#WrestleOslo

#WrestleOslo: Vlasov Back to Familiar Territory by Reaching 77kg Final

Thursday, October 7, 2021 - 22:58 By Vinay Siwach

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OSLO, Norway (October 7) -- Roman VLASOV (RWF) let out a loud cry after winning his semifinal bout. Three years after he last became a world champion, the two-time Olympic champion was once again back in familiar territory as he reached the final of 77kg weight class at the senior World Championships in Oslo, Norway.

Vlasov lost in the pre-quarterfinals of the 2019 World Championships and then failed to earn a spot on the Russian Wrestling Federation team for the Tokyo Olympics. But soon after the Olympics, he announced that he wants to win a third Olympic gold and will run for the Paris cycle.

Leading a young Russian Wrestling Federation in Oslo, Vlasov destroyed the competition in Oslo as he began with a 11-0 crushing of Tamerlan SHADUKAYEV (KAZ) in the opening bout, won 10-3 against Dmytro PYSHKOV (UKR) and then manhandled World bronze medalist Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) 10-1 in the quarterfinals.

A tough task in the semifinals awaited him as a young Tamas LEVAI (HUN) had made it to the semifinals from the other side. Levai had an indirect hand in keeping Vlasov out of the Tokyo team by beating him at the Poland Open ranking series event. That event was being treated as the selection trial by the Russian Wrestling Federation and Vlasov lost in the semifinal against Levai.

But he avenged that loss Thursday as he beat Levai 7-0 and did not let the Hungarian take control of the bout. One of the strategies that Levai had in Warsaw was to not let Vlasov open up for attacks. But Vlasov did not let Levai settle down Thursday and began early with scoring. All seven points were scored in the first period.

Levai's loss also ended the tournament for world champion Viktor NEMES (SRB) as he had suffered a 1-1 loss to the Hungary wrestler. The two points were awarded for passivity but Levai was awarded in the second period, giving him the criteria of last point scored.

Vlasov will now face Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) in the final as he defeated Tsimur BERDYIEU (BLR) 5-4 in the other semifinal. After being awarded a point for passivity and then a four-point throw, Suleymanov had to concede a four-point throw but managed to survive any further attacks.

At 82kg, Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Rafiq HUSEYNOV (AZE) had to overcome a world medalist and an European medalist to reach his second straight Worlds final. In the semifinal, he defeated Adlan AKIEV (RWF), the 2021 European champion, 2-1 to advance to the final. He was awarded a point for passivity but he failed to benefit from the par terre position. But he added a point for pushout to make it 2-0. A point was awarded against him for passivity but Akiev failed to do much after that.

Earlier, he rallied from 6-0 down to win 7-6 against Alex KESSIDIS (SWE). He went for with his arms around Kessidis' waist but the Sweden wrestler used the momentum to throw Huseynov for four. He then added a gut wrench to be within two points of victory.

But Huseynov got unreal with a throw and point for passivity. A takedown made it 7-6 and he stuck to that score until the end of the bout.

He will now face Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) who managed to beat Pejman POSHTAM (IRI) 5-2. The match was decided in the first period when Akbudak scored a four point throw and Poshtam could never recover from that.

Japan had a finalist Thursday after Ken MATSUI (JPN) pinned former world champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE). Matsui was toying around with Azizli who was looking for his second world title. Matsui went for an underhook and Azizli made it very easy to pin once he was on his hips. Matsui will now have Individual World Cup winner Emin SEFERSHAEV (RWF) in the final. He defeated Norayr HAKHOYAN (ARM) 3-2.

In the fourth category -- 72kg -- Russian Wrestling Federation had another finalist as Sergei KUTUZOV (RWF) blasted Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR) 10-0 in the semifinal and advanced. Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) will be his opponent in the final as he denied another Iran wrestler, Mohammad MOKHTARI (IRI), a spot in the final two. Amoyan beat Mokhtari 10-6

Greco-Roman will continue on day seven of the World Championships in Oslo, Norway.

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open 2025 Day 1 Semifinals Set

Wednesday, February 5, 2025 - 09:31 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (February 5) -- The first Ranking Series of 2025 is here. The Zagreb Open will see wrestling over four days with Freestyle starting things in 57kg, 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 74kg and 86kg weight classes.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | 2025 SEASON PREVIEW

13:35: The final semifinals of the session at 86kg. Zahid VALENCIA (USA) gets the better of Nathan JACKSON (USA) 12-2 and advance to the final. He will face Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) who blanked Trent HIDLAY (USA) 5-0.

13:25: David CARR (USA) rolls to a 12-2 win over Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) 12-2 and will face Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) who got the better of Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO).

13:15: Sina KHALILI (IRI) into the Zagreb Open final at 70kg as James GREEN (USA) pulls out of the semifinals citing an injury. He will face Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) who defeated Ebrahim ELAHI (IRI) 10-5.

13:05: Abbas EBRAHIM (IRI) gets his gut wrench going against Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR) to win 14-4 at 65kg. He will face Joseph MC KENNA (USA) who defeated Goga OTINASHVILI (GEO)

13:00: We just published a tribute to Mariya STADNIK (AZE) who retired on Monday after 22 years! Legend. Read it here.

12:50: The 61kg final is set and it's all-Iranian. Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) and Ibrahim KHARI (IRI) won their respective semifinals to advance. The third Iranian in the weight class, Reza MOMENI (IRI) also has a chance to win a bronze medal as he lost the semifinals to Khari.

12:40: Spencer LEE (USA) with a 6-4 win over Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX). He led 6-0 before allowing Young to score a stepout and a takedown but that was all. He will wrestle Bazarganov in the 57kg final.

12:35: Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) gives a reality check of senior level wrestling to Ahora KHATERI (IRI). The Azerbaijan wrestlers rolls to a 10-0 technical superiority win over the Iranian to move to the 57kg final. 

12:30: Semifinals of the day begin now. We have 57kg wrestlers coming on the mat now.

12:22: European champion and world medalist Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) hangs on a for a 5-0 win over Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE). He will wrestle in the semifinals at 74kg. 

12:12: Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN), who recently defeated Paris medalist Chermen VALIEV (ALB) in the Bundesliga, beats U20 world champion Ali REZAEI (IRI) 6-1 at 74kg. Kuramagomedov was on point in that bout.

12:00: Zahid VALENCIA (USA) gave up a couple of step outs against Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) but got the job done with a 5-2 win at 86kg to move into the semifinals.

11:45: Two solid bouts on Mat C. Joseph MC KENNA (USA) used a good four-pointer throw and completed a 7-4 win over Ali RAHIMZADA (AZE). In the next bout, Ali KHORRAMDEL (IRI) was leading Goga OTINASHVILI (GEO) 7-0 in the first period but struggled with the pace in the second as Otinashvili came back and made the score 13-9. As Khorramdel tried a desperate four-pointer, Otinashvili pinned him

11:35: James GREEN (USA), who is back after a year and a half of retirement, wins a close one over compatriot Alec PANTELO (USA) 4-3 at 70kg. He marked his international return at the 2024 World Championships at 70kg and finished 11th.

11:25: Paris silver medalist Spencer LEE (USA) comes out and gets a 10-0 win over Luka GVINJILIA (GEO) in two minutes. He moves into the semifinals at 

11:10: Former U17 world champion and Iran's big bet at 57kg Ahora KHATERI (IRI) comes out off a hole! He was trailing 7-2 against Brandon COURTNEY (USA) with less than 30 seconds remaining but mounts a comeback and wins 7-7

11:05: Two-time Olympian and world champion Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) with a little awkward start to the season. Up against Jarrett JACQUES (USA) in the opening round at 70kg, Muszukajev drops the bout 3-2. He lacked his speed and the conditioning is missing as well. Great win for Jacques.

10:55: Kamil KERYMOV (UKR) gave a tough fight to Paris Olympian Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX) at 57kg but RBY, popularly known as in the USA circuit, wins 9-6. He is on a potential clash with Spencer LEE (USA) in the semifinals

10:45: Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB) gets his typical defensive style out and hangs on for a controlled 4-0 win over Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO) at 57kg.

10:30: Welcome to day one of the Zagreb Open! This is the first of the four Ranking Series events which will award points to the wrestlers and help in the seeding for the World Championships in September which incidentally will be held in the same Arena Zagreb.