January 2024 International Men's Freestyle Rankings

57 KG

#4 Zavur Uguev (RUS) beat 2021 Senior World runner-up Alireza Sarlak (IRI) 7-0 in the finals of the Iranian Pro League. Nodir Zhumanazarov (UZB) won the Uzbekistan National Championships. Roberti Dingashvili (GEO) won the Georgian National Championships over Beka Bujiashvili (GEO) with Luka Gvindzhilia (GEO) and Ramaz Turmanidze (GEO) taking bronze. #20 Spencer Lee (USA) won the U.S. Senior Nationals over Nico Megaludis. Liam Cronin (USA) took third at Senior Nationals over Daniel DeShazer (USA), Luke Lilledahl (USA) took fifth over Josh Rodriguez (USA), Gary Steen (USA) took seventh by injury default over Brandon Courtney (USA).

Kento Yumiya (JPN) won the Emperor’s Cup over Rikuto Arai (JPN) with Yudai Fujita (JPN) and Daito Katsume (JPN) taking bronze. #9 Toshihiro Hasegawa (JPN) moved up to 65 KG where he took bronze at the Emperor’s Cup. Islam Bazarganov (AZE) won the Azerbaijan National Championships over Elman Agayev (AZE) with Makhir Amiraslanov (AZE) and Mahir Mamezade (AZE) taking bronze.

61 KG

#3 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RUS) won his match at the Iranian Pro League over Ali Golizadegan (IRI) 10-0. Sardor Ruzimov (UZB) won the Uzbekistan National Championships. #15 Seth Gross (USA) moved up to 65 KG where he took fourth at Senior Nationals. Georgi Goniashvili (GEO) won Georgian Nationals over Omar Gazishvili (GEO) with Nika Zakashvili (GEO) and Tazo Sulamanidze (GEO) taking bronze. #13 Reza Atri (IRI) won the Iranian National Championships.

#20 Kaisei Tanabe (JPN) won the Emperor’s Cup over Yuto Nishiuchi (JPN) with #13 Kodai Ogawa (JPN) and Kosei Ide (JPN) taking bronze. Yuto Nishiuchi (JPN) beat #13 Kodai Ogawa (JPN) in the semifinals and #20 Tanabe beat Nishiuchi in the finals so Tanabe moves eight spots in the rankings to #12, Nishiuchi debuts at #13 and Ogawa drops two spots to #14. Nuraddin Novruzov (AZE) won the Azerbaijan National Championships over Ruslan Abdullaev (AZE) with Jeyhun Allahverdiev (AZE) and Jamal Abbasov (AZE) taking bronze.

65 KG

#2 Shamil Mamedov (RUS) pinned 2020 Olympian Morteza Ghiasi (IRI) in the finals of the Iranian Pro League. Abbos Rakhmonov (UZB) won the Uzbekistan National Championships. Goderji Dzebashvili (GEO) won the Georgian National Championships over Eden Bolkvadze (GEO) with Georgy Shonia (GEO) and David Kobuladze (GEO) taking bronze.

#15 Andrew Alirez (USA) won the U.S. Senior Nationals over Beau Bartlett (USA). #12 Joey McKenna (USA) took third at Senior Nationals over Seth Gross (USA). Austin DeSanto (USA) took fifth at Senior Nationals over Alec Pantaleo (USA). Ian Parker (USA) took seventh by injury default over Aden Valencia (USA). #15 Andrew Alirez (USA) moves up seven spots in the rankings to #8 for winning the U.S. Senior Nationals over Beau Bartlett (USA), who debuts at #15 for beating #12 Joey McKenna (USA), in the semifinals of Senior Nationals. Alirez’s top eight ranking is also earned due to past wins over #9 Haji Aliyev (AZE) at the Ziolkowski Memorial this year and a win over #16 Joey McKenna (USA) at the 2020 U.S. Senior Nationals.

Abbas Ibrahimzadeh (IRI) won Iranian Nationals. Ali Rahimzade (AZE) won the Azerbaijan National Championships over Ziraddin Bayramov (AZE) with Murad Khagverdiev (AZE) and Musa Agayev (AZE) taking bronze.

Kotaro Kiyooka (JPN) debuts in the rankings at #14 for beating #5 Takoto Otoguro (JPN) in the semifinals of the Emperor’s Cup and going on to win the Emperor’s Cup over Masanosuke Ono (JPN). Bronze medalists at the Emperor’s Cup were Toshihiro Hasegawa (JPN) and Takumi Akiyama (JPN). #5 Takoto Otoguro (JPN) drops out of the rankings due to his semifinal loss to #14 Kotaro Kiyooka (JPN) at the Emperor’s Cup along with a lack of ranked wins in the past two years and injury plagued inactivity that has hurt his resume compared to more active wrestlers. When Otoguro is healthy again and wrestles to the caliber he is capable of, he will be ranked. Until then, he will stay unranked.

70 KG

#5 Inalbek Sheriev (RUS) pinned #2 Amir Mohammad Yazdani (IRI) in the finals of the Iranian Pro League to move up three spots to #2 behind 2023 Senior World Champion Zain Retherford (USA). Begizhon Kuldoshev (UZB) won the Uzbekistan National Championships. Akaki Kemertelidze (GEO) debuts in the rankings at #15 for beating #16 Giorgi Elbakidze (GEO) in the finals of the Georgian National Championships. Bronze medalists at the Georgian National Championships were Levan Kelekhsashvili (GEO) and Goga Otinashvili (GEO).

Two-time Russian Nationals champion #15 Israil Kasumov (RUS) moved up to 74 KG and has been removed from the rankings. Mohammad Amouzad (IRI) debuts in the rankings at #20 for winning the Iranian National Championships. #7 Yoshinosuke Aoyagi (JPN) won the Emperor’s Cup over Keiji Watanbe (JPN) with Kanata Yamaguchi (JPN) and Ryota Uchiyama (JPN) taking bronze. #19 Kanan Heybatov (AZE) won the Azerbaijan National Championships over Murad Evloev (AZE) with Sabir Jafarov (AZE) and Magomed-Bashir Khaniev (AZE) taking bronze.

74 KG

Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (RUS) won his match against #14 Younes Emami (IRI) in the finals of the Iranian Pro League. Gazimagomedov does not return to the rankings due to the fact that he is retired and coaching. #16 Ilyas Bekbulatov (UZB) won the Uzbekistan National Championships. Georgi Gogrichiani (GEO) won the Georgian National Championships over Luka Chkhitunidze (GEO) with Georgi Burjanadze (GEO) and Otari Bagauri (GEO) taking bronze.

Quincy Monday (USA) won Senior Nationals over Alex Marinelli (USA). Alex Facundo (USA) took third over Jarret Jacques (USA), Tyler Berger (USA) took fifth over Terrel Barraclough (USA), Joey LaValee (USA) took seventh over Joe Sealey (USA). Hossein Abuzari (IRI) joins the rankings at #19 for winning the Iranian National Championships plus having a semifinal win over #3 (70) Amir Mohammad Yazdani (IRI).

Syrbaz Talgat (KAZ) won the Oil Capital Cup over Magomed-Bashir Khaniev (AZE) with Asomiddin Khasanov (UZB) and Kanat Musabekov (KAZ) taking bronze. Kota Takahashi (JPN) won the Emperor’s Cup over Kojiro Shiga (JPN) with Daiju Suzuki (JPN) and Shoto Kaneko (JPN) taking bronze. Dzhabrail Gadzhiev (AZE) takes the #20 spot in the rankings for winning the Azerbaijan National Championships over Aganazar Novruzov (AZE) with Akhmed Akhmedli (AZE) and Abulfaz Nasirov (AZE) taking bronze.

79 KG

#2 Akhmed Usmanov (RUS), #6 Ali Savadkouhi (IRI), #15 Vladimeri Gamkrelidze (GEO) and #17 Bolat Sakaev (KAZ) all moved up to 86 KG and have been removed from the rankings.

Ali Savadkouhi (IRI), then ranked sixth at 79 KG at the start of December, beat #2 Mohammad Nokhodi (IRI) in the finals of the Iranian Pro League 6-0. Zhasur Usmonokhunov (UZB) won the Uzbekistan National Championships. Avtandil Kentchadze (GEO) returns to the rankings at #5 for winning the Georgian National Championships over #17 Giorgi Sulava (GEO) to go along with wins over formerly sixth ranked Ali Savadkouhi (IRI), #10 (74) Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (BLR), #9 (74) Timur Bizhoev (RUS), three-time World/Olympic medalist Soner Demirtas (TUR), and three-time World/Olympic medalist Bekzod Abdurakhmanov (UZB). Bronze medalists at the Georgian National Championships were Otar Adeishvili (GEO) and Firuz Kvlividze (GEO).

Abdullah Azami (IRI) joins the rankings at #20 for winning the Iranian National Championships. Ryonosuke Kamiya (JPN) joins the rankings at #18 for beating 2023 74 KG Asian Games runner-up #19 Kirin Kinoshita (JPN) to win the Emperor’s Cup. Bronze medalists at the Emperor’s Cup were Subaru Takahara (JPN) and Taro Umebayashi (JPN). #3 Orkahn Abasov (AZE) won the Azerbaijan National Championships over Ali Tsokaev (AZE) with #15 Ashraf Ashirov (AZE) and Ramiz Hasanov (AZE) taking bronze.

86 KG

#1 (92) Mohammad Azimi (IRI) won his match in the finals of the Iranian Pro League against Javad Ebrahimi (IRI). #1 (92) Mohammad Azimi (IRI) debuts in the 86 KG rankings at #9 based off wins over #1 (92) Rizabek Aitmukhan (KAZ), #2 (92) Osman Nurmagomedov (AZE), and #14 (92) Mustafagadzhi Malachdibirov (RUS). Bobur Islamov (UZB) won the Uzbekistan National Championships. 2023 79 KG Senior World runner-up #15 (79) Vladimeri Gamkrelidze (GEO) won Georgian Nationals over Evsem Shvelidze (GEO) with Tariel Gaphrindashvili (GEO) and Tamas Nikoleishvili (GEO) taking bronze. Gamkrelidze stays unranked at 86 KG and has been removed from the 79 KG rankings.

Alex Dieringer (USA) won the U.S. Senior Nationals over Mark Hall (USA). Dieringer returns to the 86 KG rankings at #15 for past wins over #3 (92) Zahid Valencia (USA) and 2018 world runner-up Fatih Erdin (TUR). Max Dean (USA) took bronze at U.S. Senior Nationals over Connor Mirasola (USA). Evan Wick (USA) took fifth at Senior Nationals by injury default over David McFadden (USA). Taylor Lujan (USA) took seven at Senior Nationals by injury default over Marcus Coleman (USA).

#20 Hadi Vafaipour (IRI) won the Iranian National Championships over Ali Savadkouhi (IRI). Magomed-Takhir Khaniev (AZE) debuts in the rankings at #19 for beating 2023 79 KG world champion #2 (79) Akhmed Usmanov (RUS) and 2023 79 KG Asian Champion #17 (79) Bolat Sakaev (KAZ) to win the Oil Capital Cup. Bronze medalists at the Oil Capital Cup were Akhmed Usmanov (RUS) and Malik Shavaev (RUS).

#10 Hayato Ishiguro (JPN) won the Emperor’s Cup over Sosuke Takatani (JPN). Bronze medalists at the Emperor’s Cup were Yudai Takahashi (JPN) and Tatsuya Shirai (JPN). #19 Magomed-Takhir Khaniev (AZE) won the Azerbaijan National Championships over Arseni Dzhioev (AZE). Bronze medalists at the Azerbaijan National Championships were Sadik Mustafazadeh (AZE) and Ali Nurov (AZE).

92 KG

#1 Mohammad Azimi (IRI) moved down to 86 KG where he was victorious in his match in the Iranian Pro League finals against Javad Ebrahimi (IRI). 2023 92 KG Senior World Champion #2 Rizabek Aitmukhan (KAZ) moves up one spot to take the new #1 spot. #7 Amirali Azarpira beat #9 Amirhossein Firzourpour (IRI) at the Iranian Pro League finals, but Azarpira is currently ranked ninth after beating 2020 Olympian Mohammad Mohammadian (IRI) in the 97 KG Iranian National Championships finals. #5 Arash Yoshida (JPN) moved up to 97 KG where he won the Emperor’s Cup and is currently ranked 16th at 97 KG, off the strength of a win over Hibiki Ito (JPN) who beat formerly 18th ranked Takashi Ishiguro (JPN) in the semifinals of the Emperor’s Cup. #8 Kollin Moore (USA) is up at 97 KG where he won the U.S. Senior Nationals over Nathan Jackson (USA) and is currently ranked 17th at 97 KG.

Having covered all the athletes that moved up, back to covering the events and matches that took place in December. Sherzod Poyonov (UZB) won the Uzbekistan National Championships. 2022 Senior World bronze medalist Mirani Maisuradze (GEO) won Georgian Nationals over Yuza Tsertsvadze (GEO) with Georgi Romelashvili (GEO) and Andro Margishvili (GEO) taking bronze. Maisuradze (GEO) returns to the rankings at based off his Senior World bronze medal in 2022. #5 Amirhossein Firouzpour (IRI) won the Iranian National Championships. Satoshi Miura (JPN) won the Emperor’s Cup over Leon Kakegawa (JPN) with Takato Uchida (JPN) and Issa Kikuchi (JPN) taking bronze.

2018 U23 World Champion Shamil Zubairov (AZE) returns to the rankings at #13 after winning the Azerbaijan National Championships over Anar Jafarov (AZE) coupled with past wins over 2022 97 KG Russian Nationals champion Aslanbek Sotiev (RUS) and 2022 97 KG Senior World runner-up Batyrbek Tsakulov (SVK). Bronze medalists at the Azerbaijan National Championships were #15 Ibragim Yusubov (AZE) and Abduljalil Shahbanov (AZE).

97 KG

The new additions from the 92 KG rankings have been covered in depth on the 92 KG rankings explanation so I will not rehash them in the 97 KG explanation. Ahmed Bazrigaleh (IRI) won his match in the Iranian Pro League finals against Ali Shahbani (IRI) 11-0. #13 (86) Tazhidin Akaev (RUS) won the 97 KG Tournament of the Absolute Cup of Russia over Guram Chertkoev (RUS) with Aslanbek Gazzaev (RUS) and Batraz Gazzaev (RUS) taking bronze; Akaev would injury default in the absolute final against 125 KG champion Khasan Khubaev (RUS). Makhsud Veysalov (UZB) won the Uzbekistan National Championships.

Mamuka Kordazia (GEO) won the Georgian National Championships over 2019 92 KG Senior World bronze medalist Irakli Mtsituri (GEO) with Saba Gamtenadze (GEO) and Luka Khuchua (GEO) taking bronze. #17 Kollin Moore (USA) won the U.S. Senior Nationals over #18 Nathan Jackson (USA). Jay Aiello (USA) took bronze at Senior Nationals over Eric Schultz (USA), Tony Cassioppi (USA) took fifth over Jacob Warner (USA), Tyrie Houghton (USA) took seventh over Lou DePrez by injury default (USA).

#9 Amirali Azarpira (IRI) won the Iranian National Championships over #10 Mohammad Mohammadian (IRI). #16 Arash Yoshida (JPN) won the Emperor’s Cup over Hibiki Ito (JPN) with Takashi Ishiguro (JPN) and Genki Hoki (JPN) taking bronze. Gadzhimurad Magomedsaidov (AZE) won the Azerbaijan National Championships over Ravan Musayev (AZE) with Zafar Aliyev (AZE) and Aslan Abakarov (AZE) taking bronze.

125 KG

#6 Amir Masoumi Valadi (IRI) won in the Iranian Pro League finals over Yadollah Mohebi (IRI) 4-1. Khasan Khubaev (RUS) won the 125 KG bracket of the Absolute Cup of Russia over Znaur Kotsiev (RUS) with David Kabisov (RUS) and Andrey Bestaev (RUS) taking bronze. In the absolute cup finals against 97 KG champion #13 (86) Tazhidin Akaev (RUS), Khubaev won by injury default. Khasanboy Rakhimov (UZB) won the Uzbekistan National Championships.

#3 Geno Petriashvili (GEO) won the Georgian National Championships over Solomon Manashvili (GEO). Bronze medalists at the Georgian National Championships were Giga Shavadze (GEO) and Nika Berulava (GEO). Dom Bradley (USA) won Senior Nationals over Christian Lance (USA). Gary Traub (USA) took third at Senior Nationals over Demetrius Thomas (USA), Trent Hillger (USA) took fifth of Sam Schuyler (USA), Jacob Bullock (USA) took seventh over Daniel Erekson (USA).

#6 Amirreza Masoumi Valadi (IRI) won the Iranian National Championships. Taiki Yamamoto (JPN) won the Emperor’s Cup over Koki Yamamoto (JPN). Bronze medalists at the Emperor’s Cup were Ryusei Fujita (JPN) and Yuji Fukui (JPN). Vakhit Galaev (AZE) won the Azerbaijan National Championships over Yusif Darvanov (AZE) with Aydin Akhmedov (AZE) and Aykhan Mardanov (AZE) taking bronze.

Pound for Pound

#23 Akhmed Usmanov (RUS) was dropped from the rankings due to his 86 KG finals loss at the Oil Capital Cup to #19 (86) Magomed Takhir Khaniev (AZE). #24 Mohammad Nokhodi (IRI) was dropped from the rankings due to his loss to #19 (86) Ali Savadkouhi (IRI) in the finals of the 79 KG Iranian Pro League along with his loss to now unranked Akhmed Usmanov from the 2023 79 KG World Championships. 70 KG Senior World Champion Zain Retherford (USA) and 92 KG Senior World Champion Rizabek Aitmukhan (KAZ) take the #24 and #25 spot with the removal of Usmanov and Nokhodi.