#NFRoundup

NF Roundup Blog, Jan. 4-10

Monday, January 4, 2021 - 17:19 By United World Wrestling Press

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2020 Iran Wrestling Premier League News and Results

The Iran Wrestling Premier League concluded its 2020 season as superstars Hassan YAZDANI and Mohammad Ali GERAEI earned brilliant victories for their teams.

The Iran Mall team captured  the title in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. 

Iran Mall defeated newcomer team Esteghlal 7-3 in the final match. At 86kg, the Olympic and world champion Yazdani recorded technical fall victory over Sajad GHOLAMI, 11-1.

In Greco-Roman, Iran Mall downed Azad University, 7-3.

Geraei

At 77kg, two-time world bronze medalist Mohammad Ali GERAEI beat rival Boroumand ASLAN, 6-4. The ABDEVALI brothers earned two technical fall victories against their rivals in 63 and 82kg.

Freestyle Final Standings
1. Iran Mall
2. Esteghlal
3. Ghaemshahr Wrestling Association
4. Azad University

Greco-Roman Final Standings
1. Iran Mall 
2. Azad University
3. Sina Sanat Izeh 
4. Foulad Oxin

Freestyle Final Match: Iran Mall df. Esteghlal, 7-3
57kg- Reza Atri(Iran Mall) df. Nader Hajaghania (Esteghlal), 6-2
61kg- Majid Dastan (Iran Mall) df. Mohammad Ramezanpour (Esteghlal), 8-3
65kg- Morteza Ghiasi (Esteghlal) df. Meysam Nasiri (Iran Mall), 6-1
70kg- Amir Hossein Hosseini (Iran Mall) df. Mohammadreza Sargou (Esteghlal), 8-0
74kg- Ali Savadkouhi (Esteghlal) df. Mostafa Hosseinkhani (Iran Mall), 3-0
79kg- Hamidreza Zarrinpeykar (Esteghlal) df. Peyman Yarahmadi (Iran Mall), 2-2
86kg- Hassan Yazdani (Iran Mall) tf. Sajad Gholami (Esteghlal), 11-1
92kg- Kamran Ghasempour (Iran Mall) df. Ali Mojerlou (Esteghlal) by injury forfeit
97kg- Mohammad Hossein Mohammadian (Iran Mall) df. Alireza Rekabi (Esteghlal), 7-0
125kg- Amir Hossein Zare (Iran Mall) df. Abbas Foroutan (Esteghlal), 4-0

Greco-Roman Final Match: Iran Mall df. Azad University, 7-3
55kg- Reza Khedri (Iran Mall) df. Sajad Abbaspour (Azad University), 6-4
60kg- Alireza Nejati (Iran Mall) df. Omid Arami (Azad University), 6-3
63kg- Saman Abdevali (Iran Mall) tf. Hossein Abbasi (Azad University), 8-0
67kg- Danial Sohrabi (Azad University) df. Mohammad Elyasi (Iran Mall), 5-4
72kg- Ali Arsalan (Iran Mall) tf. Amir Abdi (Azad University), 8-0
77kg- Mohammad Ali Geraei (Iran Mall) df. Boroumand Aslan (Azad University), 6-4
82kg- Saeid Abdevali (Iran Mall) tf. Mehdi Mohammadzadeh (Azad University), 8-0
87kg- Naser Alizadeh (Azad University) df. Mehdi Fallah (Iran Mall), 4-2
97kg-  Mehdi Bali (Azad University) df. Mehdi Aliyari (Iran Mall), 2-2
130kg- Amin Mirzazadeh (Iran Mall) df. Amir Ghasemi Monjazi (Azad University), 4-1
 

World Champs Burroughs and Taylor to Square off Saturday
World champions Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) and David TAYLOR (USA) will headline Flo Wrestling's January 9 11-match event.

Burroughs, the four-time world champion and London Olympic gold medalist at 74kg, is making the significant bump up to 86kg -- the weight in which Taylor won his '18 world title. "The two of us are always looking for ways to push the sport forward, so I think this is a cool event," said Burroughs. He continued, saying, "For both of us, this match is a big stamp on our legacy and how people will look at us moving forward."

It'll be the fifth time the pair of world champions have squared off in their storied careers. Burroughs owns a 4-0 record, with his last win coming in '14. Taylor, in looking for his first win over Burroughs, said, "This match is personal for me. Anytime you get to wrestle someone who has beaten you -- it's personal."

In addition to the freestyle meeting of world champions, the night's co-main event will also feature a matchup of world gold medalist. 

Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK (USA), the reigning world champion at 68kg, is moving up to 76kg, where she'll face five-time world champion and leg-lace queen Adeline GRAY (USA).

For complete coverage of the event, visit www.flowrestling.org.

Complete Match Order
155lbs - Mitch McKee vs Tristan Moran
61kg - Ronna Heaton vs Desiree Zavala
215lbs - Nate Jackson vs Wynn Michalak
61kg - Seth Gross vs Zane Richards
143lbs - Ethan Lizak vs Matt McDonough
65kg - Nahshon Garrett vs Joey McKenna
51kg - Emily Shilson vs Erin Golston
152lbs - James Green vs Pat Lugo
97kg - J'den Cox vs Hayden Zillmer
76kg - Adeline Gray vs Tamyra Mensah-Stock
86kg - Jordan Burroughs vs David Taylor

2026 World Championships

Yazdani Interview: 'Changing Weight Classes Difficult, But Ready for 97kg Challenge'

Saturday, June 20, 2026 - 06:27 By

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- By Amirreza ALIASGARI

KEMRAN, Iran (July 19) -- Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) made his eighth World Championships for Iran on Friday after beating Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI), 4-2 and 5-3, in two straight matches at 97kg.

In 2015, Yazdani was at 70kg and won a silver medal at his debut World Championships. For a decade, he spent his wrestling career at 86kg, winning two Olympic silver medals, three world titles, two world silver and one bronze medal.

Now at 97kg after two shoulder surgeries, a 31-year-old Yazdani is adjusting to the new weight class. As he returns to the World Championships after three years, Yazdani will be chasing his eighth medal and fourth title.

After making the Iran team for the World Championships, to be held in Astana from October 24 to November 1, Yazdani spoke to United World Wrestling about the challenges of 97kg, returning to the World Championships and how his body is holding up.

Excerpts:

- How are you feeling physically after the two tough matches?

Yazdani: I’ve improved in some areas, especially when it comes to my breathing and conditioning. But we didn’t really have enough time to focus on strength training, so we worked on that a bit less than we wanted to. With the time that’s left until the World Championships, I’m going to do everything I can to get myself in the best shape possible and be even better prepared.

- How prepared were you for the wrestle-off against Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI)?

Yazdani: For these competitions, I’d say I was about 70 percent ready. It’s hard to be 100 precent prepared for a tournament like this, but by the time the World Championships come around, I’ll definitely be in better shape and more prepared.

- What are your thoughts on competing at 97kg, a weight class that may have four Olympic champions in Astana?

Yazdani: The 97kg weight class is new for me, and of course I have new opponents now. It’s quite different from 86kg. I hope I can put on a good performance in this weight class as well. There are a lot of great champions here, and I hope I get the chance to wrestle against them, challenge myself, and show my best wrestling at the World Championships.

- But will it be challenging for your to be at the top at this weight class?

Yazdani: I already knew how many top wrestlers compete in this weight class. Considering my physical condition, I decided last year to move up to 97kg. Since it’s also an Olympic weight class, I wanted to make the move early so I’d have enough time to fix any weaknesses and adapt before the Olympics. My goal is to be at my very best for both the Olympics and the World Championships, which are just as important.

I wanted to move up sooner so I could get comfortable in this weight class as quickly as possible. Once you get to around 30 years old, things naturally become a little more difficult, and changing weight classes isn’t as easy as it used to be. There are definitely challenges at 97kg, and I’ve thought about all of them. Hopefully, I’ll be able to put on my best performance and come away with a great result.