#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open Ranking Series day two finals set

Thursday, February 2, 2023 - 08:50 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (February 2) -- The Zagreb Open enters its second day with four freestyle and two women's wrestling weight classes. World and Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) will be in action with a potential semifinal clash against Mariya STADNIK (AZE). In freestyle, Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) are also in action. The wrestlers have a two-kilogram weight allowance and will be awarded prize money for winning medals at this Ranking Series.

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The finals for the evening session are set

79kg
Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) vs. Ali Bakhtiar SAVADKOUHI (IRI)

92kg
Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) vs. Kollin MOORE (USA)

97kg
Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) vs. Kyle SNYDER (USA)

125kg
Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) vs. Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) 

WW 50kg
Jiang ZHU (CHN) vs. Yui SUSAKI (JPN)

WW 55kg
Round 5: Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) vs. Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA)

13:00: Little anti-climatic finish to the morning session in Zagreb. Mariya STADNIK (AZE) pulls out of the semifinal against Yui SUSAKI (JPN). The 50kg final will feature Susaki and Jiang ZHU (CHN).

12:45: Moving into the 97kg final is Kyle SNYDER (USA) as he beats Radoslaw BARAN (POL) 10-0. He will face Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) in the final who defeated Awusayiman HABILA (CHN) 10-0 in the other semifinal

12:35: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) moves into the final at 125kg after a controlled 9-2 win over Daniel LIGETI (HUN). He will face Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) for the gold medal. Meshvildishvili defeated Georgi IVANOV (BUL) via fall in the other semifinal 

12:15: Mariya STADNIK (AZE) is up against world silver medalist Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) on Mat B. The strength from Stadnik to score the first takedown! She gets to a single leg and despite the defense from Dolgorjav, she manages to score two points. Another strong tackle from Stadnik and she leads 4-0. She has slowed down since, trying to disperse the pressure from Dolgorjav. Stadnik gives up a stepout, and is cautioned for locking fingers but she does well to defend the rest of the bout and win 6-2.

12:00: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) moves into the semifinals at 50kg with a technical superiority win over Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB). While she has won every World Championships and Olympics, Susaki is chasing a second Olympic gold in Paris.

11:40: After a 17-month absence, Mariya STADNIK (AZE) is back! She quickly moves into the quarterfinals at 50kg with a technical superiority over Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB). She could clash with Yui SUSAKI (JPN) in the semifinal.

11:30: Kollin MOORE (USA) gave world bronze medalist Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) a tough time in the 92kg quarterfinals. Moore with an 8-3 win to advance to the semifinals.

11:15: Back-to-back falls at 50kg on Mat A. First Ziqi FENG (CHN) pins Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA) before Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) pins Meng FAN (CHN).

10:55: On Mat B, Ali SAVAKOUHI (IRI) rolls to a technical superiority win over Peilong LI (CHN) at 79kg. He is the favorite to win the gold here.

10:50: On Mat A, Kyle SNYDER (USA) is up against Mogomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE). Snyder gets the point for Magomedov's passivity. But the Azerbaijan wrestler manages to circle behind and score a takedown to lead 2-1 at the break. A front lift for exposure for Magomedov in the second period, Snyder with a reversal. Snyder is building the pressure and Magomedov cannot keep up. Snyder with two takedowns to lead 6-4. A stepout for Snyder. A fierce battle between the two but Snyder wins 7-4.

10:45: At 97kg, Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) and Nishan Preet RANDHAWA (CAN) are wrestling. Azarpira with a stepout. Azarpira with some constant attacks and he moves to an 11-0 win.

10:30: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) is the favorite to win the 125kg weight class. He begins respecting that tag and wins 10-0 against Milan KORCSOG (HUN).

10:15: U23 and U20 world champion Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) gives a peek into what this day may look like. She wins 10-0 against Laura STANELYTE (LTU) at 55kg. Japan is returning to a Ranking Series event after five years.

10:00: Welcome to the second day of the Zagreb Open with freestyle 79kg, 92kg, 97kg and 125kg along with women's wrestling 50kg and 55kg.

#WrestleBudapest

Grace Bullen Move: Outside Trip That Defines European Champ

Thursday, July 9, 2026 - 10:31 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 9) -- Grace BULLEN (NOR) lost the most important match of her career while attempting her trademark outside trip, trying to finish the bout with a fall. It came in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games semifinal against Sakura MOTOKI (JPN), who countered with a neck bridge, tossing Bullen over for the fall.

UWW+

Despite the mixed results the move has produced over the years, Bullen did not hesitate to use it in the 2026 European Championships final against Amina TANDELOVA (RUS). Trailing 9-0, Bullen hooked her left foot behind Tandelova's heel and brought her down for the fall.

Three months after their epic European 62kg final, Bullen and Tandelova will be at the Budapest Ranking Series from July 15 to 19, the last stop to gain ranking points before the World Championships.

They will be joined by a strong field that includes former world champion Qi ZHANG (CHN), world bronze medalist Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR), and European medalists Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) and Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR).

The field also includes Ana GODINEZ (CAN) and former U20 world champion Eniko ELEKES (HUN), who will have the backing of the home crowd. Two Indians, MANSI (IND) and SAVITA (IND), are also entered among others.

Grace BULLEN (NOR)Grace BULLEN (NOR) performs the outside trip against Amina TANDELOVA (RUS) during the 62kg final at the European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The same move also rescued Bullen at the Tirana Ranking Series, where she trailed Mansi before winning 6-5.

Speaking after winning European gold, Bullen acknowledged both the risk and the reward of the move.

"I know it's my go-to when I'm down, but I also lost in that situation, the same place," Bullen said. "I know how it is being on the receiving end, also being an attacker in that situation. But glad it worked out for me.

"It's more risky that way and just locking the leg and going forward it's much less risky, especially for me."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Grace Bullen (@gracebullen7)

 

A pivotal career decision saw Bullen relocate her training base to Georgia under coach Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI. Since moving to 62kg, she has won world and Olympic medals and established herself as one of the division's most dangerous wrestlers. The demanding training in Georgia and the move up in weight have transformed her wrestling and her mindset, even if the results have occasionally fluctuated.

"I'm also getting older," she said. "I have to be wise with how I train and so I keep my shape."

That experience has also made Bullen more patient than she was five years ago.

"I've years of experience in wrestling," she said. "I take losses with a greater smile than I ever did before. Just knowing that this year I was in two ranking series competitions and only won one match, I am more patient with everything. I know that even though I lose, I can win in the future."