Taylor Tops World and Olympic Champion Yazdani, Makes Saturday's Semifinals

Saturday, October 20, 2018 - 13:21 By Eric Olanowski

BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 20) – David TAYLOR (USA) stepped on the mat Saturday with no prior World Championship experience but certainly earned his stars and stripes on the opening day of freestyle action at the Papp Laszlo Sports Arena in Budapest, Hungary.

In his world championship debut, the rookie was thrown into deep waters, as he was pegged against reigning world and Olympic champion Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) in his 86kg opening round bout. This was the second time Taylor and Yazdani have met, with Taylor coming out on top of their 2017 World Cup match. That fall by the American in 2017 was one of only four senior-level losses ever for the Iranian superstar.

In the opening period, Taylor, the 2018 Pan-American champion, capitalized on an exposure, but not before giving up a pair of step outs, along with two takedowns. For the second time in as many matches against Yazdani, Taylor trailed heading into the final period. This time, it was a four-point deficit, as Taylor trailed 6-2.

Though he was in a four-point hole, “The Magic Man” didn’t panic and relied on his pace and conditioning to get back in the match. In the final three minutes, Taylor erupted to outscore the veteran 9-0 and ultimately won, 11-6. After the bout, the American coaches told Taylor “You grinded that one out. He just got too tired.”

Taylor followed his opening round win with back-to-back 8-0 victories over Belarus’ Hajy RAJABAU and Cuba’s Yurieski TORREBLANCA QUERALTA (CUB).

The 2018 Yarygin and Yasar Dogu winner will wrestle 2017 European gold medalist and this year’s Russian National champion, Dauren KURUGLIEV for a spot in tomorrow night’s finals.

The other 86kg semifinal match will feature Medved and Yasar Dogu bronze medalist, Fatih ERDIN (TUR), and Spain’s five-time world team representative Taimuraz FRIEV.

Zaurbek SIDAKOV will meet reigning world champion Frank Chamizo (ITA) in the 74kg semifinals after knocking off Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs (USA), 5-5 in the quarterfinals. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Meanwhile, Iran’s Parviz HADI and Russia’s Zaurbek SIDAKOV both knocked off Olympic champions on the way to their respective semifinals.

In 74kg quarterfinals, Sidakov grabbed a step out point as time expired to defeat London Olympic champion, Jordan BURROUGHS (USA), 6-5. The 22-year-olds victory not only stopped the colossal third match-up between Burroughs and Italy’s two-time world champion Frank CHAMZIO, but it halted the four-time world champion from reaching his sixth world or Olympic finals.

Sidakov will wrestle two-time world champion and Rio bronze medalist, Frank Chamizo for a spot in the 74kg finals.

In the 125kg quarterfinals, Parviz Hadi stunned Rio Olympic champion and 2017 world runner-up, Taha AKGUL (TUR) with a late takedown, stealing the match, 3-2. The 30-year-old Iranian stopped Akgul from making his fifth straight world or Olympic gold-medal bout.

In the semifinals, Hadi will compete against the reigning world champion, Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) for a spot in tomorrow's 125kg world final.

In addition to 74kg, 86kg, and 125kg, 61kg is also featured in tonight’s semifinals.

The 61kg semifinals will host three world medalists, Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB), Beka LOMTADZE (GEO), and Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS).

Both Lomtadze (2016) and Rashidov (2017) have made it to a world final, while Bonne has finished with a bronze medal twice (2014 and 2017).

The top half matchup between Rashidov and Lomtadze is a rematch of the 2018 European finals, where the Russian wrestler came on top, 4-1. The bottom half matchup will pit America’s rookie Joseph COLON (USA) against Cuba's "Big Move Bonne" Rodriguez.

Friday nights semifinals are set to begin at 16:45 (local time).

Semifinal Matchups
61kg
Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) vs. Beka LOMTADZE (GEO)
Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB) vs. Joseph Daniel COLON (USA)

74kg
Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) vs. Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO)
Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) vs. Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA)

86kg
Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS) vs. David Morris TAYLOR III (USA)
Fatih ERDIN (TUR) vs. Taimuraz FRIEV (ESP)

125kg
Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) vs. Parviz HADI (IRI)
Zhiwei DENG (CHN) vs. Sumit SUMIT (IND)

2026 U23 European Championships

Perfect Russia Puts Five Wrestlers in Finals at U23 Euros

Tuesday, March 10, 2026 - 00:24 By Vinay Siwach

ZRENJANIN, Serbia (March 9) -- Five wrestlers took the mat for Russia on day one of the U23 European Championships in Zrenjanin, Serbia on Monday and all five reached the final.

The first continental championships of 2026 began with Freestyle competition in 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg and 97kg at the Kristalna Dvorana Arena and Russia emerged as the best team.

Led by Takhir KHANIEV (RUS), fresh off his win against world champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) in Tirana, Russian wrestlers dominated on their way to the finals, to be played Tuesday.

Khaniev, a U23 world silver medalist at 92kg, wrestled former U17 world champion Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO) in the semifinals and won 14-4, his second victory via technical superiority of the day.

Petriashvili scored the first point when he blocked a throw from Khaniev and got two points. He then scored exposure points during an exchange to lead 4-2. But Khaniev managed to push Petriashvili and eventually broke the Georgian to complete the victory.

He will face former U20 European champion Ivan PRYMACHENKO (UKR) for the gold medal after the Ukrainian defeated Zafar ALIYEV (AZE), 6-2. Prymachenko never seemed in danger of losing the bout against Aliyev.

Ismail KHANIEV (RUS) will wrestle for the 79kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Khaniev's brother Ismail also made it to the final at 79kg after he outscored his opponents 30-0 in three bouts. He led 9-0 in his semifinal against Mateusz PEDZICKI (POL) before the Poland wrestler complained of a shoulder injury that forced him to abandon the semifinal.

For the gold medal, Khaniev will face Sabuhi AMIRASLANOV (AZE) who secured a close 4-1 victory over Giorgi GOGRITCHIANI (GEO) in the other semifinal.

Defending champion at 70kg Magomed ELTEMIROV (RUS) booked a final against U20 world silver medalist Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) after the two dominated their way to the final.

Eltermirov scored a 11-0 victory over Marcel WAGIN (GER) while Gaidarli managed to beat Mykyta SARIIEV (UKR), 10-0, in the semifinals. Both are yet to give up a point in the tournament so far.

Magomedkhan MAGAMEDKHANOV (BLR) squares off against Arman MUSIKYAN (ARM) in the 65kg semifinals. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In a battle of U20 world bronze medalists at 65kg, Magomedkhan MAGAMEDKHANOV (BLR) defeated Arman MUSIKYAN (ARM), 9-6, and enter the final against Dzhambulat KIZINOV (RUS).

Magamedkhanov fell behind 2-0 early in the bout before he closed the gap to 4-3 at the break. In the second period, he scored from a front chest-wrap twice to lead 7-4. When he attempted it for the third time, Musikyan blocked it and scored two points to cut the lead to 7-6.

The Armenian was close to scoring a takedown which would have given him the lead but Magamedkhanov scrambled out of the hold and countered Musikyan for a takedown in the final 10 seconds to win 9-6.

Kizinov was in more control of his semifinal against Viktor BOROHAN (UKR), blanking the Ukrainian 6-0. He scored a point when Borohan was put on the activity clock before a stepout made his lead 2-0. A takedown and turn made it 6-0 before the break. No points were scored in the second period as the Russian entered the final.

Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE) will wrestle for the 57kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 57kg, former U17 world champion Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE) will face Aiandai ONDAR (RUS) for the gold medal.

Baghirov, with his stealthy defense, kept Nikoloz BOTCHRISHVILI (GEO) at a distance and led 3-1 with 15 seconds to go. But the Georgian managed to hit a single-leg takedown and dump him outside the zone. However, it was scored only one point for Botchrishvili.

Georgia challenged the call but lost it to add one more point to Baghirov's score. A late takedown sealed his 6-2 victory.

Ondar took 56 seconds to beat Artsiom PAULIUCHENKA (BLR), 10-0, using a trap-arm gut.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE) vs. Aiandai ONDAR (RUS)

SF 1: Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE) df. Nikoloz BOTCHORISHVILI (GEO), 6-2
SF 2: Aiandai ONDAR (RUS) df. Artsiom PAULIUCHENKA (BLR), 10-0

65kg
GOLD: Magomedkhan MAGAMEDKHANOV (BLR) vs. Dzhambulat KIZINOV (RUS)

SF 1: Magomedkhan MAGAMEDKHANOV (BLR) df. Arman MUSIKYAN (ARM), 9-6
SF 2: Dzhambulat KIZINOV (RUS) df. Viktor BOROHAN (UKR), 6-0

70kg
GOLD: Magomed ELTEMIROV (RUS) vs. Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA)

SF 1: Magomed ELTEMIROV (RUS) df. Marcel WAGIN (GER), 11-0
SF 2: Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) df. Mykyta SARIIEV (UKR), 10-0

79kg
GOLD: Ismail KHANIEV (RUS) vs. Sabuhi AMIRASLANOV (AZE)

SF 1: Ismail KHANIEV (RUS) df. Mateusz PEDZICKI (POL), via inj. def. (9-0)
SF 2: Sabuhi AMIRASLANOV (AZE) df. Giorgi GOGRITCHIANI (GEO), 4-1

97kg
GOLD: Ivan PRYMACHENKO (UKR) vs. Takhir KHANIEV (RUS)

SF 1: Ivan PRYMACHENKO (UKR) df. Zafar ALIYEV (AZE), 6-2
SF 2: Takhir KHANIEV (RUS) df. Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO), 14-4

Taylor Tops World and Olympic Champion Yazdani, Makes Saturday's Semifinals

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Perfect Russia Puts Five Wrestlers in Finals at U23 Euros