Military C'Ships

Ramonov Wins Gold, Russia Takes Seven Titles at Military C’ships

By Ali Feizasa

Olympic and world champion Soslan RAMONOV (RUS) captured 70kg title at 2018 Freestyle World Military championships as Russia team earned seven gold medals to win team title. While, two gold medals went to Iran and Mongolia took one.

The host team Russia failed to earn gold in light weights as Mehran REZAZADEH (IRI) took 57k gold medal and KHASHERDENE (MGL) succeed to beat Dmitrii AKSENOV (RUS) in the final match to win 61kg top spot.

But Russian started to sweep gold medals from 65kg. Nachyn KUULAR (RUS) defeated Hyeon Sik SONG (KOR) by FALL in 65kg finale and RAMONOV grabbed 70kg title.

RAMONOV (RUS) downed Alexander SEMISOROW (GER), 12-5 in the final match to repeat his last year’s title in World Military Championships.

Zaurbek SIDAKOV gave the host team third gold medal, defeating Iranian Hamed RASHIDI, 11-3 in 74kg final bout.

In 79kg, 2015 world champion Khetik TSABOLOV (RUS) beat Bahman TEIMOURI (IRI) by Technical Fall, 12-2 to compensate recent deficit in European championships. TSABOLOV scored 10 points against two points of Iranian rival in first period and added two more points in second period to earn Technical Fall victory.

86kg gold medal went to Magomed RAMAZANOV (RUS) which downed Kanan ALIYEV (AZE), 6-4.

Iurii BELONOVSKII (RUS) bagged sixth gold for Russian, winning Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ), 8-3 to earn 92kg top spot.

Just a few days after achieving European gold medal, Vladislav BAITCAEV (RUS) doubled in a month defeating Amir MOHAMMADI (IRI), in 97kg final match.

BAITCAEV scored six points in first period and added two point more in second period to take gold by 8-2 victory against Iranian team member in Paris World Championships.

Yadollah MOHEBI, a 2017 Asian champion, stopped consecutive victories of Russian in the finals and took gold medal in heavy weight by defeating Nurzhan OMIRBEKOV (KAZ). MOHEBI who placed second in Iran team trials just a week ago, downed OMIRBEKOV by technical fall 10-0 victory.

MOHEBI was second gold medal winner of Iran in Freestyle Military World Championships

2018 FR World Military World Championships team standings:

1- Russia 225 pts (7 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze)
2- Iran 163 pts (2 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze)
3- Kazakhstan 117 pts (2 silver, 5 bronze)
4- Azerbaijan 109 pts (1 silver, 3 bronze)
5- Mongolia (1 gold, 1 bronze)

Results:

57kg

GOLD- Mehran REZAZADEH (IRI) df. Un Gwang PAK (PRK), 4-3
BRONZE- Azamat TUSKAEV (RUS) df. Afqan KHASHALOV (AZE), 2-1
BRONZE- Sung Gwon KIM (KOR) df. Horst LEHR (GER), 5-0

61kg

GOLD- B. KHASHERDENE (MGL) df. Dmitrii AKSENOV (RUS), 9-4
BRONZE- Mohammad NAMJOOMOTLAGH (IRI) df. Adrian VOCK (SUI), 11-2
BRONZE- Yeldos ABIKENOV (KAZ) df. Zhenguang TIAN (CHN), by FALL

65kg

GOLD- Nachyn KUULAR (RUS) df. Hyeon Sik SONG (KOR), by FALL
BRONZE- Ilman MUKHTAROV (FRA) df. MUHAMMAD (PAK) by TF, 10-0
BRONZE- Aghahuseyn MUSTAFAYEV (AZE) df. Peiman BIABANI (IRI), by FALL

70kg

GOLD- Soslan RAMONOV (RUS) df. Alexander SEMISOROW (GER), 12-5
BRONZE- B. BVAMBADORJ (MGL) df. Mazen KADMANI (SYR) by TF, 10-0
BRONZE- Azamat SHGAPULY (KAZ) df. Yazdan SANAEI (IRI), 7-5

74kg

GOLD- Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) df. Hamed RASHIDI (IRI), 11-3
BRONZE-Baibolsyn KURMANBEKOV (KAZ) df. Johann STEINFORTH (GER) by TF, 12-1
BRONZE- Joshqun AZIMOV (AZE) df. Botond LUKACS (HUN) by TF, 10-0

79kg

GOLD- Khetik TSABOLOV (RUS) df. Bahman TEIMOURI (IRI) by TF, 12-2
BRONZE- Galymzhan USERBAYEV (KAZ) df. Orkhan ABASOV (AZE), 5-3
BRONZE- Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) df. Mohamad FEPACASTA (SYR) by TF, 11-0

86kg

GOLD- Magomed RAMAZANOV (RUS) df. Kanan ALIYEV (AZE), 6-4
BRONZE- Stefan REICHMUTH (SUI) df. Adil IRSHAD (PAK) by TF, 10-0
BRONZE- Nurdaulet KOKTEUBAEV (KAZ) df. CH. USUKHBAYAR (MGL), 7-3

92kg

GOLD- Iurii BELONOVSKII (RUS) df. Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ), 8-3
BRONZE- Gabor HATOS (HUN) df. Askhab HAMZATOV (AZE), 2-1
BRONZE- Ivan YANKOUSKI (BLR) df. Arashk MOHEBI (IRI), 9-2

97kg

GOLD- Vladislav BAITCAEV (RUS) df. Amir MOHAMMADI (IRI), 8-2
BRONZE-Dzianis KHRAMTANKOU (BLR) df. Mohammed FARDJ (AKG) by TF, 12-2
BRONZE- Roman BAKIROV (AZE) df. Saasaa VICTOR JULIAN (COL) by TF, 10-0

125kg

GOLD- Yaduollah MOHEBI (IRI) df. Nurzhan OMIRBEKOV (KAZ) by TF, 10-0
BRONZE- Raja ALKARAD (SYR) df. Hamza HALOVI (ALG) by TF, 10-0
BRONZE- Alan KHUGAEV (RUS) df. Zhiwei DENG (CHN), 2-1

#WrestleBudapest

Budapest Ranking Series 2026: Greco-Roman Storylines to Watch

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 13) -- Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Russia, Turkiye, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan are among the countries bringing full Greco-Roman squads for the Budapest Wrestling Ranking Series, scheduled from July 15 to 19.

Among the many stars and storylines that will be played out in Budapest, a few will be under extra spotlight. Here's what to watch in Greco-Roman at the final Ranking Series stop for the year:

Wrestling UWW+

Evloev Returns After 5 Years

Musa EVLOEV (RUS) was among the best wrestlers in the world and he confirmed that by winning the 97kg Greco-Roman gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. A two-time world champion, Evloev was at the peak of his career from 2018 to 2021.

After losing to legend Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) at the 2017 World Championships, Evloev went on an unbeaten run. He defeated Aleksayan in the 2018 World Championships final, 2020 Individual World Cup and the Tokyo final.

However, Evloev has not competed since. He made his comeback at the Benur Pashayan Memorial held in Armenia, but lost his first bout, 3-2, to U23 world champion Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM).

In Budapest, Evloev would be keen on addressing his shortcomings and getting used to competing, especially under new Greco-Roman rules.

In addition to Khloyan, world bronze medalist Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE), two German young stars Darius KIEFER (GER) and Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER), European medalist Alex SZOKE (HUN), Asian silver medalist NITESH (IND), former U20 world champion Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ), and Olympic bronze medalist Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) are also in the entries.

Uzbekistan's Top Team

Uzbekistan is bringing a strong squad to Budapest led by world champion Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB). Since winning the 63kg gold last year, Khalmakhanov has moved up to 67kg and won the Zagreb Open and U23 Asian Championships.

He will now face the 67kg field in Budapest that includes European medalist Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM), U23 world champion Mohamed ABDELREHIM (EGY), European medalist Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO), among others.

World silver medalist Alisher GANIEV (UZB) is also in a tough bracket at 60kg. Olympic medalist Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) will be at 60kg after a stint at 63kg at the Ulaabaatar Open in which he lost a group bout but still won gold.

Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) and Nihad GULUZADE (AZE) both will be tough opponents for Ganiev, who is be joined by compatriot Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB). Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (RUS) and Sadyk LALAEV (RUS) too, can cause trouble.

Uzbekistan, perhaps to select teams for the World Championships and the Asian Games, have entered two wrestlers in almost all weights. At 77kg, world medalist Abdullo ALIEV (UZB) and Asian medalist Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB) will be up against some big names.

Former U20 world champion Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) has moved up to 77kg while age-group world champion Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO) will be making his senior debut. Hungary has entered three wrestlers, Robert FRITSCH (HUN), Levente LEVAI (HUN) and Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), making the field even deeper.

Others at 77kg include Idris IBAEV (GER), Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA), Ali ARSALAN (SRB) and Joel ADAMS (USA).

Can Cengiz Challenge?

Since finishing 10th at the Paris Olympics, former world champion Ali CENGIZ (TUR) has not been competing. He will mark his return in Budapest at 87kg, but can he challenge the young field after his two-year absence?

Asian champion Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) will be his biggest test apart from the three Hungarian hammers Tamas LEVAI (HUN), Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) and Istvan TAKACS (HUN).

Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) is also entered in the bracket and can make a run to the gold medal on his day.

Battles Everywhere

At 82kg, Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) will be up against old nemesis Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ), the Paris Olympic silver medalist who shattered Makhmudov's dreams of winning a gold medal.

Asian champion and Qatar history-maker Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) at 82kg will be among the wrestlers eyeing gold in Budapest. A win here will make him one of the favorites to win gold in Astana. Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) is also entered.

Kerem KAMAL (TUR) will have his task cut out at 63kg against Asian champion Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ), European champion Sergey EMELIN (RUS) and Zhambolat LOKYAEV (RUS), who will also wrestle for the first time since 2021.

At 130kg, most countries have gone with two wrestlers. Laszlo DARABOS (HUN) and Darius VITEK (HUN) are medal contenders at home. Kazakhstan has gone with Olzhas SYRLYBAY (KAZ) and Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ).

Former European champion Sergei SEMENOV (RUS) is back and will battle youngster Marat KAMPAROV (RUS) as both seek places on Russia's World Championships team. The United States has gone with three wrestlers, Aden ATTAO (USA), Adam COON (USA) and Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA).