2023 Russian Nationals Day 5 Recap
79 KG
2023 79 KG Russian Nationals Final Results
GOLD: #1 Akhmed Usmanov over #2 Gadzhimurad Alikhmaev 5-0
BRONZE: Khalid Yakhiev over Abdulkerim Abdulaev 15-2
BRONZE: Akhmed Manilov over Kasum Kasumov 6-5
#1 Akhmed Usmanov earned his second Russian Nationals title with a 5-0 victory over #2 Gadzhimurad Alikhmaev in a rematch of their 2020 finals match won by Usmanov. Alikhmaev’s runner-up finish to Usmanov finishes a successful regular season that saw him win his second Russian Nationals medal and take silver at the Yarygin to Usmanov with victories over Russian Nationals medalists #3 Radik Valiev and Khalid Yakhiev.
Akhmed Manilov was the sole new Russian Nationals medalists in the 79 kilogram bracket with a 6-5 comeback victory over Kasum Kasumov. Khalid Yakhiev earned his second Russian Nationals medal with a dominant 15-2 victory over Abdulkerim Abdulaev. With 79 kilogram weight class in Russia turning over, expect to see more out of the likes of Akhmed Manilov, Kasum Kasumov, and Abdulkerim Abdulaev in the upcoming quad.
97 KG
2023 97 KG Russian Nationals Final Results
GOLD: #3 Alikhan Zhabrailov over #2 Magomed Kurbanov 2-1
BRONZE: #6 Sergey Kozyrev over Tamerlan Dzhikaev 2-1
BRONZE: #5 Shamil Musaev over Aslanbek Gazzaev 10-0
#3 Alikhan Zhabrailov captured his fourth Russian National title with a closely fought 2-1 victory over returning two-time 92 kilogram national champion #3 Magomed Kurbanov. Kurbanov still holds the series lead against Zhabrailov at 5-4, but Zhabrailov owns three wins against Kurbanov in national finals matches, with wins in the 2019 and 2020 92 KG Russian National finals. #5 Shamil Musaev and #6 Sergey Kozyrev both earned their third career Russian Nationals medal with victories in their bronze medal matches. Musaev owns a silver in 2019 and bronze the past two years while Kozyrev took gold at 125 KG in 2021 and bronze the past two years.
The real question here after seeing how Zhabrailov has been at 97 KG is when the anticipated showdown between Zhabrailov and seven-time World/Olympic champion #1 Abdulrashid Sadulaev will happen. Sadulaev hasn’t competed at Russian Nationals in three years and was given the spot for the Tokyo Olympics without wrestling Zhabrailov because Zhabrailov lost in the Yasar Dogu finals to #8 Mohammad Mohammadian (IRI). In 2022, neither Sadulaev or Zhabrailov competed at Russian Nationals and so far this year, Sadulaev has not competed and it is yet to be seen if he will wrestle Zhabrailov and if either man will get a chance to compete at the World Championships.
125KG
2023 125 KG Russian Nationals Final Results
GOLD: #8 Abdulla Kurbanov over #5 Eric Dzhioev 3-2
BRONZE: #1 Alen Khubulov over #2 Zelimkhan Khizriev 3-1
BRONZE: Soslan Khinchagov over #4 Ostap Pasenok 2-1
#8 Abdulla Kurbanov captured his first Russian Nationals title with a 3-2 victory over #5 Eric Dzhioev. Dzhioev’s runner-up finish to Kurbanov is his third Russian Nationals medal and marks his best finish so far, with bronze last year and in 2020 at 97 kilograms. Returning national champion #1 Alen Khubulov captured his second Russian Nationals medal with a 3-1 victory over 2021 world team member #2 Zelimkhan Khizriev. Soslan Khinchagov earned his first Russian Nationals medal with a 2-1 victory over Yarygin runner-up #4 Ostap Pasenok. It will be interesting to see if Russia is allowed to compete at the World Championships how Kurbanov will do against the likes of World/Olympic champions #1 Gable Steveson (USA), #2 Taha Akgul (TUR), #3 Amir Zare (IRI), and #5 Geno Petriashvili (GEO).