TIRANA, Albania (October 30) – The paths of two of the greatest wrestlers of the last decade collided for the first and only time, and it was Abdulrashid Sadulaev (AIN) who defeated David Taylor (USA) to retain the title. On course for a sixth world medal.
The superstars went head-to-head in a draw in the first round of the freestyle 92kg at the non-Olympic weight category World Championships in Tirana on Wednesday, with Sadulaev making an impenetrable save to seal a 7-0 victory.
Two-time Olympic champion Sadulaev, who was left off the list of Russian and Belarusian wrestlers eligible for the Paris Olympics, later scored a dramatic, last-second 5-3 victory over 2021 and 2022 world champion Kamran Ghassempour (IRI). Together they reached Thursday's final. ,
Two other big names in the tournament did not fare so well, as Jordan Burrows (USA) ended his bid for the seventh world title of his career with a quarter-final loss in the 79kg, while Tokyo Olympics and two-time World champion Zavur Uguev (AIN) fell at the first hurdle at 61 kg.
In the most anticipated match of the tournament, Sadulaev sat back and let Taylor take the offense, defending each attack and scoring go-back takedowns twice, while also adding a counter lift for 2. He also committed a stepout, but otherwise made no legitimate attempt at a tackle.
The closest Taylor came to scoring was on his first shot, when he got deep enough to take a single and tried to come out the back door, but the surprisingly agile Sadulaev escaped the catch.
Sadulaev and Taylor both won Olympic gold at Tokyo 2021 in the 97kg and 86kg respectively, and Wednesday's match saw them meet in the middle. This is the first time Sadulaev is wrestling below 97 kg after winning gold in 86 kg at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Taylor, who won his third world title in 2023 but retired after losing to Aaron Brooks (USA) at the US Olympic Trials, had taken the head coaching job at powerhouse Oklahoma State University, but was defeated by Matt for one last round. But returned.
Sadulaev followed his win over Taylor by defeating Aslan Abakarov (AJE) 3-1 and Lars Schauffele (GER) by technical fall 10-0 to set up his clash with Ghassempour in another classic victory for the Russian great. Changed.
Sadulaev went 1-1 on the criteria after each receiving an activity point, when Ghasempour finally broke the defense and scored a double-leg takedown with 30 seconds remaining. But as the final seconds ticked away, he took Errani down, spun him around, then managed to pin him to the mat for a 4-point takedown.
In the final, he will face 2022 World bronze medalist Miriani Mysuradze (GEO), who surprisingly defeated Benjamin Honis (ITA) 9-2 in an at times stormy semi-final.
In 79kg, 36-year-old Burrows was unable to turn back the clock and lost 6-4 to Asian champion and two-time world medalist Mohammad Nokhodi (IRI) in the quarter-finals.
However, Burroughs' hopes for a 10th world medal overall ended when Nokhody suffered a tough 14–8 defeat to four-time European bronze medalist Avtandil Kentchadze (GEO) in the semi-finals.
Nokhodi looked to be on their way to victory as they took a 6-0 lead in the second period. But Kentchadze secured a takedown that allowed him to wrap up Nokhody's legs and tear off three lace-lock rolls. Nokhodi stopped the flow for a moment for a 2-point exposure, but injured his knee during the exchange and the Georgian was easily able to add a pair of late takedowns.
Kentchaidze will look to improve on the silver medal he won in 2018 at 74kg when he faces 2023 and 2021 World U23 champion Magomed Magomaev (AIN), who defeated 2021 European champion Akhtarbek Gulaev (SVK) in the other semi-final.
Earlier, Uguev lost to reigning World U20 champion Masanosuke Ono (JPN), who carried the momentum of that win into the 61kg final.
Uguev, hampered by an ankle injury, had no answer to Ono's lightning-fast pace, scoring two takedown-gut wrench combinations in the first period en route to a 10-2 victory.
Ono never let up after the win, scoring three consecutive technical falls without losing a point and scoring a dominant 12–0 victory over defending champion Vitali Araujo (USA) in the semi-finals. Ono sealed the victory with a 4-point front headlock throw.
In Thursday's final, Ono will face 2022 World U23 silver medalist Ahmet Duman (TUR) in the 57kg, who defeated Tsogbadrakh Tsevensuren (MGL) 3-1 in the other semi-final.
Yoshinosuke Aoyagi (JPN) joined Ono in the gold medal matches with his former teammate at Yamanashi Gakuin University as they avenged last year's World U23 final loss to Inalbek Sherriev (AIN) with a 6-1 victory at 70kg Took. Semifinals.
Oyagi, who won a bronze medal at this year's World U23 Championships held at the same Tirana venue last week, will face 2019 World bronze medalist Nurkozha Capanov (KAZ) in an all-Asian final.
Capanov recorded a 13-2 win over Russian-born Abdulmazhid Kudiev (TJK), who will still have a chance to become the second world medalist from Tajikistan in any style.
freestyle results
61 kg (27 entries)
SF: Ahmet Duman (TUR) DF. Tsogbadrakh Tsevensuren (MGL), 3-1
SF: Masanosuke Ono (JPN) DF. Vitali Arujau (USA) by TF, 12-0, 4:20
70 kg (25 entries)
SF: Yoshinosuke Oyagi (JPN) df. Inalbek Sherriev (AIN), 6-1
SF: Nurkozha Capanov (KAZ) DF. Abdulmazhid Kudiev (TJK) by TF, 13-2, 3:47
79 kg (33 entries)
SF: Avtandil Kentchadze (GEO) DF. Mohammed Nokhodi (IRI), 14-8
SF: Magomed Magomaev (AIN) DF. Akhtarbek Gulaev (SVK), 9-3
92 kg (29 entries)
SF: Abdulrashid Sadulaev (AIN) DF. Kamran Ghasempour (IRI), 5-3
SF: Miriani Mysuradze (GEO) DF. Benjamin Honis (ITA), 9-2