Photo of Jordan Burroughs courtesy of Team USA.
Oslo, Norway – Jordan Burroughs made history today, becoming the first American to win five World titles in men’s freestyle. Burroughs bested Iran’s Mohammed Ashghar Nokhodilarimi, a 2019 U23 World silver medalist and 2021 Yasar Dogu champion, 5-1, for gold.
With his performance, Burroughs also becomes the PRTC’s first World medalist and first World champion in program history.
“I am so proud of the faith and fortitude that Jordan exhibited over the last three weeks. With a torn calf muscle and a fourth child on the way, he stayed focused on the prize while still having the heart of a servant leader. He is a true professional. I am so thankful to God, our wives and families, the PRTC donors and supporters, and our entire Philly Wrestling ecosystem for their generous and loving support. None of this would be possible without them. Working together as a team is the key,” said Brandon Slay, executive director and head coach of the PRTC.
Burroughs went 5-0 over the past two days of wrestling, bumped up at his new weight class of 79 kg. He won his previous World titles and his Olympic gold medal competing at 74 kg.
Burroughs opened the tournament with a 10-0 technical fall of Canada’s Samuel Barmish, a 2021 Pan Am Championships bronze medalist. Next, he received a forfeit over Kazakhstan’s Bolat Sakayev pushing him into the quarterfinals against Russia’s Radik Valiev. Burroughs downed the 2019 U23 World bronze medalist, 9-4. In the semifinals, Burroughs continued to roll, dominating Japan’s Ryuki Yoshida, 10-1.
In his finals match, Burroughs utilized two double leg takedowns and a passivity point to pull out to a 5-0 lead. Nokhodilarimi earned a caution-and-one late in the match, but it was inconsequential to the final outcome.
Burroughs is already considered one of the greatest American wrestlers of all time, and after this tournament, he logged another page in the history books.
Help support the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center to fulfill our mission to enrich lives locally and globally through the sport of wrestling and aid our athletes as they chase their dreams of winning Olympic and World medals.
2021 World Championships
at Oslo, Norway
Jordan Burroughs – 79 kg World champion
Results
WIN Samuel Barmish (Canada), tech. fall, 10-0
WIN Bolat Sakayev (Kazakhstan), forfeit, 0:00
WIN Radik Valiev (Russian Wrestling Federation), 9-4
WIN Ryuki Yoshida (Japan), 10-1
WIN Mohammed Ashghar Nokhodilarimi (Iran), 5-1