USA Greco

Raney Decisioned by Azizli, Awaits Semifinal Results

By 5PM Staff

Posted on September 18, 2025

Jayden Raney -- Image: FLOWrestling

Jayden Raney (55 kg, NYAC) recorded two consecutive wins on Thursday to put himself in the quarterfinal round against one of the sport’s most decorated lightweights in Eldaniz Azizli (AZE). The match did not go the American’s way as he dropped a 5-1 decision, but there could still be another opportunity for him to walk away with a medal.

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Earlier this morning, Raney — a U17 World champ last year — defeated Koryun Sahradyan (UKR) and Sajjad Albidhan (IRQ) to make the quarterfinal opposite Azizli, who in his opening bout downed Anil Mor of India. Azizli was the recipient of the first-period par terre against Raney and executed two gutwrenches to take a 5-0 lead. He had scored on another turn shortly thereafter, but those points were wiped off the board. Raney had his own chance from top par terre in Period 2 but was not able to score. The 18-year-old phenom pursued Azizli relentlessly through the remainder of the match only to have his efforts deflected each time. Azizli, who has four World titles at 55 kg, squares off against Iranian Payam Ahmadi Balootaki in the semifinal. A win for the Azer means that Raney will be pulled into tomorrow morning’s repechage with a pathway to bronze. If this happens, his first repechage opponent will be the aforementioned Mor.

The semifinal round for Day 1 of the World Championships is scheduled for 4:30pm local time in Zagreb, Croatia (10:30am ET) and FLOWrestling is carrying the broadcast for the United States audience (subscription required).

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Kamal Bey (77 kg, Army/WCAP), Beka Melelashvili (82 kg, NYAC), and Cohlton Schultz (130 kg, Atreus WC) each had highly-skilled opponents, and each delivered inspired efforts — but none of the three were able to earn wins. However, at press time, Bey is the only athlete of the trio who is still alive in the tournament.

Bey gave World Champ/Olympic medalist Malkhas Amoyan (ARM) all he could handle in what became a tight and contentious 2-1 loss that was bereft of an offensive score from either party. Amoyan has advanced to the semifinal round and will next face two-time U20 World gold Alireza Abdevali (IRI), who shocked two-time Senior runner-up Sanan Suleymanov (AZE) in the 77 kg quarterfinals. If Amoyan defeats Abdevali, Bey will have a new lease on life in tomorrow’s repechage round, and thus a potential route to bronze. Bey’s first opponent should this occur would be ’17 World silver Mateusz Bernatek of Poland. He would then have Ahmet Yilmaz (TUR).

It was a heartbreaker for ’24 U23 World silver Melelashvili, who in the second period owned a brief 4-2 lead against Shahin Badaghi Mofrad (QAT) before the latter came up with a four-point sequence that changed the complexion of the contest. Melelashvili was defeated by a score of 6-4 and Badaghi Mofrad was bounced in the proceeding round by Gurban Gurbanov (AZE) to end the American’s time in the tournament.

Schultz had the type of opponent he tends to relish — ’18 World Champion/two-time Olympic bronze Sergey Semenov (UWW/RUS). But it was one par terre sequence that all but decided the outcome. Semenov received the first period’s passivity/par terre chance and converted with a pair of gutwrenches for a 5-0 lead. Schultz was given his own passivity point in the second period but could not generate offense from top. Semenov would go on to collect a 5-1 decision prior to being stopped by Matti Kuosmanen (FIN). Semenov’s loss to Kuosmanen eliminated Schultz from re-entry into the bracket via repechage.