Weight-class doubts loom for Yazdani after 97kg setback in Zagreb
Questions surrounding Hassan Yazdani’s bid for an elusive second Olympic gold at Los Angeles 2028 have intensified in recent days after the Iranian wrestling great suffered a comprehensive defeat to an unheralded American opponent in the freestyle 97kg final at the Zagreb Open last week.
Making his first international appearance since his 86kg final loss at the Paris Olympics 18 months ago, Yazdani – winner of a national-record 10 world and Olympic medals – appeared to be back to his familiar best as he cruised to three technical-superiority victories in the morning session to reach the final in his new weight class.
Yazdani also looked in control early in the title bout, taking a 2-1 lead into the break against Stephen Buchanan. However, he was handed a harsh reality check in the second period as the American landed a four-point suplex before powering to a shock 13-3 win, handing Yazdani the first technical-superiority defeat of his illustrious career.
Returning from a second surgery on his injured shoulder, Yazdani opted to test himself two weight classes higher, stepping up from his familiar 86kg category to 97kg in a bid to redefine the next phase of his career. However, his performance in the Croatian capital suggested the transition may require more time — or possibly a rethink.
The final defeat exposed clear physical and tactical challenges at the new weight, raising immediate questions over whether 97kg is the right long-term category for the Iranian star.
However, Hemmat Moslemi, Yazdani’s long-time mentor and formative coach, insisted the Zagreb outing was always intended as an experiment rather than a definitive judgment.
“After being away from competition for a year and a half, Hassan had to start somewhere,” Moslemi told Varzesh3. “He only wrestled in two bouts in the domestic league beforehand, and league bouts are nothing like international tournaments. He needed to understand how his body responds after moving up to 97kg.”
Moslemi also pointed to logistical challenges that disrupted preparation, including uncertainty over travel arrangements and late visa approvals. According to the coach, Yazdani did not know until the final days whether he would even be able to compete in Zagreb.
From a tactical standpoint, Moslemi was particularly critical of Yazdani’s approach in the final. He revealed that he had advised the Iranian star not to attempt underneath attacks against a physically stronger opponent – an advice that ultimately went unheeded.
“The first three minutes were good,” Moslemi said. “But in the second period, he went underneath four times and was punished each time. The American wasn’t better than Hassan. Hassan lost because of his own tactical mistakes.”
Moslemi went further, suggesting Yazdani should not have wrestled the final at all, arguing that the tournament’s ranking points and gold medal carried little value compared to the risk of injury or a loss of confidence.
Despite the criticism, Moslemi dismissed the idea that Yazdani should overhaul his wrestling style to suit the higher weight. “With this style, Hassan has won 10 Olympic and world medals. At this stage of the career, you don’t change who you are,” he said, while acknowledging that adjustments are inevitable when moving between weight classes.
Looking ahead, Moslemi believes a move to 92kg could offer Yazdani a more realistic path, at least until the year before the Olympic Games. He revealed that Yazdani had no difficulty making weight in Zagreb and was well under the limit prior to the weigh-in.
“The 97kg division is crowded with elite contenders like Kyle Snyder, Abdulrashid Sadulaev and Akhmed Tazhudinov,” Moslemi said. “Hassan can beat anyone, but 92kg suits him better right now.”
For Moslemi, Yazdani’s greatest strength has always been his willingness to listen and adapt – a quality he believes must guide the next decision in a career-defining period.