Four-time world champion Kyle DAKE, having moved to 86kg, reaches his sixth World Championships final in Astana.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan (October 30) -- Kyle DAKE (USA) has won the World Championships gold medal at 74kg and 79kg and the four-time world champion is now a win away from capturing the gold medal at 86kg.
Dake managed to reach his sixth-ever World Championships final on Friday after an incredible performance at 86kg. He defeated European champion Ibragim KADIEV (RUS), 6-3, avenging a previous 11-4 loss from the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series in February.
Kadiev led 2-2 on criteria after both scored takedowns in the first period but Dake used his trademark chestwrap defense to avoid giving up any points. Kadiev shot for one of the worst double-leg attack which Dake countered for a takedown to extend his lead to 4-2 with 1:20 remaining.
The U.S. wrestler decided to defend his lead and trusted his chestwrap again. He once managed to defend and was cautioned for a point at the end. Kadiev, down 4-3 with 10 seconds left, tried his best to score at least two points he needed to win but Dake held his position and scored another takedown to win 6-3.
"I knew that if keep my movement going, I'm very difficult to attack. Sometimes I get caught on flat-foot," Dake said. "I stay composed. I wasn't worried about what else was going on. The re-attacks were good, but they only work when I move my feet, so I have to make sure I move my feet, it's really important."
The tournament began on a tough note for Dake as he scored a late takedown against U23 World Championships bronze medalist Batbilguun NAADAMBAT (MGL) to win 6-5.
"I definitely get stronger as the tournament goes on," he said. "When I saw that I was going to have five matches in one day, I was like, 'Yes!' Because I know the more I wrestle, the better I feel and the better that I compete. I was really happy with how I competed."
The fifth match for Dake will be the final of the World Championships against Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) who defeated Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO), 9-1, in the other semifinal. It will be another rematch for Dake from Tirana as Dzhioev won 4-1 in the bronze medal bout.
Defending champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) reached the final at 125kg after a 10-0 dominance over Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA). He threw Hendrickson for four points before scoring a takedown and two turns to finish.
He will now face 24-year-old Abdulla KURBANOV (RUS) who took out returning silver medalist Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE), 5-0, after scoring two takedown and a point for Azerbaijan wrestler's passivity.
The 61kg final will be a rematch of the 2025 final as defending champion Zavur UGUEV (RUS) and Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) both made it to the gold medal match.
Uguev managed a controlled Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) throughout the semifinal to post a 3-0 win while Javan needed to defend his 2-2 criteria lead against Marcus BLAZE (USA).
Blaze managed to get on the a leg attack but Javan snuck out before arm-locking Blaze and defending till the time expired. The U.S. wrestler challenged the call but lost it and Javan got one more point.
RESULTS
61kg
SF 1: Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) df. Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ), 2-1
SF 2: Zavur UGUEV (RUS) df. Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB), 3-0
70kg
SF 1: Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) df. Zain RETHERFORD (USA), 3-2
SF 2: Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (RUS) df. Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL), 3-2
86kg
SF 1: Kyle DAKE (USA) df. Ibragim KADIEV (RUS), 6-3
SF 2: Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) df. Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO), 9-1
125kg
SF 1: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) df. Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA), 10-0
SF 2: Abdulla KURBANOV (RUS) df. Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE), 5-0
Senior World Championships • Astana, Kazakhstan