The 1981 World Sambo Championships were held in Madrid, Spain on February/March 1981. Championships were organized by FILA.
| men | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -48 kg | Andrey Khodyrev (URS)RUS | Dunkhüügiin Tegshee (MGL) | Nishi (JPN) | |
| -52 kg | Mukhamed Khallyyev (URS)KGZ | Nanzadyn Büregdaa (MGL) | Georgi Yusev (BUL) | |
| -57 kg | Viktor Astakhov (URS)RUS | S. Saladinov (BUL) | Ochoa (VEN) | |
| -62 kg | Garnik Ovanesyan (URS)ARM | Galdangiin Jamsran (MGL) | Ituya (JPN) | |
| -68 kg | Mykhaylo Levitsky (URS)UKR | Tsendiin Damdin (MGL) | José Campo (ESP) | |
| -74 kg | Ravdangiin Davaadalay (MGL) | Nikolay Baranov (URS)RUS | Yamada (JPN) | |
| -82 kg | José Antonio Cecchini (ESP) | Magomed Ramazanov (URS)BLR | Zunduyn Delgerdalay (MGL) | |
| -90 kg | Dambajavyn Tsend-Ayuush (MGL) | Alexander Pushnitsa (URS)RUS | Sakamoto (JPN) | |
| -100 kg | Gennady Malenkin (URS)RUS | Santiago Morales (ESP) | Henk Numan (NED) | |
| +100 kg | Vladimir Sobodyrev (URS)UZB | Chris Dolman (NED) | Yakokura (JPN) |