#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."

#WrestleBucharest

European Championships FS 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, 97kg semis set

Friday, February 16, 2024 - 08:13 By United World Wrestling Press

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BUCHAREST, Romania (February 16) -- Freestyle will take over the European Championships on day five with 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg and 97kg weight classes. Unfortunately, Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) will not be competing. Still, big matches coming up.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 4 REPORT

Semifinals for the evening session

57kg
Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) vs. Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE)
Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO) vs. Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR)

65kg
Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (AIN) vs. Goderdzi DZEBISASHVILI (GEO)
Islam DUDAEV (ALB) vs. Ali RAHIMZADA (AZE)

70kg
Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL) vs. Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO)
Ismail MUSUKAEV (HUN) vs. Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM)

79kg
Akhmed USMANOV (AIN) vs. Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO)
Magomedkhabib KADIMAGOMEDOV (AIN) vs. Frank CHAMIZO (ITA)

97kg
Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) vs. Vladislav BAITCAEV (HUN)
Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) vs. Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR)

14:10: Top match between Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) and Gazdhimurad RASHIDOV (AIN). Rashidov was called passive which gave Tevanyan the first point but Rashidov hit a arm-trap and rolled to make it 4-1. The second period saw Tevanyan score a takedown and stepout. Rashidov held a 4-4 criteria lead and despite Tevanyan trying hard to score, Rashidov managed to hold on to the win.

13:55: Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) is into the semifinals of 79kg. He beats Orkhan ABBASOV (AZE) 6-5 in the quarterfinals. Once again, it was Chamizo's defense that made the difference. Abbasov scored a takedown and then a stepout. But Chamizo got a takedown and a point for Abbasov's passivity. Abbasov had Chamizo in all sorts of trouble but the Italian's defense saved him from a takedown. Abbasov was cautioned for fleeing when Chamizo scored a stepout. Azerbaijan challenged the fleeing call but lost. Abbasov did score a takedown but failed to change the winner.

13:45: Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) is toying with his opponents. After building a 6-0 lead against Marc DIETSCHE (SUI), he hits a four-point throw to finish the match 10-0. Perhaps the most casual four-pointer you will see

13:40: World champion Akhmed USMANOV (AIN) got the first point for Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) passivity and then hit a big four-pointer to lead 5-0. He added a takedown while Kougioumtsidis could not get a reversal and takedown. Usmanov moves into the semifinal with a 7-4 win.

13:30: Magomedkhabib KADIMAGOMEDOV (AIN) hits a huge throw for 5 and then a turn to beat Ramazan SARI (TUR) 10-0 and move into the 79kg semifinal. He will face the winner of Orkhan ABBASOV (AZE) and Frank CHAMIZO (ITA)

13:10: Batyrbek TCAKULOV (SVK) and Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) move into the 97kg quarterfinals. Tcakulov defeated Robert BARAN (POL) while Matcharashvili dominated Lukas KRASAUSKAS (LTU) 13-2

12:55: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) takes just two minutes to beat Kamil KERYMOV (UKR) 10-0 at 57kg and advance to this evening's semifinal. Harutyunyan is looking for his fourth European title. 

12:40: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) is a different beast in the second period. He trailed Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL) 2-0 but hit a beautiful four-pointer in the second before adding a takedown. He wins 7-2. Next up for Tevanyan is Rashidov 

12:20: Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (AIN), returning to the international scene for the first time since the Tokyo Olympics, begins with a solid 6-0 win over Andre CLARKE (GER). His defense still looks very strong.

12:00: Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) has a little more action in his second match as he beats Erik REINBOK (EST) 6-0 at 79kg. In the same weight category, Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) holds off Oleksii DOMANYTSKYI (UKR) 7-4 to advance to the quarterfinals.

11:50: Israil KASUMOV (AIN) was a late entry to the European Championships but his journey may have finished early. He drops his first match 4-3 to Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) at 70kg

11:45: 65kg world champion Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) is wrestling at 70kg and he takes his good time to win the first match. Up against Egzon XHONI (KOS), Muszukajev wins 11-0.

11:30: Little upset on Mat C as Erik THIELE (GER) beats Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD) 4-3 at 97kg. He hit an arm throw for four points when trailing 3-0. Batyrbek TCAKULOV (SRB) finishes his bout against Benjamin HONIS (ITA) 10-0 in 2 minutes and 45 seconds.

11:15: On Mat B, Iakub SHIKHDZHAMALOV (ROU) and Pouria TAHERKHANI (GER) wrestle it bout and Shikhdzhamalov wins 4-4 after a late takedown. On Mat C, Magomedkhabib KADIMAGOMEDOV (AIN) has an easy 4-0 over Miroslav KIROV (BUL)

11:00: First big clash of the day! Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) and Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) are coming up on Mat A at 79kg. Chamizo is warned multiple times for passivity. He was put on the activity clock as well. Cabolov led 1-0 at the break. Chamizo put on the clock again in the second period but this time he scored a takedown before the clock expired. He was happy to play out the remaining time and win 2-1

10:30: A blockbuster day is on the cards at the European Championships. The 79kg weight class has multiple world and European medalists competing. 65kg will see Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) and Gazdhimurad RASHIDOV (AIN).