Senior World Championships in Albania Will Start for David Taylor with a Showdown

STILLWATER – The brackets were released for the 2024 Senior World Championships in Tirana, Albania and in the Men’s Freestyle competition set for Wednesday, Oct. 30 in the 92 kg weight class Oklahoma State wrestling head coach and three-time World Champion and 2021 Olympic Gold Medal winner in Tokyo, Japan all at 86 kg will begin his quest for a World title at the heaviest weight he has competed at. His showdown is against one of the most accomplished wrestlers in the World and the dominant champion at 92 kg in Russian Abdulrashid Sadulaev.

In all, Taylor has a senior freestyle record of 158-21, including wins in 76 of his past 79 matches. That stretch includes 34 technical falls, 15 pins and a 57-match winning streak from December 2017 to October 2021. Taylor secured his spot on the 2024 United States World Team with a dominant showing at the Trials in September, where he won all six of his matches and swept 2023 World bronze medalist Zahid Valencia in the best-of-three Championship Series.

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Taylor talks to the media about his World Championship efforts and his wrestling team.

Taylor is on record as saying this tournament will be the end of his active competitive career and he is moving on in the sport as the coach at the winningest collegiate program in the sport’s history. He retires with this hurdle and championship and it will be very hard for one of his wrestlers to ever question his coaching and for any recruit to ever question wanting to wrestle for Taylor.

Sadulaev is as accomplished at his weight and in international competition as retired Oklahoma State coach and Hall of Fame wrestler and coach John Smith. Sadulaev has won five world titles, two Olympic golds, and a world silver medal.

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Abdulrashid Sadulaev of Russia.

Sadulaev has only lost three times in his 10-year international career. Rumored to be nearing the end of his career at the senior level of competition, Sadulaev has changed his approach on the mat from being an explosive scorer to wreslting a stifling defensive style. He still has his quick go behind moves and a strong gut wrench.  Some people believe that Sadulaev is unbeatable. 

The challenge is great, but Taylor knew that going in and it is a matchup now of somewhat opposite style wrestlers. Taylor is still a very offensive and explosive style of wrestler. He has some of the best leg attacks in the world. He has been in the Oklahoma State room competing with a vast array of wrestlers his size and bigger throughout the summer and fall. His conditioning and stamina could be advantageous as well. 

Sr. World Championships - 92 kg - Oct. 30-31 in Tirana, Albania

Wednesday, October 30: Session I – 4:30 a.m. CT - Qualification Rounds

Session II – 10:45 a.m. CT - Semifinals

Thursday, October 31: Session III – 10:00 a.m. CT - Repechage Rounds

Session IV – 12:00 p.m. CT - Medal Matches

Favorite: Abdulrashid Sadulaev, Russia

Medal Favorites: David Taylor, USA and Kamran Ghasempour, Iran

Contenders: Batyrbek Tsakulov, Slovakia and Miriani Maisuradze, Georgia

Filling the Bracket: Illia Archaia, Ukraine, Mattew Finesilver, Israel, Ben Honis, Italy