#WrestleBelgrade

Snyderlaev slayer Tazhudinov storms to historic world gold for Bahrain

By Ken Marantz

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 19) -- Having slayed the Snyderlaev beast, Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) completed his historic and mind-boggling run to a world title with one final display of domination.

The 20-year-old Tazhudinov overwhelmed Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) in the freestyle 97kg final at the World Championships on Tuesday, giving Bahrain its first-ever world gold and just its second medal overall.

"On my way to Belgrade, I knew I could become the world champion," Tazhudinov said. "If I didn’t believe in myself, I wouldn’t have even come here."

It was also a historic day for Hungary, as Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) became the Greco-loving nation's first freestyle world champion since 1979 with a victory at 65kg while denying Puerto Rico its first-ever gold medalist.

The United States, with three champions, won the freestyle team title for the second year in a row with 133 points, followed by Iran with 104 and Georgia, with 80 points, was third. Kazakhstan, which got its first-ever freestyle world champion, was fourth with 74 points and Azerbaijan was fifth with 66 points.

Meanwhile, Haruna OKUNO (JPN) started what is expected to be a Japanese women's gold rush by claiming the 55kg title for her third career gold and first since 2018, while China's Qi ZHANG (CHN) captured the other women's crown at stake at 59kg.

The 20-year-old Tazhudinov followed up his stunning victories on Monday over titans Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) by defeating Magomedov by fall before a shocked and appreciative crowd at Belgrade's Stark Arena.

Tazhudinov started off with a single-leg takedown, then added a 4-point takedown. Magomedov, a bronze medalist last year, showed some life with a stepout, but Tazhudinov responded by securing a cradle and finishing off the Azeri with 11 seconds left in the first period.

Tazhudinov's triumph marked the first time since 2015 that neither Snyder nor Sadulaev made the top of the podium at 97kg at a World Championships or Olympics. Their head-to-head showdowns, dubbed Snyderlaev, became among the sport's most anticipated matches.

The way that Tazhudinov manhandled both may indicate a changing of the guard and definitely puts a target on his back in Paris. Against Snyder, Tazhudinov had a pair of 4-point counter lifts, while he built a 9-2 lead when Sadulaev was forced to default their semifinal with a neck injury.

"I was sure I would win [against Snyder], I’ve been watching his matches almost every day, I’ve studied all his techniques," Tazhudinov said. "We prepared the right technique and I won.

"It was very difficult to prepare for the match [against Sadulaev]. He had a neck injury, I didn’t even wrestle my best, because of that injury. I wish him a quick recovery and I hope we will wrestle each other again when he is ready."

Tazhudinov was born in the wrestling hotbed of Dagestan, and ironically is a product of Sadulaev's wrestling club. He began wrestling for Bahrain last year, and this year won gold at the Asian Championships and the Bishkek Ranking Series tournament.

He joins Adam BATIROV (BRN), who won the freestyle 70kg silver in 2018, as the lone world medalist representing Bahrain.

"Definitely, I feel great, I don’t even know how to explain what I feel, thanks a lot to my coaches and my parents for bringing me up," Tazhudinov said. "If they weren’t there for me, I wouldn’t have been here today."

Tazhudinov credited his coach Shamil Omarov, who is also personal coach of Sadulaev, in particular for his success. "He’s been training with me every day, he’s been going to every single training camp with me. He spent more time with me than with his own kids."

Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN)Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) captured the 65kg gold medal over Sebastian RIVERA (PUR). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Muszukajev also took his share of big scalps before crushing Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) by a 10-0 technical fall in the 65kg final to capture an elusive gold after finishing third in both 2019 and 2022.

"I’ve been going for this gold for so long," Muszukajev said. "I was the third at two World Championships and finally, I’ve won this belt. I’ve been dreaming to try it on for so long. It’s been very difficult. My side of the bracket was really tough."

En route to the final, Muszukajev defeated Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN), albeit the Japanese was hampered by a foot injury, and defending world champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) in a semifinal thriller.

Otoguro later forfeited his repechage bout due to the foot injury.

Muszukajev said he knew he was in for a challenge when he saw the brackets. "What can I do, I came here to win," he said. "I was ready to wrestle anyone.

 "One of the most emotional matches was against the Iranian wrestler. I took a last-second win, and I felt that weight off my shoulders."

Against the American-raised Rivera, who became the second world medalist in Puerto Rican history, the lightning-quick Muszukajev started out with a takedown and stepout in the first period. In the second, the Hungarian blasted Rivera for a pair of 4-point takedowns, the second of which ended the match at 4:27.

Haruna OKUNO (JPN)Haruna OKUNO (JPN) won her third world title in Belgrade. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Okuno, who failed to displace star Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) for a spot on the Japanese team at the Olympic weight of 53kg, scored two takedowns in the first period and made that hold up in a 4-2 victory over 2019 world champion Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA).

She acknowledged that she would have preferred to compete in an Olympic weight class, but was glad to get the ball rolling for the Japanese women's team by becoming its first champion of the tournament. Earlier, Japan put wrestlers into all four of Wednesday's finals.

"I wanted to get a solid win and get the momentum going for those who will be wrestling [in the finals] tomorrow," Okuno said. "I'm glad I was able to do that."

Okuno, one of only a handful of wrestlers who have won the "Grand Slam" of world titles in all four age groups, won her first senior gold at 55kg in 2017 before moving down to 53kg and triumphing again the following year.

"Five years has passed," she said. "I've realized again how difficult it is to get to the World Championships and how big a thing it is. I will never forget that."

Qi ZHANG (CHN)Qi ZHANG (CHN) won China's first gold medal at the World Championships since 2019. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

In the women's 59kg final, Zhang, a silver medalist on the world junior (U20) and U23 levels, picked up her first senior gold with a 4-1 victory over veteran Yuliia TKACH (UKR).

Zhang, who had three third-place finishes in international tournaments this season, was trailing 1-1 on criteria when she scored the winning takedown with an arm drag with 1:15 left. Tkach got in on a single in the dying seconds, but Zhang kept her from turning it into points. An unsuccessful challenge added the final point.

Tkach, the European silver medalist this year, had been aiming to win her second world gold, nine years after winning the first in 2014 at 63kg. Instead, she can be proud knowing she will be taking home her fifth world medal and first since 2018.

Kyle SNYDER (USA)Kyle SNYDER (USA) defeated Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) in the repechage to reach the bronze-medal bout at 97kg. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Snyder gains bronze by default

In the bronze-medal matches, Snyder claimed his seventh world medal and second bronze without a fight when Sadulaev defaulted their bronze-medal match. Sadulaev had reportedly already flown back to Moscow.

The forfeit also means that the United States gained another quota for the Paris Olympics.

European champion Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) will leave Belgrade with a bronze medal for the second straight year after topping Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR) 6-2 in the other third-place match at 97kg.

Shamil MAMEDOV (AIN) made sure Amouzad would leave Belgrade without a medal after notching an 8-6 win at 57kg in an entertaining bout between two young wrestlers.

After Mamedov went ahead 2-0 with a stepout and a fleeing point tacked on, Amouzad came back with his silky smooth duck-under takedown. But Mamedov came up with the big move, a counter whizzer to the back for 4 to go up 6-2 going into the second period.

Amouzad came back with a stepout, then charged ahead with his underhook for a takedown to cut the lead to 6-5. Mamedov, the 2021 world U20 champion, never wavered and clinched the win and the bronze medal with a takedown with 43 seconds left.

The other 65kg bronze went to European champion Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM), who scored two stepouts and a late takedown in the second period to top Maxim SACULTAN (MDA) 5-1.

Both Mamedov and Tevanyan grabbed Paris Olympic quotas with the former winning it as an Individual Neutral Athlete and Tevanyan for Armenia.

Othelie HOEIE (NOR)Othelie HOEIE (NOR) won Norway's second world medal since 2005. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

It was a red-letter day for the Norwegian women's team and its Japanese coach Yurie YONEOKA when young Othelie HOEIE (NOR) defeated Elena BRUGGER (GER) 5-1 for a women's 59kg bronze -- just the Nordic nation's second world medal since 2005.

Othelie, a European bronze medalist, was on the activity clock and about to go behind on criteria in the second period when she nailed Brugger with a pancake to go ahead 3-1. She then added a snapdown takedown to seal the deal.

Yoneoka, who wrestled and coached collegiately in the U.S., was hired by the Norwegian federation to turn around a program that won 11 gold medals in the late 1980s and early 90s -- including three by Hoeie's mother Gudrun -- but has had none since and only one finalist.

Jennifer PAGE (USA) assured she will be taking home a momento of her senior world debut at the ripe age of 30, pancaking Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) to her back and securing a fall in 1:41 to win the other 59kg bronze medal.

At 55kg, Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) avenged a loss to Karla GODINEZ (CAN) in last year's bronze-medal match, securing the winning takedown at the edge with 35 seconds left for a 3-2 victory that put her on a world podium for the first time on any age level.

Godinez had received an activity point in each period but was unable to keep her knee from hitting the mat and make the takedown a stepout instead. The Canadian side made a specious challenge after the buzzer, which added the final point as Dragutan became the fourth Moldovan woman in history to win a world medal.

Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER) added senior world bronze to the U23 one she won last year, scoring a stepout with 22 seconds left to edge teenager Neha SHARMA (UWW) on last-point criteria 2-2 for the other 55kg bronze.

Amouzad gains Paris ticket

In the fifth-place playoff for an Olympic berth held later, Amouzad shrugged off the acrobatic antics of Sacultan and charged to a 10-0 victory in 4:27 at 65kg.

After gaining an activity point, Amouzad got Sacultan's leg in the air and managed to not only hold on when the Moldovan twice executed a spinning back flip, but he finished off the takedown. In the second period, Amouzad scored a 4-point takedown and ended the match with a powerful double-leg takedown.

At 97kg, Turkey received the berth when Ciftci was awarded an injury default over Sadulaev.

sdfgd

Day 4 Results

Freestyle

65kg (45 entries)
GOLD: Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) df. Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) by TF, 11-0, 4:27

BRONZE: Shamil MAMEDOV (AIN) df. Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI), 8-6
BRONZE: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) df. Maxim SACULTAN (MDA), 5-1

5th-Place Playoff: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) df. Maxim SACULTAN (MDA) by TF, 10-0, 4:27

97kg (35 entries)
GOLD: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) df. Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) by Fall, 2:49 (8-1)

BRONZE: Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) df. Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR), 6-2
BRONZE: Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) by Inj. Def.

5th-Place Playoff: Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR) df. Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) by Inj. Def.

Women's Wrestling

50kg (28 entries)
GOLD: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) vs. Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL)

Semifinal: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Ziqi FENG (CHN), 8-2
Semifinal: Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) df. Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA), 7-5

55kg (19 entries)
GOLD: Haruna OKUNO (JPN) df. Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA), 4-2

BRONZE: Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) df. Karla GODINEZ (CAN), 3-2
BRONZE: Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER) df. Neha SHARMA (UWW), 2-2

57kg (36 entries)
GOLD: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) vs. Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN)

Semifinal: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) df. Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) by TF 10-0, 4:14
Semifinal: Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) df. Helen MAROULIS (USA), 6-0

59kg (22 entries)
GOLD: Qi ZHANG (CHN) df. Yuliia TKACH (UKR), 4-1

BRONZE: Jennifer PAGE (USA) df. Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) by Fall, 1:40 (4-0)
BRONZE: Othelie HOEIE (NOR) df. Elena BRUGGER (GER), 5-1

65kg (17 entries)
GOLD: Macey KILTY (USA) vs. Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)

Semifinal: Macey KILTY (USA) df. Tatsiana PAULAVA (AIN) by TF, 10-0, 2:29
Semifinal: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) df. Lili LILI (CHN) by TF, 10-0, 1:01

76kg (29 entries)
GOLD: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) vs. Yuka KAGAMI (JPN)

Semifinal: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) by Fall, 2:32 (4-2)
Semifinal: Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) df. Milaimys MARIN (CUB), 5-2

#WrestleBelgrade

Preview: Freestyle rivalries resume but tough test awaits stars in Belgrade

By Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 13) -- Soon after Kyle SNYDER (USA) won his first world title in five years in Belgrade last year, his rival Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) was quick to react.

“You know who was absent there,” Sadulaev wrote on Instagram, pointing at his own absence from the World Championships. “My friend, I’m ready to give you another chance to become a real king in the 97kg weight class. Our viewers deserve the continuance of the story.”

A year later, there will be no absentees as Sadulaev was confirmed to compete at the World Championships in Belgrade. That means that Sadulaev will get a chance to reclaim his world title, currently held by Snyder.

The two will resume their rivalry this week and if the two actually meet on the mat, it will be their fifth bout. Sadulaev holds a 3-1 head-to-head record with his last win coming in the final of the Oslo World Championships in 2021.

Gable STEVESON (USA)Gable STEVESON (USA) is the only Tokyo Olympic champion not wrestling in Belgrade. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The build-up to the World Championship has been dominated by Freestyle line-ups with doubts over Gable STEVESON’s (USA) participation and the final call on the Individual Neutral Athletes. But the mystery was solved on Tuesday. Apart from Sadulaev, Olympic champions Zavur UGUEV (AIN) and Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN) were also approved to compete in Belgrade. Shamil MAMEDOV (AIN) and Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (AIN) will also be at the tournament.

That makes Steveson the only Tokyo Olympic champion to not feature in the tournament as Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) and David TAYLOR (USA) were already confirmed. Interestingly, all Olympic champs besides Taylor are unseeded, which means they will be drawn randomly and can may their arch-rivals in the first round itself.

While the inclusion of the AIN certainly brings more star-power to the mega event, the World Championships holds further importance as it will see close to 1000 wrestlers eyeing the 90 Paris Olympic quotas, divided equally among the three styles, on offer at the first qualifying event for the Games next year.

The team title race will also see the impact of the same as the U.S. tries to defend its first-place finish. With the AIN loaded with star power, U.S. will have to avoid any slip-ups. AIN will not be awarded any points in the team rankings at the World Championship but it can certainly derail the plans of other nations.

Given the benefits of wrestling in an Olympic weight class, wrestlers have squeezed themselves into the six Olympic weight classes, 57kg, 65kg, 74kg, 86kg, 97kg and 125kg. Out of the 368 wrestlers entered in Freestyle, 252 wrestlers are in these six weight classes with 86kg receiving the most entries — 52. In the non-Olympic weights, 61kg, 70kg, 79kg and 92kg, 116 wrestlers are entered with 70kg getting the most entries with 34 wrestlers.

Each Olympic weight class offers five Olympic spots and a wrestler can earn the same for the respective National Olympic Committee by winning one of the four medals. The fifth spot will be decided with a playoff between the two losers of the bronze medal bouts.

As far as storylines go, Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) and Taylor are expected to wrestle for the 86kg gold again while Snyder may face Sadulaev early at 97kg as the AIN wrestler is unseeded. Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) returns to international competition after two years but in his absence, a young star has emerged at 65kg -- world champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI). Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) drops to 57kg with eyes on second straight world title but faces the likes of 57kg world champion Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) and Olympic champion Uguev. Kyle DAKE (USA) will be looking to avenge his Olympic loss to Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (AIN) but a much-awaited bout against Sidakov will be the highlight at 74kg. A three-way battle will ensue at 125kg as Taha AKGUL (TUR) looks to defend his title against Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) and longtime rival Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO).

Sadulaev’s return gives him a chance to win his sixth world title and be level with Jordan BURROUGHS (USA), the wrestler with the most world tiles among active members. But Snyder will look to deny him. The two met twice in two months in 2021 with Sadulaev winning both the encounters quite comfortably. That is not to say Snyder has not been up to the mark. In the five Olympic and World Championships finals since 2017 in which both Snyder and Sadulaev have participated, only once — 2019 — the two have not faced each other. The other four instances have been a bout for gold with Sadulaev winning three and Snyder one.

And even then, no love is lost between the two. Snyder visited Sadulaev’s native Dagestan and was seen meeting the latter’s family after a helicopter ride. The two have accepted being in touch despite not facing each other.

On the mat, Snyder, since becoming world champion, won the World Cup with the U.S., began this year with gold medals at the Zagreb Open and the Dan Kolov tournaments before winning the Pan-Am gold and the fourth Ranking Series in Budapest. Sadulaev, despite being away from international wrestling, continued his training, glimpses of which he posted on his Instagram. He recently posted that he is in the final phase of the preparation.

Snyder will have Vlagyiszlav BAJCAJEV (HUN) on his side of the bracket with Asian champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) as they are seeded fourth and eighth respectively. Tazhudinov, who is coached by Sadulaev’s coach Shamil OMAROV, will be a test for Snyder if he can match the gas tank of the American.

Apart from Sadulaev, Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) will also be drawn at random. He almost defeated Snyder in Oslo before giving up a stepout in the dying seconds. Two veterans of the wrestling world, Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD) and Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) will also be unseeded in Belgrade.

The other threats to Snyder and Sadulaev include European finalists Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) and Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO). Snyder was troubled by Matcharashvili in the first bout in Budapest with the American scrapping through a 3-2 win before winning the gold over Magomedov who pulled out injured.

Matcharshvili won the European gold over Magomedov this year after a late takedown gave him a 4-3 lead. Magomedov will hope to avenge that loss if the two meet in Belgrade.

If you thought Snyder-Sadulaev was the only high-profile rivalry in wrestling right now, you are wrong. Taylor and Yazdani have followed a similar path in their own rivalry which will resume in Belgrade as the two gear up for their fifth battle. Taylor leads the head-to-head 4-1 with his latest win coming over Yazdani in the final of the 2022 World Championship. In Oslo, Yazdani scored his first win over Taylor, which compensated, though very little, Yazdani’s heartbreaking Tokyo Olympic final loss to the American.

The two are evenly matched on the mat but Taylor holds a slight advantage with his superior gas tank. In all their meetings, Yazdani has been the aggressor, always ending the first period with a lead. But Taylor has somehow found a way to win. Remember his first win over Yazdani as he pinned the Iranian in the World Cup in 2018? The two have more or less managed to keep the same scoring pattern with Taylor scoring nine points in the previous two bouts against Yazdani’s seven.

The major difference in Yazdani’s tactics in Oslo and Belgrade was the use of underhook. Yazdani completely dropped the signature move in the first period of the Belgrade bout and when he tried in the second period, Taylor had soared ahead.

It looks unlikely that any other wrestler will be able to stop the two meet in the final. Bronze medalists from last year Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) and Boris MOKAEV (SVK) can come close but have suffered huge losses against the two. But such been Yazdani and Taylor’s dominance that the two have shared the global titles at 86kg since 2017.

Arslan BAGAEV (AIN) and Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) are certainly medal contenders in Belgrade but they will have to navigate a field that also includes Olympic bronze medalist Myles AMINE (SMR).

The 2022 European champion lost to Dauren KURGULIEV (GRE) this year 3-1 but avenged his loss in Budapest to remain one of the top wrestlers at 86kg. He will be eyeing a second trip to the Olympics in Paris.

U20 world champion Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) is yet to make a mark at the senior level but the motivation to qualify for a home Olympics can certainly push the youngster for a medal.

Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN), Osman GOCEN (TUR) and Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB) are also entered for the World Championships.

Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN)Tokyo Olympic champion Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN) is going for his third world title. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Sidakov, Uguev face tough test
The late entry of Olympic champions Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN) and Zavur UGUEV (AIN) has spiced up things at 74kg and 57kg respectively. The two have not competed internationally since winning the gold medal in Tokyo but will be the favorites for gold in their weight classes.

However, the run to gold won’t be a cakewalk.

At 74kg, four-time world and defending champion Kyle DAKE (USA) will be the biggest hurdle for Sidakov. Wrestling fans have longed for a bout between the two of the most complete wrestlers in the world. While Sidakov works like a machine, Dake can switch levels at will. Their domination at this level makes it one of the most anticipated bouts.

However, Dake may be anticipating another bout altogether, that against Olympic silver medalist Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (AIN) who mauled Dake in Tokyo. Being a gold medal contender in Tokyo, Dake was the favorite against Kadzimahamedau but lost 12-1, his only loss in the World Championships or Olympics. Sidakov too will be aware of Kadzimahamedau’s level and what he is capable of.

The fourth wrestler in the fray is Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) who would like to make his third consecutive final, and perhaps win the title this year. His strong defense has been a problem for many but Dake has beaten him in both the finals the two met. Salkazanov can also upset Sidakov or Kadzimahamedau, but to do that, he would have to raise the level.

Though he has not been in a World Championships since 2019, Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) is known to be the guy with a surprise up his sleeve. Salkazanov has denied him for two consecutive years not but it would be foolish to think Chamizo can’t upset anyone. The crafty wrestler has all the skills to win and a pre-Olympic World Championships may push Chamizo to return to his old self.

Another top wrestler is Yones EMAMI (IRI) who belongs to cream at 74kg. He wrestled Dake in the semifinals last year and managed to shut down the American. However, he could not break Dake’s defense, losing 2-2 before winning a bronze medal.

Two veterans, Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) and Bekzod ABDURAKHMANOV (UZB) are also in the mix. Demirtas is still searching for that gold while Abdurakhamanov is going for another run after winning bronze in Tokyo. The Uzbek tried moving to 86kg last year but returned to 79kg for the Asian Championships this year and is now at 74kg.

Young stars Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) and Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) will try to make a name for themselves in this World Championships. Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO), returning bronze medalist Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ), local favorite Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) and Iakub SHIKHDZHAMALOV (ROU) will also try to finish on the podium.

Zavur UGUEV (AIN)Zavur UGUEV (AIN) is returning to international competition for the first time since winning the Tokyo Olympics. (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

At 57kg, Uguev will first have to battle his weight and step on the mat against a field that is nothing less than first-class. Uguev, who won the gold in Tokyo after beating Ravi KUMAR (IND) in the final, has been an absolute rock at 57kg over the years.

The biggest test for him in Belgrade will be Rei HIGUCHI (JPN), who is returning to 57kg in a bid to win an Olympic gold medal. The 26-year-old won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and tried moving to 65kg for Tokyo. Once he failed to make it past the domestic level, he returned to 57kg but his battles with weight have been well documented. Higuchi won his first world title last year at 61kg which is a non-Olympic weight class.

Nothing will come easy for both Uguev and Higuchi as returning world champion Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) also looks to book his trip for the Olympics. Abakarov defeated Gilman with ease last year to become Albania’s first wrestling world champion.

Abakarov’s confidence may have taken a hit after he suffered a loss to Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) in the European Championships final but that was at 61kg. Both Abakarov and Harutyunyan have dropped to 57kg now.

Uguev will be on the lookout for Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) as well as he almost lost his first-round bout against Abdullaev in Tokyo if not for a last-second trip from Uguev to score a four-pointer. Abdullaev has struggled with weight but can do enough to be in the medal rounds.

Another wrestler who troubled Uguev in Tokyo was Thomas GILMAN (USA) but he won’t travel to Belgrade as Zane RICHARDS (USA) defeated him in the domestic qualifiers. Richards has a strong chain wrestling and while the U.S. style is familiar to most wrestlers in the world, Richards could be a surprise at 57kg.

European champion Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) has taken big strides in his career but the World Championships will be his real test. Rzazade won the Zagreb Open to start the year and continued his good form by winning Euros in which he defeated Suleyman ATLI (TUR) 12-2 in the final. Asian champion AMAN (IND) is replacing Kumar and will get his first taste of the big league. He won the U23 World Championships but the Belgrade tournament is not a tournament of U23 level and that is putting it mildly.

Top seed Wanhao ZOU (CHN), Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ), Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) and Stevan MICIC (SRB) will also be in the mix.

Takuto OTOGURO (JPN)Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) will wrestle outside Japan after more than two years. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Champ vs challengers
While Sadulaev, Sidakov, and Uguev were on a forced break, Takuto OTOGURO (JPN), one of the most watchable wrestlers in the world, ironically, decided to be away from wrestling for a good year and a half since the Tokyo Olympics. He returned in December 2022 for Japan's first qualifier the 2023 World Championships. He won that and the second qualifier, the Meiji Cup, in June this year to confirm his Belgrade ticket. However, the champ looked a little rusty.

Otoguro, a world champion from 2018, will have to wrestle better than he did at the Meiji Cup, as any slip-up at 65kg could prove to be fatal.

Leading the challengers will be world champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) whose strong underhook game can trouble Otoguro as the Japanese wrestler isn't the happiest being stuck in positions. The bout between the two can be a spectacle and worthy final, the two can meet early as well as Otoguro is unseeded while Amouzad is the top seed.

The only other Tokyo Olympic medalist at 65kg coming to Belgrade is three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE) who hopes to finish his career with gold in Paris. But his recent losses at 65kg have cast doubts over his ability to challenge the young field at 65kg. Aliyev lost to Amouzad last year and later lost the bronze-medal bout to Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN).

And to think Muszukajev, a two-time world bronze medalist, will be a pushover is a crime. The style in which he doesn’t engage much with his opponent but attacks like a cat, when given open space, has given him fans around the world. But his struggle with conditioning is still an area of concern, especially in a weight class full of youngsters. Muszukajev also has a win over Otoguro, in the bronze-medal bout at the 2019 Worlds.

Another contender, perhaps for gold, is Shamil MAMEDOV (AIN), an extremely talented youngster who won the gold medal at the 2022 Yasar Dogu. He had then expressed his desire to become the world champion. But that did not happen in 2022.

Mamedov will get that chance, incidentally in Belgrade, as he gears up for his first World Championships, perhaps the toughest in recent years. He will be backing himself to upset all the established stars and make a name for himself.

A true dark horse in this weight class is Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) who won bronze in 2021 and finished second to Amouzad in the Asian Championships this year. Tumur Ochir has troubled many this year using his underhook and strong build. But the World Championships will throw wrestlers of different styles who would have studied to break the Mongolian’s position.

Count on European champion Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) as well. He missed out on a medal last year but Tevanyan has been improving, winning the U23 World Championships, Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series, and European Championships. His style can frustrate a lot of wrestlers and if not engaged early, the Armenian can easily defend his lead.

Two-time world medalist Alejandro VALDES (CUB) is entered for Cuba as he tries to make it to Paris with the hope of winning his first Olympic medal. Uzbekistan has trusted Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) to do the job and the former U20 world champion has the ability but may lack the experience needed at this level.

The United States had John DIAKOMIHALIS (USA) in the final last year but he lost to Nicholas LEE (USA) in the domestic qualifications. Lee will have a huge responsibility on his shoulders as he tries to win the Paris quota for the U.S., something it missed in Tokyo.

Another NCAA star Austin GOMEZ (MEX) will be representing Mexico at the World Championships and it will be interesting to see how he performs internationally. Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) and Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR) can be the party-spoilers for anyone.

The champ vs. challengers sub would have been more apt for 125kg had Steveson entered. But with him out, Taha AKGUL (TUR) will be challenged in Belgrade and Steveson’s much-awaited bout with Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) will have to wait.

Zare will have his task cut out if he wants to win a second-world title. He was well on course last year before losing in the semifinals against Akgul who looked a better wrestler than in the Olympics or the 2021 World Championships.

Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) will have the same odds to win the title as Zare and Akgul as he chases his fourth in Belgrade. Petriashvili could have been the Olympic champion if not for Steveson to score a takedown literally in the final second.

The Georgian seems to have not put that loss behind as he lost tamely to Zare in 2021 and was stunned by MUNKHTUR (MGL) in the 2022 semifinals. Munkhtur lost to Akgul in the final but the four are expected to be on the podium once again.

Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) was a gut-wrench away from beating Zare last year in Almaty, Masson PARRIS (USA) had pinned Zare in U20 World Championships while Zhiwei DENG (CHN) has been a solid 125kg.

These three wrestlers can cause problems for the top four who should also keep an eye on Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE), Daniel LIGETI (HUN), Abraham CONYEDO (ITA), Robert BARAN (POL) are also entered.

The non-Olympic weight class will also throw some once-in-a-lifetime battles.

Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (AIN)Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (AIN) is the favorite to win gold at 61kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

61kg
It was one-way traffic in 2021 as Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (AIN) won gold at 61kg. It is expected to be the same as he returns aiming for his second world title.

Asian champion Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) and Vitali ARUJAU (USA) could come close but unless everything works in their favor and Magomedov doesn’t really show up, it will be difficult even for returning silver medalist Reza ATRI (IRI).

Zain RETHERFORD (USA)Zain RETHERFORD (USA) is the returning silver medalist at 70kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

70kg
But the U.S. can still bank on Zain RETHERFORD (USA) to give them gold in one of the lower weight classes. The returning silver medalist will be pitted against bronze medalist Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ). Both lost to eventual champion Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) at the World Championships last year. With the Japanese absent, Retherford will fancy his chances but so will Akmataliev who wrestled one of the most memorable matches against Narikuni in the semifinals.

But that’s what Akmataliev likes. The more his opponent attacks, Akmataliev will be counter and score big points.

Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) will try to deny both Retherford and Akmataliev and win his world gold after finishing with a silver medal in 2021. Yazdani has been a mixed bag at the international level and has suffered losses along the way.

Evgenii ZHERBAEV’s (AIN) entry has certainly made the weight class even more interesting but a lot will depend on the bracket.

Ramazan RAMAZANOV (AIN), Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO) and Ihor NYKYFORUK (UKR) will look to make some noise as well.

79kg
Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) denied him in two straight World Championships but Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) will be the favorite this year as Burroughs failed to make the U.S. team.

Chandler MARSTELLER (USA) defeated the six-time world champion in a best-of-three series to be in Belgrade. He will now try to stop Nokhodi. The two met in Budapest and Nokhodi dominated Marsteller.

However, Akhmed USMANOV (AIN) can cause some trouble with his different style of wrestling which Nokhodi, 21, may not be aware of.

U23 world champion Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO), Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) and Ramazan SARI (TUR) will try to finish among the medals.

92kg
Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) was on his way to a third consecutive world title but two injuries in the space of two months meant that the Iranian superstar had to withdraw from the World Championships.

That meant J’Den COX (USA) would finally get the gold he was denied by Ghasempour in the last two years but Cox switched to 97kg but never made the U.S. team. The absence of the two big stars has thrown the 92kg weight class wide open.

Both bronze medalists from 2022, Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) and Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) would feel that they can make the most of the situation and reach the final. Both have been consistent in 2023 and can make for a great final.

Vladislav VALIEV (AIN), a 2019 European champion at 86kg, will be a medal contender as well.

Iran is gambling with Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI), a regular at 97kg, who has been asked to drop down to 92kg as Iran tries to defend its team title.

Azarpira has won the age-group World Championships at 97kg but it will be too early to predict his performance at 92kg, especially after the weight cut.

Zahid VALENCIA (USA) made the U.S. team and can use to his active wrestling to win his first world medal. But it won’t be easy against some of the best in the world and Valencia has to switch levels.

Two-time European champion Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) defeated both Maisuradze and Nurmagomedov en route to the gold medal and will push himself to repeat and end up on the podium.

Two absolute hammers are 19-year-olds Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) and Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ). The two met in the final of the Asian Championships with Yoshida prevailing over Aitmukhan in what was his first international trip.

Aitmukhan was in the final of the U20 World Championships as well but finished with a silver medal. But both Yoshida and Aitmukhan can trouble the best in the business.

The World Championships will kick off on September 16 with Freestyle and will be live on UWW+ and FloSport for the U.S. audience.