Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! December 3, 2018

Monday, December 3, 2018 - 13:30 By Eric Olanowski

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Discussing the inaugural AWL, MBR Creative Sports Award, and Wrestling 4 All Open Day. Also looking at the joint referees and coaches courses in Guatemala and Georgia. 

1. United World Wrestling Wins MBR Creative Sports Award, $250k for Development Work

United World Wrestling has won the "MBR Creative Sports Award" for the best initiative for an International Summer Olympic International Federation. The award, one of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, was in recognition of United World Wrestling’s development program “More than Medals” a Cadet-level wrestling initiative active on five continents in 2018. 

The 2018 More than Medals program ran from February to July and impacted more than 200 young wrestlers and coaches to qualify for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The award, worth $250,000, was announced as part of the MBR Creative Sports Award 10th annual award and is the “primary sports award dedicated to inspiring creativity in sports in the UAE, Arab countries, and worldwide.”

“We are very grateful for this recognition and see it as a sign that our hard work in reaching young athletes is having a positive effect,” said United World Wrestling president and IOC executive board member, Nenad Lalovic. “The MBR Creative Sports Award will go far in helping expand the reach of our development department.” 

Click here to read more about the MBR Creative Sports Award

2. United World Wrestling and Partners Host “Wrestling 4 All Open Day” in South Africa

United World Wrestling, in partnership with Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and coordination by the South African Wrestling Federation, is hosted a “Wrestling 4 All Open Day” on December 1st in Randburg South Africa. 

The event was coordinated in recognition of the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“We are happy to be partnered with the [OHCHR] for this event,” said United World Wrestling president Nenad Lalovic. “Our goal is to grow the sport of wrestling and show it’s unique power to bring people together through sport. We believe that wrestling can be physical fitness and fun for all ages, but also allow for better dialogue among those who have disagreements.”

The “Wrestling 4 All Open Day” is an opportunity for kids, youth and adults in the area to participate in a variety of wrestling-related events. In addition to an Olympic style wrestling tournament, there will be beach wrestling and fitness activities. Their day will also feature United World Wrestling’s “Wrestle4Fun” program run by human rights champion Mpho MADI (RSA). Children up to 13 years of age are eligible to participate in the games session.

Coaches and athletes interested in high-level fitness certifications also participated in the day’s events. United World Wrestling global supplier Suples Wrestling, led by founder Ivan Ivanov, hosted a two-day certification camp allowing attendees to learn more about how to utilize equipment for wrestling-based training.

Click here to read more about “Wrestling 4 All Open Day."

3. Joint Referees and Coaches Educator Courses for Wrestling Hosted in Guatemala, Georgia 

Oil and water. Cats and dogs. Referees and coaches. Some things in this world simply don’t mix.

In wrestling that conflict between referees and coaches may soon be improving. In an effort to harmonize the rule keepers and the men and women tasked with leading teams to victory, United World Wrestling has delivered a pair of educator courses in Guatemala and Georgia attended by both referees and coaches.

“The aim of the course is wonderful because the referees and the coaches learn new teaching techniques and debate on various areas to improve the sport of wrestling,” said United World Wrestling development director Deqa Niamkey. “It’s all about perspective and now they have shared experience and dialogue which will serve the sport.”

The courses were the result of the Referee Development Programme launched after the UWW Bureau Meeting in Paris 2017, with numerous educational courses organized to enhance and synchronize the courses provided by UWW. The first course was delivered in Manchester, Great Britain for English speakers in November 2017 and was available to referees and coaches from all five continents.

The 2018 Americas course was delivered at the Centro Alto Rendimentio (CARDA) in Guatemala City November 15-20 under the supervision of referee instructor Abraham GALVA (PUR) and development officer Vincent Aka, while the Georgian Wrestling Federation hosted the Russian speakers course under the supervision of referee instructor Ibrahim CICOGLU (TUR), Vaclav SCHEINER (CZE), and Vincent AKA (CIV) with the assistance of Petru TOARCA (ROM).

“The course was amazing. It is an eye-opener of new views, approach, philosophy of learning and transferring knowledge to younger generations,” said Davor PETANJEK (CRO) 1s Referee and instructor. “We need more collaboration and communication between the two groups. It is time that we assist our national federations in their development process and provide educational courses in the future with trained UWW Educators”

Click here to read more about the joint referees and coaches educator courses 

4. Starosta Named Rayko Petrov Award Winner

 The International Network of Wrestling Researchers (INWR), in conjunction with the Scientific Commission of United World Wrestling (UWW), presented Wlodzimierz STAROSTA (POL) the Rayko Petrov Award at the at the UWW Scientific Commission "Challenge and Perspectives in Wrestling" symposium held Nov. 21-22 in Kiev, Ukraine.

Starosta is the founding President of the International Association of Sport Kinetics (IASK) and a well-known researcher. He has published numerous books and papers focusing strongly on the advancement of human development and sports kinetics.

During his professional academic career, Starosta spent time at the University School of Physical Education and Tourism in Bialystok, University School of Physical Education in Poznan (Gorzow) and Research Institute of Sport in Warsaw.

The Rayko Petrov Award is named in honor of Rayko PETROV, a coach, scientist, pedagogue and outstandingly erudite person who dedicated all his life to the "romantic idea, love, and magic…" of wrestling. His published hundreds of titles in scientific publications, textbooks, manuals, programs, sports regulations and over 80 books. He was inducted into the UWW Hall of Fame in 2010.

5. Team Taylor beats Team Dake, 7-3 in Inaugural AWL The Begining

The U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, hosted the inaugural “American Wrestling League I The Beginning” last Saturday and Team David Taylor knocked off Team Kyle Dake, 7-3. 

The dual began at 70kg where two-time world medalist James GREEN kicked the evening off with a win for Team Dake. That would be the last time Team Dake had the lead, as Team Taylor went on a five-match win streak heading into the 125kg bout. At 125kg, Team Dake’s Dom BRADLEY was expected to take on 2018 Greco-Roman world finalist Adam COON (USA). Coon unexpectedly withdrew from the competition and Zach REY  stepped in for Team Taylor. Bradley eventually went on to beat Ray, giving Team Dake their second win of the dual, narrowing Team Taylor's lead to 5-2. 

A pair of wins for Nico MEGALUDIS and Cory CLARK locked up the win for Team Taylor, but the most anticipated match of the night was yet to come. At 65kg, the premier bout of night lived up to hype as Jordan OLIVER (USA) held on to defeat Zain RETHERFORD (USA) in a 24 point shoot-out. 

Retherford, USA's 2017 world team member, had an early lead in the opening period, but Oliver struck back and took the 4-3 lead before Oliver opened the bout up with a massive five-point move, extending his lead to 9-3 heading into the final period.

Oliver grabbed a takedown early in the second period and fell into prevent mode after leading 11-4. Retherford stormed back, scoring seven unanswered points and closed Oliver's lead to two points, but Oliver eventually held on to win 13-11. 

Each of the starters from Team Dake and Team Taylor picked up $2,500 to show, and $5,000. 

AWL I Results (Team Taylor df. Team Dake, 7-3) 
57kg - Nico MEGALUDIS (Team Taylor) df. Frank PERRELLI (Team Dake), 7-2 
61kg - Cory CLARK (Team Taylor) df.  Tony RAMOS (Team Dake), 8-0 
65kg - Jordan OLIVER(Team Dake) df. Zain RETHERFORD (Team Taylor), 13-11
70kg - James GREEN (Team Dake) df. Brandon SORENSEN (Team Taylor), 10-0 
74kg - Tommy GANTT (Team Taylor) df. Richie LEWIS (Team Dake), 7-2
79kg - Alex DIERINGER (Team Taylor) df.  Isaiah MARTINEZ (Team Dake), 4-2
86kg - Sam BROOKS (Team Taylor) df.  Nick HEFLIN (Team Dake), 11-4
92kg - Mike MACCHIAVELLO (Team Taylor)  df. Deron WINN (Team Dake), 8-0
97kg - Kyven GADSON (Team Taylor)  df. Jacob KASPER (Team Dake), 5-2 
125kg - Dom BRADLEY (Team Dake) vs. Zach Rey (Team Taylor), 3-2 

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media 

1. Big Move Monday! 
2. "Wrestling 4 All Open Day" 
3. Black and white photos from World Championships 
4. Photo of Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) from the 2008 Junior World Championships
5. World champion @Stepa_59_ shows off his belt and medal collection!

#WrestleBudapest

Big-throwing Machado claims debut Ranking Series gold

Monday, July 21, 2025 - 11:08 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 20) -- Thamires MACHADO (BRA) made brief headlines at the Pan-American Olympic Games Qualifiers in Mexico. She threw Amit ELOR (USA) for a lateral drop for four points. Machado had Elor in trouble which could have seen Elor, the champion in Paris Games, lose early. However, Machado fizzled out and lost her bout 6-4.

A year later on Saturday, the Brazilian won her first major gold medal at the Budapest Ranking Series after a stunning show of strength and big throws at the Ranking Series over the weekend.

"In every practice back home, I try to do the four-point moves. I want to throw," Machado said after receiving the gold medal.

In other weight classes, Grace BULLEN (NOR) had another epic match with Irina RINGACI (MDA) and won gold at 65kg and Kennedy BLADES (USA) won another Ranking Series gold to remain undefeated at 68kg going into the World Championships.

European champion Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) and Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) won at 55kg and 62kg respectively.

Machado, competing in her first-ever Ranking Series event, won the 76kg gold medal with wins over Asian champion Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) and world U20 champion PRIYA (IND) in semifinal and final, respectively.

In the gold-medal bout, Machadofaced former world U17 and U20 champion Priya and used a similar lateral drop like she did against Elor to score a four-pointer over Priya in the first minute.

Priya was pushing for a stepout and Machado used that momentum to drop her for four-points. It was catch-up from there on for Priya who failed to score any points in the first period. She got a stepout in the second get on board. Struggling to get to Machado's legs, Priya forced another stepout to make it 4-2.

Machado was put on the activity clock in the last minute but she was happy to conceded that point than to go for all-out attack during those 30 seconds. Priya also waited for the activity clock to expire before pushing for a point, perhaps a mistake to take her foot of the pedal in the final minute.

During that time, Machado managed to catch her breath and defended all attacks, including one in the last five seconds to win 4-3 and the gold medal.

"I am happy to win this gold medal in Ranking Series," she said. "This is so special for me"

In the semifinals, Machado got the better of Medet Kyzy, who opened the scoring with a double-leg takedown for two points. She led 3-0 at the break as Machado failed to score after being put on the 30-second activity clock.

Machado got her first points when she defended a leg attack from Medet Kyzy and scored a go-behind takedown. She then launched a powerful gut-wrench and turned her three times to lead 8-3. Two stepouts in quick succession for Medet Kyzy cut Machado's lead to 8-5 but the Kyrgyzstan wrestler had only a minute left to score more points and secure the win.

As they scrambled for the final minute, Machado and Medet Kyzy locked each other at the edge but it was the latter who fell outside of the zone first which gave another point to Machado with 33 seconds left. Machado held her positions better than Medet Kyzy and managed to score another stepout to lead 10-5 and win the bout.

Born in one of the favellas in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Machado was part of one of the social project by the local council which taught wrestling to young kids. She joined the program and managed to learn wrestling.

In 2019, she won gold medal at the Pan-Am U20 Championships, her second ever competition. For five years, she was away from wrestling, but in 2024, she returned and won the Henri Deglane Grand Prix and was second at the 2025 Pan-Am Championships.

Bullen survives Ringaci

If both remain at the same weight class in the future, the Bullen-Ringaci rivalry can be the most fearsome in Women's Wrestling. The latest example was their 65kg final in Budapest where Bullen, down 16-8, pinned Ringaci was claim her second win over the former world champion in four months.

Ringaci, who needed one more turn from par terre or just survive the pin from Bullen, was frustrated with yet another loss and pushed aside Bullen after the bout.

The match began with a wonderful counter from Ringaci, who hit a cut-back after a Bullen snap to pass-by and got four points. Watch above. While Bullen survived the fall attempt, she fell behind 6-0.

A little later, it was Ringaci's chance survive a pin attempt from Bullen who lifted Ringaci well over her waist-level and slammed her for four. The first period ended with Bullen leading 6-6 on criteria.

Bullen tried the exact move of snap to pass-by in the second period and this time she succeeded, scoring two points and taking a clear 8-6 lead. Ringaci scored a takedown 30 seconds into the second period and scored six more points using three gut-wrenches. As she was going for the final turn to win the bout, Bullen blocked and got the headlock to pin Ringaci.

An aghast Ringaci was left in tears as Bullen herself was shocked to have won the bout, having snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

At 68kg, Kennedy BLADES (USA) had a fine tournament, winning her second Ranking Series event and third tournament of 2025. In the final, she defeated Noemi SZABADOS (HUN), 13-2, a wrestler she had defeated 10-0 at the Zagreb Open in February.

The only bout she was not able to win via technical superiority was her semifinal against Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) as the Bulgarian was able to stop Blades to a 6-2 win. Blades had little injury scare in the final few seconds of the match but managed to continue.

Verbina captured the 55kg gold medal after a controlled 6-1 win over Karla GODINEZ (CAN) in the final while Tandelova blanked Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) 3-0 in the 62kg final.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) df. Karla GODINEZ (CAN), 6-1

BRONZE: Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) df. Amory ANDRICH (GER), 10-0

62kg
GOLD: Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) df. Alina KASABIEVA (UWW), 3-0

BRONZE: Ana GODINEZ (CAN) df. Nikolett SZABO (HUN), 10-0
BRONZE: MANISHA (IND) df. Krystsina SAZYKINA (UWW), via fall (9-0)

65kg
GOLD: Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Irina RINGACI (MDA), via fall (10-16)

BRONZE: Eniko ELEKES (HUN) df. Ekaterina KOSHKINA (UWW), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Macey KILTY (USA) df. Kadriye KOCAK AKSOY (TUR), 10-4

68kg
GOLD: Kennedy BLADES (USA) df. Noemi SZABADOS (HUN), 13-2

BRONZE: Brooklyn HAYS (USA) df. Hyeonyeong PARK (KOR), 5-4
BRONZE: Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) df. Alina SHEVCHENKO (UWW), 11-1

76kg
GOLD: Thamires MACHADO (BRA) df. PRIYA (IND), 4-3

BRONZE: Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) df. Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW), 11-0
BRONZE: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Seoyeon JEONG (KOR), 12-1