Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! February 26, 2019

By Eric Olanowski

Discussing this week's Dan Kolov and Russia's 2019 Freestyle World Cup Rosters. Also reviewing results from the Hungarian and German Grand Prix' and the Cerro Pelado. 

1. Dan Kolov - Nikola Petrov Begins Thursday 

Four Olympic gold medalists and four world champions have entered this week’s Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov tournament, United World Wrestling’s second freestyle and women's wrestling Ranking Series event of the 2019 season.

Two-time defending world champion Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) and Olympic champions Taha AKGUL (TUR), Jordan BURROUGHS (USA), Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA), and Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (IRI) have each signed up to compete in Ruse.

While on the women’s side defending world champions Petra OLLI (FIN), RONG Ningning (CHN), and Taybe Mustafa YUSEIN (BUL) are all scheduled to wrestle.

Winner of the Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov will be awarded eight (8) points, with second, third and fifth place grabbing six (6), four (4), and two (2) points respectively.

In addition to the placement points, wrestlers will receive additional points based on the number of participants in their bracket. For weight categories with 10 or fewer entries, an additional six (6) points will be added. For categories with 11-20 wrestlers entered an additional eight (8) points will be added. Ten (10) points will be added to any weight category with more than 20 entries.

The two remaining freestyle and women's wrestling Rankings Series events are the Sassari (May 24), and the Yasar Dogu (July 12).

If you missed the first Ranking Series event, the Ivan Yariguin, click here to view the event hub. 

2. Lorincz Lifts Host Nation to Hungarian Grand Prix Title  

Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) picked up his second Ranking Series title of the year with a 6-0 shutout victory over Algeria's Ivan LIZATOVIC in the 87kg Hungarian Open finals, catapulting the host nation to the top of the leaderboard, five points above Iran, who led after the first nine weight classes.

In the finals, the Hungarian exposed his Algerian opponent twice with a pair of gut wrenches after the Lizatovic was dinged for passivity, and owned the 5-0 lead. A second period step out gave Lorincz the 6-0 advantage and his second Ranking Series gold of the season. The Hungarian also had a title-winning performance at the Zagreb Open two weeks ago. 

Lorincz is quietly building a case to be looked at as one of the most dominate Greco-Roman wrestlers in the world after the first two Ranking Series events. Lorincz has an undefeated 9-0 record this season and has scored six shutout victories while outscoring his opponents 45-8.

The host nation Hungary (91 points), who wasn’t even in the top-five after the opening day of wrestling, edged Iran (86 points) by five points to win the team title. Ukraine (83points), Turkey (68 points) and Korea (65 points) rounded out the top-five, respectively.

FINALS RESULTS
55kg - Ilkhom BAKHROMOV (UZB) df. Reza Kheirollah KHEDRI (IRI), 6-4
60kg - Seunghak KIM (KOR) df. Firuz TUKHTAEV (UZB), via inj. def. 
63kg - Shinobu OTA (JPN) df. Erbatu TUO (CHN), 6-0 
67kg - Hansu RYU (KOR) df. Ruslan KUDRYNETS (UKR), 8-1 
72kg - Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Sachino DAVITAIA (GEO), via inj. def. 
77kg - Viktor NEMES (SRB) df. Dmytro PYSHKOV (UKR), 2-1 
82kg - Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Rajbek BISULTANOV (DEN), 7-1
87kg - Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) df. Bachir SID AZARA (ALG), 6-0 
97kg - Tracy Gangelo HANCOCK (USA) df. Fatih BASKOY (TUR), 3-3 
130kg - Heiki NABI (EST) df. Georgi CHUGOSHVILI (BLR), 2-0 

Day One Wrap 
Day Two Wrap 

3. Russia Releases World Cup Roster 
World champions Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (70kg) and Zaurbek SIDAKOV (74kg) lead the Russian Federation’s 20-man roster for the 2019 Freestyle World Cup. 

The 2018 freestyle world champions will be without world champions Zaur UGUEV (57kg) and Abdulrashid SADULAEV (97kg), and two-time world runner-up RASHIDOV Gadshimurad (61kg),  but their lineup will feature 2018 third-place finishers Akhmed CHAKAEV (65kg) and Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (79kg). 

For Russia to earn top-billing in 2019, the home side will need to win a Group A side which includes a resurgent Cuban team, Japan, and Turkey. 

The United States heads up Group B but faces steep competition from a Georgia squad rife with former world and Olympic champions, including two-time defending heavyweight world champion Geno PETRIASHVILLI. A young Iranian team and ever-improving Mongolia squad fill out Group B. 

Group A - RUS (1), CUB (4), JPN (5), TUR (8)
Group B - USA (2), GEO (3), IRI (6), MGL (7)

The 2019 Freestyle World Cup beings on March 16 in Yakutsk, Russia, and will be live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org. 

Russia’s World Cup Roster
57kg - Muslim SADULAEV                   
57kg - Aryian TIUTRIN             
61kg - Eduard GRIGOREV                   
61kg - Magomedrasul IDRISOV                      
65kg - Akhmed CHAKAEV                   
65kg - Nachyn KUULAR                       
70kg - David BAEV                  
70kg - Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV    
74kg - Zaurbek SIDAKOV                    
74kg - Magomed KURBANALIEV         
79kg - Magomed RAMAZANOV          
79kg - Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV                      
86kg - Vladislav VALIEV                      
86kg - Dauren KURUGLIEV                  
92kg - Magomed KURBANOV             
92kg - Alikhan ZHABRAILOV               
97kg - Rasul MAGOMEDOV                
97kg - Igor OVSIANNIKOV                   
125kg - Anzor KHIZRIEV                      
125kg - Said GAMIDOV                       

4. Cuba Wins Six Cerro Pelado International Golds 
Cuban wrestlers won six of eight freestyle gold medals at last weekend’s Cerro Pelado in Havana, Cuba. United States’ Ben WHITFORD and Brandon SORENSEN won the 61kg and 70kg gold medals respectively and were the only two non-Cubans to win a gold medal.

Darthe CAPELLAN (CAN) was the only wrestlers not from Cuba or the United States to medal at the Cerro Pelado. He won a bronze medal at 57kg. 

RESULTS
57kg 
GOLD - Reineri ANDREU ORTEGA (CUB)
SILVER - Alexei ALVAREZ BLANCO (CUB)        
BRONZE - Frank PERELLI (USA) 

BRONZE - Darthe CAPELLAN (CAN)

61kg
GOLD – Ben WHITFORD (USA)            
SILVER - Cory CLARK (USA)

BRONZE - Aleynier HERNANDEZ GUILARTE (CUB)

65kg
GOLD - Alejandro VALDES TOBIER (CUB) 
SILVER – Evan HENDERSON (USA)
BRONZE – Dean HEIL (USA) 

Cristian SOLENZAL LOPEZ (CUB) 

70kg    
GOLD – Brandon SORENSEN (USA)    
SILVER Lavion MAYS  (USA)    
BRONZE - David CARR (USA) 
BRONZE Franklin MAREN CASTILLO (CUB)

74kg    
GOLD - Geandry GARZON CABALLERO (CUB)
SILVER - Thomas GANTT (USA)           
BRONZE Joey LAVALLEE (USA)
BRONZE - Dan VALIMONT (USA)

79kg - No competition                                                           

86kg    
GOLD - Yurieski TORREBLANCE QUERALTA (CUB)      

SILVER - Kenneth COURTS (USA)        
BRONZE - Brett PFARR (USA) 
BRONZE - Lazaro HERNANDEZ LUIS (CUB)

92kg - No competition                                               

97kg    
GOLD - Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB)   
SILVER - Yongen BASTIDAS (CUB)
BRONZE - Kevyn GADSON (USA)

125kg  
GOLD -  Yudenny ALPAJON ESTEVES (CUB)

SILVER - Dominique BRADLEY (USA)
BRONZE - Lazaro SILVA (CUB)

BRONZE - Tanner HALL (USA)

5. Grand Prix of Germany Wraps Up in 
Five different nations won a women’s wrestling gold medal at the last weekend’s German Grand Prix, but Canada and the United State were the frontrunners with three gold medalists each. 

The host nation Germany had a pair of champions, while Nigeria and Russia each had a solo gold-medal winner.

The most notable championship performance came from Russia’s 2012 Olympic champion Natalya VOROBIEVA (RUS). Vorobieva, who made her return to the mat three weeks ago at the Henri Deglane Challenge, made only her second tournament appearance since her runner-up finish at the Rio Olympics. Vorobieva absence was due to the birth of her son shortly after the 2016 Olympic Games. 

In the finals, Vorobieva defeated Martina KUENZ (AUT) to win her first gold medal since the 2015 Golden Grand Prix. 

RESULTS
50kg 
GOLD - Whitney CONDER (USA)         
SILVER - Katharina BAUMGARTNER (GER)     
BRONZE - Victoria ANTHONY (USA)
BRONZE - Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA) 

53kg    
GOLD - Diana WEICKER (CAN)
SILVER - Sofia MATTSSON (SWE)        

BRONZE - Jessica BLASZKA (NED) 
BRONZE - Marina RUEDA FLORES (ESP) 

55kg
GOLD - Cameron GUERIN (USA)

SILVER - Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER)
BRONZE - Jeannie  KESSLER (AUT)

57kg    
GOLD - Adekuoroye ODUNAYO (NGR)           
SILVER - Anna Hella SZEL (HUN)         
BRONZE - Elena BRUGGER (GER)
BRONZE - Francesca INDELICATO (ITA) 

59kg    
GOLD - Andrea GRASRUECK (GER)
SILVER - Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ) 

BRONZE – Debora LAWNITZAK (GER)

62kg
GOLD - Luisa LIEMESCH (GER)

SILVER - Johanna MATTSSON (SWE)
BRONZE - Marwa AMRI (TUN) 
BRONZE - Mallory VELTE (USA) 

65kg
GOLD - Braxton STRONE-PAPADOPOULOS (CAN)
SILVER - Amanda HENDEY (USA)
BRONZE - Macey KILTY (USA)
BRONZE - JuliaSALATA (USA) 

68kg    
GOLD - Olivia DIBACCO (CAN)
SILVER - Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN)       
BRONZE - Anna SCHELL (GER)
BRONZE -Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR)

72kg    
GOLD - Guilford, Dymond GUILFORD (USA)
SILVER - Sennett, Andrea Rose SENNETT (USA)         
BRONZE -Molnar, Zsuszanna  MOLNAR (SVK)

76kg    
GOLD - Natalya VOROBIEVA (RUS)
SILVER - Martina KUENZ (AUT)           
BRONZE - Francy RAEDELT (GER)

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media 

1. Big Move Monday -- Ibragim Ilyasov (RUS) -- 2018 U-23 Europe @ilyasov_57
2. RYU Hansu with a nasty front head! Team Korea took two titles on the weekend which was good enough for a 5th place team finish! #grecoromanwrestling #wrestling ? @martin_gabor__
3. Olympic champion KIM Hyeonwoo ?? gets an early win #hungariangp2019 .
4. Great early action on Day 1 at the #hungariangp2019 #unitedworldwrestling #wrestling#grecoromanwrestling
5. Happy @alliseeisgold Day (2/22)! Счастливого @alliseeisgold дня!

#WrestleAlexandria

Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series day one finals set

By Vinay Siwach

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (February 23) -- The second Ranking Series event of the year, the Ibrahim Moustafa, gets underway in the historic city of Alexandria. More than 450 wrestlers are participating in the tournament and Greco-Roman will kick off proceedings.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

The finals for the evening are set

55kg
Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ) vs. Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ)

60kg
Yernar FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ) vs. Kerem KAMAL (TUR) 

63kg
Leri ABULADZE (GEO) vs. Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) 

67kg
Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) vs. Merey BEKENOV (KAZ) 

87kg
Ali CENGIZ (TUR) vs. Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) 

97kg
Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) vs. Roberti KOBLIASHVILI (GEO) 

130kg
 Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) vs. Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) 

15:00: Merey BEKENOV (KAZ) has ended HUSIYUETU (CHN)'s winning streak. Husiyuetu was leading 7-1 but a four-pointer and a full roll from par terre gave Bekenov a 9-7 win. He will face Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) in the final. 

14:40: Leri ABULADZE (GEO) is so good from par terre. He gut wrenches Mukhamedali MAMURBEK (KAZ) for a 9-1 win and enters the 63kg final against Meysam DALKHANI (IRI).

14:15: Tamas LEVAI (HUN), a U23 world champion at 77kg, made his debut at 97kg in Zagreb and reached the final. But here in Alexandria, he runs into Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) who beats him 5-2 in the semifinals.

14:00: Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) into the semifinals at 63kg. Not the easiest of bouts but he wins 2-1 against Madiyar MALTEKBAYEV (KAZ). All technical points in that bout.

13:45: Nicely done by Kerem KAMAL (TUR). He used the head pinch to great effect to win 8-0 against Nurmukhammet ABDULLAEV (KGZ). He was looking for the pin but let the pressure off to allow Abdullaev to spin which gave Kamal two more points for the win.

13:30: Fresh off winning the gold in Zagreb, HUSIYUETU (CHN) has stunned Niklas OEHLEN (SWE) with three power bombs. He got Oehlen in a front lock and executed three throws. 

13:15: That Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) vs Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) bout at 87kg was never-ending. Kessidis was trailing 4-0 but then got the par terre and scored exposure before a four. Tursynov challenged the call and won it. Kessidis, leading 7-4, was put in par terre from which Tursynov scored a throw. No points were awarded so Kazakhstan challenged it again. A point for pushout. But Kessidis wins 7-5.

13:00: The first set of semifinals

60kg
Kerem KAMAL (TUR) vs. Nurmukhammet ABDULLAEV (KGZ)
Yernar FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ) vs. Haithem MAHMOUD (EGY)

12:30: A hotly contested bout between Victor CIOBANU (MDA) and Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) at 63kg. Dalkhani got a takedown which Ciobanu thought was only a stepout. He challenged it and lost. Dalkhani then got a point for passivity to lead 4-0 at the break. The second period was an absolute war but no wrestler managed to score. Dalkhani wins 4-0.

12:20: Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) and Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ) on Mat A. Tsurtsumia starts with a four but Mukashev with a reversal for takedown and gut to make it 4-4 but Tsurtsumia leads on criteria. He is called for finger-grabbling right before the break. He challenges the call only to lose. Mukashev leads 7-4. After the break, Tsurtsumia managed to get behind Mukashev who hit a four. The referees call a pin. Kazakhstan challenges the call and wins the challenge. It was a leg foul by Tsurtsumia. Mukashev with a takedown to win 13-4

12:15: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) keeps both the passivity points in the bout to win 2-0 against Giorgi MELIA (GEO). Such a smart wrestler Saravi, controls the bout through.

11: 50: Metehan BASAR (TUR) has pulled out injured after a freak injury when he was trying to roll Artur OMAROV (CZE). He pushed his hand under Omarov but his finger got stuck and twisted. Omarov gets the win

11:30: Former world champion Meysam DALKHANI (IRI), who had defeated Abuladze in 2021 final and was injured last season, begins with a technical superiority win 8-0 over Syimyk MAKHMUDOV (KGZ). That gut wrench was strong.

11:20: Two-time world silver medalist and European champion Leri ABULADZE (GEO) with a typical Abuladze win. He trailed 2-0 but then makes a comeback in his slow style to win 6-2 against Dastan ZARLYKHANOV (KAZ).

11:05: Victor CIOBANU (MDA) with a solid gut wrench! The former world champion at 60kg has been at 63kg for a while now. He begins with a technical superiority win over Ismail ETTALIBI (MAR).

10:50: Former Asian champion Sunil KUMAR (IND) with a late takedown to beat Noureldin HASSAN (EGY) 7-5 at 87kg. At the same time on Mat A, Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) beats Maimaiti KAISAIER (CHN) 3-1.

10:20: Here's the first big match of the day! Kerem KAMAL (TUR) is up against Razvan ARNAUT (ROU) at 60kg. Kamal gets the first position. He jumps to front par terre, jumps sides frequently and manages to spin Arnaut on the head. But that was clean as Arnaut never was in danger. Kamal leads 1-0. At the start of the second period, Kamal wraps Arnaut's arm around his head and rolls for a two and then a four. A takedown gives him a 9-0 win.

10:00: Welcome to Alexandria! The biggest Ranking Series event in Africa gets underway with Greco-Roman. Seven weight classes in action today are 55kg, 60kg, 63kg, 67kg, 87kg, 97kg, and 130kg. Big day coming up.