#WrestleOslo

Yazdani details emotional win over Taylor that propelled him to third world title

Friday, November 26, 2021 - 12:58 By Eric Olanowski

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OSLO, Norway (November 26) --- Hassan “The Greatest” YAZDANI (IRI) headed into the Oslo World Championships with revenge on his mind. He lost to career rival David TAYLOR (USA) in three consecutive matches – including once in August via a last-second takedown in the Tokyo Olympic finals.

Yazdani turned the tides in Oslo on a cold October night and exacted revenge on Taylor and claimed his third world title.

United World Wrestling sat down with Yazdani after his epic win to talk about the losses that drove him to become a three-time world champion, what was different about his Iranian team in Oslo and what’s motivating him to chase a second Olympic gold medal.

The Epic Oslo Matchup:
Yazdani controlled the 86kg world finals match from start to finish to notch a solid 6-2 victory over Taylor in the highly anticipated 86kg final at the Oslo World Championships.

Yazdani's victory, coming two months after a heartbreaking loss to Taylor in the final at the Tokyo Olympics, gave him a third world title to go with his 2016 Rio Olympic gold, and capped a remarkable day for Iran in the Jordal Amfi arena.

"I made the people of Iran happy," Yazdani said. "I need to appreciate Taylor, because he worked as a motivation and inspiration for me to work better and better and become the champion."

The vocal contingent of Iranian fans were sent into a frenzy when rising star Amir ZARE (IRI) claimed the 125kg title, having earlier seen Iran gain finalists in all four weight classes that got underway Sunday, including Yazdani's cousin Amir YAZDANI (IRI).

"Iran always supports their wrestlers and fans here were great," Yazdani said. "And it was because of them and God I won."

The United States had mixed success in the two other finals, with Kyle DAKE (USA) prevailing at 74kg, but Daton FIX (USA) coming up short against Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RWF) at 61kg.

In Tokyo, Yazdani had to settle for the Olympic silver when Taylor scored a takedown with 17 seconds left for a 4-3 win in the final. On Sunday, he never gave the American the chance to get close.

Yazdani continually kept the pressure on, using an underhook to force Taylor to the edge and score a pair of stepout points in the first period. In the second period, he added a takedown, before Taylor got on the scoreboard with a takedown with 1:03 left.

With the clock ticking down, Taylor tried a counter lift, but Yazdani held firm and dumped him to the mat for a takedown and the final points of an well-earned victory.

"He's a great competitor," said Taylor, whose lone world title came in 2018, where he beat Yazdani in the first round. "Not my day."

Asked what he could have done differently, Taylor quipped, "Scored my points. He's a good wrestler. We will go again."

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open day one finals set

Wednesday, February 1, 2023 - 09:08 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (February 1) -- The season-opening Ranking Series event Zagreb Open is here. Six freestyle weight classes are in action at the Dom Sportva in the Croatian capital. Stars in action include Hassan YAZDANI (IRI), Haji ALIYEV (AZE), Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) among others. Remember this tournament has a two-kilogram weight allowance in all weight classes and the medal winners will also receive prize money.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

Here are the gold medal bouts for the evening session

57kg
Yuto NISHIUCHI (JPN) vs. Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE)

61kg
Reza ATRI (IRI) vs. Narankhuu NARMANDAKH (MGL)

65kg
Joseph MC KENNA (USA) vs. Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL)

70kg
Haji ALIYEV (AZE) vs. Alec PANTALEO (USA)

74kg
Yones EMAMI (IRI) vs. Jason NOLF (USA)

86kg
Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) vs. Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) 

14:20: The last semifinal of the morning session. Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) taking on Ismail MUSUKAEV (HUN). Tulga gets the stepout before Musukaev adds a takedown in the activity period. Tulga with another stepout just before the break. Musukaev leads 2-2 on criteria at the break. The second period starts with another stepout from Tulga. That could have been more dangerous for Musukaev but solid defense. Musukaev is put on the activity period. Tulga gets Musukaev in cross and scores two before getting the passivity point to lead 6-2. Musukaev tries hard to comeback but cannot break the defense of Tulga who wins 6-2 and will wrestle McKenna in the final.

14:10: Yones EMAMI (IRI) moves into the 74kg final with a 3-2 win over Fazli ERYILMAZ (TUR). He will face Jason NOLF (USA) for the gold medal.

13:50: Joseph MC KENNA (USA) will take that 4-3 win over Ryoma ANRAKU (JPN) to reach the 65kg final. McKenna had a 4-2 lead at the break and gave up only a point in the second period. Anraku looked slightly tired in the second period. 

13:35: On Mat A, Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) continues his dream run at 86kg and beats Zahid VALENCIA (USA) 12-1. A series of gut wrenches to finish off the bout. He will face Hassan YADANI (IRI) in the final

13:30: Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) is coming up on Mat B against Mark HALL (USA) at 86kg. He starts with a takedown for two. Another easy takedown for Yazdani as he extends his lead to 4-0. Hall looks much smaller than Yazdani at 86kg. The pressure from Yazdani is immense. He gut wrenches Hall for a 10-0 win.

13:25: Huge underhook to four for Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) as he beats Evan HENDERSON (USA) in the 65kg quarterfinals. He will face Ismail MUSUKAEV (HUN) next

13:05: Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) and Jason NOLF (USA) left it all on the mat but it is Nolf who comes out on top with a 4-3 win. Gadzhiev is showing displeasure for Nolf's passivity but looks clean. Nolf will move into the 74kg semifinal.

12:55: Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) moves into the semifinal with a technical superiority win over Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE). Yazdani looks like a man on a mission. He will face Mark HALL (USA) in the semifinal

12:45: There is no stopping Ismail MUSUKAEV (HUN). He takes his time against Nick LEE (USA) in the 65kg quarterfinal but shifts gears so quickly. A takedown and exposure to lead 4-0. He works up two more takedowns and a double leg to win 10-0.

12:35: Mark HALL (USA) over Boris MAKOEV (SVK) at 86kg. Makoev got into positions to score on Hall but the American wrestler was solid in defense and countered with exposure to get his own points. He wins 7-2.

12:30: Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) with a takedown and a fall over European champion Myles AMINE (SMR) at 86kg! Amine looks devasted by that. Ishiguro caught Amine by surprise and got the pin.

12:20: Haji ALIYEV (AZE), wrestling at 70kg, survives a scare against Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO). After leading 4-0, Aliyev gave up a takedown and Elbakidze managed to go behind in the final seconds but the time ran out before Aliyev's three points touched the mat. He wins 4-2

12:00: Quentin STICKER (FRA) managed to score four points on Ismail MUSUKAEV (HUN) but that was all he could. Musukaev gave no more chance to him and won his 65kg bout 10-4 

11:20: Two-time world silver medalist Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) and bronze medalist Yones EMAMI (IRI) are now on Mat B. Both wrestlers take their time to get going. Emami is on the board for Salkazanov's passivity. Not much action in the bout but Emami has eked out a 5-0.

11:00: Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) looks strong as ever! His first victim is Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL) who has no answer to the pressure from the former world champion. Yazdani faces Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) in the next round who managed to beat Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO) in the final seconds. Trailing 8-6, Abakarov steps over and forces Gaphrindashvili to put his head on the mat and get the two points to win 8-8.

10:40: At 74kg, Yones EMAMI (IRI) and Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) both begin with wins. Emami gets the better of Kojiro SHIGA (JPN) and Gadzhiev defeats Krisztian BIRO (ROU).

10:25: In early action,  Zane RICHARDS (USA) and Rikuto ARAI (JPN) were involved in a tense battle and after a back-and-forth bout, Richards wins 10-6 at 57kg.

10:15: The tournament has seen an attendance of close to 550 wrestlers which means some long days of wrestling. Beginning with freestyle action in 57kg, 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 74kg and 86kg, wrestlers will wrestle for the medals on the same day.

10:00: Welcome to the Zagreb Open! The first tournament of the year as we build towards the World Championships later in September.