Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX) became the first Mexican wrestler to reach the World Championships final.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan (October 31) -- Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX) assured Mexico of its first-ever World Championships medal after reaching the 57kg final in Astana, Kazakhstan on Saturday.
The The 27-year-old defeated returning world champion Chongsong HAN (PRK), 4-1, in the semifinals of the 2026 World Championships to guarantee himself at least a silver medal.
He had fallen short of winning the historic medal at the 2025 World Championships after losing to Han, who was the eventual world champion, in the quarterfinals. He later lost to Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) in the bronze-medal bout.
But Bravo Young flipped the result at the Barys Arena as he tactically countered Han. Down 1-0 at the break after giving up a passivity point, Bravo Young hit a single-leg attack and tried a go-behind before elevating Han's leg and scoring a takedown to lead 2-1.
He repeated a similar sequence and as Han tried to escape, Bravo Young controlled the DPR Korea wrestler, who made a three-point contact to give up two points to extend Bravo Young's lead to 4-1.
"I've known I was that good, it was just a matter of time," Bravo Young said after reaching the historic final. "I worked really hard, I feel good.
The Mexican now has a chance to win his country's first-ever world title in wrestling but faces a familiar foe in Olympic silver medalist Spencer LEE (USA) in the gold-medal match on Sunday.
Lee has defeated Bravo Young twice in international wrestling before -- an 8-3 at the Zagreb Ranking Series in 2025 and a year later at the same tournament when Bravo Young pulled out injured when Lee was leading 4-0.
But Bravo Young is keen on flipping the script this time around when the stake are higher.
"Just let it rip," he said about the final. "I've wrestled him before. I know I can hang with these guys. It doesn't matter about my performance. It was just win and move on. I beat two people that I lost to last year."
Lee acknowledged he has to better than his performance in the semifinals as Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) was rolling towards a technical superiority victory over Lee.
Bazaganov used a tram-arm gut to turn Lee four times to take the lead a 10-3 lead but during the fourth turn, Lee stepped over and blocked the Azerbaijan wrestler before getting the fall.
"I got to be better tomorrow," said Lee, the Paris Olympic silver medalist who also confirmed his first senior World Championships medal in his second appearance.
The United States, on the brink of winning the Freestyle team title, managed two more finalists on Saturday with defending champion at 92kg Trent HIDLAY (USA) and returning silver medalist Levi HAINES (USA) reaching the 79kg gold-medal bout.
Hidlay pulled off a thrilling 11-8 win over Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI), coming back from six points behind. He was down 8-2 when he got a takedown and used a leg lace to turn Firouzpour two times to make it 8-8 with the Iranian leading on criteria. But he pressured Firouzpour to give one more takedown to take a 10-8 lead.
Firouzpour waited for the last second to find a way to score a match-winning takedown but as he tried to jump over Hidlay, the U.S. wrestler blocked him and planted him outside the zone to score one point and make the score 11-8 and enter his second straight World Championships final.
The 92kg final will be a rematch of 2025 World Championships final as Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) posted a close 3-2 win over Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) in the other semifinals. Both scored a takedown each but Gadzhimagomedov had an extra stepout point to help him win.
Haines semifinals at 79kg was even closer as he held on to a 3-3 criteria win over Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) to reach his second straight world final.
The U23 world champion took a 1-0 lead after Olonbayar was put on the activity clock but the Mongolian fired back with a takedown and one point for Haines' passivity. But with 40 seconds left, Haines got a takedown on the edge to lead on criteria that he defended.
The match turned out closer than the 4-1 win Haines posted over Olonbayar in the semifinals of the 2025 World Championships in Zagreb.
He will face four-time world medalist Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) who defeated Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE), 9-5, to enter his third World Championships final.
Nokhodi opened the scoring with a stepout and then dragged Gadzhiev for a takedown and turn to lead 5-0. The explosiveness died down in the second period when Gadzhiev tied a fireman's carry but switched to dragging Nokhodi into a takedown to make it 5-2.
Gadzhiev benefitted from a half-hearted leg attack from Nokhodi and countered with a takedown of his to close the gap to 5-4 with 1:30 left on the clock.
Nokhodi decided to hold his lead and Gadzhiev fell into the trap, hitting an attack from far and the Iranian met him midway and countered with a takedown and turn. With a comfortable lead of 9-5, Nokhodi reached his third World Championships final.
At 74kg, home-favorite Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) entered his second World Championships final after a close 3-1 win over Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) in the semifinals.
Kaipanov, a 70kg world champion in 2024, led 1-1 on criteria with 1:50 left in the match and decided to play out the clock. He did well until the last 10 seconds when Aoyagi managed to lock him and drag towards the zone.
Aoyagi, the 70kg world champion in 2025, was moments away from scoring a match-winning stepout when Kaipanov tossed him and Aoyagi's head hit the mat outside the zone before Kaipanov's.
A point for Kaipanov was confirmed that gave him a 2-1 lead but Japan challenged the decision. On review, it was confirmed that Aoyagi's head went out before Kaipanov and the point was upheld. The lost challenge added one more point to Kaipanov's core.
He will face Inalbek SHERIEV (RUS) for the gold medal after the Russian denied Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), 3-1, in the other semifinal.
RESULTS
57kg
SF 1: Spencer LEE (USA) df. Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE), via fall (5-10)
SF 2: Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX) df. Chongsong HAN (PRK), 4-1
74kg
SF 1: Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) df. Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN), 3-1
SF 2: Inalbek SHERIEV (RUS) df. Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), 3-1
79kg
SF 1: Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) df. Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE), 9-5
SF 2: Levi HAINES (USA) df. Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL), 3-3
92kg
SF 1: Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), 3-2
SF 2: Trent HIDLAY (USA) df. Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI), 11-8
Senior World Championships • Astana, Kazakhstan