UWW releases latest freestyle rankings

Monday, March 20, 2023 - 12:47 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:

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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), 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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), 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.

#JapanWrestling

Fumita Earns Ticket to Worlds, Higuchi Surprisingly Takes a Pass

Friday, May 22, 2026 - 16:22 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (May 22) -- Having followed nearly identical paths up to and after their triumphs at the Paris Olympics, Rei HIGUCHI suddenly diverged from Kenichiro FUMITA on an issue that no one had seen coming.

Higuchi captured the Freestyle 61kg title at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Championships in Friday in Tokyo, only to then make the stunning announcement that he would take a pass on a playoff for Japan's team to this year's World Championships.

Fumita earned a chance at a third world title and first since 2019 when he claimed the Greco-Roman 63kg gold, then handily defeated Asian bronze medalist Kaisei TANABE 9-1 in a playoff.

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) defeated Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN), 3-0, in the 61kg final for Meiji Cup. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp / Takeo Yabuki)

Higuchi, the Paris gold medalist at 57kg, cited a single-minded desire to become a repeat Olympic champion as being behind his lack of interest in trying to add a world title to the one he claimed in 2022.

"In December, the qualifying process at 57kg starts for [the 2028] Los Angeles [Olympics]," Higuchi said. "There is the World Championships, but all I am thinking of is a second straight title in Los Angeles.

"Strategically speaking, I have six months from now to get my body ready and drop to 57kg, and I want to give that priority. That's how I came to this decision."

Fumita, a former teammate of Higuchi's at Nippon Sports Science University who now shares the same corporate sponsor, was neither critical nor surprised by the move.

"He has his own way of thinking," said Fumita, the Paris gold medalist at Greco 60kg. "To tell the truth, before the Meiji Cup, he continually said how he was not aiming for the World Championships. I thought, that's just like him."

"I'm the type who gets into the position where I earn the ticket first, then consider what I want to do. For him to be able to just make such a decision on the spot, I think is actually pretty cool."

The Meiji Cup is serving as the second of two qualifiers for the Asian Games (in the Olympic weights) and World Championships, both of which will be held in the fall. A wrestler who wins the first qualifier -- the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships held in December -- and the Meiji Cup earns the national team place outright; a playoff is held when the winners are different.

Higuchi set up the playoff, that he eventually spurned, by defeating Emperor's Cup champion Toshihiro HASEGAWA 3-0 in the 61kg final, scoring a spin-behind takedown and stepout in the first period.

"It was fun being back in competition for the first time in awhile, and I was excited and nervous," Higuchi said. "I didn't really feel much pressure.

"As the Olympic champion, I think there were some people expecting an upset. But win or lose, it's not going to change that I am the Olympic gold medalist. In that way, I paid no mind and could enjoy my wrestling."

Powering the 30-year-old Higuchi's quest for gold at Los Angeles is a desire to etch his place among -- or at the top -- of the greats in Japanese wrestling history. He wants to join the legendary Yojiro UETAKE, who won the Freestyle 57kg gold at the 1964 Tokyo and 1968 Mexico City Olympics, as the only Japanese males to win consecutive Olympic titles.

"In Japanese wrestling history, there has been only one [male] who has won back-to-back Olympic titles," Higuchi said. "My goal is to become the strongest wrestler in Japan history. There are many greats who came before me, and I want to top their records by ending with a second gold in Los Angeles."

With Higuchi stepping aside, Hasegawa automatically gained a chance to improve on the bronze medal he won at the 2021 World Championships.

Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) battles it out during his 63kg final against Manato NAKAMURA (JPN). (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp / Takeo Yabuki)

Unlike Higuchi, Fumita had planned to return to action at the Emperor's Cup, but was forced to withdraw due to injury. His dominant run to his fifth career Meiji Cup gold and first since 2022 made victory all the sweeter.

"Being in the position of winning again makes me realize how great it is. Winning really is great," Fumita said. "I really kept my focus. From the time Paris was over to now, I thought quite a lot about my wrestling and how I wanted to approach it, and in the final and the playoff, I was able to bring out what I had imagined."

In the 63kg final, Fumita used a high chest wrap from par terre to score three exposures and finished off Manato NAKAMURA 9-0 in just over two minutes.

That put him into the playoff, held a few hours later following the medal ceremony. Tanabe, who nearly completed a rare Freestyle-Greco double at the Emperor's Cup, had defaulted his first-round match, ensuring he would be fresh for the playoff.

As impressive as Tanabe has been in his "side" job in Greco, he proved no match for the powerful and wily Fumita, who also has a Olympic silver and two other world medals to his credit.

From par terre, Fumita relied on the high chest wrap again, rolling Tanabe twice to take a 5-0 lead into the second period. Tanabe had his chance at par terre, only for Fumita to step over on a roll attempt for 2, then gain control and end the match with a gut wrench in 3:15.

"After taking a little rest, I was able to turn the switch back on," Fumita said. "Getting the ticket [to the World Championships] was my No. 1 objective, and first off, I was able to clear that. But I intend to eventually go back down to 60kg."

Tanabe, who is also part of the training group of past and current NSSU students, will attempt to win the Freestyle 65kg title over the next two days.

"Normally, he practices Freestyle, but sometimes joins in Greco," Fumita said. "He has entered competitions in Greco and even won a medal in Asia, so he definitely has the ability. As such, I had to dig deep and fight and stay aware of not giving him any openings.

"He's preparing to compete in Freestyle at 65kg tomorrow and the day after and I will switch over to his side and give him my total support."

Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) scores upon Noah LEIBOWITZ (JPN) during 97kg final. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.com / Takeo Yabuki)

Yoshida Secures Return Trip to Worlds

In other action, world bronze medalist Arash YOSHIDA, coming off a second consecutive gold-medal run at the Asian Championships, won a second straight title at Freestyle 97kg with a 11-0 victory over up-and-coming teenager Noah LEIBOWITZ.

The result was a repeat of the final at the Emperor's Cup, thus clinching Yoshida's spot on the national team to the Worlds.

"Along with aiming to win, my objective was to use what I worked on in practice," Yoshida said. "But looking at it that way, there were more things I didn't use, so I need to practice so that they come out in matches.

"My opponent has a strong attack, and that makes it easy to wear yourself out. So my plan to was to let him shoot, stop it and get behind, and that's just how it went."

At Freestyle 70kg, Yuma TOMIYAMA received a victory by default over Taishi NARIKUNI, who suffered a severe facial injury earlier in the day in a Greco match.

Narikuni, who completed the Freestyle-Greco double at the Emperor's Cup that eluded Tanabe, was hospitalized and will undergo surgery on a broken eye socket, according to family members.

In Women's Wrestling, two Asian silver medalists earned their first trips to the senior Worlds, one outright and the other through the playoff route.

At 65kg, Nana IKEHATA, the 2024 world U20 champion, followed up her triumph at the Emperor's Cup with a 9-2 victory over Hiyori MOTOKI.

Mahiro YOSHITAKE avenged a loss in the semifinals to eventual 72kg champion Shirin TAKEMOTO, winning their playoff 5-1. Earlier, Takemoto defeated Chisato YOSHIDA 11-0 in the final.

One of the day's bronze-medal matches took sibling rivalry to the extreme, as Daizo TANIZAKI got the better of younger brother Konosuke at Greco 82kg. Daizo used a front headlock for a 4-point throw, then kept hold to add two rolls to win 8-0 in 1:14.

Day 2 Results

Freestyle

61kg
GOLD: Rei HIGUCHI df. Toshihiro HASEGAWA, 3-0

BRONZE: Rikito SASAKI df. Kosei KANEKO, 8-2
BRONZE: Akito MUKAIDA df. Meiryu AKAMINE, 4-1

70kg
GOLD: Yuma TOMIYAMA df. Taishi NARIKUNI by Inj. Def.

BRONZE: Taichi YAMAGUCHI df. Kaito MORITA, 9-5
BRONZE: Shina YASUMI df. Taishin HONNA, 2-1

92kg
GOLD: Sorato KANAZAWA df. Ryogo ASANO, 6-5

BRONZE: Takeru TAKESHIGE df. Yuya YOSHIDA, 12-4
BRONZE: Takato UCHIDA df. Ryuki NOSE, 9-0

97kg
GOLD: Arash YOSHIDA df. Noah LEIBOWITZ by TS, 11-0, 5:33

BRONZE: Satoshi MIURA df. Daiki ITO by TS, 14-1, 5:48
BRONZE: Toyoki HAMADA df. Yuto UEKI by Fall, 3:41 (4-1)

Greco-Roman

55kg
GOLD: Kagetora OKAMOTO df. Keidai ITO, 6-5

BRONZE: Mizuki ARAKI df. Hiro SAKAMOTO by Inj. Def.
BRONZE: Sanshiro TAKAHASHI df. Taketo NINOMIYA, 6-4

63kg
GOLD: Kenichiro FUMITA df. Manato NAKAMURA by TS, 9-0, 2:03

BRONZE: Kensho NATAMI df. Rikito SASAKI, 7-3
BRONZE: Shoya ITO df. Ryota Koshiba, 2-1

World team playoff: Fumita df. Kaisei TANABE by TS, 9-1, 3:15

82kg
GOLD: Tatsuya FUJII df. Tesshin HIGUCHI by TS, 10-1, 4:15

BRONZE: Yahiro MOTOHASHI df. Isshin ONITSUKA, 4-2
BRONZE: Daizo TANIZAKI df. Konosuke TANIZAKI by TS, 8-0, 1:16

130kg
GOLD: Sota OKUMURA df. Yuta NARA, 1-1

BRONZE: Koei YAMADA df. Tsubasa HARUKAZE by Fall, :19 (2-0)
BRONZE: Kosei MIYAKE df. Shion OBATA by Fall, 2:00 (2-1)

World team playoff: Nara df. Okumura, 2-1

Women’s Wrestling

55kg
GOLD: Nagisa HARADA df. Konami ONO, 7-7

BRONZE: Yuna SAWATANI df. Narumi NAKAMURA, 3-0
BRONZE: Ruka NATAMI df. Haru UCHINO, 6-5

59kg
GOLD: Natsuki YAMAGUCHI df. Nagisa ITO, 3-2

BRONZE: Himeka HASEGAWA, no match
BRONZE: Miuna KIMURA df. Risa MOTOHARA, 4-1

65kg
GOLD: Nana IKEHATA df. Hiyori MOTOKI, 9-2

BRONZE: Misuzu ENOMOTO df. Kotone HIRATA by TS, 10-0, 4:34
BRONZE: Momoko KITADE df. Haruka KOBARU, 1-1

72kg
GOLD: Shirin TAKEMOTO df. Chisato YOSHIDA by TS, 11-0, 5:26

BRONZE: Mahiro YOSHITAKE df. Makia KIMURA by Fall, 1:34 (6-0)
BRONZE: Kaede MATSUYAMA df. Ai SAKAI, 4-0

World team playoff: Yoshitake df. Takemoto, 5-1

UWW releases latest freestyle rankings

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Fumita Earns Ticket to Worlds, Higuchi Surprisingly Takes a Pass