David Taylor is all set to finish his wrestling career on his own terms, and he wants to do it without any regrets. As he gears up for the Senior World Championships in Albania, he’s facing a lot of hurdles. Even with four world titles to his name, this season is especially challenging since it’s his first as the head coach at Oklahoma State. Balancing his coaching duties while training for what he plans to be his final competition isn’t a walk in the park, but he knows the routine well.

After a strong performance at the U.S. world team trials, Taylor earned his spot in the non-Olympic weight event, and he finally has the chance to go head-to-head with Abdulrashid Sadulaev. Both of them have dominated the wrestling scene since 2018, with Taylor securing three world titles and Olympic gold at 86 kg, while Sadulaev has five world championships and two Olympic golds. Competing at 92 kg, a new weight class for both, sets the stage for this much-anticipated showdown. So how is Taylor feeling about this competition?

A clash of wrestling styles that could define a legacy

Fans have eagerly anticipated this showdown ever since David Taylor challenged Sadulaev in 2020; however, the meeting was continually delayed until now. As David Taylor gears up for this bout ahead of him, he understands that their contrasting wrestling styles will greatly influence the outcome. He recognizes that Sadulaev’s counter-offense, gut wrenches, and chest wraps are among the best in the game. Meanwhile, Taylor believes his offensive leg grabs are pretty impressive too. Recently, Flo Wrestling shared a post on X in which Taylor finally reacted to Sadulaev’s semifinal!

When the interviewer asked Taylor, “If Sadulaev was right here, what would be your message to him right now?” he replied, “I mean, at this level there’s no message; there’s just—I mean, there’s respect amongst two great competitors, and I mean, it’s gonna be a tough match. He has 6 minutes to go, you know, so I’ve been close my eyes and visualized a little bit of what the match will look like, and you know, it’s fun that now it’s gonna be here in a couple of days, and just gotta go.” Taylor’s confidence is evident as he anticipates the challenge ahead.

The interviewer further inquired, “A little more real, and you’re a little more animated now. I’ve never seen this.” To this, Taylor replied, “Yeah, I think so. I mean, part of me being in this environment is you gotta learn to control your emotions. You know, I get super excited, and what’s that gonna do for me? I need to be ready to go in a couple of days.” His response reveals a deep understanding of the mental aspect of competition; maintaining focus while managing emotions is key to success at such a high level.

Taylor continued, “It’s not about the changes, just getting it in my mind. You know, the opportunity to wrestle that match and get the chance to compete against both of those guys? That’s a pretty epic way to end your career… I’m here to wrestle Sadulaev, and it’s a match I’ve been looking forward to for a long time.” Taylor’s excitement is obvious as he turns his disappointment into motivation for a good reason!

David Taylor’s inspiring transition to coaching

After being eliminated from the U.S. Olympic Trials in April, David Taylor transitioned into the position of head coach at Oklahoma State University. This move left wrestling enthusiasts questioning whether this marked the end of his wrestling career. As he delved into coaching and imparted his love for wrestling to his students, Taylor sensed a renewed sense of passion within him. He mentioned, “Stepping away and coaching gave me a different perspective on competing and helped me rediscover my love for the sport.”

David’s experiences in coaching allowed him to break down techniques and analyze the intricacies of wrestling, leading him to say, “I started rethinking some of those moves and helped the guys brainstorm through different situations. It created this unique fire of creativity I hadn’t felt in a while.” Despite never officially retiring from international competition, Taylor had lost motivation after a dominant six years, especially following a disappointing loss.

David’s transition into coaching provided the change he needed. “Change stimulates growth. Oklahoma State gave me a change of scenery and a change of energy and excitement, rather than being somebody who’s just being put through workouts.” With a fresh perspective and a new weight class of 92 kg, Taylor now looks forward to the world championships in Albania as a chance to reclaim his legacy in the sport and finish his career on his own terms.