#WrestleBaku

Greco-Roman World Cup: Azerbaijan vs Iran for title

By Vinay Siwach

BAKU, Azerbaijan (November 5) -- The Greco-Roman World Cup in Baku kicked off with Turkiye and Iran. A close battle ended with Iran winning and it followed that up with a win over Kyrgyzstan to book a place in the final. From Group A, Azerbaijan and All-World team clashed and ended with 5 wins each. It came down to the classification points in which Azerbaijan outplaced the All-World team 22 to 20. Turkiye and Kyrgyzstan wrestled for a spot in the 3/4th place match against the All-World team. Turkiye defeated Kyrgyzstan 7-3.

Azerbaijan will take on Iran for the World Cup title while Turkiye and All-World team will clash for third place. The action begins at 1700 hours local time in Baku.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

22:25: The final bout of the day and the U23 world champion Fatih BOZKURT (TUR) pins Erlan MANATBEKOV (KGZ) at 130kg to give Turkiye a 7-3 win in the dual.

22:20: Metehan BASAR (TUR) does it for Turkiye. His win over U. DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) is the sixth of the dual for Turkiye and it will wrestle the All-World team for the bronze.

22:05: Late drama in the 87kg bout between A. AZISBEKOV (KGZ) and Ali CENGIZ (TUR). Azisbekov was leading 1-1 on criteria when he tried to throw Cengiz. When the scramble ends, Azisbekov is leading 3-3. Turkiye challenge the call and it seems Cengiz committed a leg foul. The score is 4-1 and Azisbekov will win the bout with that score. Kyrgyzstan make it 5-3 with two more bouts left.

21:52: World champion Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) with two big throws to claim a technical superiority 9-0 win over Kalidin ASYKEEV (KGZ). Now Turkiye needs just one win to reach the bronze medal match against the All-World team.

21:45: Akylbek TALANTBEKOV (KGZ) mounted a comeback against Yuksel SARICICEK (TUR) in the second period but he will go down 5-5 on criteria and Turkiye now leads 4-2. Two more wins for them to confirm the spot in the bronze medal bout.

21:35: Kyrgyzstan needed this win but Selcuk CAN (TUR) denies (KGZ) Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ) at 72kg with a 5-3 win and Turkiye now leads the battle 3-2.

21:22: Murat FIRAT (TUR) delivers for Turkiye. He beats IBRAGIMOV Khalmurat (KGZ) 6-1 at 67kg and Turkiye has tied the dual 2-2 against Kyrgyzstan. 

21:10: Ahmet UYAR (TUR) pulls one back as he beats Kaly SULAIMANOV (KGZ) 5-1 at 63kg. Turkiye now has a win against two for Kyrgyzstan. 

21:00: A 2-0 lead for Kyrgyzstan now. Nurmukhammet ABDULLAEV (KGZ) beats Mukremin AKTAS (TUR) 6-1 and continues the good start for Kyrgyzstan. The two nations are fighting for a place in the bronze medal bout against the All-World team.

20:50: What a show by Taalaibek BEISHENBEK UULU (KGZ) as he rolls Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) for a four before getting a gut to make it 6-0. A takedown gives him the 8-0 win.

20:40: Now for the final match of the session. Turkiye takes on Kyrgyzstan for a place in the bronze medal match against the All-World team. We start with 55kg with Taalaibek BEISHENBEK UULU (KGZ) taking on Ekrem OZTURK (TUR).

It could have gone in the favor of the All-World team had Joni KHETSURIANI (UWW) scored a point against Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE). A case of ifs and buts but ultimately it is Azerbaijan that qualifies for the final.

20:30: Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (UWW) gets the win 5-1 over Sabah SHARIATI (AZE) but he fails to pin him. This means Azerbaijan will qualify for the final based on classification points. Both teams had five wins but Azerbaijan has 22 classification points to 20 for the All-World team.

20:15: Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (UWW) adds more drama to the dual. He beats Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE) 5-2 and now the All-World team has a chance to win this. At 130kg, Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (UWW) needs to pin Sabah SHARIATI (AZE).

20:07: Can the All-World team make a comeback? Alex KESSIDIS (UWW) beats Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) 3-2 to make it 5-3. The All-World team needs to win the remaining two bouts by technical superiorities or via fall. 

20:00: In a rematch of the World Championships, Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UWW) wrestles Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) at 82kg. Berdimuratov gives up the first par terre but gets out of it quickly. Berdimuratov gets the criteria lead in the second period. Huseynov manages to get a lift and throw but it is not scored. Azerbaijan challenges and the review confirms a three-point contact and two points for Huseynov. Berdimuratov gets a takedown but Huseynov challenges again a leg four by Berdimuratov. Huseynov wins 3-1. Azerbaijan now lead 5-2. 

19:42: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) with an all-important win at 77kg over Zoltan LEVAI (HUN). Both traded passivities but Suleymanov got the turn. Levai tried a desperate throw at the end but Suleymanov turned that into his own attacks and scored five via suplex. 

19:30: World Championships bronze medalist Andrii KULYK (UWW) and silver medalist Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) at 72kg now. Ganizade gets the first advantage but as he tries to lift and throw Kulyk, he is pinned to the mat by Kulyk who leads 2-1. In the second period, Kulyk gets the advantage but fails to turn. But a tiring Ganizade makes a dash for a takedown but fails to control and gives up a takedown and turn. Kulyk wins 7-1 to pull one back for the All-World team.

19:23: Azerbaijan has taken a big stride toward the final with Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) beating Joni KHETSURIANI (UWW) 5-0 at 67kg. The win makes it 3-1 for Azerbaijan. Khetsuriani not scoring a point also hurts the All-World team's chances.

19:10: Leri ABULADZE (UWW) and Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) now wrestling at 63kg. Abuladze gets the first point for Mammadov's passivity. But he fails to get any turn. Mammadov gets the point in the second period. He leads 1-1 on criteria. A third passivity of the bout and goes against Mammadov. Abuladze still can't take advantage. He has just over a minute to break the criteria of 1-1. Mammadov holds on for a 1-1 win.

19:00: A fall for Aidos SULTANGALI (UWW) over Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) at 60kg! A crucial win for the All-World team as the fall gives them five classification points. In case the match-up neds 5-5, it can prove to be the decider.

18:50: Just not happening for Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (UWW). He once again goes down against Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE). A passivity for Azizli and he then gets a two-point turn before a throw for four points. A gut wrench to finish the bout 9-0.

18:45: Time for Azerbaijan vs All-World. First up at 55kg is Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) against Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (UWW).

18:42: A huge win for Aliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI). He pins Erlan MANATBEKOV (KGZ) at 130kg to complete an 8-2 rout of Kyrgyzstan.

18:35: That was a thriller. Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) trailed Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) 3-1 up until the final minute but Balihamzehdeh manages to score a takedown for a 3-3 win.

18:22: At 87kg, Abolfazl CHOUBANI (IRI) and A. AZISBEKOV (KGZ) are involved in a battle. Azisbekov gets the 1-0 lead for par terre and then exposure to make it 3-0. Kyrgyzstan challenged for a leg foul but it's clean. Choubani scores a point for passivity but Azisbekov gets a four and then a takedown to win 9-2.

18:10: The first loss for Iran in this match-up. Kalidin ASYKEEV (KGZ) gets a reverse lift for two from par terre against Mohammadhossein MAHMOODI (IRI) at 82kg. Iran challenges the decision but the referral shows it is actually four points. Asykeev wins 6-1.

18:00: Mohammad Reza MOKHTARI (IRI) with a 7-1 win over Akylbek TALANTBEKOV (KGZ) at 77kg. A four-pointer in that win as Mokhtari produced a complete rotation in that throw.

17:50: Amir ABDI (IRI) confirms the spot in the final for Iran. He beats Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ) at 72kg and with that, Iran will try to win the title Sunday.

1737: Seyed SOHRABI (IRI) is unstoppable here in Baku. He forces the first passivity of the bout against Khalmurat IBRAGIMOV (KGZ) and then gets three turns to lead 7-0. Ibragimov caught him in the turn during the fourth turn to get two on the board and was looking for a pin but Sohrabi's head was outside the zone. Kyrgyzstan challenged that call but lose. A lock for a takedown confirms a 10-2 win for Sohrabi.

1730: Iman Khoon MOHAMMADI (IRI) and Kaly SULAIMANOV (KGZ) wrestle at 63kg. Khoon Mohamadi uses the arm drag to perfection. He scores a four-point move before adding numerous stepouts. Sulaimanov tries a desperate four but fails. Khoon Mohammadi wins 12-1

1722: Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) with a clean 5-0 win over Nurmukhammet ABDULLAEV (KGZ) and Iran lead 2-0. The win eases the pressure on the upcoming wrestlers as Iran needs one more win to rule out all possibilities of Turkiye or Kyrgyzstan taking its spot. 

1710: Iran is not entering its reserve team. Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) will be coming out for the 55kg bout against Taalaibek BEISHENBEK UULU (KGZ). Dad Marz is called for passivity in the first period but he defends well from par terre. Dad Marz scores a stepout to make it 1-1 at the break. Beishenbek Uulu cannot defend the gut-wrench attempts from Dad Marz in the second period and gives up four points. A caution and two points against Beishenbek Uulu before a stepout confirm a 9-1 win for the Iran wrestler.

1700: Welcome back to the evening session of the Greco-Roman World Cup. Iran and Kyrgyzstan are wrestling with the latter hoping to surprise Iran and hope to make the final.

End of an entertaining first session in which Iran managed to get the better of Turkiye. A 6-4 win has given Iran a huge advantage and has virtually put the team in the final. The second session begins at 1700 local time.

Iran faces Kyrgyzstan before Azerbaijan hosts the All-World team. The final match of the evening session will be Turkey vs Kyrgyzstan.

11:50: Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) and Aliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI) are now on the mat for their 130kg bout. Yildirim is up 1-0 for passivity and a turn makes it 3-0. But Yousofi scores three stepouts and a point against Yildirim gives the lead 4-3 to Yousofi. Yildirim, as calm as he is, scores a takedwon on the edge and reclaims the lead. A point for Yousofi for Yildirim's passivity but the Turkiye wrestler leads 5-5 on criteria and that will remain the score as Yousofi suffers a close loss.

11:40: It's simple for Turkiye -- Metehan BASAR (TUR) can't afford to lose. Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) has built a 4-0 lead but Basar gets two points for caution. Basar has a minute to score two points and win this. But Balihamzehdeh keeps him at bay and wins it 4-2 and that wins confirms Iran's win in this match-up.

11:32: A couple of challenges made that 87kg bout between Ali CENGIZ (TUR) and  Hamidreza BADKAN (IRI) seem like never-ending. But for what it's worth, Cengiz wins the bout 11-2 and keeps Turkiye in the race. Cengiz reverses the par terre position and gets three exposure along with a foul from Badkan to lead 8-2 at the end of the sequence. He wins 11-2 in the second period.

11:10: World champion Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) wins the second for Turkiye. He was trailing 3-0 at the break as Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) got the first point and the turn. But Akbudak scores a takedown to start the second period before Mohmadipiani is called for passivity. Akbudak gets two turns from there to lead 7-3. A late takedown from Mohmadipiani but Akbudak wins 7-5 at 82kg. 

10:55: World Championships bronze medalist Yunus BASAR (TUR) gets one back for Turkiye. He was trailing Mohammad Reza MOKHTARI (IRI) 2-0 at the break but Basar gets the passivity point in the second period. Mokhtari flees the hold. The referee does not call it but Turkiye challenges and it is awarded to Basar. The bout restarts in par terre from which Basar scores a stepout. A challenge from Iran which it loses. Basar wins 6-2 to get Turkiye on board.

10:45: Seluk CAN (TUR) has a huge responsibility on his shoulders. He is wrestling Mohammadreza ROSTAMI (IRI) at 72kg with the hope of turning it around for his team. But Rostami leads 2-0 at the break. Can gets on the board for Rostam's passivity in the second period. But he can't get the turn. Rostami hangs on for a 2-1 lead and the win. Iran has won 5 bouts now. One more win will seal it.

10:35: Now wrestling at 67kg, U20 and U23 world champion for Iran Seyed SOHRABI (IRI) against Murat FIRAT (TUR). Sohrabi is one of the most exciting talents out there. He begins with a spin for two. Sohrabi then hits a four to lead 6-0. Turkiye challenges the call but the points stand. Sohrabi leads 7-0 before a stepout point gives him the 8-0 win. Another bout in which Turkiye does not score a point. This may hurt them later.

10:30: With a 2-0 lead, Iran will look to close this. Iman Khoon MOHAMMADI (IRI) and Ahmet UYAR (TUR) wrestling at 63kg and it's Khoon Mohammadi who scores four stepouts inside the first two minutes. He gets a takedown to lead 6-0 before finishing the bout before the break with a gut wrench. Iran leads 3-0

10:15: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) and Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) at 60kg in a revenge bout. Mohsen Nejad was leading his bout against Kamal at the World Championships in Belgrade before Kamal pinned him. Here in Baku, Mohsen Nejad comes out attacking from par terre and gets the gut wrench before exposure got him two more. Kamal challenges the second call. Challenge lost. In the second period, Kamal manages to get a reverse lift for two to make it 6-3. But he also gives up two points and it's 8-3. Three stepout points for Kamal but he fails to cover the lead and goes down 8-6.

10:10: Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) and Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) is the first bout of the World Cup at 55kg. Ozturk gets the advantage with a passivity point. He fails to get a turn in the par terre. In the second period, Dad Marz gets the 1-1 criteria lead for the passivity point. He also fails to get any turn from par terre. Dad Marz will win 1-1 despite the third passivity against him. A huge win for Iran.

1000: Welcome to the first session of the Greco-Roman World Cup here at the Baku Sports Hall. We have a one-mat setup for the World Cup. Iran and Turkiye go head-to-head now.

#WrestleBaku

Vyshnyvetskyi, Hasanli avenge losses to rivals, reach U23 European finals

By United World Wrestling Press

BAKU, Azerbaijan (May 20) -- The last time Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR) faced Muhammet BAKIR (TUR), it ended in a bruising defeat that also deprived him of a world title. On Monday, he avenged that loss. And in doing so, the Greco-Roman wrestler has given himself a chance to defend his U23 European Championship crown in the 130kg category.

The first day of the continental age-group championship in Baku saw the third installment in a little more than a year of the riveting rivalry between two of the finest U23 wrestlers in this weight category.

When they met in the semifinals of the U23 European Championship in March 2023, Vyshnyvetskyi prevailed over his Turkish opponent in what turned out to be a lopsided bout. When the duo faced off later that year at the U23 World Championship, Bakir returned the favor in style, defeating his nemesis in the gold medal bout.

So, when the draws were out for the Greco-Roman bouts, it was hardly a surprise that the re-match between Vyshnyvetskyi and Bakir was one of the most anticipated matches of the day. And it lived up to the hype, although not in a way Bakir would have liked.

Vyshnyvetskyi beat his Turkish opponent 9-1 to advance to the final. Bakir had his chance when he got the par terre advantage in the first period but Vyshnyvetskyi stood up. Bakir was trying to lock his arms around the Ukrainian when Vyshnyvetskyi hit a four-pointer grabbing one of Bakir's arms. Turkiye challenged but to no avail, adding one more point to Vyshnyvetskyi's score for the lost challenge.

Vyshnyvetskyi used another four-pointer when the two were in a bear-hug position to finish the bout 9-1 in two minutes and 13 seconds.

It was a day when the Ukrainian wrestler hardly had to break a sweat. He began with a 2-1 win over Marcel ALBINI (CZE) in the qualification round, then pinned Dominik KRAWCZYK (POL) after leading 12-1 in the quarterfinals before he got the job done against Bakir in the last-four round.

Vyshnyvetskyi will take on Koppany LASZLO (HUN) in the final. The 18-year-old from Hungary got the better of Dmitrii BABORYKO (AIN) to reach Tuesday's gold medal match.

Khasay HASANLI (AZE)Khasay HASANLI (AZE) tries to score on Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) in the 77kg semifinal at the U23 European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

This wasn't the only bout on Monday that had a gripping backstory and ended with one of the wrestlers getting his revenge.

In the 77kg weight class, Khasay HASANLI (AZE) stunned the reigning world and European U23 champion Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) 7-0 to set up a final encounter with Yuksel SARICICEK (TUR).

Like Vyshnyvetskyi and Bakir, this was part three of the rivalry between Hasanli and Gutu. In fact, it was a rivalry only on paper as the Moldovan wrestler had defeated his Azerbaijani opponent twice. On both those occasions, it was in the finals: in the U23 European Championships last year, Gutu won 6-3 and at the U23 Worlds later, he won the gold with a 3-1 win.

Competing in front of his home crowd, the 22-year-old didn't concede a single point as he turned the tables in style. In the semifinal against Gutu, Hasanli got the par terre position and scored two points for a correct throw. Gutu was docked two caution points for committing a defensive foul and was put in par terre. Hasanli did not make any big moves but Gutu was cautioned again for a leg foul, ending the bout due to his two cautions.

Hasanli wasn't the only one with a chance to win a gold medal in front of his own supporters. In the 63kg category, Ziya BABASHOV (AZE) beat Abere FETENE (ISR) 5-3 to give himself a fighting chance of winning a title, when he faces off against the U23 World and European Championships bronze medallist Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA).

Babashov, a 2022 senior European Championship silver medallist, began with a convincing 4-1 win over Mairbek SALIMOV (POL) and followed it up with another comfortable victory, this time over Talibsho KHAIBARAU (AIN).

The march to the final marks an improvement for Babashov, who made exits in the round of 16 at the U23 European and World Championships in 2023. However, in Eriomenco, he faces a formidable opponent, who gave up just two points en route to the final.

Meanwhile, in the 55 kg category, Adam ULBASHEV (AIN) upset defending champion Denis MIHAI (ROU) 3-2 in a close quarterfinal bout. However, he later lost 6-5 to Emre MUTLU (TUR) in the semifinals in an equally tough encounter.

Mutlu, the European Championship gold medallist in 2022, will wrestle Giorgi TOKHADZE (GEO) for the gold medal on Tuesday. Tokhadze beat Ivan STEFANSKYI (UKR) 13-4 in his first bout and followed it up with a commanding 8-0 win over Rashad MAMMADOV (AIN).

In the 87kg class, Aues GONIBOV (AIN) will take on Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) in the final. Gonibov did not concede a single point on his way to the gold medal bout. He started with a 9-0 win over Nikolaos IOSIFIDIS (GRE) and then defeated former U23 world champion Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) 3-0 in the quarterfinals. In the semis, he got the better of Samet YALDIRAN (TUR) 2-0.

Bolkvadze's road to the final was a little more complicated, as he had to overcome stiff competition posed by Ilya MIALESHCHYK (AIN) before beating him 8-4 and sealing his spot in the title round.

 

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RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Emre MUTLU (TUR) vs. Giorgi TOKHADZE (GEO)

SF 1: Giorgi TOKHADZE (GEO) df. Rashad MAMMADOV (AZE), 8-0
SF 2: Emre MUTLU (TUR) df. Adam ULBASHEV (AIN), 6-5

63kg
GOLD: Ziya BABASHOV (AZE) vs. Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA)

SF 1: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) df. Aleksandr ANDREEV (AIN), via fall (2-2
SF 2: Ziya BABASHOV (AZE) df. Abere FETENE (ISR), 5-3

77kg
GOLD: Yuksel SARICICEK (TUR) vs. Khasay HASANLI (AZE)

SF 1: Khasay HASANLI (AZE) df. Alexandrin GUTU (MDA), via cautions (7-0)
SF 2: Yuksel SARICICEK (TUR) df. Attila TOESMAGI (HUN), 5-2

87kg
GOLD: Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) vs. Aues GONIBOV (AIN)

SF 1: Aues GONIBOV (AIN) df. Samet YALDIRAN (TUR), 2-0
SF 2: Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Ilya MIALESHCHYK (AIN), 8-4

130kg
GOLD: Koppany LASZLO (HUN) vs. Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR)

SF 1: Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR) df. Muhammet BAKIR (TUR), 9-1
SF 2: Koppany LASZLO (HUN) df. Dmitrii BABORYKO (AIN), 1-1