U.S. Greco-Roman draws set for 2025 Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial

BUDAPEST, Hungary—The United States Greco-Roman team has received draws for the 2025 Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial, the fourth UWW Ranking Series event of the season, in Budapest, Hungary.

A pair of 2024 Olympians represent the United States in Kamal Bey at 77 kg and Payton Jacobson at 87 kg. Bey opens his tournament against the winner of a first round match featuring 2025 Asian Championships gold medalist and 2019 Senior World silver medalist Aram Vardanyan of Uzbekistan and 2024 U23 Asian champion Doniyorkhon Nakibov of Uzbekistan.

In addition to Bey and Jacobson, six Senior World Team members are slated to compete in Budapest. Jayden Raney, a 2024 U17 World champion, will meet 2024 Senior World bronze medalist Denis Mihai of Romania to start his day.

Max Black, competing at 60 kg, will face off against Mehroj Bakhramov of Uzbekistan in the first round. Bakhramov is a 2025 U23 Asian Championships silver medalist. Senior World Team member and 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials champion Ellis Coleman will have either Yerkebulan Ardakov of Kazakhstan or Karen Aslanyan or Armenia. Ardakov is a 2017 U17 Asian Champion, while Aslanyan won a Senior World bronze medal in 2024.

Senior World Team members Alston Nutter at 67 kg, Beka Melelashvili at 82 kg and Cohlton Schultz at 130 kg are slated to compete in Budapest this weekend.

Nutter’s first round opponent is Yeongwoo Jeong of South Korea, a 2023 Grand Prix of Spain champion. Melelashvili, a 2024 U23 World silver medalist, sees 2024 U23 Asian Championships silver medalist Almir Tolebayev of Kazakhstan to open his tournament.

Schultz, a 2017 Cadet World Champion and three-time Senior World Team member, meets Mihail Kajala of Serbia to open the day.

U.S. Open runners-up Otto Black and Aliaksandr Kikiniou are also in the mix for Team USA. Black, a 2024 U20 World silver medalist, battles 2024 Grand Prix of Spain silver medalist Damir Ibrashov of Kazakhstan in his first match. Kikiniou faces the winner of a matchup between 2025 U23 European silver medalist Danil Grigorev and three-time age-group Asian Championships medalist Merey Maulitkanov of Kazakhstan.

Two-time U20 World medalist Aden Attao is competing at 130 kg in Hungary. Attao’s first opponent is three-time age-group World medalist Sarkhan Mammadov of Azerbaijan.

Other athletes entered for Team USA include 2023 Senior World Team member Brady Koontz at 55 kg, Dylan Koontz at 60 kg, and Courtney Denzel Freeman at 130 kg.

The action from Budapest is available to watch for the U.S. market through FloWrestling. Brackets and match-by-match results can be found on UWW Arena.

July 17-20, Budapest, Hungary 

• Event website
• Live stream
• Brackets and results

Saturday, July 19

(Greco-Roman 72 kg, 87 kg, 130 kg)

10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds

1:30 p.m. – Semifinals

2:30 p.m. – Repechage

5:00 p.m. – Finals

Sunday, July 20

(Greco-Roman 55 kg, 60 kg, 63 kg, 67 kg, 77 kg, 82 kg, 97 kg)

10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds

1:30 p.m. – Semifinals

2:30 p.m. – Repechage

5:00 p.m. – Finals

55 Kg: Jayden Raney (Sturgis, Ky./New York AC)

Vs. Denis Mihai (Romania)

55 kg: Brady Koontz (Dubuque, Iowa/Dubuque RTC/TMWC)

Vs. Alpamys Dastanbek (Kazakhstan)

60 kg: Dylan Koontz (Dubuque, Iowa/Dubuque RTC/TMWC)

Vs. Amiran Shavadze (Georgia)

60 kg: Max Black (Marquette, Mich./New York Ac/NMU-NTS)

Vs. Mehroj Bakhramov (Uzbekistan)

63 kg: Ellis Coleman (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP)

Vs. Yerkebulan Ardakov (Kazakhstan) or Karen Aslanyan (Armenia)

67 kg: Alston Nutter (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP)

Vs. Yeongwoo Jeong (South Korea)

67 kg: Otto Black (Parker, Colo./New York AC/Colorado Top Team)  

Vs. Damir Ibrashov (Kazakhstan)

72 kg: Aliaksandr Kikiniou (Poway, Calif./New York AC)

Vs. Danil Grigorev (UWW) or Merey Maulitkanov (Kazakhstan)

77 kg: Kamal Bey (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP)

Vs. Aram Vardanyan (Uzbekistan) or Doniyorkhon Nakibov (Uzbekistan)

82 kg: Beka Melelashvili (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)

Vs. Almir Tolebayev (Kazakhstan)

87 kg: Payton Jacobson (Marquette, Mich./New York AC/NMU-NTS)

Vs. Exauce Mukubu (Norway)

130 kg: Cohlton Schultz (Tempe, Ariz./Atreus WC)

Vs. Mihail Kajala (Serbia)

130 kg: Aden Attao (Boise, Idaho/New York AC)

Vs. Sarkhan Mammadov (Azerbaijan)

130 kg: Courtney Denzel Freeman (Richland, N.C./U.S. Marine Corps)

Vs. Assylbek Abdikalyk (Kazakhstan)