#WrestleRome

LIVE BLOG: Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series, Day Three

By United World Wrestling Press

What a day! Victoria ANTHONY (USA) showed what she is capable of to win the gold at 50kg and Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) defended her 53kg title. Kollin Raymond MOORE (USA) stunned the three-time World medalist Alireza Mohammad KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) to win the gold medal at 97kg.

Onto the fourth and final day of Matteo Pellicone event where we wait for men's freestyle action. Watch out for Jordan Borroughs (USA) vs Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) final at 74kg

WATCH: Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series Day Three

A lot of action happened on the third morning of Matteo Pellicone. Our team has put together some of the highlights for you. Head over to our Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook to watch and read everything.

2000 hrs: We have out champions on day three of the Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event. Stunning stuff from the wrestlers. Here are the winners on day three

50kg: Victoria Lacey ANTHONY (USA)
53kg: Vinesh PHOGAT (IND)
55kg: Jacqueline Del Rocio MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU)
59kg: Abigail Elizabeth NETTE (USA)
65kg: Gaukhar MUKATAY (KAZ)

Men's freestyle

97kg: Kollin Raymond MOORE (USA)
125kg: Amarveer DHESI (CAN)

1950 hrs: GOLD MEDAL! An anti-climatic finish to the 125kg Round 5 bout as Asian champion Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) completes a technical superiority 11-0 win over Amarveer DHESI (CAN) in just 30 seconds. But it is still Dhesi who wins the gold medal at 125kg in Rome 

1948 hrs: Round 5 bout at 125kg! Amarveer DHESI (CAN) is up against Asian champion Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ). Dhesi has been exceptional throughout the day.

1943 hrs: GOLD MEDAL! What a fantastic win for Kollin Raymond MOORE (USA). He downs 92kg world silver Alireza Mohammad KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) 3-3. Karimi waited for too long there to go for the attack. Top defence from Moore

 

#WrestleRome 97kg FS Medal Match Results:
?Kollin MOORE ?? df. Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI ??, 3-3
?Hayden ZILLMER ?? df. Ibrahim CIFTCI ??, 7-4
?Alisher YERGALI ?? df. Feyzullah AKTURK ??, 6-1

— United World Wrestling (@wrestling) March 6, 2021

 

1941 hrs: Karimi tries to push Moore out of bounds but Moore keeps it in play. Gets a double and a takedown to lead 3-3 on criteria

1938 hrs: Karimi gets a stepout too and then a takedown off Moore's attack. The Iranian leads 3-1 at the break

1936 hrs: Gold medal bout at 97kg between 92kg World silver medalist Alireza KARIMI (IRI) and U23 World silver Kollin MOORE (USA). Moore with a point for stepout.

1935 hrs: Zillmer was trailing 4-3 with under a minute to go but he gets a takedown from single and then one later in the bout to hang on to a 7-4 win and the bronze medal

1930 hrs: Second bronze medal bout at 97kg between Hayden Zillmer and Ciftci. Zillmer leads 1-0 at the break 

1920 hrs: Bronze medal bout at 97kga.Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) and Alisher YERGALI (KAZ). The Kazak wrestler is the attacking wrestlers and completes three takedowns for the lead. He wins 6-1 and captures bronze medal.

1910 hrs: GOLD MEDAL! Gaukhar MUKATAY (KAZ) is the champion at 65kg weight category as she beats Veronica BRASCHI (ITA) with a dominant 8-0 win. That concludes our women's wrestling in Rome. Onto men's freestyle

1900 hrs: Final bout of 65kg. Local wrestler Veronica BRASCHI (ITA) is taking on Gaukhar MUKATAY (KAZ). A body lock situation but the Kazak wrestler comes out on top. She leads 2-0 

1853 hrs: GOLD MEDAL! Abigail Elizabeth NETTE (USA) is the winner at 59kg after she puts up a dominant show against Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ).

1845 hrs: 59kg Round 3 bout between Abigail Elizabeth NETTE (USA) and Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ). Nette with an early takedown. Kayumova tries to get one late in first period but she is not able to. Reversal from Nette and another takedown. 4-0 for her at the break 

1838 hrs: Round 3 of 55kg. Ambra CAMPAGNA (ITA) is taking on Jacqueline Del Rocio MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU). Del Rocio with an early 4-0 lead and then another takedown for 6-0. She is looking for the pin her and will get it after a cradle.

 

#WrestleRome 53kg Medal Match Results:
?Vinesh VINESH ?? df. Diana WEICKER ??, 4-0
?Samantha STEWART ?? vs. Nandini SALOKHE ??, via inj. def.

— United World Wrestling (@wrestling) March 6, 2021

 

1832 hrs: GOLD MEDAL! Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) shows some strong defence against Diana WEICKER (CAN) to defend her gold medal at 53kg. Weicker gets hold of the single and is trying for the far leg. Cannot get to it and strong defence to get Vinesh Phogat. 4-0 win for the Indian

1830 hrs: Weicker trying to find that opening against Vinesh Phogat but the Indian is strong in her defence, not letting Weicker take control of her arm. Vinesh Phogat gets deep and a double leg from her. But Weicker this time was ready for it. Reverses it and no points for either wrestler 

1827 hrs: Weicker did get to Phogat's legs in the dying seconds of first period but she is unable to score. Phogat will go into the break leading 4-0 

1825 hrs: Snap single from Vinesh after being warned for passivity. She completes the takedown and leads 2-0. Then goes double leg and two more for her

1822 hrs: Samantha STEWART (CAN) gets the bronze medal with victory by fall in 2 minutes and 30 seconds against Nandini SALOKHE (IND). Final of 53kg now between Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) and Diana WEICKER (CAN)

1820 hrs: Bronze medal bout at 53kg between Samantha Stewart and Nadini SALOKHE (IND). Stewart is the first to break the deadlock with a takedown and then an exposure to lead 4-0

 

#WrestleRome 50kg Medal Match Results:
?Victoria ANTHONY ?? df. Miglena SELISHKA ??, 15-10
?Emilia VUC ?? df. Valentina ISLAMOVA ??, via. Inj. def.

— United World Wrestling (@wrestling) March 6, 2021

 

1818 hrs: GOLD MEDAL! Victoria ANTHONY (USA) wins the gold medal at 50kg after beating Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL). An excellent of wrestling for Anthony as she powers her way to the top

1816 hrs: Challenge lost and Selishka will have another point. Anthony is quick to shoot for the legs. Defend by Selishka but as they are getting back on their feet, Anthony uses her typical trip to get a four. She leads 13-10 

1814 hrs: A single takedown from Selishka and she brings down the difference to just two points. Anthony still leads 9-7. A trap from the Bulgaria and she gets a exposure over her shoulder. 9-9 for Selishka. Challenge from USA 

1810 hrs: Unsure what the challenge was about. Judges seem to say that challenge won but the score remains 9-3. Bulgaria are challenging again. Now they have changed the score to 9-5 Bulgaria

1807 hrs: Anthony is continously looking to attack and she gets a single. Reaches to the far leg and gets the two points. Looking for the pin but the time runs out in the first period. She leads 9-3 at the break. Bulgaria corner challenge the call  

1801 hrs: Gold medal bout at 50kg. Victoria ANTHONY (USA) takes on Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL). She starts with a single takedown and two exposures. Georgieva has a reversal. Anthony leads 6-1.

1800 hrs: Bronze medal for Emilia Alina VUC (ROU) after Valentina Ivanovna BRIK ISLAMOVA (KAZ) cannot wrestle due to injury. However, Vuc will not be happy with her performance here as she was the silver medalist last year in Rome 

1750 hrs: All the medal bouts will take place on Mat B starting with Valentina Ivanovna BRIK ISLAMOVA (KAZ) taking two-time World and returning silver medalist Emilia Alina VUC (ROU). Check out the match order here

1745 hrs: Welcome back to yet another session of top quality wrestling. The medal bouts in Rome are about to begin in 15 minutes

Vinesh PHOGAT (IND)

1305 hrs: That will do for the morning session in Rome! We had some great action and moves but a couple of wrestlers had to pull out injured. We are set for our medal matches in the evneing.

1300 hrs: Anthony Robert NELSON (USA) is the winner on Mat B as he beats Oleg BOLTIN (KAZ) 7-1. A big double from Nelson gave him a 5-0 lead before a takedown made it 7-0. A stepout at the buzzer for Kazak but too little too late.

1300 hrs: Batirmurzaev was leading 1-0 at the break but return to finish a 11-0 win over Sumit after a takedown and 5 guts.

1256 hrs: Round 4 of the 125kg category is the final set of bouts for the morning session. Anthony Robert NELSON (USA) is up against Oleg BOLTIN (KAZ) on Mat B and Asian champion Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) is wrestling SUMIT (IND) on Mat C

1256 hrs: Alireza Mohammad KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) will face Kollin Raymond MOORE (USA) in the 97kg final in Rome. Both wrestlers were dominant in their semifinal wins with the Iranian winning 10-0 while Moore notched up a 9-0 win

1255 hrs: Moore with a exposure and then a duck under to lead 6-0 against Yergali in the semifinal

1255 hrs: Karimimachiani is leading Ciftci 7-0 at the break. In the other semifinal, Moore is leading Yergali 2-0 after a single leg takedown

1250 hrs: Moving on to the 97kg semi-finals. World silver medalist Alireza Mohammad KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) is wrestling Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR). He gets a quick start with step out

1245 hrs: Victoria ANTHONY (USA) with a big double for four points and a technical superiority 10-0 win over two-time World silver medalist Elina Amilia VUC (ROU)

1242 hrs: Semi-final at the 50kg weight category. Victoria ANTHONY (USA) is wrestling Elina Amilia VUC (ROU). Anthony with ankle pick and gut wrench to take a 4-0 lead. She then gets one more to lead 6-0

The winner of other semifinal is Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL) as Valentina Ivanovna BRIK ISLAMOVA (KAZ) is injured

1240 hrs: Diana Mary Helen WEICKER (CAN) is the winner in the semi-final as she completes a takedown in the second period to beat Nandini SALOKHE (IND) 12-2. She will wrestle the defending champion Vinesh PHOGAT (IND)

1235 hrs: Weicker gets going a takedown but Salokhe gets into a scramble which results in a 10-1 score for Weicker. India challenge the call and win it as well. The score is 10-2 for Weicker1230 hrs: A 42-second pin for Vinesh PHOGAT (IND)! Stewart shoots for Phogat's legs but the Indian is quick to defend and counters with a cradle and gets the pin to march into her second consecutive finals at Matteo Pellicone

1225 hrs: We are rolling into the semi-final bout on day three. First up on Mat C is Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) vs Samantha STEWART (CAN) at 53kg. Incidentally, other semi-final at 53kg on Mat B is also and India vs Canada bout. Diana Mary Helen WEICKER (CAN) will take on Nandini Bajirao SALOKHE (IND)

1220 hrs: Karimimachiani was warned for his second passivity but he gets a takedown, gut wrench and another to win the bout at 97kg 6-3

1215 hrs: 92kg World silver medalist Alireza Mohammad KARIMIMACHIANI'S (IRI) much-awaited debut at ranking series event at 97kg on Mat B. He is wrestling Hayden ZILLMER (USA)

1215 hrs: Kollin Raymond MOORE (USA) with a huge win at 97kg and Asian bronze medalist Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) also pulls out a technical superiority win

1207 hrs: U23 World Championships silver medalist Kollin Rayomd MOORE (USA) is wrestling Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR). On Mat C, Vinesh PHOGAT rolls in the semi-final at 53kg as Luisa Elizabeth VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU) pulls out due to injury

1205 hrs: Diana Mary Helen WEICKER (CAN) wins the all-Canadian match-up. She beats Samantha Leigh STEWART (CAN) 9-4 at 53kg

1202 hrs: Victoria ANTHONY (USA) is the winner as Valentina Ivanovna BRIK ISLAMOVA (KAZ) pulls out due to her shoulder injury.

Stewart got a takedown after body lock but Weicker gets a reversal and a gut wrench to lead 7-4

1200 hrs: On Mat C, an all Canadian bout between Samantha Leigh STEWART (CAN) and Diana Mary Helen WEICKER (CAN). They exchange a takedown each before Weicker pulls one just before the break. She will lead 4-2 at the break

Anthony with a sick inside trip and to get a 4 points. She will go into the break with a 4-2 lead

1158 hrs: World bronze medalist Valentina Ivanovna BRIK ISLAMOVA (KAZ) is up against Victoria ANTHONY (USA). Huge match this in the 50kg category. Islamova gets the first takedown and tries to get an exposure but let's out a loud cry in pain. The medical team is checking her. She is ready to wrestle after that break

1150 hrs: Amar DHESI (CAN) is the winner on Mat B as he beats Anthony Robert NELSON (USA) 5-0 at 125kg. Dhesi with some top-level defence and continued action to get the win

1142 hrs: Nelson won the gold in Ottawa last year after Dhesi withdraw citing injury in the final. Nelson finding it difficult to get an opening here in the first period. Dhesi leads 3-0 at the break

1140 hrs: Huge match on Mat B! A repeat of the 2020 Pan Am Championships final at 125kg. Anthony Robert NELSON (USA) and Amar DHESI (CAN) are wrestling their Round 3 bout in Rome. Dhesi is quick to get a pushout and then a takedown to lead 3-0

1135 hrs: A 28 second technical superiority win for World bronze medalist Valentina Ivanovna BRIK ISLAMOVA (KAZ). A takedown and four chest wraps to finish her bout

1130 hrs: Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL) upsets two-time world silver medalist Emilia Alina VUC (ROU) with a stunning 6-1 win at 50kg. Vuc left too much for the second period to cover and her opponent was in total control throughout the bout

1125 hrs: Vuc has been warned for passivity and put on the shot clock. She is trailing 0-4 against Selishka. Makes that 5-0 as Vuc fails to score in the activity period 

1122 hrs: Emilia Alina VUC (ROU) is up against European champion Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL). Georgieva is leading 4-0 at the break

1120 hrs: Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) gets her second win of the day as Asian champion Tatyana AMANZHOL AKHMETOVA (KAZ) pulls out by injury default.

1110 hrs: Anthony Robert NELSON (USA) completely broke down Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) to win an entertaining bout 14-4. Nelson with his second win of the day

1103 hrs: European champion Miglena Georgieva (BUL) scores a technical superiority win over MEENAKSHI (IND) in her first round bout at 50kg

1100 hrs: Anthony Robert NELSON (USA) and Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) are involved in a high-action match on Mat B. The US wrestler scored a takedown and two leg laces to lead 8-4. He goes into the break leading 9-4 after a step out point

1047 hrs: World and returning silver medalist starts her day with a complete shutout win over Luisa Elizabeth VALVERDE MELENDRES (BRA) 10-0 

1045: Returning champion at 53kg Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) starts her day with huge win via fall against Nandini Bajirao SALOKHE (IND). Sheer dominance from Phogat

 

World No. 1 Emilia VUC ?? and '20 European champion Miglena SELISHKA ?? will square off in five matches (Bout 185) on Mat C. #WrestleRome https://t.co/zpwxopXS8d

— United World Wrestling (@wrestling) March 6, 2021

 

1040 hrs: Anthony Robert NELSON (USA) holds on to a 2-0 win against SUMIT (IND). Both points against Sumit for passivity. Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ)  pulls off a couple of takedowns late to win 4-2 against Oleg BOLTIN (KAZ)

1030 hrs: Sumit is put on shot clock after inactivity. Nelson leads 1-0 at the break. A similar situation on Mat C as Bolton leads 1-0 at the break

1025 hrs: Beginning with SUMIT (IND) taking on Anthony Robert NELSON (USA) on Mat B and Asian champion at 125kg Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) wrestling his teammate Oleg BOLTIN (KAZ) on Mat C

1015 hrs: Day three in Rome. We have some exciting bouts coming up in freestyle. Mat B and Mat C will see all the action for the day

#WrestleTirana

Breaking down freestyle battles at World Championships for Non-Olympic weights

By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (October 15) -- Six months ago, no one had the Sadulaev-Taylor-Ghasempour three-way battle for world title on their bingo card. But it is about to go down in Tirana.

The World Championships in non-Olympic weight classes is returning after eight years. Despite the fact that none of the Paris Olympic participants were allowed in the tournament, it still has a host of stars hoping to become world champions.

Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN), a two-time Olympic and five-time world champion, did not participate in the Paris Olympics and is going down a weight class to 92kg in a bid to earn his sixth world title. Three-time world champion David TAYLOR (USA) jumped from 86kg to 92kg in a bid to compete at the World Championships. He now gets a shot at Sadulaev. Two-time world champion at 92kg Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI), who has been moving up and down in weight classes, has somehow been made the challenger.

Ghasempour participated in the 97kg weight class in the Zagreb Open but lost to Kyle SNYDER (USA). He was in line for Iran's 86kg spot for Paris but later opted out of a trial against Hassan YAZDANI (IRI).

Sadulaev lost a bout for the second time in his career and first in six years when he lost to Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) at the 2023 World Championships. Taylor lost to Aaron BROOKS (USA) in the U.S. Olympic trials and Ghasempour barely scraped through in the trials for the world team in Iran.

Yet, the three will be the favorite for the gold medal and it will only be a surprise if any of them miss out on the podium in Tirana.

Jordan BURROUGHS (USA)Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) is eyeing his seventh world title. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Six-time world champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) is also chasing history. If he wins, he will win his seventh world title, making him the most successful American wrestler at the World Championships. He missed out on competing at the 2023 World Championships but stormed back in 2024, winning the trial in the United States.

But his path to gold won't be an easy one. Two-time U23 world champion Magomed MAGOMAEV (AIN), former world silver medalist Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO), three-time world medalist Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) and Asian champion Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) are also in the fray.

Nokhodi and Burroughs have wrestled in two back-to-back World Championships finals with the latter winning both. But Burroughs suffered his first loss to an Iranian in 2022 when Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) defeated him at the World Cup and Nokhodi will draw confidence from there.

All the big names will be looking to hand Burroughs his first World Championships loss since 2019.

Vitali ARUJAU (USA)Vitali ARUJAU (USA) is the defending world champion at 61kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Another Olympic champion eyeing a world title will be Zavur UGUEV (AIN) as he last won the second of two titles in 2019. Uguev won gold at the Tokyo Olympics at 57kg but finished fifth at the 2023 World Championships. He will be at 61kg in Tirana hoping to deny defending world champion Vitali ARUJAU (USA) a second world title.

Arujau won his first world gold medal in 2023 by beating Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (AIN) in a tense final. He won the team trials in the U.S. to confirm his name for the World Championships in Tirana.

An interesting name entered is Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB). The former European champion will turn out for Serbia at 61kg but it is unlikely that he will be challenging for gold.

Masanosuke ONO (JPN), however, can be a big threat for the gold medal given his style and pace of wrestling. He rocked the competition at the U20 World Championships last month and won gold at 61kg. It will be interesting to see how he fares at his first senior World Championships.

Asian Championships silver medalist UDIT (IND) and Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) have some good wins under their belts over the past two years and they would like to make a mark in Tirana.

Inalbek SHERIEV (AIN)Inalbek SHERIEV (AIN) and Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) wrestled in the U23 World Championships final last year. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

U23 world and European champion Inalbek SHERIEV (AIN) will be making his senior international debut at 70kg in Tirana and will be the favorite to win the gold medal. However, the field has other top contenders like Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI), Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) and James GREEN (USA) among others.

Yazdani lost the final at 70kg last year to Zain RETHERFORD (USA) but will look to make amends this year. He won the Asian Championships over Aoyagi in a high-scoring final. Yazdani's 13-9 win over Aoyagi was not convincing and the Japanese will look to change the result if the two meet in Tirana. Aoyagi was in the final against Sheriev but dropped the final 9-3. He finished eighth at the World Championships in 2023.

Former U20 world champion for Iran, Peiman BIABANI (CAN) will be turning out for Canada. He finished second at the Pan-Am Championships and the World Championships will be a big test for him. 2023 bronze medalist Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL) will look to change the color of his medal this year.