February 2020 Men's Freestyle International Rankings

Photo courtesy of Kadir Caliskan/United World Wrestling

57 KG

#12 Azamat Tuskaev (RUS) was the biggest mover of the month off the strength of his Yarygin title. Tuskaev, bronze at the Alans in December had an excellent title run at the Yarygin that saw him beat Zhargal Damdinov (RUS), #16 Aleksandr Sabanov (RUS), #15 Ramiz Gamzatov (RUS), and #5 Akhmed Idrisov. For his performance, Tuskaev takes the #5 spot. 2019 Russian Nationals champ #15 Ramiz Gamzatov (RUS) hada  strong run to bronze beating #16 Alexander Sabanov (RUS), #17 Abubakr Mutaliev (RUS), and Zhargal Damdinov (RUS). 2019 Ziolkowski champ #14 Aryan Tyutrin (RUS) took bronze over Petr Konstantinov (RUS).

2018 61 KG world champ #11(61) Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez (CUB) made the cut down to 57 KG to wrestle 2x U-23 world champ #12 Reineri Andreu Ortega (CUB) in the finals of the DRL between Nendingen and Ispringen. Andreu Ortega would come out on top in the battle of the two Cuban world champs, winning 8-4.

#3 Ravi Kumar (IND) wrestled up at 61 KG for the Yasar Dogu where he took gold and defeated fellow 2019 world bronze medalist #13(61) Nurislam Sanayev (KAZ). Georgi Vangelov (BUL) made major strides off his title run at the Yasar Dogu, beating U-23 world bronze medalist and Azerbaijan national champ #12 Afghan Khasalov (AZE) in the semifinals before winning the title with a tech fall win over Gulomjon Abdullaev (UZB) to take #11 in the rankings. U-23 world bronze medalist Alireza Sarlak (IRI) won the Takhti Cup title over 2019 European champ #17 Arsen Harutunyan (ARM).

The Matteo Pellicone saw major shakeups, with 2018 61 KG world bronze medalist Joe Colon (USA) upsetting 2019 European Games bronze medalist #10 Stevan Micic (SRB) 10-6 on his way to the finals where he would finish runner-up to a resurgent Thomas Gilman (USA), who avenged a loss from his 3 part series against returning world rep Daton Fix (USA) in the semis to make the finals. Off of this, Micic is dropped from the rankings because Colon who has the H2H win over him lost to Gilman who while he’s been continually flummoxed by the 3rd tier of Russian’s (Mutaliev) still has a strong body of work that outdoes Micic’s.

61 KG

#2 Magomedrasul Idrisov (RUS) and #4 Zelimkhan Abakarov (RUS) both moved up to 65 KG where they failed to place at the Yarygin, with Idrisov losing to eventual runner-up #8 (65) Soslan Ramonov (RUS) and Russian nationals bronze medalist #14(65) Murshid Mutalimov (RUS). Abakarov was outclassed by Russian nationals bronze medalist #17 Julian Gergenov (RUS).

Winning the Yarygin title and making the biggest jump up in the rankings was twelfth ranked Alexander Bogomoev (RUS), a past 3x Russian nationals champ. Bogomoev looked exceptional as he dispatched of #3 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RUS) and #1 Ramazan Ferzaliev (RUS) to win gold and climb all the way up to the top spot in the rankings. Ferzaliev, who looked more tentative than usual still had a perfectly fine Yarygin, beating #6 Kezhik Chimba (RUS), #7 Ibragim Abdurakhmanov (RUS), and #8 Shamil Omarov (RUS) to make the finals. In the repechage bracket, #7 Abdurakhamnov would win a tight match over #8 Shamil Omarov (RUS) and then got quickly tech falled by then unranked Kezhik Chimba (RUS) for bronze. Chimba, redhot off of wins over Junior world bronze medalist #20 Alik Khadartsev (RUS) and 2017 Russian nationals bronze medalist Omak Syuryun (RUS) bulldozed the 2019 Intercontinental Cup champ #7 Ibragim Abdurakhmanov (RUS) for bronze to take his spot at #6 in the rankings.

#3 (57) Ravi Kumar (IND) wrestled up at 61 KG for the Yasar Dogu where he took gold and defeated fellow 2019 world bronze medalist #13(61) Nurislam Sanayev (KAZ). #17 Arsen Harutunyan (ARM), a 2019 European championships gold medalists was dropped out of the rankings as he cut to 57 KG where he was a runner-up at the Takhti Cup to U-23 world bronze medalist Alireza Sarlak (IRI). #7 Behnam Ehsanpoor (IRI) was dropped from the rankings as he moved up to 65 KG where he wrestled at the Matteo Pellicone where he lost in a rematch of the 2015 world championships to eventual 5th place finisher Vasyl Shuptar (UKR).

2018 Cadet word champ Hamza Alaca continued to build on his momentum from last year that saw him take bronze at the Medved with a title at the Yasar Dogu. Alaca, who beat #12 Abbos Rakhmonov (UZB) at the Medved in 2019, was able to take the Yasar Dogu title in impressive fashion with wins over 2019 European championships bronze medalist #15 Recep Topal (TUR) and 2018 Junior European runner-up Valizada Intigam who clocks in at #18 for beating Muenir Recep Aktas (TUR) in the semis who was fresh off a win over eventual Yarygin bronze medalist #14 (57) Aryan Tyutrin (RUS). For his strong work, Alaca slots in at #11 behind #10 Artem Gebek (RUS), who defeated him in last year’s Medved finals. Alik Khadartsev (RUS) slots in at #20 for beating Takhti Cup champ Nyurgun Aleksandarov (RUS) at the Yarygin.

65 KG

#13 Kurban Shiraev (RUS) made the biggest impression of anyone in what was an absolutely loaded 65 KG Yarygin bracket. Winning a tight 1-1 match over returning Russian national runner-up #7 Naachin Kuular (RUS) in the semifinals, he would dispose of 2x World/Olympic champ #4 Soslan Ramonov (RUS) who had defeated him in December to take the Alans title. For his impressive performance, Shiraev is able to skyrocket up the rankings seven spots to #6.

#8 Naachin Kuular (RUS) avenged two prior loses to #10 Akhmed Chakaev (RUS) in spectacular fashion with a 9-4 win that included one of the best throws of the tournament. Kuular, after a heartbreaking 1-1 loss to eventual champ #6 Kurban Shiraev in the finals took bronze with a 4-1 win over Nyamdorj Battulga (MGL), who had an impressive run on the backside of the bracket disposing of Artur Badtiev (RUS) and Islam Dudaev (RUS).

#10 Akhmed Chakaev (RUS) had one of the most exhilarating matches of the tournament against Alans bronze medalist #15 Sayin Kazyryk that saw both exchange huge throws. Chakaev would win late with a 16-13 score off the strength of clutch exposure. Chakaev, suffering from injuries throughout the whole tournament, would than go on to lose to #8 Naachin Kuular (RUS) 9-4 in the quarters.

#20 Dasha Sharastepanov (RUS) made an impressive run to bronze, beating U.S. Open runner-up Joseph McKenna (USA) in a controversial match on his way to the semis where he would lose to eventual runner-up #7 Soslan Ramonov (RUS) but than go on to take an statement making 10-7 win over returning Russian Nationals bronze medalist #11 Murshid Mutalimov (RUS), who was coming off a pin win over fellow returning Russian Nationals bronze medalist #17 Julian Gergenov (RUS) in repechage. For his work, Sharastepanov moves up eight spots in the rankings to #12. 

2018 U-23 world champ Ali Rahimzade (AZE) won the Yasar Dogu over Edemi Bolkvadze (GEO). The Matteo Pellicone saw world bronze medalist #4 Bajrang Punia (IND) return to action and cap off an impressive run that saw him avenge a loss to Vasyl Shuptar and beat an absolute murderer’s row of U.S. talent in the form of #16 Zain Retherford (USA), Jordan Oliver (USA), and Joey McKenna. In the repechage, #16 Retherford would win 10-5 over U.S. Open runner-up Joey McKenna and then go on to take bronze in a back and forth match with Vasyl Shuptar (UKR).

2016 Olympian Meysam Nasiri (IRI) won the Takhti Cup with a strong win over Iranian world rep Amir Mohammadi Yazdani Charati (IRI).

#8 Israil Kasumov (RUS), long time one of Russia’s best talents, finally appeared to put it together as the 3x Russian nationals runner-up beat second ranked Alans champ #2 Cherman Valiev (RUS) and dethroned reigning world champ #1 David Baev (RUS) in the finals to avenge a tech fall loss from last year’s Russian nationals to take the top spot in the rankings and win his fourth career Yarygin title. Taking bronze was #5 Evgeni Zherbaev (RUS) who won 8-4 over a resurgent Arpak Sat (RUS) and #2 Cherman Valiev (RUS) who pinned Aleksii Borovitskii (RUS).

The Yarygin saw 2018 Russian nationals runner-up Arpak Sat (RUS) return to relevance as he absolutely hammered #3 Aznaur Tavaev 13-8 to move onto the quarters against returning world champ #1 David Baev where he was teched 12-2. Sat would follow that up by losing 8-4 to returning Russian nationals bronze medalist #5 Evgeni Zherbaev. While not coming away with a medal, Sat still proved that he has gas left in the tank and for that he returns to the rankings at #16. For his loss to Sat, #3 Aznaur Tavaev (RUS) drops nine spots in the rankings to #12

Competing for the first time for Uzbekistan, 2015 Russian nationals champ Ilyas Bekbulatov (RUS) would impress on his way to the Yasar Dogu, tech falling #8 Heydar Yavuz (TUR) in the finals. For his work, Bekbulatov, ranked 17th to end 2019 at 65 KG, enters the 70 KG rankings at #4. Heydar Yavuz (TUR) stopped redhot Servet Coskun (TUR) in the semis of the Yasar Dogu to go along with avenging a loss from the world championships to returning european runner-up #10 Agaguseynov Mustafaev (AZE) to slot in at the #8 spot in the rankings. Coskun, returning from an almost 4 year lay off looked exceptional on his return upsetting a pair of Georgian world champs in the form of #7 Mirza Skhulukhia (GEO) and #15 Zurab Iakobishvili (GEO). Coskun would take fifth after losing to eventual runner-up #8 Heydar Yavuz (TUR) in the semis and to #10 Agaguseynov Mustafaev (AZE) for bronze. 

Amir Hosseini (IRI), the 2019 junior world champ, won the 70 KG Takhti Cup bracket.

74 KG

2x 79 KG world champ #1(79) Kyle Dake (USA) made the cut back down to 74 KG. Dake looked dominant in winning the Matteo Pellicone memorial with a 30 second tech fall in the finals against 2x World/Olympic bronze Soner Demirtas (TUR). Dake sits at #2 in the rankings behind reigning two time world champ Zaurbek Sidakov. Turkish national champ Fatih Eryilmaz (TUR) debuts in the rankings at #20 for taking bronze at the Matteo Pellicone where he beat #16 Azamat Nurikov (BLR) to go along with his December win over Demirtas in the Turkish national finals.

#5 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (RUS) was absolutely dominant in winning the Yarygin, taking the title over U-23 world champ #6 Razambek Zhamalov (RUS) 3-1 in the finals. Gazimagomedov handled #4 Khetik Tsabolov (RUS) 8-2 and teched 2x Russian nationals bronze medalist #15 Nikita Suchkov (RUS) 10-0 in the semis. #6 Zhamalov looked impressive as well, dominating #8 Magomed Kurbanaliev 8-0 in a rematch from the 2018 Alans that was won by Kurbanaliev at 70 KG. Along with his win over Kurbanaliev, the returning 70 KG national runner-up also notched his second win over 2019 European championships bronze medalist #7 Timur Bizhoev (RUS).

Alipasha Umarpashaev (BUL) made a major statement in winning the Yasar Dogu, taking out European Games bronze medalist #10 Khadzhimurad Gadzhiev (AZE), 2016 65 KG Olympic runner-up #13 Toghrul Asgarov (AZE) and #19 Giorgi Sulava (GEO). For his impressive work, Umarpashaev debuts in the rankings at #10. Asgarov, making his return from an injury suffered at the Tbilisi GP last year turned heads in a 5-4 win over 2x World bronze medalist #11 Bekzod Abdurakhmanov (UZB) in the opening round of the Yasar Dogu. Asgarov would forfeit out to 5th after losing to Umarpashaev.

Giorgi Sulava (GEO), a national runner-up to 2018 world runner-up #10 Avtandil Kentchadze (GEO), and bronze at the U-23 world championships looked exceptional on his way to the finals of the Yasar Dogu, tech falling 2019 Yarygin runner-up #17 Yakup Gor (TUR) to make the finals where he would fall to #10 Alipasha Umarpashaev (BUL). For the work he did at the Yasar Dogu, Sulava debuts in the rankings at #19.

#15 Darsam Dzhaparov (RUS) beat #16 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (BLR) in the finals of the DRL.

Mostafa Hosseinkhani, 2016 70 KG world bronze medalist, won the Takhti Cup bracket.

79 KG

With #1 Kyle Dake (USA) cutting back down to 74 KG and the bulk of ranked athletes competing at the Yarygin, there was bound to be a new #1 ranked wrestler, and that wrestler is Magomed Ramazanov.

Ramazanov, fifth ranked at 86 kilograms where he is a returning Russian nationals bronze medalist, made the cut back down to 79 KG where was the favorite going into nationals last year before making a sudden move up. Ramazanov put together an absolutely exceptional run to gold, beginning by beating #4 Atsamaz Sanakoev, than #20 Malik Shavaev, #2 Khalil Aminov, and #3 Kakhaber Khubezhty went on to beat 2018 Yarygin champ and world bronze medalist #2 Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov for gold. Sanakoev’s repechage bracket would see Sanakoev win a tight one over Shavaev, than fall to #2 Aminov who would than go on to beat #3 Kakhaber Khubezhty for bronze 12-9. On his way to bronze, Aminov won 2-1 over returning world bronze medalist #6 Gadzhi Nabiyev, who dropped to #10 due to his lack of good wins in the past year and recent string of losses. 

Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov, the returning Yarygin champ, would be successful in making the Yarygin finals, beating out Russian Nationals bronze medalist #8 Khalid Yakhiev (RUS) and 2x U-23 European champ #7 Radik Valiev (RUS) but in the finals he would fall 1-1 to Magomed Ramazanov, putting him at #2 upon the return to the weight. #8 Yakhiev beat #7 Valiev to take the #6 spot in the rankings.

A notable upset was #17 Dmitri Zainiidinov’s utter demolition of fifth ranked Tazhidin Akaev and for his win Zainiidinov moved all the way up to #8 in the rankings. Zainiidinov also has a past win over #3 Khalil Aminov at the Ugra Cup.

U-23 world runner-up #11 Abubakar Abakarov won the Yasar Dogu. Ali Savadkohi (IRI) won the Takhti Cup.

86 KG

#2 Artur Naifonov won the Yarygin with a tight win over European Games champ #4 Dauren Kurugliev. Out of Kurugliev’s bracket, Magomedsharif Biikaev took bronze, while 2x Russian nationals bronze medalist #13 Arsenali Musalaliev took bronze on Naifonov’s side. 

The Matteo Pellicone saw Zahid Valencia’s debut in the rankings as the two time NCAA champ for the Arizona State Sun Devils looked spectacular in tech falling the 2018 world runner-up Fatih Erdin (TUR) in the semis, who was coming off a upset win over #8 Myles Amine (SMR) in the qualification round. Valencia would defeat #19 Alex Dieringer (USA) 7-5 in the finals. Valencia and Erdin were the major movers from the Matteo Pellicone which makes it so that Valencia is at #6 in the rankings, Erdin at #9 (for wins over Valiev, Amine, Baranowski, Yasar), and Amine drops two spots to #10 in the rankings.  Eighth ranked Dato Marsagishvili moved back up to 92 KG where he was runner-up to 2017 97 KG world bronze medalist Aslanbek Alborov (AZE) at the Yasar Dogu.

The next big shakeup in the rankings happened at the Yasar Dogu where 3x World/Olympic medalist #17 Selim Yasar (TUR) won the tournament over Akhmed Magamaev (BUL) who beat #10 Jabrayil Hasanov (AZE) 11-7 in the semis. What this does is it bumps up Yasar four spots in the rankings to #13 and Magamaev debuts in the rankings at #14. Two of the big movers from their body of work were Azamat Dauletbekov (KAZ) and Arsenali Musalaliev (RUS) who were ranked 12th and 13th respectively but with the fluctuation of the field they are now at 7th and 8th. Dauletbekov for his wins over Musalaliev and Yasar last year, and Musalaliev for his wins over Hasanov, Shabanov, Zhabrailov, Kurugliev, and Baranowski.

Ahmad Bazrigaleh won the Takhti Cup. 

92 KG

#5 Bo Nickal (USA) moved up to 97 KG where he wrestled at and failed to place at the Matteo Pellicone. #8 (97) Alikhan Zhabrailov (RUS) returned to the weight where he was a 2019 world bronze medalist and impressed in making the Yarygin finals where he tech falled #7 Anzor Urishev (RUS) in the semis. #8(86) Dato Marsagishvili (GEO) moved back up to 92 KG where he was runner-up to #16(97) Aslanbek Alborov (AZE) and beat #11 Shamil Zubairo (AZE). Alborov, beat returning world bronze medalist #8 Irakli Mtsituri (GEO) 2-1 to make the finals. Marsagishvili is back in at #6 while Alborov is at #5.

#6 Batyrbek Tsakulov had a very strong Yarygin that saw him take the title with wins over Radik Nartikoev, #3 Magomed Kurbanov, and #4 Alikhan Zhabrailov. Tsakulov moves up three spots in the rankings to #3 with his title winning performance. Radik Nartikoev’s bronze medal winning run at the Yarygin was of note, as he beat both #10 Aslanbek Sotiev (RUS) and #3 Magomed Kurbanov (RUS) to take home hardware and stake his place in the rankings at #9. #10 Anzor Urishev (RUS) took bronze with a win over Abdimanep Baighenzheyev (KAZ).

Hossein Jalili Nedad (IRI) beat #2 Alireza Karimimachiani (IRI) 5-0 back in December at the World Club Cups and it is due to the author’s incompetence that he was not ranked earlier. #8 Javad Ebrahimi (IRI) won the Takhti Cup with a 2-1 win over #17 Hossein Shahbazigazvar (IRI).

97 KG

The biggest story of the month was #7 Mohammad Mohammadian (IRI) and his absolutely dominating run through the Matteo Pellicone that saw him pin 3x World/Olympic champ #2 Kyle Snyder (USA), tech 92 KG U-23 world champ Bo Nickal (USA), and hammer European championships runner-up #8 Aleksandr Hushtyn (BLR) 9-0 in the finals. For his run, Mohammadian goes up five spots in the rankings behind reigning 5x World/Olympic champ #1 Abdulrashid Sadulaev (RUS). #2 Kyle Snyder (USA) falls one spot to #3 as he rebounded with a bronze medal after beating 2018 world bronze medalist Abraham De Jesus Conyedo Ruano (ITA) 12-1.

#6 Vladislav Baitsaev (RUS) was pushed to the limit in his Yarygin finals match against 2018 junior world champ Magomedkhan Magomedov, who made the finals off an upset win over returning champ #16 Shamil Musaev (RUS). For his efforts, Magomedov enters the rankings at #15 ahead of Musaev.

Albert Saritov (ROU) won the Yasar Dogu with wins over #10 Magomed Ibragimov (UZB) and Givi Matcharashvili (GEO) to take the #9 spot in the rankings along with getting revenge against Ibragimov for his loss at last year’s world championships. #12 Mojitaba Goleij (IRI) won the Takhti Cup over Javad Naziri (IRI) and in the quarterfinals he beat #13 Ali Khalil Shahbanibengar (IRI). 

125 KG

2018 world bronze medalist Parviz Hadi (IRI) returned to action with a Takhti Cup title with wins over #9 Yadollah Mohebbi (IRI) and Amin Taheri (IRI), after being out since the beginning of last year where he won the Dan Kolov over 2019 world bronze medalist #7 Oleksandr Khotsianivski. Hadi returns to the rankings at #3. #4 Bilyal Makhov has been removed after reports of a failed drug test due to growth hormone have come in. #6 Amir Zare won the Matteo Pellicone in impressive fashion over resurgent 3x World champ #4 Bilyal Makhov. #11 Jamaladdin Magomedov (AZE) won the Yasar Dogu over Tenju Gemici (TUR) who upset #8 Khasanboy Rakhimov (UZB) in the semis. Gemici debuts at #18 in the rankings for his win. #12 Baldan Tszyhipov (RUS) won the Yarygin over #17 Pavel Krivstov (RUS). 

P4P

#8 Kyle Snyder’s loss to Mohammad Mohammadian (IRI) drops him four spots in the P4P to #12 and the reasoning for this is that for the past two years, Snyder has been accumulating losses and while he’s proven to be a solid top 3 guy at 97 KG he is not wrestling at the level that saw him win three straight World/Olympic titles and this isn’t because he’s gotten worse it’s just the top guys at the field are better than him, and to favor him as a runner-up and bronze over the resume of a reigning two time world champ like Zavur Uguev at 57 KG seems somewhat ludicrous. Mohammad Mohammadian (IRI) debuts in the P4P at #13 after winning the Matteo Pellicone Memorial where he pinned formerly eighth ranked Kyle Snyder (USA).

 #17 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (RUS) moves up four spots to #13 after winning the Yarygin in impressive fashion with wins over #19 Khetik Tsabolov and #23 Razambek Zhamalov (RUS). Yarygin champ Israil Kasumov (RUS), the new top ranked 70 KG wrestler in the world, sits at #16 in the P4P for his H2H win at the Yarygin over #13 David Baev (RUS) who fell #17 for the Kasumov loss. Razambek Zhamalov debuts in the P4P at #23 for his most recent dominating 8-0 win over #18 Magomed Kurbanaliev (RUS) along with his past win in 2019 over #17 David Baev (RUS)