Buvaysa Saytiev of Russia celebrates after defeating Soslan Tigiev of Uzbekistan in their 74kg men's freestyle wrestling final match at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 20, 2008. [Agencies]

BEIJING -- Russian Buvaysa Saytiev struggled to win the men's freestyle 74kg wrestling title to earn his third Olympic gold here on Wednesday.

Soslan Tigiev of Uzbekistan (L) fights Buvaysa Saytiev of Russia during their 74kg men's freestyle wrestling final match at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 20, 2008. [Agencies]

Saytiev, 33, defeated Soslan Tigiev of Uzbekistan 2-1 in the final to claim Russia's fifth Beijing Olympic wrestling gold. The six-time world champion was also the winner at Sydney 1996 and Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

Murad Gaidarov of Belarus and Kiril Terziev of Bulgaria took bronze medals.