2023 65 KG Russian Nationals Preview

Day one of Russian Nationals goes down today and the first three weights that are competing are 57, 65, and 70 KG. With each weight featuring a bevy of talent including World & Olympic champions, European champions, multiple Russian Nationals medalists and Yarygin champions, this year’s competition will be one to watch. This article will cover the 65 kilogram weight class headlined by two-time Yarygin champion #1 Shamil Mamedov, 2020 Olympic bronze medalist #2 Gadzhimurad Rashidov, and 2022 Russian National champion #4 Ibragim Ibragimov. 

Title Contenders

#1 Shamil Mamedov - 2021 65 KG Senor Russian Nationals 23rd place, 2021 65 KG Junior World Champion, 2021 65 KG Khasavyurt Tournament champion, 2022 65 KG Yarygin Champion, 2022 Yasar Dogu champion, 2022 65 KG Russian Senior Nationals 7th place, 2022 65 KG All-Russian Spartakiad Champion, 2022 65 KG Dmitri Korkin Memorial Runner-up, 2022 65 KG Khasavyurt Tournament champion, 2023 Iranian Club Cup Champion, 2023 65 KG Yarygin champion. Key Wins: Gadzhimurad Rashidov (2022 65 KG All-Russian Spartakiad Finals, 2023 65 KG Yarygin finals), Tulga Tumur Ochir (2022 65 KG Yarygin, 2022 65 KG Yasar Dogu semifinals), Haji Aliyev (2023 PWL-4 65 KG Showcase match), Ramazan Ferzaliev (2023 65 KG Yarygin, 2022 65 KG Yarygin finals, 2022 65 KG All-Russian Spartakiad), Alik Khadartsev (2022 65 KG All-Russian Spartakiad), Nyurgun Skryabin (2022 65 KG Yarygin qualification round), Ibragim Abdurakhmanov (2022 65 KG Yarygin semifinals, 2021 65 KG Khasavyurt Tournament finals, 2022 65 KG Khasavyurt Tournament finals), Ibragim Ibragimov (2023 65 KG Yarygin), Zagir Shakhiev (2022 65 KG Yasar Dogu finals), Umidjon Jalolov (2022 65 KG Yasar Dogu quarterfinals), Morteza Ghiasi Cheka (2022 65 KG Yasar Dogu RD 16), Abdulmazhid Kudiev (2023 65 KG Iranian Pro League Finals), Ziraddin Bayramov (2021 65 KG Junior World finals), Murshid Mutalimov (2021 65 KG Khasavyurt Tournament semifinals), Nicolai Grahmez (2021 PWL), Dzhambulat Kizinov (2022 65 KG Russian Nationals RD 16). Key Losses: Islam Dudaev (2021 65 KG Russian Nationals RD 16), Abdulmazhid Kudiev (2022 Dmitri Korkin Memorial Finals), Aripgadzhi Abdulaev (2022 65 KG Russian Nationals quarterfinals), Hamza Alaca (2018 60 KG Cadet World Championships semifinals), Aliakbar Fazilikhalili (2018 60 KG Cadet World bronze medal match), Chaiian Mongush (2020 65 KG Junior Russian Nationals).

#2 Gadzhimurad Rashidov- 2x 61 KG world runner-up (‘17 & ‘18), 2x European champ (‘16 & ‘18), 2018 61 KG Yarygin champ, 2018 61 KG Ziolkowski champ, 2019 65 KG Senior World champion, 2020 65 KG Olympic bronze medalist, 2021 65 KG Russian Nationals champion, 2019 65 KG Military World Champion, 2022 65 KG All-Russian Spartakiad runner-up, 2023 65 KG Yarygin runner-up, 2019 65 KG Yarygin bronze medalist, Key Wins: Naachin Kuular (2019 Russian 65 KG nationals finals), Daulet Niyazbekov (2019 65 KG Yarygin finals), Akhmed Chakaev (2017 65 KG Russian nationals semis, 2020 65 KG Russian Nationals finals), Abdulmazhid Kudiev (2021 65 KG Russian Nationals), Murshid Mutalimov (2021 65 KG Russian Nationals), Zagir Shakhiev (2021 65 KG Russian Nationals finals), Ramazan Ferzaliev (2021 65 KG Russian Nationals semifinals, 2022 65 KG Russian Nationals), Ibragim Abdurakhmanov (2022 65 KG Russian Nationals), DaichI Takatani (2019 65 KG  world cup), Vladimir Khinchegashvili (2017 61 KG world quarters), Logan Stieber (2017 61KG world’s round of 16), Alexander Bogomoev (2018 61 KG Yarygin), Magomedrasul Idrisov (2018 61 KG Ziolkowski), Dasha Sharastepanov (2015 61 KG Russian Nationals), Nyurgun Skryabin (2015 61 KG Russian Nationals), Shamil Omarov (2015 61 KG Russian Nationals), Aripgadzhi Abdulaev (2022 65 KG All-Russian Spartakiad), Bato Badmaev (2015 61 KG Russian Nationals bronze medal match), Takuto Otoguro (2019 65 KG World Championships), Haji Aliyev (2019 65 KG World Championships), Ismail Musukaev ( 2018 61 KG Yarygin finals, 2019 65 KG World Championships, 2020 65 KG Olympics bronze medal match), Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (2020 65 KG Olympics), Konstantin Kaprynov (2021 65 KG Russian Nationals), Ramazan Bagavudinov (2023 65 KG Yarygin), Danil Kharchilava (2023 65 KG Yarygin) Key Losses: Akhmed Chakaev (2017 61 KG Yarygin, 2019 65 KG Yarygin), Haji Aliev (2017 61 KG world finals), Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez (2018 61 KG world finals), Alexander Bogomoev (2015 61 KG Russian Nationals), Gadzhimurad Omarov (2022 65 KG Russian Nationals semifinals), Shamil Mamedov (2022 65 KG All-Russian Spartakiad Finals, 2023 65 KG Yarygin finals), Takuto Otoguro (2020 65 KG Olympics)

#4 Ibragim Ibragimov-2022 65 KG Yarygin bronze medalist, 2022 65 KG Senior Russian Nationals champion, 2022 2nd Ivan Poddubny Cup champion, 2022 65 KG Semenov Cup bronze medalist, 2023 65 KG Yarygin bronze medalist, 2021 65 KG U23 Russian Nationals bronze medalist. Key Wins: Gadzhimurad Omarov (2022 65 KG Russian Nationals finals), Yulian Gergenov (2021 65 KG Khasavyurt Tournament Qualification round), Aripgadzhi Abdulaev (2022 65 KG Russian Nationals semifinals), Elbrus Valiev (2022 2nd Ivan Poddubny Finals, 2022 65 KG Russian Nationals), Joey McKenna (2022 65 KG Yarygin bronze medal match), Fedor Baltuev (2022 65 KG Semenov Cup), Alik Khadartsev (2022 65 KG Russian Nationals), Ramazan Ferzaliev (2023 65 KG Yarygin bronze medal match) Key Losses: Ramazan Ferzaliev (2022 65 KG Yarygin, 2022 65 KG Semenov Cup), Shamil Mamedov (2023 65 KG Yarygin), Murshid Mutalimov (2021 65 KG Khasavyurt Tournament quarterfinals), Tulga Tumur Ochir (2022 PWL 3 Showcase match), Alik Khadartsev (2022 65 KG 1st Ivan Poddubny Tournament), Ibragim Abdurakhamanov (2022 65 KG 1st Ivan Poddubny Tournament bronze medal match, 2021 65 KG U23 Russian Nationals). 

Medal Contenders

#6 Danil Kharchilava- 2023 65 KG Yarygin bronze medalist, 2019 60 KG Cadet European Championships bronze medalist. Key Wins: Magomed Baitukaev (2023 65 KG Yarygin), Ramazan Bagavudinov (2023 65 KG Yarygin), Aripgadzhi Abdulaev (2023 65 KG Yarygin). Key Losses: Gadzhimurad Rashidov (2023 65 KG Yarygin), Genik Astrayan (2019 60 KG Cadet European Championships semifinals), Yulian Gergenov (2021 65 KG Yarygin quarterfinals)

#8 Gadzhimurad Omarov-2021 65 KG Russian Nationals 5th place finisher, 2022 65 KG Russian Nationals runner-up, 2022 65 KG Yusup Abdusalamov Tournament bronze medalist, 2022 65 KG Ali Aliev runner-up. Key Wins: Sayin Kazyryk (2021 65 KG Yarygin), Yulian Gergenov (2021 65 KG Russian Nationals repechage rnd3), Ibragim Abdurakhmanov (2021 65 KG Russian Nationals repechage rnd2), Gadzhimurad Rashidov (2022 65 KG Russian Nationals semifinals), Ramazan Ferzaliev (2021 65 KG Umakhanov tournament), Key Losses: Chaiian Mongush (2021 65 KG Yarygin repechage), Ibragim Ibragimov (2022 65 KG Russian Nationals finals), Danil Kharchilava (2023 65 KG Yarygin), Ramazan Bagavudinov (2023 65 KG Yarygin RD 16), Ramazan Ferzaliev (2022 65 KG Ali Aliev finals, 2022 Yusup Abdusalamov Tournament)

Dark Horses

#7 Ramazan Bagavudinov - 2021 57 KG Junior World Champion, 2022 65 KG Ali Aliyev bronze medalist, 2022 65 KG Khasavyurt Tournament bronze medalist, 2023 65 KG Yarygin 5th place finisher. Key Wins: Elbrus Valiev (2023 65 KG Yarygin), Muhammet Karavus (2021 57 KG Junior World Finals), Nuraddin Navruzov (2021 57 KG Junior World championships semifinals). Key Losses: Chermen Tavitov (2022 61 KG Russian Nationals RD 16), Gadzhimurad Rashidov (2023 65 KG Yarygin), Danil Kharchilava (2023 65 KG Yarygin bronze medal match), Gadzhimurad Omarov (2022 65 KG Ali Aliyev).

#9 Aripgadzhi Abdulaev- Two-time U15 European champion (‘17 53 KG, ‘18 57 KG), 2019 60 KG Cadet world champion, 2022 65 KG Russian Nationals bronze medalist, 2022 All-Russian Spartakiad bronze medalist, 2022 U23 Russian Nationals runner-up, 2022 65 KG 1st Ivan Poddubny Tournament bronze medalist, 2022 65 KG U23 Russian Nationals runner-up Key Wins: Shamil Mamedov (2022 65 KG Russian Nationals quarterfinals), Elbrus Valiev (2022 65 KG Russian Nationals bronze medal match), Erfan Elahi (2019 60 KG Cadet World finals), Dzhambulat Kizinov (2022 65 KG All-Russian Spartakiad bronze medal match). Key Losses: Gadzhimurad Rashidov (2022 65 KG All-Russian Spartakiad), Ibragim Ibragimov (2022 65 KG Russian Nationals semifinals), Dzhambulat Kizinov (2022 65 KG U23 Russian Nationals finals), Danil Kharchilava (2023 65 KG Yarygin), Tulga Tumur Ochir (2022 65 KG 1st Ivan Poddubny Tournament)

Dzhambulat Kizinov- 2022 65 KG U23 Russian Nationals champion, 2022 65 KG All-Russian Spartakiad 5th place finisher. Key Wins: Aripgadzhi Abdulaev (2022 65 KG U23 Russian Nationals), Ibragim Abdurakhmanov (2022 65 KG U23 Russian Nationals), Chaiian Mongush (2022 65 KG Russian Nationals). Key Losses: Shamil Mamedov (2022 65 KG Russian Nationals), Gadzhimurad Rashidov (2023 65 KG Yarygin, 2022 65 KG All-Russian Spartakiad), Aripgadzhi Abdulaev (2022 65 KG All-Russian Spartakiad bronze medal match)

The Breakdown

On the top bracket, the man to watch on the top half is returning national champion #4 Ibragim Ibragimov who has a clear path to the quarterfinals. An intriguing matchup in the round of 16 on the top half of the top bracket is 2022 U23 Russian Nationals champion Dzhambulat Kizinov versus the winner of Artur Badtiev and Chaiian Mongush. I am taking Mongush over Badtiev and then Kizinov over Mongush to make the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals, I have Ibragimov beating Kizinov to make the semifinals against 2020 Olympic bronze medalist Gadzhimurad Rashidov. In one of the most intriguing style match ups of the tournament between the explosive Ibragimov and the stifling Rashidov, I had Rashidov shutting down Ibragimov.

On the bottom half of the bracket, the top quarterfinal carries a large amount of intrigue with five returning Russian Nationals medalists in #8 Gadzhimurad Omarov, #9 Aripgadzhi Abdulaev, Ibragim Abdurakhmanov, Chermen Tavitov, and Dasha Sharastepanov. I have two-time 61 KG Russian Nationals bronze medalist Chermen Tavitov beating #8 Gadzhimurad Omarov to make the quarterfinals where he’ll take on returning bronze medalist Aripgadhzi Abdulaev after Abdulaev had beaten Ibragim Abdurakhmanov in the round of 16. I see this match going the way of Abdulaev to set up a semifinal match against #1 Shamil Mamedov. In a rematch of their closely contested quarterfinal that went the way of Abdulaev, I have Mamedov winning a close one to make the finals.

2023 65 KG Russian Nationals Predictions

GOLD: #1 Shamil Mamedov over #2 Gadzhimurad Rashidov

BRONZE: #6 Danil Kharchilava over #9 Aripgadzhi Abdulaev

BRONZE: #4 Ibragim Ibragimov over #10 Dasha Sharastepanov