#BudaWrestle2018

USA Puts 2 in Finals, Otoguro Halts Chakaev's Run

Sunday, October 21, 2018 - 17:23 By Andrew Hipps

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BUDAPEST, Hungry (October 21) -- The United States of America went 2-for-3 in the semifinals on Sunday, advancing Kyle DAKE and J'den COX to the gold-medal finals.

Dake, competing in his first World Championships, continued his dominance in the 79kg weight class with an 11-0 technical fall over Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) in the semifinals. 

Dake used a four-point throw to open up the scoring early and continued to build his lead. He eventually put the match away with a big throw on the edge of the match to secure the technical fall. Gadzhimagomedov defeated Dake in their previous meeting. 

Dake will now face Olympic bronze medalist Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE), who came from behind late to defeat Ezzatollah AKBARIZARINKOLAEI (IRI) 3-3 on criteria. The Iranian appeared to be in control until Hasanov took a shot in the final 20 seconds and converted it to a takedown. He then held on for the win.

Cox, an Olympic and world bronze medalist, advanced to the finals with a 5-2 victory over world bronze medalist Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI). Cox went up 2-0 before the Iranian took the lead on criteria after a takedown. The lead, though, was short lived as Cox scored a reversal and added another takedown to win by three.

The American will now face Ivan YANKOUSKI (BLR) in the gold-medal match at 92kg. Yankouski used two arm throws in the first minute of the match to cruise to a first-period technical fall shutout (11-0) over Atsushi MATSUMOTO (JPN).

At 65kg, Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) halted the run of Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS). The two wrestlers went back-and-forth in a high-scoring affair. The match was filled with action, as well as stoppages for injuries and challenges. 

The first period saw a wild exchange, which resulted in Chakaev taking a 4-3 lead. The first period would end 6-5 in favor of Chakaev. Otoguro turned it up in the second period, taking the lead and building it to 10-6. But Chakaev stayed offensive and cut the deficit to two late. Otoguro, though, was not going to be denied and pulled away for a 15-10 victory and spot in the finals. 

In the other 65kg semifinal match, Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) held on to defeat returning world bronze medalist Alejandro VALDES TOBIER (CUB) 4-3 at 65kg. He becomes India's first world finalist since Amit KUMAR made the world finals in 2013.

At 57kg, both returning world finalists fell in the semifinals.

Zavur UGUEV (RUS), a two-time cadet world champion, topped 2017 world champion Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) 7-2, while Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ) claimed an 11-0 technical fall over 2017 world silver medalist Thomas GILMAN (USA).

Takahashi scored the first point of the semifinal match off the shot clock, but Uguev dominated the rest of the way. The Russian used a takedown and exposure to go up 4-1. He then tacked on to his lead in the third period to win by five. 

Sanayev led Gilman 2-0 after the first period before breaking the match open in the second period. He scored with a double leg takedown to go up 4-0 and converted it a lace and quickly built the lead to 9-0. Sanayev then put the match away with another takedown. 

Semifinal Results

57kg 
Zavur UGUEV (RUS) df. Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) by VPO1, 7-2
Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ) df. Thomas GILMAN (USA) by VSU, 11-0

65kg 
Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) df. Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS) by VPO1, 15-10
Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) df. Alejandro VALDES TOBIER (CUB) by VPO1, 4-3

79kg 
Kyle DAKE (USA) df. Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) by VSU, 13-0
Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE) df. Ezzatollah AKBARIZARINKOLAEI (IRI) by VPO1, 3-3

92kg 
Ivan YANKOUSKI (BLR) df. Atsushi MATSUMOTO (JPN) by VSU, 11-0
J'den COX (USA) df. Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) by VPO1, 5-2

#WrestleBaku

Gadzhiev returns to top with gold at U23 Europeans

Sunday, May 26, 2024 - 18:58 By United World Wrestling Press

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BAKU, Azerbaijan (May 26) --  Only a minute and 16 seconds were remaining on the clock when Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) and Kamil ABDULVAGABOV (AIN) retreated to their respective corners. Their bleeding faces required medical intervention.

As the doctors patched them up, both wrestlers could not wait to return to the mat to resume their thrilling 74kg U23 European Championship gold medal bout. Understandably so. Both the wrestlers felt the momentum was their way, and each one knew he had a good chance to win the gold.

The final day of the competition was providing the right kind of fireworks.

At that stage, when the medical timeout was taken, Gadzhiev was 6-3 ahead but Abdulvagabov was on the ascendency, fighting his way back into the bout which seemed a lost cause not too long ago. That break would eventually prove to be crucial.

The physical differences between the two were glaring. Lean and gifted with long limbs, Abdulvagabov was at least a head higher than Gadzhiev and he tried to use the height factor to his advantage. He planted his left leg so far back that it became out of reach for Gadzhiev and each time the Azerbaijani tried too hard, a counter-attacking opportunity would arise.

Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE)Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) scores a crucial four-pointer in the 74kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Javid Gurbanov)

Gadzhiev raided Abdulvagabov’s defense with multiple single-leg attacks, targeting his right leg, which was relatively closer. But each time Gadzhiev caught his opponent’s right ankle, Abdulvagabov used his physical might to ensure it couldn’t be converted into a takedown.

This trend repeated several times, with Gadzhiev going all-out employing single-leg takedowns and ankle trips. But Abdulvagabov looked hardly troubled. Until the Azerbaijani wrestler surprised him with a feet-to-back throw, slamming Abdulvagabov on his mat from a standing position in a dramatic move to be awarded four points.

When the bout was halted for the first medical timeout, Abdulvagabov was trailing 6-3. He reduced the deficit to one point by two stepouts, and with 16 seconds left, the match was paused for another medical timeout to treat both wrestlers who again started bleeding.

Abdulvagabov threw the proverbial kitchen sink at Gadzhiev but the match-winning two-point throw that he sought never came. Gadzhiev used the sprawls to good effect, doing just enough to win the bout 6-5.

The 22-year-old ran to his corner to celebrate the gold medal which came after a long drought. The 2022 U23 European Champion and U20 World and European Champion endured a difficult last year in which he earned a couple of podium finishes but a title eluded him.

He started this year strongly with a bronze medal at the Ranking Series in Zagreb and the gold medal here will come as a huge confidence booster. It was also Azerbaijan’s only gold medal in men’s freestyle at this competition.

Arslan BAGAEV (AIN)Arslan BAGAEV (AIN) blanked defending champion Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) 10-0 in the 86kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Javid Gurbanov)

Bagaev stuns Magamadov

In the 86kg category, Arslan BAGAEV (AIN) built on his fifth-place finish at the senior European Championships with a remarkable gold medal.

Bagaev conceded just one point, scored 25, and spent a little less than 12 minutes on the mat for his first-ever title since winning the U20 European Championship gold in 2021.

The manner in which Bagaev won was stunning. He was up against defending champion Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA), whose trophy cabinet in age-group events is brimming with medals. But the moment the referee began the bout, Bagaev stopped caring about reputations.

Magamadov looked stronger in the opening exchanges and launched the first leg attack, which Bagaev escaped. Bagaev waited for Magamadov to come searching for his leg again. When he did, a little after one minute, the 20-year-old used his quick reflexes to evade Magamadov’s advances and then launched a blistering counterattack, affecting three roll-overs to earn three points.

In between the second and third roll-over, Magamadov held his face and signaled that he was hurt. The doctors, who were kept busy all evening, rushed to treat him but the break in momentum didn’t impact Bagaev, who finished the bout with a two-point takedown.

Alen KHUBULOV (BUL)Alen KHUBULOV (BUL), right, won the 125kg title after beating Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Javid Gurbanov)

Maiden titles for Khubulov, Bliatze

Bagaev wasn’t the only wrestler who won his first-ever U23 European Championship title.

At 125kg, Alen KHUBULOV (BUL) made a stunning comeback to beat Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) 6-5 in another dramatic bout to win the gold medal.

Khubulov had overturned a two-point deficit with a couple of well-timed leg attacks. But with around 40 seconds remaining, Manashvili again took the lead with a two-point takedown. Khubulov responded almost immediately, scoring two more points via exposure to restore his lead and then clung to it desperately to clinch the gold medal.

Minutes earlier, Gkivi BLIATZE (GRE) defeated Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA) 8-7 in a thrilling bout to reign supreme in the 92kg category. This was a momentous win for Bliatze, who has been competing on the circuit since 2018 but never came close to a podium finish. He ended the long wait in style by getting the better of the 2023 U23 European Championship bronze medallist in an action-filled bout.

In 61kg, Bashir MAGOMEDOV (AIN) defended his gold medal with a clinical performance against Mykyta ABRAMOV (UKR), winning 10-0.

df

RESULTS

61kg
GOLD: Bashir MAGOMEDOV (AIN) df. Mykyta ABRAMOV (UKR), 10-0

BRONZE: Nuraddin NOVRUZOV (AZE) df. Yahor RUDAUSKI (AIN), 13-12
BRONZE: Emre KURAL (TUR) df. Simone PIRODDU (ITA), 4-3

74kg
GOLD: Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) df. Kamil ABDULVAGABOV (AIN), 6-5

BRONZE: Luka CHKHITUNIDZE (GEO) df. Theocharis KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE), 7-2
BRONZE: Ibrahim YAPRAK (TUR) df. Krisztian BIRO (ROU), 6-4

86kg
GOLD: Arslan BAGAEV (AIN) df. Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA), 10-0

BRONZE: Emre CIFTCI (TUR) df. Ilya KHAMTSOU (AIN), 6-4
BRONZE: Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) df. Miko ELKALA (FIN), 11-0

92kg
GOLD: Gkivi BLIATZE (GRE) vs. Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA)

BRONZE: Mustafagadzhi MALACHDIBIROV (AIN) df. Muhammed GIMRI (TUR), 6-2
BRONZE: Ion DEMIAN (MDA) df. Denys SAHALIUK (UKR), 16-6

125kg
GOLD: Alen KHUBULOV (BUL) df. Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO), 6-5

BRONZE: Milan KORCSOG (HUN) df. Volodymyr KOCHANOV (UKR), 8-1
BRONZE: Abdulla KURBANOV (AIN) df. Adil MISIRCI (TUR), 12-8