#WrestleBelgrade

Live Blog, U23 World Championships Day 2: GR 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg, 97kg

Tuesday, November 2, 2021 - 08:54 By United World Wrestling Press

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BELGRADE, Serbia (November 2) -- After a memorable first day, the U23 World Championships enter day two with five new Greco-Roman weight classes -- 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg and 97kg. Iran dominated day one and they will like to continue that on the second day but Russia is right behind them.

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That will do for the morning session. Long one but we had some exciting matches and the semifinals are set. We also have the draws of the women's wrestling about now.

1545: A mini upset here! Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) looked good to make the semifinals but he hit a rock named Pavel HLINCHUK (BLR) in the quarters. The Belarusian's top defense and scores give him a 7-3 win

1525: Kamal and Minasyan leave everything on the mat but it's Kamal who wins 2-2 on criteria for his takedown against the Armenian's one and one.

1520: Kamal gets the takedown and the two points. He leads 2-0. Turkey is asking for a point for step out but the referee rules it a push. Turkey challenge the call but lost. 2-1 for Kamal. Minasyan get a point for Kamal's passivity and it's 2-2 but Kamal holds criteria.

1510: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) is up against Tigran MINASYAN (ARM) in the 60kg quarterfinal. A big four to start for Minasyan but Turkey challenge for a leg four. Challenge won. 0-0.

1450: In a turn of events, Jafarov gives no opening and scores eight unanswered points to win 9-2 in the quarterfinals

1440: Big battle between Asian champion Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ) and junior world champion Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE). Assetuly is called passive and Jafarov gets a point. He fails to score from par terre but Azerbaijan challenge. Lost and Kazakhstan lead 1-1 on criteria

1410: Artur SARGSIAN (RUS) continues his quest for a second age-group world title and reaches the quarterfinals at 97kg with an 11-0 win over Nicholas BOYKIN (USA). As usual some big throws in that bout

1350: Sergei KUTUZOV (RUS) gives Iran a taste of their own medicine. He breaks Amir ABDI (IRI) in the 72kg bout and wins 9-1 and advance

1330: Junior world champion Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) was tested in the first minute but he overcomes Vasile DOSOFTEI (ROU) 10-1 in the second period

1315: Kerem KAMAL is making his way to the mat for his first bout of the competition. He will face Tommaso BOSI (ITA). He gets a point for Bosi's passivity. Three gut wrenches and he leads 7-0. A huge throw and he wins 11-0

1300: Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) keeps Iran rolling with an 8-0 win over Dylan GREGERSON (USA). No Iran wrestler has suffered a loss on day two so far

1230: Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI) and Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) in a battle! Mukubu had the lead but the constant pressure from Naghousi tires him out. A 7-5 win for the Iranian 

1200: Artur SARGSIAN (RUS) is making his way to the mat! He faces Ondrej DADAK (CZE) at 97kg. He begins as the aggressor and Dadak is called for passivity. Sargasian hits a big four and a roll to lead 7-0. Dadak goes for a headlock but fails to connect. 4 points for Sargsian and an 11-0 win

1145: World silver medalist Sergei KUTUZOV (RUS) has Denis MERTL (CZE) in the opening round at 72kg. But he doesn't spend too much time on the mat as he wins 8-0 thanks to the gut-wrenches

1130: How far will Tigran MINASYAN (ARM) go in this tournament? He starts with an 8-0 win over Hleb MAKARANKA (BLR) 

1115: Junior world champion Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) begins his quest for a U23 world gold with a controlled 3-1 win against Diego MARTINEZ DE LEIJA (MEX) 

1100: U23 European champion Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (RUS) has an easy first round as he beats Rayan B HAWSAWI (KSA) 9-0 to advance at 60kg 

1050: It was back and forth but Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) prevails 5-3 over Karlo KODRIC (CRO) in the opening round at 82kg 

1045: We are done with the repechage bouts. U23 European champion at 82kg Shamil OZHAEV (RUS) takes on Ilias PAGKALIDIS (GRE). Just effortless from Ozhaev as he wins 9-0

1030: Welcome to day two of the U23 World Championships from the Belexpocentar in Belgrade. Greco-Roman action continues with five new weight categories with Iran and Russia battling for the team title. 

Wrestling 2026 Season Preview: Freestyle, Women's Wrestling, Greco-Roman

Tuesday, February 3, 2026 - 11:11 By Vinay Siwach

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 2) -- The 2025 World Championships in Zagreb marked a turning point in international wrestling as 18 first-time world champions were crowned, signaling the arrival of a new generation well before the qualification cycle for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games begins.

A few scenes in Zagreb showed what the titles meant. A women’s champion hugging anyone she could find, a Freestyle winner delivering revenge, and a Greco-Roman champion lifting a nation’s pride. Now, 2026 will determine whether those champions can turn a breakthrough into sustained dominance, or if the veterans will reclaim control.

For traditional powers like the United States, Iran, and Japan, maintaining dominance will be harder than ever as more countries close the gap.

In Women’s Wrestling, Japan is being challenged by the DPR Korea, while in Freestyle the U.S. and Iran remain the central rivalry. In Greco-Roman, Iran is undoubtedly the best team in the world but Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are closing the gap as another strong season approaches.

As wrestling moves toward LA 2028, 2026 becomes the year where storylines start to stick. The UWW Pro Series is part of that shift, taking its final shape before launch. Wrestlers will be rewarded for their ranks for the year and will stand a chance to win a grand prize.

The fans can follow wrestling with United World Wrestling through UWW+ on uww.org, Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, YouTube.

Freestyle

A Sadulaev vs Yazdani final at the World Championships. A match-up like no other can happen in 2026.

The 2026 season begins with a question: when will Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) return? A dream match against Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) is now firmly on the cards. Yazdani, the 2016 Olympic champion at 74kg, is now competing at 97kg, ten years later. Sadulaev, who won Olympic gold at 86kg in Rio, moved to 97kg soon after that gold.

The Iranian may compete at the Zagreb Open or at the Tirana Ranking Series. If the return is delayed, world silver medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) will likely carry the weight for Iran early in the season.

At the same time, several major stars are preparing comebacks. Olympic champion Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) is expected to return after recovering from shoulder surgery, while Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) is also set to resume competition, most likely around May.

READ THE FULL FREESTYLE PREVIEW HERE

Women’s Wrestling

Japan captured five of the 10 medals on offer at the World Championships and nothing less is expected from its wrestlers. But out of the first four weight classes, it managed to win only one gold and missed out on medals in two of them.

Missing a medal at 50kg is rare for Japan. It happened in 2009, then in 2019 and in 2025. So what can be expected from the best country in Women's Wrestling or perhaps wrestling?

The DPR Korea, China, India, Ukraine and the United States keep challenging Japan at various competitions but it has managed to hold its own. With the gap closing, 2026 will be a similar story.

Continental Championships will be the first test for countries building towards the year-ending World Championships. But these tournaments can also witness the returns of a few wrestlers. Yui SUSAKI (JPN), Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), Amit ELOR (USA), Maria YEFREMOVA (UKR), and possibly VINESH (IND).

Additionally, several medal contenders are shifting weight classes in 2026, opening their paths to medals at the World Championships and later at the Olympics.

READ THE FULL WOMEN'S WRESTLING PREVIEW HERE

Greco-Roman

Iran ruled Greco-Roman in 2025 with dominant performances at all levels, and it was not even close. Barring that one battle with Uzbekistan at the U17 World Championships, Iran remained untouched. In 2022 and 2023, it showed signs of long-term dominance and in 2024, it won two gold medals, one silver and one bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. Then in 2025, it won team titles at all age-group levels.

At the World Championships in Zagreb, it won four gold, two silver and two bronze medals. Out of the 10 wrestlers, eight won medals, missing only at 77kg and 60kg. Will 2026 be Iran's year again?

Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI), Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) and Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) make the core team. World champion Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) has been the latest sensation, going unbeaten in 2025 and winning the U23 world gold at 87kg. Alireza MOHAMADI (IRI) is also a proven wrestler at 87kg having won an Olympic and world silver.

Iran has a second team which can challenge any established star in the world. U20 and U23 world champion Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) is a wrestler waiting for his turn at 130kg. Hedayati is getting closer to beating Mirzazadeh in selection for the Iran team.

Payam AHMADI (IRI), Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) and Ahmadi VAFA (IRI) are already part of the team while younger stars wait for their turns.

But there has been an influx of talent in Greco-Roman in the new cycle especially with Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Japan, Armenia and UWW wrestlers stepping up.

READ THE FULL GRECO-ROMAN PREVIEW HERE