#WrestleTirana

Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series Day 2 Recap

Thursday, February 27, 2025 - 10:32 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (February 27) -- Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series day two is underway with the four Freestyle and two Women's Wrestling weight classes. Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI), Kyle SNYDER (USA), Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) and Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) in action.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 RESULTS

15:40: Paris Olympic silver medalist Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) is into the 125kg final after a 3-0 win over Hakan BUYUKCINGIL (TUR). Zare was given two points for inactivity from Buyukcingil and he scored a stepout late in the match to make it 3-0. He will face Zelimkhan KHIZRIEV (UWW) in the final who defeated Paris Olympic 97kg silver medalist Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) 7-4 in the other semifinal. The finals begin 18:00.

Who is Arash Yoshida who beat Kyle Snyder?

15:25: Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) has done it! He beats Kyle SNYDER (USA) in the semifinals at 97kg. Yoshida, who seems small for 97kg, was in all sorts of trouble for five minutes and 30 seconds of the match. The match saw Snyder score a takedown on the edge and as Yoshida was trying to sneak out of the hold, Snyder scored a pushout, all while Yoshida was on activity time. Snyder led 4-0 before giving up a stepout. Both wrestler continued the pressure in the second period but Snyder's strength and positioning didn't let Yoshida get his on his attacks. However, Yoshida managed to get a cut-back and a turn to lead 5-5 on criteria with 30 seconds on the clock. Despite Snyder's efforts, Yoshida managed to remain in contact and not get scored on. A stunning win for the Yoshida.

Yoshida, whose father is Iranian married to a Japanese national, will face Erfan ALIZADEH MALAFEH (IRI) in the final after he defeated Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK), 3-2, in the other semifinal.

15:10: Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) just gut-wrenched Feyzulla AKTURK (TUR) in the 92kg semifinal to win it in a minute and 41 seconds. He will face Alan BAGAEV (UWW) in the final after he defeated Michael MACCHIAVELLO (USA). Bagaev came out with a arm throw for four and transitioned into a lace for two turns to lead 8-0. No points scored in the second period as Bagaev moved into the final

15:00: Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) is into the 79kg final with a very controlled win over Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN). He scored a takedown, two setpouts and got another point for caution while Saipudinov scored one takedown and got one point for fleeing from Gamkrelidze. His opponent will be Gadzhimurad ALIKHMAEV (UWW), who got a walkover after Evan WICK (USA) pulled out injured.

14:50: Haruna MARUYAMA (JPN) with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR). No much to show from Khomenets and she gets rolled over as Maruyama uses a trap-arm gut. She will face Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW) in the final after she defeated Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) with a takedown in the last 30 seconds.

14:40: Umi ITO (JPN) gets done with her semifinals at 50kg with a fall over Katie DUTCHAK (CAN). Arm-barred her for the win in a minute and seven seconds. In the second semifinal, Oksana LIVACH (UKR) gets a good win over Erin GOLSTON (USA). After leading 5-0 at the break, Livach scored one more takedown to win 7-0

Semifinals will begin at 14:30

14:15: Kyle SNYDER (USA) with another controlled win over Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (UWW). He kept his distance after leading 3-0 and won to advance to the 97kg semifinals. Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) also advances with a big 11-1 win over Dato PIRUZASHVILI (GEO)

14:00: When in full flow, Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) is a delight to watch. He gets four takedowns in his 8-0 win over Mirani MAISURADZE (GEO) at 92kg. Effortless from Ghasempour.

13:55: Feyzulla AKTURK (TUR) with a takedown with seven seconds left on the clock to beat Boris MAKOEV (SVK) at 92kg. Makoev with a meek surrender. Akturk was leading 4-1 but Makoev scored a takedown to cut it to 4-3. Akturk then added a stepout to make it 5-0 with 38 seconds left. With 17 seconds on the clock, Makoev with a takedown to lead 5-5 on criteria but seemed to have been caught off guard by Akturk's quick attack from center and the Turk gets the takedown and the win.

13:45: Umi ITO (JPN) gets to work as soon as she is on the mat but she doesn't get a clean win here against Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (UWW). Two takedowns, a double-leg fireman carry gave Ito an 8-0 lead but Sokolova surprised her with a headlock for four. Ito survived the fall to get a reversal and another takedown later she led 11-4 at the break.

She scores a four-pointer with a cut-back but gives up a reversal. The 15-5 score gives her the win but Sokolova challenges, asking for two points for the cut-back. The challenge is lost and Ito wins 16-5

13:30: Oksana LIVACH (UKR) with a clutch takedown and defense to beat MEIDUOLAJI (CHN), 6-5, at 50kg and advance to the semifinals. Meidoulaji led 5-4 and looked like she would defend her lead with ease but Livach managed to get a takedown in the second period to win.

13:20: At 55kg, Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW) with a fall over Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW). Khoroshavtseva was leading only 1-0 at the break but changed levels in the second to lead 8-0 before getting the fall.

13:15: Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) manages to get the job done against Karla GODINEZ (CAN) at 55kg. Not much action in the match but Murayama wins 2-0 to advance to the semifinals.

13:00: Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) with a first-period 10-0 technical superiority over Irena BINKOVA (BUL) at 55kg. Khomenets will most likely face Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) next

12:50: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI), first time on mat since winning silver medal at the Paris Olympics, looks in good form. While he did not go on a rampage, he was content with a 7-0 win over Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (UWW) at 125kg.

12:35: 2023 Asian champion Arash YOSHIDA (JPN), wrestling at his first Ranking Series, begins with a fall. He made it 10-0 before pinning Gurgen SIMONYAN (ARM). A mix of Iranian underhooks and Japanese speed there. Read more about Arash Yoshida here

12:20: Kyle SNYDER (USA) is a machine! He was down 2-0 at the break but finds a way to break through in the second period to beat Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) 3-2 at 97kg. Huge win for Snyder. Goleij was up 1-0 and then added a stepout to start the second period. Snyder kept his calm and got a takedown by elevating Goleij off the mat to lead 2-2 on criteria with two minutes and 10 seconds remaining. Snyder kept himself away from Goleij for the remaining time but Goleij forced an opening and got a single leg attack going. However, he landed Snyder in the zone and forced a pushout. The referees scored it grounded with no points. That was with nine seconds remaining. Iran challenged after restart but there was no change in decision and Snyder led 3-2. Goleij had four seconds to score a takedown for the win but that never happened.

12:10: Feyzulla AKTURK (TUR) with a great start at 92kg. Samuel SCHERRER (SUI) tried matching the ties but Akturk too good for him and wins 8-1 to advance at 92kg.

11:45: Umi ITO (JPN) at 50kg starts with a first period technical superiority win over Aida KERYMOVA (UKR). Ito was in Tirana for the U23 World Championships last year but was pinned to suffer her first-ever international loss.

11:30: Day two of the Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series and we start at 11:30 as the number of bouts are lesser than Wednesday. Some big names competing today.

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open 2026 Day 2 Highlights: Yazdani in 97kg final

Thursday, February 5, 2026 - 09:21 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (February 5) -- The Ranking Series event, Zagreb Open, enters day two and it will be Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) making his 97kg debut for Iran. The Olympic champion at 74kg in 2016, and two-time Olympic silver medalist at 86kg, is chasing that second gold, this time at 97kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 RESULTS

13:45: 55kg WW semifinals - World silver medalist Verbina EKATERINA (UWW) with a 1-1 victory over Nagisa HARADA (JPN) in the semifinals. She got an activity point in the second period to keep the criteria lead. Ekaterina will face Karla GODINEZ (CAN) in the final after the Canadian defeated Areana VILLAESCUSA (USA), 2-1, in another low scoring semifinal.

13:30: 50kg WW semifinals - Haruna MORIKAWA (JPN) with a controlled 8-2 win over Elizaveta SMIRNOVA (UWW) at 50kg. She will wrestle NEELAM (IND) for the gold medal. Neelam defeated MUSKAN (IND), 7-4, in an all-Indian semifinal

13:20: 125kg semifinals - A fall for Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) over Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL) in just over two minutes as he reaches the final at 125kg. He will face Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) in the final after the U.S. wrestler scored an 11-1 win over Robert BARAN (POL).

13:10: 97kg semifinals - Stephen BUCHANAN (USA) with a quick fall over Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA) in the first semifinal. Now he earns himself a chance to wrestle against Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) after Iranian managed another technical superiority win. While it's rare on Yazdani, Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO) scored two takedowns on Yazdani but failed to keep the pressure before losing 14-4

12:55: 92kg semifinals - Mobin AZIMI (IRI) gets a dominant 11-0 win over Dustin PLOTT (USA) as he used a double-leg for four to finish. He earns a chance to avenge his 5-5 loss to Trent HIDLAY (USA) in the final after the American scored another come-from-behind victory. He defeated Michael MACCHIAVELLO (USA), 3-3, to setup the gold medal bout against Azimi

12:40: 79kg semifinals - Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) is back in the Ranking Series final with a 10-1 victory over Otari ADEISHVILI (GEO). He looked in complete control of the bout. Khadjiev will face Dean HAMITI (USA) for the gold medal after he defeated Evan WICK (USA), 6-5, in a thrilling semifinal

12:15: Trent HIDLAY (USA) once again shows how to come back and win a bout. Down 6-0 against Abofazl RAHMANI (IRI), he scores a four-pointer and keeps the pressure on the Iranian to win 11-9 and make his spot in the semifinal at 92kg.

11:45: Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) gives up a takedown against Richard VEGH (HUN) but that is the only slip in an otherwise dominant bout at 97kg. Two four point throws for Yazdani as he advances to the semifinals.

11:35: Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) with a big four-pointer in her 5-0 win against Beatrice FERENT (ROU) at 55kg. The world silver medalist is the favorite to win gold here.

11:25: Mobin AZIMI (IRI) bounces back from his loss to Trent HIDLAY (USA) and beats Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) in his second bout at 92kg round robin. Azimi managed to score a takedown with less than 30 second left to beat Rahmani 4-3.

11:10: Two quick results at women's 50kg. Haruna MORIKAWA (JPN) beats Kendra RYAN (USA) 12-1 at 50kg before NEELAM (IND) also wins via technical superiority, 10-0, against Agata GOLUCHOWSKA (POL). 

11:00: 92kg world champion Trent HIDLAY (USA) makes a comeback from 5-0 down to beat Mobin AZIMI (IRI) 5-5 in the group stage bout. Hidlay scored a takedown in the second period before adding two stepouts. Iran challenged the second one but lost which gave the criteria lead to Hidlay

10:50: Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) doesn't the trademark jump before entering the mat but his bout against Merab SULEIMANISHVILI (GEO) is a typical Yazdani bout. He uses the underhook to start scoring and then rallies to score takedowns at will before turning Suleimanishvili and winning his bout 11-0

10:45: Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN) wrestled well but it is Yaraslau SLAVIKOUSKI (UWW) who manages to win 6-4 at 97kg and win the opening bout.

10:30: Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) will be on Mat B but before that, a few big results in Zagreb. Richard VEGH (HUN) manages to hang on for a 3-0 victory over Kamil KURUGLIYEV (KAZ) at 97kg.