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  • Photo: Tony Rotundo

    Seth Petarra •

    Photo: Tony Rotundo

    2021 World Championship Preview: 86 kg Men's Freestyle

    2020 Olympic Gold Medalist David Taylor (Photo/Tony Rotundo; WrestlersAreWarriors.com)

    Fresh off winning his second World/Olympic title over three time World/Olympic champion Hassan Yazdani Charati of Iran, #1 David Taylor of the U.S. is on a career hot streak and is looking to cap off 2021 with his second world title. An upset minded #2 Hassan Yazdani Charati (IRI) looks to reclaim his 86 KG crown from the American standout and looks to have the tools to do so, but will he have made the adjustments in time to takeout Taylor only two months after Tokyo. #3 Artur Naifonov (RWF) has dominated the European scene since 2018 and the two time World/Olympic medalist is right there to unseat Taylor and Yazdani and bring 86 KG gold back to Russia. A dangerous mix of young prospects and veteran talent also highlight the field and should push the trio of Taylor, Yazdani and Naifonov.

    Title Contenders

  • David Taylor(USA)- 2018 world champion, 2021 Olympic champion, 2018 Yarygin champion, 2018 Yasar Dogu champion Key Wins: #2 Hassan Yazdani Charati (2017 world cup finals, 2018 world championships qualification round, 2021 Olympic finals), #1 (79) Jordan Burroughs (2021 Flo Pro League), #3 Artur Naifonov (2018 Yarygin), #4 Dauren Kurugliev (2018 world semis), Selim Yasar (2018 Yarygin), #5 (97) Sharif Sharifov(2017 world cup), #9 Vladislav Valiev(2017 world cup), Dato Marsagishvili(2017 world cup), Key Losses: #3 (74) Kyle Dake(2016 Olympic trials, 2012 Olympic trials, 2015 U.S. Open), #1 (79) Jordan Burroughs(2014 world team trials finals, 2014 U.S. Open finals, 2013 U.S. Open Finals), Ehsan Lashgari(2015 Baku GGP), Nurmagomed Ghadzhiev(2015 Baku GGP), Denis Tsargush(2013 World University Games, 2015 Yasar Dogu), #16 (74) Khetag Tsabolov(2015 Yasar Dogu), Dmytro Rochniak(2016 world club cup), #13 (92) J'den Cox (2017 World team Trials)

  • #2 Hassan Yazdani Charati (IRI)- 2015 70 KG world runner-up, 2018 Asian games champ, 2019 Dan Kolov champ, 2x world champ (‘17 & ‘19), 2018 world bronze medalist, 2021 Olympic runner-up, 2016 74 KG Olympic champion Key Wins: #2 (92) Kamran Ghasempour (2018 Iranian world team trials, 2019 Iranian World Team Trials 2021 Iranian Olympic Trials), #3 Artur Naifonov (2019 world championships, 2021 Olympics), #7 Javrail Shapiev (2021 Olympics), #4 Dauren Kurugliev (2018 world bronze medal match), #9 Vladislav Valiev (2017 world semis),#12 Myles Amine (2019 world championships semifinals), #13 Alireza Karimimachiani (2017 Iranian world team trials), #16 (74) Khetag Tsabolov (2016 world cup), Ali Shabanov (2019 Dan Kolov finals), Soner Demirtas (2016 Medved), #14 Boris Makoev (2017 world finals, 2019 Dan Kolov semis) Key Losses: #1 David Taylor (2017 world cup, 2018 world's, 2021 Olympic finals), Ali Shabanov (2016 Grand Prix of Paris), #16 (74) Khetag Tsabolov (2016 Medved finals), #7 (74) Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (2015 70 KG world finals), #2 (65) Gadzhimurad Rashidov (2011 55 KG Cadet world finals).

  • #3 Artur Naifonov (RUS)- 2019 Russian national champ, 2019 Ziolkowski champ, 2018 European Champ, 2018 Yarygin bronze 2018 European champ, 2019 Ali Aliev champ, 2018 U-23 world runner-up, 2017 Alans champ, 2019 world bronze medalist, 2020 European champion 2020 Russian Nationals runner-up, 2021 European champion, 2021 Russian Nationals champion 2021 Olympic bronze medalist, 2021 Russian world team wrestle-offs champion. Key Wins: #4 Dauren Kurugliev (2018 Yarygin, 2019 Ali Aliev finals, 2020 Yarygin finals, 2021 Russian Nationals finals, 2021 Russian world team wrestle-offs), #5 Magomed Ramazanov (2019 Russian Nationals, 2021 Russian Nationals semifinals), #7 Javrail Shapiev (2019 world championships, 2021 Olympic bronze medal match), #12 Myles Amine (2019 world bronze medal match, 2020 European championships finals), #9 (97) Alikhan Zhabrailov (2018 Yarygin), #9 Vladislav Valiev (2017 Alans finals, 2018 Dan Kolov, 2019 Russian national finals),Key Losses: #1 David Taylor (2018 Yarygin), #2 Hassan Yazdani Charati (2019 world championships quarterfinals, 2021 Olympic semifinals), #4 Dauren Kurugliev (2018 Russian nationals finals, 2020 Russian Nationals finals), Kamran Ghasempour (2018 U-23 world finals), Shamil Kudiyamagomedov (2017 Russian nationals), Soslan Ktsoev (2017 Russian Nationals repechage).

    David Taylor (USA) capped off a spectacular quad that saw him finally break away from #1 (79) Jordan Burroughs (USA), #3 (74) Kyle Dake (USA) and #13 (92) J'Den Cox (USA) and assert himself as a P4P fixture. Taylor's rapid ascension to the top of the 86 KG weight class in 2018 saw the Magic Man put himself as the premier frontrunner for gold in Tokyo, but a traumatic knee injury in 2019 looked to put the reigning world champion out of commission for Tokyo. Having come back in 2020, Taylor tore through the domestic scene in the U.S., starting the year off avenging his past losses to #1 (79) Jordan Burroughs (USA) at the FloPro event and locking up his spot in Tokyo by beating 3x NCAA champion Bo Nickal in the U.S. Olympic Trials finals. Not skipping a beat, Taylor amped up his dominance come time for Tokyo, outscoring past World/Olympic medalists #12 Myles Amine (SMR), #19 Ali Shabanov (BLR) and #20 Deepak Punia (IND) 33-2 on his way to the finals. Capping off his golden run, Taylor used a late go behind takedown to win his rubber match against the reigning three-time World/Olympic champion #2 Hassan Yazdani Charati (IRI). Taylor looks to be a man on a mission, but Yazdani and Naifonov are right there with him, so the American standout will have to be his best in Oslo if he wants to take home World/Olympic title number three.

    The improvements that #2 Hassan Yazdani Charati (IRI) has made since his last match against #1 David Taylor (USA) was evident throughout their match, as the Iranian stymied the American's prestigious scrambling and leg attacks and looked well on his way to World/Olympic title number four. A late go behind from the American would curb Yazdani's chances at his fourth World/Olympic title, but the dominant Iranian looks better than ever and his chances of beating Taylor are great in Oslo.

    #3 Artur Naifonov (RWF) has been the breakthrough for Russia this quad at 86 KG beating out world medalists #4 Dauren Kurugliev (RWF), #6 Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov (RWF) and #9 Vladislav Valiev (RWF) to take the crown of Russia's best. Absolutely dominant on the European scene, Naifonov has jumped levels since his dominating loss to #2 Hassan Yazdani Charati (IRI) in the 2019 world quarterfinals, being right there with the three time World/Olympic champion to the end in their Olympic semifinal match. Naifonov looks better than ever and an upset against either Yazdani or Taylor would not surprise me in the slightest.


    Medal Contenders

  • #12 Osman Gocen (TUR)- 2020 Individual World cup bronze medalist, 2021 European OG Qualifier champion, 2019 U-23 world bronze medalist. Key Wins: #13 Sosuke Takatani (2021 Olympics), #14 Boris Makoev (2021 European OG Qualifier), #15 Abubakar Abakarov (2021 European OG Qualifier), Taimuraz Friev ( 2020 Individual World Cup bronze medal match). Key Losses: #3 Artur Naifonov (2021 Olympics quarterfinals), #9 (92) Zbigniew Baranowski (2020 Individual World Cup), #19 Ali Shabanov (2021 European OG Qualifier finals).

  • #14 Boris Makoev (SVK)- 2017 world runner-up, 2018 Yasar Dogu bronze medalist, 2018 medved bronze, 2020 European championships bronze. Key Wins: #13 (92) J'den Cox (USA; 2017 world championships), #15 Abubakar Abakarov (2021 European OG Qualifier), Dato Marsagishvili (GEO; 2020 European championships), Ahmed Magamaev ( 2020 European Championships), Akhmed Dudarov ( 2018 world's) Key Losses: #2 Hassan Yazdani Charati ( 2017 world finals), #3 Artur Naifonov ( 2020 European championships, 2021 Olympics), Fatih Erdin ( 2018 world's), Gwan Uk Kim (2018 world's), Akhmed Dudarov ( 2019 world's round of 32), #7 Javrail Shapiev (2021 International Ukrainian Tournament), #12 Osman Gocen (2021 European OG Qualifier), #13 Sosuke Takatani (2021 World OG Qualifier)

  • #15 Abubakar Abakarov (AZE)- 2021 World OG Qualifier bronze medalist, 2021 European OG Qualifier 5th place finisher, 2021 Henri Deglane Grand Prix bronze medalist, 2019 79 KG U-23 world runner-up, 2018 74 KG Junior world runner-up, 2019 79 KG Korkin runner-up, 2020 79 KG Yasar Dogu champion, 2019 79 KG Junior World bronze medalist, 2019 74 KG Junior European Champion, 2016 69 KG Cadet world champion, 2016 69 KG Cadet European Champion. Key Wins: #3 (79) Radik Valiev (2019 U-23 world championships), Aaron Brooks (2019 79 KG Junior World championships), Amkhad Tashukhadzhiev (2019 79 KG Korkin, 2019 79 Junior European finals), Mandakhnaran Ganzorig (2018 74 KG Senior world championships), Azamat Dauletbekov (2021 World OG Qualifier quarterfinals), Sandro Aminashvili (2021 World OG Qualifier round of 16), Stefan Reichmuth (2021 Henri Deglane Grand Prix bronze medal match), Istvan Vereb (2021 European OG Qualifier), Sajjad Gholami (2016 69 KG Cadet world finals), Akhmed Magamaev (2020 Individual World Cup). Key Losses: #2 (79) Alex Dieringer (2019 79 KG Yasar Dogu), Bahman Teymouri (2019 79 KG Yasar Dogu bronze medal match), #3 Artur Naifonov (2020 European Championships), Akhmed Magamaev (2020 European championships repechage round 1), #12 Osman Gocen (2021 European OG qualifier), #14 Boris Makoev (2021 European OG Qualifier bronze medal match, 2021 World OG Qualifier), Amkhad Tashukhadzhiev (2019 79 KG Junior World championships), #5 Magomed Ramazanov (2021 Henri Deglane Grand Prix), Mekhi Lewis (2018 74 KG Junior world finals), Taimuraz Friev (2020 Individual World Cup quarterfinals), Tazhidin Akaev (2019 79 KG Korkin finals), #8 (74) Avtandil Kentchadze (2018 74 KG Senior world championships).

    Piotr Ianulov (MDA)- 2020 Ziolkowski champion, 2010 World 5th, 2019 Korkin champion, 2019 European championships runner-up, 2020 Individual World Cup bronze medalist. Key Wins: Fatih Erdin ( 2019 European Championships, 2020 Ziolkowski), Deepak Punia (2020 Individual World Cup bronze medal match) #9 (92) Zbigniew Baranowski (2020 Ziolkowski), Alexander Gostiev (AZE; 2019 Korkin finals). Key Losses: #6 Vladislav Valiev (RUS; 2019 European Championships finals), #3 Artur Naifonov ( 2019 World championships), Radoslaw Marcinkiewicz (2020 European wrestling championships), #7 Javrail Shapiev (2021 International Ukrainian Tournament)

    #12 Osman Gocen (TUR) and #15 Abubakar Abakarov (AZE) are the standouts of this group and while I don't see them really contender with the likes of Taylor, Yazdani or Naifonov at this point in their careers, I do think they have a significant edge against the rest of the field. #14 Boris Makoev (SVK) is a dangerous veteran who can never be counted out of a match. Piotr Ianulov (MDA) had a career best year in 2020, taking bronze at the Individual World cup and beating #9 (92) Zbigniew Baranowski (POL), Fatih Erdin (TUR), and #20 Deepak Punia (IND) in what was a late career revival for the Moldovan vet.
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