Preview: Clash of Champions at World Championships

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (October 18) -- If there was to be a search for a marquee division at the 2026 World Championships in Astana, it’s hard to look past the 97kg Freestyle category. Four of the biggest names in world wrestling will converge in this weight class at Astana.

Between the four of them, Kyle SNYDER (USA), Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS), Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) and Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) hold five Olympic gold medals and 14 world titles. Over the past 11 years, every world title in this weight class has been won by either Snyder, Sadulaev or Tazhudinov. 

Of these four champions it is probably Yazdani, making his worlds debut at this weight, who will find it hardest. Yazdani won his Olympic title at 74kg in 2016 before winning two three world titles at 86kg and now moving up to 97kg. He secured the place on Iran's team for the World Championships by beating Olympic bronze medallist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) twice in Iran's selection series. While that result shows he will be a threat, Yazdani’s form will be tested in a division that has no shortage of challengers.

None greater than Snyder and Sadulaev. For the better part of the last decade, the 97kg class has been synonymous with the rivalry between the two. The American, who won his third world title in 2022, made a resurgence of sorts by winning the 2025 world gold.

Sadulaev, who won his last world title at 97kg in 2021 before dropping to 92kg for his sixth world gold in 2024, had begun his return to the weight class impressively. He won the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series in February and later the European Championships gold medal. He will arrive in Astana with something to prove against his oldest rival.

Tazhudinov, the 2023 world and 2024 Olympic champion, has had a mixed run. He finished third at the 2025 World Championships and the 2026 Asian Championships. He bounced back to win the Budapest Ranking Series in July.

But why assume that the 97kg division will only be a four-way fight for gold? Over the past few months, Arash YOSHIDA (JPN), has emerged as a genuine dark horse looking to upset the established order. The 22-year-old won the Asian Championships in April, beating Tazhudinov emphatically before defeating Azarpira 4–0 in the final. But Yoshida came out on the wrong end of a 4-3 loss to Azarpira in the semifinals of the Asian Games. He’ll be itching to put that result behind him.

Lee's Opportunity

Unlike the 97kg category, the 57kg division has no single wrestler who can be expected to shut the door on the rest of the field. Defending champion Chong Song HAN (PRK) returns after a breakthrough world title in Zagreb last year, but his form since then has suggested that he is beatable. Han's title run in 2025 was impressive, with victories over several established contenders. This year though, he lost to Musa MEKHTIKHANOV (RUS) at the Ulaanbaatar Open. He was also beaten in the final of the Asian Games by AMAN (IND).

That creates an opening for Spencer LEE (USA), who is looking for his first world title. The 2024 Olympic silver medallist had a disappointing 2025 Worlds, where he lost to Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) and failed to medal. He responded with a strong run of results in 2026, winning gold at the Muhamet Malo and Zagreb Ranking series outscoring his opponents 67-10 while also winning the USA team trials to secure his place on the American team.

Uguev Favourite at 61kg

Zavur UGUEV (RUS) remains one of the most accomplished wrestlers in the 61kg category. The Russian has won four world titles and is the favourite to add another in Astana.

Uguev won the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series in February, reinforcing his status as the man to beat. He has been one of the most consistent wrestlers at this weight for years, and his experience gives him an advantage over a field containing several younger challengers.

Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), a four time world medallist, is among the leading challengers. He was down 4-3 to Uguev at the European championships earlier this year before the Russian pinned him. Returning silver medalist Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) may not find the going easy this year. The weight class gets deeper with the likes of Marucs BLAZE (USA), Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN), Asian champion Kwang Myong KIM (PRK), and Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB).

Competitive 65kg

Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) will be looking to defend his world title but the 65kg class has always been one of the most competitive weight divisions in Freestyle and that’s particularly the case this year. While Amouzad had a fairly comfortable run to the title in Zagreb, he was pushed to the edge by Sujeet KALKAL (IND) against whom he gave five of the six points he conceded over the course of the competition.

Sujeet has only gotten stronger since that defeat, unbeaten since the World Championships -- winning 23 straight matches including 18 this year alone. He won gold at the Muhamet Malo tournament in Tirana, the Zagreb Open, the Asian Championships and beat Olympic Champion Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) en route the Asian Games title earlier this month.

While Sujeet has the ability to beat the best in the world, the challenge for him will be sustaining that intensity through multiple bouts potentially against former world champion Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS) and 2025 Asian champion Kaisei TANABE (JPN).

Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL), who almost beat Amouzad in Ulaanbaatar, will also hold his own place in this weight class along with U20 world champion Bowen BASSETT (USA) who has emerged as a serious threat.

New Faces at 74kg

Since last year’s Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN), the defending world champion, and Chermen VALIEV (ALB), last year's runner-up, are both not entered at this weight, a new face will emerge as the world champion in Astana.

It may well be Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) and Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN), both moving up from 70kg. The two met at the Asian Championships with Aoyagi holding on to a 7-6 win in the quarterfinals.

Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (KAZ), a four-time world medalist, also has the experience to challenge for the title. He has made the final twice but dropped both times. In Astana, it may be the end of his search for the gold medal.

Dake vs New Gen

Kyle DAKE (USA) will be one of the most closely watched wrestlers at 86kg, a category that brings together a veteran who already has four world titles and a generation of wrestlers looking to establish themselves at the top.

Dake beat defending champion Zahid VALENCIA (USA) to earn the right to compete for the United States at the World Championships, something that shows he’s good enough to go all the way himself for what would be his first world title at this weight. But he will also contend with several wrestlers who have already demonstrated that they too can compete at the highest level.

Olympic champion Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) will be chasing his first world title. He missed the European Championships this year but managed to finish with a silver medal at the Ulaanbaatar Open 2026. Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI), a two-time world champion albeit at 92kg, is a major threat. But even while Dake and Ghasempour represent the old order, 22-year-old Ibragim KADIEV(RUS) will be looking to cement his class with a world title to go with the European crown he had won earlier this year.

Along with Kadiev, returning bronze medalist Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) and Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE), the world champion at 79kg, will also be considerable threats.

New Champion at 79kg

Just as in the 74kg category, the 79kg class will also see a new champion after Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE), who defeated Levi HAINES (USA), 3-2, in last year's final, will be at 86kg. 

Haines has been undefeated since that loss and returns with unfinished business. But the American faces a field featuring several wrestlers capable of challenging for the title. Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) is a five-time world medallist at this weight and he’ll be itching to turn one of his three silvers to a gold.

Ismail KHANIEV (RUS), who’s just won U20 gold this year is another serious challenger -- he’s unbeaten across 17 matches and four tournaments and has won all but one of his bouts ending before the full six minutes. Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (BLR), a former Olympic silver medallist, is another potential threat, even if younger challengers may have an advantage in pace.

Rematch at 92kg

Trent HIDLAY (USA) returns as the defending world champion at 92kg after winning a thrilling 13-10 final against Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) in Zagreb last year. The contest was a reminder that the category can produce high-scoring bouts in which the lead changes rapidly and defensive mistakes prove costly. Both finalists return to Astana, setting up the possibility of a rematch which should be the most likely outcome.

Zare The Man to Beat

Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) remains the man to beat at 125kg. The Iranian won the 2025 world title with a 5-0 victory over Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE), demonstrating the defensive control and scoring efficiency that have made him one of the world's leading heavyweights.

Yet, the heavyweight division is rarely as predictable as the rankings suggest. Zare's technical superiority is evident, but opponents have become increasingly capable of making him work for every point. At the Asian Games, he narrowly beat 19-year-old Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ), 3-3, on criteria, a result that would give his opponents at Astana plenty of hope as they look to dethrone him.

Open 70kg field

The 70kg category has an interesting vacancy at the top. Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN), who won the world title last year, has moved to 74kg. That leaves the field open for a new champion.

Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI), an arch-rival of Aoyagi, will be the biggest threat as he tries to get one back on the Japanes who defeated him in the Asian Championships quarterfinals.

Zain RETHERFORD (USA), the 2023 world champion, will be among those looking to take advantage. He has already demonstrated that he can win at this level, though he will need to be at his best against a field with several established international wrestlers.

Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) and Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) are among the leading challengers. Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (RUS) will be another major contender, while Sina KHALILI (IRI) and Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) can also go the distance.