2020 Russian Nationals Preview; 97 KG

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Names to Know

  • #1 Abdulrashid Sadulaev: 5x World/Olympic champ (‘14,’15,’16,’18,’19), 2015 European Games champ, 2019 European Games champ

  • Sergey Kozyrev: 2018 110 cadet world bronze, 2018 Junior national runner-up, 2020 Junior national champ

  • Rasul Magomedov: 2017 Yarygin runner-up, 2017 Russian nationals bronze medalist, 2018 Yarygin runner-up

  • #14 (92) Aslanbek Sotiev: 2018 92 KG U-23 world runner-up, 2019 92 KG Medved champ, 2019 92 KG Junior European champ

  • Zainulla Kurbanov: 2018 Russian nationals bronze medalist, 2018 Intercontinental cup champ 2018 Alans bronze

  • Tazhudin Mukhtarov: 2018 Intercontinental Cup runner-up, 2019 Kunaev runner-up

  • #16 Shamil Musaev: 2017 junior world champ, 2019 Yarygin champ, 2019 Russian Nationals bronze

  • #15 Magomedkhan Magomedov: 2017 Intercontinental Cup runner-up, 2018 Ali Aliev champ, 2018 junior world champ, 2020 Yarygin runner-up




The Bracket Breakdown:

Reigning 5x World/Olympic champion #1 Abdulrashid Sadulaev will cruise into the semis where he will have the winner of 2018 national bronze medalist Rasul Magomedov and 2020 junior national champion Sergey Kozyrev. Rasul Magomedov is a two time Yarygin runner-up with wins over Kyle Snyder, Vladislav Baitsaev, and Givi Matcharashvili, but his career has been defined by inconsistency due to overly counter heavy style that is low output along with a bad gas tank. I am going with Sergey Kozyrev to beat him here to make the semis opposite Sadulaev. Kozyrev will have a rematch of his junior national finals match in the quarters against Ali Aliev if he beats Magomedov, and I see him winning both those matches. Controversial pick I know, but I go with Sadulaev over Kozyrev to make his 5th Russian nationals title.

The top half of the bottom bracket has a nice opening round match up between 2018 national bronze medalist Zainulla Kurbanov and 2018 92 KG U-23 world runner-up #14 (92) Aslanbek Sotiev. If Sotiev has filled his frame out and adjusted his offense up to the weight, he should get past the defensively stingy Kurbanov just fine to make the semis. On the bottom half, the opening match between Asret Shogenov and 2018 Intercontinental Cup runner-up Tazhudin Mukhtarov is important but going to be a low scoring uneventful affair but take Mukhtarov to make the quarters. Now the real premier match here is the opening match between 2019 Yarygin champ #16 Shamil Ali Musaev and 2020 yarygin runner-up #15 Magomedkhan Magomedov. Magomedov upset the returning Yarygin champ and national bronze medalist Musaev this year in the quarters of the Yarygin and I expect him to repeat his performance here. Magomedov will be too much for Sotiev to handle in the semis and will have a finals match opposite Abdulrashid Sadulaev. Going Sadulaev to bring home gold. 

Seth Petarra