#RankingSeries

UWW releases latest freestyle rankings

By Vinay Siwach

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (March 20) -- With two Ranking Series events done, the United World Wrestling has released the latest ranking in freestyle. While there were a few changes in the first spot, a considerable movement was seen throughout the top ten.

The latest rankings will be crucial to determine the top four seeds of the continental championships which begin with the Asian Championships on April 9 followed by the European Championships in the same month. The Pan-Am Championships and African Championships will be held in May.

The ranking points considered are that of the World Championships and the two Ranking Series events. Here's a breakdown of the rankings:

57kg
The weight class continues to be headlined by world champion Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) who has 45000 points, all from the gold medal in Belgrade. He is followed by Thomas GILMAN (USA) with 37000 points for his silver.

Previously number three Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) has been pushed to fourth by Wanhao ZOU (CHN). He has 35555 points over Zandanbud's 31000 points. Zou collected 5480 points in Zagreb and 5075 points in Alexandria to jump to third.

Darian CRUZ (PUR) was the next big jumper who moved from ninth to sixth spot after his eighth-place finish in Zagreb for 6200 points and 5100 points for 12th finish in Egypt.

Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO), who began the year at the 12th spot, has moved up to eighth with 23880 points, thanks to his bronze medal in Zagreb and 10th place finish in Alexandria. Aliabbas RZAZADE also accumulated 18400 points and has moved from 13th to ninth spot in the rankings.

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN)Rei HIGUCHI (JPN), red, and Reza ATRI (IRI), blue, are equal at 45000 points but the former in ranked number one. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

61kg
Reza ATRI (IRI), a silver medalist from World Championships, began the year at 37000 points and was second-period world champion Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) who has 45000 points. Atri now has come equal to Higuchu with 45000 points for his gold medal in Zagreb. However, he still remains second to Higuchi.

The third and fourth places, Narankhuu NARMANDAKH (MGL) and Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), have switched places. The latter has 41200 points while the former is at 37400 points from the earlier 31000 points for both.

Harutyunyan won the bronze medal in Alexandria worth 10200 points while Narmandakh was a silver medalist in Zagreb for 6200 points. Harutyunyan got more points since the number of participants in 61kg in Alexandria was much higher.

The only other mover in this weight class is Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB) who is now at the seventh spot with 22500 points, up from 14300 points. He achieved this feat after an eighth-place finish in Alexandria.

Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ) broke into the top 10 after getting 7800 points at the Ibrahim Moustafa, replacing Islam DUDAEV (ALB) from the list.

Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI)Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) and Ismail MUSUKAEV (HUN) are one and two at 65kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

65kg
The top spot at 65kg remains unchanged as world champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) sits first with 45000 points. However, other positions have seen a lot of moving.

Bronze medalist in Belgrade Ismail MUSUKAEV (HUN) has jumped to the second spot from third with 9000 points for his fifth-place finish at Zagreb Open. He now has 40000 points to replace John DIAKOMIHALIS (USA).

Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) has also moved from fifth spot to third after getting 14050 points in two tournaments. He finished 14th in Zagreb for 5050 points but managed to reach fifth in Alexandria to claim 9000 points.

These changes have pushed Belgrade silver medalist Diakomihalis to fourth and bronze medalist Bajrang PUNIA (IND) to fifth.

Joseph MCKENNA (USA) has broken into the top 10 with silver medals in Zagreb and Alexandria which were worth 11400 points each. His total of 22800 was enough for him to get the seventh spot.

Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) was 11th with 9000 points at the start of the year but won the gold medal in Alexandria to get 13000 points and push his place to eighth with a total of 22000 points.

Coming at number nine is Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG) who is just behind with 21880 points as he finished 10th in Zagreb for 7480 points and improve one spot to ninth in Alexandria for another 7800 points to break into the top-10.

Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB) has slipped from seventh to 10th with 18200 points.

Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN)Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) is the top ranked wrestler at 70kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

70kg
Another world champion who continues to keep the top spot is Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) who has 45000 points. But the silver medalist, Zain RETHERFORD (USA) has been displaced by bronze medalist Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) who now has 42000 points to Retherford's 37000 points. He got 11000 points for his gold medal in Alexandria.

Coming in at four is the fifth placer in Belgrade Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) with 31520 points as he finished seventh in Alexandria for 6520 points. He has overtaken Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) who has not competed since the World Championships.

No other changes were seen in this weight class.

Kyle DAKE (USA)Kyle DAKE (USA) has 45000 points at the top spot at 74kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

74kg
Kyle DAKE (USA) continues to be at the top spot with 45000 points at 74kg. He won the World Championships for those points and no one has challenged him thus far.

Bronze medalist Yones EMAMI (IRI) has jumped to second with his gold medal in Zagreb as he got 11400 points for that effort. He now has 42400 points, 325 more than Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) who finished 13th in Zagreb.

The lower half has seen many changes as Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) is out of the top 10 and the fourth spot it taken by Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) while Sagar JAGLAN (IND) comes in at fifth with 30800 points.

At number seven, Mitchell FINESILVER (ISR) has accumulated 18720 points with his bronze in Alexandria and seventh place finish in Zagreb. Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) remains at eighth despite him improving from 17000 points to 18200 points.

The only other change is the number 10 spot which is now taken over by Lawrence LAVALLEE (USA) with 16800 points, replacing Daichi TAKATANI (JPN).

Jordan BURROUGHS (USA)Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) continues to be the top ranked wrestler at 79kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

79kg
The top two at 79kg have remained changed for the second year running as Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) sits at the number one spot and Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) is second.

At the start of the year, Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) was fifth but he has got 10200 points in the new year to jump to number three with 35200 points. He has pushed world bronze medalists Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) and Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) to number four and five.

Arman AVAGYAN (ARM) has changed his position from 10th to seventh with a fifth place finish in Alexandria. He got 9000 points for that performance.

The other entrant into the top 10 is Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) who is at number nine with 19400 points, thanks to his silver in Zagreb and gold in Alexandria. Since those were his first two competitions at 79kg, he did not have any previous points.

Hassan YAZDANI (IRI)Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) replaced David TAYLOR (USA) at the top in 86kg. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

86kg
Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) won the gold medal at Zagreb Open and that was enough for him to overtake world champion David TAYLOR (USA) for the top spot with 48000 points. Taylor has 45000 points. Taylor slipped to third when Boris MAKOEV (SVK) jumped from 31000 points to 46200 points with eighth place in Zagreb and fifth at Alexandria.

Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL) improved two ranks to fourth with 38275 points. He finished 13th in Zagreb but managed to win a bronze medal in Alexandria which gave him 10200 points.

Ethan RAMOS (PUR) remains fifth but has 9000 points more than he began the year with 25000 points. Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) has not competed since the World Championships and is in the sixth spot.

Myles AMINE (SMR) has improved one spot to seventh while Zahid VALENCIA (USA) has broken into the top 10 after the two Ranking Series events. He began at 15th with a bronze medal in Zagreb but added a silver in Alexandria to move to the eighth spot with 19600 points.

Tarzan MAISURADZE (GEO) is in the ninth spot while Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) is tenth with 16000 points.

Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI)Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) is clear on the top in the 92kg rankings. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

92kg
The four World Championships medalists continue to occupy the top four spots in the rankings at 92kg but the order has changed. World champion Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) has 45000 points at the top.

Earlier in the fourth spot, Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) is now second with 42600 points. He won a silver medal in Zagreb for 6400 points and a bronze in Alexandria for 5200 points.

He replaced Jden COX (USA) who has now slipped to third while fellow world bronze medalist Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) remains fourth with 36200 points, 5200 points more than at the start of the year.

Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) moves from ninth to seventh with 20700 points as he got 5200 points for his bronze medal in Zagreb. He managed to keep Illia ARCHAIA (UKR) at eighth who got 2480 points more than his 17000 points at the start of the year. Simone IANNATTONI (ITA) moves down to ninth with 18200 points.

Kollin MOORE (USA) is the newcomer in the rankings and he is at number 10 with 16000 points. He got 8000 points each for his gold medals in Zagreb and Alexandria.

Kyle SNYDER (USA)Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) are the number one and two at 97kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostandin Andonov)

97kg
Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) managed to trim the gap between him and number one ranked Kyle SNYDER (USA) to 6000 points from 8000 points but he still remains at the second spot. Snyder has 56000 points while Tsakulov has 50000 points.

He was replaced by Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) after Zagreb Open but Tsakulov managed to retake that position from Magomedov by winning the gold medal in Alexandria. Magomedov has now been pushed to number four as Vladislav BATISAEV (HUN) improved from fifth to third after a ninth-place finish in Zagreb and a bronze medal in Alexandria. Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO), who was third, is now fifth despite improving his points from 31000 points to 36013 points.

Benjamin HONIS (ITA) and Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) 17920 are the new entrants in the top 10. Honis has 20280 points for his appearances in Zagreb and Alexandria in which he finished 10th and fifth respectively. Honis began his year at the 15th spot with 5800 points but got 5480 points in Zagreb to jump to 11th and 9000 points more in Alexandria to improve to seventh.

Baranowski began his rankings from Zagreb as he got 6520 points to be placed 20th. However, he won silver in Alexandria and moved to the ninth spot with 17920 points.

Taha AKGUL (TUR)Taha AKGUL (TUR), blue, is number one at 125kg and Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) is number two. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

125kg
Taha AKGUL (TUR) wrestled in Alexandria and won gold to consolidate his top rank at 125kg with 56000 points, up from the 45000 points he got for winning the World Championships.

Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) replaced Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) from the second spot by winning the Zagreb Open for 11000 points. He was earlier at the fourth spot. Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) has also been pushed to the fourth spot.

Daniel LIGETI (HUN) moved from ninth spot to fifth after an increase of 11275 points for his bronze in Zagreb and 13th place finish in Alexandria. He also pushed Amarveer DHESI (CAN), Oleg BOLTIN (KAZ) and Hayden ZILLMER (USA) down one spot each. DINESH (IND) moved from the 10th spot to the ninth with a seventh-place finish in Alexandria which gave him 6520 points.

Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB) moved from 11th to 10th in the latest rankings as he won a bronze medal in Alexandria which was worth 8200 points.

#WrestleCoralville

Welker Pins World Champ Reasco to Win Pan-Am Gold

By Vinay Siwach

CORALVILLE, IOWA, United States (May 9) -- Olympic bronze medalist, world bronze medalist and world champion. That was the hit-list of Kylie WELKER (USA) as she defended her Pan-American 76kg title in Coralville on Saturday.

Welker, a world bronze medalist herself last year, was among the three United States wrestlers who won gold medals as Women's Wrestling came to a close at the Pan-American Championships. The U.S. was the best team of the tournament with 235 points as all 10 wrestlers won medals including eight golds. Canada finished second with 136 points while Mexico was third with 128 points.

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Welker's path to gold medal was nothing short of a minefield as she faced Paris 2024 bronze medalist Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) in the quarterfinals. But Welker got to work straightaway scoring a stepout to lead 1-0. She then countered Renteria's attack and scored a takedown to extend the lead to 3-0 before adding another to go into the break leading 5-0. She took 30 seconds in the second period to score her third takedown and then rolled Renteria twice to finish the match 11-0.

Up against world bronze medalist Milaimy MARIN (CUB) in the semifinals, Welker finished the bout with 1:18 remaining. Marin was put on the activity clock in the first period before Welker rushed her into a takedown to lead 3-0. Welker then overpowered Marin when the Cuban tried reaching for Welker's legs. It was scored four points as Marin fell straight from standing. A go-behind and then an arm-bar exposure was enough for an 11-0 win but Welker held Marin on the mat for the fall.

 

World champion Genesis REASCO (ECU) reached the final from the other side of the bracket with hopes of avenging her 10-0 loss to Welker from last year's Pan-Am semifinals. But the final did not start in Reasco's favor as she was put on the activity clock in the first period which gave Welker a 1-0 lead. In the second period, Welker was put on the activity clock but with seconds left in the 30-second clock, she tried reaching Reasco's leg.

The Ecuadorian world champion thought it was ideal moment to drag Welker towards the zone, but as she did that, Welker whizzed her for a two-point exposure and then held her on the mat for a fall which was confirmed just before Reasco went out of wrestling area.

With the gold medal, U23 world champion Welker is now a two-time Pan-Am champion.

The two other champions for the U.S. were former world medalist Kayla MIRACLE (USA) and Abigail NETTE (USA) at 65kg and 59kg respectively.

Miracle, returning to wrestling since Paris 2024, won both her bouts via technical superiority. She defeated Alexis GOMEZ (MEX), 10-0, in Round 1 and then Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN), 10-0, in Round 3. Rowbottom defeated Gomez 6-4 in Round 2 to win the silver medal.

Nette had to win three bouts for the gold medal. She began with a 12-2 win over defending champion Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN) and then secured two falls, first over Daniela MARTINEZ (MEX) and then against Mayara RAMOS (BRA) to confirm her title.

Beauregard, a four-time Pan-Am champion and world bronze medalist, defeated both Martinez and Ramos to secure the silver medal. And since Ramos defeated Martinez earlier in the day, she won the bronze medal.

 

Yepez Wins Fourth Straight Gold

Olympic and world silver medalist Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) captured her fourth straight Pan-American title at 53kg as she won the gold medal after beating Serena DI BENEDETTO (CAN), 12-2, in the final.

Yepez scored first in the final when Di Benedetto tried a snap down and Yepez quickly turned it into a leg attack. She scored a takedown and then a turn to lead 4-0 before adding a stepout to lead 5-0. But she missed one of her attack and Di Benedetto scored a go-behind to make it 5-2.

If that takedown gave any hopes to Di Benedetto, Yepez quickly quashed then hitting a double-leg for four points and then a turn to lead 11-2. The two wrestlers split for the break but on return, Yepez took just 20 seconds to score the match-winning takedown, taking her score to 13-2.

Earlier in the quarterfinals, Yepez defeated former U20 world champion Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA), 11-0.

Zahid VALENCIA (USA)Zahid VALENCIA (USA) outscored his opponents 31-0 en route his third Pan-Am title. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Valencia Defends 86kg Gold

Freestyle commenced on Saturday at the Pan-Ams and the U.S., like in Greco-Roman and Women's Wrestling, dominated it.

In the three weight classes in action on Saturday, the U.S. won two golds medals through world champion Zahid VALENCIA (USA) at 86kg and Austin DE SANTO (USA) at 61kg. The third Freestyle gold of the night went to Geannis GARZON (CUB) who denied Phillip WEBSTER (USA) in the 74kg final.

Valencia, the defending champion at 86kg, went 31-0 in his three bouts. He began with a 10-0 win over Nestor TAFUR (COL) before beating Pedro GONCALVES (BRA), 11-0, in the semifinals.

In the final, Valencia opened the scoring against Christopher FOCA (DOM) using a snap down takedown and then scored another at the edge to lead 4-0. He then used a single-leg attack to lift Foca and slam him on the mat for four points and double the lead to 8-0. Foca attempted a head pinch but Valencia defended it and scored two points as Foca landed on the mat, giving Valencia the win with 2:31 remaining.

De Santo won his first two bouts in the Nelson bracket and then the semifinal, all with the score of 10-0, before blanking Caleb SMITH (PUR), 9-0, in the final. While Smith was pace-setter in the first period, it was De Santo who counter efficiently to lead 4-0 at the break.

But De Santo changed it in the second period, scoring a takedown and turn in the first 34 seconds and lead 8-0. He defended his lead without engaging much with Smith and also scored a stepout late in the final to clinch the gold medal.

Geannis GARZON (CUB)Geannis GARZON (CUB) won the 74kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

At 74kg, Garzon made amends after being disqualified for brutality last year, by winning the gold medal this year. Facing Webster in the final, Garzon led 4-0 at the break. In a back-and-forth second period, Garzon tried using a chest wrap to defend an attack from Webster. It was initially scored two for Garzon and one for Webster's reversal, giving Garzon a 6-1 lead.

The U.S. challenged the decision and after the review, the scoring was changed to four points for Garzon and two points for Webster with the former lead 8-2. Webster got a clean takedown soon after to trim the lead to 8-4 but as he was working on the next takedown, Garzon scored exposure lift for two points and Webster got a reversal for one point.

Garzon led 10-5 when Webster scored stepout to make it 10-6 but the U.S. challenged, saying the score should be 10-7. The scoring was deemed correct and Garzon body locked Webster in the final eight seconds to score a takedown and confirm his victory.   

Photo

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

53kg
GOLD: Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) df. Serena DI BENEDETTO (CAN), 13-2

BRONZE: Sabrina GAMA (BRA) df. Antonia VALDES (CHI), 8-2
BRONZE: Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) df. Alexa ALVAREZ (VEN), 7-2

59kg
GOLD: Abigail NETTE (USA)
SILVER: Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN)
BRONZE: Mayara RAMOS PEREIRA (BRA)

65kg
GOLD: Kayla MIRACLE (USA)
SILVER: Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN)
BRONZE: Alexis GOMEZ (MEX)

76kg
GOLD: Kylie WELKER (USA) df. Genesis REASCO (ECU), via fall

BRONZE: Milaimy MARIN (CUB) df. Tatiana RENTERIA (COL), 7-0
BRONZE: Edna JIMENEZ (MEX) df. Neirili BANGUERO (VEN), 9-5

Freestyle

61kg
GOLD: Austin DE SANTO (USA) df. Caleb SMITH (PUR), 9-0

BRONZE: Garette SAUNDERS (CAN) df. Alex VEGA TUN (GUA), 12-5

74kg
GOLD: Geannis GARZON TAMAYO (CUB) df. Phillip WEBSTER (USA), 12-6

BRONZE: Ibsen AGUILAR (VEN) df. Luis BARRIOS (HON), 8-6
BRONZE: Adam THOMSON (CAN) df. Raul PALACIOS (MEX), 10-0

86kg
GOLD: Zahid VALENCIA (USA) df. Christopher FOCA (DOM), 10-0

BRONZE: Ethan RAMOS (PUR) df. Jose PINERO (VEN), 10-0
BRONZE: Nestor TAFUR (COL) df. Pedro GONCALVES (BRA), 11-0