Ranking Series

Punia and Atli Ascend to Top of Freestyle World Rankings After Continental Title Runs

Wednesday, May 1, 2019 - 20:22 By Eric Olanowski

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Hypothetically speaking, with only two Ranking Series events left, it’s only possible for a wrestler to receive 36 Ranking Series points before the World Championships. The most points a wrestler could receive is 18 points per tournament if they were to win gold medals in a bracket with 20+ entries.

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (May 1) -- The five Continental Championships are in our rear view mirror, and six European wrestlers own a No. 1-ranking in the latest set of United World Wrestling’s point-based world rankings. Pan-American countries boast a trio of wrestlers who are ranked No. 1, while Asia has the remaining wrestler sitting atop of the world rankings heading into the final set of freestyle Ranking Series events.

The most significant changes atop this month’s rankings came at 57kg and 65kg where Suleyman ATLI (TUR) and Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) respectively gained control of the world No. 1 ranking with their continental title-winning performances.

Atli Ascends to No. 1 at 57kg 
Turkey’s 24-year-old reigning world bronze medalist Suleyman Atli surged to the 57kg European title and jumped Russia’s 2018 world champion Zavur UGUEV for the No. 1 spot in May’s rankings. Atli heads into the final pair of Ranking Series events with 61 Ranking Series points, giving him a one-point advantage over Uguev, who has 60 points.

Atli and Uguev have built such commanding leads over their nearest competition, they’ll only have to medal at one of the final two Ranking Series events to seal up a top two seed at the World Championships. It’s not clear whether Uguev will make the trip to the Sassari or the Yasar Dogu (the two remaining Ranking Series events), but Atli has confirmed that he’ll compete at July's Yasar Dogu in Istanbul, Turkey. 

The other pair of top-four ranked wrestlers at 57kg are Japan’s Yuki TAKAHASHI and Kazakhstan’s Nurislam (Artas) SANAYEV (SANAA).

Takahashi, the Asian third-place finisher, hopped over 2018 world runner-up Nurislam Sanayev and is ranked third with 41 Ranking Series points.

Although he’s ranked fourth at 57kg, Nurislam Sanayev hasn’t competed at this weight since his run to the Budapest world finals back in October. If Sanayev elects to stay up at the non-Olympic weight of 61kg where he’s been all season, Cuba’s Reineri ANDREU ORTEGA, who is ranked fifth with 36 Ranking Series points, will replace him in the fourth spot.

Potential 57kg Semifinals
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Suleyman ATLI (TUR) vs. No. 4 Nurislam (Artas) SANAYEV (SANAA)
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Zavur UGUEV (RUS) vs. No. 3 Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN)

Bajrang Bags Top Spot After Winning 65kg Asian Title
India’s Bajrang PUNIA was the second wrestler that leveraged his continental championship points to bump into the top spot in this month’s world rankings. Bajrang intercepted the top spot at 65kg from Japan’s defending world champion Takuto OTOGURO after winning his fourth Asian title (two Asain Championships and two Asian Games) with a 12-7 win over Kazakhstan’s Sayatbek OKASSOV last week in Xi’an, China.

Punia, the highest ranked freestyle Asian wrestler in the world, holds 78 Ranking Series points. He has an 18 point advantage over the Otoguro, the man who defeated him in last year’s world finals. Interestingly, Punia has done so well this season and has so much breathing room over the rest of the competition at 65kg that he’s guaranteed himself at least the second seed at the World Championships.

Russia’s two-time world bronze medalist Akhmed CHAKAEV (41 points) and Turkey’s European silver medalist Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (32 points) are the third and fourth-ranked wrestlers at 65kg, respectively.

Potential 65kg Semifinals
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) vs. No. 4 Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR)
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) vs. No. 3 Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS)

Taylor and Yazdani Round Three Brewing at 86kg 
Perhaps the most intriguing weight class that everyone has their eyes on is 86kg.

Currently, Turkey’s world runner-up Fatih ERDIN  (84 points) owns the top spot and sits four points in front of defending world champion David TAYLOR (USA) (80 points). More importantly, Erdin and Taylor both have nearly double the number of points as everyone else at 86kg, meaning the pair can flip flop for the No. 1 seed; but they've both locked up at least a second seed at the World Championships.

If Taylor holds onto the No. 2 ranking until September’s World Championships, the defending world champion will square off against Iran’s world and Olympic champion and third-ranked Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (43 points) in the semifinals.

When the two meet in Nur-Sultan, Taylor will own the upper hand over Yazdani, because the American has come out on top of the pair’s previous two meetings. Taylor stuck Yazdani at the World Cup back in 2016, then clinched an 11-6 come-from-behind victory over “The Greatest” in the opening round of last year’s World Championship.

While we’re on the topic of 86kg, it’s worth noting that Erdin has entered his name into the third Ranking Series event, the Sassari, which takes place later this month in Sardinia, Italy. If he reaches the top of the podium (and there are 20+ entries), Erdin will lock up the No. 1 seed at 86kg and could sit out of the final freestyle Ranking Series event, the Yasar Dogu.

Potential 86kg Semifinals
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Fatih ERDIN (TUR) vs. No. 4 Taimuraz FRIEV NASKIDAEVA (ESP)
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 David TAYLOR (USA) vs. No. 3 Hassan YAZDANI (IRI)

Big Move Bonne Remains the Top-Ranked Wrestler at 61kg 
“Big Move Bonne” fell short in the Pan-American Championships and settled for 16 Ranking Series points after collecting a silver medal, but remained the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the world at 61kg. The man who won the Pan-American title at 61kg, Joe COLON (USA), comes in as the No. 2 wrestler in the world with 53 Ranking Series points.

Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS), who is currently ranked No. 3 at 61kg with 40 Ranking Series points, has moved up to 65kg.

Rashidov's departure frees up the third slot, meaning Beka LOMTADZE (GEO), who has 38 Ranking Series points, will command the third place spot. Romania’s Nikolai OKHLOPKOV (ROU), who has 28 Ranking Series point will move into the fourth slot.

Potential 61kg Semifinals
SEMIFINALS – No. 1 Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ vs. No. 4 Beka LOMTADZE (GEO)
SEMIFINALS – No. 2 Joseph Daniel COLON vs. No. 3 Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS)

Gazimagomedov Gets Bronze at Europeans, Still No. 1 
At 70kg, Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV locked up the No. 1 seed at the 2019 World Championships after amassing 92 Ranking Series points, which is 52 points more than Bahrain’s second-ranked Adam BATIROV, who has since moved up to 74kg.

With Batirov competing up at 74kg, the rush for the No. 2 seed becomes the focus at this weight. Right now, Ukraine’s Andriy KVYATKOVSKYY (30 points) will move up to the No. 2 spot, with Devid SAFARYAN (ARM) (26 points) and Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) (25 points) falling into the third and fourth spots respectively.

Potential 70kg Semifinals
SEMIFINALS – No. 1 Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) vs. No. 4 Devid SAFARYAN (ARM)
SEMIFINALS – No. 2 Adam BATIROV (BRN) vs. No. 3 Andriy KVYATKOVSKYY (UKR)

Sidakov Sits out of Europeans, Remains No.1 at 74kg
Although Russia’s reigning 74kg world champion Zaurbek SIDAKOV missed the European Championships, he remains the world’s top-ranked wrestler at 74kg. Sidakov has earned 76 Ranking Series points, 60 of which came from winning the Budapest World Championship points and 16 came from his gold-medal performance at the Ivan Yariguin.

America’s world bronze medalist Jordan BURROUGHS is the second-ranked wrestler in the world at this weight. Burroughs, who is coming off winning his fifth Pan-American title, has accumulated 63 Ranking Series points.

The third and fourth-ranked wrestlers at 74kg are Georgia’s world runner-up Avtandil KENTCHADZE (58 points) and Italian superstar Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ  (56 points), who won the 74kg European title in Bucharest. 

If the rankings stay the same until the World Championships, Sidakov and Chamizo will wrestle in semifinals on the top side of the bracket, and Burroughs and Kentchadze will scrap it out for a spot in the finals on the bottom side of the bracket.

Potential 74kg Semifinals
SEMIFINALS – No. 1 Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) vs. Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA)
SEMIFINALS – No. 2 Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) vs. No. 3 Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO)

Dake and Hasanov Tied After Continental Championships 
Even though he didn’t compete at the Pan-American Championships, world champion Kyle DAKE (USA) retained his No. 1 ranking at 79kg with 60 Ranking Series points.

The second-ranked wrestler at 79kg is European champion and 2018 world runner-up Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE). Hasanov also has 60 Ranking Series points heading into the final two Ranking Series events, but Dake placed higher in Budapest, giving him the upper hand on the Azeri in the rankings.

Hasanov recently announced that he'd be dropping down to the Olympic weight of 74kg for the 2019 World Championships, and ultimately, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, which will eventually move him out of the rankings at 79kg. Benefiting the most from Hasanov's move will be Russia’s Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (57 points), who is ranked third at the moment. Gadzhimagomedov will be relocated to the second seed for the Nur-Sultan World Championships.  

Nika KENTCHADZE (GEO) (28 points) and PUREVJAV Unurbat (MGL) (26 points) will also receive a bump from Hasanov’s move and will slide into the third and fourth spots respectively.

Potential 79kg Semifinals
SEMIFINALS – No. 1 Kyle DAKE (USA) vs. No. 4 Nika KENTCHADZE (GEO)
SEMIFINALS – No. 2 Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE) vs. No. 3 Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS)

Cox Continues to Widen Gap, Holds 33 Point Advantage After Pan-Am Championships
At 92kg, the United States’ reigning world champion J'Den COX (USA) (78 points) retains his No. 1 ranking after winning the Pan-American Championships. With only 36 available points available for the rest of this weight class to earn, and Cox commanding the 33 point lead, he’s at least locked up a top-three seed in Nur-Sultan. 

Iran’s Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (45 points), who won his fourth Asian title (two Asian Championships and two Asian Games), edged Russia’s Ivan Yariguin gold medalist Magomed KURBANOV (44 points) for the second spot in this month's rankings. 

The fourth-ranked wrestler at this weight is Japan's world and Asian bronze medalist Atsushi MATSUMOTO (41 points).

Potential 92kg Semifinals
SEMIFINALS – No. 1 J'Den COX vs. No. 4 Atsushi MATSUMOTO (JPN)
SEMIFINALS – No. 2 Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) vs. No. 3 Magomed KURBANOV (RUS)

Sadulaev Stays No.1 at 97kg
The “Russian Tank” Abdulrashid SADULAEV (80 Ranking Series points) soared to the top of the European podium and kept his grasp on the No. 1 ranking at 97kg with a two-point advantage over “Captain America” Kyle SNYDER (USA). Snyder, who was last year’s world silver medalist, won the Pan-American Championships and the Dan Kolov and has 78 Ranking Series points.

This means that Sadulaev and Snyder have both at least locked up a top-three seed at 97kg.

Mongolia’s Asian runner-up ULZIISAIKHAN Batzul, who has 44 points, is quietly sticking around with Sadulaev and Snyder and is the only wrestler that could sneak in to gain at least the second seed. For the Mongolian wrestler to do so, he’d have to win the two remaining Ranking Series tournaments.

The fourth-ranked wrestler at 97kg is Georgia's world and European bronze medalist Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO), who has 41 points. 

Potential 97kg Semifinals
SEMIFINALS – No. 1 Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) vs. No. 4 Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO)
SEMIFINALS – No. 2 Kyle SNYDER (USA) vs. No. 3 Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)

Despite European Finals Loss, Petriashvili Still No. 1
Despite falling in the European finals, two-time reigning world champion Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) still commands the top spot at 125kg. The Georgian big man has 88 Ranking Series points, which will guarantee him at least a top-two seed at the World Championships.

The second-ranked wrestler at 125kg is China’s 2018 world runner-up DENG Zhiwei, who has 77 Ranking Series points. Deng is coming off a second-place finish at the Asian Championships in his home country of China. 

Anzor KHIZRIEV (RUS) and Taha AKGUL (TUR) each have 50 Ranking Series points, but the tiebreaker goes to the wrestler who placed higher at the 2018 World Championships. In this case, Khizriev grabs the third spot because of his fifth-place finish in Budapest compared to Akgul’s seventh-place finish a season ago.

If the rankings remain the same until the 2019 World Championships, This means that Petriashvili and Akgul will meet in the semifinals. Between the two, they have won

Potential 125kg Semifinals
SEMIFINALS – No. 1 Geno PETRIASHVILI vs. No. 4 Taha AKGUL (TUR) 
SEMIFINALS – No. 2 Zhiwei DENG vs. No. 3 Anzor KHIZRIEV (RUS) 

The full set of updated freestyle world rankings can be found on www.unitedworldwrestling.org 's homepage. 

#WrestleTirana

Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series Day 3 Finals Set

Friday, February 28, 2025 - 10:08 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (February 28) -- Muhamet Malo Ranking Series enters day three with four Women's Wrestling and two Greco-Roman weight classes. Olympic champion Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) will be in action at GR 87kg alongwith silver medalist Alireza MOHAMADIPIANI (IRI) and both are on collision course as well. Other Paris Olympic medalist in action are Grace BULLEN (NOR) at WW 62kg and Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) at WW 65kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 2 RESULTS

16:45: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) will look to avenge her round-robin loss to Irina RINGACI (MDA) as she wins her semifinal against Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) to enter the gold medal bout. Koliadenko, a Paris silver medalist at 62kg, was 1-0 at the break after Morikawa's inactivity. But Morikawa launched a huge but sloppy double-leg to score four points at the start of the second period to lead 4-1. Koliadenko was put on activity clock but did not score which gave a point to Morikawa. Koliadenko then scored a takedown with a minute left to cut the lead to 5-3. Morikawa answered with another stepout and led 6-3, the winning score.

Irina RINGACI (MDA) won 10-0 over Aleah NICKEL (CAN). She finished the bout with an ankle pick for four. Ringaci won the round-robin bout against Morikawa 6-5. They both go against each other in about three hours time.

16:30: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) sees off Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) in the 59kg semifinal. She scored a takedown, stepout before Vynnyk was docked for cautioned for locking Onishi's neck. From forced par terre, Onishi used the head between legs to roll Vynnyk twice and make it 8-0. Vynnyk scored exposure using chestwrap but it was scored two for Onishi as she never got turned. Ukraine challenged the decision and won which made it 8-2 at the break. Vynnyk was docked a caution for blocking Onishi who finished the match with an ankle pick four-pointer on the edge. She won 13-2.

Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) survived an onslaught from Bediha GUN (TUR) in the final 30 seconds to win 4-4 in the other semifinal. Down 4-0, Gun scored a takedown and was awarded a caution point. Another takeodwn made it 4-4 but she could not get another point as Sidelnikova won 4-4 through points via bigger technique (2+2).

16:20: Idris IBAEV (GER) enters the 77kg final after beating Kodai SAKURABA (JPN) in an action-filled match. He got the par terre in first period and turned Sakuraba who also committed a foul. A stepout was awarded to Ibaev on review which made his lead 6-0. Sakuraba wasn't focused as he walked out of the zone thinking he has scored a stepout but Ibaev got the points. He then tried a headlock which Ibaev defended and scored four points. Japan challenged the call and won as it was a risk by Sakaruba who managed to get on board with a pushout. Ibaev challenged and got the pushout point as Sakuraba's hand was out before him.

Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ) will face Ibaev in the final after he defeated Per Albin OLOFSSON (SWE) 6-1. Maksatbek Uulu blocked Olofsson from par terre and led 2-1 at the break. In the second period, Olofsson was about to take Maksatbek Uulu but lost his balance and the Kyrgyz scored a takedown which Olofsson challenged and lost. With a 5-1 lead, Maksatbek Uulu got a passivity call to make it 6-1 and won.

16:00: We have the 87kg finalists in Greco-Roman! Paris silver medalist Alireza MOHAMMADIPIANI (IRI) and David LOSONCZI (HUN) will wrestle for gold. Mohammadipiani with an impressive win -- 6-1 over Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB). He got the par terre advantage and turned Komarov twice to lead 5-0 at break. Komarov got his par terre chance in the second period but failed to score from the position and Mohammadipiani defended for the rest of the match to win and enter the final.

Losonczi brought his motor to the semifinal against Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) and led 2-1 at the break with two stepouts. Sterkenburg was cautioned for a move against bone joints and docked two points. He challenged and lost another as Losonczi led 5-1. Sterkenburg was called passive which added another point to Losonczi's score before a stepout added another for a 7-1 win for Losonczi and a place in the final. 

15:50: World champion Ami ISHII (JPN) marches on to the 68kg final. Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) scored the first takedown but Ishii with a reversal and then two turns to make it 5-2. Ishii counters an attempt to make it 7-2 at the break. Ishii continues attacking the legs of Zelenykh and finally gets a takedown with traparm and rolls Zelenykh twice to win 13-2.

Zelu LI (CHN) will be her opponent in the final after the Chinese laced her way to a 10-0 win over Noémi SZABADOS (HUN).

15:40: First semifinals of the day! Women's Wrestling 62kg has three Paris Olympians out of the four semifinalists. The only one not from Paris, LILI (CHN), takes out bronze medalist Grace BULLEN (NOR) and books her spot in the final. Bullen got a takedown and turn before Lili scored reversal and lace. Bullen led 4-3 and Lili scored another takedown and turn to make 7-4. Bullen get the gap to 7-5 with a stepout but Bullen couldn't break the defense and lost 8-3. Lili will face Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) for the gold medal who defeated  Anne NUERNBERGER (GER) in the other semifinal. Dudova led 3-0 at the break and then scored a takedown and gut wrench to make it 7-0. Solid snapdowns in the match from Dudova as she added another takedown before countering an attack to win 11-0.

15:25: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) with a different approach in the match against Abigail NETTE (USA). With a more cautious approach, Onishi was shut down by Nette who led 1-0 at the break for Onishi's passivity. But Onishi comes out blazing in the second and score 10 straight points using head in the middle. A takedown makes it 12-1 as Onishi advances at 59kg.

15:20: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) books herself a semifinal with Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) at 65kg. Morikawa with a 3-0 win over Yuqi RAO (CHN).

15:05: Back to Women's Wrestling, and Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) with a 34 second technical superiority win over Aleah NICKEL (CAN) at 65kg. She top her group with that win and enters the semifinal in which she likely to face Miwa MORIKAWAN (JPN).

14:55: Paris Olympic final rematch at Greco-Roman 87kg between Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) and Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI). Novikov had blanked Mohamadipiani 7-0 in the final in Paris. An aggressive start from Mohammadi and he gets a par terre but no score. He leads 1-0 at the break. A stepout and takedown to make it 4-0 in the second period. He is awarded the par terre for his active wrestling to lead 5-0 but he can't score from there. Mohammadi shuts Novikov down completely and wins 5-0. He celebrates with an acknowledgement from the coach.

14:42: Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) scored a takedown and three turns after Muhutdin SARICICEK (TUR) got the par terre and he wins 9-2 at 87kg. A machine from par terre.

14:40: World champion at 72kg Ami ISHII (JPN) is back at 68kg for the Ranking Series. She begins her campaign with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Greda BARTH (GER).

14:30: Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) isn't giving Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) any last-second points this time as in Zagreb. Down 4-2, Dudova scores a takedown and then an exposure when Nwachukwu tries to hold on to her 4-4 criteria lead in last 10 seconds to win 6-4. Nwachukwu scored a takedown in the final five seconds in Zagreb to beat Dudova.

14:15: Irina RINGACI (MDA) with a 10-0 technical superiority and Grace BULLEN (NOR) with a fall in their respective bouts at 65kg and 62kg.

14:10: U20 world champion Sakura ONISHI (JPN) with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Bediha GUN (TUR) in Round 2 of 59kg. She is the favorite to win the gold medal

13:35: Alireza MOHAMADIPIANI (IRI), who lost to Novikov in the Paris final, begins with a solid 8-0 win over Tamas LEVAI (HUN) at 87kg. Mohamadipiani got the part terre and turned Levai, who locked Mohamadipiani's neck which is a foul. Hungary challenged the call but lost. With a 6-0 lead, Mohamadipiani turned Levai once to win 8-0

13:30: Olympic champion Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) is into the quarterfinal at 87kg after beating Istvan TAKACS (HUN). He got a turn from par terre to lead 3-0 at the break. Novikov keeps the pressure in the second period and scores a stepout before getting the second par terre as well. No points but enough for Novikov to win 5-0.

13:20: Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) with another 8-0 technical superiority. A stepout, first par terre and four turns to beat Artur OVSEPYAN (UKR) and advance to the 87kg quarterifinals.

13:15: Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) up against Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) at 87kg 1/8 final. He scores the opening takedown to be 2-0 up. Georgia challenge but lose. Sterkenburg gets par terre advantage to make it 4-0 but no turn from par terre. Sterkenburg with a strong start in the second and scores a stepout. Bolkvadze tries a headlock but falls on his back and Sterkenburg gets the fall.

13:10: Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) was woken up by Albina DRAZHI (ALB) with the first takedown of their 65kg bout but Koliadenko works her way back and scores 12-2 technical superiority win in Round 1 at 65kg. 

13:00: Irina RINGACI (MDA) and Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) faced off in the 2021 World Championships final which Ringaci won. Four years later, they meet in Round 1 of 65kg in Tirana. Ringaci on the holds straightaway and she scores a takedown and a turn to lead 4-0. Morikawa is more active in the second period but a scramble results in Ringaci landing on top to take the lead 6-0. Morikawa keeps going but Ringaci split defense keeps her at bay before Morikawa scores exposure for two. Another leg elevation from Morikawa for a takedown to make it 6-4 with 17 seconds left. A double leg from Morikawa but Ringaci decides to run out of bounds than give a losing takedown. 6-5 with 6 seconds remaining. Japan challenge the call. Morikawa has no control over Ringaci during stepout. It's only one point and Japan lose the challenge, giving Ringaci a 7-5 lead. She defends the lead for the six seconds to win 7-5. They both can still meet in the final as 65kg is in Nelson system.

12:40: World champion at 59kg in 2023, Qi ZHANG (CHN) was down 8-0 against Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) but mounts a comeback. Zhang with a stepout, a takedown and exposure to make it 8-5 at the break. A caution against Tandelova made it 8-6. A takedown for Zhang but a double leg takedown from Tandelova to make it 10-8. As Zhang tries another attack, Tandelova counters for another two points. She wins 12-8 at 62kg.

12:30: That was quick from Grace BULLEN (NOR). The Paris bronze medalist beats Sara LINDBORG (SWE) 10-0 inside two minutes at 62kg.  

12:25: Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) with all those counter attacks to beat Nikolett SZABO (HUN) 9-0 at 62kg. Dudova led only 1-0 at the break but as Szabo tried to score in the second, Dudova continued to counter those attacks.

12:00: Olympic champion Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) gets former U23 world champion Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) in the first round. Novikoc with a stepout to open the scoring. He turns Mukubu from par terre to lead 4-0. Excellent defense from Mukubu after the first turn. Mukubu begins the second period with a takedown. Novikov was pushing Mukubu towards the zone but Mukubu sneaked and scored a go-behind takedown. Then gets the par terre to make the score 4-3. Novikov blocks the turn attempt and score a gut-wrench to lead 8-3. Novikov wins 8-3.

11:52: Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) with a quick 8-0 technical superiority win over Jiaxin HUANG (CHN). A takedown and gut wrench for Komarov.

11:50: U20 world champion Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) gets a taste of senior level competition as Muhutdin SARICICEK (TUR) beats him 6-2 in the opening round at 87kg. Zhanyshov gets thrown for four from bodylock and is down 5-0. Both wrestlers exchange stepouts and Saricicek leads 6-1 at the break. A stepout from Zhanyshov in the second period is all he got as Saricicek wins 6-2.

11:45: Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO), one of the three Georgian wrestlers at 87kg, runs into Soh SAKABE (JPN) in the opening round. Sakabe gets the first par terre advantage but Bolkvadze blocks the turn and leads 2-1 at the break. Bolkvadze manages a throw from par terre in the second period to lead 7-1. Sakabe with a headlock throw and is awarded two and one point for reversal for Bolkvadze. Japan challenge for four. But on review, all the points are removed as no one landed in danger. A 7-1 win for Bolkvadze.

11:30: Another rainy day here in Tirana. But wrestlers are ready for day three of the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series with 59kg, 62kg, 65kg and 68kg in Women's Wrestling and 77kg and 87kg in Greco-Roman.