#WrestleTirana

Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series Day 5 Recap

By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (March 2) -- The final day of Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series will see Greco-Roman action in six weight classes. 55kg, 60kg, 72kg, 82kg, 97kg and 130kg wrestlers will be on the mat.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 4 RESULTS

16:15: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) and Hamza BAKIR (TUR) enter the final at 130kg. Mirzazadeh scores a gut wrench from par terre against Wenhao JIANG (CHN) to lead 3-0 at the break. Jiang gets the forced par terre advantage in the second period but no points from the position for him. Mirzazadeh wins 3-1.

Bakir had Tokyo silver medalist Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) in the semifinal. Kajaia gets the par terre in first period but doesn't turn Bakir, who got the par terre position in the second period but can't turn. Bakir holds the 1-1 criteria lead for the win.

16:00: Kiril MILOV (BUL) with a front headlock exposure for two and he led Alex SZOKE (HUN) 3-1. Szoke got the third passivity and as he tried to gut wrench Milov, he got stuck on the mat and Milov pinned him to enter the 97kg final.

He will take on Giorgi MELIA (GEO) in final after the Georgian defeated Markus RAGGINGER (AUT) 5-2. Melia blocked a turn from Ragginger and got two points. Ragginger got both the passivity calls and led 2-0 before the defended throw from Melia. Ragginger challenged for a defensive foul but lost it as Melia got another point and lead 3-2 with 1:30 remaining on the clock. Ragginger needs two points for a win. Melia with a stepout with 54 seconds remaining to lead 5-2. Ragginger fails to breakthrough and drops the semifinal.

15:50: Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) defends from par terre when Ramon BETSCHART (SUI) got the third passivity and keep his 2-1 lead to enter the 82kg final. He will face Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) in the final after he got a gift from Svetoslav NIKOLOV (BUL) who committed two offensive leg fouls and was cautioned out of the semifinal.

15:35: Mehmet SAHIN (TUR) enters the 72kg final with a 9-0 technical superiority win over Yryskeldi KHAMZAEV (KGZ). He will face Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) who beat Otar ABULADZE (GEO) 6-3 which may give him a look in the Georgian team for the European Championships.

15:20: Quick finishes to the 60kg semifinals! Amiran SHAVADZE (GEO) with two headpinch front throws to beat Haodong TAN (CHN) 8-0 and enter the final.

Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) brings out two reverse suplexes from par terre to beat Akyl SULAIMANOV (KGZ) 9-0. Lost challenge from Kyrgyzstan makes it 10-0

15:10: Emre MUTLU (TUR) with a huge four-point throw and then a turn from par terre as he leads Yerassyl MAMYRBEKOV (KAZ) 7-0 at the break in the 55kg semifinals. But Mamyrbekov storms back with two suplexes for two points each to make it 7-5. A challenge from Kazakhstan asking for a foul from Mutlu but there isn't any. A lost challenge makes it 8-5 for Mutlu with a minute remaining. Mutlu defends his lead and wins 8-5.

In the other semifinal, Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) was attacking from the start and earned two turns from par terre to lead 6-0 at the break Yersin ABYIR (TUR). Lolua also pulls out a good defense to keep it 6-1 when he was put on par terre in the second period. Abyir scores three points but a 6-4 win for Lolua.

The semifinals begin at 15:00 hours local time

14:40: Two turns from par terre for Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) to lead 5-1 and he may have thought that it was enough for a win. However, Shahin BADAGHI (QAT), of Iranian origin, scores a takedown to make it 5-4. Bolkvadze scores a stepout however Badaghi challenges and wins as Bolkvadze pulled his singlet. Badaghi down 5-4 with 1:21 left in the 82kg quarterfinal. Badaghi challenges for a headbutt but this time loses the challenge which makes Bolkvadze's score 6-4 whihc is also the winning score.

14:30: Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) with a five-pointer as he moves into the semifinals at 60kg! Shiotani blanks Ziyue XI (CHN) 11-0. 

14:20: Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) with a grand-amplitude over Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU) for five points. Sleiva blocked with his hands which gives to more to Lomadze who leads 7-0 at the break. Sleiva can manage only two points in the second period as Lomadze wins 7-2

14:10: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) pulls out his best defense from par terre and stops Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU) from turning him in the second period. A turn would have surely given Knystautas a 3-3 criteria lead. But Mirzazadeh wins 3-1

14:00: China has brought some hammers here! Haodong TAN (CHN) pins Paris Olympian Enes BASAR (TUR) at 60kg. Tan got the third passivity [no points are awarded for third passivity in Greco] and got a defensive foul from Basar. He then turned him and held Basar on the mat for a fall.

13:45: Ziyue XI (CHN) takes out Victor CIOBANU (MDA) at 60kg! What a performance from Xi. He defended his par terre position before scoring a correct throw from par terre in the second period to lead 3-1. Ciobanu gave up a stepout with 40 seconds remaining to fall behind 4-1. Ciobanu challenged so a foul but there was none. Xi gets a 5-1 lead. Ciobanu could not find a way to break Xi who wins 5-1 at 60kg.

13:35: Hamza BAKIR (TUR) scores an 8-0 win over Yuta NARA (JPN) at 130kg. Bakir has been impressive so far as he prepares himself for the big challenge at the European Championships. 

13:25: Tokyo Olympic silver medalist at Greco-Roman 130kg Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) turns Elias KUOSMANEN (FIN) from par terre to lead 3-0 at the break before defending his position from forced par terre in the second and win 3-1 at 130kg.

13:10: The world is missing out on Yu SHIOTANI (JPN). A series of reverse lifts from par terre and Shiotani has Ergi UKU (ALB) in all sorts of trouble. An 11-0 win for Shiotani.

13:07: Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU) brings out a reverse lift slam on Ji LENG (CHN) to score four points and snatch the win 4-2 against Leng who is a little dumbfounded with that move. Top move from Sleiva

13:05: Ali ARSALAN (SRB) can't find a way to break Iuri LOMADZE's (GEO) defense and drops his 72kg bout 5-1. Lomadze with a defensive block when Arsalan was trying to score on him.

12:50: Kyrgyzstan wrestlers are out here demoralising big star. Yryskeldi KHAMZAEV (KGZ) takes out Selcuk CAN (TUR) at 72kg. After leading 5-0, Khamzaev defended well from par terre and gave up only two points. Can made it 5-5 with a push out but Khamzaev keeps the criteria win.

12:40: Former European champion Kiril MILOV (BUL), who wrestled at Paris Olympics at 130kg, drops down to his natural 97kg, and he dominates Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED) 6-1. He scored two turns from par terre in the first period while Sterkenburg failed to do so in the second.

12:05: Hamza BAKIR (TUR) gets two par terre positions in the match and he scored three turns to beat 8-0 Laga BAYI (CHN) at 130kg. He expected to be the heir apparent to Riza KAYAALP (TUR) for Turkiye

11:50: Olympic bronze medalist Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) using his aggressive style against Heiki NABI (EST) for a 4-0 win at 130kg. While he did the par terre in the first period, he asked for standing in the second.

11:45: Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) gives a reality check to U20 world champion Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) of the senior level. Shiotani was in forced par terre in the first period but he didn't let Ahmadi Vafa score. The referees were about to give Ahmadi Vafa the second par terre which may have made Ahmadi Vafa relax as he gave up a takedown. A reversal in the same sequence was scored one point for Ahmadi Vafa. But Shiotani with a big lift and throw for two points. Shiotani challenges and gets two more points for a foul from Ahmadi Vafa to lead 6-2. From par terre, Shiotani would score three more points and lead 9-4 with 35 seconds on the clock.

Ahmadi Vafa threatened to cause an upset as he scored a takedown and a turn to make it 9-6 before Shiotani blocked the next turn for two points. He then score another exposure and held Ahmadi Vafa on the mat for a fall.

11:35: Ali ARSALAN (SRB), world bronze medalist at 72kg, impresses with a 4-4 win over Levente LEVAI (HUN). Levai led 3-0 at the break but Arsalan with a headpinch for four. Levai blocked his second attempt. A stepout in the end gave Levai another point but Arsalan won 4-4 on criteria.

11:31: Selcuk CAN (TUR), wrestling at 72kg, with an impressive 7-3 win against Mikko PELTOKANGAS (FIN). Can with a top defense from par terre to keep Peltokangas at bay

11:25: Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) needed two successful challenges to remaining in the opening match at 97kg against Alex SZOKE (HUN) who committed two offensive leg fouls. Szoke still had a 7-1 lead at the break. Savolainen managed two points in the second period but failed get a move on. Szoke with a 7-3 win.

11:00: Greco-Roman all day as the final day of the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series is here. Long day ahead but some classic match ups in various weight class. By the way, rain is back in Tirana.

#WrestleMonterrey

Pan-American Championships 2025 Entries

By United World Wrestling Press

MONTERREY, Mexico (April 29) -- The Pan-American Championships will be held from May 8 to 11 in Monterrey, Mexico.

The competition will see 201 wrestlers in 30 weight classes with the United States, Canada and Cuba bringing strong squads.

The Pan-Ams will be live on UWW+ and FloWrestling with live matches and highlights.

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

Note: The entries are preliminary and subject to change. For final entries on the day of the competition, refer to UWW Arena

Greco-Roman

55kg
Isaac MARIN MATA (MEX)
Jayden RANEY (USA)

60kg
Pedro DE SOUZA (BRA)
Patrick RODRIGUEZ QUINTO (ECU)
Diego TERRIQUEZ IBARRA (MEX)
Andres ANDRADE (PAN)
Maxwell BLACK (USA)
Yonaiker MARTINEZ CRAVO (VEN)

63kg
Matias MUNOZ RAMIREZ (CHI)
Jeremy PERALTA GONZALEZ (ECU)
Emerson FELIPE ORDONEZ (GUA)
Angel SEGURA TELLEZ (MEX)
Lisandro CABRERA ORTIZ (PAR)
Ellis COLEMAN (USA)

67kg
Joao DE JESUS SILVA (BRA)
Nestor ALMANZA TRUYOL (CHI)
Luis ORTA (CUB)
Andres MONTANO ARROYO (ECU)
Donavan SOLORZANO AMAYA (HON)
Osvaldo YANEZ SILVA (MEX)
Royglen TEMPLE BATISTA (PAN)
Marco FERNANDEZ CUBAS (PER)
Alston NUTTER (USA)
Neiser MARIMON HIDALGO (VEN)

72kg
Luis GUALLPA SUQUILEMA (ECU)
Cristian MEJIA TEPEN (GUA)
Luis BARRIOS ROCHEZ (HON)
Marquis LARMOND (JAM)
Jorge GOMEZ GARCIA (MEX)
Wilfrido SAMANIEGO QUIJADA (PAN)
Nilton SOTO GARCIA (PER)
Alejandro SANCHO (USA)

77kg
Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARG)
Calebe CORREA FERREIRA (BRA)
Eduardo BERNAL MOLINA (CHI)
Oscar BARRIOS ROCHEZ (HON)
Alexis VARGAS RAMIREZ (MEX)
Ryan CUBAS CASTILLO (PER)
Kamal BEY (USA)
Leomar CORDERO DEPOOL (VEN)

82kg
David CHOC HUOC (GUA)
Diego MACIAS TORRES (MEX)
Beka MELELASHVILI (USA)

87kg
Sosruko KODZOKOV (BRA)
Ariel ALFONSO RODRIGUEZ (HON)
Omar MENDOZA DE RAMON (MEX)
Eduardo VEGA GARCIA (PAN)
Carlos ESPINOZA CASTRO (PER)
Payton JACOBSON (USA)
Luis AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN)

97kg
Ricardo GOMEZ (ARG)
Igor ALVES DE QUEIROZ (BRA)
Gabriel ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB)
Kevin MEJIA (HON)
Dorian TREJO OLGUIN (MEX)
Gabriel LEE SKINNER (PAN)
Michial FOY (USA)
Luillys PEREZ MORA (VEN)

130kg
Eduard SOGHOMONYAN (BRA)
Diego ALMENDRAS RODRIGUEZ (CHI)
Oscar PINO (CUB)
Leonidas MANZABA QUINONEZ (ECU)
Gino AVILA DILBERT (HON)
Juan HERRERA (MEX)
Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA)
Moises PEREZ HELLBURG (VEN)

Lucia YEPEZ (ECU)Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) will compete for the first time since winning the silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Women's Wrestling

50kg
Kamila BARBOSA (BRA)
Madison PARKS (CAN)
Yusneylis GUZMAN LOPEZ (CUB)
Jacqueline MOLLOCANA (ECU)
Linda CASTANEDA GAONA (MEX)
Yorlenis MORAN SANCHEZ (PAN)
Antuaneth CASUSOL CASAS (PER)
Audrey JIMENEZ (USA)
Nohalis LOYO JIMENEZ (VEN)

53kg
Adrianny CASTILLO (ARG)
Sabrina GAMA TAPAJOS (BRA)
Serena DI BENEDETTO (CAN)
Yaynelis SANZ VERDECIA (CUB)
Lucia YEPEZ (ECU)
Josefina RAMIREZ DUARTE (MEX)
Yusneiry AGRAZAL (PAN)
Nathaly HERRERA HUACRE (PER)
Jaslynn GALLEGOS (USA)
Mariana ROJAS (VEN)

55kg
Geisa RAPHAEL VELOSO (BRA)
Karla GODINEZ (CAN)
Andrea AVELINO BARRIENTOS (MEX)
Louisa SCHWAB (USA)

57kg
Camila AMARILLA (ARG)
Ana PEREIRA FRANCA (BRA)
Mia FRIESEN (CAN)
Yaynelis SANZ VERDECIA (CUB)
Luisa VALVERDE (ECU)
Bertha ROJAS (MEX)
Martha OLIVARES BENDEZU (PER)
Amanda MARTINEZ (USA)
Mayra PARRA ALVAREZ (VEN)

59kg
Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN)
Karla RAMOS (MEX)
Abigail NETTE (USA)

62kg
Juliana NEPER (BRA)
Ana GODINEZ (CAN)
Leonela GRUEZO ORTIZ (ECU)
Melanie JIMENEZ (MEX)
Savannah COSME (USA)
Astrid MONTERO (VEN)

65kg
Leticia GAION (BRA)
Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN)
Elide CASTANON BUENDIA (MEX)
Macey KILTY (USA)

68kg
Grabriela PEDRO (BRA)
Vanessa KEEFE (CAN)
Virginia JIMENEZ (CHI)
Debanhi TAPIA GARCIA (MEX)
Kennedy BLADES (USA)
Nathaly GRIMAN HERRERA (VEN)

72kg
Nyla BURGESS (CAN)
Michelle OLEA RUIZ (MEX)
Tiffani BAUBLITZ (USA)

76kg
Linda MACHUCA (ARG)
Thamires MARTINS MACHADO (BRA)
Vianne ROULEAU (CAN)
Milaimy MARIN POTRILLE (CUB)
Genesis REASCO (ECU)
Edna JIMENEZ (MEX)
Kylie WELKER (USA)
Neirili BANGUERO MARTINEZ (VEN)

Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG)Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG) is one of the favorites to win gold at 65kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / William Bain)

Freestyle

57kg
Davi SILVA GIOVANNETTI (BRA)
Christopher MERLO (CAN)
Esteban MORALES MAYANCHA (ECU)
Edwin SEGURA GUERRA (GUA)
Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX)
Eduardo PALAS SEQUEIROS (PER)
Lucas RODRIGUEZ (PUR)
Liam CORNIN (USA)
Pedro MEJIAS RODRIGUEZ (VEN)

61kg
Garette SAUNDERS (CAN)
Peter HAMMER (CRC)
Joshua KRAMER (ECU)
Esteban PEREZ (GUA)
Enrique OLVERA (MEX)
Andres ANDRADE (PAN)
Diego VILLALBA (PAR)
Joseph SILVA (PUR)
Jaxen FORREST (USA)

65kg
Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG)
Matheus DA LUZ (BRA)
Peiman BIABANI (CAN)
Matias MUNOZ (CHI)
Jonnathan PEREZ (GUA)
Jordan MITCHELL (JAM)
Diego PERAZA AGUILAR (MEX)
Joseph MCKENNA (USA)
Wilfredo RODRIGUEZ (VEN)

70kg
Edvanilson CONCEICAO (BRA)
Jacob ALEXANDER TORRES (CAN)
Jorge GATICA (CHI)
Enrique PEREZ CASTELLANOS (GUA)
Donavan SOLORZANO (HON)
Marquis LARMOND (JAM)
Austin GOMEZ (MEX)
Royglen TEMPLE BATISTA (PAN)
Sixto AUCCAPINA PEDRAGAS (PER)
Francisco GUZMAN VELAZQUEZ (PUR)
Ian PARKER (USA)

74kg
Paulo GONCALVES DA SILVA (BRA)
Adam THOMSON (CAN)
Geannis GARZON (CUB)
Mauricio SANCHEZ SALTOS (ECU)
Luis BARRIOS ROCHEZ (HON)
Alonzo SMILEY GARCIA (MEX)
Wilfrido SAMANIEGO QUIJADA (PAN)
Jhon CHUNGA CARRENO (PER)
Ladarion LOCKETT (USA)
Anthony MONTERO CHIRINOS (VEN)

79kg
Jasmit PHULKA (CAN)
Victor HERNANDEZ LUNA (MEX)
Jose AMBROCIO GREIFO (PER)
Shane JONES (PUR)
Evan WICK (USA)

86kg
Jorge LLANO (ARG)
Giovanni GAION (BRA)
Taran GORING (CAN)
Jorge ANDY TIWI (ECU)
Cesar UBICO ESTRADA (GUA)
Kevin DE LEON TREVINO (MEX)
Jesus LANDA CESPEDES (PER)
Ethan RAMOS (PUR)
Zahid VALENCIA (USA)
Steven RODRIGUEZ TORREYES (VEN)

92kg
Andrew JOHNSON (CAN)
Miguel LAVIELLE RAMIREZ (MEX)
Eduardo VEGA GARCIA (PAN)
Edwin MORALES (PUR)
Trent HIDLAY (USA)

97kg
Ricardo BAEZ (ARG)
Ailton BRITO ROCHA (BRA)
Nishan RANDHAWA (CAN)
Arturo SILOT TORRES (CUB)
Juan ITURRIZA RUIZ (MEX)
Justin RADEMACHER (USA)
Cristian SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN)

125kg
Gabriel DE SOUSA SILVA (BRA)
Richard DESCHATELETS (CAN)
Maxwell LACEY GARITA (CRC)
Gino AVILA DILBERT (HON)
Nicolas SANTACRUZ RABAGO (MEX)
Jonovan SMITH (PUR)
Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA)
Jose DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN)