Dake makes history at 86kg as Iran strikes double gold in Astana

A fifth title, in a third weight class

Kyle Dake made wrestling history on Saturday at Barys Arena in Astana, Kazakhstan, becoming the first wrestler ever to win five world titles in three different weight classes. The 35-year-old American beat Arsenii Dzhioev of Azerbaijan 3-2 in the men's freestyle 86kg final on the eighth day of the World Wrestling Championships, adding a new chapter to a career already defined by movement, adaptation and longevity.

Dake, who also became the oldest American to win a senior world title, led 1-0 from an activity point in the first period. Early in the second period, he turned a double-leg attempt into a single-leg attack, lifted Dzhioev's leg near the edge and, rather than settling for a stepout, tripped his opponent to the mat for two points. That gave him a 3-0 lead and, ultimately, the only takedown of the final.

Dzhioev refused to fade, scoring a stepout and then receiving an activity point to cut the gap to 3-2 with 35 seconds remaining. When he shot for a takedown in the closing seconds, Dake wrapped his arms around his opponent's chest, held his ground and ran out the clock, completing a reversal of his loss to Dzhioev earlier this year.

"I think this may be my favorite one," Dake said. "There was a lot of adversity that I went through."

The result extended a remarkable record. Dake won world gold at 79kg in 2018 and 2019, then at 74kg in 2021 and 2022, before moving up to 86kg. He has reached six world finals in six appearances, winning five and taking silver in 2023, and is a two-time Olympic bronze medallist at 74kg. At Cornell, he won four NCAA titles in four different weight classes.

Dake joined Kyle Snyder, who won his fifth world title at 97kg the previous day, as the latest American to reach five world golds. Only Jordan Burroughs and Adeline Gray, with six each, sit ahead of them.

Iran's golden double

Iran claimed two of the other three freestyle golds decided on Saturday, with Ahmad Javan and Amir Hossein Zare producing very different but equally emphatic victories.

Javan beat Zavur Uguev of Russia 9-2 in the 61kg final, avenging his defeat by Uguev in last year's world final. The Tokyo Olympic champion had been aiming for a repeat title and a fourth world crown overall, but Javan handled a frantic second period with composure and counter-attacking precision.

Javan took an activity point in the first period, before Uguev moved ahead with an activity point and a stepout from a single-leg attack. The match turned when Uguev attacked again and Javan countered, spun behind for a takedown and added a gut wrench to lead 5-2. The pattern repeated twice more, without the roll, as Uguev shot and Javan got behind, and the Iranian closed out a 9-2 win.

Zare's heavyweight final was shorter and more one-sided. He beat Abdulla Kurbanov of Russia 11-0 by technical superiority, ending the 125kg final 56 seconds into the second period. Kurbanov tried to match Zare's power in the first period but conceded five straight stepouts. When he became more aggressive after the break, Zare put his full weight on him, spun behind, hit a gut wrench to make it 9-0 and then got behind again on another shot to finish the match.

The victory gave Zare a fourth world title and completed a tournament in which he did not concede a single point. After a bye, he beat Jaspooran Singh of India 11-0, Aaron Johnson of Jamaica 10-0 and Wyatt Hendrickson of the United States 10-0, before the 11-0 final. He remains undefeated since losing the Paris Olympic final to Geno Petriashvili of Georgia.

The remaining gold on Saturday went to Ibragim Ibragimov of Russia, who beat Ernazar Akmataliev of Kyrgyzstan 5-2 in the 70kg final, scoring all of his points in the first period.

American bronzes and a final-day lead

The United States also collected three bronze medals on Saturday, strengthening its position at the top of the men's freestyle team standings. Marcus Blaze, Zain Retherford and Wyatt Hendrickson all reached the podium, leaving the United States on 120 team points after the second freestyle group, ahead of Russia on 105 and Iran on 80.

Blaze, 19, won his first senior world medal by beating Assyl Aitakyn of Kazakhstan 4-2 at 61kg, scoring an ankle-pick takedown and a gut wrench to lead 4-1 in the first period. Retherford beat Lachlan McNeil of Canada 4-0 for the 70kg bronze, with two first-period takedowns, completing a full set of world medals after gold in 2023 and silver in 2022. Hendrickson needed only 26 seconds to beat Jaspooran Singh 10-0 for the 125kg bronze.

Saturday also set up a busy final day on Sunday. Spencer Lee reached the 57kg final by pinning Islam Bazarganov of Azerbaijan, and he will face Roman Bravo Young of Mexico for gold. Levi Haines advanced to the 79kg final, Trent Hidlay reached the 92kg final, and James Green remained alive in repechage at 74kg.

For Dake, Saturday was about more than another medal. He had lost in the United States trials to Zahid Valencia, who won the 2025 world title, before beating Valencia in this year's trials to return to the top. In Astana, at a heavier weight, experience, positioning and composure again decided the biggest match.