#WrestleBudapest

WATCH LIVE: Budapest Ranking Series, Day 2 finals

By United World Wrestling Press

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 14) -- The second day of the Ranking Series in Budapest will see women's wrestling in five weight classes alongwith freestyle wrestling in three weights. A host of stars will be on the mat.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

Here are the finals for tonight

FS 61kg - Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) vs Ossimzhan DASTANBEK (KAZ)

FS 70kg - Ihor NYKYFORUK (UKR) vs Joseph MC KENNA (USA)

FS 79kg - Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) vs Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO)

WW 50kg - Ziqi FENG (CHN) vs Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA)

WW 53kg Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) vs Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL)

WW 57kg Kexin HONG (CHN) vs Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)

WW 62kg Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) vs Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)

WW 68kg Feng ZHOU (CHN) vs Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR)

15:00: Forrest MOLINARI (USA) and Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) were in a fierce battle once again. Molinari led 4-0 but two warnings to Larroque for being passive, one to Molinari for blocking. But in the end, Molinari beats Larroque 7-1.

14:40: Olivia DI BACCO (CAN) had the chance to pin Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) who survived the attempt. Later, Oborududu comes back and pins Di Bacco at 68kg.

13:30: Big results at 68kg. Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) moves into the quarterfinals with a 7-0 win over Tayla FORD (NZL)Forrest MOLINARI (USA) beats Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) 6-0 while Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) wins 3-0 against Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL).

13:15: Olivia DI BACCO (CAN) was trailing 4-0 after Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) hit an arm-throw but Di Bacco steps over and secures the fall at 68kg.

13:00: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) posts a 10-0 win over Yasmine SOLIMAN (HUN) to move into the quarterfinals at 62kg. So does Lais NUNES (BRA) as she beats Aleksandra WOLCZYNSKA (POL) 6-0.

12:35: Viktoria VESSO (EST) brings out a perfect headlock and throw against Kayla MIRACLE (USA) and gets the fall at 62kg. What an upset!

12:30: Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) has one of the best defense in the game. He holds off Vitali ARUJAU (USA) 2-0 with ease despite Arujau's continuous attacks.

12:00: Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) takes it slow but wins 3-0 against Daniel ANTAL (HUN). Another star at 70kg, Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) beat U23 world champion Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO) to advance.

11:50: Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) moves into the next round at 79kg. The first Iran wrestler to beat Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) will be eyeing the gold in Budapest.

11:45: Two-time World Championships silver medalist Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) opens up with an easy win over Simon MARCHL (AUT). He will face Chandler MARSTELLER (USA) who defeated Ramazan SARI (TUR) at 79kg

11:30: Sarah Ann HILDEBRANDT (USA) avenges her World Championships loss against Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) 10-0. Absolute domination from Hildebrandt there as she puts a series of takedowns.

11:15: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) survived a barrage of attacks from Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) in the final minute of their 62kg bout to win 2-0. In another bout at 62kg, Lais NUNES (BRA) comes on top 5-3 against Ana GODINEZ (CAN)

11:00: Women's wrestling 50kg saw Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA) win 11-0 over Vestina DANISEVICIUTE (LTU) and Ziqi FENG (CHN) beat Bianka FATH (HUN) 10-0.

10:30: Welcome to day two of the Ranking Series in Budapest. A total of eight weight classes are in action with five in women's wrestling and three in freestyle.

#WrestleBudapest

Armenia Earns Olympic Berths Through Rising Stars Tevanyan and Harutyunyan

By Eric Olanowski

BUDAPEST, Hungary (March 18) --- It was an emotional day for Armenian wrestlers as rising stars Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) and Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) shined bright and secured their nation’s ticket to the Tokyo Olympic Games.

In total, 12 freestyle Olympic licenses were handed out through today’s European Olympic Games Qualifier at the BOK Sports Hall in the Hungarian capital city, with the top two wrestlers at each weight earning berths for their nations.

Coming into the weekend, arguably the biggest question hovering over the freestyle portion of the event was if Tevanyan could replicate his magical performance from December’s Individual World Cup where he stunned then-reigning world bronze medalist Ismail MSUSKAEV (HUN), 9-1, to win 65kg gold.

On Friday, the powerful Tevanyan reached the finals with four wins – three of which came against former world medalists. He started his day with an 11-0 technical superiority victory over world bronze medalist and Rio Olympian Vladimir DUBOV (BUL). Following a 7-5 win against Niurgun SKRIABIN (BLR), the Armenian ended Olympic champion Vladimer KHINCHEGASHVILI’s (GEO) day with a controlled 6-4 victory. Although the 22-year-old only won by two points, he shut down the world and Olympic champion for well over five minutes of the bout.

Then, Tevanyan reached the finals with his third consecutive two-point victory. He downed two-time world medalist and fellow Individual World Cup champion, Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL), 6-4, to punch Armenia’s ticket to the Games.

Tevanyan will take on three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE) in Friday night’s 65kg finals.

For a second straight Olympic cycle, Aliyev was responsible for qualifying Azerbaijan for the Olympic Games. In ’15, he claimed world gold and locked up Azerbaijan’s spot for the Rio Olympic Games.

The 29-year-old breezed to a 5-1 semifinal win over Maxim SACULTAN (MDA). He surrendered a step out point in the first, but from there, it was a one-sided bout. The Rio Olympic bronze medalist scored a pair of takedowns and a step out point to reach the finals, 5-1.

For a second straight Olympic cycle, Aliyev was responsible for qualifying Azerbaijan for the Olympic Games. In ’15, he claimed world gold and locked up Azerbaijan’s spot for the Rio Olympic Games.

The 29-year-old breezed to a 5-1 semifinal win over Maxim SACULTAN (MDA). He surrendered a step out point in the first, but from there, it was a one-sided bout. The Rio Olympic bronze medalist scored a pair of takedowns and a step out point to reach the finals, 5-1.

Arsen Haruyyunyan was the second Armenian youngster who sealed up an Olympic license on Thursday.

The wiry Harutyunyan thumped Andrii YATSENKO (UKR), 10-0, and reached the 57kg finals.

The 21-year-old led 1-0 after the first but used a nine-point second period to pick up the technical superiority victory. Harutyunyan, the ’19 European champion at 61kg, turned defense into offense twice in the second period – scoring a pair of counter-offensive takedowns, before thunderously slamming Yatsenko to his back for four addition points. He tacked on a step out point and claimed his spot in the finals with a 10-0 victory.

Haruyyunyan will meet Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) for 57kg gold on Friday night. Vangelov earned Bulgaria’s Olympic spot at 57kg with a near-flawless 9-1 semifinal performance against Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE).

The 27-year-old Bulgarian had a slender 1-0 advantage (inactivity) after the opening period but opened the widened the gap in the second period with two high crotch takedowns and pair of leg laces.

At 74kg, Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE) joined Aliyev in securing Azerbaijan’s nod at the Olympic Games. The Azeri controlled the 74kg semifinals match against Maxim VASILIOGLO (ROU) and reached the finals, 7-0.

He’ll take on ’18 world runner-up Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) on Friday night for 74kg gold. The Georgian surrendered six point in the opening 30 seconds against Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL). He gave up a takedown and two gut wrenches to start the match down 6-0, but surged back to pick up the first period fall via cradle and punch Georgia’s ticket to the Olympic Games.

Ali SHABANAU (BLR) finished a shot on Akhmed MAGAMAEV (BUL) in the 86kg semifinals. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Ali SHABANAU (BLR) had a spectacular 86kg semifinals performance against Akhmed MAGAMAEV (BUL) and locked up Belarus’ Olympic berth with a 6-0 victory. The four-time world medalist will meet Osman GOCEN (TUR) for 86kg gold.

Gocen blasted his way to the 86kg gold-medal bout and locked up Turkey’s place at the Tokyo Olympic Games with a 16-6 win over ’18 world silver medalist Boris MAKOEV (SVK). Coming into the semifinals, Gocen’s opponent hadn’t conceded a single point on the day, but that all changed as the Turkish wrestler lit up the scoreboard with 16 points.

In the 97kg semifinals, Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR) had no problem with Abraham CONYEDO (ITA), as the Belarusian dominated his way to an Olympic berth with a 9-0 shutout win.

The second Turkish wrestler who secured an Olympic license was European champion Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR). He edged Erik THIELE (GER), 2-1, and will compete for gold on Friday night.

Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER) shows respect to Jamaladdin MAGOMEDOV (AZE) after their 125kg semifinals match. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER) gassed Jamaladdin MAGOMEDOV (AZE) in the 125kg match and rolled into the finals with what would have been a 15-6, but the Azeri was disqualified after giving up three cautions. The German trailed the former world runner-up 6-3 but used his high pace to wear down on the Azeri and scored 12 unanswered points.

The twelfth and final Olympic qualification placement went to Belarus, thanks to a last-second takedown by Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (BLR).

The match was filled with tension and drama and was fairly even, but Khramiankou trailed 4-2 with less than 10 seconds left in the closing period. The 24-year-old Belarusian spun behind and worked to get Sharipov’s knee to touch, but no points were awarded.

As time expired, the brick came in from Khramiankou’s corner, and after an intense review that left the big man on his hands and knees praying, the Belarusian was awarded the two-point takedown and the 4-4 criteria victory.

Khramiankou’s win stopped Russian from earning their sixth freestyle Olympic berth. The final opportunity they’ll have to qualify 125kg for Tokyo will be the World Olympic Qualifier in Bulgaria (May 6-9).

Wrestling returns on Friday morning at 11:00 (local time) with women’s wrestling. Follow all the action live on www.uww.org.

Semifinal Results
57kg
GOLD - Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) vs. Georgi VANGELOV (BUL)
SEMIFINAL - Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df. Andrii YATSENKO (UKR), 10-0
SEMIFINAL - Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) df. Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE), 9-1

65kg
GOLD - Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) vs. Haji ALIYEV (AZE)
SEMIFINAL - Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) df. Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL), 4-2
SEMIFINAL - Haji ALIYEV (AZE) df. Maxim SACULTAN (MDA), 5-1

74kg
GOLD - Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) vs. Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE)
SEMIFINAL - Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) df. Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL), via fall
SEMIFINAL - Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE) df. Maxim VASILIOGLO (ROU), 7-0

86kg
GOLD - Osman GOCEN (TUR) vs. Ali SHABANAU (BLR)
SEMIFINAL - Osman GOCEN (TUR) df. Boris MAKOEV (SVK), 16-6
SEMIFINAL - Ali SHABANAU (BLR) df. Akhmed MAGAMAEV (BUL), 6-0

97kg
GOLD - Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR) vs. Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR)
SEMIFINAL - Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR) df. Erik THIELE (GER), 2-1
SEMIFINAL - Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR) df. Abraham CONYEDO (ITA), 9-0

125kg
GOLD - Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER) vs. Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (BLR)
SEMIFINAL - Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (BLR) df. Shamil SHARIPOV (RUS), 4-4
SEMIFINAL - Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER) df. Jamaladdin MAGOMEDOV (AZE), 15-6