Japan and China Win Group Stage, Finals Set

Friday, December 1, 2017 - 20:25 By Eric Olanowski

CHEBOKSORY, Russia (December 1) – Japan and China both started the day on a hot streak, winning all eight of their opening round bouts at the Women's World Cup. Both teams ended with three victories, as they were undefeated on the opening day. This set up Saturday's 2017 Women’s World Cup Championship finals matchup between Japan and China. Japan was the winner of Group A and China was the winner of Group B. This will be their first championships meeting since 2007 and third overall. They are currently tied with one win apiece.

Japan, led by world champions Yui SUSAKI (JPN) and Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) kicked the day off by defeating Sweden, 8-0. The highlight of the match came when A. HANAI (JPN) defeated No.5 E. NILSSON (SWE), 3-1. Hanai secured two step outs, and received her final point from Nilsson’s lost challenge.

In round two, the Japanese continued their winning ways by picking up five victories against host nation Russia.

Japan etched their way into their third straight Women’s World Cup finals by defeating the United States, 4-4 on criteria in round number three. It was Y. KAWAI'S (JPN) victory over 2017 world finalist and No.2 ranked Ali RAGAN (USA) that helped seal the dual. Ragan had a 2-0 lead in the second period when Kawai picked up a takedown and three leg laces, giving her the 8-1 victory.

It took China twenty matches until they saw their first defeat of the day, as they shut out Azerbaijan and Ukraine in the first two rounds. In round three, No.15 B. ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) was able to put Mongolia on the board by defeating Y. SUN (CHN), 7-2, but China eventually locked up their first finals spot since 2013 with a 5-3 victory.

Saturday’s third place bout features the United States and Mongolia, who were both 2-1 on the opening day of competition.

With their backs against the wall, the United States called on three-time world champion A. GRAY. In order for the USA to win the dual against Russia, Gray would have to pick up a fall over Russia’s A. PEREPELKINA. Gray picked up the 57-second fall, which gave the USA the 4-4 victory on criteria.

In addition, the United States picked up a 7-1 victory over Sweden. K. MIRACLE (USA) gave the United States their fifth straight win of the dual with a victory over No.5 E. Nilsson.

Mongolia finished the day with victories in Group B over Azerbaijan (6-2) and Ukraine (6-2). Mongolia's biggest win of the day came when No.15 B. Altansetseg put on a show and defeated No.8 I. CHYKHRADZE KHARIV (UKR), 9-1.

Finishing with 1-2 records, the fifth place bout will be wrestled between Russia and Ukraine.

Russia locked up their spot in the fifth place match with a 5-3 victory over Sweden. Ukraine’s lone victory over Azerbaijan came by way of 4-4 tie that was broken on classification points.

Rounding out the placement matches will be the seveth place bout between Azerbaijan and Sweden, who were both 0-3 on the day.

Medal and Placement Matches (December 2)

7th Place: Sweden v. Azerbaijan || 1pm/5am ET
5th Place: Russia v. Ukraine|| 1pm/5am ET
3rd Place: United State v. Mongolia || 2pm/6am ET
1st Place: Japan v. China || 3pm/7am ET

RESULTS

Japan df. Sweden, 8-0
48kg    Y. SUSAKI (JPN) df. M. LJUNGSTROEM (SWE), 10-0
53kg    M. MUKAIDA (JPN) df. E. BROBECK (SWE), 10-0
55kg    M. KADOYA (JPN) df. S. PETER (SWE), 10-0
58kg    A. HANAI (JPN) df. E. NILSSON (SWE), 3-1
60kg    Y. KAWAI (JPN) df. T. PERSSON (SWE), FORFEIT
63kg    Y. ITO (JPN) df. M. NYGREN (SWE), 10-0
69kg    M. MORIKAWA (JPN) df. A. SANDAHL (SWE), 5-1
75kg    M. FURUICHI (JPN) df. D. MAKOTA STROEM (SWE), 6-6

China df. Ukraine, 8-0
48kg    Y. SUN (CHN) df. I. SEMKIV (UKR), 12-2
53kg    Q. PANG (CHN) df. O. SHNAIDER (UKR), 8-0
55kg    N. RONG (CHN) df. O. KREMZER (UKR), FALL
58kg    X. CHEN (CHN) df. I. CHYKHRADZE KHARIV (UKR), 12-8
60kg    Q. LI (CHN) df. S. BODNAR (UKR), 6-1
63kg    R. XU (CHN) df. Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR), 7-6
69kg    F. ZHOU (CHN) df. A. BELINSKA (UKR), FALL
75kg    Q. ZHOU (CHN) df. A.SHUSTOVA (UKR), 10-4

United States df. Russia, 4-4.
48kg    V. ANTHONY df. (USA) df. V. CHEPSARAKOVA (RUS), 3-2
53kg    S. ORSHUSH (RUS) df. H. AUGELLO (USA), 10-0
55kg    S. HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. M. GUROVA (RUS), 6-3
58kg    V. CHUMIKOVA (RUS) df.. K. MIRACLE (USA), 8-6
60kg    Yulia PRONTSEVITCH (RUS) df. A. RAGAN (USA), 3-2
63kg    A. FOMENKO (RUS) df. M. VELTE (USA), 4-2
69kg    T. MENSAH (USA) df. A. BRATCHIKOVA (RUS), 10-0
75kg    A. GRAY (USA) df. A. PEREPELKINA (RUS), via FALL (0:57)

Mongolia df, Azerbaijan, 6-2
48kg    T. NASIROVA (AZE) df. C. BUYANDALAI (MGL), 12-10
53kg    Leyla GURBANOVA (AZE) df. Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL), 4-0
55kg    B. BAT OCHIR (MGL) df. S. HASHIMZADA (AZE), 5-0
58kg    B. ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) df. A. KOLESNIK (AZE), 14-10
60kg    T. OMELCHENKO (AZE) df.. G. ENKHBAT (MGL), 5-2
63kg    B. KHURELKHUU (MGL) df. E. GAMBAROVA (AZE), 8-1
69kg    P. GANBAATAR (MGL) df. E. MANOLOVA (AZE), 6-4
75kg O. GAN OCHIR (MGL) df. G. ZUTOVA (AZE), via FORFEIT

USA df. Sweeden, 7-1
48kg    V. ANTHONY (USA) df. M. LJUNGSTROEM (SWE), 10-0
53kg    H. AUGELLO (USA) df. E. BROBECK (SWE), via fall.
55kg    S. HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. S PETER (SWE), 12-1.
58kg    K. MIRACLE (USA) df. E.NILSSON (SWE), 5-0
60kg    A. RAGAN (USA) df. T. PERSSON (SWE), via FORFEIT
63kg    A MOLINARI (USA) df. M. NYGREN (SWE), 4-2.
69kg    T. MENSAH (USA) df. A. SANDAHL (SWE), 10-0
75kg    D. MAKOTA STROEM (SWE) df. V. FRANCIS (USA), 10-0

Mongolia df. Ukraine, 6-2
48kg    I. SEMKIV (UKR) df. C. BUYANDALAI (MGL), 6-0
53kg    O. GANBAATAR (MGL) df. O. SHNAIDER (UKR), 6-2
55kg    B. BAT OCHIR df. (MGL) O. KREMZER (UKR), 10-4
58kg    B. ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) df. I. CHYKHRADZE KHARIV (UKR), 9-1
60kg    G. ENKHBAT (MGL) df. S BODNAR (UKR), 11-0
63kg    O. PUREVDORJ (MGL) df. I. KOLIADENKO (UKR), 11-0
69kg    A. BELINSKA (UKR) df. B. SORONZONBOID. (MGL), via FALL
75kg O. GAN OCHIR (MGL) df. Anastasiia SHUSTOVA (UKR), 10-6

Japan df. Russia, 5-3
48kg    Y. SUSAKI (JPN) df. A. VETOSHKINA(RUS), 10-0
53kg    M. MUKAIDA (JPN) df. Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS), 10-0
55kg    M. GUROVA (RUS) df. M. KADOYA (JPN), 4-4
58kg    A.HANAI (JPN) df. V. CHUMIKOVA (RUS), 4-2
60kg    Y. KAWAI (JPN) df. Y. PRONTSEVITCH (RUS),6-0
63kg    A. FOMENKO (RUS) df. Y. ITO (JPN),7-0
69kg    A. BRATCHIKOVA (RUS) df. M. MORIKAWA (JPN), 4-1
75kg    M. FURUICHI (JPN) df. K. SHUMOVA (RUS), 3-1

China df. Azerbaijan, 8-0
48kg    J.NI (CHN) df. T. NASIROVA (AZE), 10-0
53kg    Q. PANG (CHN) df. L. GURBANOVA (AZE), 10-0
55kg    N. RONG (CHN) df. S. HASHIMZADA, (AZE), 12-2
58kg    Y. SUN (CHN) df. A. KOLESNIK (AZE), 7-4
60kg    X. CHEN (CHN) df. T. OMELCHENKO (AZE), 10-6
63kg    X. LUO (CHN) df. E. GAMBAROVA (AZE),10-0
69kg    F. ZHOU (CHN) df. E. MANOLOVA (AZE), 10-0
75kg    P. PALIHA (CHN df.. G.l ZUTOVA (AZE), via FORFEIT

China df. Mongolia, 5-3
48kg    Y. SUN (CHN) df. C. BUYANDALAI (MGL), 10-0.
53kg    Q. PANG (CHN) df. O GANBAATAR (MGL), 10-0
55kg    N. RONG (CHN) df.. S. ERDENECHIMEG (MGL), 12-1
58kg    B. ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) df. Y. SUN (CHN), 7-2.
60kg    X. CHEN (CHN) df. G. ENKHBAT (MGL), 12-1.
63kg    O. PUREVDORJ (MGL) df. X. LUO (CHN), 11-6.
69kg    F. ZHOU (CHN) df. P. GANBAATAR (MGL), 4-0
75kg    N. ORCHIRBAT (MGL) df. P. PALIHA (CHN), 5-0

Russia df. Sweden , 5-3
48kg    V. CHEPSARAKOVA (RUS) df. M. LJUNGSTROEM (SWE), 10-0.
53kg    N. MALYSHEVA (RUS) df. E. BROBECK (SWE), 10-0
55kg    M. GUROVA (RUS) df. S. PETER (SWE), 11-0.
58kg    E. NILSSON (SWE) df. K. MURTUZALIEVA (RUS), via FALL (3:52).
60kg    Y. PRONTSEVITCH (RUS) df. T. PERSSON (SWE), via FORFEIT
63kg    M. NYGREN (SWE) df. A. FOMENKO (RUS) via FALL.
69kg    A. BRATCHIKOVA (RUS) df. A. SANDAHL (SWE), 10-0.
75kg    D. MAKOTA STROEM (SWE) df. K. SHUMOVA (RUS), 4-0

Azerbijian df. Ukraine, 4-4
48kg    I. SEMKIV (UKR) df. T. NASIROVA (AZE), 10-0
53kg    O. SHNAIDER (UKR), df. S. QAMZOCLZADE (AZE),14-2
55kg    O KREMZER (UKR) df. S. HASHIMZADA (AZE), 10-0.
58kg    A.KOLESNIK (AZE) df. I. CHYKHRADZE KHARIV (UKR), 6-3
60kg    T. OMELCHENKO (AZE) df. S. BODNAR (UKR)
63kg    E. GAMBAROVA (AZE) df. I. KOLIADENKO (UKR)
69kg    E. MANOLOVA (AZE) df. A. BELINSKA (UKR)
75kg    A. SHUSTOVA (UKR) df. G. ZUTOVA (AZE), via FORFEIT

Japan df. USA 4-4
48kg    Y. SUSAKI (JPN), df. V. ANTHONY (USA), 11-0
53kg    M. MUKAIDA (JPN) df. H. AUGELLO (USA), 10-0.
55kg    S. HILDEBRANDT(USA) df. M. KADOYA (JPN), 6-3
58kg    K. Kiyoko MIRACLE  (USA) df. Akie HANAI (JPN), 4-2
60kg    Y. KAWAI (JPN) df. A RAGAN (USA), 8-1
63kg    Y. ITO (JPN) df. Mallory Maxine VELTE (USA), via FALL (1:36)
69kg    T. MENSAH (USA) df. M. MORIKAWA (JPN), 5-0
75kg    Adeline Maria GRAY (USA) df. Masako FURUICHI (JPN), 6-0

#AmateurMMA

Amateur MMA: Kutzli wins gold for U.S.; Ukraine best team

Saturday, October 18, 2025 - 15:18 By Vinay Siwach

NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 19) -- It was only her fourth-ever bout but Natalie KUTZLI (USA) showed no lack of experience in defeating Oliwia STAWSKA (POL), and become a world champion at the UWW Amateur MMA World Championships in Novi Sad, Serbia.

Kutzli, the lone fighter from the United States, won by unanimous decision after three rounds against Stawska who has been on the circuit for a longder time.

"I'm just at a loss of words," Kutzli said. "I just feel so surreal."

In the final against Stawska, Kutzli opened the match with clear striking and controlled the round. She followed a similar strategy and never allowed Stawska to land cleanly. Kutzli won all three rounds in the final.

"She was a challenging fighter for sure," she said. "She was really tough. It's just such a amazing opportunity to be able to fight somebody who has that much experience. I loved every second of it."

Hailing from Michigan, Kutzli began her sports career with taekwondo before switching to wrestling. Her mother, Jeanie, would drive her from one practice to another and supported her when she switched sports.

"First person I talked to was my mom," she said. "She's just so proud of me and amazed by me and what I do and I just I made her proud and my family really proud. I do it for her in hopes of someday being in the UFC and be able to pay for my family and just be able to take care of my loved one, so that's my dream.

"From a young age, I was raised by a single mom. So I'm doing this for her and to be able to thank her and just sort of appreciation to my family."

At 57kg, Viktoriia DUDAKOVA (UWW) showed that she belongs to the big league she knocked out Justine TAILFER (FRA) in the 57kg final. The bout went to the second round but Dudakova dominated it throughout.

Dudakova and Tailfer went out of bounds in the second round with the former on top. The referee called it to center and when the bout restarted with Dudakova getting the back mount advantage, she kept her striking with Tailfer not able to defend which forced the referee to call it a knockout.

In other finals, Anna BEZHENAR (UKR) scored a victory via submission against Daria RAMANOVA (UWW) to win the gold medal at 50kg. However, two other Ukraine finalists failed to win.

Veronika SUSHINA (UWW) stormed back after a slow start to beat Yana MELNYCHUK (UKR) via split decision as two judges gave her the win to one who scored it in favor of Melnychuk as Sushina won the 61kg gold.

Khalida TIMOFEEVA (UWW) did not give any chances to the judges to score differently as she defeated Yuliia MELNYCHUK (UKR) via unanimous decision to win at 65kg and bag the gold medal.

At 80kg, Anna ERSHOVA (UWW) had one of the most dominant wins in the final as she humbled Dana DROZHZHINA (UWW), winning via unanimous decision, to claim the gold medal.

Kazakhstan also got a gold medal as Aigerim TOREKHANOVA (KAZ) dominated the final against Veronika VYKHVATEN (UWW) at 53kg to win via unanimous decision. Her strong start in the first two rounds gave her the advantage despite a strong show from Vykhvaten in the final round.

RESULTS

50kg Final
Anna BEZHENAR (UKR) df. Daria ROMANOVA (UWW), via submission

53kg Final
Aigerim TOREKHANOVA (KAZ) df. Veronika VYKHVATEN (UWW), via unanimous decision

57kg Final
Viktoriia DUDAKOVA (UWW) df. Justine TAILFER (FRA), via submission

61kg Final
Veronika SUSHINA (UWW) df. Yana MELNYCHUK (UKR), via split decision

65kg Final
Khalida TIMOFEEVA (UWW) df. Yuliia MELNYCHUK (UKR), via unanimous decision

70kg Final
Natalie KUTZLI (USA) df. Oliwia STAWSKA (POL), via unanimous decision

80kg Final
Anna ERSHOVA (UWW) df. Dana DROZHZHINA (UWW), via unanimous decision

Japan and China Win Group Stage, Finals Set

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Amateur MMA: Kutzli wins gold for U.S.; Ukraine best team