2025 Freestyle Wrestling World Championships — A Conclusion

The freestyle wrestling world championships came to a thrilling close, delivering everything from emotional comebacks to historic breakthroughs and even heartbreaking injuries. Here’s how the action unfolded across the weight classes.

57 kg — North Korea Returns With a Bang

North Korea’s rare appearance on the global stage turned heads as Chang Sung Han shocked everyone by snatching gold at 57 kg. After trailing Kyrgyzstan’s Bekzat Almaz Uulu, a perfectly timed challenge swung momentum his way. Han seized control and never looked back — a reminder that when North Korea shows up, they’re always dangerous.

Arsen Harutyunyan of Armenia also claimed bronze in dramatic fashion as the clock ran out just in time to save his lead, while Uzbekistan’s Gulamjon Abdullayev earned the other bronze.

61 kg — Uguev’s class; Javan’s brave run

Zaur Uguev once again showed why he’s one of the weight’s all-time greats. After a semifinal win over Jack Forrest (10–3), Uguev controlled the final and beat Ahmad Javan 11–2 to claim gold.

Javan’s path was one of grit: a last-second comeback to beat North Korea’s Kum Hyok Kim in the semis stunned the crowd, but he couldn’t match Uguev in the final and settled for silver. Jack Forrest’s dream night ended in heartbreak — a challenge overturned the earlier celebration and he missed out on a medal in the consolation. Kum Hyok Kim, who had earlier dismantled Georgia’s #2 seed by technical superiority, finished just off the podium.

70 kg — Aoyagi takes gold amid controversy

Yoshinosuke Aoyagi captured the 70 kg world title with a 5–1 victory over Mongolia’s Tolga Tumur Ochir. The match — and the final tournament day in this weight — was clouded by a few contentious mat-chair decisions that swung momentum and sparked debate.

Notable fallout: Iran’s Amirmohammad Yazdani, one of the pre-tournament medal hopes, was eliminated earlier after a tough loss to Kanan Heybatov. Nurkja Kaipanov (KAZ) and Arnaazar Akmataliyev (KGZ) took the two bronze medals.

74 kg — Heartbreak and compassion

The 74 kg final promised fireworks but ended in sorrow: Chermen Valiev — battling for Albania — suffered a serious knee injury in a mid-match exchange with Japan’s Kota Takahashi and could not continue. Takahashi was declared the winner; Valiev left the mat in tears, a painful end to a bout that might otherwise have been one for the ages. Elsewhere, Zaurbek Sidakov pulled off a late medal-winning score to secure bronze, while Slovakia’s Timouraz Salkazanov took the other bronze over Iran’s Younes Emami.

What was set to be a classic final between Japan’s Kota Takahashi and Albanian-Russian Chermen Valiev ended in tears when Valiev suffered a knee injury mid-move and was forced to stop. Takahashi took the crown, while Zaurbek Sidakov (Russia) fought back in the bronze match with a last-second score against David Carr (USA). Slovakia’s Tajmuraz Salkazanov edged Iran’s Younes Emami to take the other bronze.

79 kg — A Greek on the throne; Nokhodi keeps the streak alive

Georgios Kougioumtzidis crowned a brilliant week by taking 79 kg gold after beating Levi Haines in a tight final. Mohammad Nokhodi — who has now stood on the world podium for four consecutive championships — rebounded to win bronze, continuing an impressive streak for the Iranian veteran.

86 kg — Valencia’s rise; Ghasempour to bronze

Zahid Valencia, coached by David Taylor, dominated the 86 kg bracket and collected his first world gold with a commanding 12–0 win over Hayato Ishiguro in the final. Kamran Ghasempour fought his way to bronze after an emotional tournament that featured a late comeback to beat Ibragim Kadiev earlier on. Valencia’s performance underlined how quickly a new champion can emerge when preparation meets opportunity.

92 kg — From 10–5 down to champion

American Trent Hidlay staged the comeback of the tournament, rallying from 10–5 down to defeat Russia’s Emanola Gadji Magmadov 13–10 in a thrilling final. Iran’s Amirhossein Firoozpour captured his first world medal with a dominant technical fall over Kazakhstan’s Kamil Kurguliev, while Azerbaijan’s Osman Nurmagmadov secured the other bronze.

97 kg — Azarpira’s revenge and a high-stakes final ahead

Amirali Azarpira avenged his Olympic loss by beating Akhmed Tazhudinov in the semifinal and booked a date with Kyle Snyder in the final — a high-profile rematch that carried plenty of recent history and drama. (Full final report and analysis of Snyder vs. Azarpira can be added once you want to publish match detail and quotes.)

125 kg — Zare’s third world crown

In the heavyweight class Amirhossein Zare delivered a landmark performance, defeating Georgi Meshvildashvili to become a three-time world champion. Zare’s medal collection — three world golds plus Olympic medals — cements his place among the sport’s modern greats and gave Iran one of its most important results of the tournament.

American Trent Hidlay staged the comeback of the tournament, rallying from 10–5 down to defeat Russia’s Emanola Gadji Magmadov 13–10 in a thrilling final. Iran’s Amirhossein Firoozpour captured his first world medal with a dominant technical fall over Kazakhstan’s Kamil Kurguliev, while Azerbaijan’s Osman Nurmagmadov secured the other bronze.

Iran Ends 12-Year Wait — World Champions Again

Team Iran returned to the top of the wrestling world, clinching their first team title since 2013. Medals poured in across weights — gold from Amirhossein Zare (125 kg), silver from Ahmad Javan (61 kg), bronzes from Kamran Ghasempour (86 kg), Mohammad Nokhodie (79 kg), and Amirhossein Firoozpour (92 kg). With more points expected from Rahman Amouzad (65 kg) and Amirali Azarpira (97 kg), Iran secured enough to seal the championship before the final night even began.