Kudiev and Savadkouhi Return to the Mat at 2025 Budapest Ranking Series

The final UWW Ranking Series tournament of 2025 kicks off in Budapest, Hungary, on July 16 with high anticipation. After stops in Croatia, Albania, and Mongolia, this fourth and final ranking event is the last opportunity for athletes to secure critical seeding points ahead of the World Championships.

🇮🇷 Iran’s Entries

On the first day of competition, men's freestyle athletes in 57, 61, 65, 70, 79, 97, and 125 kg will hit the mats. Iran is sending three competitors:

  • Sina Khalili and Abbas Ebrahimzadeh (in direct competition for the 61 kg national team spot)

  • Fariborz Babaei, who will represent Iran at 79 kg in place of Mehdi Yousefi, whose visa for Hungary was unfortunately denied despite his domestic success.

    Comeback for Ali Savadkouhi & Kodiyiev

    Later this week, action continues in the 74, 86, and 92 kg weight classes. After a lengthy recovery from meniscus surgery, Ali Savadkouhi makes his return at 86 kg. Another key returnee is Abdulmajid Kodiyiev, the Russian-born wrestler who injured his knee during the Iranian Premier League final against Shamil Mamedov. Kodiyiev now resumes competition in Budapest, marking his first tournament since that setback.

    Deep Field in 70 kg & 74 kg

    Among all weight classes, 70 kg stands out for its depth of talent, featuring multiple title contenders. Iran has entered two athletes here, facing international stars such as:

  • Yoshinosuke Aoyagi (Japan)

  • Ismail Musukaev (Hungary)

  • Armen Andreasyan (Armenia)

  • Kenan Heybatov (Azerbaijan)

    At 74 kg, European Champion Chermen Valiev (Albania), Turan Bayramov (Azerbaijan), David Carr (USA), and Tajmuraz Salkazanov (Slovakia) add intensity to an already stacked bracket.

    🌍 International Stars to Watch

    The Budapest field includes several global names and rising stars:

    Azamat Tuskaev (Serbia) at 57 kg

  • Zhumashbek Uulu (Kyrgyzstan) & Seth Gross (USA) at 61 kg

  • Islam Dudaev (Albania) & Vazgen Tevanyan (Armenia) at 65 kg

  • Habib Kadzhimagomedov (Belarus) & Boris Makoev (Slovakia) at 86 kg

  • Abubakr Abakarov & Osman Nurmagomedov (Azerbaijan), Mirani Maisuradze (Georgia), and Doron Kurguliev (Greece) at 92 kg

  • And of course, Akhmed Tazhudinov (Bahrain), reigning Olympic, World, and Asian champion, at 97 kg.

    Final Stop Before Worlds

    With top contenders scattered across the brackets and Olympic seeds on the line, Budapest promises to be a key stage-setting event for the 2025 World Championships.

Elham HeidariComment