Dake wins a fifth world championship in third different weight class

American Kyle Dake celebrates winning a fifth world championship on Saturday at 86 kilograms. Dake has won five world titles in three different weight classes. (Tony Rotundo photo courtesy USA Wrestling)

By Richard Immel
Courtesy of USA Wrestling

ASTANA, Kazakhstan, Oct. 31, 2026 – For the second consecutive day, the U.S. added a five-time world champion to its record books. Kyle Dake, 35, completed his quest for a fifth gold medal across three weight classes on Saturday night at Barys Arena, becoming the oldest American to win an individual Senior world championship at 86 kilograms.

Dake earned a 3-2 decision over 2025 World bronze medalist Arsenii Dzhioev of Azerbaijan in the 86 kg championship bout. He scored the match’s only takedown early in the second period and defended masterfully throughout the contest.

Astana marked Dake’s sixth world championships appearance. He reached the finals in all six, earning gold medals in 2018 and 2019 at 79 kg, in 2021 and 2022 at 74 kg, and this year at 86 kg. He also won a silver medal at 74 kg in 2023.

Dake is a two-time Olympic bronze medalist at 74 kg, achieving this at the 2020 and 2024 Games.

Dake joins American Kyle Snyder, who won his fifth World title at 97 kg yesterday in Astana, in second place for most world titles by an American, trailing only Jordan Burroughs and Adeline Gray, each with six. Dake and Snyder moving up leaves John Smith alone on the four-timer tier in men’s freestyle.

Before today, two-time Olympic champion and three-time world champion Bruce Baumgartner held the record for the oldest American to win a world championship at 34 years, nine months, in 1995. Dake is 35 years, 8 months.

Outside of Dake’s history-making night, Team USA added three bronze medalists—Marcus Blaze at 61 kg, Zain Retherford at 70 kg, and Wyatt Hendrickson at 125 kg—which put the U.S. at six-for-six in medals with four weights to go.

Retherford now has a medal of every color (2023 gold, 2022 silver, 2026 bronze). It is the first Senior sorld medal for both Blaze and Hendrickson.

The U.S. currently leads the team standings with 120 points, 15 points ahead of second-place Russia. Iran holds down third place with 80 team points.

With Spencer Lee, Levi Haines and Trent Hidlay wrestling for gold, plus James Green in repechage on Sunday, the U.S. is in pole position for the team title.

The 57 kg semifinal between Lee and European champion Islam Bazarganov of Azerbaijan was decided in par terre, but not in Lee’s signature leg-lace style. Lee built a 3-0 lead and seemed in control. Bazarganov struck early in the second period, catching Lee in a trapped-arm gutwrench. After being turned multiple times, Lee stepped over and pinned Bazarganov.

Lee clinched a podium spot at the Senior World Championships for the first time, adding to his 2024 Olympic silver medal. He goes for gold against Mexico’s Roman Bravo Young, a name American fans should know. Bravo Young is a Tucson, Ariz., native and a two-time NCAA champion for Penn State. Lee holds a 2-0 record against Bravo Young on the Senior level.

Underhook fans delighted in Hidlay’s 11-8 semifinal win over Iran’s returning World bronze medalist, Amirhossein Firouzpourbandpei. Hidlay was timely with his scoring, most critically a takedown and a two-lace combination for six points in the final 10 seconds of the first period, tying the match 8-8 at the break. He added a takedown and a step out in the second frame to cement the win.

Hidlay’s win sets up a rematch of last year’s instant-classic final at 92 kg between Hidlay and Amanula Gadzhimagomedov of Russia, which Hidlay won 13-10.