#WrestleTirana

Kayaalp Breaks European Record with 13th Gold Medal

By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (April 21) -- "I truly believe I’ve set a record that will be very difficult to break."

Riza KAYAALP (TUR) knows the true effort it takes to win 12 gold medals at the European Championships. It took him 13 years. Now, on Tuesday, he won his record-breaking 13th gold medal at the European Championships in Tirana, moving past Aleksandr KARELIN.

With that, Kayaalp became the first wrestler in any style to win 13 golds in Europe. He defeated Darius VITEK (HUN), 7-1, in a dominant 130kg final.

Apart from Tuesday's gold, Kayaalp has won European titles in 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2010.

"It’s an incredible feeling," Kayaalp said. "This was my 15th final, and in my 15th final, I achieved my 13th title. This title is especially valuable to me because achieving such long-term and consistent success -- especially in Europe, where there are very strong nations -- is not easy. I’m very proud to have broken such a big record."

Wrestling Vitek in the 130kg final, Kayaalp got the par terre position in the first period and brought the strong gut-wrench he has made his own to turn Vitek three times for six points. He went into the break leading 7-0. Vitek got the par terre position in the second period but he failed to move the mountain-of-man Kayaalp.

With chants of "Riza, Riza" reverberating at the Feti Borova Hall, Kayaalp defended his lead and despite a few instances of him slipping, Vitek could not inflict any sort of danger to score any points. After six minutes of the final and history created, Kayaalp celebrated the 13th gold medal and took his own time with the fans.

"The matches were not easy. I had tough matches," he said. "One of my matches ended 1–1. In the semifinal, I can say I was subjected to some disrespect from a strong opponent in a very intense bout. But compared to those, the final match was more meaningful for me.

"When it became 7-0, well, I’m an athlete who doesn’t like to concede points," he said. "I don’t like giving points away, so I managed to protect that score. I can say I went through the second period quite comfortably, and having a 7–0 lead helped."

The last time Kayaalp built a 7-0 lead was back in 2017, when he pinned Balint LAM (HUN) in the 130kg final after a 7-0 lead.

Kayaalp's gold is a testimony to his longevity having won his first European title in 2010, a year in which his opponent in the final, Vitek, was 10 years, five months and 12 days when Kayaalp achieved his first gold.

"When you look back, you realize you’ve made 15 finals," Kayaalp said after winning the 130kg gold medal in Tirana. "Back then, I was just thinking whether I could win one or two medals. But then, making the final every time at the European Championships, it’s like a child being born and growing up to 15 years old."

Photo

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) df. Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO), 2-1

BRONZE: Rashad MAMMADOV (AZE) df. Omer RECEP (TUR), 8-0
BRONZE: Stefan GRIGOROV (BUL) df. Manvel KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 3-1

63kg
GOLD: Sergey EMELIN (UWW) df. Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA), 9-0

BRONZE: Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) df. Mairbek SALIMOV (POL), 11-0
BRONZE: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) df. Pridon ABULADZE (GEO), 6-2

77kg
GOLD: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) df. Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO), 1-1

BRONZE: Edvin BAFF (SWE) df. Alexandrin GUTU (MDA), 2-1
BRONZE: Robert FRITSCH (HUN) df. Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO), 1-1

87kg
GOLD: Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) df. Semen NOVIKOV (BUL), via fall (8-4)

BRONZE: Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) df. Ihar YARASHEVICH (UWW), 1-1
BRONZE: Islam ABBASOV (AZE) df. Dogan KAYA (TUR), 5-1

130kg
GOLD: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) df. Darius VITEK (HUN), 7-1

BRONZE: Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW) df. Marat KAMPAROV (UWW), 10-5
BRONZE: Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR) df. Beka KANDELAKI (AZE), 3-1

#WrestleTirana

Muhamet Malo Ranking Series 2026 Entries

By United World Wrestling Press

TIRANA, Albania (February 12) -- The second Ranking Series of the year -- Muhamet Malo -- will see around 500 wrestlers. The tournament will take place in Tirana from February 25 to March 1.

All the action from Muhamet Malo Ranking Series event will be live on UWW+ on uww.org and the UWW App.

Here's the full schedule of the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series.

Follow United World Wrestling on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.

Note: Entries are subject to change. For latest entries, click here

Freestyle Entries

57kg
Ajndi KRYEZIU (ALB)
Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE)
Ivaylo TISOV (BUL)
Guesseppe REA VILLARROEL (ECU)
Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO)
Horst LEHR (GER)
Niklas STECHELE (GER)
Akshay DHERE (IND)
SUMIT (IND)
Atish TODKAR (IND)
Abzal OKENOV (KAZ)
Abdymalik KARACHOV (KGZ)
Darian CRUZ (PUR)
Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR)
Yusuf DEMIR (TUR)
Liam CRONIN (USA)
Spencer LEE (USA)
Ramiz GAMZATOV (UWW)

61kg
Endrio AVDYLI (ALB)
Ersjan KASHIKU (ALB)
Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB)
Georgii OKOROKOV (AUS)
Erdal GALIP (BUL)
Giorgi GONIASHVILI (GEO)
Ramaz TURMANIDZE (GEO)
RAHUL (IND)
Simone PIRODDU (ITA)
Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ)
Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ)
Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ)
Leomid COLESNIC (MDA)
Caleb SMITH (PUR)
Azatberdi ASHYRGULYYEV (TKM)
Michael MCGEE (USA)
Nathan TOMASELLO (USA)
Chermen TAVITOV (UWW)
Zavur UGUEV (UWW)
Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB)

65kg
Gjete PRENGA (ALB)
Rashid BABAZADE (AZE)
Shannon HANNA (BAH)
Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN)
Mikyay NAIM (BUL)
Joshua KRAMER (ECU)
Nika ZAKASHVILI (GEO)
Mikheili BERDZNISHVILI (GEO)
Nico MEGERLE (GER)
Gamzatgadzsi HALIDOV (HUN)
SUJEET (IND)
Mohit KUMAR (IND)
Assylzhan YESSENGELDI (KAZ)
Bilol SHARIP UULU (KGZ)
Oskonbai ABDISAMATOV (KGZ)
Pavel GRAUR (MDA)
Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL)
Stefan COMAN (ROU)
Ahmet DUMAN (TUR)
Joseph MCKENNA (USA)
Real WOODS (USA)
Vitali ARUJAU (USA)
Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB)

70kg
Islam DUDAEV (ALB)
Kaloyan ATANASOV (BUL)
Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO)
SIDDHARTH (IND)
Maiis ALIYEV (KAZ)
Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ)
Rustamzhan KAKHAROV (KGZ)
Zalkarbek TABALDIEV (KGZ)
Vasile DIACON (MDA)
Austin GOMEZ (MEX)
Alec PANTALEO (USA)
Ridge LOVETT (USA)
Tyler KASAK (USA)
Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW)

74kg
Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE)
Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE)
Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN)
Petar PETROV (BUL)
Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO)
Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN)
PARVINDER (IND)
Yones EMAMI (IRI)
Yegor ANCHUGIN (KAZ)
Yernur NURGAZY (KAZ)
Adilet AKYLBEKOV (KGZ)
Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ)
Kamil RYBICKI (POL)
Vatan ANNAORAZOV (TKM)
Omer CAYIR (TUR)
Quincy MONDAY (USA)
William LEWAN (USA)
Yahya THOMAS (USA)
Inalbek SHERIEV (UWW)
Farhad NOURI (UWW)
Begijon KULDASHEV (UZB)

79kg
Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE)
Aykan SEID (BUL)
Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO)
Luka CHKHITUNIDZE (GEO)
Sagar JAGLAN (IND)
Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI)
Adilet MARATBAEV (KGZ)
Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK)
Cameron AMINE (USA)
Dean HAMITI (USA)
Akhmed USMANOV (UWW)

86kg
Ibrahim SULA (ALB)
Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE)
Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN)
Christopher FOCA MEJIA (DOM)
Dachi PAPINASHVILI (GEO)
Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO)
Joshua MORODION (GER)
Lars SCHAEFLE (GER)
Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE)
ARYAN (IND)
Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ)
Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA)
Cezary SADOWSKI (POL)
Shane JONES (PUR)
Boris MAKOEV (SVK)
Alp Arslan BEGENJOV (TKM)
Osman GOCEN (TUR)
Kyle DAKE (USA)
Ibragim KADIEV (UWW)

92kg
Albin PEPOSHI (ALB)
Mate KOLA (ALB)
Ahmed BATAEV (BUL)
Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO)
Zaur BERADZE (GEO)
Punit KUMAR (IND)
Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI)
Uri KALASHNIKOV (ISR)
Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ)
Kamil KURUGLIYEV (KAZ)
Iakov CHAPLIN (KGZ)
Filip ROGUT (POL)
Dovletgeldi MYRADOV (TKM)
Jacob CARDENAS (USA)
Dustin PLOTT (USA)

97kg
Thomas BARNS (AUS)
Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE)
Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO)
Erik THIELE (GER)
Ertugrul AGCA (GER)
Nikolaos KARAVANOS (GRE)
Richard VEGH (HUN)
AKASH (IND)
Jointy KUMAR (IND)
VICKY (IND)
Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI)
Benjamin HONIS (ITA)
Nurdaulet BEKENOV (KAZ)
Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ)
Radu LEFTER (MDA)
Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK)
Shatlyk HEMELYAYEV (TKM)
Emirhan KILIC (TUR)
Rifat GIDAK (TUR)
Hayden ZILLMER (USA)
Jonathan AIELLO (USA)
Kyle SNYDER (USA)
Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW)
Mukhamed KHANIEV (UWW)

125kg
Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE)
Georgi IVANOV (BUL)
Mohsen SIYAR (GER)
RONAK (IND)
Rajat RUHAL (IND)
Nursultan AZOV (KAZ)
Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL)
Omar Ihab SAREM (ROU)
Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM)
Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR)
Hakan BUYUKCINGIL (TUR)
Mason PARRIS (USA)
Trent HILLGER (USA)
Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA)
Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB)
Abdulla KURBANOV (UWW)

Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB)World champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) will return to action at 87kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan) 

Greco-Roman Entries

55kg
Andi MUCA (ALB)
Elmir ALIYEV (AZE)
Rashad MAMMADOV (AZE)
LALIT (IND)
Vishvajit MORE (IND)
Arsen ZHUMA (KAZ)
Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ)
Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ)
Rasul JORAYEV (TKM)
William SULLIVAN (USA)
Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW)

60kg
Bajram SINA (ALB)
Nihad GULUZADE (AZE)
Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE)
Marat GARIPOV (BRA)
Dimitri KHACHIDZE (GEO)
Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO)
Udit PATEL (IND)
SURAJ (IND)
Akzhol TUYAKOV (KAZ)
Iskhar KURBAYEV (KAZ)
Yerbol KAMALIYEV (KAZ)
Kurmanbek ZHAPAROV (KGZ)
Azatjan ACHILOV (TKM)
Dalton ROBERTS (USA)
Maxwell BLACK (USA)
Sadyk LALAEV (UWW)
Suner KONUNOV (UWW)

63kg
Ergi UKU (ALB)
Mikel TROPLINI (ALB)
Murad MAMMADOV (AZE)
Sakit GULIYEV (AZE)
Ziya BABASHOV (AZE)
Pridon ABULADZE (GEO)
CHETAN (IND)
SAURABH (IND)
Ali HAJIVAND (IRI)
Bakytzhan KABDYL (KAZ)
Yerkebulan ARDAKOV (KAZ)
Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ)
Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ)
Morten THORESEN (NOR)
Aref MOHAMMADI (QAT)
Ildar HAFIZOV (USA)
Sergey EMELIN (UWW)

67kg
Gjete PRENGA (ALB)
Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA (AUS)
Mahammad SHUKURZADE (AZE)
Andres MONTANO ARROYO (ECU)
Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO)
Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO)
Witalis LAZOVSKI (GER)
ANKIT (IND)
Karanjit SINGH (IND)
Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ)
Yerzhet ZHARLYKASSYN (KAZ)
Baiaman KARIMOV (KGZ)
Sebastian NAD (SRB)
Jan OEHLEN (SWE)
Kakabay KAKABAYEV (TKM)
Alston NUTTER (USA)
Otto BLACK (USA)
Erzu ZAKRIEV (UWW)
Hleb MAKARANKA (UWW)

72kg
Xhord GJONI (ALB)
Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE)
Iuri LOMADZE (GEO)
Krisztian VANCZA (HUN)
Sourav MALIK (IND)
Hojat REZAEI (IRI)
Mohammad REZAEI (IRI)
Almatbek AMANBEK (KAZ)
Daniyar KALENOV (KAZ)
Nikolay KHAPKO (KAZ)
Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ)
Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ)
Kamil CZARNECKI (POL)
Didar ORAZBERDIYEV (TKM)
Benjamin PEAK (USA)
Kamil AKHMETVALEEV (UWW)
Magomed BARAKHOEV (UWW)

77kg
Kevin KUPI (ALB)
Klodjan SHEHU (ALB)
Davud MAMMADOV (AZE)
Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO)
Samuel BELLSCHEIDT (GER)
Levente LEVAI (HUN)
Robert FRITSCH (HUN)
AMAN (IND)
Nishant PHOGAT (IND)
Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI)
Amir ABDI (IRI)
Mohammad NAGHOUSI (UWW)
Kaharman KISSYMETOV (KAZ)
Merey MAULITKANOV (KAZ)
Ilgis KANYBEKOV (KGZ)
Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)
Mateusz BERNATEK (POL)
Konrad KOZLOWSKI (POL)
Aleksa ILIC (SRB)
Britton HOLMES (USA)
Evgenii BAIDUSOV (UWW)
Imran ALIEV (UWW)
Sergei STEPANOV (UWW)
Shuai MAMEDAU (UWW)

82kg
Marjan KOLA (ALB)
Tunjay VAZIRZADE (AZE)
Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO)
PRINCE (IND)
Mohammadamin HOSSEINI (IRI)
Almir TOLEBAYEV (KAZ)
Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ)
Dias KALEN (KAZ)
Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)
Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ)
Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT)
Viktor NEMES (SRB)
Kamal BEY (USA)
George SIKES (USA)
Adlet TIULIUBAEV (UWW)
Dmitrii DZHIOEV (UWW)
Iraklii KALANDIIA (UWW)

87kg
Islam ABBASOV (AZE)
Lachin VALIYEV (AZE)
Lasha GOBADZE (GEO)
Istvan TAKACS (HUN)
Sunil KUMAR (IND)
Jamal ESMAEILI (IRI)
Baurzhan MUSSIN (KAZ)
Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ)
Shamil OZHAEV (KAZ)
Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ)
Azat SALIDINOV (KGZ)
Adam GARDZIOLA (POL)
Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB)
Payton JACOBSON (USA)
Spencer WOODS (USA)
Ihar YARASHEVICH (UWW)
Alan OSTAEV (UWW)
Islam ALIEV (UWW)
Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW)

97kg
Mahammad AHMADIYEV (AZE)
Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE)
Artur OMAROV (CZE)
Mathias BAK (DEN)
Giorgi MELIA (GEO)
Darius KIEFER (GER)
Alex SZOKE (HUN)
Vikrant BHORIYA (IND)
Amirreza MORADIYAN (IRI)
Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ)
Nurassyl AMANALY (KAZ)
Raiymbek TURSYN (KAZ)
Melis AITBEKOV (KGZ)
Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ)
Gerard KURNICZAK (POL)
Uros KRSTIN (SRB)
Amanberdi AGAMAMMEDOV (TKM)
Keith MILEY (USA)
Michial FOY (USA)
Kiryl MASKEVICH (UWW)
Adlan AMRIEV (UWW)
Artur SARGSIAN (UWW)

130kg
Griseldi KODRA (ALB)
Beka KANDELAKI (AZE)
Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE)
Konsta MAEENPAEAE (FIN)
Matti KUOSMANEN (FIN)
Sulkhan BUIDZE (GEO)
Jello KRAHMER (GER)
Darius VITEK (HUN)
HARDEEP (IND)
Uttam RANA (IND)
Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI)
Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ)
Jokhar UZAROV (KAZ)
Olzhas SYRLYBAY (KAZ)
Aden ATTAO (USA)
Dzmitry ZARUBSKI (UWW)
Marat KAMPAROV (UWW)
Ali ILIASOV (UWW)

Genesis REASCO (ECU)World champion Genesis REASCO (ECU) will be the favorite at 76kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov) 

Women's Wrestling Entries

50kg
Kamila BARBOSA (BRA)
Thalia OLIVEIRA (BRA)
Jacqueline MOLLOCANA (ECU)
MUSKAN (IND)
Priyanshi PRAJAPAT (IND)
SWEETY (IND)
Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA)
Miyu NAKAMURA (JPN)
Maral TANGIRBERGENOVA (KAZ)
Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ)
Agata GOLUCHOWSKA (POL)
Natalia WALCZAK (POL)
Svenja JUNGO (SUI)
Oksana LIVACH (UKR)
Erin GOLSTON (USA)
Kendra RYAN (USA)
Valeriia TIUKPIEKOVA CHEPSARAKOVA (UWW)

53kg
MEENAKSHI (IND)
Ayazhan MARKASHEVA (KAZ)
Roksana ZASINA (POL)
Zeynep YETGIL (TUR)
Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW)

55kg
Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER)
PUSHPA (IND)
Laura ALMAGANBETOVA (KAZ)
Shugyla OMIRBEK (KAZ)
Beatrice FERENT (ROU)
Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR)
Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA)
Aleksandra SKIRENKO (UWW)
Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW)

57kg
Samantha STEWART (CAN)
Luisa VALVERDE (ECU)
Jenna HEMIAE (FIN)
Tamara DOLLAK (HUN)
Neha SHARMA (IND)
NEHA (IND)
Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ)
Zeltzin HERNANDEZ (MEX)
Felicitas DOMAJEVA (NOR)
Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR)
Amanda MARTINEZ (USA)
Kristina MIKHNEVA (UWW)

59kg
Elena BRUGGER (GER)
Erika BOGNAR (HUN)
Othelie HOEIE (NOR)
Bediha GUN (TUR)
Dilan TAN (TUR)
Mariia VYNNYK (UKR)
Abigail NETTE (USA)
Michaela BECK (USA)
Svetlana LIPATOVA (UWW)

62kg
Lais NUNES (BRA)
Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL)
ANJLI (IND)
MANSI (IND)
SAVITA (IND)
Tynys DUBEK (KAZ)
Grace BULLEN (NOR)
Amina CAPEZAN (ROU)
Sara LINDBORG (SWE)
Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR)
Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA)
Macey KILTY (USA)
Amina TANDELOVA (UWW)
Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW)
Valeriia DONDUPOVA (UWW)

65kg
Apeksha PATIL (IND)
Aizhan SUIDUOVA (KAZ)
Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ)
Kriszta INCZE (ROU)
Emma BRUNTIL (USA)
Jennifer PAGE ROGERS (USA)
Nina KEMU MAKEM (USA)
Alina KASABIEVA (UWW)

68kg
Albina DRAZHI (ALB)
Yuliana YANEVA (BUL)
Aleah NICKEL (CAN)
Laura KOEHLER (GER)
Noémi SZABADOS (HUN)
KIRTI (IND)
Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)
Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU)
Tindra SJOEBER (SWE)
Nesrin BAS (TUR)
Destiny ADEYELE LYNG (USA)
Solin PIEARCY (USA)

72kg
Daniela BRASNAROVA (BUL)
Diksha MALIK (IND)
Reshma MANE (IND)
Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ)
Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL)
Buse TOSUN (TUR)
Skylar GROTE (USA)

76kg
Vanesa GEORGIEVA (BUL)
Genesis REASCO (ECU)
Jennifer ROESLER (GER)
KAJAL (IND)
Enrica RINALDI (ITA)
Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ)
Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)
Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU)
Kadriye KOCAK AKSOY (TUR)
Elmira YASIN (TUR)
Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR)
Dymond GUILFORD (USA)