Iran wrestling news

[Window12]

On 5/27/2025 at 8:49 PM, Truzzcat said:

he beat an 18-year-old by a greater margin than the guy who will be Iran's rep this year? That is what I am getting at. Also, odds are he actually beat a 22-year-old given Iran's reputation. 

Oops- Aaron Brooks… oh dear oh dear. God given undertook… lol

 

[nhs67]

4 hours ago, Lucho said:

Does anyone know what's going to happen with the international competitions? Is Iran still sending teams to U17 worlds, U20 Asians and the Hungary ranking series? I imagine we would be sending guys to Zagreb for worlds but I only know that Iran's greco team isn't going to the Hungary ranking series apparently. 

I can't imagine the tension in the air over there right now.

I hope we can all see who each federation determines as their best wrestler, per age group, at each worlds event.

Unfortunately, for us, Earth politics effect everything and any/all wrestling that we get is a luxury for us fans.

[Truzzcat]

21 minutes ago, nhs67 said:

I can't imagine the tension in the air over there right now.

I hope we can all see who each federation determines as their best wrestler, per age group, at each worlds event.

Unfortunately, for us, Earth politics effect everything and any/all wrestling that we get is a luxury for us fans.

I believe @shiraz321 said they are now intending on competing at worlds. The Iranian guys I follow on twitter have not indicated otherwise.

[Truzzcat]

4 hours ago, Window12 said:

Oops- Aaron Brooks… oh dear oh dear. God given undertook… lol

 

Beyond him being a team USA guy not a huge fan so by all mean dunk on him. He is either a cheater or a moron or both. We are relegated to bronze at best if somehow Azarpira,Sadulaev,Taz are all on the same side now which is unfortunate but hopefully someone young emerges.

[Window12]

1 hour ago, Truzzcat said:

Beyond him being a team USA guy not a huge fan so by all mean dunk on him. He is either a cheater or a moron or both. We are relegated to bronze at best if somehow Azarpira,Sadulaev,Taz are all on the same side now which is unfortunate but hopefully someone young emerges.

Not dunking on him at all. I was dunking on your self righteous remark stereotyping Iranians as cheaters. Personally I don’t care one way or another about Aaron Brooks.

[shiraz321]

They will go to worlds for all age groups, unless of course fighting starts back up. They even have a few trials coming up for world team spots. Azarpira vs Bazri for the 97kg spot is this Friday. You could say as far as wrestling goes the country is back to normal. 

 

And the FS team is going go Hungary. 70 and 79 world reps will be determined there, or it will at least be a stage in the selection process. 

Edited June 30 by shiraz321

[Truzzcat]

Adam Arkhiev who lost to Khorramdel last year at u20's had a very good Russian nats. He was beating Abasghadzi in the second. Seemed to get tired because of the physicality but it is a very good gauge about where Khorramdel could be. Abasghadzi lost to ibgragimov but both guys feel like bronze medal threats to me at 65kg.

[shiraz321]

Azarpira beats bazri 3 - 0 in a one match wrestle off to make the world team. 

 

Iran world team so far 

57 - momeni

61- javan

65 - amouzad

70 - to be determined

74 - emami

79 - to be determined

86 - ghasempour

92 - firouzpour

97 - azarpira

125 - zare 

Edited July 4 by shiraz321

[Lucho]

On 7/1/2025 at 3:50 AM, shiraz321 said:

They will go to worlds for all age groups, unless of course fighting starts back up. They even have a few trials coming up for world team spots. Azarpira vs Bazri for the 97kg spot is this Friday. You could say as far as wrestling goes the country is back to normal. 

 

And the FS team is going go Hungary. 70 and 79 world reps will be determined there, or it will at least be a stage in the selection process. 

Thanks for that. Just saw Azarpira beat Bazri to make worlds team, I really have high hopes for Azarpira medalling this year at worlds but it will be tough. I'm just surprised it was such a close match (3-0). Is Bazri really that good or did Azarpira wrestle poorly? Bazri seems to have quite a lot of support within Iranian wrestling circles like Goleij and Babaei but I never considered him to be a contender for a worlds spot. I know he is a junior silver medalist but he is 27 and hasn't really impressed apart from that. It doesn't look good for Azarpira imo especially 2 months out of worlds.

[Husker_Du]

thanks for the update, Lucho

[shiraz321]

30 minutes ago, Lucho said:

Thanks for that. Just saw Azarpira beat Bazri to make worlds team, I really have high hopes for Azarpira medalling this year at worlds but it will be tough. I'm just surprised it was such a close match (3-0). Is Bazri really that good or did Azarpira wrestle poorly? Bazri seems to have quite a lot of support within Iranian wrestling circles like Goleij and Babaei but I never considered him to be a contender for a worlds spot. I know he is a junior silver medalist but he is 27 and hasn't really impressed apart from that. It doesn't look good for Azarpira imo especially 2 months out of worlds.

He's just a Mazandaran guy, they all get support, lol.

 

He got silver in junior worlds 2016 losing to Mark Hall USA at 74kg and was unable to make another team ever, he has been stuck in Iran. He is very tall, must be around 6'3 or so and looked ridiculous at 74kg back in the day. 

 

I don't think he is that good. Azarpira got his takedown and was never in danger of losing. Azarpira has a lot of close scoring matches anyway. I think he should be able to get a bronze or so again. 

[nhs67]

What is the update on Yazdani?

Is him against Azarpira going to be like Dake - Valencia?

[shiraz321]

5 hours ago, nhs67 said:

What is the update on Yazdani?

Is him against Azarpira going to be like Dake - Valencia?

Yaz will come back next year either at 92 or 97. It's very possible it turns out that way. Even  if it is at 92,  Firouzpour is a miserable guy to wrestle against. 

[Undefeated]

I think — though I’m not sure — that Yazdani himself has never said he won’t wrestle at 86kg anymore — that seems to have come from the national team coaches. All he’s said is that, after his surgery, his doctor advised him not to cut weight anymore. I still believe Yazdani plans to stay at 86kg, at least for the upcoming Olympics.
Honestly, my confusion mostly comes from Yazdani’s usual vague way of speaking. He always has this cautious self-censorship — which seems like a contagious condition a lot of people have caught. The only Iranian wrestler I know who actually says things you can make sense of is Amir Mohammad Yazdani. The rest of them just stick to the same old clichés every time they talk.

Edited July 5 by Undefeated

[Window12]

2 hours ago, Undefeated said:

Honestly, my confusion mostly comes from Yazdani’s usual vague way of speaking. He always has this cautious self-censorship — which seems like a contagious condition a lot of people have caught. The only Iranian wrestler I know who actually says things you can make sense of is Amir Mohammad Yazdani. The rest of them just stick to the same old clichés every time they talk.

I suspect it comes from the philosophy that is drilled into them from a young age that it’s best to let your wrestling do the talking on the mat rather than talk a lot off the mat. It probably is ok for wrestling but perhaps less so for mma etc where hyping things up is conducive to the excitement around match and financial benefits. 

[Lucho]

On 7/4/2025 at 9:48 PM, shiraz321 said:

He's just a Mazandaran guy, they all get support, lol.

 

He got silver in junior worlds 2016 losing to Mark Hall USA at 74kg and was unable to make another team ever, he has been stuck in Iran. He is very tall, must be around 6'3 or so and looked ridiculous at 74kg back in the day. 

 

I don't think he is that good. Azarpira got his takedown and was never in danger of losing. Azarpira has a lot of close scoring matches anyway. I think he should be able to get a bronze or so again. 

Fair enough its just that 97kg is going to be stacked with Snyder, Tazhudinov, Yoshida and Sadulaev in the mix. Its very possible 1 or 2 of those guys don't medal depending on how ends up on what side of the bracket. Unless Azarpira has the tournament of his life its quite possible he will face two of Snyder/Sadulaev/Yoshida/Tazhudinov in the quarters/semifinals at least. Can he beat 2 of them back to back is my concern. 

[Lucho]

14 hours ago, Undefeated said:

I think — though I’m not sure — that Yazdani himself has never said he won’t wrestle at 86kg anymore — that seems to have come from the national team coaches. All he’s said is that, after his surgery, his doctor advised him not to cut weight anymore. I still believe Yazdani plans to stay at 86kg, at least for the upcoming Olympics.
Honestly, my confusion mostly comes from Yazdani’s usual vague way of speaking. He always has this cautious self-censorship — which seems like a contagious condition a lot of people have caught. The only Iranian wrestler I know who actually says things you can make sense of is Amir Mohammad Yazdani. The rest of them just stick to the same old clichés every time they talk.

I doubt Yazdani is going to make 86kg again especially if the doctors are telling him not to. Apparently Ramazanov is moving up to 92kg this year so its possible we will see a Yazdani-Ramazanov rematch in the very near future (2026) if the rumours are true. I'm interested to see Firouzpour wrestle him as he has already beaten Naifonov and Kurbanov. Hopefully he can avenge Yazdani's loss to him in the olympics. This also makes 86kg pretty open. Kadimagomedov, Kadiev, Ghasempour and Valencia all competing will be fun to watch. 

[Truzzcat]

I think 92 is a great weight for Yaz. The guys are going to be slower and less technical for the most part and he will be able to weaponize his pace more. 97 however may have a diminishing return where he will be faster and more technical but may not be able to implement his style as effectively.

[Undefeated]

6 hours ago, Truzzcat said:

I think 92 is a great weight for Yaz. The guys are going to be slower and less technical for the most part and he will be able to weaponize his pace more. 97 however may have a diminishing return where he will be faster and more technical but may not be able to implement his style as effectively.

Well, for someone with 10 Olympic and World medals, winning another world title at 92 kg doesn’t really add much to his legacy. He’s clearly aiming to become the first Iranian wrestler to win two Olympic golds.

That said, if the Greco events take place before freestyle at the Olympics, I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the Greco guys—either Saravi or Esmaeili—manages to win a second gold at the next Olympics before Yazdani gets his shot. So even if Yazdani wins, he might not be the first Iranian with two Olympic golds.

Still, I think his best chance is at 86 kg.

[Gantry]

Yaz won his first senior world medal at 70kg, if he can do it at 97kg that would be SIXTY POUNDS heavier.  Pretty incredible

Edited July 7 by Gantry

[Window12]

On 7/7/2025 at 11:35 AM, Gantry said:

Yaz won his first senior world medal at 70kg, if he can do it at 97kg that would be SIXTY POUNDS heavier.  Pretty incredible

I would translate incredible as impossible given the presence of folks like Sadulaev Tazhudinov Azarpira and Snyder together with a highly suspect shoulder-and not to mention Father Time.

[Gantry]

He could get a medal without facing any of them.  Certainly not counting him out, let alone calling it impossible.  

[Window12]

22 minutes ago, Gantry said:

He could get a medal without facing any of them.  Certainly not counting him out, let alone calling it impossible.  

He would have to face at least Azarpira domestically en route to the international arena. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to see him do it as I am a fan but avoiding wishful thinking and being realistic I think the odds are heavily weighted against him.

[Gantry]

That's fair, and I think we are mostly in agreement.  It's using "impossible" that I really only disagree with

[Window12]

2 hours ago, Gantry said:

That's fair, and I think we are mostly in agreement.  It's using "impossible" that I really only disagree with

I think there are 2 definitions of impossible. Mathematical and practical. I agree if we took the mathematical definition ( ie a non zero chance) then I would agree it is not impossible.