BELGRADE, Serbia (Sept. 17)--The gash over the right eye of Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) attested to the intensity of the battle. The gold medal around his neck will be a lifetime reminder of the outcome of a fearless performance.

Ghasempour provided some cheer for an underachieving Iranian team in Belgrade when he repeated as 92kg champion with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Jden COX (USA) in one of three freestyle finals on Saturday, the eighth day of the World Championships.

The United States, which had already clinched the team title heading into the night session, split the two other finals, adding a third gold when Kyle DAKE (USA) defended his 74kg title but seeing Thomas GILMAN (USA) dethroned at 57kg when Russian-born Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) gave Albania its first-ever world champion.

Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) and J'den COX (USA) embraced each other after the 92kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

After the Iranian Greco team went gold-less, Ghasempour watched as two compatriots lost to American wrestlers in the freestyle finals on Friday night.

Looking to restore his nation's pride, he scored a first-period takedown while on the activity clock, then made that lead hold up in a repeat of his victory over Cox in the world semifinals a year ago in Oslo.

"I hope this has lifted the spirits of the Iranian people who have been waiting for a gold medal for a few days since the championships began," said Ghasempour, a two-time Asian and world U23 champion who won his first senior world title in 2021.

While the second period lacked points, there was no scarcity of action, with a number of exciting scrambles and the gash suffered by Ghasempour providing testament to the fervor of the two combatants.

"My opponent is a very technical and tricky opponent," Ghasempour said. "I did not give up a single point against him which could have put me in danger of losing the gold. I am happy that my preparations for this match ensured I win the gold medal."

In the final minute, Ghasempour, his head now taped, found himself on his stomach clinging to Cox's leg after a deep single attempt. Cox kneeled over the Iranian and reached back for one of his legs, pulling up for a counter lift. But the referee stopped the action as dangerous, and Cox showed his frustration by throwing down the leg and storming back to the middle of the mat.

"I just wanted to put a lot of attacks together," Cox said. "I was pushing it to try to get something. It's probably the most I have done without getting any points, which is testimony to him and his wrestling ability, his IQ."

After the intense match ended, there was no bad blood between the two and they showed their respect for each other. Cox even shared a hug with the Iranian coach when he went over for the traditional handshake.

"Six-minute battle and we both enjoyed it, pushed to get what we wanted, which was the gold medal, and today he came out on top," Cox said. "There is a lot of mutual respect."

For Cox, it was the first time he ended a World Championships on a losing note. He won world titles in 2018 and 2019 along with bronzes in 2017 and 2021. He also has an Olympic bronze from 2016 at 86kg.

"It's a first for everything and it is my first silver medal," he said. "Losing to get silver sucks. But to get here and do this, I worked my butt off for this. I regret nothing. Tough bout."

Will there be a third clash of the titans? The 27-year-old Cox is tempted, but for now, that would have to come at the Olympic weight of 97kg, which he says is his next destination.

"Ninety-seven kilograms starts today," Cox said. "There is an itch in me that keeps telling me to come back for Ghasempour. One more year. One more year. As far as the years go, I think it's smarter for me to move to 97kg."

Kyle DAKE (USA) won the 74kg final 3-1 to win the world title for the fourth time. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Dake, the bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, captured the fourth gold of his career and second straight at 74kg in a similar fashion, scoring a first-period takedown and making that hold up for a 3-1 victory over Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) in a rematch of the 2021 world final.

There are those who might contend that Dake went too much into defensive mode in the second period, an argument that has a rare caution that awarded 1-point to Salkazanov as evidence.

That said, Salkazanov, who was looking to become Slovakia's first-ever world champion, did not appear overly aggressive until the waning moments of the match.

"Salkazanov is a great opponent, he's very dangerous," said Dake, who won his first two world golds, in 2018 and 2019 at 79kg before dropping down to the Olympic weight and displacing Jordan BURROUGHS (USA). "I just had to keep him off balance.

"That was the biggest thing for me, just stay strong. Obviously, all my opponents are tough. Kudos to them for pushing me to get here and appreciate it."

After all of the disruptions from the pandemic, Dake hopes the situation remains smooth heading to the Paris Olympics.

"I can't control what happens in the outside world," he said. "You just got to go out and play the cards [you're dealt]. Last year was an 'interesting' year, this year is more normal. Hopefully, they continue to be this way leading to the Paris Olympics."

Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) defeated defending world champion Thomas GILMAN (USA) to win the gold at 57kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 57kg, Abakarov made history for his adopted home of Albania with a solid 7-2 victory over Gilman in his first career appearance at a World Championships and his first tournament since 2017 in the lowest weight class.

"Of course, I believed that I could win," said Abakarov. "If I hadn’t believed in myself, I wouldn’t have won the gold. I worked hard for it. I knew he was the reigning world champion, he is a worthy opponent. I was sure that I was able to win."

Abakarov took the fight to Gilman from the outset, starting off with an arm throw for 2. He added a go-behind takedown and received a penalty point for finger-grabbing before Gilman finally got the board with a stepout to make it 5-1 at the break.

In the second period, Abakarov scored with a double-leg takedown, and Gilman added a second stepout. Gilman had a chance to cut the gap and get within striking distance when he got in on a single and lifted Abakarov's leg into the air, but the Albanian squirmed out of the predicament.

Abakarov began competing for Albania this year, after years of being stuck in the Russian system and never breaking into the national team for major tournaments.

"It’s my first year wrestling for Albania," he said. "Before that, I was wrestling in Russia, but I couldn’t make it to qualify for the top tournaments, because the competition there is tough.

"My coaches are here [in Albania], here is my father, from early childhood he was coaching me, since I was 6 or 7. I had many coaches, I can’t even remember all of their names. But I want to say thank you to all those who ever taught me."

Abakarov made a drastic drop down to 57kg for Belgrade, having won the Mediterranean Games and finishing second at the Islamic Solidarity Games at 65kg earlier this summer. He said it doesn't make his job any easier as he aims for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"The competition in 57kg is really tough," he said. "We will be getting ready for the next year for the world championships to qualify for the Olympics."

Stevan MICIC (SRB) won Serbia's first-ever World Championships medal in freestyle. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Micic gives host Serbia freestyle medal

In the bronze-medal matches, host Serbia, which saw four of its Greco-Roman wrestlers crowned as champions, avoided a podium shutout in freestyle when two-time European bronze medalist Stevan MICIC (SRB) came through with a solid win at 57kg.

Micic scored two with a counter lift in the first period and added two takedowns in the second to defeat two-time world U23 medalist Reineri ANDREU (CUB) 7-1.

Micic, who was born in the U.S and raised in a Serbian enclave in the state of Indiana, competed for the U.S. up to 2016, winning a world junior bronze in 2015. He was a three-time All-American at Michigan University.

The other bronze at 57kg went to Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL), who nailed Wanhao ZOU (CHN) with a standing pancake and secured a fall in 4:33 for his first major medal since winning an Asian silver in 2017. Each wrestler had one point from an activity point at the time.

Frank CHAMIZO (ITA), blue, defeated Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) 5-3 to win the 74kg bronze. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

In a battle of bronze medalists from the 2016 Rio Olympics, two-time former world champion Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) eked out a 5-3 victory over Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) at 74kg to take home his fifth world medal.

An activity point each left Chamizo ahead on criteria when Demirtas launched a takedown attempt in the second period. In the scramble that followed, both were awarded two points, but Chamizo's came second to maintain the criteria advantage at 3-3. A last-second takedown added the final points.

At 74kg, Asian champion Yones EMAMI (IRI) picked up his second world bronze when he combined three stepouts and a takedown in a comprehensive 6-0 victory over 18-year-old Sagar JAGLAN (IND), who was fighting for a senior medal a month after winning world U20 bronze.

Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) scored a stepout in the final second to win the 92kg bronze. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

In a wild one at 92kg, European bronze medalist Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) squandered an eight-point lead, only to score a stepout at the buzzer to snatch a 12-10 victory over European silver medalist Ahmed BATAEV (BUL) to medal in his senior world debut.

After Bataev got an opening takedown, Maisuradze secured a lace lock while scoring a takedown, then reeled off four rolls to go up 10-2. In the second period, Bataev chipped away at the lead until he tied it with a fourth straight takedown with :13 left.

Maisuradze came to life after that and managed to shuffle Bataev out at the buzzer. The challenge replay showed there was 0.3 seconds on the clock when Bateav's foot stepped down out of bounds. The unsuccessful challenge added the final point.

In the second match at 92kg, Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) earned his second consecutive world bronze when he overwhelmed Radoslaw MARCINKIEWICZ (POL) by 11-0 technical fall, beating the clock in the first period by scoring a takedown and completing three gut wrenches with eight seconds left.

Kyle SNYDER (USA) defeated Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) in the 97kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Snyder makes 6th world final; Higuchi through

In the final set of semifinals earlier in the night session, Olympic silver medalist Kyle SNYDER (USA) advanced to the 97kg gold-medal match and, while he won't be facing the arch-rival in a bid for a third world title and first since 2017, he will be taking on Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK).

Snyder shot for and completed a takedown right off the opening whistle, and then fended off the attacks of Asian champion Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) for a 4-1 victory. Snyder also received an activity point in the first period, while the two traded stepouts in the second.

In Sunday's final, which will close the curtain on the nine-day competition, Snyder will face European silver medalist Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK), who roared to eight second-period points to complete a 10-0 technical fall over Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO).

The Russian-born Tsakulov, who began competing for Slovakia last year, will aim to become that country's first world champion in freestyle.

For the first time since 2017, the final will not be between Snyder and longtime nemesis Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RWF).

Snyder, the gold medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, lost to Sadulaev in the finals of 2018, 2019 and 2021 World Championships as well as last year's Tokyo Olympics. Whichever color, the world medal in Belgrade will be the sixth of his career.

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) reached the 61kg final after beating Seth GROSS (USA) 14-7. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

In other action, 2016 Olympic silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) advanced to the 61kg final in his first senior World Championships, while preventing the U.S. from having six of six finalists over the final two days.

Higuchi rallied to a 14-7 win over Seth GROSS (USA) by firing a barrage of low singles that the American spent all match reaching over and trying to counter lift, to some success but eventually not enough.

"It was tough," said Higuchi, who prepped for the worlds by winning his first senior Asian title in April. "I took it too lightly at times in trying to finish up [takedowns], but I'll fix that and make sure I'll be able to win in the final."

Higuchi took a 4-1 lead into the second period, only for Gross to go ahead 5-4 with a counter roll and a defensive takedown. After an exchange, Higuchi managed to gain exposure points three times by leveraging Gross over while in on singles.

"I'm confident that no one beats me in terms of the amount of training, so I put my stamina to use up to the end and was able to pull away," said Higuchi, for whom a gold will be some redemption for missing out on the Tokyo Olympics, mainly because he failed to make weight at 57kg at the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament.

In the final, Higuchi will face 2019 Asian champion Reza ATRI (IRI), who scored two takedowns in the final 40 seconds to knock off Narankhuu NARMANDAKH (MGL) 5-3.

Iran and the U.S. both have two other finalists, and they will clash for the 65kg crown.

Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) went on a takedown spree in the second period to pull away from Olympic silver medalist Haji ALIYEV (AZE) for a 9-2 win, while Yianni DIAKOMIHALIS (USA) needed just :53 to overpower Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) in a 10-0 technical fall.

Day 8 Freestyle Results

57kg (31 entries)
Gold - Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) df. Thomas GILMAN (USA), 7-2

Bronze - Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) df. Wanhao ZOU (CHN) by Fall, 4:33 (3-1)
Bronze - Stevan MICIC (SRB) df. Reineri ANDREU (CUB), 7-1

61kg (24 entries)
Semifinal - Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) df. Seth GROSS (USA), 14-7
Semifinal - Reza ATRI (IRI) df. Narankhuu NARMANDAKH (MGL), 5-3

65kg (27 entries)
Semifinal - Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) df. Haji ALIYEV (AZE), 9-2
Semifinal - Yianni DIAKOMIHALIS (USA) df. Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) by TF, 10-0, :53

74kg (34 entries)
Gold - Kyle DAKE (USA) df. Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), 3-1

Bronze - Yones EMAMI (IRI) df. Sagar JAGLAN (IND), 6-0
Bronze - Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) df. Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR), 5-3

92kg (23 entries)
Gold - Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) df. Jden COX (USA), 2-0

Bronze - Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) df. Ahmed BATAEV (BUL), 12-10
Bronze - Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) df. Radoslaw MARCINKIEWICZ (POL) by TF, 11-0, 2:52

97kg (23 entries)
Semifinal - Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI), 4-1
Semifinal - Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) df. Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) by TF, 10-0