November 2020 Russian Freestyle Wrestling Rankings
Photo by Stanislav Krasilnikov\TASS via Getty Images
57 KG
Russian Nationals Results
GOLD: #1 Zavur Uguev over #2 Azamat Tuskaev 1-1
BRONZE: #3 Akhmed Idrisov over #5 Ramiz Gamzatov 3-1
BRONZE: #7 Muslim Sadulaev over Petr Konstantinov 7-1
In a battle between the two top ranked wrestlers domestically and internationally reigning two time world champion #1 Zavur Uguev would walk away with his third Russian national title with a 1-1 win over Yaryin and European champion #2 Azamat Tuskaev. Taking bronze at Russian nationals was Alans champion #3 Ahmed Idrisov with a 3-1 win over 2019 national champion #5 Ramiz Gamzatov. #3 Idrisov also tech falled 2018 national runner-up #9 Donduk-Ool Khuresh-Ool in the qualification round. In the semifinals, Idrisov lost 6-6 on criteria in an amazing semi final match to runner-up #2 Azamat Tuskaev in what was a rematch of their Yarygin finals won by Tuskaev. Tuskaev leads their match series 2-1 now with wins at the Yarygin and at Russian nationals with Idrisov taking a win last December at the Alans. Returning national runner-up #6 Muslim Sadulaev (RUS) won his third straight Russian nationals medal with a 7-1
#6 Alexander Sabanov is out as he moved up to 61 KG, and so is Korkin champ #8 Zhargal Damdinov who beat Sabanov 7-6 in the qualification round on the way to a bronze medal finish at nationals.
61 KG
Russian Nationals Results
GOLD: #3 Abasgadzhi Magomedov over #2 Ramazan Ferzaliev 9-7
BRONZE: #7 Ibragim Abdurakhmanov over Dmitry Aksenov 4-3
BRONZE: #8 (57) Zhargal Damdinov over Ibragim Ilyasov 13-2
After having gone two years without placing at nationals, #3 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RUS) made the most of his third run by taking home gold by avenging two prior losses to returning national runner-up #2 Ramazan Ferzaliev (RUS) with a 9-7 win in the finals. On his path to the finals, Magomedov defeated 2019 Intercontinental cup champion #9 Ibragim Abdurakhmanov (RUS) and 2017 Russian nationals bronze medalist Dmitry Aksenov (RUS). Abdurakhmanov would take a tight 4-3 win over Aksenov to win bronze while on the opposite side of the bracket would see 2019 57 KG Korkin champ Zhargal Damdinov (RUS) tech fall 2018 57 KG U-23 European champion Ibragim Ilyasov (RUS) via a 13-2 score.
#3 Abasgadzhi Magomedov takes the #1 spot after winning Russian nationals while former #1 Alexander Bogomoev falls two spots to #3 due to inactivity. Yarygin bronze medalist #6 Kezhik Chimba is removed from the rankings as he moved up to 65 KG where he was tech falled 14-3 in the qualification round by eventual bronze medalist #4 (65) Zagir Shakhiev. 2017 57 KG national bronze medalist Dmitry Aksenov enters the rankings at #9 for taking 5th at nationals and beating #9 Tamerlan Karaev. 2019 Intercontinental Cup champ #7 Ibragim Abdurakhmanov beat 2017 57 KG national runner-up #8 Artem Gebek 5-2 in the round of 16.
65 KG
Russian Nationals Results
GOLD: #1 Gadzhimurad Rashidov over #5 Akhmed Chakaev 2-0
BRONZE: Zagir Shakhiev over Artur Badtiev 10-0
BRONZE: #9 (70) Alan Gogaev over Muslim Saidulaev 6-1
Reigning world champion #1 Gadzhimurad Rashidov (RUS) won his third Russian national title with a 2-0 win over 2018 national champion #5 Akhmed Chakaev. One of the biggest stories of the Russian national tournament was 2016 46 KG Cadet world champion Zagir Shakhiev’s run. Shakiev teched falled Yarygin bronze medalist #6 (61) Kezhik Chimba (RUS) 14-3, won 5-4 over Junior national runner-up Yuri Arakelyan (RUS), and in the quarterfinals absolutely dominated 2016 Olympic champion #3 Soslan Ramonov (RUS). Shakhiev would lose in the semis 5-2 to #5 Akhmed Chakaev but would handle Artur Badtiev 10-0 for bronze in an absolutely spectacular run.
Taking bronze in the repechage bracket of #1 Gadzhimurad Rashidov was 2017 world bronze medalist #9(70) Alan Gogaev who beat a surging Kadyrov Cup runner-up Muslim Saidulaev (RUS). Other important results to note from Russian nationals were 2019 bronze medalist #7 Murshid Mutalimov beating 2018 bronze medalist #6 Dasha Sharastepanov 4-0 in the round of 16 then losing 4-2 to runner-up #5 Akhmed Chakaev. In the repechage bracket, Mutalimov would lose to unranked Artur Badtiev (RUS) 3-1. Muslim Saidulaev’s run to the semifinals was a strong one was the 2018 Alans champ defeated 2019 nationals bronze medalist #9 Julian Gergenov 8-0 in the round of 16 and 2018 national runner-up Bekhan Goygereev 5-1 in the quarters.
Some pretty big changes in the rankings, #2 Kurban Shiraev moved up to 70 KG where he took bronze and is currently ranked third. Taking the #2 spot is 2019 national runner-up Naachin Kuular. Moving up two spots was #5 Akhmed Chakaev for his runner-up finish and win over #4 Zagir Shakhiev who beat #3 Soslan Ramonov, #6 (61) Kezhik Chimba, and #8 Artur Badtiev to take bronze. #3 Soslan Ramonov falls two spots to #5 after losing to #4 Zagir Shakhiev in the quarterfinals. Muslim Saidulaev returns to the rankings at #7 after beating #9 Julian Gergenov and Bekhan Goygereev on his way to the semis. #9 (70) Alan Gogaev takes the #6 spot for beating Saidulaev in the bronze medal match and Artur Badtiev fills out the #8 spot for finishing 5th and beating returning bronze medalist #7 Murshid Mutalimov in the repechage bracket. Alans bronze medalist #8 Sayin Kazyrk moved up to 70 KG where he went 0-2 at nationals losing to #1 (70) Cherman Valiev and #9 (70) Ruslan Zhendaev.
70 KG
Russian Nationals Results
GOLD: #3 Cherman Valiev over #2 David Baev 4-2
BRONZE: #2 (65) Kurban Shiraev over #6 Arpak Sat 6-0
BRONZE: Ruslan Zhendaev over Murad Nukhadiev by forfeit
#3 Cherman Valiev (RUS) got his second win over returning world champion #1 David Baev (RUS) to win his first Russian national title after finishing bronze a year ago. Valiev scored off an early 4 point double and held off Baev to take a 4-2 win. Valiev’s run to gold saw him dominate 65 KG Alans bronze medalist Sayin Kazyryk (RUS), 2019 U-23 world team rep Ruslan Zhendaev (RUS), and 2x Russian nationals bronze medalist Murad Nukhadiev (RUS). Nukhadiev was surrounded by controversy throughout the tournament, choking Valiev out in there semifinal match on his way to an 8-0 loss, then winning a contentious 11-6 quarterfinal match over Anzor Zakuev off a chest wrap and then injury defaulting out his bronze medal match. #1 David Baev dominated 65 KG Yarygin and European champ #2 (65) Kurban Shiraev (RUS) 8-0 in the quarters and Shiraev would rebound by defeating 2018 national runner-up #6 Arpak Sat 6-0 for bronze.
A lot of changes here due to #9 Alan Gogaev moving down to 65, #2 (65) Kurban Shiraev moving up, 2019 Alans runner-up #5 Ramazan Ramazanov transferring to Bulgaria, #8 Aleksii Borovitskii not being as good as the influx of new talent, and #10 Ruslan Bogatyrev moving up to 74 KG. So 2x bronze medalist Murad Nukhadiev is in at #7, Kurban Shiraev slots in at #3, 2019 Sargsyan cup champ Anzor Zakuev is in at #8 and beat 2019 61 KG world runner-up Magomedrasul Idrisov 6-6 in the opening round. 2017 65 KG national bronze medalist Imam Adzhiev is in at #10 after beating 2019 65 KG Ali Aliyev runner-up Viktor Rassadin.
74 KG
Russian Nationals Results
GOLD: #3 Razambek Zhamalov over #4 Khetik Tsabolov 5-1
BRONZE: #6 Timur Bizhoev over #9 Nikita Suchkov 3-1
BRONZE: #1 Zaurbek Sidakov over #4 Magomed Kurbanaliev 9-1
#3 Razambek Zhamalov beat #4 Khetik Tsabolov 5-1 to prove that grillers make killers. But before we get too deep into the most dudes rock weight in the world, let’s run through an equally dudes rock finals run that was #8 Khetik Tsabolov (RUS). Tsabolov was reigning number one pound for pound ranked Zaurbek Sidakov (RUS) only loss in the past two years (the 2018 Yarygin finals) and he would be the man to fell the 2x North Ossetian world champ as the returning national runner-up Tsabolov would beat the top ranked Sidakov 9-3 in the round of 16 to avenge his 2018 national finals loss and in the semifinals would defeat returning national champion #5 Magomed Kurbanaliev (RUS) 8-7 to avenge his loss from the 2019 finals.
#3 Razambek Zhamalov’s run to the finals began with another dominant win over two time Russian nationals bronze medalist #9 Nikita Suchkov 7-2 in the qualification round. Wins over Saipulla Alibulatov (RUS) and Magomedmurad Dadaev (RUS) would bring Zhamalov to the semis where he would face off against returning two time bronze medalist #6 Timur Bizhoev (RUS) who was fresh off a upset win over #2 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov who had beaten Tsabolov and Zhamalov earlier in the year. Zhamalov would claw back and take a 6-6 win on criteria against Zhamalov to move onto his second consecutive Russian nationals finals match. In the finals, Zhamalov would fight off deep Tsabolov leg attacks and use intelligent counters to win 5-1 and take home gold and prove that dudes rock and grillers make killers. Taking bronze in this absolute murderer’s row of a weight was #1 Zaurbek Sidakov (RUS) over #5 Magomed Kurbanaliev (RUS) 9-1 and #6 Timur Bizhoev (RUS) over #9 Nikita Suchkov (RUS) 3-1.
#3 Razambek Zhamalov moves up to #1 for winning nationals, while #4 Khetik Tsabolov moves up to #2 for his wins over #1 Zaurbek Sidakov and #5 Magomed Kurbanaliev. #2 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov falls four spots to #6 for losing in the quarterfinals to 3x national bronze medalist #6 Timur Bizhoev who moves up two spots to #4 for his wins over Gazimagomedov, #8 Nikita Suchkov, and #9 Darsam Dzhaparov. #1 (70) Israil Kasumov moved up and won the North Siberian Federal District over Semen Tereschenko and is ranked at #7, Kasumov’s best 74 KG placement prior was a bronze medal finish at the 2018 Korkin where he beat 79 KG national champion #1 (79) Akhmed Usmanov. 2019 70 KG Medved champ Magomedmurad Dadaev is in at #10 for beating #10 Magomed Dibirgadzhiev and #10 (70) Ruslan Bogatyrev to make the quarters against #1 Razambek Zhamalov where he’d lose 8-0 and then lose again in the second round of repechage 8-4 to #8 Nikita Suchkov.
79 KG
Russian Nationals Results
GOLD: #9 Akhmed Usmanov over Gadzhimurad Alikhmaev 5-2
BRONZE: Amanulla Gadzhimagomedov over Evgeni Lapshov 6-2
BRONZE: Gadzhi Nabiev over #10 Tazhidin Akaev 1-1
#9 Akhmed Usmanov made the most of an open field and staked his claim at the best 79 kilogram in Russia by taking home gold with a 5-2 win over Gazhimurad Alikhmaev. Usmanov had a strong run to the finals that saw him beat returning world bronze medalist Gadzhi Nabiev and #10 Tazhidin Akaev. Alikhamev’s route to the finals was defined by close matches as he got by 2018 intercontinental cup runner-up Amanulla Gadzhimagomedov 2-1, 2-1 over #4 Atsamaz Sanakoev who fresh off a dominant 9-3 win over returning bronze medalist #5 Kakhaber Khubezhty in the round of 16 and Evgeni Lapshov 3-1 in the semis. Lapshov had a strong semifinal run as he upset Junior national champ Magomed Magomaev 5-2 in the round of 16 and then notched the biggest upset of the tournament when he defeated #3 Khalil Aminov 1-1 on criteria in the quarterfinals. Taking bronze was Amanulla Gadzhimagomedov 6-2 over Evgeni Lapshov and Gadzhi Nabiev over #10 Tazhidin Akaev 2-1.
#9 Akhmed Usmanov makes a huge jump up all the way to #1 for wining nationals, Gadzhimurad Alikhamev jumps from unranked to #2 for beating Evgeni Lapshov, Amanulla Gadzhimagomedov and #4 Atsamaz Sanakoev on his way to gold. #4 Atsamaz Sanakoev beat #5 Kakahaber Khubezhty but couldn’t get past the defense of Alikhmaev and forfeited out in repechage. #3 Khalil Aminov fell 1-1 to eventual 5th place finisher Evgeni Lapshov. Evgeni Lapshov is in at #4 for beating Khalil Aminov in the quarters. Amanulla Gadzhimagomedov is in at #3 for beating #4 Evgeni Lapshov in the bronze medal match. 2019 world bronze medalist Gadzhi Nabiev returns to the rankings at #9 after beating #10 Tazhidin Akaev for bronze.
86 KG
Russian Nationals Results
GOLD: #2 Dauren Kurugliev over #1 Artur Naifonov 2-1
BRONZE: #1 (79) Magomed Ramazanov over Abdulmuslim Timurbulatov 3-1
BRONZE: #4 Arsenali Musalaliev over Magomedsharif Biyakaev 2-1
In the never ending series that is Dauren Kurugliev vs Artur Naifonov, it was Kurugliev who would come away victorious this time for his second national title with a 2-1 win over the 2x European champion Naifonov. 86 kilograms saw a major influx of 79 KG talent and they showed out quite well with #1 (79) Magomed Ramazanov taking bronze over Abdulmuslim Timurbulatov and #2 (79) Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov (RUS) notching wins over 2019 Alans champ Soslan Ktsoev (RUS) and 2018 Alans bronze medalist Slavik Naniev (RUS) to make the quarterfinals where he was stopped by 2x national bronze medalist #4 Arsenali Musalaliev 4-1. Ramazanov and Musalaliev both had momentum behind them but were stopped in definitive fashion as Kurugliev defeated Ramazanov 6-0 in the semis and Musalaliev fell to Naifonov 8-0 in the semis. Musalaliev took bronze with a 2-1 win over Yarygin bronze medalist Magomedsharif Biyakaev (RUS). What this does to the rankings is place #1 (79) Magomed Ramazanov at #3, Musalaliev stays steady at #4, and #2 (79) Akhmed Gadzimagomedov debuts in the 86 KG rankings at #5. #8(79) Radik Valiev slots in at #10 after moving up.
92 KG
Russian Nationals Results
GOLD: #2 Alikhan Zhabrailov over #4 Magomed Kurbanov 3-2
BRONZE: #1 Batyrbek Tsakulov over Ramazan Shabanov 18-7
BRONZE: #5 Anzor Urishev over Gadzhimagomed Nazhmudinov 2-1
Rinse, wash, and repeat of last year’s Russian nationals results, returning world bronze medalist #2 Alikhan Zhabrailov beat #5 Magomed Kurbanov (RUS) to win. There were no upsets really at nationals, you get exactly what you expect in Russia at 92 kilograms, nothing ever changes. #7 Magomed Baibekov, #8 Gadzhimagomed Nazhmudinov, and #9 Yuri Ivanov are all in because #6 Aslanbek Sotiev and #7 Tazhudin Mukhtarov moved up to 97 and #8 Alan Bagaev moved down to 86.
97 KG
Russian Nationals Results
GOLD: #1 Abdulrashid Sadulaev over #6 (92) Aslanbek Sotiev 8-2
BRONZE: Aslanbek Gazzaev over #5 Shamil Musaev 5-0
BRONZE: Erik Dzhioev over #6 Rasul Magomedov 3-2
#1 Abdulrashid Sadulaev (RUS) won his fifth national title and outscored his competition 43-4. #14 (92) Aslanbek Sotiev (RUS) was the major story of the weight as he beat 2019 Yarygin champ and returning bronze medalist #16 Shamil Musaev 11-9 in the semis after Musaev had avenged his loss to Yarygin runner-up #15 Magomedkhan Magomedov (RUS) 5-1 in the opening round. Sotiev moves up to #3 at 97 KG, Aslanbek Gazzaev to #5 for beating #5 Shamil Musaev for bronze, #4 Magomedkhan Magomedov falls three spots to #7 for losing to #5 Shamil Musaev 5-1 in the qualification round. Erik Dzhioev in at #8 for beating #6 Rasul Magomedov for bronze. #7 Znaur Kotsiev got removed from the rankings because he moved up to 125 KG where he lost 12-2 in the round of 16 to #9 (125) Atsamaz Tebloev.
125 KG
Russian Nationals Results
GOLD: #8 Alan Khugaev over #7 Shamil Sharipov 7-4
BRONZE: #2 Anzor Khizriev over Saypudin Magomedov 7-5
BRONZE: Vitali Goloev over #10 Atsamaz Tebloev 9-8
The landscape of Russia at heavyweight underwent a major change as Batraz “the chin” Gazzaev was pinned first round by Tamerlan Rasuev and returning two time national champion #5 Anzor Khizriev fell to young contender #15 Shamil Sharipov who also took out Tamerlan Rasuev. Khugaev held off young talent on his path to the finals, denying U-23 world runner-up Vitali Goloev and Junior national bronze medalist Atsamaz Tebloev. There was a lot of turnover from all this and the most important were #8 Alan Khugaev and #7 Shamil Sharipov taking the #1 and #2 spots respectively. #2 Anzor Khizriev and #1 Batraz Gazzaev fell to #3 and #4 from their losses to #2 Shamil Sharipov and #6 Tamerlan Rasuev. Tamerlan Rasuev debuts in the rankings for his wins over #1 Batraz Gazzaev and #10 Khamzat Khizriev. Khamzat Khizriev debuts in the rankings at #10 for his win over 2018 national runner-up Muradin Kushkov. 2019 U-23 world runner-up Vitali Goloev debuts in the rankings at #8 for beating #10 Atsamaz Tebloev 9-8 for bronze after Tebloev had made the bronze medal match with wins over #7 (97) Znaur Kotsiev and #9 Said Gamidov.
Pound-for-Pound
5x World/Olympic champion #2 Abdulrashid Sadulaev takes back the #1 spot after #1 Zaurbek Sidakov’s bronze medal finish at Russian nationals. #20 Timur Bizhoev moves all the way up to #9 in the rankings after finishing bronze at 74 KG nationals where he beat Yarygin and European champion #4 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov. #10 Khetik Tsabolov moved up six spots to #4 in the rankings after beating #1 Zaurbek Sidakov and #10 Magomed Kurbanaliev to make the Russian national finals. #6 Israil Kasumov moved down seven spots to #13 as he was adjusted for depth at 74 KG that he moved up to from 70 KG where he won the Yarygin over 2019 world champion #7 David Baev.
#8 Razambek Zhamalov moves up five spots to #3 in the pound for pound rankings after beating #4 Khetik Tsabolov and #9 Timur Bizhoev to win the title. Former #1 Zaurbek Sidakov drops four spots in the rankings to #5 after taking an upset loss to then tenth ranked Khetik Tsabolov. Sidakov beat #9 Magomed Kurbanaliev 9-1 to take bronze.
Cherman Valiev moves up seven spots from #14 to #7 after winning 70 KG nationals after beating 2019 world champion David Baev 4-2 in the finals to notch his second win over Baev (first coming in the 2019 Ali Aliev quarterfinals). #17 Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov got kicked out of the rankings due to weight change and is currently 5th on the depth chart at 86 KG, #22 Vladislav Valiev, #23 Batraz Gazzaev, #24 Anzor Khizriev, and #25 Batyrbek Tsakulov all were dropped from the rankings due to losses (Gazzaev to Tamerlan Rasuev, Khizriev to Shamil Sharipov, Tsakulov to Magomed Kurbanov) and inactivity (Valiev hasn’t competed since the 2019 Alans in December). They’ve been replaced by 65 KG Yarygin and European champ Kurban Shiraev, 86 KG national bronze medalist Arsenali Musalaliev, 2x 92 KG national champ Alikhan Zhabrailov, and 125 KG national champ Alan Khugaev.
#12 Soslan Ramonov got booted from the rankings due to his loss in the 65 KG quarterfinals to bronze medalist Zagir Shakhiev. Also new to the rankings are 61 KG national champ Abasgadzhi Magomedov (19), 2x 61 KG national runner-up Ramazan Ferzaliev (20) and 79 KG national champion Akhmed Usmanov (79).