#BudaWrestle2018

Snyder-Sadulaev II Set, Japan Puts 2 in Women's Finals

By Andrew Hipps

BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 22) -- Last year, the 97kg gold-medal final between Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) at the World Championships in Paris was called match was called the Match of the Century.That match is on again in Budapest. 

The two Rio Olympic champions took care of business in the semifinal round at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on Monday. Neither wrestler surrounded a point. 

Snyder picked up a controlled 3-0 victory over Pavlo OLIINYK (HUN). The American scored the only point in the first period off the shot clock. He then added an early takedown in the second period. He now turns his attention to Sadulaev. 

"I'm ready," said Snyder. "I'm prepared. I feel like I'm better than I was last time. It's going to be a great match. We'll both be recovered and ready to fight."

Sadulaev, the 2016 Olympic champion at 86kg, claimed his fourth technical fall in four matches, beating Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO) 10-0 in the semifinals. Sadulaev took a 4-0 lead into the break, and then ended the match early in the second period after a takedown and two consecutive gut wrenches.

At 70kg in freestyle, veteran Adam BATIROV (BRN) will wrestle for his first world medal on the senior level at the age of 33 after dominating Andriy KVYATKOVSKYY (UKR) 10-0 in the semifinals. Batirov used a four-point arm throw in the first period, and then a takedown and two turns to end the match in the second period. 

2015 world champion Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) defeated returning world champion Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) 3-1 at 70kg. Iakobishvili led 1-0 after the opening period, but GAZIMAGOMEDOV scored a point in the second period to take the criteria lead and then added to his lead with a late takedown.

Japanese women Mayu MUKAIDA and Risako KAWAI will be looking to add to their gold-medal collection on Tuesday after earning victories in the semifinals. 

Mukaida, a 2016 world champion, was impressive in winning 8-1 over 20-year-old junior silver medalist Qi ZHANG (CHN). She scored off three takedowns in the first period and added another one in the final period to win by seven.

Her finals opponent at 55kg will be Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR), who snuck past Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) in the semifinals. The two traded points off the shot clock before Sidakova forced a step out to take a 2-1 lead. Winchester fired off a double leg in the closing seconds and was initially awarded the takedown, but it was white paddled and Sidakova took the victory.

Kawai, the reigning world and Olympic champion, claimed a 10-0 technical fall in the semifinals over Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS). She went up 6-0 in the first period after two takedowns and a turn. She then ended the match early in the second period with another takedown and turn. Kawai outscored her opposition 36-0 on Monday.  

In the other semifinal at 59kg, Elif YESILIRMAK (TUR) trailed 1-1 on criteria with 1:30 left before getting a takedown and locking up a lace which he used to score four turns en route to picking up an 11-1 technical fall.  

Semifinal Results

Freestyle

70kg
Adam BATIROV (BRN) df. Andriy KVYATKOVSKYY (UKR) by VSU, 10-0
Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) by VPO1, 3-1

97kg
Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Pavlo OLIINYK (HUN) by VPO, 3-0
Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) df. Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO) by VSU, 10-0

Women's wrestling

55kg
Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR) df. Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) by VPO1, 2-1
Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) df. Qi ZHANG (CHN) by VPO1, 8-1

59kg
Elif Jale YESILIRMAK (TUR) df. Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) by VSU1, 11-1
Risako KAWAI (JPN) df. Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS) by VSU, 10-0

#WrestleBelgrade

World Championships WW 50kg, 57kg, 65kg, 76kg semis set

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 19) -- The World Championships will see the first women's wrestling Olympic weight classes in action with 50kg, 57kg and 76kg. A non-Olympic weight is also in action -- 65kg. Yui SUSAKI (JPN), Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN), Helen MAROULIS (USA), Adeline GRAY (USA), Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) are some names in action.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER | SADULAEV UPDATE

14:54: Literally seconds apart, Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) and Helen MAROULIS (USA) set up a rematch of last year's final at 57kg, this time in the semifinals. Sakurai, aiming for her third straight world title and second in a row at 57kg, disposed of 2022 bronze medalist Anhelina LYSAK (POL), scoring three takedowns in a 7-0 victory. On the adjacent mat, Maroulis had one blip against European silver medalist Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE), getting stuffed on a gut-wrench attempt to give up 2, but otherwise was in control in an 8-3 victory. Sakurai beat Maroulis 3-0 in last year's final.

14:50: A 1-1 criteria victory for Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) over Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN) in the 57kg. Kamaloglu held on to her passivity lead if her life depended on it.

14:45: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) gets Odunayo ADEKUROYE (NGR) in an arm trap and turns her until the referee blows the whistle. Nichita, who pinned Adekuroye in the Tokyo Olympics after being 8-0 down, has looked extremely dominant so far.

14:40: Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL), the losing finalist last year to Susaki, manhandles two-time European bronze medalist Kseniya STANKEVICH (AIN) 12-1 to advance to the 50kg semifinals. She will face Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA), a wrestler the Mongolian beat in the semis a year ago. The American has since avenged that loss with a technical superiority win in the Budapest Ranking Series.

14:40: Marquee match-up on Mat D. Four-time Olympic medalist Mariya STADNIK (AZE) is wrestling Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA). The two exchange takedowns with Hildebrandt leading 4-3. But Stadnik feels the heat and gives up easy takedowns and Hildebrandt builds a 12-3 lead before a lace to finish 12-3.

14:33: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) a fall over Emilia VUC (ROU) and she moves to the 50kg semifinals. On a different level.

14:30: Another one of the sport's titans has fallen! Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) scores a takedown in each period and never gives six-time world champion Adeline GRAY (USA) an opening to win 4-1 for the biggest victory of her young career. Gray's lone point comes on the activity clock.

14:27: Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) was looking for a fall over Milaimys MARIN (CUB) but the Cuban survives but Alpeyeyeva holds a 2-2 lead. But Marin with a buzzer-beater to win and book a spot in the 76kg semifinal 

14:23: Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) with a high lift and feet to back to get the fall over Samar HAMZA (EGY). Egypt challenged the call for a stepout but it was continuous action and Renteria won.

14:14: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), deprived of a chance to defend her 62kg title when she lost out at the Japan trials, moved closer to the consolation prize of a 65kg gold by moving into the semifinals with a one-sided 9-0 victory over Kadriye AKSOY (TUR). Ozaki showed she could handle the extra weight of three powerful takedowns in the first period. She scores a stepout the second, then spends the rest of the period locked up with Aksoy, who gets underhooks and futilely attempts back trips. Ozaki thwarts a desperation lateral drop at the end for her final 2 points.

14:00: Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) holds on to a 6-4 lead over SARITA (IND) in the 57kg 1/8 final and moves to the quarterfinals in which she will face Anastasia NICHITA (MDA).

13:34: Helen MAROULIS (USA) remains laser-focused in her mission to regain the 57kg title, making short work of Graciela SANCHEZ DIAZ (ESP) in a 10-0 victory in 2:13 to advance to the quarterfinals, where European silver medalist Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) awaits.

13:30: NEELAM (UWW) stops Oksana LIVACH (UKR) in the 50kg 1/8 finals with a 4-2 win. She will however have Ziqi FENG (CHN) in the quarterfinal

13:06: A dream match has been set up in the 50kg quarterfinals, where ageless Mariya STADNIK (AZE) and Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) will square off after victories by technical superiority. Stadnik finds various ways to score in beating Polinia LUKINA (AIN) 12-1, and Hildebrandt follows with a takedown-lace lock 10-0 win over Miseon KWON (KOR).

12:57: Returning 76kg bronze medalist Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) scores a takedown while on the activity clock, then adds two more in a 6-0 win over Yuanyuan HUANG (CHN). Her reward? A shot at Adeline GRAY (USA) in the quarterfinals.

12:50: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) gave up a point but then punished Alisson CARDOZO (COL) with a lace and won her first bout at 50kg 12-1.

12:35: Adeline GRAY (USA) with an 11-0 technical superiority over returning bronze medalist Epp MAE (EST). Gray is returning to international competition after two years and looking to become a seven-time world champion which will make her the most successful wrestler from the United States

12:19: Helen MAROULIS (USA) gets her bid for a fourth world title at 57kg off to a rousing start, scoring 4 with nifty fireman's carry against Nes RODRIGUEZ (PUR). She builds up a 10-point lead as she stacks up her opponent and ends the match with a fall.

12:14: Olympic silver medalist Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN) snatches a victory from the jaws of defeat at 57kg in an ill-tempered clash between neutral athletes. She had just given up a takedown to fall behind 4-0 against Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (AIN) when she went to a cradle off a takedown and secured a fall at 4:10.

12:05: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), who became Moldova's first-ever female world champion when she won the 59kg gold last year, got off to a good start at the Olympic weight of 57kg by whipping Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL). Nichita charged to an 8-0 lead, then threw Nikolova to her back for a fall in just over two minutes.

11:52: In a freestyle 97kg repechage match, three-time champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) bounces back from his stunning quarterfinal loss to Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) by defeating Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) 10-6 to advance to the bronze-medal match later today. Snyder gave up a 4-point counter lift, but had a 4-point cradle of his own to put away the two-time Asian champion.

11:34: Anna LUKASIAK (POL), a bronze medalist a year ago at 50kg, gives up a pair of stepouts and that proves the difference in a 2-1 loss to European silver medalist Oksana LIVICH (UKR)

11:25: Returning bronze medalist Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) starts with a pin over Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU) at 76kg. She lost to Yasemin ADAR (TUR) last year but Adar is not wrestling this year.

11:07: Two years away from the world stage to get married and have twins, and six-time champion Adeline GRAY (USA) spends just 31 seconds in her opening match at women's 76kg. A takedown to lace lock, four spins and that's it for Jimin BAEK (KOR). The unseeded Gray will next face longtime foe Epp MAE (EST) in a rematch of the 2021 world final.

11:05: A takedown to a lace lock and 2021 world bronze medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) finishes off an 11-0 rout of Catalina AXENTE (ROU) at women's 76kg.

11:00: Macey KILTY (USA) channels the Greco wrestlers when she hits a 4-point back suplex to cap a 10-0 win over Valeriia DONDUPOVA SUVOROVA (AIN) in the qualification round at women's 65kg

10:30: Welcome to day four of the World Championships. A big breaking news to start the day as Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) has forfeited his repechage bout which means that Japan will remain without an Olympic quota here.