#WrestleBelgrade

Zhamalov Rallies Late to Stun Chamizo, Russia Crowns 4 FS Champs

By Andrew Hipps

Links:
Finals Highlights
Day 6 Photos

BELGRADE, Serbia (December 17) -- Razambek ZHAMALOV (RUS) came from behind late to stun two-time world champion Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) and earn the 74kg freestyle gold medal Thursday night at the Individual World Cup in Belgrade, Serbia.

Zhamalov, a 2019 U23 world champion, was one of four freestyle gold medalists for Russia on Thursday. 

In the 74kg final, Zhamalov scored the first point of the match off the activity clock and took a 1-0 lead into the break. Chamizo grabbed a 2-1 lead a minute into second period after securing a hard-fought takedown. Zhamlov kept the pressure on Chamizo, attempting a duck under with 25 seconds left. After Chamizo fended it off, Zhamalov came up with a body lock before eventually securing Chamizo's leg. With just under 10 seconds remaining, Zhamlov slipped behind Chamizo and scored a two-point action with two seconds remaining to earn the come-from-behind victory, 4-2.

Zavur UGUEV (RUS) won the gold at 57kg (Photo: Kadir CALISKAN, UWW)

Russia's other gold medals Thursday came from Zavur UGUEV (57kg), Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (92kg) and Shamil SHARIPOV (125kg).

Uguev, a two-time world champion, was dominant in the 57kg final, earning a 10-0 technical superiority over 2018 junior world bronze medalist Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM). The 25-year-old Russian quickly went up 4-0 after a takedown off an ankle pick and gut wrench. A short time later, Uguev shot in and scored a takedown before locking up his gut wrench again and turning Harutyunyan twice to end the match in under a minute.

Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (RUS) shut out Georgii RUBAEV (MDA) to win gold at 92kg (Photo: Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

Zhabrailov, a 2019 world bronze medalist, claimed his gold by shutting out Georgii RUBAEV (MDA) 6-0 in the 92kg final. The Russian controlled the match from start to finish, getting a takedown in the opening period. He added a second takedown late in the match before getting a turn off a leg lace in the final five seconds. 

Shamil SHARIPOV (RUS) overcome with emotion after winning the gold medal at 125kg (Photo: Kadir CALISKAN, UWW)

Sharipov captured the gold at 125kg with a 4-1 win over European silver medalist Robert BARAN (POL). After leading 1-0 at the break, the Russian heavyweight scored in the second period with a step out before firing off a double leg and driving Baran to the edge of the mat for a takedown. Baran would get a late step out, but it would be too little, too late. 

Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) gets in on a shot against Haydar YAVUZ (TUR) in the 70kg final (Photo: Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

Baran was one of two Polish wrestlers competing for gold Thursday night. The other, Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL), came through to win the title at 70kg by injury default over 2020 European bronze medalist Haydar YAVUZ (TUR). Gadzhiev, a two-time world medalist and two-time European champion, held a 5-0 lead on the strength of two takedowns in the second period prior to Yavuz defaulting.

Turkey finished the day with three medals. In addition to Yavuz's silver medal, Fazli ERYILMAZ (74kg) and Erhan YAYLACI (92kg) won bronze medals.

Kyrgyzstan won a pair of medals, with Islambek OROZBEKOV (70kg) and Aiaal LAZAREV (125kg) securing bronze. 

Andrii YATSENKO (UKR) and Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI) won the bronze medals at 57kg. Yatsenko scored a late takedown to defeat Stevan MICIC (SRB), while Amouzadkhalili shut out Uladzislau ANDREYEU (BLR).

Other bronze medalists included Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) at 70kg, Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) at 74kg, Samuel SCHERRER (SUI) at 92kg and Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (BLR) at 125kg.

Freestyle Medal Match Results

57kg
GOLD: Zavur UGUEV (RUS) df. Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) by VSU, 10-0
BRONZE: Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI) df. Uladzislau ANDREYEU (BLR) by VPO, 4-0
BRONZE: Andrii YATSENKO (UKR) df. Stevan MICIC (SRB) by VPO1, 4-2

70kg
GOLD: Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) df. Haydar YAVUZ (TUR) by VIN, 5-0
BRONZE: Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) df. Chermen VALIEV (RUS) by VIN, 0-0
BRONZE: Islambek OROZBEKOV (KGZ) df. Gitinomagomed GADZHIYEV (AZE) by VPO1, 6-5

74kg
GOLD: Razambek ZHAMALOV (RUS) df. Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA) by VPO1, 4-2
BRONZE: Fazli ERYILMAZ (TUR) df. Azamat NURYKAU (BLR) by VPO1, 7-2
BRONZE: Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) df. Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) by VPO1, 2-2

92kg
GOLD: Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (RUS) df. Georgii RUBAEV (MDA) by VPO, 6-0
BRONZE: Erhan YAYLACI (TUR) df. Gadzhimurad MAGOMEDSAIDOV (AZE) by VPO1, 4-2
BRONZE: Samuel SCHERRER (SUI) df. Arkadzi PAHASIAN (BLR) by VPO1, 8-4

125kg
GOLD: Shamil SHARIPOV (RUS) df. Robert BARAN (POL) by VPO1, 4-1
BRONZE: Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ) df. Jamaladdin MAGOMEDOV (AZE) 
by VSU, 11-0
BRONZE: Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (BLR) df. Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR) 
by VPO1, 6-5
 

#WrestleBudapest

Big-throwing Machado claims debut Ranking Series gold

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 20) -- Thamires MACHADO (BRA) made brief headlines at the Pan-American Olympic Games Qualifiers in Mexico. She threw Amit ELOR (USA) for a lateral drop for four points. Machado had Elor in trouble which could have seen Elor, the champion in Paris Games, lose early. However, Machado fizzled out and lost her bout 6-4.

A year later on Saturday, the Brazilian won her first major gold medal at the Budapest Ranking Series after a stunning show of strength and big throws at the Ranking Series over the weekend.

"In every practice back home, I try to do the four-point moves. I want to throw," Machado said after receiving the gold medal.

In other weight classes, Grace BULLEN (NOR) had another epic match with Irina RINGACI (MDA) and won gold at 65kg and Kennedy BLADES (USA) won another Ranking Series gold to remain undefeated at 68kg going into the World Championships.

European champion Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) and Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) won at 55kg and 62kg respectively.

Machado, competing in her first-ever Ranking Series event, won the 76kg gold medal with wins over Asian champion Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) and world U20 champion PRIYA (IND) in semifinal and final, respectively.

In the gold-medal bout, Machadofaced former world U17 and U20 champion Priya and used a similar lateral drop like she did against Elor to score a four-pointer over Priya in the first minute.

Priya was pushing for a stepout and Machado used that momentum to drop her for four-points. It was catch-up from there on for Priya who failed to score any points in the first period. She got a stepout in the second get on board. Struggling to get to Machado's legs, Priya forced another stepout to make it 4-2.

Machado was put on the activity clock in the last minute but she was happy to conceded that point than to go for all-out attack during those 30 seconds. Priya also waited for the activity clock to expire before pushing for a point, perhaps a mistake to take her foot of the pedal in the final minute.

During that time, Machado managed to catch her breath and defended all attacks, including one in the last five seconds to win 4-3 and the gold medal.

"I am happy to win this gold medal in Ranking Series," she said. "This is so special for me"

In the semifinals, Machado got the better of Medet Kyzy, who opened the scoring with a double-leg takedown for two points. She led 3-0 at the break as Machado failed to score after being put on the 30-second activity clock.

Machado got her first points when she defended a leg attack from Medet Kyzy and scored a go-behind takedown. She then launched a powerful gut-wrench and turned her three times to lead 8-3. Two stepouts in quick succession for Medet Kyzy cut Machado's lead to 8-5 but the Kyrgyzstan wrestler had only a minute left to score more points and secure the win.

As they scrambled for the final minute, Machado and Medet Kyzy locked each other at the edge but it was the latter who fell outside of the zone first which gave another point to Machado with 33 seconds left. Machado held her positions better than Medet Kyzy and managed to score another stepout to lead 10-5 and win the bout.

Born in one of the favellas in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Machado was part of one of the social project by the local council which taught wrestling to young kids. She joined the program and managed to learn wrestling.

In 2019, she won gold medal at the Pan-Am U20 Championships, her second ever competition. For five years, she was away from wrestling, but in 2024, she returned and won the Henri Deglane Grand Prix and was second at the 2025 Pan-Am Championships.

Bullen survives Ringaci

If both remain at the same weight class in the future, the Bullen-Ringaci rivalry can be the most fearsome in Women's Wrestling. The latest example was their 65kg final in Budapest where Bullen, down 16-8, pinned Ringaci was claim her second win over the former world champion in four months.

Ringaci, who needed one more turn from par terre or just survive the pin from Bullen, was frustrated with yet another loss and pushed aside Bullen after the bout.

The match began with a wonderful counter from Ringaci, who hit a cut-back after a Bullen snap to pass-by and got four points. Watch above. While Bullen survived the fall attempt, she fell behind 6-0.

A little later, it was Ringaci's chance survive a pin attempt from Bullen who lifted Ringaci well over her waist-level and slammed her for four. The first period ended with Bullen leading 6-6 on criteria.

Bullen tried the exact move of snap to pass-by in the second period and this time she succeeded, scoring two points and taking a clear 8-6 lead. Ringaci scored a takedown 30 seconds into the second period and scored six more points using three gut-wrenches. As she was going for the final turn to win the bout, Bullen blocked and got the headlock to pin Ringaci.

An aghast Ringaci was left in tears as Bullen herself was shocked to have won the bout, having snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

At 68kg, Kennedy BLADES (USA) had a fine tournament, winning her second Ranking Series event and third tournament of 2025. In the final, she defeated Noemi SZABADOS (HUN), 13-2, a wrestler she had defeated 10-0 at the Zagreb Open in February.

The only bout she was not able to win via technical superiority was her semifinal against Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) as the Bulgarian was able to stop Blades to a 6-2 win. Blades had little injury scare in the final few seconds of the match but managed to continue.

Verbina captured the 55kg gold medal after a controlled 6-1 win over Karla GODINEZ (CAN) in the final while Tandelova blanked Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) 3-0 in the 62kg final.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) df. Karla GODINEZ (CAN), 6-1

BRONZE: Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) df. Amory ANDRICH (GER), 10-0

62kg
GOLD: Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) df. Alina KASABIEVA (UWW), 3-0

BRONZE: Ana GODINEZ (CAN) df. Nikolett SZABO (HUN), 10-0
BRONZE: MANISHA (IND) df. Krystsina SAZYKINA (UWW), via fall (9-0)

65kg
GOLD: Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Irina RINGACI (MDA), via fall (10-16)

BRONZE: Eniko ELEKES (HUN) df. Ekaterina KOSHKINA (UWW), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Macey KILTY (USA) df. Kadriye KOCAK AKSOY (TUR), 10-4

68kg
GOLD: Kennedy BLADES (USA) df. Noemi SZABADOS (HUN), 13-2

BRONZE: Brooklyn HAYS (USA) df. Hyeonyeong PARK (KOR), 5-4
BRONZE: Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) df. Alina SHEVCHENKO (UWW), 11-1

76kg
GOLD: Thamires MACHADO (BRA) df. PRIYA (IND), 4-3

BRONZE: Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) df. Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW), 11-0
BRONZE: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Seoyeon JEONG (KOR), 12-1