#WrestleZagreb

Ramazanov makes golden debut at Zagreb Open; Nolf, Aman champs

Thursday, January 11, 2024 - 00:17 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (January 10) -- Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) has had a busy week. After winning the Bulgarian Championships on Friday, he traveled to Germany for the Bundesliga and won. On Wednesday, he made his way through a tough 86kg bracket to win the Zagreb Open.

"I’ve already wrestled 11 bouts this week and I still have one more left this Saturday," Ramazanov said. "I was out for two years so it’s not a problem for me to wrestle even daily, because I am really hungry and want to participate in more tournaments."

Making his international debut for Bulgaria, Russian transfer Ramazanov won five bouts in Zagreb to clinch the gold medal and put his name in the hat at 86kg seven months before the Paris Olympics.

Ramazanov's run in Zagreb began with a win over Ethan RAMOS (PUR), followed by victories over Maxwell DEAN (USA), Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) and Chandler MARSTELLER (USA).

From the other side, two-time world bronze medalist Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) was dominating proceedings, having opened the day with a 6-2 win over Deepak PUNIA (UWW). He reached the final with three technical superiority wins over Valentyn BABII (UKR), Evsem SHVELIDZE (GEO) and Matthew FINESILVER (ISR).

Dauletbekov looked set to beat Ramazanov as he led 5-0 at the break but the second period saw a different Ramazanov as he scored single-leg takedowns to lead 6-5 with 45 seconds remaining in the final.

This shocked Dauletbekov who was struggling with his conditioning. Once Ramazanov felt that he had broken Dauletbekov, he piled up his attacks, winning 8-5.

"The final match was a little difficult, my opponent was experienced," he said. "That’s why I had to prepare seriously for that match. In the first period, I was behind but in the second period I went all in and turned the tide of the match."

Ramazamov would like to carry this form into his Saturday's Bundesliga bout and the European Championships which begins a month later in Bucharest, Romania.

Jason NOLF (USA)Jason NOLF (USA) pins Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) in the 74kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Jason NOLF (USA) defended his 74kg gold medal with an impressive show throughout the day. Hossein ABOUZARIPASHKOLAEI (IRI) was the second Iranian wrestler who tried to stop Nolf from winning the gold medal. Yones EMAMI (IRI) was in the final last year but Abouzaripashkolaei defeated him 4-4 in the quarterfinals to advance.

Celebrating his 28th birthday on Wednesday, Nolf was slow to start in the final and allowed Abouzaripashkolaei to get the first activity point at the break. But the second period saw Nolf's ascend as he scored takedowns with ease. A 10-1 scoreline in his favor meant that he added a second Zagreb Open gold.

In the semifinals, Nolf pinned European champion Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) in just 35 seconds.

"I am satisfied with my performance," Nolf said. "Whenever I can give 100 percent on the mat, I feel happy."

Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM)Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) scores on Joseph MCKENNA (USA) in the 65kg quarterfinals. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 65kg, Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) won the gold medal after Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) pulled out injured. Tevanyan had earlier avenged his World Championships semifinal loss to Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) and was looking to challenge Amouzad.

Amouzad secured his spot on the Iran Olympic team as he defeated Abbas EBRAHIMZADEH (IRI) 12-4 in the semifinals to settle the debate.  

Tevenyan defeated Joseph MC KENNA (USA) 5-2 in the quarterfinals before humbling Riveria 9-1 which included a remarkable four-point throw.

AMAN (IND)AMAN (UWW) improved on his bronze-medal finish from last year and won gold at 57kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Improving on his bronze-medal finish from last year, AMAN (UWW) won the gold at 57kg after four technical superiority wins in as many bouts. In the final, the Asian champion took on Wanhao ZOU (CHN) and never gave the slightest of chances to the Chinese wrestler. Winning 10-0, Aman improved on the previous win over Zou which was 7-4 in the Asian Championships semifinals.

His other wins included 15-4 over Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR), 11-0 over Zane RICHARDS (USA) and 11-0 over Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO) in the semifinal.

Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL)Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL) defeated Andrii DZHELEP (UKR) in the 61kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

At 61kg, Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL) returned to competition after more than two years and surprised everyone by winning the gold medal over Andrii DZHELEP (UKR), 9-2.

Erdenbat had traveled to Zagreb to help his ward Zane RICHARDS (USA) at 57kg. While he won the gold medal, Richards lost to Aman and failed to win the bronze medal as well.

In an all-Georgia final at 70kg, Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO) managed to hand Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO) a 7-4 defeat.

 

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RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: AMAN (UWW) df. Wanhao ZOU (CHN), 10-0

BRONZE: Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR) df. Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO), via fall (14-5)
BRONZE: Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) df. Horst LEHR (GER), 3-1. 
by VPO1, 3 - 1

61kg
GOLD: Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL) df. Andrii DZHELEP (UKR), 9-2

BRONZE: Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) df. Joseph SILVA (PUR), 4-2
BRONZE: Nuraddin NOVRUZOV (AZE) df. Daniel POPOV (ISR), 7-3

65kg
GOLD: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) df. Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI), via inj. def. 

BRONZE: Joseph MC KENNA (USA) df. Sebastian C RIVERA (PUR), 10-0
BRONZE: Abbas EBRAHIMZADEH (IRI) df. Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR), 10-0

70kg
GOLD: Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO) df. Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO), 7-4

BRONZE: Douglas ZAPF (USA) df. Marc DIETSCHE (SUI), 13-2

74kg
GOLD: Jason NOLF (USA) df. Hossein ABOUZARIPASHKOLAEI (IRI), 10-1

BRONZE: Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) df. Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE), 4-1
BRONZE: Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) df. Tobias PORTMANN (SUI), 5-3

86kg
GOLD: Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) df. Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ), 8-5

BRONZE: Chandler MARSTELLER (USA) df. Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE), 5-0
BRONZE: Evsem SHVELIDZE (GEO) df. Matthew FINESILVER (ISR), 7-3

#WrestleTirana

Proud to Break Karelin's Record: Says Kayaalp After 13th European Gold

Tuesday, April 21, 2026 - 21:34 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (April 21) -- Soon after he broke Aleksandr KARELIN's record of 12 European Championships gold medals, Riza KAYAALP (TUR) was asked to go through the journey of winning 13 European gold medals in his career.

Kayaalp gave a smirk before going on to replay his journey from his first European Championships title in 2010.

"When you look back, you realize you’ve made 15 finals," Kayaalp said after winning the 130kg gold medal in Tirana. "Back then, I was just thinking whether I could win one or two medals. But then, making the final every time at the European Championships, it’s like a child being born and growing up to 15 years old.

"That’s how long this journey has been. It’s difficult. It requires great consistency. It requires respect for what you do."

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READ MORE: Kayaalp's 13 - New Gold Standard in Europe

Kayaalp's consistency led him to 15 European Championships finals from which he won 13, taking him past Karelin's record. Apart from 2026, Kayaalp won gold in 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2010.

"It’s an incredible feeling," he said. "This was my 15th final, and in my 15th final, I achieved my 13th title. I truly believe I’ve set a record that will be very difficult to break. This title is especially valuable to me because achieving such long-term and consistent success -- especially in Europe, where there are very strong nations -- is not easy. I’m very proud to have broken such a big record."

READ MORE: Riza KAYAALP Breaks Karelin's 26-Year Old Record 

Wrestling Tirana for the record, Kayaalp won four bouts, including a 1-1 criteria win against Marat KAMPAROV (UWW) in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW) bruised Kayaalp with aggressive wrestling.

"The matches were not easy. I had tough matches," he said. "One of my matches ended 1–1. In the semifinal, I can say I was subjected to some disrespect from a strong opponent in a very intense bout. But compared to those, the final match was more meaningful for me."

WATCH: All of Kayaalp's 13 European Gold Medals

But the final followed a different script as Kayaalp used his gut-wrench to beat Darius VITEK (HUN), 7-1, and finally claim the gold after falling short in 2024 and missing the tournament in 2025.

"When it became 7-0, well, I’m an athlete who doesn’t like to concede points," he said. "I don’t like giving points away, so I managed to protect that score. I can say I went through the second period quite comfortably, and having a 7–0 lead helped."

The 16-year dominance in Europe has taken a big part of Kayaalp's career but the five-time world champion believes that his commitment sets an example for the young wrestlers in Turkiye. 

"This comes from the respect I have for wrestling," he said. "If I’m going to do this, I have to do it at the highest level. I believe this success came because I always aimed to be the best. I’ve always done it with love.

"There are tens of thousands of wrestlers in Turkiye. We’ve been able to set an example for them. That’s very important. There are also many people around the world who look up to us."

WATCH: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) vs Darius VITEK (HUN)

Though they were not present in Tirana, Kayaalp dedicated his title to his wife and daughter. He shared that when he was away from wrestling, his daughter would pray for his return to the mat.

"[I want to dedicate this medal] to my wife and daughters, who have always been by my side through both good and bad times," he said. "To my family, to my father, to everyone who loves us, to my coaches, my fellow athletes, and to the Turkish people. I dedicate this great success to all of them."