November 2019 International Men's Freestyle Rankings

Photo courtesy of Kadir Caliskan/United World Wrestling

57 KG

#7 Aryan Tyutrin (RUS) fell in the finals of the Korkin to Zhargal Damdinov (RUS) 9-4. Tyutirn doesn’t fall any spots in the rankings, and Damdinov doesn’t enter the rankings. The reason for why he can’t debut higher is because he lost to 61 KG Kadyrov Cup runner-up Musa Mekhitkhanov (RUS) in the quarterfinals of the Semenov and didn’t place.  Yarygin bronze medalist Thomas Gilman (USA) rejoins the rankings at #19 after winning the Yusup Abdusalamov tournament over Salikh Muradov (RUS) and then taking bronze at the Intercontinental Cup with a win over Salikh Muradov (RUS) in the bronze medal match. Rounding out the rankings at #20 is 2018 61 KG world bronze medalist Tuvshintulga Tumenbileg (MGL) who just won the Kunaev over U-23 world runner-up Adlan Askarov (KAZ).

#18 Reineri Andreu Ortega (CUB) looked incredibly impressive in winning his second U-23 world title beating returning bronze medalist Wanhao Zou (CHN), 2018 U-23 European runner-up Afghan Khasalov (AZE), Russian national champ #8 Ramiz Gamzatov (RUS), and Adlan Askarov (KAZ). For his excellent performance, Andreu Ortega is able to rebound back up the rankings to #8 off the strength of his win over Gamzatov. Also benefiting from Gamzatov’s loss are world bronze medalist #12 Nurislam Sanyaev (KAZ) and European Games runner-up #13 Stevan Micic (SRB) who move up to #9 and #10. Asian championships runner-up Kumsong Kang (PRK) takes the #11 spot over Ramiz Gamzatov due to less losses (i.e., Khasalov, Andreu Ortega, and Tyutrin) leaving Gamzatov at the #12 spot.

European Championships runner-up #13 Muslim Sadulaev (RUS) kept up his busy year winning titles at the Khizri Shikhsaidov tournament over 2018 Ali Aliev champ Dzhabrail Gairbekov (RUS) and  at the Kadyrov Cup over the Intercontinental Cup champ #14 Abubakar Mutaliev (RUS). Abubakar Mutaliev (RUS) had a standout month, starting out with a fantastic performance at the Intercontinental Cup that saw him take out 2017 world silver medalist Thomas Gilman (USA) 10-8 first round and follow it up with an electrifying 7-6 win over Russian nationals bronze medalist #11 Khasanhusein Badrudinov (RUS). Mutaliev would tech fall 2018 Ali Aliev champ Dzhabrail Gairbekov (RUS) 15-4 in the semis of the Kadyrov Cup to lineup a match against Russian nationals runner-up #9 Muslim Sadulaev (RUS) but his momentum would be halted in the form of a 13-2 tech fall loss. All things considered, Mutaliev is able to debut in the rankings at #14 and is one to keep an eye on moving forward as his high offense style is sure to pay off dividends against domestic competition.

After two controversial matches to finish his Intercontinental Cup tournament in the form of a win over 2017 Alans champ Azamat Tuskaev and a loss to #14 Abubakr Mutaliev (RUS) in the finals, #15 Khasanhusein Badrudinov (RUS) closed out the month with a title at the Semenov with a 7-2 win over Artur Chebodaev (RUS).

61 KG

Russian nationals runner-up #3 Ramazan Ferzaliev (RUS) moved up to 65 KG where he won the Intercontinental Cup and took bronze at the Kadyrov Cup and is currently ranked eighteenth. #7 Alexander Bogomoev (RUS) won the Korkin with a 10-1 win over Kazuya Koyanagi (JPN) in the finals, injury defaulted out in the 65 KG Semenov finals to #13(65) Julian Gergenov (RUS), and won the Kunaev and avenged his Russian nationals bronze medal match to U-23 world bronze medalist #6 Dinislam Takhtarov (RUS) by 10-0 tech in the quarters of the Kunaev to move up three spots in the rankings to #7. 

#14(57) Ulukbek Zholdoshbekov (KGZ) returned back to 61 KG where he added his third title of the year in the form of U-23 world gold with a 5-2 win over Ravinder Ravinder (IND). Zholdoshbekov’s incredible past year has seen him defeat world bronze medalists #6 Behnam Ehsanpour (IRI), #9(57) Nurislam Sanayev (KAZ), #7 Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov (AZE),  Russian bronze medalist #3 Zelimkhan Abakarov (RUS), and take titles at the Takhti Cup, U-23 Asian championships, and U-23 worlds. For all of his work, Zholdoshbekov returns to the 61 KG rankings at #5. Ravinder Ravinder (IND) electrified on his way to the U-23 world finals where he teched #6 Dinislam Takhtarov (RUS) and pinned European champ #11 Arsen Harutunyan (ARM) before falling 5-2 to #5 Ulukbek Zholdoshbekov (KGZ). For his work, Ravinder enters the top ten at #9.

Ibragim Abdurakhmanov’s run to the Intercontinental Cup title saw him take out Stepan Sargsyan Cup champ #10 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RUS) and Medved champ #12 Artem Gebek (RUS) and notching a 9-4 comeback win over Rustam Karakhanov (RUS) to win gold. For this, Abdurakhmanov debuts in the rankings at #10. #3 Zelimkhan Abakarov (RUS) kept busy with a title at the Kadyrov Cup with a 9-2 win over Muslim Mekhitkhanov (RUS).  #6 Dinislam Takhtarov finished bronze at the U-23 world championships and the Kunaev and was able to pin European champ #11 Arsen Harutunyan (ARM) in the bronze medal match of the U-23 world championships but from his losses to #9 Ravinder Ravinder (IND) and #4 Alexander Bogomoev (RUS) he dropped six spots to #12 in the rankings. Returning to the rankings is 2018 world 5th place finisher Mohammadba Yakhkeshi (IRI) at #20 since Asian championships bronze medalist #19 Yudai Fujita (JPN) cut down to 57 KG where he lost to Egor Potapov (RUS) at the Korkin.

65 KG

Reigning world champ #1 Gadzhimurad Rashidov (RUS) won the military world games over Vasyl Shuptar (UKR) in a rematch from last year’s Dan Kolov finals match. #4 Haji Aliyev (AZE) falls one spot in the rankings to #5 after failing to place at the Korkin when he lost in the qualification round to 2018 Russian nationals bronze medalist Dasha Sharastepanov (RUS). Sharastepanov is ineligible for ranking as he then lost to eventual runner-up Nyrugun Skryabin (BLR) later in the tournament and also has a bad loss to Akhmed Kasumov from Russian nationals as well.  Four time Yarygin champ and 2015 Russian national champ #8 Ilyas Bekbulatov has announced he will be competing for Uzbekistan and with that being the case must qualify Uzbekistan at the continental qualifier and or world olympic games qualifier. #10 Akhmed Chakaev (RUS) won the Kadyrov Cup over Junior european runner-up #17 Muslim Saidulaev (RUS), who was coming off an upset win over 61 KG national runner-up #3(61) Ramazan Ferzaliev (RUS). Ramazan Ferzaliev, the 61 KG national runner-up moved up to 65 KG and won the Intercontinental Cup via tech fall over Evan Henderson (USA) and was bronze at the Kadyrov Cup to debut in the rankings at #18.

Ali Aliev runner-up Viktor Rassadin (RUS) returns to the rankings at #15 after winning the Korkin with wins over Cengizhan Erdogan (TUR) and Nyurgun Skryabin (BLR).  Islam Dudaev (RUS) falls one spot in the rankings to #20 after losing at the Intercontinental Cup to Astemir Kuantov (RUS) who Ramazan Ferzaliev would tech to make the finals. #17 Haji Ali (BRN) is dropped from the rankings after losing to Alibek Osmanov (KGZ) at the Intercontinental Cup. #13 Julian Gergenov (RUS) won the Semenov by forfeit over #4(61) Alexander Bogomoev (RUS).

70 KG

Within a month from his move up from 65 KG #18(65) Aznaur Tavaev (RUS) has  finished as the Intercontinental Cup champ, Semenov bronze, and now Kunaev finalist debuts at #7 in the rankings off the strength of his win over Russian nationals bronze medalist second ranked Evgeni Zherbaev (RUS) in the semis of the Kunaev. 2016 65 KG Olympic champ and 2018 Korkin bronze medalist Soslan Ramonov (RUS) returned back to action where he finished as a runner-up at the Kadyrov Cup to Rasul Arsanaliev, but beat Israil Kasumov and Alan Gogaev on his way to the finals and Gogaev beat Kasumov for bronze. Then at the Semenov, Ramonov would beat #10 Anzor Zakuev (RUS) first round and then lose in the semis 9-7 to Israil Kasumov (RUS) who would go onto win the tournament and avenge his Kadyrov Cup loss with a 5-3 win over Alan Gogaev. Ramonov would finish up with a bronze medal at the Semenov. Also at the Semenov, Gogaev would beat Intercontinental Cup champ Aznaur Tavaev (RUS) 7-2 in the semis.

From all of this, Tavaev slots in at  #7, Kasumov at #8, Arsanaliev at #10, Soslan Ramonov at #11, and Alan Gogaev at #15. #17 Mirza Skhulukhia (GEO) notched the biggest upset of the U-23 world wrestling championships when he pinned Russian nationals bronze medalist #6 Cherman Valiev (RUS). For this, Skhulukhia moves up five spots in the rankings to number twelve.  The other big shakeup came up at 74 KG between European runner-up #7 Agaguseynov Mustafaev (AZE) and world runner-up #13 Nurkhoza Kaipanov (KAZ) at the Military world games as Kaipanov would pin Mustafaev in the semis to make the finals where he would get tech falled by #5 Khetik Tsabolov (RUS). From this, Mustafaev drops seven spots in the rankings to fourteen while Kaipanov stays steady at number thirteen. 

74 KG

#6 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (RUS) looked sharp on his way to the Kadyrov Cup title with tech fall wins over #3(79) Alan Zaseev (RUS) and Musa Baziev (RUS). #7 Razambek Zhamalov (RUS) had some scares against Baliyan Gourav (IND)and Georgi Sulava (GEO) Zhamalov would control a red hot Mohammed Nokhodilarimi (IRI) to pick up his title. Nokhodilarimi is one to watch as he took out 2018 Intercontinental Cup runner-up (and for some reason favorite of Ed Gallo’s) Murad Kuramagomedov (HUN) and 2018 70 KG world 5th place finisher Byambadorj Bat-Erdene (MGL). Of the senior level talent Nokodilarimi beat, Bat-Erdene beat Kuramagomedov to prove that I was right in appropriately routing for a very talented Mongolian (wins over James Green, Mustafa Kaya, Zelimkhan Khadjiev, Ikhtiyor Navruzov) and Ed was wrong which is to be expected.

Magomed Khizriev (RUS) had a busy month, winning the Intercontinental Cup over Magomed Dibirgadzhiev (RUS) then taking silver at the Semenov where he would again beat Dibirgadzhiev in the quarters but fall 5-2 in the finals to #8 Timur Bizhoev (RUS). For all of this, Khizriev gets to debut in the rankings at #20. Nadirbek Khizriev (RUS) had a fantastic showing at the Korkin upsetting #9 Khadzhimurad Gadzhiyev (AZE) and 2x Russian nationals bronze medalist #14 Nikita Suchkov (RUS) to debut in the rankings at #19. #15 Akhmed Usmanov (RUS) moved up to 79 KG where he failed to place at the Intercontinental Cup after losing to Magomedali Musalaev (RUS) and took bronze at the Semenov after losing to eventual runner-up #20(79) Malik Shavaev (RUS).

#5 Khetik Tsabolov (RUS) had a strong showing at the Military world games, disposing of three World/Olympic medalists in the form of #16 Zelimkhan Khadjiev (FRA), Soner Demirtas (TUR) and #13(70) Nurkhoza Kaipanov (KAZ) to win the title.

There was some minor shuffling from #15 to #18 after reevaluation of guys’ years. I put Final X runner-up Isaiah Martinez (USA) at #15 as he has the best win of the bunch (#2 Jordan Burroughs) and the least egregious losses (#3(79) Atsamaz Sanakoev, #17 Azamat Nurikov). Below him I put Azamat Nurikov at 16 and for his wins over Martinez and #8 Timur Bizhoev at the Yarygin and I think in comparison his losses, while more numerous (Vasyl Mykhailov, Akhmed Usmanov, Frank Chamizo 2x, Zaurbek Sidakov, Jordan Burroughs, Avtandil Kentchadze) are not as Zelimkhan Khadjiev’s (Nika Kentchadze, Byambadorj Bat-Erdene, Frank Chamizo, Soner Demirtas, Khetik Tsabolov, Frank Chamizo). I place Yarygin runner-up Yakup Gor at #18 because while he’s got the second best win of the group (#4 Magomed Kurbanaliev while at the Yarygin) it was before Kurbanaliev had warranted himself the position he has now and thus it isn’t weighed as heavily if he had beaten him now coupled with his losses to #2 Jordan Burroughs, #10 Avtandil Kentchadze, and #9(79) Taimuraz Salkazanov (SVK).

79 KG

This weight saw a lot of shakeups from #4 Alan Zaseev (RUS) cutting down to 74 KG for the Kadyrov Cup where he took bronze, #3 Alex Dieringer (USA) moving up to 86 KG, and #2 Magomed Ramazanov (RUS) losing twice once to Magomedsharif Biiakaev (RUS) at 86 KG Intercontinental Cup and more recently to #13 Tazhdin Akaev (RUS) in the quarterfinals of the Kunaev. Coupled with recent standout performances from the Kadyrov Cup, the Semenov, and U-23 world championships and the ranker revaluating guy’s total performance across the year a great deal of change has happened.

One of the biggest changes is that Russian nationals bronze medalist #9 Kakhaber Khubezhty (RUS) climbs up seven spots in the rankings to #2 off the strength of titles at the Kadyrov Cup with wins over #8 Adam Khasiev (RUS), #17 Magomed Mutalibov (RUS), and Junior world champ Amkhad Tashukhadzhiev (RUS) along with the Semenov that saw him avenge his Russian nationals loss to #3 Atsamaz Sanakoev (RUS) in the and take gold with a pin in the finals #20 Malik Shavaev (RUS). There’s potential arguments for world bronze medalist #6 Gadzhi Nabiev (RUS) to be #2 just because he has a world bronze medal and just because he was Russia’s rep but this argument is faulty and here’s why: Nabiev’s two good wins this year was over #6 Rashid Kurbanov (UZB) and #10 Khalid Yakhiev (RUS), he had multiple losses in the form of Ernak Kardanov and Alan Zaseev, didn’t even beat Atsamaz Sanakoev in an actual match in the finals of Russian nationals (Nabiev won via injury default) and just lost at the Kadyrov Cup to #17 Magomed Mutalibov (RUS) so he’s not deserving of the #2 spot while Khubezhty is more then deserving.

Atsamaz Sanakoev (RUS) moved up three spots to #3 after taking gold at the Intercontinental Cup with wins over #15 (74) Isaiah Martinez (USA) and Kadyrov cup bronze medalist #17 Magomed Mutalibov (RUS) followed up by a bronze medal winning performance at the Semenov where he beat Kadyrov Cup runner-up #8 Adam Khasiev (RUS). #2 Magomed Ramazanov (RUS) falls two spots in the rankings to #4 in the rankings off of losses to Magomedsharif Biikaev (RUS) at the 86 KG at the Intercontinental Cup and a loss in the quarterfinals of the Kunaev to #13 Tazhidin Akaev (RUS).

Tazhidin Akaev (RUS) climbs all the way up from #13 in the rankings to #5 off the strength of a title at the Korkin over U-23 world runner-up #12 Abubakar Abakarov (AZE) and a controlling win over #2 Magomed Ramazanov (RUS) in the quarterfinals of the Kunaev.  Adam Khasiev makes his return to the rankings at #8 after taking bronze at the Intercontinental Cup and silver at the Kadyrov Cup where he beat 2015 Russian nationals runner-up Stanislav Khachirov (RUS), 2018 Semenov runner-up #18 Amanulla Gadzhimagomedov (RUS), and Russian nationals bronze medalist #7 Khalid Yakhiev (RUS) along with career wins over #12(86) Zbigniew Baranowski (POL), #13 Radik Valiev (RUS), and #10 (74) Avtandil Kentchadze (GEO). Khasiev’s only losses this month came in the form of #15 (74) Isaiah Martinez (USA), #2 Kakhaber Khubezhty (RUS), and #3 Atsamaz Sanakoev (RUS).

The other main shakeups in the rankings came from U-23 world’s that saw two time U-23 European champ #12 Radik Valiev (RUS) get teched 16-6 by eventual runner-up Abubakar Abakarov (AZE). Although Abakarov was winning, he would eventually be pinned in the finals by 2016 junior world bronze medalist Tariel Gaphdinrashvili (GEO). From this, Gaphrindashvili is in at #11 for his win over Abakarov, and Abakarov in at #12 for his thrashing of Valiev. #11 Khalil Aminov (RUS) fell four spots in the rankings to #15 after getting dominated 15-4 by Dmitri Zainidinov (RUS) in qualification round of the Semenov. Magomed Mutalibov (RUS) debuts at #17 for taking bronze at the Kadyrov Cup where he beat #6 Gadzhi Nabiev (RUS) 2-2 in the quarters and took out 2018 Intercontinental Cup runner-up Amanulla Gadzhimagomedov (RUS) for bronze. Malik Shavaev (RUS) fills out the rankings at #20 after his runner-up finish at the Semenov to #2 Kakhaber Khubezhty (RUS) thaw saw him beat Ali Aliyev runner-up #15(74) Akhmed Usmanov (RUS). 

86 KG

#2 Artur Naifonov (RUS) won the Military World Games with a pin over #14 Akhmed Dudarov (GER). #5 Dauren Kurugliev (RUS) meets #10 Azamat Dauletbekov (KAZ) in the finals of the Kunaev on the seventeenth. Dauletbekov made his ascension to number ten spot off the strength of his dominant showing at the Intercontinental Cup that saw him beat Kadyrov Cup runner-up #17 Javrail Shapiev (UZB) and Khizri Shikhsaidov tournament champ #11 Arsenali Musalaliev (RUS). #3(79) Alex Dieringer (USA) debuts at 86 KG at #7 ahead of him wrestling at the Bill Farrell Memorial Invitational. #3 Kamran Ghasempour won his second U-23 world title with a strong 9-3 win over Gadzhimurad Magomedsaidov (AZE). #16 Murad Suleymanov (AZE) cut down to 74 KG where he got teched by Giorgi Sulava (GEO) at U-23 world’s and is no longer ranked because of that. 

I bumped up #14 Zbigniew Baranowski (POL) to #12 while taking out #13 Pat Downey (USA) and adding 3x World/Olympic medalist Selim Yasar (TUR) in the rankings for a good reason and not because my rankings are based off of an intense hatred for the United States and arbitrary baseless criteria. Baranowski, prior to world’s had wins over #5 Dauren Kurugliev (RUS) and Selim Yasar (TUR) at the Ziolkowski and Yasar beat European Games bronze medalist #12 Akhmed Dudarov (GER) 4-3 at the Ziolkowski. Downey, lost to Yurieski Torreblanca, #20 Deepak Punia, and Osman Gocen prior to world’s and then got an upset over a gunshy Baranowski. Now looking at all that, you can understand that placing Downey and Baranowski on the tier (body of work wise) is stupid so the right thing to do was to bump Baranowski bump up, include Yasar in at #13 for beating Dudarov and then drop Dudarov down two spots to #14. Stefan Reichmuth, Pat Downey, Taimuraz Friev Naskideava, and Fatih Erdin all got dropped due to them having not enough of a body of work, the time sensitivity of their win, or them just having a bad year. 

Muslim Dadaev gets ranked at #16 for winning the Kadyrov Cup over Javrail Shapiev (UZB), who’s month saw him finish as a runner-up at the Khizri Shikhsaidov, winning the Yusup Abdusalamov, and beat 2018 Russian nationals bronze medalist #11 Zelimkhan Minkailov (RUS) allowing him to return to the rankings at #17 while Minkailov drops seven spots to #18.

92 KG

#5 Magomed Kurbanov (RUS) won the Khizri Shikhsaidov tournament up at 97 KG with a win over 2018 Russian nationals bronze medalist #18(86) Zelimkhan Minkailov (RUS) and avenged his loss in the Russian nationals finals with a 6-1 win over world bronze medalist #3 Alikhan Zhabrailov (RUS) to move up two spots in the rankings to #3. #3 Alikhan Zhabrailov (RUS) won the Kadyrov Cup up at 97 KG over Tamerlan Rasuev (RUS) and beat #19(97) Rasul Magomedov as well and would finish as a runner-up at the Semenov to #5 Magomed Kurbanov (RUS) to drop one spot in the rankings to #4.

#12 Bo Nickal (USA) jumps up six spots in the rankings to number six after his ultra impressive showing at the U-23 world championships that saw him earn gold with dominant wins over #6 Batyrbek Tsakulov (RUS), #11 Shamil Zubairov (AZE), and #17 Hossein Shahbazigazvar. Shahbazigazvar beat Zubairov for bronze moving up five spots to #12. 

#7 Anzor Urishev (RUS) lost in the finals of the Korkin to Guram Chertkoev (RUS) but would avenge that loss later in the month at the Kadyrov Cup and beat Intercontinental Cup champ #18 Georgi Rubaev (MDA) for gold. Chertkoev would lose in the repechage Tazhudin Mukhtarov (RUS). From this, bumps down one spot due to Nickal’s explosive run into the top ten but only by one to #8. Chertkoev debuts in the rankings at 16 while Mukhtarov returns to the rankings at #15 from his win over Chertkoev at the Kadyrov  and #16 Aslanbek Sotiev (RUS) gets bumped up two spots due to his win over Mukhtarov at Russian nationals. World 5th place finisher Georgi Rubaev (MDA) debuts in the rankings at number eighteen. 

97 KG:

#2 Sharif Sharifov (AZE) lost 5-2 in the DRL to #6 Elizbar Odikadze (GEO) in a rematch from the world championships. Sharifov keeps his #2 spot, while Odikadze moves up one spot in the rankings to #5. 2014 86 KG world bronze medalist Mohammad Mohammadian (IRI) returned from a 2015 drug suspension he received after winning the asian championships to win the military world games title at 97 KG. He impressed with a dominant 11-0 tech fall win over Russian national champ fourth ranked Vladislav Baitsaev (RUS) and Yarygin and European championships runner-up #10 Aleksandr Husthyn (BLR). From this, Mohammadian is able to debut in the rankings at #6. Hushytn won the Kunaev with wins over Mamed Ibragimov and Magomedkhan Magomedov to go along with his runner-up finish at Military world games to keep the #10 spot held down. #14 Igor Ovsyannikov (RUS) won the Korkin.

 2017 U-23 world champ Mojitaba Goleij (IRI) made his return back to competition since the 2018 world championships and did so in emphatic fashion, beating Medved bronze medalist Dzianis Khramiankov (BLR), Heavyweight European games runner-up and returning U-23 world champ Givi Matcharashvili (GEO), and Russian nationals bronze medalist fifteenth ranked Shamil Ali Musaev (RUS) to return to the rankings at #15. #16 Rasul Magomedov had a busy month; wrestling up at heavyweight for the Khizri Shikhsaidov tournament where he lost to #14(125) Shamil Sharipov (RUS), Winning the Yusup Abdusalamov tournament over 2018 Intercontinental Cup runner-up Tazhudin Mukhtarov (RUS),  winning the Intercontinental Cup over Hayden Zillmer, and then taking bronze at the Semenov after losing to eventual runner-up Znaur Kotsiev (RUS) 4-4. For all of this, Magomedov gets to drop three spots in the rankings mainly due to the loss to the 2016 junior world bronze medalist Kotsiev. 

125 KG

No action out of any members of the top ten this month as it was mainly lower ranked Russians going to head. Two major developments from this month were the emergence of Batras Gazzaev (RUS) and Shamil Sharipov (RUS) as serious contenders. Gazzaev, fourteenth ranked at 92 Kilograms, made the transition up to heavyweight and won the Intercontinental Cup and the Kadyrov Cup. Gazzaev disposed of  national champ #13 Alan Khugaev (RUS) in the semis of the Intercontinental Cup and in the semis of the Kadyrov Cup and won 2-0 over 2017 national runner-up Magomedgadzhi Nurasulov (RUS) in the finals of the Intercontinental Cup. In the finals of the Kadyrov Cup, Gazzaev would use a quick high crotch and leg lace to tech fall 2016 Russian nationals bronze medalist Baldan Tsyzhipov (RUS) 10-0 in the first period. For his efforts, Gazzaev debuts in the rankings at #12 and takes the #3 spot domestically in Russia.

Shamil Sharipov made his presence known at the Khizri Shikhsaidov where he took out 97 KG Intercontinental cup champ #19(97) Rasul Magomedov (RUS), Yarygin bronze medalist #16 Zelimkhan Khizriev (RUS), and 2017 U-23 world runner-up Magomedamin Dibirov (RUS). Sharipov would follow that up with a bronze medal finish at the Intercontinental Cup where he beat Russian national runner-up #14 Said Gamidov (RUS) first round and then after losing to eventual runner-up Magomedgadzhi Nurasulov (RUS) in the semis would beat Magomedamin Dibirov (RUS) for bronze. For his work, Sharipov debuts in the rankings at #14. Magomedgadzhi Nurasulov rejoins the rankings at #13 for his runner-up finish at the Intercontinental Cup, his bronze at the Kadyrov Cup and his win over Sharipov.

There was a whole slew of small Russian tournaments there were frustrating to keep up with so as to not get stuck too much in the narrative of them, this is what happened: #19 Daniel Ligeti (HUN) won the Korkin over #15 Pavel Krivstov (RUS) who beat Yarygin bronze medalist #16 Zelimkhan Khizriev (RUS) in the quarters. The Semenov is where things get complicated. So, Ligeti (The Korkin champ) loses in the quarters to Atsamaz Tebloev (RUS) who was fifth at Russian nationals. Then Tebloev loses in the semis to Magomedamin Dibirov (The Shikhsaidov tournament runner-up) and then Dibirov gets pinned in the finals by Danylo Kartavyi (UKR) who beat Kadyrov Cup runner-up Baldan Tsyzhipov (RUS) in the semis when Tsyzhipov is coming off silver at the Kadyrov Cup to Gazzaev where he beat Intercontinental Cup runner-up #13 Magomedgadzhi Nurasulov (RUS). Having gone over the idiosyncrasies of what is a very convoluted series of events even by late season Russian tournament standards, here’s how this all breaks down; Gamidov falls three spots to #17, Kartavyi debuts in the rankings at rankings at #18 for winning the Semenov, Krivstov falls four spots to #19 for losing to Ligeti, Khizriev and Ligeti fall out the rankings, and Magomedamin Dibirov debuts in the rankings at #20. 

P4P

I moved up #10 Gadzhimurad Rashidov to #7 ahead of world bronze Kyle Snyder (USA), world silver Taha Akgul (TUR), and world bronze medalist Jordan Burroughs (USA). The reasoning for this is that Rashidov is coming off his best performance with a world title at a tougher weight (65) then 97 KG and 125 KG in the case of Snyder and Akgul and doesn’t have any “bad” losses like the rest of three in the form of Rasul Magomedov (Kyle Snyder), Anzor Khizriev (Taha Akgul), and Isaiah Martinez (Jordan Burroughs). The other main changes in the P4P all come from 97 KG; #25 Vladislav Baitsaev (RUS) got teched at Military worlds by eventual champ Mohammad Mohammadian (IRI) and is out of the rankings. Taking his spot is five time World/Olympic 5th place finisher Elizbar Odikadze (GEO) who beat #12 Sharif Sharifov (AZE) 5-2 in the DRL.