2020 Russian Nationals Preview: 125 KG

2020 Rus Nats 125 KG.jpeg

Names to Know: 

  • #3 Batraz “The Chin” Gazzaev: 2013 97 KG Russian Nationals bronze, 2019 Intercontinental Cup champ, 2019 Kadyrov Cup champ, 2019 Alans champ.

  • #5 Anzor Khizriev: 2x world 5th (‘18&’19), 2019 Yarygin champ, 2019 European Games Champ

  • #14 Alan Khugaev: 2014 European runner-up, 2019 Russian Nationals champ, 2019 Intercontinental Cup runner-up

  • Said Gamidov: 2018 Russian Nationals bronze, 2018 U-23 world champ, 2019 Russian nationals runner-up

  • #19 Pavel Krivtstov: 2019 Ali Aliev runner-up, 2019 Russian nationals bronze, 2020 Yarygin runner-up

  • Anzor Boltukaev: 2008 96 KG Russian nationals bronze, 2013 97 KG Russian nationals champ, 2014 97 KG Russian Nationals runner-up, 2016 97 KG Russian Nationals champ.  2013 97 KG world bronze, 2016 97 KG Yarygin champ, 2016 97 KG European champ

  • Soslan Khinchagov: 2018 junior world champ, 2019 Medved bronze medalist 2020 junior national champ

  • #15 Shamil Sharipov: 2019 Intercontinental Cup bronze, 2020 Yarygin bronze

  • Muradin Kushkov: 2014 national champ 2018 European bronze medalist, 2018 National runner-up

  • #16 Zelimkhan Khizriev: 2018 Ali Aliev champ 2019 Russian nationals bronze, 2019 Yarygin bronze

  • Vitali Goloev: 2016 U-23 Euro bronze, 2018 Alans bronze, 2019 U-23 Euro bronze, 2019 Stepan Sargsyan champ, 2019 U-23 world runner-up. 

  • Mukhamgazi Magomedov: 2013 Rus Nats bronze, 2016 Rus Nats champ, 2016 Ziolkowski runner-up

  • Znaur Kotsiev: 2013 cadet world champ 100 KG, 2016 junior world bronze 96 KG, 2x 97 KG Stepan Sargsyan champ (‘17&’19).






The Bracket Breakdown:

Returning national champion #14 Alan Khugaev has the gas tank that couldn’t Anzor Boltukaev first round. Khugaev could lose to Vitali Goloev, who is legit and like actually does things at heavyweight even if like they’re match ruiningly dumb sometimes. It’s going to be awful but Khugaev will win and make it to the semifinal where he’ll have a rematch of last year’s finals against 2018 U-23 world champ Said Gamidov. I go Khugaev just because he’s taller, stronger, and can clear Gamidov’s ties which is honestly like most of what you need to succeed at being a mid tier international heavyweight. 

The bottom half is where things actually get interesting and that has to do with North Ossetia’s own Crimson Chin #3 Batras Gazzaev. Gazzaev moved up from 92 KG last year at nationals to heavyweight and won the Intercontinental Cup, the Kadyrov Cup, and the Alans beating #4 Amir Zare, #8 Baldan Tsyzhipov, #14 Alan Khugaev, #17 Magomedgadzhi Nurasulov, and #18 Nick Gwiazdowski. He’s on the bottom portion of the bottom side of the bracket and has a round of 16 match up against 2018 national runner-up Muradin Kushkov. He’s going to win, have #19 Pavel Krivstov (after beating #15 Shamil Sharipov in the of rd16) in the quarters to set up a semis match against 2019 Yarygin and European Games champ #5 Anzor Khizriev. Khizriev will get through the top half of this bracket by beating 2019 junior world champ Soslan Khinchagov and then his brother #16 Zelimkhan Khizriev is probably going to forfeit to him in the quarters. The semis match between Khizriev and Gazzaev is going to be great and I think if Gazzaev looks as he does, and his chin is as strong as it has been, he gets by the Chechen giant and beats Alan Khugaev in the finals.

Seth Petarra