Three sets of gold medals were awarded in men's freestyle wrestling at the World Championships of Freestyle Wrestling in Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, Sept. 27.

Winning gold medals were Buvaaysa Saitiev of Russia at 74 kg/163 lbs., Revaz Mindorashvili of Georgia at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Khadzimurat Gatsalov of Russia) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. 

Saitiev, a two-time Olympic champion, won his sixth career World gold medal, in one of the most impressive international careers in history. Saitiev defeated local hero Arpad Ritter of Hungary, 3-0, 3-1 in the finals.

Saitiev scored a takedown and an ankle lace turn for the three points in the first period. In the second period, Saitiev scored another takedown, then hit a two-point counter move with exposure for his three points. Ritter scored a late takedown but Saitiev was never in danger.

Mindorishvili upset 1999 World Champion Yoel Romero of Cuba in the gold medal finals, 1-0, 1-1, 5-0.

Mindorishvili won the first period when Romero stepped out of bounds. In the second, Romero received a point on a caution, and Mindorishvili scored a takedown. Romero won the period on the tiebreaking procedure on least cautions. In the deciding third period, Mindorishvili cominanted with two takedowns, a caution point and a gut wrench turn.

Gatsalov, a 2004 Olympic champion, kept control of his weight division by winning his first World Championships gold medal. He stopped two-time World champion Luka Kurtanidze of Georgia, 1-0, 1-0 in the finals. Gatsalov scored a first-period takedown and won the second period when Kurtanidze stepped out of bounds.

Six of the seven men's freestyle weight classes have been completed. Russia is dominating the tournament with four individual champions . The final division, 120 kg/264.5 pounds, will be contested on Wednesday.

FINAL STANDINGS

74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold - Buyvaasa Saitiev (Russia)
Silver - Arpad Ritter (Hungary)
Bronze - Joe Williams (USA)
Bronze - Nikolay Paslar (Bulgaria)
5th - Alexandru Burca (Moldova)
5th - Mehdi Hajizadeh (Iran)
7th - Ivan Fundora (Cuba)
8th - Soslan Tigiev (Uzbekistan)
9th - Talant Jekshenov (Krygyzstan)
10th - Salvatore Rinella (Italy)

84 kg/185 lbs.
Gold - Revaz Mindorishvili (Georgia)
Silver - Yoel Romero (Cuba)
Bronze - Magomed Kurguliev (Kazakhstan)
Bronze - Taras Danko (Ukraine)
5th - Sazhid Sazhidov (Russia)
5th - Radoslaw Horbik (Poland)
7th - Mo Lawal (USA)
8th - Thomas Buchell (Switzerland)
9th - Saslan Hattsyiev (Bulgaria)
10th - Matthew White (Puerto Rico)

96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Gold - Khaszimurat Gatsalov (Russia)
Silver - Luka Kurtanidze (Georgia)
Bronze - Aleksei Krupnykov (Krygyzstan)
Bronze - Vasyl Tesmeyneckyy (Ukraine)
5th - Tae-Hyun Koo (Korea)
5th - Siarhei Pernikau (Belarus)
7th - Amir Ganji (Iran)
8th - Bartolomie Bartnicki (Poland)
9th - Nurzhan Katayev (Kazakhstan)
10th - Gergely Kiss (Hungary)