January 2021 Men's Freestyle International Rankings

65 KG Individual World Cup champion Vazgen Tevanyan of Armenia

57 KG

2020 Indivudal World Cup Results
GOLD: #1 Zavur Uguev (RUS) over Arsen Harutyunyan (ARM) 10-0

BRONZE: Andrey Yatsenko (UKR) over #16 Stevan Micic (SRB) 4-2

BRONZE: Rahman Amouzadkhalili (IRI) over Vladislav Andreev (BLR) 4-0

UPDATE: Because I failed to include the WRTC event that saw Seth Gross (USA) beat 2017 world silver medalist #6 Thomas Gilman (USA) in the main event 4-4,the rankings have been updated to include Gross at #17 and drop Gilman two spots to #8 below Cuban world champions Reineri Andreu Ortega and Yowyls Bonne Rodriguez. 2019 European Games runner-up #16 Stevan Micic (SRB) has been removed from the rankings.

The individual world cup saw #1 Zavur Uguev (RUS) won his third consecutive world title in a dominating performance, outscoring  his opposition 45-1 with 4 tech falls and 1 pin. There were some shakeups to the top ten as a result of the round of 16 loss of 2019 world bronze medalist #5 Ravi Kumar (IND) to 2019 Junior European championships bronze medalist Gamzatgadzhi Halidov (HUN) and #3 Rei Higuchi (JPN) losing in the semifinals of the All-Japan championships to 2019 Junior Asian champion Yuto Takeshita (JPN) and rebounding to win bronze over 2019 61 KG Asian championships bronze medalist Yudai Fujita (JPN). 

First off, Higuchi drops two spots into the rankings to #5 for his loss while 2017 world champion Yuki Takahashi (JPN) moves up three spots to #15 for winning the All-Japan championships over Yuto Takeshita (JPN) and Yuto Takeshita (JPN) debuts in the rankings at #20 for his win over #3 Rei Higuchi (JPN). From the fallout of the individual world cup, runner-up Arsen Harutyunyan (ARM) enters the rankings at #17 for his wins over #16 Stevan Micic (SRB) and 2017 world bronze medalist Andrey Yatsenko (UKR). #5 Ravi Kumar (IND) drops four spots to #9 after his loss to Gamzatgadzhi Halidov (HUN), and Halidov didn’t make it into the rankings due to his loss to Micic in the quarterfinals coupled with a weaker resume than Yatsenko, Micic, or Takeshita. 

Winning Georgian nationals at 57 kilograms was 2019 Dan Kolov champion Beka Bujiashvili (GEO) who took the title with a victory over 2019 world championships representative Otari Gogava (GEO). Winning the Mindiashvili tournament at 57 kilograms Kezhik Seden (RUS) of the Tuva Republic over Tumetey Metke (RUS) of the Tuva Republic. Darkhan Ignatiev (RUS) of the Sakha Republic and Nachyn Mongush (RUS) of the Tuva Republic took bronze. 

61 KG

2020 Indivudal World Cup Results
GOLD: #1 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RUS) over #11 Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov (AZE) 5-1

BRONZE: #14 Georgi Vangelov (BUL) over Muhamad Ikromov (TJK) 9-8

BRONZE: Agustin Destribats (ARG) over Razmik Papikyan (ARM) 5-2

#1 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RUS) capped of his incredibly impressive year taking home gold at the Individual World Cup over one of the toughest wrestlers at 61 kilograms in #11 Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov (AZE), a 2016 world bronze medalist with multiple wins over 2018 world champion #8 (57) Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez (CUB) and a dominant tech fall win over #6 (65) Bajrang Punia (IND). 61 kilograms was also a very interesting weight in the emergence of strong contenders from traditionally non power countries for wrestling in the form of Agustin Destribats of Argentina and Muhammad Ikromov of Tajikistan. 

Destribats campaign to bronze began with a stunning pin win over #5 Ulukbek Zholdoshbekov (KGZ) that snowballed into a 6-6 criteria win in the quarterfinals over 2019 world bronze medalist Rahul Aware (IND) before being stopped in the semifinals by eventual champion #1 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RUS). For bronze, Destribats would face a streaking Razmik Papikyan (ARM), who earlier in the competition had upset 2019 Yarygin bronze medalist #15 Eduard Grigorev (POL) 8-7 in the round of 16. Destribats walked away with a 5-2 win and Argentina’s first medal at the men’s senior world championships. Ikromov, a transfer for Tajikistan by way of Dagestan, made major waves on his way to the bronze medal match by upsetting two time European championships bronze medalist #13 Recep Topal (TUR) in the qualification round and 2016 Olympian Ivan Guidea (ROU) in the quarterfinals but would be stopped 9-8 in his final match against #14 Georgi Vangelov (BUL) and take 5th. 

From all the breakdown of the individual world cup, what happens is the #11 Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov (AZE) moves up three spots to #8 in the rankings, #5 Ulukbek Zholdoshbekov (KGZ) falls five spots in the rankings to #10 for his loss to Agustin Destribats (ARG), who debuts in the rankings at #9 for his wins over #5 Ulukbek Zholdoshbekov (KGZ), Rahul Aware (IND) and Razmik Papikyan (ARM). Razmik Papikyan (ARM) debuts in the rankings at #17 for his win over #15 Eduard Grigorev (POL) who falls in the rankings three spots to #18 for his loss to Papikyan. Muhammad Ikromov (TJK) debuts in the rankings at #14 for his wins over #13 Recep Topal (TUR) and Ivan Guidea (ROU) while #13 Recep Topal (TUR) falls three spots to #16 for his loss to #14 Muhammad Ikromov (TJK). #14 Georgi Vangelov (BUL) moves up one spot to #13 for his win over #14 Muhammad Ikromov (TJK) in the bronze medal match of the individual world cup.

2020 Junior national champion #19 Fedor Baltuev (RUS) of Irkutsk won the Mindiashvili tournament over Petr Konstantinov (RUS) of the Sakha Republic. Bronze medalists at the Mindiashvili tournament were Kezhik Mongush (RUS) of the Tuva Republic and Russian nationals bronze medalist #17 Zhargal Damdinov (RUS) of Buryatia. Kodai Igawa (JPN) won the All-Japan championships with a 6-2 win over Shoya Shimae (JPN). Taking bronze was 2018 57 KG U-23 world champion Toshihiro Hasegawa (JPN) with a 10-0 win over Keita Shimizu (JPN). Ogawa defeated Hasegawa 5-0 in the semifinals. Taking gold at Georgian nationals was 2019 world champion #4 Beka Lomtadze (GEO) over Teimuraz Vanishvili (GEO), bronze medalists were Goderdzi Dzebisashvili (GEO) and Tornika Katamadze (GEO).

65 KG

2020 Indivudal World Cup Results
GOLD: Vazgen Tevanyan (ARM) over #9 Ismail Musukaev (HUN) 9-1

BRONZE: Gor Ogannesyan (UKR) over Nicolai Grahemz (MDA) 7-1

BRONZE: #4 Haji Aliyev (AZE) over Ilman Mukhtarov (FRA) 10-4

#1 Gadzhimurad Rashidov’s chances at a second consecutive world title were cut short after a loss in the round of 16 to #4 Haji Aliyev (AZE) that saw him seriously tweak his knee and have to injury default out of the tournament. Because of this, there wasn’t any real way to see how Rashidov would fare and because he is likely to have a substantial amount of recovery needed for his injury and 65 kilograms is always in fluctuation he had to be dropped four spots in the rankings to #5 to account for the activity of the weight. 

Vazgen Tevanyan (ARM) came out of absolutely nowhere to take gold over 2019 world bronze medalist #9 Ismail Musukaev (FRA) with a 9-1 win. Tevanyan did have strong wins leading up to the finals in the form of two tech falls over 2019 61 KG Yarygin runner-up Nikolai Okhlopkov (ROU) and 2019 Yasar Dogu runner-up Haji Ali (BRN) but him beating Musukaev, especially after Musukaev had beaten #4 Haji Aliyev (AZE) and #12 Nyurgun Skryabin (BLR) was a definite surprise. With all that being said, let’s go over the fallout from this bracket. #9 Ismail Musukaev (HUN) moves up to #2 after his runner-up finish to Tevanyan and his wins over #4 Haji Aliyev and #12 Nyurgun Skryabin (BLR) along with his past win over #2 Takuto Otoguro (JPN). Vazgen Tevanyan (ARM) takes the #1 spot after winning the Individual World Cup over #2 Ismail Musukaev (ARM). Ilman Mukhtarov (FRA) debuts in the rankings at #19 for his win over European Championships runner-up #12 Nyurgun Skryabin (BLR) in the repechage, and #12 Nyurgun Skryabin (BLR) falls 8 spots in the rankings to #20 for his loss to #19 Ilman Mukhtarov (FRA) in the repechage side of Musukaev’s bracket.

#3 Bajrang Punia (IND) competed twice in the United States. First winning the inaugural 150 pound cup with wins over James Green (USA), Patricio Lugo (USA), and Anthony Ashnault (USA) and then against two time world championships #19 Zain Retherford (USA) who he lost to 6-0. From this, Bajrang falls three spots in the rankings to #6 while Retherford climbs up seven spots in the rankings to #12. Taking gold at the Mindiashvili tournament at 65 kilograms was Aisen Potapov (RUS) of the Sakha Republic over Peter Pavlov (RUS) of the Sakha Republic, bronze medalists were Sayin Kazyrk (RUS) of the Tuva Republic and Erdem Sharastepanov (RUS) of Buryatia. Winning the All-Japan championships at 65 kilograms was Kaiki Yamaguchi (JPN) over Ryoma Ankaru (JPN) 2-1 and taking bronze was Kei Yonezawa (JPN) over Yujiro Ueno (JPN) 8-6. Wining Georgian nationals was Todua Shmagi (GEO) over Giorgi Choladze (GEO), finishing bronze was Tsotne Abalaki (GEO) and Shota Phartenadze (GEO).

70 KG

2020 Indivudal World Cup Results
GOLD: #3 Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (POL) over #7 Heydar Yavuz (TUR) by VIN 5-0

BRONZE: Arman Andreasyan (ARM) over #1 Cherman Valiev (RUS) by injury default

BRONZE: Islambek Orozbekov (KGZ) over #15 Gitinomagomed Gadzhiev (AZE) 6-5

#3 Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (POL) finishes his quad with a world title over #7 Heydar Yavuz (TUR). #1 Cherman Valiev (RUS) forfeited out of the semis and the bronze medal match so he falls two spots in the rankings to #3 while Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (POL) goes up to #1 and #4 Ilyas Bekbulatov (UZB) moves up two spots to #2. Islambek Orozbekov (KGZ) gets into the rankings for his win in the bronze medal match over #15 Gitinomagomed Gadzhiev (AZE) at #17 while Gadzhiev drops two spots to #18. 

Winning Georgian nationals was 2015 world championships representative David Tlashadze (GEO) over #12 Zurab Iakobishvili (GEO) and finishing bronze at Georgian nationals was Gia Avaliani (GEO) and David Patsianishvili (GEO). Tlashadze enters the rankings at #15 while Iakobishvili falls to #16. Winning the Mindiashvili tournament was 2019 Dan Kolov bronze medalist Viktor Rassadin (RUS) of the Sakha Republic over #13 Arpak Sat (RUS) of Krasnoyarsk. Taking bronze at the Mindiashvili tournament was Nikita Zhargalov (RUS) of Buryatia and Ildous Ginyatullin (RUS) of Tatarstan. Taking gold at the All-Japan championships was Jintaro Motoyama (JPN) over Hirotaka Abe (JPN) 8-3 with Takuma Taniyama (JPN) taking bronze over Hikaru Tokada (JPN) 3-0.

74KG

2020 Indivudal World Cup Results
GOLD: #1 Razambek Zhamalov (RUS) over #6 Frank Chamizo (ITA) 4-2

BRONZE: Taimuraz Salkazanov (SVK) over Murad Kuramagomedov (HUN) 2-2

BRONZE: #18 Fazil Eryilmaz (TUR) over Azamat Nurikov (BLR) 7-2

#1 Razambek Zhamalov (RUS) concluded his fantastic year with a senior world title over returning world runner-up, 2x world champion #6 Frank Chamizo (ITA) with a 4-2 in the individual world cup finals earned with a takedown in the last 10 seconds of the match. Zhamalov and Chamizo’s positions stay the same at #1 and #6 respectively, while the only change in the top five of the rankings is putting 5x World/Olympic champion #5 Jordan Burroughs (USA) to #4 over 2x 79 KG world champion #4 Kyle Dake (USA) because of Burrough’s numerous wins over Dake and the fact that Burrough’s bronze medal finishes at 74 KG world’s count for more than Dake’s two titles at 79 kilograms based off the quality of the depth of the field and also the somewhat important factor that the man has five World/Olympic titles. #11 Alipasha Umarpashaev (BUL), the 2020 Yasar Dogu champion this year fell 8-4 in the quarterfinals to 2019 Yarygin bronze medalist Azamat Nurikov (BLR) and from this loss falls to #16, while Nurikov returns to the rankings at #15 and Matteo Pellicone bronze medalist #18 Fazli Eryilmaz (TUR) climbs up in the rankings to #13 for his head to head win over Nurikov in the bronze medal match of the individual world cup. 

Taimuraz Salkazanov (SVK), a 2019 world bronze medalist at 79 kilograms,enters the rankings at #19 after his bronze medal run at the individual world cup that was highlighted by a 2-2 win in the bronze medal match over 2017 Intercontinental Cup Murad Kuramagomedov (HUN). 

Georgian nationals saw 2018 world runner-up Avtandil Kentchadze (GEO) take home gold with a win over Vladimir Gamkrelidze (GEO) with Tariel Gaphrindashvili (GEO) and Temur Beruashvili (GEO) finishing as bronze medalists. Taking home gold at the All-Japan championships was four time national champion at Yamanashi Gakuin University, Kirin Kinoshita (JPN) with a 7-4 win over Daichi Takatani (JPN). Taking bronze at the All-Japan championships was Yuto Miwa (JPN) over Kojiro Shiga (JPN) 10-0. Taking gold at the Mindiashvili tournament was #12 Nikita Suchkov (RUS) of Krasnoyarsk over 2019 Korkin champion Nadirbek Khizriev (RUS) of Krasnoyarsk. Taking bronze at the Mindiashvili was Buyan Tsyrenov (RUS) of Buryatia and Ayub Abregov (RUS) of Krasnoyarsk.

79 KG

2020 Indivudal World Cup Results
GOLD: #3 Akhmed Usmanov (RUS) over Muhammet Nuri Kotanoglu (TUR) 11-0

BRONZE: #1 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (BLR) over Baliyan Gourav (IND) 14-1

BRONZE: #20 Vasyl Mykhailov (UKR) over Akhsarbek Gulaev (SVK) 3-2

In regards to top side talent, this weight was kind of weak but delivered in a big way with a quarterfinal matchup between #1 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (BLR) and #3 Akhmed Usmanov (RUS) that was won 4-1 by Usmanov who would continue on to take gold with a dominating technical superiority victory over 2016 Junior European champion Muhammet Nuri Kotanoglu (TUR). What was a very interesting development here was the bottom half of the rankings that got shaken up quite a bit, with Muhammet Kotanoglu (TUR) entering in at #16 after his runner-up finish and his victories over Akhsarbek Gulaev (SVK) and #29 Vasyl Mykhailov (UKR). The victory of Gulaev is the especially relevant one here as Gulaev had upset Asian champion #1 Arsalan Budazhapov (KGZ) in the round of 16 and Mykhailov had upset 2019 Ali Aliev bronze medalist Rashid Kurbanov (UZB) 4-2 in the quarterfinals. Mykhailov won a tentative 3-2 match over Gulaev for bronze and what the performances of the trio of Kotanoglu, Gulaev, and Mykhailov do to the bottom half of the rankings is that as previously stated Kotanoglu is at #16 for wins over Gulaev and Mykhailov, Gulaev enters the rankings at #18, Mykhailov bumps up three spots to #17, and #14 Arsalan Budazhapov (KGZ) falls five spots in the rankings to #19. 

Taking gold at Georgian Nationals was 2018 U-23 world champion Nika Kentchadze (GEO) over Evsebi Shvelidze (GEO) with Gogi Mamiauri (GEO) and Tarsan Maisuradze (GEO) taking bronze. Winning the Mindiashvili tournament title was #11 Dmitri Zainiidinov (RUS) of Krasnoyarsk over Semen Tereschenko (RUS) over Krasnoyarsk. Taking bronze at the Mindiashvili tournament was Mikhail Boganov (RUS) of Khakassia and Buyanto Shadapov (RUS) of Buryatia. Winning the All-Japan championships title at 79 kilograms was Ryuki Yoshida (JPN) over Yudai Takashi (JPN) 8-7 with Taro Umebayashi (JPN) finishing bronze with a 5-0 win over Tatsuya Narita (JPN). 

86 KG

2020 Indivudal World Cup Results
GOLD: #3 Dauren Kurugliev (RUS) over #13 Zbigniew Baranowski (POL) 5-1

BRONZE: Osman Gocen (TUR) over Taimuraz Friev Naskideava (ESP) 11-8

BRONZE: #11 Piotr Ianulov (MDA) over Deepak Punia (IND) 4-1

#3 Dauren Kurugliev (RUS) finishes the quad with Russia’s first gold medal at 86 kilograms since #1 (97) Abdulrashid Sadulaev (RUS)’s gold in Rio. To do so, Kurugliev beat 2019 92 KG European runner-up Zbigniew Baranowski (POL), 2019 world runner-up Deepak Punia (IND) and 2019 European runner-up #11 Piotr Ianulov (MDA). The results of the individual world cup saw one big mover and that was #11 Piotr Ianulov (MDA) who during his bronze medal run at the Individual World Cup upset European championships bronze medalist #7 Boris Makov (SVK) to take the #7 spot to cap his excellent 2020 win that saw him also capture a title at the Ziolkowski with victories over #11 Zbigniew Baranowski (POL) and #12 Fatih Erdin (TUR).

Debuting in the rankings after their performance at the individual world cup, Osman Gocen (TUR) slots in at #16 for his bronze medal winning performance that was defined by wins over #16 Rasul Tikhaev (BLR) and 2018 world bronze medalist Taimuraz Friev Naskideava (ESP). 

#9 Dato Marsagishvili (GEO) fell out of the top ten as a result of his loss in the Georgian national finals to 2015 world bronze medalist Sandro Aminashvili (GEO). Marsagishvili falls to #13 in the rankings, while Aminashvili takes the #19 spot for his win over Marsagishvili. Finishing bronze at the Georgian national championships was Saba Chikhradze (GEO) and Zaur Beradze (GEO). Taking gold at the Mindiashvili tournament was Azret Ulimbashaev (RUS) of Krasnoyarsk over Turpal-Ali Eldarov (RUS) of Tatarstan. Bronze medalists at the Mindiashvili tournament were Dmitry Ekimenko (RUS) of Kemerovo and Matvey Ekomaskin (RUS) of Novosibirsk. 2019 U-23 world bronze medalist, 2x national champion for Nihon University, Hayato Ishiguro (JPN) won gold at the All-Japan championships with a 8-2 win over Shota Shirai (JPN) after finishing as runner-up the year before to Sosuke Takatani (JPN). Finishing bronze at the All-Japan championships was Yajiro Yamasaki (JPN) with a 2-1 win over Tatsuya Shirai (JPN).

92 KG

2020 Indivudal World Cup Results
GOLD: #2 Alikhan Zhabrailov (RUS) over #12 Georgi Rubaev (MDA) 6-0

BRONZE: #10 Erhan Yaylaci (TUR) over Gadzhimurad Magomedsaidov (AZE) 4-2

BRONZE: Samuel Scherrer (SUI) over Arkady Pogosyan (BLR) 8-4

#1 Alireza Karimimachiani (IRI) has been removed from the rankings due to inactivity as his last competition was December of 2019 at the Club World Championships. #12 Geori Rubaev (MDA) made the most of his individual world cup making the finals with wins over Ziolkowski champion #10 Erhan Yaylaci (TUR) and 2019 U-23 world silver medalist Gadzhimurad Magomedsaidov (AZE) to move up three spots in the rankings to #9. In a rematch of the 2019 world bronze medal match, #2 Alikhan Zhabrailov (RUS) controlled Rubaev 6-0 and took home his first world title.

#16 Akhmed Magamaev (BUL) moved down to 86 KG where he was pinned by Abubakar Abakarov (AZE) in the round of 16 and with #1 Alireza Karimimachiani (IRI) being removed due to inactivity, two spots opened up in the rankings and they were taken by Sosuke Takatani (JPN) at #16 and Gadzhimurad Magomedsaidov (AZE) at #18. #16 Sosuke Takatani (JPN) won gold at the All-Japan championships with a 10-0 tech fall win over Ryoichi Yamanaka (JPN) with Yuto Izutsu (JPN) taking bronze with a 9-2 win over Satoshi Miura (JPN). 2019 world bronze medalist #7 Irakli Mtsituri (GEO) won Georgian nationals over Mirian Maisuradze (GEO), Merab Suleimanishvili (GEO) and Yuza Tsersvadze (GEO) took bronze. Nurgun Sergin (RUS) of Krasnoyarsk won the Mindiashvili tournament over Yuri Ivanov (RUS) of Irkutsk, Tsedash Dugarov (RUS) of Buryatia and Ivan Kirilov (RUS) of Kemerovo took bronze.

97 KG

2020 Indivudal World Cup Results
GOLD: #1 Abdulrashid Sadulaev (RUS) over #8 Aleksandr Hushtyn (BLR) by injury default

BRONZE: #9 Suleyman Karadeniz (TUR) over Valerii Andriitsev (UKR) 2-1

BRONZE: Ahmed Bataev (BUL) over #15 Shamil Zubairov (AZE) 8-1

#1 Abdulrashid Sadulaev (RUS) won his sixth World/Olympic title in dominant fashion, beating the best competition there was and there’s no more to say about it. The only man who looks to be able to challenge him is #2 J’den Cox (USA). 

The Individual World Cup didn’t see any changes in the top 10, but what did happen is that because Akhmed Bataev (BUL) beat #15 Shamil Zubairov (AZE), is that Zubairov falls out of the rankings and Bataev fills the #20 spot. Returning to the rankings after taking gold at the Mindiashvili tournament over #17 Maxim Tolmachev (RUS) is 2019 Russian national runner-up Igor Ovsaynnikov (RUS) at #15. All medalists from the Mindiashvili tournament (#15 Igor Ovysannikov, #17 Maxim Tolmachev, Nikita Akulinchev, and Lopsan Sambu) were from Krasnoyarsk. Winning the All-Japan championships was Naoya Akaguma (JPN) over Takashi Ishiguro (JPN) via a 10-0 technical superiority win, Takeshi Yamaguchi (JPN) took bronze with a 11-9 win over Taira Sonoda (JPN). Georgian nationals saw 2018 world bronze medalist #3 Elizbar Odikadze (GEO) take home gold with a win over 2018 U-23 world champion Givi Matcharashvili (GEO), taking bronze at Georgian nationals were Guram Endeladze (GEO) and Mamuka Kordazia (GEO). 

125 KG

2020 Indivudal World Cup Results
GOLD: #4 Shamil Sharipov (RUS) over #11 Robert Baran (POL) 4-1

BRONZE: Aiaal Lazarev (KGZ) over #16 Jamaladdin Magomedov (AZE) 11-0

BRONZE: Dzianis Khramiankov (BLR) over #9 Oleksandr Khotsianivski (UKR) 6-5

#1 Geno Petriashvili (GEO) won Georgian nationals over Zviad Metrevelli (GEO), Solomon Manashvili (GEO) and Roland Andriadze (GEO) took bronze. What this means is that even though #4 Shamil Sharipov (RUS) won the individual world cup and in impressive fashion, he still doesn’t have an argument to be made for #1 over the 3x World champ Petriashvili but he does get to be moved up two spots to #2. A big mover from the Individual World Cup was Dzianis Khramiankov (BLR) who took out 2019 world bronze medalist #9 Oleksandr Khotsianivski (UKR) in the bronze medal match to take the #9 spot. Khramiankov’s bronze at the Individual World Cup over #9 Khotsianivski and his title at the Henri Deglane over 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Ibragim Saidov (BLR) and his 2019 Medved bronze medal where he beat 2016 Olympic bronze medalist #11 (97) Magomed Ibragimov (UZB) are how he makes the top 10 in his first year of heavyweight.

Another guy who debuts in the rankings after a strong run at the Individual World Cup is Aiaal Lazarev (KGZ) after his wins over Amarveer Dhesi (CAN) and #16 Jamaladdin Magomedov (AZE). For his success, Lazarev debuts in the rankings at #17. 

Other important results that were occurred were 97 kilogram Russian nationals bronze medalist Erik Dzhioev (RUS) of Krasnoyarsk winning the Mindiashvili tournament over Denis Sedives (RUS) of Tuva Republic, Vladimir Kalashnikov (RUS) of Krasnoyarsk and Shota Kortiev (RUS) of Irkutsk took bronze. Winning gold at the All-Japan championships was Taiki Yamamoto (JPN) who beat Tetsuya Tanaka (JPN) 2-1 in the finals. Taking bronze at the All-Japan championships was Katsutoshi Kanazawa (JPN) with a 2-1 win over Akiho Mori (JPN). 

Pound-for-Pound

With #2 Gadzhimurad Rashidov’s (RUS) loss at the world championships and injury he has been dropped three spots in the rankings to #5, while #5 Zavur Uguev (RUS) moves up three spots to #2 after his third consecutive 57 KG world title. #8 Kyle Dake (USA) falls four spots in the rankings to #12 after I reviewed his body of work across 79 kilograms and prior and realized that while he has great wins (Cox and Taylor) they were before they matriculated to pound for pound status that they are and for his 2017 win over Burroughs, Burroughs ultimately beat him out in the series to get the 74 KG world team spot so it wouldn’t make sense to rank him higher over a guy who he’s never won a series against based off his career at a weaker weight class compared to 74 kilograms of 86 kilograms.

The events of the Individual World Cup at 70 kilograms and 65 kilograms did cause quite a bit of a shakeup, so what happened is that #22 Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (POL) moves up six spots to #16 after winning 70 KG, while #19 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (RUS) moves up four spots to #19 and the reason for this is because of Cherman Valiev’s injury default out in the 70 KG semis hurts him in saying he’s the definitive #1 guy at 70 kilograms even if he had a great season he failed to cap it off at world’s and can’t really be considered the top guy based off head to head for that reason.

Vazgen Tevanyan (ARM) makes his debut in the pound for pound rankings at #22 after beating Ismail Musukaev (HUN), who returns to the pound for pound rankings at #23 after defeating 3x World champion #21 Haji Aliyev (AZE). 61 KG Individual World Cup champion #2 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RUS) was moved up four spots to #20 while 57 KG Russian National championships runner-up #23 Azamat Tuskaev (RUS) was moved up two spots to #21.