2024 Freestyle Rankings: Sadulaev, Taylor Top Lists
Fall 2024 wrestling rankings were snapshots from different ranking publishers, not one universal official list. In October, international attention centered on the 92kg non-Olympic division, where Abdulrashid Sadulaev and David Taylor were expected to meet at the World Championships in Tirana. They did meet: Sadulaev won 7–0, then claimed the 92kg gold medal.
What the October rankings showed
The Fight-Site’s October 2024 international list placed Sadulaev first at 92kg, with Taylor second and Kamran Ghasempour third. Those rankings reflected recent trials and tournament results; they were an independent editorial ranking, not an official United World Wrestling table. At 74kg, FloWrestling’s post-Olympic list still had Zaurbek Sidakov at No. 1, while Japan’s Razambek Zhamalov had just won Olympic gold at the weight. The two lists used different methods and covered different moments in the season.
Taylor’s ranking needed context
Taylor remained a highly regarded 86kg wrestler in FloWrestling’s rankings, but by fall 2024 he had lost the U.S. Olympic Trials final to Aaron Brooks and announced his retirement before returning to compete at 92kg in Tirana. The number attached to his earlier weight-class ranking did not mean he was still an active 86kg contender. FloWrestling’s 86kg list shows its ranking snapshot; UWW’s report on the 2024 tournament records Taylor’s return.
Sadulaev and Taylor met in Tirana
The non-Olympic weight-class World Championships ran October 28–31, 2024. Their 92kg bout came in the opening round. Sadulaev stopped Taylor’s attacks and scored a 7–0 win. Sadulaev then advanced through the bracket and beat Miriani Maisuradze 6–0 in the final. He competed as an Individual Neutral Athlete and added another world title to his record.
Taylor still won a medal
Taylor’s tournament continued after the opening-round loss. He reached the bronze-medal match and defeated Ghasempour 6–2. The 92kg division therefore ended with Sadulaev taking gold and Taylor earning bronze, despite their one-sided head-to-head result.
How to read this snapshot
Weight-class rankings can lag behind changes in competition plans, especially after Olympic trials, withdrawals and athletes moving between weights. The October 2024 lists are useful as a dated view of how contenders were rated before Tirana; the completed championship results provide the clearer record of what happened on the mat.
Sources and further reporting: The Fight-Site: October 2024 international rankings; FloWrestling: 74kg rankings; FloWrestling: 86kg rankings; United World Wrestling: Sadulaev–Taylor match; United World Wrestling: final and 92kg medals.
