(UPDATES with quotes)

Iran's Ghasem Gholamreza Rezaei grappled to Olympic wrestling gold in the men’s 96kg division on Tuesday, defeating Russia’s Rustam Totrov on points in the final.

Rezaei, 26, won 3-0 to take down the 2011 world bronze medalist and secure a third wrestling gold for his country.

"I feel proud of myself," Rezaei said.

"I think I made the people in my country feel happy, that is more important and precious to me than the gold medal itself. Being one of the stars makes Iranian people happy."

Totrov says he was "unsure" of the judging in the final.

"A silver medal is still good, but a gold is more valuable. Obviously, I wanted the gold but I am still very happy."

Artur Aleksanyan of Armenia beat Cuba's Yunior Estrada Falcon 3-0 in the bronze medal match.

Jimmy Lidberg, the 2011 world silver medalist from Sweden, won the second bronze medal in the category, beating Belarusian athlete Tsimafei Dzeinichenka 3-1.