal.

RESULTS

Men's Grappling Gi

71kg
GOLD: Stefanos VAVILIS (GRE) df. Sandor LAKATOS (HUN), 2-1

BRONZE: Said ZAIPULAEV (UWW) df. Kevin MARTIN TINOCO (ESP), 5-2
BRONZE: Zaur AKHMEDOV (UWW) df. Nico PULVERMUELLER (GER), 2-2

100kg
GOLD: Shamil MAZHIDKHANOV (UWW) df. Eldar RAFIGAEV (MDA), 5-3

BRONZE: Konstantin LI (KGZ) df. Pavel SLANINA ANTON (ESP), 9-3
BRONZE: Khasan ZAPIROV (UWW) df. Ramazan ABDRAKHIMOV (KAZ), 4-1

130kg
GOLD: Bilal KURBABAGAMAEV (UWW) df. Abu GUDANATOV (UWW), 3-2

BRONZE: Alexandr ROMANOV (MDA) df. Abraham COBY MARTINEZ (ESP), via submission (6-2)
BRONZE: John HANSEN (USA) df. Ioannis KARGIOTAKIS (GRE), 8-4

Women's Grappling Gi

53kg
GOLD: Carlota PRENDES LARIOS (ESP) df. Zuzanna KOWALSKA (POL), via submission (6-1)

BRONZE: Anorbi GRISHINA (UWW) df. Giulia ANGIOLINI (ITA), 7-3
BRONZE: Radomira OSTANINA (UWW) df. Evelina FLORIAK (UKR), 9-1

90kg
GOLD: Tatiana KABANOVA (UWW) 
SILVER: Justyna SITKO (POL)
BRONZE: Alena VLASOVA (UWW)

#development

UWW Signs MoU with Hungary University of Sports Science and KIMBA to Expand Educational Programme

By United World Wrestling Press

BUDAPEST, Hungary (June 15) -- United World Wrestling (UWW), the Hungary Wrestling Federation (MBSZ), and the Hungarian University of Physical Education and Sport Sciences (HUSS/TF) have signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening wrestling education, research, and international cooperation.

The agreement was officially signed in Budapest by UWW President Nenad LALOVIC, MBSZ President Szilard NEMETH, and HUSS Rector Tamas STERBENZ. The partnership is designed to further develop wrestling-specific educational programmes while enhancing opportunities for coaches, athletes, researchers, and sports professionals worldwide.
 KIMBAFrom left to right: HUSS Vice Rector Dr. Csaba OKROS, UWW President Nenad LALOVIC, President of MBSZ Nemeth SZILARD, HUSS Rector Dr. Tamas STERBENZ, UWW Bureau Member Peter BACSA and KIMBA Head of Trustee  Laszlo SULE.

Under the new collaboration, the institutions will work together to provide expanded educational pathways tailored to the wrestling community. The initiative will include specialized courses and programmes focused on professional development, athlete performance support, sports science, health management, and injury prevention.

The MoU also promotes international academic and professional exchanges involving students, researchers, and experts, with the broader objective of strengthening global wrestling development and cooperation.

Supported by Olympic Solidarity, four wrestling coaches recently graduated from the programme and participated in the academy’s first mentorship programme, highlighting the growing international impact of the initiative.

Several prominent figures from the wrestling and academic communities attended the signing ceremony in Budapest, including UWW Bureau Member Peter BACSA, HUSS Vice Rector Csaba OKROS, KIMBA Head of Trustee Laszlo SULE, and Assistant Professor of the Department of Martial Arts Gergely BABSZKY.

The partnership marks another important step in UWW’s efforts to professionalize wrestling education and create sustainable development opportunities for the global wrestling community.