#WrestleBelgrade

Makhmudov becomes first male Kyrgyz world champion

Sunday, September 11, 2022 - 22:18 By Ken Marantz

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BELGRADE, Serbia (September 11) -- A year ago, Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) came just short of becoming his country's first-ever Olympic gold medalist in any sport. On Sunday night, he never let his opponent come close to preventing him from becoming its first male world champion in wrestling.

Makhmudov emerged from a stacked Greco-Roman 77kg weight class to win the gold medal with a one-sided 8-0 technical fall over Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) on the first night of finals at the World Championships in Belgrade.

"I am very happy to get this opportunity to win the first Greco-Roman gold for the Kyrgyz people," Makhmudov said. "I dedicate this victory to my Kyrgyzstan."

The host country won two of the three other Greco-Roman golds at stake on Sunday, with Georgian-born Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) successfully defending his title at 87kg, and Iranian-born Ali ARSALAN (SRB) winning the 72kg in his first appearance at senior worlds.

European champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) capped off about as dominant a tournament as a wrestler can have by storming to 55kg gold with his fourth straight technical fall without conceding a point.

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) uses a four-point exposure to win against Zoltan LEVAI (HUN). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The 23-year-old Makhmudov, the silver medalist at last year's Tokyo Olympics, threw caution to the wind in scoring a pair of bold 4-point moves to blow away Levai in 2:06 of the final.

Makhmudov started with a daring back suplex with a headlock grip that put Levai straight to his back. When the Hungarian fought out of the predicament to his stomach, Makhmudov moved to the front, applied a front headlock and flipped Levai backward for the winning move.

"Yesterday I said that I wanted to show what Kyrgyz wrestling school was capable of," Makhmudov said. "I think I have shown it. I took revenge. Last time I lost to that wrestler and now I took revenge."

Makhmudov has been making waves since he won the gold at the 2018 Asian Championships hosted by Kyrgyzstan, a triumph that he repeated in April in Mongolia.

Only a knee injury that caused him to miss all of 2019 kept him from more titles.

In 2019, Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) beat him to the punch as Kyrgyzstan's first-ever world champion when she won the women's 62kg title in Nursultan. The country has had four male silver medalists, including Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) twice.

For Makhmudov, there are many others who share in the credit for his success.

"I know my family supports me a lot, thanks a lot to them, my coaches and my friends," he said. "And I would like to say something else. We have a coach Ulukbek Karacholokov, his father past away recently, and I would like to dedicate my victory to him because Ulukbek is one of the best coaches and thanks to his father for bringing up such a good son."

At the Tokyo Olympics, Makhmudov lost a heartbreaking 2-1 decision in the final to Tamas LORINCZ (HUN), with a second-period stepout providing the margin of victory. Still, the silver medal made him Kyrgyzstan's fifth Olympic medalist in history and a hero in the country.

"I know my country supports me a lot," he said. "We have a wrestling country. Everybody there loves wrestling and supports it. It gives me the energy to train, I always feel their support when I am on the mat even if they are not present in the wrestling hall."

Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB)Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) defended his 87kg world title. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

The Serbs in the finals could certainly hear the support of the partisan crowd in Stark Arena, particularly when Datunashvili ended the day's festivities with a thrilling 6-2 victory over Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN) in the final match of the night.

Bisultanov was looking to become his country's first-ever world champion but immediately fell into a 4-point hole when Datunashvili caught him with a nifty arm throw about one minute into the match.

"I had some tactics but I got the opportunity to get the throw and I did and I got four points," Datunashvili said.

In the second period, Bisultanov received a passivity point, but was unable to turn Datunashvili from par terre. The Serb then added a go-behind takedown to pad his lead, and was untroubled when he gave up a stepout.

"He is a young guy, he will get the gold later," Datunashvili said. "Maybe after three years he can beat me."

Datunashvili has been competing for Serbia since 2020 and appeared for the first time at the Olympics for his adopted country in Tokyo, where he took home a bronze medal. He also won the European title that year.

Ali ARSALAN (SRB)Ali ARSALAN (SRB) defeated Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) 4-3 in the 63kg final. (Photo: Martin Gabor)

In a clash between the European bronze medalists in the 72kg final, Arsalan was trailing 4-3 when he slammed Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) backward to the mat for 4 points, giving him a 7-4 victory and making him the fourth world champion in Serbia's young history.

Arsalan, a 2017 Asian bronze medalist for Iran, scored with a gut wrench from par terre to lead 3-0 going into the second period. But Ganizade tied the match with a passivity point and 2-point penalty, then went ahead 4-3 with a stepout.

"This is what I dreamt of and now I have changed that dream into fact," Arsalan said. "You don’t know the struggles to reach here. This is what it means to be a world champion. For all in Iran and Serbia who supported me, thank you."

Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE)Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) blanked Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) 8-0 in the 55kg final. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

At 55kg, Azizli maintained his domination over Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO), pummeling the 2019 world champion with an 8-0 technical fall to regain the world title he won in 2018.

Azizli, who had to settle for bronze medals in 2019 and 2021, scored an early stepout, then was put on top in par terre. That proved the beginning of the end for Tsurtsumia, also a bronze medalist last year. After a 2-point penalty, Azizli fired off two consecutive gut wrenches to end the match in 2:06.

"The Georgian wrestler is also a world champion, he was in 2019 and I was the world champion before him," Azizli said. "The match was great, thank God I won."

According to Azizli, he has now beaten Tsurtsumia nine consecutive times. Even so, he was not going to take his opponent lightly.

"This is wrestling," Azizli said. "Anything could happen. Every world championship I had a medal. But not always I was able to win."

Yusu BASAR (TUR)Yunus BASAR (TUR) won the bronze medal at 77kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Meanwhile, Turkey came away with three bronze medals after victories by Selcuk CAN (TUR) at 72kg, Yunus BASAR (TUR) at 77kg and Ali CENGIZ (TUR) at 87kg.

Can, a 2020 European bronze medalist, eked out a 3-3 win on last-point criteria over Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ), scoring a 2-point throw in the second period. Andrii KULYK (UKR) won the other 72kg bronze with a 4-3 win over Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA).

Basar, who won a second straight European silver medal this year, held on for a 4-1 victory over former world champion Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR), a two-time Olympic medalist who was aiming for his first world medal since 2018.

European champion Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM), the 72kg champion a year ago in Oslo, capped a busy day by defeating Viktor NEMES (SRB) 7-1 to take home the other 77kg bronze.

Amoyan, who lost a close 3-3 decision to Levai in the opening qualification match on Saturday, had to win three repechage matches.

At 87kg, Cengiz scored 4 points with a front lift in the second period to defeat two-time Asian champion Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) 7-1. The other bronze was won by David LOSONCZI (HUN), a 6-2 winner over Alex KESSIDIS (SWE).

At 55kg, Asian champion Yu SHIOTANI (JPN), who had to beat 2021 world champion Ken  MATSUI (JPN) just to make the Japanese team, assured he would not leave Belgrade empty-handed when he defeated Max NOWRY (USA) 7-0. Shiotani opened with a 4-point arm throw, then added a stepout and a defensive takedown, all in the first period.

Asian bronze medalist Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB) picked up the other 55kg bronze by rallying from a 5-0 deficit, scoring a 4-point throw among nine second-period points to defeat Asian silver medalist Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ), 9-5.

Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM)Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) entered the 97kg final after beating defending champion Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI). (Photo : UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Aleksanyan returns to 97kg final by dethroning Saravi

In semifinal action in four other weight classes earlier in the session, Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) earned a shot at a fourth world title and first since 2017 when he defeated reigning world champion Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) 3-1 at 97kg.

Aleksanyan, scored a gut wrench during his turn in par terre to defeat rising star Saravi, a bronze medalist at last year's Tokyo Olympics and set up a final with European champion Kiril MILOV (BUL).

Milov spotted Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE) a 3-0 lead in the other semifinal but came alive in the second period when put in the par terre. First a classic gut wrench, then a 4-point throw to the back that set up a fall at 4:35.

Aleksanyan, who won a third career Olympic medal when he took the silver in Tokyo, has already assured himself of a sixth career world medal -- Milov is hoping to make it a third silver for the Armenian star.

Host Serbia had another good night, putting two of its wrestlers into the finals to match its results from the opening night. Sebastian NAD (SRB) will be going for the gold at 63kg and Mate NEMES (SRB), Viktor's twin brother, will follow at 67kg.

Nad, a 2019 European U23 silver medalist who is having a breakout tournament, scored a creative exposure from par terre in posting a 5-0 victory over European silver medalist Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE).

In Monday's final, Nad will try to ensure that Leri ABULADZE (GEO) leaves the World Championships with a silver medal for the second year in a row.

Abuladze, this year's European champion, scored a first-period stepout that proved the difference in a 2-1 win over 2019 world bronze medalist Ali Reza NEJATI (IRI).

Nemes, the other world bronze medalist in 2019, defeated a formidable Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) 5-2 in the semifinals. After trading first-period takedowns, Nemes received a passivity point, then got 2 for a penalty to clinch the victory.

For his efforts, Nemes gets a shot at the reigning world and Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI), who posted an unusual technical fall over Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO).

Geraei made the unusual choice of challenging a call in which he scored the points, but it paid off by giving him even more than he expected for an 8-0 technical fall.

From the par terre, Geraei lifted up Khetsuriani and dumped him onto his back. The original call was for 4, but Geraei insisted that his coach hit the challenge button, saying his opponent should also be assessed a leg penalty. He not only got the 2-point penalty but the throw was upgraded to 5 points, giving him the victory at 2:02.

Ironically, another semifinal also ended in a technical fall on a challenge call, but that one went against the one lodging the protest.

At 82kg, Asian silver medalist Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) hit a 4-point throw to take a 7-0 lead against Tamas LEVAI (HUN), who decided to take a chance and claim that the Uzbek used his legs. The judges didn't agree and that gave Berdimuratov the 8-0 victory at 2:23, denying a second Levai brother a place in the finals.

In the final, Berdimuratov will face last year's silver medalist Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR), who hit a 4-point throw at the edge in the second period to defeat Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) 5-1.

Day 3 will see the start of competition in the final two Greco weight classes, 60kg and 130kg, as well as two women's divisions, 55kg and 62kg.

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Day 2 Greco-Roman Results

55kg (18 entries)
Gold - Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) by TF, 8-0, 2:06

Bronze - Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) df. Max NOWRY (USA), 7-0
Bronze - Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB) df. Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ), 9-5

63kg (30 entries)
Semifinal - Sebastian NAD (SRB) df. Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE), 5-0
Semifinal - Leri ABULADZE (GEO) df. Ali Reza NEJATI (IRI), 2-1

67kg (30 entries)
Semifinal - Mate NEMES (SRB) df. Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE), 5-2
Semifinal - Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) df. Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) by TF, 8-0, 2:02

72kg (25 entries)
Gold - Ali ARSALAN (SRB) df. Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE), 7-4

Bronze - Andrii KULYK (UKR) df. Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA), 4-3
Bronze - Selcuk CAN (TUR) df. Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ), 3-3

77kg (33 entries)
Gold - Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) by TF, 8-0, 2:06

Bronze - Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) df. Viktor NEMES (SRB), 7-1
Bronze - Yunus BASAR (TUR) df. Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR), 4-1

82kg (25 entries)
Semifinal - Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) df. Tamas LEVAI (HUN) by TF, 8-0, 2:23
Semifinal - Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) df. Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR), 5-1

87kg (30 entries)
Gold - Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) df. Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN), 6-2

Bronze - David LOSONCZI (HUN) df. Alex KESSIDIS (SWE), 6-2
Bronze - Ali CENGIZ (TUR) df. Naser ALIZADEH (IRI), 7-1

97kg (29 entries)
Semifinal - Kiril MILOV (BUL) df. Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE) by Fall, 4:35 (7-3)
Semifinal - Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) df. Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI), 3-1

#WrestleParis

10 seeded showdowns we need to see at Paris 2024 (No. 6-10)

Wednesday, July 17, 2024 - 14:29 By Eric Olanowski

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PARIS, France (July 17) – We’re still a few weeks out from the Paris 2024 draws taking place on August 4. However, with the release of the top eight seeds per style, we can start to project potential matches that could take place as early as the quarterfinals.

SCHEDULE | PARIS 2024 EVENT PAGE 

The top eight Ranking Series point collectors from the 2023 World Championships, 2024 Continental Championships, and the Croatian and Hungarian Ranking Series events earned a top eight seed. The remaining eight wrestlers will be randomly drawn into their respective brackets.

Here are the top ten matches that we could see between seeded wrestlers from the quarterfinals on:

10. WW 68kg QUARTERFINAL - No. 3 Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) vs. No. 6 Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR)
Koumba Larroque has been a prominent figure in French wrestling since her bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships at just 19 years old. Now in the prime of her career, she’s France’s best shot at a medal.

Larroque’s path to an Olympic medal will be bumpy, to say the least. She’s the third-seeded athlete in a bracket with six world champions and includes a potential quarterfinal clash with  familiar foe No. 6 Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR).

Larroque and Oborududu met twice in their career, splitting their pair of previous encounters.

Oborududu won their opening meeting at the 2020 Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event, but Larroque returned the favor a year later at the Poland Open, evening the score at 1-1.

If Larroque and Oborududu win their first match, their third career meeting would take place August 5 in the 68kg quarterfinals.

9.  FS 65kg SEMIFINAL –  No. 2 Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) vs. No. 3 Ismail MUSUKAEV (HUN)
Amouzad and Musukaev are nightmare opponents for each other and are stylistically opposites.

Amouzad, the 65kg world champ from two years ago, is a guy who wants to close the gap with his right-side underhook and fill as much space as possible. Conversely, Musukaev, the reigning 65kg world champion, wants as much space as possible to flow freely.

In their first meeting—the semifinals of the 2022 World Championships-- Musukaev fell victim to Amouzad’s pace and was shut out 6-0. In their second matches—the semifinals of the 2023 World Championships—Musukaev weathered the first period storm, saved enough energy for a last-ditch effort and stole the world finals spot, 6-5, with less than 10 seconds remaining.

If Amouzad and Musukaev meet for a third time, it’ll be on August 10 in 65kg semifinals.

8. 57kg SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) vs. No. 3  Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR)
The Nichita and Adekuoroye rivalry is one that dates back to the 2019 World Championships but has since changed hands from their pre-COVID meeting.

The seasoned vet Adekuoroye is an anomaly in the wrestling world. Her style can’t be mimicked or replicated. She’s the tallest and lengthiest 57kg wrestler in the world but has also learned to use her leverage to become one of the most powerful wrestlers in the weight.

Adekuoroye’s unique style gave Nichita fits in their first meeting, as the four-time world medalist opened their three-match series with a dominant 10-0 win.

But Nichita carried what she learned from their first meeting into their next matches and had her hand raised on subsequent occasions.

In Tokyo, Nichita fell behind early but capitalized on an uncharacteristic Adekuoroye’s mistake and picked up a dramatic come-from-behind fall while trailing 8-2. Their next meeting came at the 2023 World Championships, where Nichita doubled Adekuoroye before ending the match in the first period with a left-sided trap arm gut, 10-0.

The fourth meeting between Nichita and Adekuoroye will take place August 8 in the 57kg semifinals.

7. GR 67kg QUARTERFINAL – No. 2 Luis ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB) vs. No. 7 Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI)
If there were ever a lesson from losing a match, Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) certainly learned it the hard way.

Earlier this year at the Hungarian Open Ranking Series event, Esmaelil led reigning Olympic champion Orta, 7-5, with 0.4 seconds left in the match.

But before we get to the ending of the match, it’s important to note that Esmaeili was in a domestic battle with reigning Olympic gold medalist Reza GERAEI (IRI) for Iran’s 67kg Paris Olympic spot. If Esmaeili beat Orta, he cemented his spot on Iran’s Olympic team. If he lost, Esmaeili and Geraei would go to a three-match wrestle off and the winner goes to Paris.

Now, circling back to the match: With less than a second to go in the match, Esmaeili began celebrating as he thought the clock expired.

During Esmaeili’s lapse of judgement, Orta, being the experienced guy, continued to wrestle through the whistle. Orta took a peek at the clock, saw there was still time left, locked up a throw and picked up four points, stealing the match, 9-7.

Esmaeili will try to get his revenge on Orta August 7 in the 67kg quarterfinals.

*Esmaeili ended up beating Geraei in two straight matches to earn the Olympic spot.

6. WW 57kg SEMIFINAL - No. 1 Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) vs. No. 5 Helen MAROULIS (USA)
Through the first two meetings between Sakurai and Maroulis, it’s been a one-sided affair. Sakurai is 2-0 against Maroulis, outscoring the Rio Olympic champion, 9-0, while picking up four offensive takedowns and not surrendering a single point.

Sakurai and Maroulis’ meeting at the 2022 World Championships was a slow-paced match, where the Japanese wrestler did enough to win but didn’t really establish her dominance.

That came in the second match.

In their second meeting, the biggest difference was Sakurai’s tatical use of her right hand when tied up with Maroulis. She used it to score three takedowns—one from an underhook front headlock, one from a underhook throw-by and the final one coming from a two-on-one—besting the American, 6-0.

The third meeting between Sakurai and Maroulis would take place August 8 in the 57kg semifinals.

Wrestling at the Paris Olympic Games starts Agust 5-11 and can be followed on www.uww.org.