Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! August 20, 2018

By Eric Olanowski

Reviewing results from the Asian Games, and the 2018 Pan-American Junior Championships. Also taking a look at Lebanon's first continental medalist ever. 

1. Yazdani Captures 86kg Asiad Gold, Iran Lands Pair of Golds 
World and Olympic champion Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) stormed to the 86kg gold medal at the Asian Games, helping Iran grab one of their two gold medals on the opening day of competition. Yazdani, who earned his first career title at the Asian Championships in Bishkek earlier this year, completely overwhelmed Domenic ABOUNADER (LBN) in the 86kg finals, taking just 1:29 to score a 10-0 technical fall. 

Iran picked up its second gold when Ali KARIMI (IRI) scored with a 4-point move in the first period and cruised to a 6-0 victory in the 97kg final over five-time Asian medalist Magomed MUSAEV (KGZ). 

RESULTS 
57kg GOLD - Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL) df. KANG Kum Song (PRK), 8-2 
65kg GOLD - Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) df. Daichi TAKATANI (JPN), 11-8
74kg GOLD - Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) df. Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ), 3-2
86kg GOLD - Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) df. Domenic ABOUNADER (LBN) by TF, 10-0, 1:29 
97kg GOLD - Alireza KARIMI (IRI) df. Magomed MUSAEV (KGZ), 6-0

Click HERE for full opening day recap 

2. USA Finishes Team Sweep with Nine Freestyle Champions at #Fortaleza2018
The United States produced nine freestyle champions at the 2018 Junior Pan American Championship in Fortaleza, Brazil, winning the team title 93 points ahead of second place Canada. Mexico, with its 100 points finished four points ahead of Brazil and grabbed the bronze medal. 

Jonathan PRATA ALAS (ARG) was the lone non-American to leave Brazil with a freestyle gold medal. 

Prata Alaz, the 2017 Cadet South American champion won the title with a thrilling victory over Kevin CHAVEZ BETANCUR (COL) that saw multiple points scored in the final 30 seconds.

Prata had his hand raised in a 10-6 win and earned the freestyle Golden Boot.

Team scores (top five)
1. USA – 240
2. Canada – 147
3. Mexico – 100
4. Brazil – 96
5. Colombia - 75

Click HERE for full freestyle recap 

3. Canada and Mexico Boast Three Champs, USA Wins Women's Freestyle Team Title at #Fortaleza2018
North America ran away with the top-three spots in the team race of the women’s freestyle tournament at the 2018 Junior Pan American Championships, with USA taking first, followed by Mexico and Canada.

Mariela ESCALANTE HERNANDEZ defeated Greidy ESTUPINAN PEREZ (COL) in the 50kg finals, 5-3 to give Mexico their first gold women's wrestling gold medal. Atzimba LANDAVERDE MORENO (65kg) and Miriam OLVERA GONZALEZ (76kg) also won continental gold medals, helping Mexico score 152 points and the silver medal in the team race. 

Three 2017 Junior Pan Am runner-ups made it to the top of the podium for Canada. Gold medalists included Jayd DAVIS at 53kg, Hannah TAYLOR at 57kg and Dejah SLATER at 68kg. 

Two additional bronze-medal performances and a silver pushed Canada onto the podium with 135 points and the third-place team trophy, edging out Brazil’s 131 points. 

Team results (top five)
1. USA – 172
2. Mexico – 152
3. Canada – 135
4. Brazil – 131
5. Colombia – 80

Click HERE for full women's wrestling recap 

4. Domenic ABOUNADER (LBN) Captures Lebanon's First Continental Medal Ever 
American-born Domenic ABOUNADER (LBN) may have fell to Hassan Yazdani in the 86kg finals, but he gave Lebanon its first-ever continental medal.

Abounader showed he could handle the added pressure as two of his victories came by one point---an 8-7 decision over Aligadzhi GAMIDGADZHIEV (KGZ) in the quarterfinals and a 10-9 thriller over Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ). 

Prior to Abounader's arrival in the final, the best previous finish at an Asian tournament was Khodr BCHARA's sixth place in Greco-Roman 130kg in the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing. 

Click HERE for full Asian Games recap

5. USA Wins Greco-Roman Team Title with Six Champions at #Fortaleza2018
The United States claimed the Greco-Roman team title at the 2018 Junior Pan American Championships, claiming six gold medals on Friday in Fortaleza, Brazil. 

Winning titles for the U.S. was 2017 Junior World silver medalist Cevion SEVERADO at 55kg, Dylan GREGERSON at 63kg, Lenny MERKIN at 72kg, Cameron CAFFEY at 87kg, Austin HARRIS at 9 kg and Anthony CASSIOPPI at 130kg. 

Cassioppi repeated the 2017 Junior Pan American Greco-Roman champion, defending his 2017 title when he pinned Paul MORALES (MEX) early in the finals. 

He was the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler. 

Click HERE for full Greco-Roman recap

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media 

1. Big Move Monday!

2. UWW Regional Development Officer and former Olympic wrestler Yuri Maier carries the Olympic flame before the start of the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires.

3. Sick foot sweep from Enrique PEREZ CASTELLANOS (GUA) in men’s freestyle action of the 2018 Junior Pan American Championships #Fortaleza2018

4. It’s almost the weekend. Throw everything you have into today.

5. Faces of #AsianGames2018 Лица Азиатских Игр. #вольнаяборьба#АзиатскиеИгры#узбекистан#казахстан#кыргызстан#иран#монголия#лица#Faces#indonesia#freestylewrestling#korea#mongolia#uzbekistan#kazakhstan#kyrgyzstan

#WrestleTirana

Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series Freestyle Finals

By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (February 26) -- The second Ranking Series of 2025, Muhamet Malo, is underway in Tirana, Albania. Kicking off with Freestyle, six weight class will be held on day one -- 57kg, 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 74kg and 86kg

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

15:30: Chandler MARSTELLER (USA) and Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) enter the 86kg final after contrasting wins. Marsteller controlled his way to a 4-0 win over Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL) while Sakayev hangs on for a 4-4 criteria win over Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO).

15:20: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) finds a way to beat Yones EMAMI (IRI) 8-3 in the 74kg semifinal. A big armthrow for two points for Valiev which he challenged to ask for four points. Emami with a takedown to lead 3-2 at break. But Valiev switches levels in the second period with six points including a takedown and gut wrench to win 803. He will face Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) in the final. Salkazanov will be aiming for his second straight Ranking Series gold medal after he defeated Magoma DIBIRGADZHIEV (UWW) 5-0 in the other semifinal. Two takedowns in his win.

15:15: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) blanks Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO) 6-0 to enter the 70kg final. He will take on Asian silver medalist Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) who hangs on for a 2-1 win over James GREEN (USA) despite Green's multiple efforts to score. Aoyagi with some sneaky defense.

15:05: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) is into another Ranking Series final but not without a fight. Real WOODS (USA) had him in trouble in the first period with a takedown but Amouzad kept the pace of the bout and score seven stepouts, two takedowns and a point for Woods fleeing to win 13-2

Amouzad will face Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) in the final after the Kyrgyz beat Kaisei TANABE (JPN) 14-3 in the other semifinal. Zhumashbek led 1-1 on criteria but was put on activity clock again but he scored two points via attempted suplex. Tanabe blocked his second throw attempt and scored two. Tanabe challenged but there was no change in scoring and it gave Zhumashbek Uulu another point. A takedown later, Zhumashbek led 8-3 before he finished the bout with another throw for four and turn for two.

14:50: Takara SUDA (JPN), making his international debut at senior level, blanks Artem GOBAEV (UWW) 9-0 in the 61kg semifinals. After leading 3-0, Suda with a huge suplex for four and two stepouts to win 9-2. He will take on Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) in the final who beat Stilyan ILIEV (BUL) 7-1 in the other semifinal.  

14:40: Ali Hossein MOMENI (IRI) takes out Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ) 6-2 in the first semifinal of 57kg. Huge win for Momeni who will now take on Aiaal BELOLYUBSKII (TJK) who just became the first Tajik wrestler to reach a Ranking Series final after beating Sultan KURMANALIYEV (KAZ) 10-4.

14:10: Cherman VALIEV (ALB) sets up a 74kg semifinal against Yones EMAMI (IRI) after a 5-1 win over Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ). Valiev was down 1-1 on criteria but he gets on Toktomambetov's leg and blocks a chest wrap for two points. A gut wrench gives him two more as he settles for a 5-1 win.

14:00: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) continues to be solid his underhook game and U23 world silver medalist Kaiji OGINO (JPN) found no way to break that grip. Amouzad posts a 4-0 win and marches into the semifinals at 65kg.

13:53: Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) with a front headlock exposure over Bilol SHARIP UULU (KGZ) with two seconds remaining in the 65kg quarterfinal to win 3-2. Sharip Uulu challenges but the move was in time. One more point for Zhumashbek Uulu to make it 4-2 

13:45: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) will be upset with himself for not attacking from the word go but he manages to survive a huge upset against Vasile DAICON (MDA). Daicon was leading 2-0 when Tevanyan made desperate attempts to score. He gets a stepout and Daicon a fleeing caution to give Tevanyan a 2-2 criteria lead. Daicon challenges the call but the original fleeing decision is confirmed. A lost challenge added to Tevanyan's score who wins 3-2

13:40: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) blanks William LEWAN (USA) 11-0 at 70kg. The Asian silver medalist is likely to go all the way and has looked in stunning form this tournament. James GREEN (USA) waits next in the semifinals.

13:25: Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) looks very good at 61kg. He rolls to an 11-0 win over Daviti ABDALADZE (GEO). Arten GOBAEV (UWW) wins his bout as well and a Mongush vs Gobaev final looks inevitable at 61kg.

13:05: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) was with unreal speed in his attacks as Narek HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) fails to stop him and Valiev wins 9-0 in his first bout at 74kg. Valiev retuning to the mat since his bronze medal in Paris.

12:50: Big upset on Mat A as Bilol SHARIP UULU (KGZ) beats U23 world champion Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) 14-4 at 65kg. Ibragimov was leading 4-2 but Sharip Uulu with a traparm gut-wrench and 12 straight points to claim victory.

12:40: Islam DUDAEV (ALB) faces a tough one in Kaisei TANABE (JPN). Dudaev with a cut-back using his hands but it is scored two points each with Dudaev leading on criteria. Tanabe with a takedown and gut wrench to make it 8-2. Dudaev scores to cut the lead to 8-4 at the break. Dudaev continues his comeback with another takedown and is now down 8-6 with 45 seconds remaining. Tanabe throws himself on the mat once Dudaev gets to his leg and Dudaev scores a takedown to lead 8-8 on criteria. Dudaev on the legs, Tanabe sitting in the final few seconds and Tanabe scores exposure to win 10-8 just within time.

12:30: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) with a underhook masterclass in his bout against Goderdzi DZEBISASHVILI (GEO). He scores two stepouts and then gets an activity point. A stunning takedown to lead 5-0 at the break. He adds two more takedowns in the second period, and a throw for four to win 13-0 with around two minutes remaining.

12:20: Nachyn KUULAR (KAZ), a former U23 world champion, is turning up for Kazakhstan at 70kg. This is his first UWW event in six years. He takes on Vasile DAICON (MDA) in the 1/8 final. Kuular put on activity clock and Daicon leads 1-0 at the break. Daicon with a single leg attack and converts it into a takedown for a 3-0 lead. He adds another takedown with a minute remaining to lead 5-0. Leg lace on Kuular and Daicon wins 11-0. Kuular's comeback ends in unfortunate way.

12:00: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) got two activity points and a takedown as he beats Mihail GEORGIEV (BUL) 4-0 at 70kg. He is wrestling a weight class up than his preferred 65kg.

 

11:45: Artem GOBAEV (UWW) has no trouble seeing off Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ) at 61kg. In the next UWW vs KAZ bout at 61kg, Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) with two takedowns in his 4-0 win over Mukhamed BALGABAY (KAZ).

11:25: Ali Hossein MOMENI (IRI) and Hadi REZAEI (IRI) were clubbed together in the opening round of 57kg and Momeni comes out unscathed 6-1. Rezaei with a desperate headlock throw in the final seconds but is awarded only two. He challenges for a four but loses the challenge. Momeni's win revised to 7-3

11:20: Asian champion Kento YUMIYA (JPN) was stuck in a leg lace and fell behind 14-6 against Manvel KHNDZRTSYAN (ARM) at 57kg. But he unleashes a leg lace on Khndzrtsyan and cuts to score to 14-10. A stepout to make it 14-11. Underhook dense till the end of the time by Khndzrtsyan and he wins 14-11.

11:10: At 74kg, Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) with a 2-1 win over Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN). All three points scored were activity points!

11:00: Paris Olympic bronze medalist Islam DUDAEV (ALB) up against Klevisi PRECI (ALB) and he impresses with a 12-0 blanking of his compatriot. Dudaev looked on the mat with

10:40: A little warm up for Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) but he manages to post a controlled 7-0 win over Nursultan SDYK (KAZ) at 65kg. Soon after, Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ) with a thrilling 8-7 win over Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG).

10:30: Welcome to Tirana for the second Ranking Series of the year. Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI), the Olympic silver medalist from Paris, is up on the mat straightaway.