86 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 be held 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 for it to win the main title—the title of world champion.

The World Wrestling Championships in Zagreb promise spectacular battles in the 86 kg weight category. In the absence of the Olympic champion, this weight class has become an arena of competition for several gold medal contenders at once. Here are the main favorites of the tournament:

1. Ibragim Kadiev (Russia)
   The young Dagestani wrestler is heading to his first senior World Championships with one sole goal—to win. Despite his youth, Kadiev is already a two-time Junior World Champion. Now he intends to prove that he is ready to reign among the seniors as well.

2. Kamran Ghasempour (Iran)
   The powerful Iranian has challenged himself by deciding to drop down to the 86 kg category. The 28-year-old wrestler, nicknamed "Hercules" by his fans, is used to dominating the 92 kg weight class. Although he will be in unfamiliar territory in the new category, his phenomenal strength will undoubtedly be his main asset. Ghasempour is a three-time World Champion.

3. Arsenii Dzhioev (Azerbaijan)
   The 23-year-old Ossetian wrestler, competing under the flag of Azerbaijan, is coming to the Croatian capital exclusively for the gold medal. Dzhioev already has substantial experience competing at the senior level and announced himself by winning a bronze medal at the 2024 European Championships.

4. Zahid Valencia (USA)
   This American became the season's biggest sensation by defeating US team star Kyle Dake at the qualifying tournament. Before this, Valencia had not shown such high results, aside from a bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships. However, after the victory over Dake, Zahid began to be seen as a real podium contender.

5. Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (Belarus)
   One of the key participants in the tournament in this weight category. The Dagestani wrestler, competing for Belarus, came within a step of defeating the reigning Olympic champion Magomed Ramazanov at this year's European Championships but fell just short. The current European silver medalist is going to Zagreb to prove to himself and the world that he is the strongest in the new weight class.