79 kg at the 2025 Freestyle Wrestling World Cup: the main favorites for gold

From September 13 to 21, the long-awaited World Wrestling Championships will take place in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. This is the second most important event after the Olympic Games, and hundreds of the best wrestlers on the planet are preparing to compete for the main title—World Champion.

One of the most competitive weight classes will be the 79 kg category. Here are the favorites for the 79 kg weight class: who will compete for the World Champion's belt?

1. Jabrail Hajiyev (Azerbaijan)
One of the main contenders for the title. The 23-year-old wrestler recently moved up from 74 kg to the 79 kg category, where he is ready to demonstrate the highest level. His accolades include the U23 European Champion title and a bronze medal from the U23 World Championships.

2. Vladimir Gamkrelidze (Georgia)
An undeniable leader in the category, but with a reputation for being inconsistent. He is capable of winning one tournament brilliantly and unexpectedly losing the next. However, his class is undeniable: he is a U23 World Champion and a bronze medalist at the senior European Championships.

3. Khidir Saipudinov (Bahrain)
The young Dagestani wrestler competing for Bahrain has made a loud statement this season. He has already won silver at the Asian Championships and triumphed at a ranking tournament in Hungary. Saipudinov is a dark horse who cannot be overlooked.

4. Mohammad Nokhodi (Iran)
The powerful Iranian is one of the main favorites in the fight for gold. This year, he deliberately skipped all other tournaments, focusing entirely on preparing for the World Championships. His credentials include the title of Asian Champion and a World Championships bronze medal.

5. Levi Haines (USA)
A talented American who is confidently progressing. This year, he impressively won the Pan-American Championships and a ranking tournament in Hungary, making him a dangerous opponent for anyone in his bracket.

6. Akhmed Usmanov (Russia)
The main favorite of the category. The reigning World and European Champion is coming to the tournament with one goal—to reclaim the championship belt. Usmanov is in outstanding form, and for any wrestler, landing in his half of the bracket is akin to a death sentence.