USA vs. Russia Mens Freestyle Dual Set for PWL 9 in Budapest, Hungary on July 21
Reviving a tradition that goes back more than six decades, the national men’s freestyle teams from the United States and Russia have agreed to compete in a dual meet as part of the Professional Wrestling League.
Billed as PWL 9, the dual meet will feature a card of 10 matches in the Senior international wrestling weight classes. The competition will be held at Kozma Istvan Magyar Birkozo Akademia Alapitvany in Budapest, Hungary on Monday, July 21 at 7:00 p.m. local time.
“I think this is a great opportunity for us to develop dual meet concepts for our athletes. This could lead to even more excellent opportunities in the future. I was involved in some of the early USA vs. Russia dual meets in the 1980’s. They were beneficial for both nations and for our sport. We are in a different time right now, and we have not done one of these duals for a number of years. These duals not only help promote wrestling, but also provide quality matches for our athletes to help prepare for future competitions,” said Bruce Baumgartner, President of USA Wrestling
“As seen at many World Championships and Olympic Games in recent decades, the most anticipated matches are often between Russian and American wrestlers. I would like to emphasize that on the wrestling mat, the Russians and the Americans have always understood each other. In fact, in 2013 we stood side by side to preserve wrestling in the Olympic program and succeeded. I am convinced that regardless of the outcome in Budapest, it will be a major victory for our sport,” said Mikhail Mamiashvili, President of the Russian Wrestling Federation and Olympic champion.
The wrestling federations of the United States and Russia (the former Soviet Union) have been competing in men’s freestyle dual meets going back to the late 1950’s. These dual meets have been held in both nations in spite of the political situation between the nations at the time. For many years, Russian teams which attended the Freestyle World Cup held in the United States would also compete in dual meets in a variety of U.S. cities while on their visit. Likewise, when U.S. athletes attended major wrestling tournaments in Russia, they would often compete in dual meets in various Russian cities while on the tour.
The teams are meeting in a neutral site in Budapest due to the logistical convenience for both federations. Some of the U.S. athletes in the dual meet also will compete in the Polyak Imre & Varga Janos Memorial UWW Ranking Series Event in Budapest, July 17-18. Based upon the success of PWL 9, there is hope that more dual meets can be organized, including a return to matches in Russia and the United States.
The United States team will include 2023 U20 World champion and 2022 U17 World champion Luke Lilledahl (57 kg), who is currently No. 2 on the U.S. Senior National Team. Other current U.S. Senior National Team members on the squad are Seth Gross (61 kg), Trent Hillger (125 kg), Jay Aiello (97 kg) and Dean Hamiti (79 kg). Gross was fifth in the 2022 Senior World Championships.
The Russian team is led by 2021 World champion and 2023 World silver medalist Abasgadzhi Magomedov (65 kg). 2021 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix champion Zelimkhan Khizriev (125), a member of the 2021 Russian Senior World Team, will also compete. 2018 U20 World champion Saiyn Kazyryk (70 kg), 2024 World Military Championships silver medalist Mokhmad Nasirkhaev (79 kg) and 2022 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix silver medalist Amanula Rasulov (86 kg) will also wrestle on the Russian team.
The event “PWL 9. Russia vs USA Freestyle Wrestling Dual” will be broadcast live on the international streaming platforms WRESTLINGTV.RU / SPORTRUSSIA.TV on July 21 at 7 p.m. Budapest time. Budapest is six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time zone.
Freestyle Wrestling. PWL 9
Russia vs USA Dual Meet
Monday, July 21, Budapest, Hungary
57 kg. Luke Lilledahl (USA) vs. Musa Mekhtikhanov (Russia)
61 kg. Seth Gross (USA) vs. Muslim Mekhtikhanov (Russia)
65 kg. CJ Composto (USA) vs. Abasgadzhi Magomedov (Russia)
70 kg. Bryce Andonian (USA) vs. Saiyn Kazyryk (Russia)
74 kg. Joey Blaze (USA) vs. Magoma Dibirgadzhiev (Russia)
79 kg. Dean Hamiti (USA) vs. Mokhmad Nasirkhaev (Russia)
86 kg. Marcus Coleman (USA) vs. Amanula Rasulov (Russia)
92 kg. Mike Macchiavello (USA) vs. Amanula Gadzhimagomedov (Russia)
97 kg. Jay Aiello (USA) vs. Konstantin Pshenichnikov (Russia)
125 kg. Trent Hillger (USA) vs. Zelimkhan Khizriev (Russia)
