UWW Awards 2025: Detailed Breakdown of Winners and Key Achievements of the Season

United World Wrestling (UWW) has published the results of the 2025 season and announced the world’s best wrestlers as part of the annual UWW Awards. The honors were determined based on performances at the World Championships, Ranking Series events, continental championships, and the overall UWW ranking.

Among the award winners was Armenian wrestler Malkhas Amoyan, who claimed the Comeback of the Year award.

UWW World Ranking Leaders 2025

Freestyle — Yoshinnosuke Aoyagi (Japan, 70 kg)
The 2025 world champion finished the season as the No. 1 freestyle wrestler in the UWW rankings with 76,900 points. His closest challenger was Taimuraz Salkazanov (Slovakia) with 66,900 points.

Aoyagi opened the season by winning the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series in Tirana (11,000 points), followed by a bronze medal at the Asian Championships (9,500 points). A key moment came with another victory at the Budapest Ranking Series (11,000 points).

Before the World Championships in Zagreb, Aoyagi had accumulated 31,500 points, but his world title added 45,000 more, securing a commanding lead in the standings.

Greco-Roman — Aleksandr Komarov (Serbia, 87 kg)
Komarov became the overall UWW ranking leader across all styles with 83,500 points. Aitzhan Khalmakhanov (Uzbekistan) finished second.

The decisive moment came at the World Championships in Zagreb, where Komarov won gold and earned 45,000 points, making him the most productive wrestler of the season regardless of style.

Women’s Wrestling — Ekaterina Verbina (Russia, 55 kg)
Verbina topped the women’s world rankings with 64,200 points, finishing ahead of reigning world champions despite not winning gold herself.

Most Dominant Wrestlers of the Year

Freestyle — Rahman Amouzad (Iran, 65 kg)
Amouzad completed a perfect season, going 14–0 and finishing No. 1 in the rankings with 58,000 points.

Women’s Wrestling — Sakura Motoki (Japan, 62 kg)
Motoki ended the season 9–0 and became only the third wrestler in history to complete a Golden Grand Slam.

Greco-Roman — Saeid Esmaeili (Iran, 67 kg)
Esmaeili finished the season undefeated at 11–0, winning the World Championships and topping the global rankings.

Breakthrough of the Year

Freestyle — Trent Hidlay (USA, 92 kg)
After having no major international wins before 2025, Hidlay went on a 13-match winning streak and captured the world title.

Greco-Roman — Gholamreza Farokhi (Iran, 82 kg)
Farokhi posted a perfect 17–0 record, winning both the senior and U23 World Championships.

Women’s Wrestling — Sakura Onishi (Japan, 59 kg)
The 19-year-old Onishi completed an undefeated 15–0 season, claiming multiple international titles.

Comeback of the Year

Freestyle — Zaur Uguev (Russia, 61 kg)
The Tokyo Olympic champion returned to the top, winning his third career world title.

Women’s Wrestling — Helen Maroulis (USA, 57 kg)
Maroulis captured her fourth world championship title with a dominant performance in Zagreb.

Greco-Roman — Malkhas Amoyan (Armenia, 77 kg)
Amoyan won his second world title, defeating Olympic champion Nao Kusaka 9–1 in the final and completing a successful transition to the 77 kg division.