Payton Jacobson (87 kg) — who this past year began functioning as a graduate assistant at Northern Michigan University — is on the cusp of earning his first title from a Senior overseas tournament.
The 2026 Benur Pashayan International Memorial began at 10:00am local time from Yerevan, Armenia (2:00am ET) and is streaming live on YouTube.
Jacobson was joined in the tournament by NMU teammate Kenny Crosby (55 kg) and ’25 World Team member Max Black (60 kg, NYAC). Crosby and Black were both defeated in their opening round bouts (the latter by two-time U23 World champ Anvar Allakhiarov of Russia) and did not receive secondary opportunities in repechage, whereas their friend Jacobson got on a roll that they all hope will end with a gold medal.
In the quarterfinal, Jacobson downed Vasili Buhlak of Belarus, which resulted in a showdown with Adam Gardziola (POL) that also saw the American prevail. The semifinal pitted Jacobson against ’22 U23 World silver (and recent training partner) Gevorg Tadevosyan (ARM).
And Jacobson started fast.
Tadevosyan had briefly tried to latch over Jacobson’s head, to which the Wisconsin native responded by getting to the body and converting a takedown/gut combo for four points. Jacobson then capitalized further by scoring two points from a correct hold that provided a 6-0 lead. He went for one more lift, but became entangled on the execution. However, upon completion of the sequence, he asked for the challenge block, presumably for a leg foul. After the review, the no-call was upheld and the scoreboard read 6-1.
Midway through the second period, and with the home crowd urging the officials to give Tadevosyan a chance from top, Jacobson once again got the body and ushered his antagonist down and out of bounds for two more points and an 8-1 cushion. Tadevosyan did not come all that close to even engaging what for him could be construed as an advantageous tie-up, and Jacobson by and large cruised the rest of the way to earn himself a spot in tomorrow’s finals (scheduled for 6:00pm local time on Wednesday) against ’23 U20 World/’25 Asian Championships silver Yasin Ali Yazdi (IRI).
Jacobson — an Olympian in ’24 and U23 World bronze last year — had originally touched down in Armenia with Crosby and Black for a training trip organized by ’21 U23 World rep David Stepanyan (67 kg, NYAC/NTS). This tournament, held in honor of Benur Pashyan, attracts many elite-caliber to complement the obvious heavy presence of entrants from Armenia, which remains one of the top Greco-Roman nations in the world.
Official scores and results will be published upon availability.
2026 Benur Pashayan International Memorial
June 30-July 1 — Yerevan, ARM
TEAM USA RESULTS
55 kg: Kenny Crosby (NYAC/NTS)
LOSS K. Moteodi (IRI)
60 kg: Max Black (NYAC)
LOSS Anvar Alliakhiarov (RUS)
87 kg: Payton Jacobson (NYAC/NTS)
WON Vasili Buhlak (BLR)
WON Adam Gardziola (POL)
WON Gevorg Tadevosyan (ARM) 8-1
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FIVE POINT MOVE PODCAST
iTunes | Stitcher | Spreaker | Google Play Music
