2023 Senior World Wrestling Championships Day 2 Preview

Due to time restrictions, the previews for the weights for day two (57, 74, 92, 79) will be prediction only and will be consolidated into one large article. 

57 Kilograms:

On the top half of the bracket, keep an eye out for a match between a pair of 2022 61 KG world medalists in the quarterfinals, as 2022 61 KG world champion #2 Rei Higuchi (JPN) is slated to take on two-time 61 KG world bronze medalist #15 Arsen Harutyunyan (ARM). If the weight cut is too harsh on Higuchi, an early round upset is possible for #4 Wanhao Zou (CHN), who thrives off lightning quick reattacks. Keep an eye on the bottom quarterfinal between 2022 Kunaev champion Meirambek Kartbay (KAZ) and #5 Almaz Smanbekov (KGZ). I am very high on Kartbay and think he has a potential semifinal run in him here. #5 Almaz Smanbekov (KGZ) seems a lock for the semifinals but keep an eye on his round of 16 matchup against 2019 Senior world runner-up Suleyman Atli (TUR). While Atli isn’t what he used to be, he is still an explosive front runner wrestler you don’t want to take lightly in the early rounds. On the top half, I have #2 Rei Higuchi (JPN) beating #5 Almaz Smanbekov (KGZ) to make the world finals. From Higuchi’s side of the bracket, I have #15 Arsen Harutyunyan (ARM) taking bronze.

The bottom half of the bracket is loaded and features three-time World/Olympic champion #1 Zavur Uguev (AIN), returning Senior World champion #3 Zelimkhan Abakarov (ALB), returning Senior World bronze medalist Stevan Micic (SRB), returning Senior World bronze medalist Zanabazar Zandanbud (MGL), 2022 57 KG U23 World Champion Aman Aman (IND), 2021 57 KG U23 World Champion Aliabbaz Rzazade (AZE), and 2023 57 KG Final X Champion #6 Zane Richards (USA). On the top quarterfinal of the bottom half, I will take #1 Zavur Uguev (AIN) over returning world bronze medalist Stevan Micic (SRB) to make the semis. Keep an eye on the round of 16 matchup between Micic and #8 Gulomjon Abdullaev (UZB). In the bottom quarterfinal, give me #3 Zelimkhan Abakarov (ALB) over #6 Zane Richards (USA) to set up a semifinal match between #1 Zavur Uguev (AIN) and #3 Zelimkhan Abakarov (ALB) where I take Uguev. From the Uguev side of the bracket, I take Abakarov to take bronze and in the finals I have Uguev beating out Higuchi.

Predictions

 GOLD: #1 Zavur Uguev over #2 Rei Higuchi

BRONZE: #3 Zelimkhan Abakarov over Stevan Micic

BRONZE: #15 Arsen Harutyunyan over #5 Almaz Smanbekov

74 Kilograms

On the top side of the top bracket, expect to see #11 Turan Bayramov (AZE) beat two-time World/Olympic bronze medalist Soner Demirtas (TUR) in the quarterfinals to make the semifinals. In the semifinals, expect to see Bayramov face off against a battle tested #2 Zaurbek Sidakov (AIN). Sidakov’s path to the semifinals is loaded with obstacles, as in his opener he has 2018 World runner-up #4 (79) Avtandil Kentchadze (GEO), 2022 Senior World bronze medalist #8 Younes Emami (IRI) in the round of 16, and a rematch of the 2018 Russian National Finals match against Khetag Tsabolov (SRB). If Sidakov, who has struggled with injuries this year, is able to get through this herculean bracket, I believe he takes out Bayramov to make the finals. On the Sidakov side, I have #9 Younes Emami (IRI) taking bronze over #11 Turan Bayramov (AZE)

On the bottom half, keep an eye out for the quarterfinal match between returning world champion #1 Kyle Dake (USA) and returning bronze medalist #7 Frank Chamizo (ITA). I have Dake’s physicality winning out in this. If Dake wins, he’ll take the winner of the #5 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov/#6 Taimuraz Salkazanov, which I have going Kadimagomedov’s way. In a rematch of their stunning match from the Olympics won by Kadimagomedov by tech fall, I have Dake eeking out a close match based off using smarter upper body finishes when Kadimagomedov baits the counter. In the finals, I have Dake winning a close one over Sidakov. On the Dake side of the bracket, I have #5 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov winning bronze over #7 Frank Chamizo.

Predictions

GOLD: #1 Kyle Dake over #2 Zaurbek Sidakov

BRONZE: #5 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov over #7 Frank Chamizo

BRONZE: #9 Younes Emami over #11 Turan Bayramov

79 Kilograms

The best match of the weight takes place in the quarterfinals as returning world runner-up #1 Mohammad Nokhodilarimi (IRI) takes on Russian Nationals champion #2 Akhmed Usmanov (AIN). While the last time I picked a Russian to run through a Non-Olympic weight (#1 Evgheni Zherbaev at 70 KG), they ended up losing their first round match and not placing, this time will be different. Usmanov starts quickly, controls match throughout and doesn’t have gas tank issues. To hedge my disappointment, I have Nokhodilarimi winning a close one over Usmanov and beating Marsteller in the semis. For bronze, I have #2 Akhmed Usmanov beating #3 Chance Marsteller for bronze.

On the bottom half of the bracket, give me returning world bronze medalist #20 Vasyl Mykhailov (UKR) to make the semifinals opposite #15 Bolat Sakaev (KAZ). Keep a close eye on the quarterfinal match between Senior Asian Champion #15 Bolat Sakaev (KAZ) and 2022 U23 World Champion #17 Vladimeri Gamkrelidze (GEO), as Gamkrelidze is very crafty and if he is on this tournament, he can make the finals. In the semis, I take Mykhailov over Sakaev and for bronze, I have Sakaev taking bronze over Akhsarbek Gulaev (SVK).

Predictions

GOLD: #1 Mohammad Nokhodilarimi over #20 Vasyl Mykhailov

BRONZE: #2 Akhmed Usmanov over #3 Chance Marsteller

BRONZE: #15 Bolat Sakaev over Akhsarbek Gulaev

92 Kilograms

On the top half of the bracket, expect to see Miriani Maisuradze (GEO) beat out returning bronze medalist #7 Feyzullah Akturk (TUR) in a battle of gassy technical wrestler vs. gassy tank wrestler. The bottom half is where things get more interesting. The best match to watch for a young prospect is between Asian Champion Arashk Yoshida (JPN) and #1 Vladislav Valiev. I see Valiev using his athletic edge over the young Yoshida to move onto a quarterfinal match he’ll win against Gadzhi Radzhabov (BLR). Do not count out Yoshida early against Valiev, if there is a match with big upset potential in this bracket, that is it. I have Valiev making the semis. On the other half, expect to see #2 Amirali Azarpira (IRI) beat #3 Zahid Valencia (USA) in the round of 16 to make the quarterfinals against two-time world bronze medalist #4 Osman Nurmagomedov (AZE). I think Nurmagomedov has a speed and finesse edge over Azarpira and I see him getting the upset to make the semis opposite Valiev. Now, I see Valiev winning a very, very, tight match against Nurmagomedov to make the finals. From the Valiev bracket, I see Nurmagomedov taking bronze over Arashk Yoshida (JPN). If I yet again pick a top ranked Russian who doesn’t place, I will forever live in darkness but I stand by my 92 KG predictions.

Predictions

GOLD: #1 Vladislav Valiev over Miriani Maisuradze

BRONZE: Ermak Kardanov over #7 Feyzullah Akturk

BRONZE: #4 Osman Nurmagomedov over Arashk Yoshida