2020 Russian Nationals Preview: 70 KG

2020 70 KG Nats.png

Names to Know

  • #1 David Baev: 3x Russian nationals medalist, 2018 Alans champ, 2019 word champ

  • #3 Cherman Valiev: 2019 Ali Aliev bronze, 2019 Russian nationals bronze, 2019 U-23 world runner-up, 2019 Alans champ

  • #5 (65) Kurban Shiraev: 2019 junior world runner-up, 2019 Alans runner-up, 2020 Yarygin champ, 2020 European champ

  • Magomedrasul Idrisov: 2x 61 KG Russian nationals champ ( ‘18 & ‘19), 2019 Ziolkowski champ, 2019 Ali Aliev runner-up 2019 61 KG world silver, 

  • Anzor Zakuev: 2016 65 KG Rus Nats 5th, 2017 junior Euro champ, 2019 Dan Kolov runner-up, 2019 Stepan Sargsyan champ

  • Murad Nukhadiev: 2x Russian nationals bronze (2014 @ 60 KG, 2016 @ 65 KG), 2016 65 KG U-23 European champion, 2020 Siberian Federal District tournament champ

  • #15 (65) Sayin Kazyryk: 2018 65 KG junior world champion, 2019 President Cup of Buryatia runner-up, 2019 65 KG Alans bronze medalist.

  • Ildous Giniyatullin: 2015 Medved bronze, 2016 Russian Nationals bronze medalist, 2017 Yasar Dogu runner-up

  • Viktor Rassadin: 2014 57 KG Russian Nationals bronze medalist, 2017 61 KG Russian nationals runner-up, 2017 Ugra cup champ, 2019 Dan Kolov bronze medalist

  • Imam Adzhiev: 2016 61 KG Yarygin runner-up, 2016 61 KG U-23 Euro champ, 2017 65 KG Russian nationals bronze medalist

  • Arpak Sat: 2018 Russian nationals runner-up, 2019 Korkin runner-up, 2020 Yarygin 5th

  • Alan Kudzoev: 2019 junior world bronze medalist, 2020 junior national champ

  • Ruslan Zhendaev: 2019 65 KG U-23 world rep

The Bracket Breakdown

70 KG is a weight in a state of flux so you’re seeing a lot of emerging age group guys, guys moving around in weight and returning to competition, and just guys without big finishes to their name. Top seeded #3 Cherman Valiev has a strong matchup against 2019 Alans bronze medalist #15 (65) Sayin Kazyryk but stylistically I see Valiev being able to get by Kazyryk comfortably. His best match on the top half would likely be against 2x Russian nationals bronze medalist Murad Nukhadiev, who just won the Siberian Federal District over Kazyrk and 2019 65 KG Russian nationals bronze Julian Gergenov. On the bottom half of the top half of the bracket, 2019 61 KG world runner-up Magomedrasul Idrisov is up two weights and while he is very skilled I am really hesitant to pick him in his opening round match against one of the more physical guys at the weight in Anzor Zakuev. A Zakuev/Nukhadiev quarterfinal match is really interesting to me, because it hinges on two of the most high offense athletes with some of the worst in match decision making skills being able to put together a complete match against each other. Probably against my better judgment I am going with Anzor Zakuev to make the semis and be beaten by Cherman Valiev. 

The bottom half has returning world champion #1 David Baev whose best match is going to come in the quarters against reigning 65 KG Yarygin and European champion #5 (65) Kurban Shiraev. Like his title in 2019, Baev will have to face the best domestic competition there is and I expect to see him in peak form here but Shiraev and Valiev are absolutely capable of knocking off the returning world champion and capturing gold domestically and at world’s. In the semis, if he is to get past Shiraev, I expect to see Baev wrestle 2017 61 KG national runner-up Viktor Rassadin, who is a limited but dangerous wrestler who uses his length, speed, and outside step high crotch very well. Baev/Valiev is one of my favorite matches of the tournament and I think Baev should be able to take it.

Seth Petarra