Global Wrestling Standings: Evloev’s Return and Khalmakhanov’s Ascent Shake Up Greco-Roman Rankings Ahead of Budapest Finale

The 2026 United World Wrestling (UWW) Ranking Series is barreling toward its dramatic conclusion this week in Budapest, Hungary. The Polyák Imre, Varga János & Kozma István Memorial tournament, running from July 15 to 19, serves as the final and most critical proving ground for the global Greco-Roman standings. For the world's elite grapplers, this event is not merely about securing another piece of hardware; it is the last opportunity to accumulate vital Ranking Series points before the World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, later this fall. A high seed in Astana ensures that top contenders avoid early-round collisions with fellow gold-medal favorites, making the stakes in Budapest exceptionally high for both individual athletes and national team strategists.[1]

The most captivating storyline of the week centers on the 97kg weight class, which is bracing for the highly anticipated return of Russian Olympic champion Musa Evloev. Evloev, who captured gold at the Tokyo Olympics and secured two world titles, was virtually untouchable during his peak from 2018 to 2021. After defeating Armenian legend Artur Aleksanyan in multiple global finals, Evloev stepped away from major international competition. His return to the UWW circuit after a five-year hiatus injects a massive dose of star power and unpredictability into the 97kg standings, forcing the current crop of medalists to prepare for a uniquely physical challenge.[1][3]

Evloev’s path back to the top of the podium, however, is far from guaranteed. He recently tested the waters at the Benur Pashayan Memorial in Armenia, where he suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat to U23 world champion Hayk Khloyan. Observers and technical analysts note that Evloev is still adjusting to the nuanced changes in the Greco-Roman ruleset that have been implemented during his absence, particularly concerning par terre positioning and passivity calls. His performance in Budapest will serve as a critical barometer for his World Championship viability and will immediately reshape the upper echelon of the 97kg rankings.[1][2]

The 97kg bracket in Budapest is utterly unforgiving, offering Evloev no easy matches to shake off the ring rust. He will have to navigate a gauntlet that includes world bronze medalist Arif Niftullayev of Azerbaijan, European medalist Alex Szoke of Hungary, and Olympic bronze medalist Uzur Dzhuzupbekov of Kyrgyzstan. Additionally, two rising German stars, Darius Kiefer and Lucas Lazogianis, are entered in the field, eager to test themselves against the returning Olympic champion. The points distributed among these titans will finalize the top tier of the World Championship seeds, setting the stage for a blockbuster tournament in Astana.[1][4]

While the 97kg division looks to the past, the 67kg weight class is witnessing a changing of the guard led by Uzbekistan’s Aytjan Khalmakhanov. After capturing the 63kg world title last year, Khalmakhanov made the strategic decision to bulk up to the 67kg Olympic weight class. He has immediately established dominance in his new division, securing titles at both the Zagreb Open in February and the U23 Asian Championships. Khalmakhanov’s seamless transition has sent shockwaves through the 67kg standings, proving that his speed and technical precision translate perfectly against larger opponents.[1]

Khalmakhanov’s momentum will face its stiffest test yet on the mats of the BOK Sports Hall. The 67kg field in Budapest is loaded with seasoned veterans and explosive young talent, including European medalist Slavik Galstyan of Armenia and U23 world champion Mohamed Abdelrehim of Egypt. Rising Georgian star Diego Chkhikvadze, who has been steadily climbing the global rankings all season, is also poised to challenge for the top spot. If Khalmakhanov can clear this field, he will cement his status as the undisputed number one seed heading into the World Championships, completing one of the most impressive weight-class transitions in recent memory.[1][2]

The volatility in the standings extends to the 60kg division, where Kyrgyzstan’s Zholaman Sharshenbekov is making a strategic pivot. The Olympic medalist is dropping back down to 60kg after a brief and successful stint at 63kg during the Ulaanbaatar Open in June, where he won gold despite dropping a group-stage bout. Sharshenbekov’s return to his natural weight class puts him on a direct collision course with Uzbekistan’s Alisher Ganiev, the reigning world silver medalist. Their potential matchup in Budapest is widely viewed as a preview of the World Championship final and will decisively shift the balance of power in the lightweight standings.[1][3]

Beyond the individual accolades, the team standings are fiercely contested as federations jockey for optimal seeding across all ten weight classes. Uzbekistan is bringing a fully loaded, top-tier squad to Budapest, aiming to unseat traditional Greco-Roman powerhouses like Iran, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, who dominated the team points at the Zagreb Open earlier this year. With full rosters entered by Russia, Turkiye, and Kazakhstan as well, the team race in Budapest will provide a highly accurate preview of the national strength we can expect to see in Astana. Every match, from the qualification rounds to the medal finals, carries profound implications for the sport's global hierarchy.[1][4]