'26 Muhamet Malo Ranking Series (2/25-3/1) thread

[GregPickel]

Please use this thread to discuss the 2026 Muhamet Malo Ranking Series. It runs Feb 25 - March 1. Schedule:

Event Schedule

Wednesday, February 25

MFS 57-61-65-70-74-86 kg

10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds

2:30 p.m. – Semifinals

3:30 p.m. – Repechage

5 p.m. – Opening ceremony

6 p.m. – Medal matches



Thursday, February 26

MFS 79-92-97-125 kg, WFS 50-55 kg

10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds

1:30 p.m. – Semifinals

2:30 p.m. – Repechage

6 p.m. – Medal matches



Friday, February 27

WFS 59-62-65-68 kg, GR 77-87 kg

10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds

2:30 p.m. – Semifinals

3:30 p.m. – Repechage

6 p.m. – Medal matches



Saturday, February 28

WFS 53-57-72-76 kg, GR 63-67 kg

10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds

2 p.m. – Semifinals

3 p.m. – Repechage

6 p.m. – Medal matches



Sunday, March 1

GR 55-60-72-82-97-130 kg

10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds

2:30 p.m. – Semifinals

3:30 p.m. – Repechage

6 p.m. – Medal matches



*All times listed local to Tirana, Albania, which is located six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time.

 

[GregPickel]

Tyler Kasak, Kyle Snyder, and Kyle Dake are the NLWC members on the U.S. Senior men's freestyle team, which can be seen in its entirety below:

U.S. Men’s Freestyle Roster

57 kg – Spencer Lee (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC)

57 kg – Liam Cronin (Lincoln, Neb./Nebraska WTC/Titan Mercury WC)

61 kg – Mike McGee (Bolingbrook, Ill./Southwest WC)

61 kg – Nathan Tomasello (Riverside, Calif./Lehigh Valley Wrestling RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

65 kg – Real Woods (Ann Arbor, Mich./Cliff Keen WC/Titan Mercury WC)

65 kg – Joey McKenna (Stillwater, Okla./Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

65 kg – Vito Arujau (Ithaca, N.Y./Spartan Combat RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

70 kg – Tyler Kasak (Lemont, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)

70 kg – Alec Pantaleo (Canton, Mich./Cliff Keen WC/Titan Mercury WC)

70 kg – Ridge Lovett (Post Falls, Idaho/Nebraska WTC/Titan Mercury WC)

74 kg – Quincy Monday (Princeton, N.J./New Jersey RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

74 kg – Yahya Thomas (Chicago, Ill./New Jersey RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

74 kg – Will Lewan (Naperville, Ill./Cliff Keen WC/Titan Mercury WC)

79 kg – Dean Hamiti (Stillwater, Okla./Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

79 kg – Cameron Amine (Stillwater, Okla./Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

86 kg – Kyle Dake (Port Matilda, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)

92 kg – Jacob Cardenas (Kearny, N.J./Cliff Keen WC/Titan Mercury WC)

92 kg – Dustin Plott (Tuttle, Okla./Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

97 kg – Kyle Snyder (Bellefonte, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)

97 kg – Jay Aiello (Columbus, Ohio/Ohio RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

97 kg – Hayden Zillmer (Deerwood, Minn./Minnesota RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

125 kg – Trent Hillger (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

125 kg – Wyatt Hendrickson (Stillwater, Okla./ Cowboy RTC/U.S. Air Force WCAP)

125 kg – Mason Parris (Ann Arbor, Mich./Cliff Keen WC/Titan Mercury WC)

 

[LostInTransition]

This is like a small invasion force. Did the Euros see this coming during the Munich Security Conference last week?

The U.S. will send a skilled, credentialed roster of 54 athletes—24 in men’s freestyle, 14 in women’s freestyle and 16 in Greco-Roman—to the 2026 Muhamet Malo tournament in Tirana, Albania, which serves as the second United World Wrestling Ranking Series event of the season.

U.S. to send powerful team of 54 athletes to 2026 Muhamet Malo Ranking Series

The U.S. will send a skilled, credentialed roster of 54 athletes—24 in men’s freestyle, 14 in women’s freestyle and 16 in Greco-Roman—to the 2026 Muhamet Malo tournament in Tirana, Albania, which serves as the second United World Wrestling Ranking Seri...

www.themat.com

 

[GregPickel]

 

[El_Jefe]

Vito up to 65? Interesting.

 

[zzs006]

Vito up to 65? Interesting.

Very interesting. He has the frame to go up and no 61kg at the Olympics. Might be smart to start adding good weight now

 

[Fan16801]

Also wrestling for other countries Caleb Smith (PR), Austin Gomez (Mex), Darian Cruz (PR)

 

[Psalm 1 guy]

Does anyone know the extent of RBY's foot injury? It was a bummer he got hurt early in his match with Spencer. I was really interested in seeing if he had closed the gap any with Spencer.

 

[a_mshaffer]

Does anyone know the extent of RBY's foot injury? It was a bummer he got hurt early in his match with Spencer. I was really interested in seeing if he had closed the gap any with Spencer.

saw him near the team in crutches at the match Fri night (via television)

 

[Fan16801]

Brackets are out and no Tyler.

Weight Categories

arena.uww.org

 

[GregPickel]

 

[GregPickel]

Brackets are out and no Tyler.

Weight Categories

arena.uww.org

Dang, you’re fast! And also correct.

 

[zzs006]

74kg is stacked. Definitely the deepest weight

This was before I saw 86kg. Both are incredible weights with tons of elite guys

 

[OzarkLion]

Parris/Hendrickson in the semis. Hillger opposite side

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[Psalm 1 guy]

I am interested to see how Vito does up at 65kg, not only in performance but also to see if he has been able to gain good weight in his ascent.

 

[zzs006]

I am interested to see how Vito does up at 65kg; not only in performance but also to see if he has been able to gain good weight in his ascent.

He could meet Jalolov which would be a great match

 

[zzs006]

86kg is insane. Kadiev is Russia #1 and is the guy who beat Barr in the U20 finals. Guy is elite. Kougioumtsidis is also in the bracket. He is last years 79kg world champion who beat Levi in the finals. He wrestled at the last ranking series event and lost first round though. He has a tough test first round again against Begenjov who is a U20 champion. Then there is Usmanov, Gamkredlidze, Saipudinov, Papinishvili, and Dzhioev. Dake has his work cut out for him. Most likely will have Kadiev, Saipudinov, Usmanov, and Kougio/Begenjov in a row to win gold! Brutal path but should awesome to watch

 

[zzs006]

Sadulaev is entered at 97kg!! Him and Snyder are on opposite sides of the bracket. They should meet in the finals but Sad will need to beat Aitmukhan and Snyder beat Magomedov

 

[zzs006]

Wrestling: Abdulrashid Sadulaev returns, Kyle Snyder match looms at Muhamet Malo Ranking Series

Get the latest updates from the United World Wrestling, including news, features, stories, injury updates, match reports and more.

uww.org

Good article talking about the brackets

 

[zzs006]

The match EVERYONE wanted just went down! Yayha vs Lewan! Lewan won 1-1 on criteria with both points coming on the shot clock. I guarantee no one saw that coming

 

[zzs006]

Desanto vs Almaz Uulu. Uulu was silver at senior worlds last year down at 57kg.

Awesome first period. 9-8 Desanto at the break. He gave 2 4 point moves but took Uulu down multiple times and turned him. Desanto keeps improving. He’s someone to watch at 61kg

Desanto with another beautiful td. 11-8 now

Desanto almost gives up exposure from a head pinch but defends and turns it into his own td. Uulu challenging. Score will be 14-8 or 11-10. Challenge lost. 14-8 with :23 left

Uulu with a quick td. 14-10

Caution and 1 for fleeing. 14-11 and that’s how it ends. Huge win for Desanto

 

[jrod65]

@zzs006

You notice the change to how grounding is called/scored this year? I'm liking it so far.

 

[Corby2]

I know Kadiev is a really good young talent but I wasn't expecting him to beat Dake

 

[El_Jefe]

Desanto vs Almaz Uulu. Uulu was silver at senior worlds last year down at 57kg.

Awesome first period. 9-8 Desanto at the break. He gave 2 4 point moves but took Uulu down multiple times and turned him. Desanto keeps improving. He’s someone to watch at 61kg

Desanto with another beautiful td. 11-8 now

Desanto almost gives up exposure from a head pinch but defends and turns it into his own td. Uulu challenging. Score will be 14-8 or 11-10. Challenge lost. 14-8 with :23 left

Uulu with a quick td. 14-10

Caution and 1 for fleeing. 14-11 and that’s how it ends. Huge win for Desanto

Freestyle DeSanto has become something like Trailer Park Mesenbrink. He just keeps coming and coming and DGAF, and still has that edge.

He's especially a problem for the conditioning-challenged foreigners.

 

[zzs006]

@zzs006

You notice the change to how grounding is called/scored this year? I'm liking it so far.

I really like it as well. No more weird dropping down on the edge trying to be grounded. I think it just gets rid of any ambiguity. I would like to hear how the athletes like it.

 

[zzs006]

I know Kadiev is a really good young talent but I wasn't expecting him to beat Dake

Kadiev is the real deal. I think he might be the guy to beat at 86kg going forward. I thought he had a chance to beat Dake but I didn’t expect it to be 11-4.

 

[Kingslayer]

Kadiev is the real deal. I think he might be the guy to beat at 86kg going forward. I thought he had a chance to beat Dake but I didn’t expect it to be 11-4.

Age has been catching up to Dake over the last couple of years . Each year he is getting further from his peak.

 

[zzs006]

Vito loses his semi to Babazade 18-15!

On the other side of the bracket Sujeet techs McKenna. Sujeet has really announced himself as a contender at 65kg. He won gold at U23’s last year and just won gold at the Zagreb as well. He has teched his way into the finals at this tournament. Kid is on a roll

 

[pish69]

Is Kasak wrestling in this?

 

[Kingslayer]

Is Spencer in the finals ?

 

[zzs006]

Dzhioev vs Kadiev was crazy. Kadiev wins 3-2 but Dzhioev was in so deep multiple times and Kadiev somehow defended. Incredible defense. Dzhioev is REALLY good though. Dake has his hands full in repechage

 

[Coastal2]

Vito loses his semi to Babazade 18-15!

On the other side of the bracket Sujeet techs McKenna. Sujeet has really announced himself as a contender at 65kg. He won gold at U23’s last year and just won gold at the Zagreb as well. He has teched his way into the finals at this tournament. Kid is on a roll

Vito was up 15-13 with almost no time left and a criteria lead if he would have given up the TD. Instead it's a low double feet to back for 4 to make it 17-15. The standard challenge made it 18-15. Vito stopped wrestling and tried to protect with over a minute left. The winning TD came with less than 2 seconds left.

 

[zzs006]

Is Spencer in the finals ?

Yes. He will face Gamzatov who I believe is a Russian

 

[zzs006]

Is Kasak wrestling in this?

No. He was listed as going but was not in the brackets

 

[El_Jefe]

Vito loses his semi to Babazade 18-15!

On the other side of the bracket Sujeet techs McKenna. Sujeet has really announced himself as a contender at 65kg. He won gold at U23’s last year and just won gold at the Zagreb as well. He has teched his way into the finals at this tournament. Kid is on a roll

McKenna must have forgotten to pack the Magic Cowboy Hat that confers superpowers on all who don it.

 

[GregPickel]

 

[Fatwoodchuck]

I really like it as well. No more weird dropping down on the edge trying to be grounded. I think it just gets rid of any ambiguity. I would like to hear how the athletes like it.

Yanni hates it I'm sure.

 

[GregPickel]