Shamil Mamedov Dominates Budapest Finale, Shaking Up 65kg World Championship Standings

The 65kg freestyle wrestling landscape is officially the most volatile weight class on the international circuit. With the 2026 World Wrestling Championships in Astana looming on the horizon, the race for the crucial top seeds reached a fever pitch this week in Hungary. The Polyák Imre, Varga János & Kozma István Memorial in Budapest served as the fourth and final stop of the United World Wrestling (UWW) Ranking Series, offering the last major opportunity for athletes to stockpile points.[1]

For Shamil Mamedov, the stakes in Budapest were about far more than just ranking mathematics. The Russian-born wrestler, who now represents Bulgaria, arrived in Hungary carrying the heavy baggage of a spectacular collapse just one month prior.[1][3]

At the Ulaanbaatar Open in June, Mamedov had built a commanding 8-0 lead over Iranian world champion Rahman Amouzad in the 65kg final. But as the second period wore on, Mamedov's conditioning completely evaporated. He stopped attacking, surrendered head control, and was ultimately blitzed by Amouzad in a stunning 17-10 defeat that left analysts questioning his stamina ahead of the World Championships.[1]

"I learnt a lesson from Ulaanbaatar Open that I should not stop wrestling even if I have a big lead on the scoreboard," Mamedov admitted after arriving in Budapest. He noted that allowing Amouzad to maintain a head-pinch position had drained his energy, a tactical error he was determined not to repeat.[1]

Mamedov's response on the mats in Budapest was nothing short of terrifying for the rest of the 65kg division. He did not just win the tournament; he completely dismantled the bracket, finishing all five of his bouts early via technical superiority.[1][3]

The Dagestan native opened his campaign by blanking China's Xuexiang 10-0. He followed that up with an 11-1 dismantling of Kazakhstan's Adil Ospanov, before returning to his shutout ways with a 10-0 victory over Nachyn Kuular, also of Kazakhstan.[3]

In the semifinals, Mamedov faced India's Mohit Kumar. Utilizing a punishing gut-wrench and a suffocating leg lace, the Bulgarian representative rolled to another 10-0 technical superiority win, punching his ticket to his second consecutive Ranking Series final.[1][3]

Waiting for him in the gold medal match was another Iranian challenger: Abbas Ebrahimzadeh. Ebrahimzadeh had charted his own impressive course through the bracket, highlighted by a gritty 10-0 technical fall over Germany's Megrela and a razor-thin 5-5 criteria victory over India's Vishal Kaliramana in the semifinals.[1][4]

For Ebrahimzadeh, the final was a chance to prove he belongs in the same conversation as his countryman Amouzad. For Mamedov, it was an opportunity to exorcise the demons of Ulaanbaatar against another elite Iranian scrambler.[1][4]

The final, however, was entirely one-sided. Mamedov established a 4-0 lead by the break, refusing to yield the tie-ups that had cost him a month earlier. In the second period, he scored two counter-takedowns to extend his advantage to 8-0.[1]

Smelling blood, Mamedov launched a thunderous double-leg attack that put Ebrahimzadeh straight onto his back. The four-point move secured a 12-0 technical superiority victory, capping off a tournament where Mamedov outscored his world-class opposition by a staggering cumulative margin of 53-1.[1][3]

"At this tournament I am very satisfied with my wrestling. I gave my best from beginning to the end," Mamedov reflected after having his hand raised. He added that his training camp will now shift into a three-stage preparation cycle specifically tailored for the World Championships in Astana.[1]

While Mamedov secured the gold and a massive injection of ranking points, the battle for the podium's lower steps also reshaped the 65kg standings. India's Vishal Kaliramana bounced back from his heartbreaking semifinal criteria loss to Ebrahimzadeh by defeating Kazakhstan's Ossumzhan Dastanbek 8-2 to claim bronze.[2]

The other bronze medal went to Kazakhstan's Nachyn Kuular, who recovered from his quarterfinal loss to Mamedov. Kuular's placement helped Kazakhstan secure the overall men's freestyle team title in Budapest with 148 points, showcasing the nation's immense depth across the lighter weights.

The United States, meanwhile, had a quiet outing at 65kg, with Beau Bartlett dropping a 5-2 decision in the round of 16 to Georgia's Nika Zakashvili. The American squad found more success at 70kg, where Ridge Lovett captured gold.

As the dust settles on the 2026 Ranking Series, the 65kg picture for Astana is coming into sharp focus. Mamedov has firmly established himself as the man to beat, having proven that his conditioning issues were a correctable tactical flaw rather than a chronic weakness.[1]

Yet, the specter of Rahman Amouzad still looms large. The Iranian federation now faces a fascinating internal dynamic between the reigning champion Amouzad and the surging Ebrahimzadeh, both of whom have proven they can navigate deep international brackets.[1][4]

With the seeds nearly locked in, the wrestling world now turns its eyes toward Kazakhstan. If Budapest was any indication, the 65kg bracket in Astana will be an absolute gauntlet, requiring not just technical brilliance, but the stamina to survive the deepest field in the sport.[1]