Gold Medal Match: 125kg - Abolfazl Mohammad Mohammad Nezhad, IRI vs Aleksandre Abramishvili, GEO

Georgia has a long history of quality heavyweights, but Iran current senior level heavy, Amir Zare, is one of the pound-for-pound best wrestlers in the world right now, which bodes well for Nezhad. 

1st period: Nezhad uses an underhook to drop Abramishvili to the mat and cover for two early in the bout. More underhooks from the Iranian results in a step out for a 3-0 lead. Nezhad beats a whizzer with a windmill and collects two more points. Iran then grabs a single leg and puts Georgia's leg on his shoulder before driving Abramishvili out of bounds. Abramishvili counters with a foot sweep followed by a double leg but its stalemated. Snap down to a pancake to a spin around and Nezhad has Abramishvili on his back. Close to a pin but time is running out in the period. No fall but illegal hands to the face while in danger is a two point penalty so that's a 10-0 tech for Nezhad. Iran has another gold. Incredible day for the Iranians as they collect two golds and three bronze in five weights. 

Five more golds are still up for grabs. We'll find out who wins them tomorrow. See you then!

Bronze Medal Match: 125kg - Coby Lazo Merrill, USA vs Milan Gellen, HUN

Our last bronze medal matches of the day, and it features an American! The Iowa State freshman has a winnable match for a medal. Coby takes the mat in his signature headgear. MiGellen will try to circumnavigate his globe-like body. Thunderous snap down go behind and Merrill leads 2-0. Coby's meat hooks lock up a lace and he spins Gellen around twice for a 6-0 leads. Gellen is yellen about his knees but he shakes it off and plods back ot the center. Add a pushout and Merrill leads 7-0. Merrill is controlling Gellen and he'll get another step out to run his lead up to 8. Gellen can't stop Merrill's bulldozing and two more step outs make it a quick 10-0 tech-fall. Team USA earns a medal of every color on the penultimate night of wrestling at the U23 World Championships! 

Bronze Medal Match: 125kg - Andrei Bestaev, RUS vs Khetag Karsanov, AZE

Can't say i'm too familiar with either heavyweight here but I'm leaning Russia just based on the strength of their federation. 125kg can be weird, though. Khetag "Johnny" Karsonov gets put on the clock first. He'll concede the first point to Andrei BestBuyev.That's the only point of the first period. In the second, Bestaev gets put on the clock, and as time is running out on the passivity time, Karsanov drives Bestaev out of bounds for a takedown. And Bestaev is slow to get up. His right knee appears to be the problem.The Russian is able to get to his feet but his treating that leg very gingerly. Karasnov drives Bestaev out of bounds easily twice in a row and I don't think this match can continue. With 90 seconds left, Bestaev limps back to the center. Another step out, now a caution and one, and it's 8-1. They have to call the match. And mercifully they do. Karsanov gets a bronze and Azerbaijan earns consecutive bronze medals. 

Gold Medal Match: 92kg - Arslan Bagaev, RUS vs Abolfazl Yaser Rahmani Firouzjaei, IRI

Bagaev and Rahmani are two of the most credentialed wrestlers at this tournament. This is a marquee matchup between traditional powers Russia and Iran. 

1st period: It's a tactical first half of the first period. Rahmani's forehead starts bleeding after 90 seconds so once that's fixed we'll get back to action. Which takes less than a minute and we're wrestling again. Someone will need to go on the passivity clock soon. And it's Bagaev. Rahmani picks up a point, and that's how the tightly wrestled period ends. 

2nd period: The accolades may have suggested a marquee matchup but the action has been anything but scintillating so far. Rahmani needs more blood time 47 seconds into the second period. He receives a head wrap and action resumes. Bagaev throwing heavy hands and Rahmani gets his turn on the 30 second activity clock. 1-1 now with Bagaev leading by criteria. Rahmani picking up the pace. One of Iran's shots gets stuffed by Bagaev and it chews up valuable time before getting stalemated. Now Bagaev gets dinged again with passivity with just over a minute to go. Rahmani shoots and Bagaev tries to call time out. Not sure what he was thinking but he'll get punished with a takedown. Bagaev gives up the passivity point, then a step out and Rahmani has broken the match wide open. The Iranian leads 5-1. Bagaev manages a step out point with 18 seconds remaining but that's all he'll get. A massive blunder late in the second period by Bagaev gave Rahmani the opening to claim gold. Iran has their first freestyle champ of the tourney. 

Bronze Medal Match: 92kg - Anar Jafarli, AZE vs Gabriele Niccolini, ITA

Seth Shumate was cruising to victory over Niccolini in the quarterfinals before the American had to unfortunately injury defaulted out of the match. Niccolini lost his next bout 10-0 to Russia to fall into the bronze medal bout. Jafari will is favored but it's not necessarily a gimme for the Azeri.

Not much happening in the first period and Niccolini goes on the clock. First point goes to Jafarli. Tha'ts how the period ends. Jafarli adds a step out early in the second to make it 2-0. Niccolini dives in on a shot and Jafarli makes him pay with a counter to make it 4-0. Another shot by Italy and another counter for Jafarli and it's 6-0 with less than a minute to go. Down block go behind to run it to 8-0, then a gut wrench and Jafarli wins bronze with a 10-0 clean sheet. Azerbaijan gets their first men's freestyle medal. 

Bronze Medal Match: 92kg - Sandro Kurashvili, GEO vs Fatih Altunbas, TUR

Both these wrestlers gave the Iranian finalist tough bouts, so this looks like a toss up to me. 

Kurashvilli hits a beautiful arm throw for four and then pushes Altunbas out of bounds to take a 5 point lead, so this toss up quickly changed to Georgia being heavily favored to win. On the ensuing sequence, we get a wild scramble, Georgia gets an exposure and then another push out and it's 8-0. it's The Turk will challenge and win and the exposure is wiped off to bring it back down to 6-0. Short time in the first and Altunbas fires of a double that catches Kurashvili off balance for a takedown. A quick turn and it's 6-4 just before time expires in the period. 

Maybe this was a toss up? Second period underway. One minute goes by with no scores and Kurashvili needs blood time. Back to action. High crotch from Altunbus and he's threatening but Kurashvili grabs a leg and he salvages a stalemate. One minute remaining. Altunbas going kitchen sink in a furious final 30 seconds but Kurashvili's defense holds up. It's bronze for Georgia, the first for the country in men's freestyle at this tourney. 

Gold Medal Match: 86kg - Ahmet Yagan, TUR vs Arsen Balaian, RUS

Russia has one of their best prospects at this weight, while Turkey was more of a surprise to make the finals. Can Yagan manage an upset over Balaian? We shall see. 

1st period: Balaian has the upper hand early on as the two competitors battle for position. Yagan goes on the clock. Balaian perhaps too aggressive, and he steps out of bounds after driving Yagan to the edge. The olé from Yagan wipes the activity clock off the board and adds a point for the early lead. Balaian continues to take ground but can't manage a score so it'll be 1-0 Yagan at the break.Whoops, scratch all that, it was Balaian who got the step out point and so Yagan did not wipe the passivity clock and it's 2-0 Balaian at the break. Sorry for the confusion, these things happen, I'm afraid. 

2nd period: More of the same in the second period. Balaian moves Yagan all over the mat. Balaian's hand fighting doesn't look like anything special but it's completely shutting down everything Yagan tries to do. And because of this, the referee correctly hits Yagan again with passivity, and he goes back on the clock. Make it 3-0 as Balaain maintains his advantage in the neutral hand fight. Yagan throwing everything he can at Balaian, eventually forcing Balaian to head cartwheel out of danger, but now it looks like Yagan has emptied the tank. Balaian will secure the shut out, 3-0, and earn gold for Russia. 

Bronze Medal Match: 86kg - Reza Aliakbar Afshar, IRI vs Eugeniu Mihalcean, MDA

Iran probably favored yet again but Mihalcean is another one of those tough Moldovans I referenced earlier. He also beat Aeoden Sinclair earlier in the tournament. Afshar gets the first quality attack. Mihalcean does a good job to not give up the takedown but is run out of bounds to make it 1-0 Iran. A passivity point makes it 2-0 for Iran and that's the score at the break. Mihaelcean keeps looking for an opening but Afshar's defense and reattacks are too precise and a takedown on the edge gives Iran a 4-0 leads. Now Mihalcean needs his knee locked at. Nothing a little cold spray can't fix and we're back to action. One minute to go. Downblock go-behind for Afshar and the Iranian is in control of the bout, leading 6-0 in shorttime. Iran will pick up their third freestyle bronze after a dominant win. 

Bronze Medal Match: 86kg - Sabuhi Amiraslanov, AZE vs Batbilguun Naadambat, MGL

Azerbaijan is the more experienced and favored wrestler but Mongolia has a habit of spoiling many a nation's days with gritty upsets. Naadambat gets the first point on passivity. And that's the only scoring of the first period. Naadambat is winning the battle for real estate and he bulldozes Amiraslanov out of bounds to take a 2-0 lead in the second. The Azeri is put on the passivity clock and he's staring down a soon to be 3-0 hole. And that's where he finds himself with just 60 seconds left in the match. Naadambat is stonewalling Amiraslanov but some blood on the Mongolian's face forces a stoppage. Back to action, high crotch by Amiraslanov and he's in deep, but crafty defense saves Naadambat. The Mongolian's defense continues to frustrate Amiraslanov. And Mongolia will win their first men's freestyle medal after an absolute master class in defense from Naadambat. 

Gold Medal Match: 74kg - Magomed Baitukaev, RUS vs Jayden James, USA

Team USA get their second crack at a yellow medal, as Penn State freshman Jayden James has one of Russia most highly touted prospects, Baitukaev, in the finals. 

1st period: Very much a feeling-out first half of the first period. Both wrestlers probing for potential weakness but not committing to much. Baitukaev goes on the clock. He'll concede a point, then locks up a tight two-on-one, aka a Russian tie. Baitukaev works James' shoulder until he's down on the mat and scrambling. James scoops a leg with one of his own and their stalemated. Back in neutral, James times a perfect high-crotch and finishes cleanly for a text-book takedown and a 3-0 lead. That's how the period ends. 

2nd period: Baitukaev right back to the russian tie. They're down in short offense, Baitukaev with one of James' arms clamped tightly above the elbow, but they wrestle back to neutral. Back to the russian tie, and this time James can't scramble out of danger once they go to the mat. Baitukaev covers for two and it's a 3-2 bout. James shoots with a about 100 seconds left on the clock but Baitukaev defends. Another shot from James and a scramble that goes to the boundary, and Baitukaev muscles up a step out point to take the lead via criteria 3-3. Another scramble eats up some clock and we get a restart with 31 seconds remaining. James hitting attacks, they're scrambling. James tries to swing a leg over and jump behind Baitukaev but the Russian was ready for him and counters for a two-point score to ice it. James falls just short of Gold and will settle for silver, the same placement he earned at the U20 World Championships earlier this summer. 

Bronze Medal Match: 74kg - Toki Ogawa, JPN vs Raul Caso, ITA

Japan will be favored here, but Italy is slowly but surely building up their men's freestyle program and could make this competitive. Not a lot going on in the first period. Caso gets put on the activity clock and gives up the first point. Ogawa warned, though and he'll likely go on the clock in the second if the period ends 1-0. But it was end that way, as Ogawa nabs a single leg and drives Caso out of bounds for another point. We go to the second, Japan leading 2-0. Ogawa scored the only offensive point so far but still gets hit with another passivity. With 20 seconds left on the activity clock, Ogawa grabs on to another single leg and it's 3-0 after the push out. Caso taking real estatte from Ogawa but is still just reaching in without threatening much. But there's a level change and Caso is on a single leg. Whizzer defense from Ogawa keeps Caso from scoring and Ogawa runs down the clock. It's a 3-0 win and Japan earns their first men's freestyle medal in Vegas. 

Bronze Medal Match: 74kg - Ion Marcu, MDA vs Ali Manouchehr Karampour, IRI

Iran the favorite here, but Moldova has been running out some impressive wrestlers, especially considering how small a population they're working with. Karampour gets on the board first with a blast double feet-to-back 4 pointer. Another shot and another score for Iran. Marcu tries to counter in par terre but just wrestles to neutral, which is worth zero points in freestyle. Fierce handfighting from Marcu in the second but Karampour powers through his defenses for another takedown. Big gut wrench and that'll do it. Iran wins bronze with a 10-0 tech. 

Gold Medal Match: 61kg - Benjamin Adam Davino, USA vs Iukhan Dokturbek Uulu, KGZ

America's first crack and U23 men's freestyle gold take the mat. Davino placed second at NCAAs in March as a freshman for Ohio State at 133 in a loaded bracket that included Jax Forrest, Aaron Seidel and 2026 senior world teamer, Marcus Blaze. Dokturbek (Doctor Beck?) Uulu will be a tough test for the Buckeye phenom. 

1st period: Davino gets on the board first, connecting with a low shot that he works for a step out point. Action slows down after that and Dokturbek his warned for passivity half way through the period. Davino searching for an opening, Dokturbek not giving him much to work with. The period ends 1-0 in Davino's favor after a very tactical three minutes. 

2nd period: Dokturbek picks up the pace, looks for a slide by but Davino circles before Dokturbek can control his back. 45 seconds into the period, Dokturbek gets dinged again for passivity and he'll go on the clock. Davino will get a point if Dokturbek can't score in the next 30 seconds. And that's what happens, it's 2-0 Davino with 90 seconds left. Davino is deceptively quick and can hit deadly fireman carries in scrambles, which Dokturbek appears to be wary of. Duck under from Doctorbek but Davino defends. Though now Davino goes on the passivity clock with a little over 50 seconds to go. Davino gives up the passivity clock but Dokturbek can't get to a tie up he likes so it's 2-1 with 20 seconds to go. Inside trip from Dokturbek stalls out, Davino picks up a leg and Dokturbek goes to his back. It's two for Davino and you can put it in the books! Ben Davino is a U23 World Gold Medalist! 

Not as dominant as his earlier matches but Davino was never seriously threatened by Dokturbek and wins 4-1. Incredible performance by the young Buckeye. America has some crazy depth at 61kg right now. 

Bronze Medal Match: 61kg - Ebrahim Mahdi Khari, IRI vs Gabriel Wyatt Whisenhunt, ROU

Oregon State's Gabe Whisenhunt, wrestling for Romania by way of Corvallis, has a very tough Iranian for bronze. And the task just got tougher as Mahdi takes Whisenhunt down early and laces him thrice for an early 8-0 lead in the first. WHisenhunt does get to the second period. Iran closes the door early in the second though, with a takedown on the edge for the 10-0 tech. Iran having quite a solid tournament as they earn their first freestyle medal.

Bronze Medal Match: 61kg - Behruzbey Turanmuratov, UZB vs Sargis Begoyan, ARM

Both wrestlers showing early crafiness as a couple of flurries but only one poitn is scored as Turanmuratov dgets a step out. Begoyan answers with a takedown and two one pointers to take a 4-1 lead. Begoyan then back arches for a big throw but Turanmuratov defends and reattacks for two more and the lead. In the second period they trade takedowns and Begoyan regains the lead by a point. Action slows down in the second but Begoyan gets another TD to extend his lead to 8-5. Two turns later and it's 12-5 and Armenia is in the driver's seat. Uzbekistan doesn't go down quietly, though, as a few more wild exchanges result in a 14-9 victory for Armenia. 

Semifinal Bouts Are Wrapping Up

It was a rough day for Team USA as the final five Americans started their U23 World Championships. 

Luke Lilledahl lost his first 57kg bout, but did get pulled into the repechage. Bo Bassett was eliminated from medal contention at 65kg after losing a heartbreaker to India in the quarterfinals. The same can be said for Jordan Williams at 70kg, except he was beaten by a Moldovan. Joe Sealey went one and done at 79kg. Justin Rademacher carried the day, however, winning three bouts and making the gold medal match, which will be the last match of the tournament tomorrow night. 

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