U.S. wraps Muhamet Malo Ranking Series with fifth-place finishes from Black, Bey
by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling
Max Black works a front headlock against Suner Konunov (UWW) in the 60 kg bronze medal match at the 2026 Muhamet Malo Ranking Series in Tirana, Albania.
TIRANA, Albania – The U.S. concluded its time at the 2026 Muhamet Malo Ranking Series with a pair of tightly-contested losses in the Greco-Roman bronze medal round on Sunday evening at Feti Borova Olympic Park.
2025 World Team member Max Black battled UWW athlete Suner Konunov to a 1-1 decision at 60 kg. Konunov earned the first passivity point and crack on top, which was the difference in the criteria win. Black forced two opportunities from par terre in the second period but couldn’t find a turn from top.
It was a similar, low-scoring match for 2024 Olympian and four-time World Team member Kamal Bey in the 82 kg bronze medal match against 2017 World champion Viktor Nemes of Serbia. Nemes was awarded a passivity point in each period, with neither man scoring an offensive point, in the 2-0 decision.
Black and Bey secured fifth-place points, joining Otto Black with the highest placement of the U.S. Greco-Roman group. Adding top 10 finishes on Sunday were Dalton Roberts at 60 kg and Billy Sullivan at 55 kg. The U.S. earned seventh place in the Greco-Roman team rankings.
Archived matches from the Muhamet Malo are available to the U.S. audience through FloWrestling. Brackets and final results are hosted on UWW Arena.
1. Azerbaijan, 128
2. Kazakhstan, 95
3. Iran, 89
4. Georgia, 73
5. Kyrgyzstan, 58
6. Hungary, 49
7. United States, 44
8. India, 41
9. Finland, 20
10. Turkmenistan, 16
Gold – Emin Sefershaev (UWW)
Silver – Rashad Mammadov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Lalit (India)
Bronze – Marlan Mukashev (Kazakhstan)
5th – Arsen Zhuma (Kazakhstan)
5th – Vishvajit More (India)
7th – Ulan Muratbek Uulu (Kyrgyzstan)
8th – Rasul Jorayev (Turkmenistan)
9th – Billy Sullivan (United States)
10th – Andi Muca (Albania)
Gold – Emin Sefershaev (UWW) dec. Rashad Mammadov (Azerbaijan), 3-1
Bronze – Lalit (India) fall Arsen Zhuma (Kazakhstan), 2:44
Bronze – Marlan Mukashev (Kazakhstan) dec. Vishvajit More (India), 12-12
Gold – Nihat Mammadli (Azerbaijan)
Silver – Nihad Guluzade (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Sadyk Lalaev (UWW)
Bronze – Suner Konunov (UWW)
5th – Azatjan Achilov (Turkmenistan)
5th – Max Black (United States)
7th – Dalton Roberts (United States)
8th – Yerbol Kamaliyev (Kazakhstan)
9th – Suraj (India)
10th – Akzhol Tuyakov (Kazakhstan)
Gold – Nihat Mammadli (Azerbaijan) dec. Nihad Guluzade (Azerbaijan), 1-1
Bronze – Sadyk Lalaev (UWW) dec. Azatjan Achilov (Turkmenistan), 7-2
Bronze – Suner Konunov (UWW) dec. Max Black (United States), 1-1
Gold – Mohammad Rezaei (Iran)
Silver – Hojat Rezaei (Iran)
Bronze – Iuri Lomadze (Georgia)
Bronze – Razzak Beishekeev (Kyrgyzstan)
5th – Ruslan Nurullayev (Azerbaijan)
5th – Almatbek Amanbek (Kazakhstan)
7th – Nikolay Khapko (Kazakhstan)
8th – Amantur Ismailov (Kyrgyzstan)
9th – Krisztian Vancza (Hungary)
10th – Magomed Barakhoev (UWW)
Gold – Mohammad Rezaei (Iran) dec. Hojat Rezaei (Iran), 7-3
Bronze – Iuri Lomadze (Georgia) dec. Ruslan Nurullayev (Azerbaijan), 7-4
Bronze – Razzak Beishekeev (Kyrgyzstan) fall Almatbek Amanbek (Kazakhstan), 1:59
Gold – Mohammadamin Hosseini (Iran)
Silver – Adlet Tiuliubaev (UWW)
Bronze – Viktor Nemes (Serbia)
Bronze – Iraklii Kalandiia (UWW)
5th – Kamal Bey (United States)
5th – Tunjay Vazirzade (Azerbaijan)
7th – Shahin Badaghimofrad (Qatar)
8th – Prince (India)
9th – Demeu Zhadrayev (Kazakhstan)
10th – Akzhol Makhmudov (Kyrgyzstan)
Gold – Mohammadamin Hosseini (Iran) dec. Adlet Tiuliubaev (UWW), 6-2
Bronze – Viktor Nemes (Serbia) dec. Kamal Bey (United States), 2-0
Bronze – Iraklii Kalandiia (UWW) fall Tunjay Vazirzade (Azerbaijan), 2:07
Gold – Artur Sargsian (UWW)
Silver – Kiryl Maskevich (UWW)
Bronze – Uzur Dzhuzupbekov (Kyrgyzstan)
Bronze – Alex Szoke (Hungary)
5th – Amirreza Moradiyan (Iran)
5th – Giorgi Melia (Georgia)
7th – Artur Omarov (Czechia)
8th – Nurassyl Amanaly (Kazakhstan)
9th – Mahammad Ahmadiyev (Azerbaijan)
10th – Iussuf Matsiyev (Kazakhstan)
Gold – Artur Sargsian (UWW) inj. def. Kiryl Maskevich (UWW), 0:06
Bronze – Uzur Dzhuzupbekov (Kyrgyzstan) dec. Amirreza Moradiyan (Iran), 4-2
Bronze – Alex Szoke (Hungary) forfeit Giorgi Melia (Georgia)
Gold – Marat Kamparov (UWW)
Silver – Konsta Maeenpaeae (Finland)
Bronze – Dzmitry Zarubski (UWW)
Bronze – Elias Kuosmanen (Finland)
5th – Jello Krahmer (Germany)
5th – Beka Kandelaki (Azerbaijan)
7th – Hardeep (India)
8th – Ali Iliasov (UWW)
9th – Sulkhan Buidze (Georgia)
10th – Olzhas Syrlybay (Kazakhstan)
Gold – Marat Kamparov (UWW) dec. Konsta Maeenpaeae (Finland), 5-0
Bronze – Dzmitry Zarubski (UWW) fall Jello Krahmer (Germany), 0:29
Bronze – Elias Kuosmanen (Finland) dec. Beka Kandelaki (Azerbaijan), 3-0
55 kg – Billy Sullivan (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP), 9th place
LOSS Vishvajit More (India), fall, 4:23
60 kg – Max Black (Marquette, Mich./NMU-National Training Center), 5th place
LOSS Nihat Mammadli (Azerbaijan), tech. fall, 8-0
WIN Yerbol Kamaliyev (Kazakhstan), 2-1
LOSS Suner Konunov (UWW), 1-1
60 kg – Dalton Roberts (Fountain, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP), 7th place
WIN Kurmanbek Zhaparov (Kyrgyzstan), 3-2
WIN Iskhar Kurbayev (Kazakhstan), 6-1
LOSS Sadyk Lalaev (UWW), tech. fall, 9-0
72 kg – Benji Peak (Colorado Springs, Colo./Position Wrestling/New York AC), 12th place
LOSS Iuri Lomadze (Georgia), 5-1
82 kg – Kamal Bey (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP), 5th place
WIN Marjan Kola (Albania), fall, 3:29
WIN Demeu Zhadrayev (Kazakhstan), 3-3
LOSS Mohammadamin Hosseini (Iran), 7-0
LOSS Viktor Nemes (Serbia), 2-0
82 kg – George Sikes (Fort Pierce, Fla./New York AC), 16th place
LOSS Prince (India), 7-0
97 kg – Michial Foy (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP), 16th place
LOSS Artur Sargsian (UWW), tech. fall, 8-0
LOSS Murad Ahmadiyev (Azerbaijan), 6-2
97 kg – Keith Miley (Little Rock, Ark./Arkansas RTC/New York AC), 21st place
LOSS Artur Omarov (Czechia), tech. fall, 8-0
130 kg – Aden Attao (Boise, Idaho/New York AC), 14th place
LOSS Sulkhan Buidze (Georgia), 2-0