#WrestleBudapest

#WrestleBudapest: European Championships freestyle bracket reactions

Sunday, March 27, 2022 - 16:31 By Eric Olanowski & Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (March 27) -- The European Championships get underway Monday in Budapest, Hungary with five freestyle weight classes. The competition will see 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg and 97kg on the first day.

The brackets for the freestyle weights were drawn Monday with the four-seed system put in place for the first time at a competition.

Here are the freestyle brackets could play over the next two days.

57kg (12 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Vladimir EGOROV (MKD)
No. 2 Mikyay NAIM (BUL)
No. 3 Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO)
No. 4 Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR)

U23 world champion Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) will be wrestling Levan METREVELI VARTANOV (ESP) in the opening round and the winner will take on number two seed Mikyay NAIM (BUL).

Top seed Vladimir EGOROV (MKD) will be waiting for the winner of Gary GIORDMAINA (MLT) and Niklas STECHELE (GER) for his quarterfinal bout. He also has the best chance to jump up in the rankings. Currently, he's ranked 15th with 17000 points. He will jump to ninth-place with a top-two finish. However, if he finishes with a bronze medal, he'll still be ranked 10th.

Georgia's Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO) is seeded third and will have the winner of Martin ZIDZIK (SVK) and Razvan KOVACS (ROU) in the quarterfinal. For rankings, he is currently ranked 21st with 11400 points. A gold could help him break into the top-15.

61kg (13 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)
No. 2 Georgi VANGELOV (BUL)
No. 3 Suleyman ATLI (TUR)
No. 4 Eduard GRIGOREV (POL)

Another U23 world champion Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) is the favorite to win the gold at 61kg. He is also the top seed in the weight class and will wait for the winner of Adam BIBOULATOV (BUL) and Besir ALILI (MKD) for his first match. He is also looking to win his first continental title at the senior level and jump from the fourth rank to second.

A favorite to win the title and third seed Suleyman ATLI (TUR) and second seed Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) can meet in the semifinal but they have to go through Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) and Teimuraz VANISHVILI (GEO) to reach there.

Vangelov can also break into the top-four by winning gold while Atli, ranked 18th with 8520 points, can be the seventh if he reaches the final.

65kg (13 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Haji ALIYEV (AZE)
No. 2 Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL)
No. 3 Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN)
No. 4 Beka LOMTADZE (GEO)

A fan-favorite match-up at 65kg between Haji ALIYEV (AZE) and Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) can be the final in Budapest. But for that, the two have to win their side of the bracket which some big names like Munir AKTAS (TUR) and world champion Beka LOMTADZE (GEO) for Aliyev, Stevan MICIC (SRB) and Gevorg TADEVOSYAN (ARM) for Muszukajev. 

Aliyev can also improve his ranking from fourth to second if he can win the gold medal. However, he will be third with silver and remain fourth with any other result.

Number two seed Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL), ranked 10th, has 25000 points and can remove Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) at fifth by winning the gold medal.

For Muszukajev, he can only be seventh if he wins gold in Budapest but will remain at the same rank if he fails to win a medal.

70kg (16 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO)
No. 2 Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM)
No. 3 Nicolai GRAHMEZ (MDA)

With 16 participants in the weight category, 70kg will begin with pre-quarters and top seed Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) has Marc DIETSCHE (SUI) in the opening round. The winner will get the winner Daniel CHOMANIC (SVK) and Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL) in the quarterfinals. An interesting match-up for Iakobishvili can occur against U23 European champion Ziraddin BAYRAMOV (AZE) in the semifinal.

In rankings, Iakobishvili is in the third position and will overtake first-placed Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ), who has 45520 points, even with a ninth-place finish. 

From the lower side of the bracket, Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR), second seed Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) and third seed Nicolai GRAHMEZ (MDA) will be wrestling for the two semifinal spots.

Andreasyan will be ranked fourth if he can finish 10th or better while Grahmez is ranked 20th but will be in the top-eight if he can reach the medal bouts in Budapest.

74kg (17 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK)
No. 2 Frank CHAMIZO (ITA)
No. 3 Hetik CABOLOV (SRB)
No. 4 Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL)

The deepest weight class in Budapest will be 74kg and like the last European Championships, a rematch between defending champion Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) and Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) will be for the gold medal. But he has Kamil RYBICKI (POL) in the first round and in all likelihood wrestle Malik AMINE (SMR) in the quarterfinals.

Fourth seed Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL) will be a big test in the semifinals if Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) cannot make it to the last four from the top side.

Salkazanov has 37000 points and is ranked fifth but can be second if he wins the gold medal in Budapest. He is guaranteed to be ranked third after the competition.

Two-time world champion Chamizo is seeded second and wrestles Giorgi SULAVA (GEO) in the first round. If he wins, he will get the winner for Mitchell FINESILVER (ISR) and Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR).

A semifinal against third seed Hetik CABALOV (SRB) is also on the cards for Chamizo who has a chance to break into the top-six by winning any medal.

Ranked 12th, Cabolov will be a top-10 wrestler if he can wrestle for a medal in Budapest.

Bayramov and Demitras, ranked 16th and 19th, respectively, also fall in the same category but they need to win gold to be in the top-10.

79kg (14 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Arman AVAGYAN (ARM)
No. 2 Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE)
No. 3 Saifedine ALEKMA (FRA)
No. 4 Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO)

Despite garnering the No. 1 seed, Arman AVAGYAN (ARM) has one of the toughest roads to the finals. He’ll have to get through the winner of the fourth-seeded Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) or Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) to improve on his fifth-place finish from last season. In Warsaw last year, the Armenian fell to eventual European champion Gulaev, 11-1, in the quarterfinals before dropping his bronze-medal match against Nika KENTCHADZE (GEO).

The bottom side of the chart is highlighted by reigning U23 world champion Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) and European runner-up Saifedine ALEKMA (FRA). The Greek wrestler is seeded second, while Alekma is seeded third. 

86kg (15 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Myles AMINE (SMR)
No. 2 Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE)
No. 3 Boris MAKOEV (SVK)
No. 4 Osman GOCEN (TUR)

A week removed from a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships, San Marino’s Myles AMINE returns to competition as the top-seeded wrestler at 86kg. The Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist will be looking for his third consecutive European medal. He finished in second and third, respectively, in ’20 and ’21.

His toughest test on the top side will be the fourth-seeded Osman GOCEN (TUR). The Turkish wrestler is coming off five wins at the Yasar Dogu – including a semifinal win against Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB).

World medalists Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) and Boris MAKOEV (SVK) are the second and third, respectively. 

Makoev, the Paris world runner-up, has the tougher road of the two. He’ll likely have European Games bronze medalist Ahmed DUDAROV (GER) in the quarterfinals before meeting last year’s Oslo bronze medalist Abakarov for a spot in the finals.

92kg (10 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE)
No. 2 Georgii RUBAEV (MDA)
No. 3 Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO)

Top seed and Oslo bronze medalist Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) should not have a hard time reaching the final at 92kg from the top side of the bracket. He is ranked fourth with 31000 points and is likely to move to the second spot with a medal in Budapest.

Second seed Georgii RUBAEV (MDA) will face the winner of Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) and Benjamin GREIL (AUT) in his first bout. But a tougher test awaits if he can manage to reach the semifinal and third seed Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) also reaches the semifinal.

97kg (11 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD)
No. 2 Radu LEFTER (MDA)
No. 3 Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO)
No. 4 Burak SAHIN (TUR)

Top seed Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD) and transfer to Hungary Vladislav BAITSAEV (HUN) can clash in the quarterfinals at 97kg to give fans a top-class bout. The winner gets the winner of Erik THIELE (GER) and fourth-seed Burak SAHIN (TUR).

Nurov, ranked sixth with 31700 points, has the chance to be ranked third if he can win at least a bronze medal.

Second seed Radu LEFTER (MDA) Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE), veteran Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO) and Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) on his side and the path to the semifinal will be a tough one.

125kg (12 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO)
No. 2 Taha AKGUL (TUR)
No. 3 Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER)
No. 4 Robert BARAN (POL)

World champions Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) and Taha AKGUL (TUR) are seeded first and second, respectively, and sit on opposite sides of the bracket. If history repeats itself and both guys stay undefeated until the finals, they’d meet at the European Championships for the sixth time in their careers.

Petriashvili won their initial meeting in 2016, but since that win, Taha has won four consecutive European bouts against his Georgian rival.

For the blockbuster finals match to take place, Petriashvili has to pass a solid quarterfinals test against Italy’s fellow Olympic bronze medalist Abraham de Jesus CONYEDO RUANO. This will be the Cuban-turn-Italian’s first competition up at 125kg after bumping up from his Olympic-medal winning weight of 97kg.

#WrestleTirana

Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series Day 3 Finals Set

Friday, February 28, 2025 - 10:08 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (February 28) -- Muhamet Malo Ranking Series enters day three with four Women's Wrestling and two Greco-Roman weight classes. Olympic champion Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) will be in action at GR 87kg alongwith silver medalist Alireza MOHAMADIPIANI (IRI) and both are on collision course as well. Other Paris Olympic medalist in action are Grace BULLEN (NOR) at WW 62kg and Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) at WW 65kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 2 RESULTS

16:45: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) will look to avenge her round-robin loss to Irina RINGACI (MDA) as she wins her semifinal against Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) to enter the gold medal bout. Koliadenko, a Paris silver medalist at 62kg, was 1-0 at the break after Morikawa's inactivity. But Morikawa launched a huge but sloppy double-leg to score four points at the start of the second period to lead 4-1. Koliadenko was put on activity clock but did not score which gave a point to Morikawa. Koliadenko then scored a takedown with a minute left to cut the lead to 5-3. Morikawa answered with another stepout and led 6-3, the winning score.

Irina RINGACI (MDA) won 10-0 over Aleah NICKEL (CAN). She finished the bout with an ankle pick for four. Ringaci won the round-robin bout against Morikawa 6-5. They both go against each other in about three hours time.

16:30: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) sees off Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) in the 59kg semifinal. She scored a takedown, stepout before Vynnyk was docked for cautioned for locking Onishi's neck. From forced par terre, Onishi used the head between legs to roll Vynnyk twice and make it 8-0. Vynnyk scored exposure using chestwrap but it was scored two for Onishi as she never got turned. Ukraine challenged the decision and won which made it 8-2 at the break. Vynnyk was docked a caution for blocking Onishi who finished the match with an ankle pick four-pointer on the edge. She won 13-2.

Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) survived an onslaught from Bediha GUN (TUR) in the final 30 seconds to win 4-4 in the other semifinal. Down 4-0, Gun scored a takedown and was awarded a caution point. Another takeodwn made it 4-4 but she could not get another point as Sidelnikova won 4-4 through points via bigger technique (2+2).

16:20: Idris IBAEV (GER) enters the 77kg final after beating Kodai SAKURABA (JPN) in an action-filled match. He got the par terre in first period and turned Sakuraba who also committed a foul. A stepout was awarded to Ibaev on review which made his lead 6-0. Sakuraba wasn't focused as he walked out of the zone thinking he has scored a stepout but Ibaev got the points. He then tried a headlock which Ibaev defended and scored four points. Japan challenged the call and won as it was a risk by Sakaruba who managed to get on board with a pushout. Ibaev challenged and got the pushout point as Sakuraba's hand was out before him.

Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ) will face Ibaev in the final after he defeated Per Albin OLOFSSON (SWE) 6-1. Maksatbek Uulu blocked Olofsson from par terre and led 2-1 at the break. In the second period, Olofsson was about to take Maksatbek Uulu but lost his balance and the Kyrgyz scored a takedown which Olofsson challenged and lost. With a 5-1 lead, Maksatbek Uulu got a passivity call to make it 6-1 and won.

16:00: We have the 87kg finalists in Greco-Roman! Paris silver medalist Alireza MOHAMMADIPIANI (IRI) and David LOSONCZI (HUN) will wrestle for gold. Mohammadipiani with an impressive win -- 6-1 over Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB). He got the par terre advantage and turned Komarov twice to lead 5-0 at break. Komarov got his par terre chance in the second period but failed to score from the position and Mohammadipiani defended for the rest of the match to win and enter the final.

Losonczi brought his motor to the semifinal against Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) and led 2-1 at the break with two stepouts. Sterkenburg was cautioned for a move against bone joints and docked two points. He challenged and lost another as Losonczi led 5-1. Sterkenburg was called passive which added another point to Losonczi's score before a stepout added another for a 7-1 win for Losonczi and a place in the final. 

15:50: World champion Ami ISHII (JPN) marches on to the 68kg final. Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) scored the first takedown but Ishii with a reversal and then two turns to make it 5-2. Ishii counters an attempt to make it 7-2 at the break. Ishii continues attacking the legs of Zelenykh and finally gets a takedown with traparm and rolls Zelenykh twice to win 13-2.

Zelu LI (CHN) will be her opponent in the final after the Chinese laced her way to a 10-0 win over Noémi SZABADOS (HUN).

15:40: First semifinals of the day! Women's Wrestling 62kg has three Paris Olympians out of the four semifinalists. The only one not from Paris, LILI (CHN), takes out bronze medalist Grace BULLEN (NOR) and books her spot in the final. Bullen got a takedown and turn before Lili scored reversal and lace. Bullen led 4-3 and Lili scored another takedown and turn to make 7-4. Bullen get the gap to 7-5 with a stepout but Bullen couldn't break the defense and lost 8-3. Lili will face Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) for the gold medal who defeated  Anne NUERNBERGER (GER) in the other semifinal. Dudova led 3-0 at the break and then scored a takedown and gut wrench to make it 7-0. Solid snapdowns in the match from Dudova as she added another takedown before countering an attack to win 11-0.

15:25: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) with a different approach in the match against Abigail NETTE (USA). With a more cautious approach, Onishi was shut down by Nette who led 1-0 at the break for Onishi's passivity. But Onishi comes out blazing in the second and score 10 straight points using head in the middle. A takedown makes it 12-1 as Onishi advances at 59kg.

15:20: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) books herself a semifinal with Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) at 65kg. Morikawa with a 3-0 win over Yuqi RAO (CHN).

15:05: Back to Women's Wrestling, and Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) with a 34 second technical superiority win over Aleah NICKEL (CAN) at 65kg. She top her group with that win and enters the semifinal in which she likely to face Miwa MORIKAWAN (JPN).

14:55: Paris Olympic final rematch at Greco-Roman 87kg between Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) and Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI). Novikov had blanked Mohamadipiani 7-0 in the final in Paris. An aggressive start from Mohammadi and he gets a par terre but no score. He leads 1-0 at the break. A stepout and takedown to make it 4-0 in the second period. He is awarded the par terre for his active wrestling to lead 5-0 but he can't score from there. Mohammadi shuts Novikov down completely and wins 5-0. He celebrates with an acknowledgement from the coach.

14:42: Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) scored a takedown and three turns after Muhutdin SARICICEK (TUR) got the par terre and he wins 9-2 at 87kg. A machine from par terre.

14:40: World champion at 72kg Ami ISHII (JPN) is back at 68kg for the Ranking Series. She begins her campaign with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Greda BARTH (GER).

14:30: Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) isn't giving Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) any last-second points this time as in Zagreb. Down 4-2, Dudova scores a takedown and then an exposure when Nwachukwu tries to hold on to her 4-4 criteria lead in last 10 seconds to win 6-4. Nwachukwu scored a takedown in the final five seconds in Zagreb to beat Dudova.

14:15: Irina RINGACI (MDA) with a 10-0 technical superiority and Grace BULLEN (NOR) with a fall in their respective bouts at 65kg and 62kg.

14:10: U20 world champion Sakura ONISHI (JPN) with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Bediha GUN (TUR) in Round 2 of 59kg. She is the favorite to win the gold medal

13:35: Alireza MOHAMADIPIANI (IRI), who lost to Novikov in the Paris final, begins with a solid 8-0 win over Tamas LEVAI (HUN) at 87kg. Mohamadipiani got the part terre and turned Levai, who locked Mohamadipiani's neck which is a foul. Hungary challenged the call but lost. With a 6-0 lead, Mohamadipiani turned Levai once to win 8-0

13:30: Olympic champion Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) is into the quarterfinal at 87kg after beating Istvan TAKACS (HUN). He got a turn from par terre to lead 3-0 at the break. Novikov keeps the pressure in the second period and scores a stepout before getting the second par terre as well. No points but enough for Novikov to win 5-0.

13:20: Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) with another 8-0 technical superiority. A stepout, first par terre and four turns to beat Artur OVSEPYAN (UKR) and advance to the 87kg quarterifinals.

13:15: Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) up against Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) at 87kg 1/8 final. He scores the opening takedown to be 2-0 up. Georgia challenge but lose. Sterkenburg gets par terre advantage to make it 4-0 but no turn from par terre. Sterkenburg with a strong start in the second and scores a stepout. Bolkvadze tries a headlock but falls on his back and Sterkenburg gets the fall.

13:10: Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) was woken up by Albina DRAZHI (ALB) with the first takedown of their 65kg bout but Koliadenko works her way back and scores 12-2 technical superiority win in Round 1 at 65kg. 

13:00: Irina RINGACI (MDA) and Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) faced off in the 2021 World Championships final which Ringaci won. Four years later, they meet in Round 1 of 65kg in Tirana. Ringaci on the holds straightaway and she scores a takedown and a turn to lead 4-0. Morikawa is more active in the second period but a scramble results in Ringaci landing on top to take the lead 6-0. Morikawa keeps going but Ringaci split defense keeps her at bay before Morikawa scores exposure for two. Another leg elevation from Morikawa for a takedown to make it 6-4 with 17 seconds left. A double leg from Morikawa but Ringaci decides to run out of bounds than give a losing takedown. 6-5 with 6 seconds remaining. Japan challenge the call. Morikawa has no control over Ringaci during stepout. It's only one point and Japan lose the challenge, giving Ringaci a 7-5 lead. She defends the lead for the six seconds to win 7-5. They both can still meet in the final as 65kg is in Nelson system.

12:40: World champion at 59kg in 2023, Qi ZHANG (CHN) was down 8-0 against Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) but mounts a comeback. Zhang with a stepout, a takedown and exposure to make it 8-5 at the break. A caution against Tandelova made it 8-6. A takedown for Zhang but a double leg takedown from Tandelova to make it 10-8. As Zhang tries another attack, Tandelova counters for another two points. She wins 12-8 at 62kg.

12:30: That was quick from Grace BULLEN (NOR). The Paris bronze medalist beats Sara LINDBORG (SWE) 10-0 inside two minutes at 62kg.  

12:25: Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) with all those counter attacks to beat Nikolett SZABO (HUN) 9-0 at 62kg. Dudova led only 1-0 at the break but as Szabo tried to score in the second, Dudova continued to counter those attacks.

12:00: Olympic champion Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) gets former U23 world champion Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) in the first round. Novikoc with a stepout to open the scoring. He turns Mukubu from par terre to lead 4-0. Excellent defense from Mukubu after the first turn. Mukubu begins the second period with a takedown. Novikov was pushing Mukubu towards the zone but Mukubu sneaked and scored a go-behind takedown. Then gets the par terre to make the score 4-3. Novikov blocks the turn attempt and score a gut-wrench to lead 8-3. Novikov wins 8-3.

11:52: Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) with a quick 8-0 technical superiority win over Jiaxin HUANG (CHN). A takedown and gut wrench for Komarov.

11:50: U20 world champion Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) gets a taste of senior level competition as Muhutdin SARICICEK (TUR) beats him 6-2 in the opening round at 87kg. Zhanyshov gets thrown for four from bodylock and is down 5-0. Both wrestlers exchange stepouts and Saricicek leads 6-1 at the break. A stepout from Zhanyshov in the second period is all he got as Saricicek wins 6-2.

11:45: Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO), one of the three Georgian wrestlers at 87kg, runs into Soh SAKABE (JPN) in the opening round. Sakabe gets the first par terre advantage but Bolkvadze blocks the turn and leads 2-1 at the break. Bolkvadze manages a throw from par terre in the second period to lead 7-1. Sakabe with a headlock throw and is awarded two and one point for reversal for Bolkvadze. Japan challenge for four. But on review, all the points are removed as no one landed in danger. A 7-1 win for Bolkvadze.

11:30: Another rainy day here in Tirana. But wrestlers are ready for day three of the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series with 59kg, 62kg, 65kg and 68kg in Women's Wrestling and 77kg and 87kg in Greco-Roman.