Following David Taylor's opening round loss, star wrestlers Jordan Burroughs and James Green eliminated from 2024 World Championships

Jordan Burroughs won his first two matches comfortably at the World Wrestling Championships 2024 before being handed a 6-4 loss in the quarterfinals. He was the third American wrestler to lose after David Taylor and James Green, who competed in 92 Kg and 70 Kg respectively.

Team USA started the men's freestyle competition with Green in the 70 Kg. He defeated Canada's Peiman Biabani 5-2 to advance to the Round of 16, where faced Akaki Kemertelidze. Green lost 10-4 to the Georgian wrestler, who later lost in the quarterfinals, leading to the American's elimination from the event.

Burroughs opened his competition with a dominant 4-0 win in the first round against Zelimkhan Khadjiev. He continued his form in the Round of 16, taking down Magomet Evloev. Burroughs won the bout 4-2 to set up a quarterfinal clash against Mohammad Nokhodi.

The veteran fell to three takedown attempts from Nokhodi, trailing 6-0 at the break. He attempted a comeback in the second half and was nearly successful before falling short at 6-4. Burroughs was eliminated from the Championships after Nakhodi failed to qualify for the finals.

Earlier, David Taylor suffered a shock loss in the opening round of the 92 Kg category. He faced Russia's Abdulrashid Sadulaev, who dominated to hand him a crushing 6-0 loss. The three-time world champion was pulled back into the repechage round after Sadulaev qualified for the final and will now have the chance to fight for a bronze medal on October 31.

Vito Arujau was the most impressive American wrestler of the day, securing three consecutive victories before losing in the semifinals. He won the opening round 4-2 over India's Udit before taking down Azamat Tuskaev 6-3 in the quarterfinal. He lost 12-0 in the semi-finals to Masanosuke Ono and will fight for the bronze medal.

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David Taylor reflects on his crushing loss to Abdulrashid Sadulaev

Wrestling Senior World Championships Belgrade 2023 - David Taylor in action (Source: Getty)

The biggest shock of the day for Team USA at the 2024 World Wrestling Championships was the first round loss of David Taylor to Russia's Abdulrashid Sadulaev. The three-time world champion was handed a 7-0 defeat by the veteran wrestler, four years after challenging him for a fight in 2020.

Speaking after the bout, Taylor claimed he wasn't able to capitalize on his attacking shots while Sadulaev was and eventually won.

"I did not score on the two times I shot and he did. That was the difference. I needed to score on those two occasions," he said (via United World Wrestling).

He was hoping Sadulaev would qualify for the finals, giving him a chance to fight in the repechage round on 31st October. The 33-year-old will have a chance to end his senior career with a bronze medal before he returns to coaching Oklahoma State.