Burroughs Wins Gold, Sets American Record

Belgrade, Serbia – Former Husker Jordan Burroughs became the most decorated champion in U.S. wrestling history, defeating Iran’s Mohammad Nokhodilarimi, 4-2, to capture the men’s freestyle 79 kg title at the World Championships on Friday.

Burroughs’ victory marked his sixth World Championship, the most ever by an American freestyle wrestler. Burroughs was also the 2008 Olympic champion, and his seven combined World and Olympic titles are also the most by an American wrestler.

Burroughs, who also defeated Nokhodilarimi in last year’s final, battled to World Championship gold medals in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2021 and 2022.

Burroughs faced Turkmenistan’s Sahergeldi Saparmyradov in the first match of the tournament and rolled to a 12-1 technical fall. In the second round, Burroughs defeated North Macedonia’s Dejan Mitrov 12-1 in less than a minute. In the quarterfinals, Burroughs jumped to an early lead and rolled to a 10-0 victory over Kyrgyzstan’s Arsalan Budazhapov.

On Thursday, Burroughs advanced to his sixth world championship match by dominating Bulgaria’s Ali Pasha Ruslanovich Umarpashaev, 9-2.

2022 UWW World Championships

Stark Arena

Belgrade, Serbia

Sept. 10-18, 2022

79 kg

Qualification: Jordan Burroughs (USA) tech. Sahergeldi Saparmyradov (TKM), 11-1

Round of 16: Jordan Burroughs (USA) tech. Dejan Mitrov (MKD), 12-1

Quarterfinals: Jordan Burroughs (USA) tech. Arsalan Budazhapov (KGZ), 10-0

Semifinals: Jordan Burroughs (USA) def. Ali Umarpashaev (BUL), 9-2

Gold Medal Match: Jordan Burroughs (USA) def. Mohammad Nokhodilarimi (IRI), 4-2