2023 97 KG Russian Nationals Preview

Day four of Russian Nationals goes down on Friday and the weights that compete are 79 KG, 97 KG, and 125 KG. With each weight featuring a bevy of talent including World & Olympic champions, European champions, multiple Russian Nationals medalists and Yarygin champions, this year’s competition will be one to watch. This article will cover the 97 kilogram weight class led by a trio of Russian Nationals champions in #2 Magomed Kurbanov, #3 Alikhan Zhabrailov, and #6 Sergey Kozyrev. Reigning Olympic champion #1 Abdulrashid Sadulaev is out of the Russian National Championships with an injury. Also not competing are returning national champion #10 Aslanbek Sotiev, #8 Zhorik Dzhioev and #9 Giorgi Dzhioev.

Title Contenders

 #2 Magomed Kurbanov- 2021 92 KG Senior World runner-up, 2018 92 KG Alans runner-up, 2019 92 KG Russian Nationals runner-up, 2023 97 KG Yarygin champion, 2020 92 KG Russian Nationals runner-up, 2021 92 KG Russian Nationals champion, 2022 92 KG Russian Nationals champion, 2019 92 KG European Championships fifth, 2019 92 KG Yarygin champion, 2020 92 KG Yarygin 5th place finisher, 2021 92 KG European Champion, 2019 92 KG Dan Kolov champion, 2018 92 KG Intercontinental Cup bronze medalist, 2018 92 KG Medved bronze medalist, 2017 86 KG Intercontinental Cup bronze medalist, 2022 92 KG 1st Ivan Poddubny Champion, 2023 97 KG Yarygin champion, 2022 97 KG Semenov Cup champion, 2019 92 KG Alans champion. Key Wins: Sergey Kozyrev (2022 97 KG Semenov Cup), Javad Ebrahimi (2019 92 KG Alans finals), Anzor Urishev (2019 92 KG Alans quarterfinals), Artem Tskharebov (2021 92 KG Russian Nationals), Soslan Ktsoev (2022 92 KG Russian Nationals, 2021 92 KG Russian Nationals wrestle-off’s), Michael Macchiavello (2019 92 KG Alans semifinals, 2019 92 KG Dan Kolov), Shamil Musaev (2023 97 KG Yarygin), Georgi Dzhioev (2022 97 KG Yarygin), Alikhan Zhabrailov (2018 92 KG Alans semifinals, 2019 92 KG Yarygin, 2019 92 KG Semenov Cup, 2023 97 KG Yarygin finals), Batyrbek Tsakulov (2019 92 KG Yarygin, 2020 92 KG Russian Nationals semifinals), Ramazan Shakhbanov (2020 92 KG Russian Nationals), Radik Nartikoev (2019 92 KG Russian Nationals quarterfinals), Anzor Urishev (2019 92 KG Russian Nationals semifinals), Baasantsogt Ulziisaikhan (2019 92 KG Yarygin), Azamat Zakuev (2018 92 KG Intercontinental Cup, 2018 92 KG Alans, 2022 92 KG 1st Ivan Poddubny Tournament, 2022 92 KG Russian Nationals finals, 2021 92 KG Russian Nationals wrestle-off’s), Sergey Kozyrev (2022 97 KG Semenov Cup), Aslanbek Sotiev (2022 97 KG Semenov Cup), Tamerlan Tapsiev (2022 92 KG 1st Ivan Poddubny Tournament, 2022 92 KG Russian Nationals), Magomed Sharipov (2022 92 KG 1st Ivan Poddubny Tournament finals, 2022 92 KG Russian Nationals), Aslanbek Sotiev (2022 97 KG Semenov Cup), Irakli Mtsituri (2018 92 KG Alans quarterfinals, 2019 92 KG Dan Kolov finals), 2021 92 KG Senior World championships), Osman Nurmagomedov (2021 92 KG Senior World championships), Omargadzhi Magomedov (2022 92 KG Senior World championships), Guram Chertkoev (2018 92 KG Intercontinental Cup), Magomedgadzhi Khatiyev (2018 92 KG Intercontinental Cup), Lazaro Hernandez (2019 92 KG World Cup), Serdar Boke (2018 92 KG Medved quarters) Key Losses: Anzor Urishev (2018 92 KG Intercontinental Cup semifinals, 2018 92 KG Alans finals), Alikhan Zhabrailov (2019 92 KG Russian Nationals finals, 2018 92 KG Medved semis, 2020 92 KG Russian Nationals finals), Sharif Sharifov (2019 92 KG European Championships), Kamran Ghasempour (2021 92 KG Senior World finals), Radik Nartikoev (2020 92 KG Yarygin bronze medal match), Batyrbek Tsakulov (2020 92 KG Yarygin semifinals), Irakli Mtsituri (2019 92 KG European bronze medal match)

 #3 Alikhan Zhabrailov- 2017 86 KG Ali Aliyev champ, 2017 Russian Nationals 5th, 2017 Intercontinental Cup champion, 2018 President Cup of Buryatia bronze (92), 2018 Ali Aliyev bronze medalist (92), 2018 Russian Nationals bronze medalist (92), 2018 Medved runner-up, 2018 92 KG Alans bronze medalist, 2019 92 KG Yarygin 4th place finisher, 2019 92 KG Ali Aliev runner-up, 2019 92 KG Russian Nationals champion, 2019 92 KG Senior World bronze medalist, 2019 92 KG Semenov Cup runner-up, 2020 92 KG Yarygin runner-up, 2020 92 KG Russian Nationals champion, 2020 92 KG Individual World Cup champion, 2021 97 KG Russian Nationals champion, 2020 92 KG Russian Nationals champion, 2021 97 KG European Champion, 2022 97 KG Yasar Dogu runner-up, 2022 97 KG 1st Ivan Poddubny Tournament runner-up, 2022 97 KG All-Russian Spartakiad champion, 2023 97 KG Yarygin runner-up. Key Wins: Alexander Gostiev(2017 86 KG Ali Aliyev, 2017 86 KG Intercontinental Cup), Shamil Musaev (2022 97 KG Yasar Dogu), Sergey Kozyrev (2022 97 KG All-Russian Spartakiad semifinals), Gadzhimagomed Tazhudinov (2022 97 KG All-Russian Spartakiad finals), Magomed Kurbanov (2018 92 KG Medved semis, 2019 92 KG Russian Nationals finals, 2020 92 KG Russian Nationals finals), Suleyman Karadeniz (2021 97 KG European Championships), Radoslaw Baran (2021 97 KG European Championships), Guram Chertkoev (2018 92 KG Russian Nationals bronze medal match), Muslim Magomedov (2017 86 KG Russian Nationals), Magomedkhanov Umakhanov (2017 86 KG Russian Nationals), Tamerlan Akhmedov (2017 86 KG Ali Aliyev), Suleiman Omarov(2017 Ali Aliyev), Rashid Kurbanov (2017 86 KG Kadyrov Cup), Arsen Ali Musalaliev (2017 86 KG Nusuev tournament), Zbigniew Baranowski (2017 86 KG Intercontinental Cup), Omargadzhi Magomedov (2017 Intercontinental Cup), Azamat Dauletbekov (2017 86 KG U-23 world finals), Altangeral Chinbat (2018 92 KG Kadyrov Cup), Akhmed Bataev (2018 92 KG Kadyrov Cup), Reineris Salas Perez (2019 97 KG Alrosa Cup), Sharif Sharifov (2019 97 KG Alrosa Cup), Anzor Urishev (2020 92 KG Yarygin, 2019 92 KG Russian Nationals, 2020 92 KG Russian Nationals, 2019 92 KG Ali Aliyev semifinals), Georgi Rubaev (2019 92 KG Senior World bronze medal match, 2020 92 KG Individual World Cup finals), Aslanbek Sotiev (2021 97 KG Russian Nationals finals, 2021 97 KG Wolnik 6), Ramazan Shakhbanov (2023 97 KG Yarygin), Igor Ovsyannikov (2023 97 KG Yarygin semifinals). Key Losses: Arsen Ali Musalaliev(2017 Russian Nationals bronze medal match), Vladislav Valiev(2017 86 KG Russian Nationals), Zbigniew Baranowski(2015 86 KG Ali Aliyev, 2017 86 KG Kadyrov Cup), Azamat Zakuev (2018 92 KG Intercontinental Cup qualification round match), Dauren Kurugliev (2017 86 KG Kadyrov Cup, 2018 86 KG Sazhid Sazhidov memorial), Artur Naifonov (2018 86 KG Yarygin), Anzor Urishev (2018 92 KG President Cup of Buryatia, 2018 92 KG Russsian Nationals semis), Aslanbek Alborov (2018 92 KG Ali Aliyev semis), Sharif Sharifov (2018 92 KG Medved finals, 2018 92 KG Kadyrov Cup, 2019 92 KG Ali Aliyev finals), Magomed Kurbanov (2018 92 KG H. Shikhsaidov Tournament finals, 2018 92 KG Alans semifinals, 2019 92 KG Yarygin, 2019 92 KG Semenov Cup, 2023 97 KG Yarygin finals), Akhmed Tazhudinov (2022 97 KG 1st Ivan Poddubny Tournament finals), Alireza Karimimachiani (2019 92 KG Senior World Championships), Mohammad Mohammadian (2022 97 KG Yasar Dogu Finals), Batyrbek Tsakulov (2020 92 KG Yarygin finals), Baasantsogt Ulzisaikhan (2019 92 KG Yarygin bronze medal match)

Medal Contenders

 #4 Igor Ovsyannikov-2016 97 KG Russian Nationals 5th place finisher, 2014 86 KG Mindiashvili GP runner-up, 2019 97 KG Russian Nationals runner-up, 2018 97 KG Russian Nationals bronze medalist, 2018 97 KG U23 World bronze medalist, 2021 97 KG Yarygin runner-up, 2022 97 KG Yarygin bronze medalist, 2019 97 KG Ali Aliyev 5th place finisher, 2019 97 KG Semenov Cup champion, 2019 97 KG Sassari Tournament bronze medalist, 2019 97 KG Yarygin bronze medalist, 2018 97 KG Alans bronze medalist, 2019 97 KG Dan Kolov bronze medalist, 2018 97 KG Korkin bronze medalist, 2018 97 KG President Cup of Buryatia champion, 2016 97 KG President Cup of Buryatia bronze medalist. Key Wins: Reineris Salas Perez (2018 97 KG Yarygin), Givi Matcharashvili (2019 97 KG Ali Aliyev), Rasul Magomedov (2018 97 KG Russian Nationals bronze medal match), Tamerlan Rasuev (2019 97 KG Ali Aliyev), Batsul Ulziisaikhan (2018 97 KG President Cup of Buryatia finals, 2019 97 KG Yarygin bronze medal match, 2019 97 KG Sassari City tournament bronze medal match), Magomed Zakariev (2018 97 KG U23 World championships bronze medal match), Erik Dzhioev (2018 97 KG Russian Nationals qualification round, 2018 97 KG Alans bronze medal match, 2019 97 KG Russian Nationals), Guram Chertkoev (2016 97 KG Russian Nationals repechage rd1), Aslanbek Sotiev (2022 97 KG All-Russian Spartakiad quarterfinals, 2023 97 KG Yarygin), Sergey Kozyrev (2023 97 KG Yarygin), Minwon Seo (2019 97 KG Dan Kolov repechage), Zviad Metrevelli (2019 97 KG Dan Kolov repechage), Ivan Yankouski (2019 97 KG Sassari City quarterfinals), Shamil Musaev (2019 97 KG Russian Nationals), Zainulla Kurbanov (2019 97 KG Russian Nationals) Key Losses: Albert Saritov (2014 86 KG Mindiashvili GP), Vladislav Baitsaev (2017 97 KG Yarygin, 2019 97 KG Russian Nationals, 2018 97 KG Russian Nationals, 2016 97 KG Russian Nationals), Aleksandr Hushtyn (2019 97 KG Yarygin), Khadzhimurad Gatsalov (2016 97 KG Russian Nationals), Khokh Khugaev (2021 97 KG Russian Nationals), Magomedkhan Magomedov (2021 97 KG Yarygin finals), Gadzhimagomed Tazhudinov (2022 97 KG All-Russian Spartakiad semifinals), Alikhan Zhabrailov (2023 97 KG Yarygin semifinals), Shamil Musaev (2019 97 KG Ali Aliyev), Magomed Ibragimov (2019 97 KG Ali Aliyev), Adlan Ibragimov (2016 97 KG Yarygin), Reza Yazdani (2019 97 KG Dan Kolov bronze medal match), Valerii Andriitsev (2019 97 KG Dan Kolov), Abbas Foroutanrami (2019 97 KG Sassari City semifinals), Sergey Kozyrev (2022 97 KG Russian Nationals bronze medal match), Shamil Musaev (2022 97 KG Russian Nationals quarterfinals, 2018 97 KG Alans semifinals), Nurmagomed Gadzhiev (2018 97 Korkin), Kyle Snyder (2022 97 KG Yarygin semis).

#6 Sergey Kozyrev- 2018 110 KG Cadet European champion, 2018 Youth Olympic Games 110 KG champion, 2018 100 KG Cadet world bronze medal, 2021 Russian Nationals champion, 2021 European championships runner-up, 2021 World Olympic Qualifier champion, 2022 97 KG Russian Nationals bronze medalist, 2022 97 KG Semenov Cup runner-up, 2022 97 KG 2nd Ivan Poddubny Tournament champion, 2022 97 KG Korkin Cup champion, Key Wins: Amir Zare (2018 110 KG Youth Olympic Game), Zhorik Dzhioev (2022 97 KG 2nd Ivan Poddubny Finals), Aleksandr Hushtyn (2022 97 KG Korkin finals), Anzor Khizriev (2021 125 KG Russian Nationals), Atsamaz Tebloev (2021 125 KG Russian Nationals finals), Zelimkhan Khizriev (2021 125 KG Russian Nationals), Lkhagvagerel Munkhtur (2021 125 KG Alrosa Cup), Mojtaba Goleij (2022 97 PWL 3), Gadzhimagomed Tazhudinov (2022 97 KG Russian Nationals quarterfinals), Igor Ovsyannikov (2022 97 KG Russian Nationals bronze medal match), Key Losses: Taha Akgul (2021 European championships finals), Greg Kerkvliet (2018 110 KG Cadet world championships semifinals), Rasul Magomedov (2020 97 KG Russian Nationals championships), Zhiwei Deng (2020 125 KG Olympics), Alikhan Zhabrailov (2022 97 KG All-Russian Spartakiad semifinals), Akhmed Tazhudinov (2022 97 KG 1st Ivan Poddubny Tournament), Igor Ovsyannikov (2023 97 KG Yarygin RD16), Baldan Tsyzhipov (2021 125 KG Russian Nationals wrestle-off’s), Shamil Musaev (2022 97 KG Russian Nationals semifinals).

#5 Shamil Musaev- 2022 97 KG Russian Nationals runner-up, 2022 97 KG Yarygin runner-up, 2019 97 KG Yarygin champion, 2019 97 KG U23 World runner-up, 2018 97 KG Alans runner-up, 2019 97 KG U23 European Championships runner-up, 2019 97 KG Ali Aliev bronze medalist, 2019 97 KG Alans 5th place finisher, 2021 97 KG Medved champion, 2021 97 KG Umakhanov Tournament 5th place finisher, 2018 97 KG Intercontinental Cup bronze medalist, 2018 97 KG Tbilisi GP bronze medalist, 2017 97 KG Intercontinental Cup bronze medalist, 2016 96 KG Junior World champion, 2022 97 KG Ali Aliyev champion Key Wins: Givi Matcharashvili (2017 96 KG Junior World finals), Dzianis Khramiankov (2019 97 KG U23 European Championships), Ibragim Ciftci (2016 97 KG Junior World championships), Sergey Kozyrev (2022 97 KG Russian Nationals), Igor Ovsyannikov (2022 97 KG Russian Nationals, 2018 97 KG Alans), Erik Dzhioev (2018 97 KG Alans), Aslanbek Gazzaev (2019 97 KG Alans, 2020 97 KG Yarygin bronze medal match), Magomedkhan Magomedov (2018 97 KG Russian Nationals, 2020 97 KG Russian Nationals), Rasul Magomedov (2019 97 KG Russian Nationals quarterfinals), Igor Ovsyannikov (2022 97 KG Russian Nationals quarterfinals, 2018 97 KG Alans semifinals), Maxim Tolmachev (2021 97 KG Medved finals), Zuriko Urtashvili (2021 97 Kg Medved), Ashkab Boltukaev (2021 97 KG Medved), Elizbar Odikadze (2022 97 KG Yarygin), Asret Shogenov (2020 97 KG Yarygin), Tazhudin Mukhtarov (2017 97 KG Intercontinental Cup repechage), Aleksandr Hushtyn (2019 97 KG Yarygin finals), Ramazan Shakhbanov (2022 97 KG Ali Aliyev, 2023 97 KG Ali Aliyev bronze medal), Magomedrasul Mutaev (2022 97 KG Ali Aliyev finals), Batraz Gazzaev (2021 97 KG Wolnik 5) Key Losses: Aslanbek Sotiev (2021 97 KG Umakhanov Tournament bronze medal match, 2022 97 KG Russian Nationals finals, 2021 97 KG Russian Nationals, 2020 97 KG Russian Nationals), Zainulla Kurbanov (2018 97 KG Intercontinental Cup), Aslanbek Alborov (2017 97 KG Intercontinental Cup), Magomed Kurbanov (2023 97 KG Yarygin), Aslanbek Gazzaev (2020 97 KG Russian Nationals bronze medal match), Asret Shogenov (2018 97 KG Russian Nationals), Mojtaba Goleij (2019 97 KG U23 World Finals), Kyle Snyder (2022 97 KG Yarygin finals, 2021 97 KG Umakhanov Tournament semifinals), Magomed Ibragimov (2019 97 KG Ali Aliyev), Ibragim Ciftci (2019 97 KG U23 European Championships finals), Magomedkhan Magomedov (2020 97 KG Yarygin quarterfinals), Elizbar Odikadze (2019 97 KG Alans bronze medal match), Vladislav Baitsaev (2018 97 KG Alans, 2019 97 KG Alans), Magomedgadzhi Nurov (2023 97 KG Ali Aliyev semifinals), Alikhan Zhabrailov (2022 97 KG Yasar Dogu)

The Breakdown

 On the top bracket, Yarygin champion #2 Magomed Kurbanov gets his first test of the tournament in the quarterfinals against 2019 national runner-up #4 Igor Ovsyannikov. I see Kurbanov passing this test to make the semifinals where he’ll face off against 2021 125 KG Russian Nationals champion #6 Sergey Kozyrev. Keep an eye out for Kozyrev’s quarterfinal match against 2022 97 KG All-Russian Spartakiad runner-up Gadzhimagomed Tazhudinov as there is upset potential there. In the semifinals, Kurbanov beats Kozyrev to make the finals.

 On the bottom bracket, #3 Alikhan Zhabrailov will face 2020 Russian Nationals bronze medalist Aslanbek Gazzaev in the quarters and win there to set up a semifinal match against returning national runner-up #5 Shamil Musaev. Musaev’s talent has never been in question as he has shown himself capable of beating the best in the world time and time again, it is his track record of fading late in matches and being outhustled against the best that will cost him against Zhabrailov and see Zhabrailov beat him to make the finals. A match of note to watch on the bottom bracket is between #5 Shamil Musaev and #7 Ramazan Shakhbanov in the round of 16, a rematch from their exciting Ali Aliev bronze medal match in May that was won by Musaev.

2023 97 KG Russian Nationals Predictions

GOLD: #2 Magomed Kurbanov over #3 Alikhan Zhabrailov

BRONZE: #6 Sergey Kozyrev over #4 Igor Ovsyannikov

BRONZE: #5 Shamil Musaev over Aslanbek Gazzaev