June 2024 International Men's Freestyle Wrestling Rankings

57 KG

#8 Spencer Lee (USA) and Aman Aman (USA) made the finals of the World Olympic Games Qualifier. Wanhou Zou (CHN) beat Andrey Yatsenko (UKR) in the Olympic playoff match to qualify for the Paris Olympics. Aman Aman (IND) returns to the rankings at #15 for beating #15 Chansong Han (PRK) and #17 Andrey Yatsenko (UKR) at the World Olympic Games Qualifier. 2017 world bronze medalist Andrey Yatsenko (UKR) returns to the rankings at #17 for beating #19 Chansong Han (PRK) in the bronze medal match of the World Olympic Games Qualifier. Wanhou Zou (CHN) returns to the rankings at #16 for beating #17 Andrey Yatsenko (UKR) in the Olympic playoff match at the World Olympic Qualifier.

2024 61 KG Senior Russian Nationals bronze medalist #4 (61) Artem Gobaev (RUS) returns to the 57 KG rankings at #4 after winning the U23 European Championships over Muhammet Karavus (TUR). Bronze medalists at the U23 European Championships were Vladyslav Abramov (UKR) and Luka Gvinjilia (GEO).

61 KG

Only change to the rankings was #4 Artem Gobaev (RUS) being moved back down to 57 KG, and everyone below him getting a bump up in the rankings, getting a chance for U23 European runner-up Nikita Abramov (UKR) to join the rankings at #20. #6 Bashir Magomedov (RUS) won the U23 European Championships over #20 Nikita Abramov (RUS) with #18 Emre Kural (TUR) and Nuraddin Novruzov (AZE) taking bronze.

65 KG

2023 65 KG Senior World Champion #4 (70) Ismail Musukaev (HUN) returned to 65 KG and is currently ranked #1. #7 Islam Dudaev (ALB) and #11 Tulga Tumur Ochir (MGL) qualified for the Paris Olympics by making the finals of the World Olympic Qualifier. 2023 70 KG Senior World champion #8 Zain Retherford (USA) qualified for the Paris Olympics by winning his Olympic playoff match against Nyurgun Skryabin (BLR). Retherford rebounded from a round of 16 loss to #11 Tulga Tumur Ochir (MGL) with victories over #14 Abdulmazhid Kudiev (TJK), Alibeg Alibegov (BRN), and Sujeet Sujeet (IND) to qualify for his Olympic playoff match. #8 Zain Retherford (USA) falls four spots to #11 for his loss to #11 Tulga Tumur Ochir (MGL) who bumps up one spot to #10 for his victories over Retherford, Kudiev, Alibegov, and Skryabin.

#6 Ibragim Ibragimov (RUS) won the U23 European Championships over Khamzat Arsamerzouev (FRA) with Abdullah Toprak (TUR) and Serghei Cilic (MDA) taking bronze. Khamzat Arsamerzouev (FRA) debuts in the rankings at #20 form taking silver at the U23 European Championships. Arsamerzouev notched a key win over 2023 Junior world bronze medalist Abdullah Toprak (TUR) in the semis, after Toprak had upset Yasar Dogu runner-up #13 Musa Aghayev (AZE) in the quarterfinals. Aghayev falls out of the rankings for his loss to the unranked Toprak in the quarterfinals of the U23 European Championships. An interesting note is that Khamzat Arsamerzouev was the last man to beat 2023 57 KG world champion #1 (57) Stevan Micic (SRB). Arsamerzouev (FRA) defeated Micic at the 2023 65 KG European Championships in the round of 32 and was defeated in his next match by Stefan Comen (ROU).

70 KG

2023 65 KG world champion #4 Ismail Musukaev (HUN) has been removed from the 70 KG rankings and placed back at 65 KG where he is currently #1. 2023 70 KG Russian Nationals champion #9 Evgheni Zherbaev (RUS) has been removed from the rankings due to inactivity, as he has not competed since October of 2023.

#1 Inalbek Sheriev (RUS) won the U23 European Championships over #8 Kanan Heybatov (AZE) with Davit Patsinashvili (GEO) and Constantin Chirilov (MDA) taking bronze.

74 KG

Viktor Rassadin (TJK) and #7 Taimuraz Salkazanov (SVK) qualified for the Paris Olympics by making the finals of the World Olympic Games Qualifier. #8 Chermen Valiev (ALB) qualified for the Olympics by winning his Olympic playoff match against Soner Demirtas (TUR). Viktor Rassadin (TJK) enters the rankings at #8 for beating #8 Chermen Valiev (ALB) in the semifinals of the World Olympic Games Qualifier along with a win over #2 (70) Kurban Shiraev (RUS) in 2023 at the 70 KG Dmitri Korkin Memorial Tournament. While not making the finals of the World Olympic Qualifier, #9 Chermen Valiev (ALB) still managed to notch wins over four past world medalists in #6 (79) Avtandil Kentchadze (GEO), #12 Frank Chamizo (ITA), Nurkhoza Kaipanov (KAZ), and Soner Demirtas (TUR). #7 (79) Khidir Saipudinov (BRN) competed at the 74 KG World Olympic Games Qualifier where he lost in the quarterfinals to Soner Demirtas (TUR). Both Saipudinov and #6 (79) Avtandil Kentchadze (GEO) spot in the 79 KG rankings is not affected as both are going to go back up in weight.

Dzhabrail Gadzhiev (AZE) won the U23 European Championships over Senior Russian Nationals bronze medalist Kamil Abdulvagabov (RUS) with Ibrahim Yaprak (TUR) and Luka Chkhitunidze (GEO) taking bronze.

79 KG

Georgios Kougiomtsidis (GRE) won the 79 KG U23 European Championships over Ali Tcokaev (AZE) with Arsen Balayan (RUS) and Radomir Stoyanov (BUL) taking bronze. Kougiomtsidis’ triumph in Baku gave him his fourth European title to go along with double gold (Senior and U23) in 2022 and gold at the 2023 U23 European Championships.

86 KG

#2 David Taylor (USA) has been removed from the rankings due to retiring to become the head coach of Oklahoma State’s wrestling program.

#5 Dauren Kurugliev (GRE) and #9 Magomed Ramazanov (BUL) qualified for the Paris Olympics by making the finals of the World Olympic Games Qualifier. 2023 79 KG Senior World runner-up Vladimeri Gamkrelidze (GEO) qualified for the Paris Olympics by winning his Olympic playoff match against 2023 79 KG world bronze medalist Vasyl Mykhailov (UKR) in a rematch of their 2023 world semifinals match, won 10-4 by Gamkrelidze.

There was a multitude of changes due to the results of the World Olympic Games Qualifier at 86 KG, so it is best to start with the biggest one in the form of European bronze medalist #8 Osman Gocen (TUR) dropping eight spots in the rankings to #16 for losses to #4 Dauren Kurugliev (GRE) and Sebastian Jezierzanski (POL) in the championship round of 16 and the second round of repechage respectively. Sebastian Jezierzanski (POL) returns to the rankings at #15 for beating #16 Osman Gocen (TUR) at the World Olympic Games Qualifier. Vasyl Mykhailov (UKR) returns to the 86 KG rankings at #14 for beating #15 Sebastian Jezierzanski (POL) at the World Olympic Games Qualifier. Vladimir Gamkrelidze (GEO) debuts in the 86 KG rankings at #13 for #14 Vasyl Mykhailov (UKR) in his Olympic playoff match at the World Olympic Games Qualifier.

#18 Arslan Bagaev (RUS) won the U23 European Championships over two-time Junior world champion Rakhim Magamadov (FRA) with #19 Arsenii Dzhioev (AZE) and Emre Ciftci (TUR) taking bronze.

92 KG

Gkivi Bliatze (GRE) won the U23 European Championships over Adlan Viskhanov (FRA) with #12 Mustafagadzhi Malachdibirov (RUS) and Ion Demian (MDA) taking bronze. Gkivi Bliatze (GRE) and Adlan Viskhanov (FRA) enter the 92 KG rankings at #9 and #10 for finishing first and second at the U23 European Championships respectively. Viskhanov earned his number ten spot in the world for beating 2023 U23 world champion #9 Muhammad Gimri (TUR) and 2024 Senior Russian Nationals bronze medalist #12 Mustafagadzhi Malachdibirov (RUS) to make the finals. Gkivi Bliatze (GRE) takes the number nine spot in the world for beating #10 Adlan Viskhanov (FRA) in the U23 European Championship finals. #9 Muhammad Gimri (TUR) falls three spots to #12 for losses to #10 Adlan Viskhanov (FRA) and #11 Mustafagadzhi Malachdibirov (RUS) at the U23 European Championships where he took 5th.

97 KG

Erik Thiele (GER) and Zbigniew Baranowski (POL) qualified for the Olympics by making the finals of the World Olympic Games Qualifier. Awusayiman Habila (CHN) qualified for the Olympics by winning his Olympic playoff match against 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Magomed Ibragimov (UZB). Erik Thiele (GER) enters the rankings at #20 for wins at the World Olympic Games Qualifier over Magomed Ibragimov (UZB), Magomedgadzhi Nurov (MKD), and U23 European champion Radu Lefter (MDA).

Radu Lefter (MDA) won the U23 European Championships over Soslan Dzhagaev (RUS) with Merab Suleimanashvili (GEO) and Rifat Gidak (TUR) taking bronze.

125 KG

Aiaal Lazarev (KGZ) and #16 Zhiwei Deng (CHN) made the finals of the World Olympic Games Qualifier to qualify for the Paris Olympics. Daniel Ligeti (HUN) won his Olympic playoff match against Jose Diaz Robertii (VEN) to make his third Olympic Games, having qualified in 2012 and 2016 as well.

#18 Alen Khubulov (BUL) moves up seven spots to #11 for beating #10 Abdulla Kurbanov (RUS) in the semifinals of the U23 European Championships. Khubulov would take gold at the U23 European Championships over Solomon Manashvili (GEO) while Kurbanov and Milan Korcsog (HUN) would take bronze. #10 Abdulla Kurbanov drops two spots to #12 for his loss to #11 Alen Khubulov (BUL). The series between the two now stands at 2-1 for Kurbanov, having beaten Khubulov at the 2023 Russian National Championships and at PWL-6 with Khubulov’s sole win coming at the 2024 U23 European Championships.

Pound for Pound

Three-time World/Olympic Champion #7 David Taylor (USA) has been removed from the rankings due to retiring to become the head coach of Oklahoma State’s wrestling program. Viktor Rassadin (TJK) enters the pound for pound rankings at #19 for beating #13 Chermen Valiev (ALB) at the 74 KG World Olympic Games Qualifier along with a win from October 2023 over #21 Kurban Shiraev (RUS) at the 70 KG Dmitri Korkin tournament. #13 Chermen Valiev (ALB) drops seven spots in the pound for pound rankings to #20 for his loss to #19 Viktor Rassadin (TJK).