David Taylor, the “Magic Man” in the wrestling world, is a decorated USA wrestling icon with an impressive senior freestyle record of 158 wins to only 21 losses. However, at the 2024 Senior World Championships in Tirana, Albania, Taylor faced a significant setback after a massive loss to Abdulrashid Sadulaev, the “Russian Tank.” Despite this defeat, Taylor’s dream of securing a spot on the podium still remains alive.

These World Championships feature non-Olympic weight classes, meaning wrestlers who competed in the recent Paris Games were not eligible to participate.  Taylor, at 33, had previously held the Olympic title in the 86 kg division from Tokyo but missed the chance to defend it in Paris after losing to Aaron Brooks in the Olympic Trials finals last April. Following that defeat, Taylor initially retired to take on a head coaching role at Oklahoma State. However, his passion for wrestling brought him back to the mat—balancing coaching duties with competing. Now, after qualifying for the world team, he’s announced that this championship will officially mark his final tournament.

Chasing bronze:David Taylor’s hope in the tournament

In his last tournament in Tirana, Albania, Taylor faced a tough match, losing 7-0 to wrestling powerhouse Abdulrashid Sadulaev in the 92 kg division. However, Taylor still has a shot at the bronze medal if Sadulaev advances to the final round. If Sadulaev makes it, Taylor will be brought back into the repechage round, giving him one last chance to secure a place on the podium.

Sadulaev is one of the toughest wrestlers around, with five World Championship wins and two Olympic gold medals. He’s so strong that many other wrestlers have a hard time beating him, and this time, David Taylor had trouble, too. Now, for Taylor to have another chance to win a bronze medal, he has to wait and see how Sadulaev does in the tournament. Expected to meet Sadulaev in the semifinals is Iran’s Kamran Ghasempour, a two-time world champion who promises an intense face-off.

The Magic Man’s spell falls short

This season has posed significant challenges for David Taylor, whose career has been marked by numerous victories and dominant performances. Known as the “Magic Man,” Taylor has impressed wrestling fans with his tactical skill and determination, but his recent fight was something he had been waiting for a long time.

At the start of the match, Taylor made a solid attempt to grab Sadulaev’s leg, which seemed like his best chance to score. But Sadulaev quickly countered, causing Taylor to lose his position. Soon after, Sadulaev took control with a front headlock, setting up his first points, which he used effectively throughout the match. Later, he managed another takedown, ending the first period with a solid 4-0 lead.

Latest Update: Sadulaev dominates Kamran Ghasempour with a clutch win.

Even at the halfway point, Taylor had a chance to turn things around, primarily since he’s known for his endurance. But Sadulaev didn’t slow down, despite a tough weight cut, and stayed in control. In the second period, Taylor tried harder, attacking Sadulaev’s legs, but the Russian blocked him every time. Sadulaev scored another point with a step-out, bringing it to 5-0. Finally, David Taylor’s last attack left him open, and Sadulaev used this to score again, finishing the match with a 7-0 win.