17 June 2025

Arbuzov Enters The Race

World Championships Seniors (Individuals+Teams) 2025

Arbuzov Enters The Race

For some time now we have celebrated the incredible rivalry between Tato GRIGALASHVILI (GEO) and Matthias CASSE (BEL). Though this may long continue, as we saw it play out on day four of the World Judo Championships… there is a new man in the race. Timur ARBUZOV.

We have seen the more senior athletes go head to head in major championships seven times, sharing World titles and continuing to entertain with their stunning abilities, and now we are able to celebrate the 21 year-old, Arbuzov who now has a 2:1 record against Grigalashvili, defeating him in the European and World final in 2025, and a 2:1 record with Casse, sending him out of the 2024 World Championships and passing him in the semi final of the 2025 European Championships.

It’s safe to say, he is a major threat and this ‘new kid on the block’ is here to stay. With his relatively new status in the -81kg category, his opponents will be going back to the drawing board to see how they will find a way to beat him, and Arbuzov is well aware…

I was ready for all the judoka wanting to fight me, I knew they had done their research and were so ready for me but I worked hard and tried to find new ways to win, and this is what you saw today!

Timur ARBUZOV. © Gabi Juan

Judoka

Author: Thea Cowen