Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! February 19, 2018

Sunday, February 18, 2018 - 20:54 By Eric Olanowski

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Reviewing United World Wrestling's new documentary, the trio of Gray, Adar, and Weibe at the Klippan Lady Open. Also taking a look Susaki taking out Stadnik and Borrero Molina's insane five-point throw. 

1. Adeline Gray Proves She's Back!  

The Klippan Lady Open ended with a bang as three-time world champion Adeline GRAY (USA) closed out the tournament by picking up the come from behind win to defeat defending world champions Yasemin ADAR (TUR).

Gray trailed heading into the second period after Adar hit her with a beautiful four-point arm spin, taking the 4-2 lead. When asked about the arm-spin, Gray said “We practiced it in the warm-up. We knew she had a great arm-spin, so kudos to her for hitting it when it mattered.”

In the second period, Gray outscored Adar 7-2 to win the match 9-6 and reclaim her No. 1 spot in the United World Wrestling world rankings.

2. Sacrifice: Inside Cuba's Wrestling Powerhouse

What makes a wrestling nation strong? In Cuba, it's a combination of perseverance, strength ... and more than a little sacrifice. Watch, share and like with your friends! Help the world see the power of international wrestling.

3. Borrero Molina's Insane FIVE!

It's only mid-February, but when United World Wrestling releases our annual awards, we'll have a spot saved for 2016 Olympic champion Ismael BORRERO MOLINA's (CUB) five-point arm throw from the Granma Cup. 

Molina finished the Granma Cup with a 4-0 record and captured the 67kg gold medal. 

RESULTS: http://uww.io/iXuwz

4. Susaki Squeaks Out Win Over Stadnik 

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) kicked off the finals of the Klippan Open by defeating two-time world and Olympic silver medalist Mariya STADNIK (AZE), 2-1.

Susaki trailed nearly the entire match and did not take her first lead until Stadnik stepped out of bounds with15 seconds remaining in the match. This step out gave Susaki the 2-1 lead and eventually sealed her second Klippan Lady Open title in as many years. 

After the match, Susaki said “I was so excited after the match because it was my first win after my December loss. I knew this would be a one exchange match and I capitalized on that one exchange!”

5. Adar Scores Late, Knocks Off Olympic Champ Wiebe

In round one of the 2018 Klippan Lady Open, returning world champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR) used the go-ahead takedown with short time left to defeat 2016 Olympic champion, Eric Wiebe (CAN), 6-5.

Adar was placed on the shot clock in the first period as she was hit with her second passivity call. Unable to score, Wiebe took the lead on criteria heading into the second period.

In the second period, Adar picked up her first takedown of the match with one minute remaining. Wiebe then took the 5-3 lead after scoring four points off a snatch single to a leg lace. Adar struck with a last-second takedown, earing the 6-5 victory.

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media 

Henna JOHANSSON (SWE) celebrates her come from behind win over U23 world runner-up, Braxton STONE (CAN) to win the 65kg bronze medal. 

While training at the ORTC with Kyle Snyder, Taha Akgul (TUR) spends his rest day watching Ohio State University basketball.

#WrestleZagreb

Yousofi wins gold in Zagreb to enter Iran's 130kg race

Sunday, February 9, 2025 - 19:32 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (February 9) -- Iran has selection headache at 130kg. But it's a good one to have.

With Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) and Fardin HEYDAYTI (IRI) already fighting for the spot, Aliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI) has thrown his hat in the process with gold medal at the Zagreb Open.

The 2021 world champion last competed internationally in the 2023 Budapest Ranking Series but returned as the new Olympic cycle began. And his first victim was European champion Sergey SEMENOV (AIN) who stunned Riza KAYAALP (TUR) in the 130kg final to win gold.

Yousofi defeated Sememnov 10-1 in the opening bout, stopped Koppany LASZLO (HUN) 6-1 and won 9-1 against Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE).

In the final, Yousofi was put in par terre first against Konsta MAEENPAEAE (FIN) tried the gut wrench but was blocked by Yousofi for two points. Then came the series of stepouts, a typical Iranian style of wrestling as Yousofi claimed a 9-1 victory the gold medal.

Iran's second gold medal came at 82kg as Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) defeated Erik SZILVASSY (HUN), 6-2, in the final. Szilvassy is a world silver medalist, having lost to Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) in the final in Tirana last year.

Farokhi was too much for Szilvassy who failed to keep up with the force of Farokhi and gave up stepouts as well.

But Iran would be disappointed at the results of 72kg as both Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) and Danial SOHRABI (IRI) lost to 19-year-old Levente LEVAI (HUN). Geraei suffered a loss in the semifinals while Sohrabi was stunned in the final by the teenager.

The final began in a very untraditional manner with Sohrabi getting cautioned for finger grabbing, which gave Levai a 2-0 lead. He was also put in par terre but Levai failed to score but still enjoyed a 3-0 lead.

Sohrabi came back with two stepouts and one point for par terre to make it 3-3 but he trailed on criteria as he was cautioned for two points early in the bout. Unaware of the criteria winner, Sohrabi was not in any attacking mode but with around a minute remaining, he realized that he is trailing on criteria.

A series of desperate attacks were made including one flying squirrel but Levai managed to defend all of them. Sohrabi asked for a challenge for the flying squirrel but no points were awarded on review, giving an extra point to Levai for lost challenge and a further cushion for victory.

In a weight class which had two world champions from Tirana, none finished on the podium. The 60kg weight class had Edlaniz AZIZLI (AZE) and Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) but both lost to the unheralded Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB) who in turn lost to U23 world champion and compatriot Alisher GANIEV (UZB) 9-0 in the semifinals.

From the other side of the bracket, Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) made it to the final against Ganiev who was leading 4-0 when a moment of brilliance from Tibilov changed it all.

In the second period of the match, Tibilov scissor jumped over Ganiev and the spun the Uzbek like a cartwheel for four points. The move gave Tibilov a 4-4 criteria lead and Uzbekistan challenged the call but lost to make the score 5-4. A second passivity further extended his lead to 6-4.

At 55kg, Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) denied Iran a gold medal, blanking Mahdi AHADI ZENAB (IRI), 6-0.

Sargsian beats Khaslakanau

Artur SARGSIAN (AIN) suffered a heartbreaking elbow injury at the World Championships in Belgrade in 2023. After more than a year of being away from action, Sargsian marked his return with a gold medal at 97kg. He defeated former U20 world champion and Paris Olympian Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN), 5-2, in the final.

Khaslakhanau was awarded the first par terre advantage of the final but he failed to score a point from that position. Soon, Sargsian launched a sag bodylock for four points which Khaslakhanau challenged for a leg four. But it was clean move from Sargsian who now led 5-1.

Khaslakhanau was giving another passivity advantage in the second period but he failed to score from that as well as Sargsian defended his 5-2 lead with ease.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) df. Mahdi AHADI ZENAB (IRI), 6-0

BRONZE: Brady KOONTZ (USA) df. Artium DELEANU (MDA), 9-1

60kg
GOLD: Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) df. Alisher GANIEV (UZB), 6-4

BRONZE: Sadyk LALAEV (AIN) df. Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB), 9-0
BRONZE: Pouya NASERPOUR (IRI) df. Huseyn GARIBOV (AZE), 9-1

72kg
GOLD: Levente LEVAI (HUN) df. Danial SOHRABI (IRI), 4-3

BRONZE: Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE) df. Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Krisztian VANCZA (HUN) df. Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE), via inj. def.

82kg
GOLD: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) df Erik SZILVASSY (HUN), 6-2

BRONZE: Mihail BRADU (MDA) df. Karlo KODRIC (CRO), 2-1
BRONZE: Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) df. Vasile COJOC (ROU), 9-0

97kg
GOLD: Artur SARGSIAN (AIN) df. Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN), 5-2

BRONZE: Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) df. Shayan HABIBZARE (IRI)
BRONZE: Alex SZOKE (HUN) df. Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN), 7-1

130kg
GOLD: Konsta MAEENPAEAE (FIN) Aliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI)

BRONZE: Marat KAMPAROV (AIN) df. Beka KANDELAKI (AZE), 3-2
BRONZE: Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE) df. Koppany LASZLO (HUN), via fall