The Giant No Longer Looks Untouchable: Tazhudinov's Fourth Defeat Raises Questions Ahead of Astana

From a 34-match winning streak to four defeats in less than a year, the Olympic champion suddenly finds himself in a far more competitive 97 kg landscape.

For two years, Akhmed Tazhudinov looked like wrestling's next unstoppable force.

The Bahrain representative compiled a remarkable 34-match winning streak, captured world and Olympic gold, and defeated nearly every major contender at 97 kg. His victories over Kyle Snyder and Abdulrashid Sadulaev at the 2023 World Championships transformed him from a promising prospect into the division's dominant figure.

Today, however, the conversation surrounding Tazhudinov is very different. His recent loss to Japan's Arash Yoshida at the 2026 Asian Championships marked his fourth defeat in less than a year and reinforced a growing reality: the aura of invincibility that surrounded the Olympic champion is beginning to fade.

The Turning Point

The first crack appeared at the 2025 World Championships in Zagreb. After undergoing shoulder surgery following his Olympic triumph, Tazhudinov skipped the Asian Championships in hopes of arriving at Worlds in peak condition. Yet even before facing Iran's Amirali Azarpira in the semifinals, he appeared vulnerable, expending significant energy in a difficult match against fellow Russian-born wrestler Magomed Kurbanov.

Azarpira took advantage. The Iranian defeated Tazhudinov 5-2, avenging an earlier Olympic loss and ending one of wrestling's most impressive unbeaten streaks. Although Tazhudinov recovered to claim bronze, the tournament raised questions that had rarely been asked before.

One Defeat Became Four

The loss to Azarpira was not an isolated setback. In the months that followed, Tazhudinov was defeated by Kazakhstan's Rizabek Aitmukhan, lost a closely contested match to Kyle Snyder in the RAF professional league, and most recently suffered a lopsided defeat against Japan's Arash Yoshida at the Asian Championships. The list of names is important:

Azarpira.
Aitmukhan.
Snyder.
Yoshida.

Each represents a different style, a different wrestling culture, and a different challenge. More importantly, each is a wrestler who had previously fallen to Tazhudinov during his rise to the top. One by one, the rivals he conquered have begun to return the favor.

The Remaining Question: Sadulaev

Only one major rival remains absent from that list. When Tazhudinov defeated Abdulrashid Sadulaev in Belgrade in 2023, it was viewed as a symbolic changing of the guard. The Russian legend had returned after a lengthy absence and was battling a serious neck injury that later required surgery.

Since then, circumstances have repeatedly prevented a rematch. Sadulaev missed the Paris Olympics due to eligibility restrictions. He later returned to win a world title at 92 kg, proving he remains one of the sport's elite competitors. A potential showdown at the 2025 World Championships never materialized after visa issues prevented him from competing. As a result, one of wrestling's most anticipated rematches remains unresolved.

Why Has Tazhudinov Become Vulnerable?

There is no single answer. The shoulder surgery may still be affecting his performances. The demanding competition schedule required by Bahrain may have limited his recovery time after major events. Or perhaps opponents have simply adjusted.

For two years, Tazhudinov's combination of size, speed, and offensive creativity overwhelmed nearly everyone in the division. Today, wrestlers appear better prepared for those attacks, more willing to engage in extended exchanges, and increasingly confident that he can be beaten. The evidence suggests that the gap between Tazhudinov and the rest of the world has narrowed considerably.

A New Reality at 97 kg

The timing is particularly interesting with the 2026 World Championships now scheduled for Astana after United World Wrestling relocated the event from Bahrain due to regional instability and international travel concerns.

Had Bahrain remained the host, Tazhudinov would have entered a historic home World Championships as the centerpiece of the nation's wrestling ambitions. He may still be that athlete. But unlike a year ago, he no longer arrives as an untouchable giant. The Olympic champion remains one of the favorites to win world gold. The difference is that today, everyone believes he can be beaten.