Sadulaev Beats Taylor at 2024 World Championships
Abdulrashid Sadulaev and David Taylor did meet at the 2024 World Championships in Tirana, Albania. Sadulaev won their first-round freestyle bout 7–0 at 92kg, then went on to win the weight-class gold medal. Taylor recovered from the loss to earn bronze. The matchup was not a future possibility after all; it became one of the tournament’s headline results.
The matchup took place in the opening round
The bout came at the United World Wrestling Non-Olympic Weight Classes World Championships, held October 28–31, 2024. Both wrestlers had won Olympic gold at different weights, but neither competed at their Olympic weight in Tirana: Sadulaev entered at 92kg after years at 97kg, while Taylor moved up from 86kg. Sadulaev defended Taylor’s attacks and scored takedowns and exposure points for a 7–0 victory. United World Wrestling’s match report gives the score and match details.
Sadulaev went on to win the title
Sadulaev advanced through the 92kg bracket after beating Taylor. He later defeated Miriani Maisuradze of Georgia 6–0 in the final to claim the gold medal. It was another world title for the Russian wrestler, who competed in Tirana as an Individual Neutral Athlete. UWW’s event report records the final and the medal results.
Taylor finished with bronze
The loss did not end Taylor’s tournament. He reached the bronze-medal match and defeated Iran’s Kamran Ghasempour 6–2. Taylor had returned to competition for the Tirana event after losing the U.S. Olympic Trials and moving into a coaching role. UWW reported that he planned to retire after the tournament; the result gave him a medal in his final competition at the event.
Why the bout drew attention
The 2024 meeting was the first time Sadulaev and Taylor had wrestled each other. Their different styles and Olympic records made the draw a major early-round story, but the final score was decisive. Sadulaev controlled the exchanges and did not allow Taylor to convert his attacks into points.
The event in perspective
The event settled that question: they met in the opening round, Sadulaev won 7–0, and both later left with medals—Sadulaev with gold and Taylor with bronze.
Sources and further reporting: United World Wrestling: Sadulaev–Taylor result; United World Wrestling: 92kg gold medal bout and results; UWW: Tirana event details.
Sources
Tags: Wrestling, Olympic Wrestling
