#WrestleZagreb

Rising Star Hendrickson Aims to Make Splash in Senior Worlds Debut

Friday, September 12, 2025 - 17:23 By Ken Marantz

Share this article

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 12) -- Sitting on the opposite end of the dais from the reigning world champion, Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) expressed confidence that they will be meeting again soon, but in much closer quarters.

If all goes according to plan for both wrestlers, Hendrickson will face Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) in the semifinals of freestyle 125kg when the World Championships get started on Saturday in Zagreb.

"This is my first senior-level World Championships and I'm very grateful for that," Hendrickson said at a press conference on Friday that was also attended by Zare. "But I also think that the opportunity presented itself because I have grown as a wrestler. I've risen to the level of my competition, and I'm ready to test myself against the best in the world."

It doesn't get much better than Zare when talk of the heavyweights comes up. The two-time Olympic medalist is gunning for his second straight world title and third overall, all still at the tender age of 24.

Hendrickson, also 24 (in fact, he is three days older than Zare), may lack the experience on the senior level, but in recent years, he has raised his game enough to join the handful of foes with the potential to knock of the great Zare.

The American said his aim is to "continue to not only just wrestle at the highest level, but prove I'm meant to be here. Wrestling is something I've been doing since I was 5 years old and all that wrestling has brought me to be here today in Zagreb."

After placing fifth at the 2021 world juniors (U20), Hendrickson struck gold at the world U23 in 2023. In May this year, he capped his senior-level debut with a victory at the Pan-Am Championships.

But his most impressive triumph, and one that made the world take notice, came in a different format of the sport. In March, he stunned Tokyo Olympic champion Gable STEVESON (USA) in the final of the NCAA Championships, denying him a third title and ending his 70-match winning streak.

Even Zare said he was aware of the upset. "I would like to congratulate you for the win over Gable, he's one of the best in this weight category," Zare said. "Some of the seconds of your match are in my mind, I remember that. But originally, I don't have too much information about this American wrestler."

Hendrickson acknowledges he has been cultivated in the American folkstyle. But he feels confident of the transition he has made to freestyle.

"I've been training to wrestle foreign styles," he said. "The majority of my wrestling has been in [American] folkstyle. But the transition I've been able to make the past couple of months has shown that I'm prepared for this. I'm ready to wrestle the best in the world."

Helping in Hendrickson's preparations has been one of the sport's legends. Hendrickson originally attended and competed collegiately at the Air Force Academy, but transferred last year to Oklahoma State, where he came under the wing of former Olympic and three-time world champion David TAYLOR (USA).

Hendrickson is one of three USA wrestlers who are members of the Cowboy RTC, the wrestling club affiliated with Oklahoma State. (Five others will be wrestling in Zagreb with three of them for other nations.)

"Coach David Taylor is very, very excited to be coaching and share with us the knowledge he has learned in the great sport of wrestling," Hendrickson said. "The knowledge that he has been able to bring to me, it's just day and night. I never understood some parts of wrestling and he filled in all of the gaps. Where I maybe have fallen short in the past at some of these tournaments, those gaps are now filled. And I just have nothing but confidence."

The draw for the freestyle weight classes came out a short time before the press conference, and Hendrickson was asked about a possible clash with Zare in the semifinals.

"I love it," he said. "Zare is an excellent wrestler. But -- I don't want to brag on myself -- but I'm also a pretty great wrestler. That's most likely the match we're going to see tomorrow evening."

Hendrickson, however, is not one to get ahead of himself, and contends that he does not concern himself with such details as his opponents in the draw. Nor does he have a certain foe whom he particularly looks forward to facing.

"I'm excited to go through every single person in this bracket," he said. "Obviously there's no one specific because I don't care what my placement is in the bracket. That's not what I look at.

"What I look at is the next opponent ahead of me. One match at a time, one point at a time, one second at a time on the wrestling mat. I'm prepared, I'm ready and tomorrow I'm going to make a splash at the World Championships."

Zare, who has taken over the leadership mantle of the Iranian team in the absence of injured star Hassan YAZDANI (IRI), has competed just once this year, winning the Tirana Ranking Series title in February.

"I have done my best during the last 13 months to be prepared and I am focused on my goal, which is to be champion of this competition," Zare said.

And should Hendrickson or any of the other top competitors, such as European champion Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) or two-time world medalist Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL), make things difficult, then all the better.

"Finally, I want to say that when the competition is tough, it's going to be more joyful for everyone," Zare said.

#WrestleTirana

Tibilov Serves Serbia Gold; Azerbaijan Wins Greco Team Title

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 - 20:18 By Vinay Siwach

Share this article

TIRANA, Albania (April 22) -- A decade since Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) won a gold medal a championships, he was back on top, finally.

Back in 2016, he won gold at the U17 European Championships in Stockholm, Sweden. And on Wednesday in Tirana, Albania, Tibilov won gold at the senior European Championships at 60kg, only the fifth-ever champion from Serbia.

Tibilov had fallen short last year after dropping the final in Zagreb. However, he made no mistake this year, beating former U20 world champion Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM), 2-2, on criteria.

UWW Plus

The 60kg final began with Aghajanyan scoring a stepout and then getting the par terre position in the first period to lead 2-0. However, he failed to score any points as Tibilov was solid in denfese.

In the second period, Tibilov did the exact same sequence and scored a stepout before getting the par terre position to lead 2-2 on last-point-scored criteria. as he was also failed to score points from par terre.

Georgij TIBILOV (SRB)Georgij TIBILOV (SRB), red, battles it out with Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM) during the 60kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

"It’s hard to put into words," Tibilov said. "I’ve never wrestled him [Aghajanyan] before. There are no weak opponents in the final. In fact, there are no weak ones at this tournament at all. He’s a very serious competitor. If it weren’t for my opponents, I wouldn’t be able to show what I showed here."

Tibilov won a bronze medal at the 2023 European Championships but he failed to repeat the feat in 2024. But in 2025, he reached the final before losing to Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE), who lost to Aghajanyan this year.

"The preparation [for this tournament] was serious and the result proves it. It’s always that serious but sometimes the result is different. That doesn’t mean we’re not working, it just means that sometimes you need to refine yourself, like a diamond, so it can shine."

The 26-year-old now prepares to take on the World Championships where he has previously won a medal in 2024 at 63kg. But 60kg, the weight classes by Asian wrestlers as they won all four medals at the 2023 World Championships and the 2024 Paris Olympics. It was only at the 2025 World Championships that Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM) broke the hegemony. Now, Tibilov wants to do it at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"The plan remains the same, we are moving step by step toward the Olympics in Los Angeles," he said. "All of this is part of the path toward the Olympics. I can’t say exactly what will happen, but we will fix everything there, in Los Angeles. And it won’t be only Asians standing on the podium."

Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA)Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) avoids a last-ditch effort from Luri LOMADZE (GEO) in the 72kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In other finals on Wednesday, Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) won gold at 72kg without sharing the space on the podium like he had to do last year. At 97kg, Kiril MILOV (BUL) defended his gold medal after beating Alex SZOKE (HUN) in a close final.

Azerbaijan's pair of defending champions Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) and Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) repeated as champions at 67kg and 82kg and propelled Azerbaijan as the top team in Greco-Roman in Europe.

Ghanem, who won a gold medal after a controversial final last year, did not leave anything to luck. Wrestling Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) in the final, Ghanem got both par terre positions and scored two more points to complete a clinical 4-0.

Last year, due to a technical error, Ghanem and Levente LEVAI (HUN) had to share the gold medal. But the 2025 title had made Ghanem the first France wrestler to win the European title Greco in 30 years.

On Wednesday, he became only the second wrestler from the country to win the title twice, joining Ghani YALOUZ (FRA) who won in 1992 and 1995.

"This time my feeling is better because last year I had one wrestler with me for this medal," Ghanem said. "This is the best feeling for me."

Ghanem, a world champion in 2023, will now try to adjust himself in the Olympic weight class of 77kg.

"My plan now, I think for Olympic Games," he said. "I think this last time for 72kg, but I'm not sure. I will speak to my coach after European Championships."

Kiril MILOV (BUL)Kiril MILOV (BUL) at the medal ceremony with his gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Milov, who has been out of action for a year now, returned to the mat and defended his European title, his third in total.

On the same side of the bracket as world silver medalist Artur SARGSIAN (UWW) and world bronze medalist Kiryl MASKEVICH (UWW), Milov defeated both of them en route the final.

In the final, Milov faced former U23 world champion and returning bronze medalist Alex SZOKE (HUN). After Milov got the par terre in the first period, he managed to turn Szoke and lead 3-1.

In a rare occurance, Szoke was awarded two passivity par terre positions. However, he failed to trouble Milov, who carefully defended his lead.

"I missed a year of major tournaments," Milov said. "I’m happy that my motivation and discipline helped me prepare to the maximum, give my best, and win a third European title."

Milov did not participated in World Championships in 2025 but is now raring to go and win his third world medal after two silvers in 2018 and 2022.

"Sometimes motivation fades as it’s a temporary thing," he said. "But the discipline I’ve built through sport helped me train every day and give my maximum, because if I have the chance to compete, I have to take it and give everything I have."

Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE)Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) got two points as Murat FIRAT (TUR) committed a foul. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Jafarov, Gurbanov Defend

Defending champion at 67kg Jafarov needed a third passivity in his final against Murat FIRAT  (TUR) to win his fourth European title. Jafarov got the first par terre position in the first period, and then used a four-point throw to race to a 5-0 lead.

Firat opened the second period with a four-point arm throw and then got a par terre position to lead 5-5 on criteria. He did not score any points from the position and decided to defend his lead.

However, with 55 seconds remaining, Jafarov was awarded a third passivity and Firat committed a defensive foul which was confirmed only after a challenge from Azerbaijan, giving Jafarov a 7-5 lead.

He defended that lead and claim the gold medal, fourth straight one of his career.

Gurban GURBANOV (AZE)Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) scores a takedown against Adlet TIULIUBAEV (UWW). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Gurbanov also had a close final against Adlet TIULIUBAEV (UWW) at 82kg but he survived the battle and won 4-2.

The final began with a takedown from Gurbanov who used a strong throw to bring Tiuliubaev to the mat. Tiuliubaev challenged the call for a leg foul but the takedown was clean and the challenge was lost, giving one more points to Gurbanov.

The Azerbaijan wrestler then got the par terre position which extended his lead to 4-0. When the bout resumed in standing, Tiuliubaev managed a push out to make cut the lead to 4-1 before the break.

A passivity call against Gurbanov was the only point for Tiuliubaev in the remaining bout, giving Gurbanov a hard-earned victory.

The two golds propelled Azerbaijan to the Greco-Roman team title with 133 points. Turkiye finished second with 121 points and Georgia was third with 118 points. 

Photo

RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) df. Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM), 2-2

BRONZE: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) df. Suner KONUNOV (UWW), 6-0
BRONZE: Corneliu RUSU (MDA) df. Denis MIHAI (ROU), 6-5

67kg
GOLD: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) df. Murat FIRAT (TUR), 7-5

BRONZE: Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) df. Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR), 5-3
BRONZE: Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df. Jan OEHLEN (SWE), 3-1

72kg
GOLD: Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) df. Iuri LOMADZE (GEO), 4-0

BRONZE: Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM) df. Aliaksandr LIAVONCHYK (UWW), 1-1
BRONZE: Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR) df. Pavel PUKLAVEC (CRO), 

82kg
GOLD: Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) df. Adlet TIULIUBAEV (UWW), 4-2

BRONZE: Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) df. Karlo KODRIC (CRO), 11-2
BRONZE: Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Mihail BRADU (MDA), 1-1

97kg
GOLD: Kiril MILOV (BUL) df. Alex SZOKE (HUN), 3-1

BRONZE: Artur SARGSIAN (UWW) df. Kiryl MASKEVICH (UWW), 4-1
BRONZE: Vladen KOZLIUK (UKR) df. Abdul CEBI (TUR), 7-0