#DanKolov2019

Russia and India Lead Dan Kolov After Day Two

By Eric Olanowski

RUSE, Bulgaria (March 1) – lias BEKBULATOV and Magomed KURBANOV won the 70kg and 92kg Dan Kolov gold medals respectively and gave the Russian Federation (80 points) a 15 point lead over the United States (65 points) heading into the third day of competition at the Monbat Sports Park Arena in Ruse, Bulgaria. 

In the all-Russian 70kg finals, lias Bekbulatov closed out his dominating Dan Kolov performance with a 10-0 win over Anzor ZAKUEV (RUS). In total, Bekbulatov only surrendered two points in his four matches and outscored his opponents 38-2.

Bekbulatov, arguably the best wrestler in the world to never compete at a world championship, scored an inactivity point, followed by a takedown and controlled the 3-0 lead heading into the second period. The 2018 European runner-up stalked Zakuev in the second period and scored seven straight points to close out the match with a 10-0 shutout victory. 

It’s also worth noting, Russia’s Viktor RASSADIN defeated 2016 Rio Olympic fifth-place finisher Frank Aniello MOLINARO (USA), 15-10 in the 70kg bronze-medal bout, giving Russia their third 70kg medal. Russia entered three wrestlers into the 70kg bracket and finished first, second, and third receptivity.

The second Russian gold-medal winner on the day was Magomed KURBANOV (RUS). 

Kurbanov trailed 3-1 after the opening period of the 92kg finals, but ignited in the second and outscored Irakli MTSITURI (GEO) 8-2 in the final frame to pick up the 9-5 victory. 

Meanwhile, the United States, who sits in second place with 65 points, welcomed a champion in Alexander DIERINGER. Dieringer, who also goes by “Ringer,” quickly dismantled Omaraskhab NAZHMUDINOV (ROU), 10-0 in the opening period of the 79kg finals. In the last twelve months, Dieringer, who is the No. 2 79kg American guy behind reigning world champion Kyle DAKE, has won titles at the Alexander Medved Prizes, International Ukrainian Tournament, and the Dan Kolov, while also finishing in third-place at the first Ranking Series event of the season, the Ivan Yariguin. 

The final freestyle gold of the day went to Kazakhstan’s Nurislam SANAYEV. It took just 35 seconds for Sanayev to wrap up Sandeep TOMAR (IND) in the 61kg finals. The reigning 57kg world silver medalist scored an early takedown from a duck under and seamlessly transitioned into four leg laces, ending the match with a 10-0 technical superiority victory.

In women’s wrestling, Pooja DHANDA’s 59kg gold and Sakshi MALIK ‘s 65kg silver gave India (45 points) the ten point lead over Turkey (35 points) after the second day of wrestling in Ruse. 

Dhanda, the 2018 world bronze medalist at 57kg, bumped up to 59kg and went undefeated in the round-robin competition to claim the gold medal. Her teammate Malik, the Rio bronze medalist who upset reigning world champion Petra OLLI to make the 65kg finals, fell to Sweden’s Henna JOHANSSON (SWE), 8-3 in the gold-medal match. Johansson reached the top of the Klippan Lady Open podium last weekend and won her second consecutive tournament when she stopped Malik’s quest for gold today. 

Turkey sits in second place, thanks to fourth-ranked Buse TOSUN’s gold-medal performance at 72kg. In the finals, Tosun broke a 4-4 tie, scoring the match-deciding takedown with 15 seconds left, defeating Alina BEREZHNA STADNIK MAKHYNIA (UKR), 6-4. 
 

The final women’s wrestling gold medal of the day went to Greece’s Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE). The 2018 European bronze medalist controlled the entirety of 55kg gold-medal match with her left side underhook, completely shutting down Kazakhstan’s Marina SEDNEVA, 10-0 to win her first Ranking Series title. 

Wrestling resumes tomorrow in Ruse at 10:00 (local time), with the Day Three finals beginning at 18:00. 
 

For news, highlights, interviews, and behind the scenes clips, make sure you’re following United World Wrestling on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
 

RESULTS 
Freestyle

Team Scores 
GOLD - Russia (80 points)
SILVER - United States (65 points)
BRONZE - Georgia (39 points)
Fourth - Turkey (35 points)
Fifth - Ukraine (33 points)

61kg
GOLD - Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ) df. Sandeep TOMAR (IND), 10-0 
BRONZE - Aryian TIUTRIN (RUS) df. Joseph Daniel COLON (USA), 13-3

BRONZE - Volodymyr BURUKOV (UKR) df. Munir Recep AKTAS (TUR), 3-2

70kg 
GOLD - Ilias BEKBULATOV (RUS) df. Anzor ZAKUEV (RUS), 10-0

BRONZE - James GREEN (USA) df. Andriy KVYATKOVSKYY (UKR), via inj. def.  
BRONZE - Viktor RASSADIN (RUS) df. Frank MOLINARO (USA), 15-10

79kg
GOLD - Alexander DIERINGER (USA) df. Omaraskhab NAZHMUDINOV (ROU), 10-0
BRONZE - Atsamaz SANAKOEV (RUS) df. Ender COSKUN (TUR), 4-3 
BRONZE - Nika KENTCHADZE (GEO) df. Muhammet KOTANOGLU (TUR), 5-0 

92kg
GOLD - Magomed KURBANOV (RUS) df. Irakli MTSITURI (GEO), 9-5
BRONZE – Ibrahim BOLUKBASI (TUR) df. Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR), 7-6  
BRONZE - Michael Justin MACCHIAVELLO (USA) df. Mohammed FARDJ (ALG), via inj. def. 

Women's Wrestling

Team Scores 
GOLD - India (45 points)
SILVER - Turkey (35 points)
BRONZE - Sweden (33 points)
Fourth - Ukraine (28 points)
Fifth - Greece (25 points)

55kg
GOLD - Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) df. Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ), 10-0 
BRONZE - Roksana Marta ZASINA (POL) df. Bediha GUN (TUR), 4 - 0
BRONZE - Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ) df. Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR), 4-25

59kg (Round-Robin)
GOLD - Pooja DHANDA (IND) 
SILVER - Sarita SARITA (IND) 
BRONZE - Kornelija ZAICEVAITE (LTU)
BRONZE - Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) 

65kg
GOLD -Henna JOHANSSON (SWE) df. Sakshi MALIK (IND), 8-3 
BRONZE - Petra OLLI (FIN) df. Adina POPESCU (ROU), via inj. def.
BRONZEForrest MOLINARI (USA) df. Maya NELSON (USA), 6-3

72kg
GOLD - Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. Alina BEREZHNA STADNIK MAKHYNIA (UKR), 6-4
BRONZE - Maria SELMAIER (GER) df. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), via DSQ
BRONZE - YAN Chuchu (CHN) df. Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), via forfeit

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open Day 4: Bisultanov vs Losonczi; U.S. dominates WW

By United World Wrestling Press

ZAGREB, Croatia (February 8) -- The Zagreb Open 2025 enters day four with Greco-Roman 77kg and 87kg weight classes, perhaps two of most populated weight classes in the world. Women's Wrestling will continue with 57kg, 72kg and 76kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | BLADES SUPLEX

13:35: David LOSONCZI (HUN) and Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) set up their Paris Olympic bronze medal bout rematch for the 87kg final in Zagreb.

Losonczi got going from the whistle against Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) with a turn from par terre and then a stepout to lead 4-0 at the break. A stepout in the second period made it 5-0 and eliminated the chance of passivity against him. He wins 5-0.

Bisultanov survived two par terre positions and defended level to beat Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN) 1-1 and enter the final.

13:25: In the two semifinals at 77kg, Sergei STEPANOV (AIN) blows away Sergei KUTUZOV (AIN) while Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) falls to Zoltan LEVAI (HUN). Stepanov got the par terre in the first period and used a reverse lift for five points and a correct throw for two more to win 8-0. In the other semifinal, Levai led 4-0 at the break and added a stepout in the second to win 5-1

13:10: Skylar GROTE (USA) has been in a league of her own today. She puts up another technical superiority win, beating Veronika VILK (CRO) 11-0 at 72kg.

We have moved the Mat B bouts to Mat A for the semifinals

12:45: Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) is into the semifinals at 87kg. He breaks Croatian hearts by beating Ivan HUKLEK (CRO) 5-1 in the quarterfinals. He will take on David LOSONCZI (HUN)

12:42: Former U17 world champion and U20 world silver medalist Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) is into the semifinals at 77kg. He defeats Illia VALEUSKI (AIN) 6-4 and will take on Zoltan LEVAI (HUN)

12:37: David LOSONCZI (HUN) and Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) in a Paris rematch at 87kg. Losonczi is called for a singlet pull but Komarov is called passive first. Losonczi, lead 1-1 on criteria, hits a throw from par terre for four and lead 5-1. Komarov with a go behind takedown to cut the lead to 5-3. But Losonczi with his pace gets a stepout and make it 6-3 at the break. No more action or par terre calls in the second period and Losonczi wins 6-3.

12:25: Sergei KUTUZOV (AIN) blasts two reverse lifts for four points each and wins his quarterfinal against Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) 9-0. Spectacular throws from Kutuzov

12:20: Paris Olympic bronze medalist Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) keeps U20 world champion Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ) in check and goes on to win 3-0. A passivity point in the first period and then a takedown in the second is all he needed

12:10: Anes GANIBOV (AIN) with a hard fought 9-4 win over Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) at 87kg. Sterkenburg struggled with his conditioning in the second period and Ganibov was happy to play it out till the clock expired.

12:05: Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) scores a reversal and a stepout to beat Ihar YARASHEVICH (AIN) 4-2 at 87kg. He is into the quarterfinals and will take on Ivan HUKLEK (CRO) who defeated Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) 8-4.

11:55: Sergei KUTUZOV (AIN) comes out with duck under and scores a takedown with six seconds on the clock to beat Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO) 4-3. The local are in shock as Kamenjasevic was about to pull off a big upset

11:50: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) passes another test. Up against Amir ABDI (IRI), Gutu comes out with a stepout and takedown in the second period to claim a 4-3 win over Abdi.

11:47: David LOSONCZI (HUN) keeps it simple against Vjekoslav LUBURIC (CRO) and goes to a 9-0 victory to book his quarterfinal spot at 87kg.

11:35: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) comes out with a four pointer later in the bout and gets a 7-1 win over Robert FRITSCH (HUN) at 77kg.

11:25: Another pin for U23 world champion Yelena MAKOYED (USA)! Valeriia TRIFONOVA (AIN) got an arm throw for four points to make it 7-4 but Makoyed was unfazed. She got the double arm lock and pinned Trifonova

11:20: U20 world champion Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ) makes a great Ranking Series debut. He beats Tamas LEVAI (HUN) 6-1 at 87kg and will take on Paris Olympic bronze medalist Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) next.

11:13: Exacue MAKUBU (NOR) with a 6-3 win over Mate MANDIC (CRO). He was leading 4-0 but Mandic got the passivity in the second period and turned Makubu, who blocked the second turn to make it 6-3 and held on to that lead.

11:10: Quick work from David LOSONCZI (HUN) who scores a takedown before getting the par terre advantage. He rolls Milos PEROVIC (SRB) and gets the 9-0 win at 87kg.

11:05: Big match at 87kg as Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) takes on Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB). Huseynov defends his par terre position in the first period. As Komarov is called passive in second, Huseynov is about to lift him when Komarov intentionally moves backwards. The referee confirms fleeing and docks Komarov for a point. Serbia challenges the call but the caution is upheld giving Huseynov a 3-1 lead. Komarov scores two stepouts in last 15 seconds and is also called for a fleeing and Komarov wins 4-3. Azerbaijan challenge the fleeing call but fleeing is upheld as Komarov wins 5-3. 

10:50: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) keeps it simple in his opening bout at 77kg. He wins 1-1 on criteria against Aleksa ILIC (SRB).

10:45: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) taking Amin KAVIYANI (IRI) to the cleaners! In the first bout at 77kg, Gutu got the first period par terre advantage and then reverse lifted Kaviyani for a five-point throw. He added two steps in the second period to win 8-0

10:42: Amir Ali ABDI (IRI) with a classic arm throw to beat Akseli YLI HANNUKSELA (FIN) 10-0 at 77kg. He is bidding to be Iran's representative at Asian Championships.

10:36: Great start for the United States as Yelena MAKOYED (USA) at 76kg and Skylar GROTE (USA) at 72kg both win their bouts with ease. Makoyed pins Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU) and Grote gets a 10-0 win over Noemi OSVATH NAGY (HUN).

10:30: Welcome to day four in Zagreb. Women's Wrestling will have 57kg, 72kg and 76kg wrestlers while Greco-Roman will see wrestlers in 77kg and 87kg. Since there is only Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) and Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) in 57kg, it will be the final to be held in the evening session.