Baitukaev, James Set Up 74kg Final at U23 World Championships

LAS VEGAS, United States (October 16) -- Russia managed three wrestlers in the finals as Freestyle kicked off at the U23 World Championships in Las Vegas on Friday.

Former U20 world silver medalist Magomed BAITUKAEV (RUS) reached the final at 74kg after beating Raul CASO (ITA), 4-0, in a very controlled semifinals. He will now face this year's U20 World Championships silver medalist Jayden JAMES (USA) who pinned Ali KARAMPOUR (IRI) in the other semifinals.

Karampour kept trying to hit exposure using a whizzer but James blocked him and hit his own whizzers. He wrapped Karampour around the chest on the third attempted and planted him on the mat for the fall.

Defending champion at 86kg Arsen BALAIAN (RUS) returned to the final after a 3-0 blanking of Batbilguun NAADAMBAT (MGL) in the semifinals. He scored a takedown using an inside trip and one stepout.

He will face Ahmet YAGAN (TUR) for the gold medal after he defeated returning silver medalist Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA), 3-2, with a late takedown. Mihalcean was leading 2-1 when Yagan brought him down at the edge to take the lead. He then defended a last attack from Mihalcean to win.

2023 U23 world champion Arslan BAGAEV (RUS) will look to win his second U23 world title after he reached the final at 92kg. He defeated Gabriele NICCOLINI (ITA), 10-0, in the semifinals using the lace.

He will face Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI), a two-time U23 world bronze medalist, who will now try to win his first world gold. Rahmani fell 3-0 behind in the semifinals against Fatih ALTUNBAS (TUR) but manage to score the takedowns in the second period to win.

At 125kg, defending champion Abolfazl MOHAMMAD NEZHAD (IRI) sailed into the finals after an easy 5-0 win over Khetag KARSANOV (AZE). He led 3-0 at the break before scoring two steptous to score the two points.

Aleksandre ABRAMISHVILI (GEO) will try to Mohammad Nezhad from repeating after he reached the final against Milan GELLEN (HUN) after an 11-0 victory in the semifinals.

One of the dominant runs to the final was of Benjamin DAVINO (USA) who will wrestle for the 61kg gold medal. He defeated Gabriel WHISENHUNT (ROU), 10-0, in the semifinals. He will now face Iukhan DOKTURBEK UULU (KGZ) who survived 10-8 in a thrilling semifinals against Sargis BEGOYAN (ARM).

RESULTS

61kg
SF 1: Iukhan DOKTURBEK UULU (KGZ) df. Sargis BEGOYAN (ARM), 10-8
SF 2: Benjamin DAVINO (USA) df. Gabriel WHISENHUNT (ROU), 10-0

70kg
SF 1: Jayden JAMES (USA) df. Ali KARAMPOUR (IRI), via fall (10-2)
SF 2: Magomed BAITUKAEV (RUS) df. Raul CASO (ITA), 4-0

86kg
SF 1: Arsen BALAIAN (RUS) vs. Batbilguun NAADAMBAT (MGL), 3-0
SF 2: Ahmet YAGAN (TUR) df. Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA), 3-2

92kg
SF 1: Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) df. Fatih ALTUNBAS (TUR), 6-3
SF 2: Arslan BAGAEV (RUS) df. Gabriele NICCOLINI (ITA), 10-0

125kg
SF 1: Aleksandre ABRAMISHVILI (GEO) df. Milan GELLEN (HUN), 11-0
SF 2: Abolfazl MOHAMMAD NEZHAD (IRI) df. Khetag KARSANOV (AZE), 5-0