Hamiti, Coleman, Macchiavello, Aiello notch wins against Russia at PWL9; Russia takes dual, 6-4

BUDAPEST, Hungary – Rivals reunited on Monday evening in Budapest for a friendly dual meet between men’s freestyle powers Russia and United States at PWL9. Russia won six-of-10 matches to collect the dual meet win at Kozma Istvan Magyar Birkozo Akademia Alapitvany.

After a shaky start that saw the Americans go down five matches to none, Team USA rebounded to win four-of-five bouts in the back half of the dual meet, coming one win shy of sending the dual to an 11^th tiebreaker match.

Freshly minted NCAA champion for Oklahoma State and U.S. National Team member Dean Hamiti provided a much-needed spark to the U.S. side with a second-period pin against Russia Nationals runner-up Mokhmad Nasirkhaev at 79 kg. The match was largely back-and-forth with Nasirkhaev leading 8-6 the period break. Midway through the second period, Hamiti countered a Nasirkhaev attack and ran the Russian to his back to lock up the fall in 4:29.

2024 Bill Farrell Memorial International champion Marcus Coleman followed with a remarkable comeback against 2021 U23 European champion Amanula Rasulov, 8-7, at 86 kg. Coleman trailed 7-0 with under a minute remaining in the match and rallied to score eight points in a 33-second timeframe to pull off the win. Coleman was two-time NCAA All-American at Iowa State.

At 92 kg, veteran competitor Michael Macchiavello won a competitive 10-6 bout over Russia Nationals champion Amanula Gadzhimagomedov. Macchiavello set the tone with a four-point double leg to open the scoring, and he held on to the lead throughout. Macchiavello has won three international medals in 2025—gold at the Henri Deglane Grand Prix, plus bronze at the Zagreb Open and Muhamet Malo Ranking Series events.

Coming off a bronze medal performance at the Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial Ranking Series event, Jay Aiello scored a controlled, 8-1, win over Konstantin Pshenichnikov at 97 kg. This match was never in doubt for the American.

Aiello’s win gave the U.S. a chance to tie dual meet score heading into 125 kg, the last bout of the dual. Unfortunately, Final X runner-up Trent Hillger ran into buzzsaw Zelimkhan Khizriev, falling by 11-0 technical fall to dash the U.S. comeback bid. Khizriev represented Russia at the 2021 World Championships, finishing seventh overall.

Four-time age-group World medalist and Final X runner-up Luke Lilledahl and NCAA finalist for Purdue Joey Blaze proved competitive in losses. Lilledahl dropped the 57 kg bout in the final moments to Russia Nationals champion Musa Mekhtikhanov, 8-5. Blaze fell 8-4 to Magomad Dibirgadzhiev at 74 kg.

Also representing Team USA in the event were Dylan Koontz at 61 kg, CJ Composto at 65 kg and Bryce Andonian at 70 kg. All three lost by technical fall.

Fans unable to view the event live can watch the replay at pwlworld.tv.

57 kg – Musa Mekhtikhanov (Russia) dec. Luke Lilledahl (USA), 8-5 | USA 0, RUS 1

61 kg – Muslim Mekhtikhanov (Russia) tech. fall Dylan Koontz (USA), 10-0 | USA 0, RUS 2

65 kg – Abasgadzhi Magomedov (Russia) tech. fall CJ Composto (USA), 13-2 | USA 0, RUS 3

70 kg – Saiyn Kazyryk (Russia) tech. fall Bryce Andonian (USA), 13-0 | USA 0, RUS 4

74 kg – Magomad Dibirgadzhiev (Russia) dec. Joey Blaze (USA), 8-4 | USA 0, RUS 5

79 kg – Dean Hamiti (USA) fall Mokhmad Nasirkhaev (Russia), 4:29 | USA 1, RUS 5

86 kg – Marcus Coleman (USA) dec. Amanula Rasulov (Russia), 8-7 | USA 2, RUS 5

92 kg – Mike Macchiavello (USA) dec. Amanula Gadzhimagomedov (Russia), 10-6 | USA 3, RUS 5

97 kg – Jay Aiello (USA) dec. Konstantin Pshenichnikov (Russia), 8-1 | USA 4, RUS 5

125 kg – Zelimkhan Khizriev (Russia) tech. fall Trent Hillger (USA), 11-0 | USA 4, RUS 6