Baff secured the bronze by defeating Moldovan wrestler Alexandrin Gutu 2-1 in a closely contested match. According to major media reports, Baff was the first to be penalized in the bronze match, putting him at a 0-1 disadvantage. The opponent received the same penalty at the start of the second period, giving Baff a point and a 1-1 tie. Under current rules, the wrestler who receives the first advantage wins if the match ends 1-1, which is a change from previous rules. Baff then forced his opponent into a mat escape with 12 seconds left, securing the victory.
Baff's path to the medal match came after he lost his first match but advanced via a repechage. The exact date and location of the senior European Championships where Baff won bronze have not been disclosed, nor has the identity of his first-round opponent been confirmed.
It's damn the best thing I've been a part of.
At 21 years old, Baff has been a top contender in several youth championships at European and world levels but had not reached the podium before. He has lost three bronze matches in youth championships, though the specific youth championships where these losses occurred are unknown.
Baff is based in Bara and trains under coach Jörgen Olsson from Limhamn. The name of Baff's wrestling club has not been specified.
This bronze holds regional significance as Malmö had not won a medal since 2015 when Zacharias Tallroth won a bronze for Sparta. The specific details of the rule change regarding tie-breaking in wrestling matches remain unclear.