2019 Final Russian Domestic Men's Freestyle Rankings

Photo courtesy of Kadir Caliskan/United World Wrestling

57 KG

The biggest mover to end the year was Junior world bronze medalist Akhmed Idrisov, who went from unranked domestically to #2 and #5 internationally. Idrisov did this through his exceptional title run at the Alans that saw him beat 2018 Yarygin runner-up Azamat Tuskaev, #5 Abubakr Mutaliev, and #5 (INT) Bekhbayar Erdenebat (MGL). On the backside of the bracket, Tuskaev pinned the Kadyrov cup champ #5 Tuskaev.

Another big mover from the Alans was junior european champ Alexander Sabanov who took bronze. Sabanov defeated 2017 Asian championships runner-up Zanabazar Zandanbud (MGL) in the round of 16 10-2 and then followed it up with a controlling 8-4 win over 2018 Russian nationals runner-up #8 Donduk-Ool Khuresh-Ool in the quarterfinals. Sabanov lost a controversial 2-1 match to two time world bronze medalist #5(INT) Bekhbayar Erdenebat (MGL) where he scored a clutch duck under as time inspired. Undeterred by his loss to Erdenebat, Sabanov came back to pin Russian national champ #3 Ramiz Gamzatov for bronze.

Gamzatov, even though he has been struggling domestically and internationally since his exceptional showing in winning Russian nationals in July, was able to notch a strong 12-11 win over #7 Zhargal Damdinov in the round of 16 and a 11-0 tech fall win over Russian nationals bronze medalist #10 Mikhail Ivanov in his opening round match.

From all the action that happened at the Alans, Idrisov is able to take the #2 spot domestically behind 2x world champ Zavur Uguev, while Sabanov debuts at the number four spot for his wins over Gamzatov and Khuresh-Ool. Gamzatov falls in the rankings from #3 to #6 as the head of the second tier of 57’s in Russia with Muslim Sadulaev, Abubakr Mutaliev, Donduk-Ool Khuresh-Ool. For pinning Intercontinental Cup champ #5 Abubakar Mutaliev, 2018 Yarygin runner-up Azamat Tuskaev is in the rankings at #5.

61 KG

#7(65) Ramazan Ferzaliev returned to the weight and tournament that he made his name at, winning his second straight Alans title with a 10-7 victory over returning 57 KG champ #7 Abasgadzi Magomedov. Magomedov avenged his loss from November to two time Russian nationals bronze medalist #2 Zelimkhan Abakarov with an 8-7 win in the semis. #3 Alexander Bogomoev’s quest for a second Alans medal was stopped early as he lost 7-1 to returning runner-up and reigning world champ #5 (INT) Beka Lomtadze (GEO) 7-1 in the round of 16.

Ferzaliev’s run to the finals was incredibly impressive as he dominated red hot Magomed Magomedov in the semis 9-1, who was fresh off controlling wins over #4 Ibragim Abdurakhmanov and returning world champ #1 (INT) Beka Lomtadze (GEO). In the repechage, Magomedov would be stunned in the bronze medal match by 2017 Russian nationals 5th place finisher Shamil Omarov in a 10-0 loss. The shakeup from the Alans saw Ferzaliev take the #2 spot behind reigning world runner-up #1 Magomedrasul Idrisov, while Abasgadzhi Magomedov went up four spots to #3 for his win over #2 Zelimkhan Abakarov. 

The reason why Ferzaliev can be #1 internationally, but #2 domestically is because Idrisov still holds two wins over Ferzaliev this year along with wins over Abakarov and Bogomoev, even though he did lose to Lomtadze at world’s who lost to Magomed Magomedov at the Alans. #3 Alexander Bogomoev drops four spots in the rankings due to his loss to Lomtadze in the round of 16. Shamil Omarov debuts in the rankings at #5 for teching Magomed Magomedov for bronze. Magomed Magomedov enters at #6 for his wins over #4 Ibragim Abdurakhmanov and #1(INT) Beka Lomtadze (GEO). 

65 KG

#7(70) Soslan Ramonov returned to the weight that saw him earn 2x World/Olympic titles for the Alans and it paid major dividends and as he impressed on his way to his first Alans title. Ramonov teched Russian nationals bronze medalist #6 Murshid Mutalimov in his opening round match and followed it up with wins over #10(INT) Sirojiddin Khasanov (UZB) and 2018 Russian nationals bronze medalist Dasha Sharstepanov to make the finals opposite resurgent junior world runner-up Kurban Shriaev (RUS), who had outscored his opponents 34-1 going into the gold medal match. Ramonov would take a controlling 3-0 win to end the year in top five internationally and as the #2 wrestler in Russia behind reigning world champ #1 Gadzhimurad Rashidov.

Kurban Shiraev’s impressive final run saw him pin 2018 junior world champ Sayin Kazyryk, who was fresh off an upset win in the quarterfinals over #15(INT) Zain Retherford (USA) who had obliterated Russian nationals bronze medalist #4 Julian Gergenov by tech fall in his round of 16 match. Kazyryk ended with bronze at the Alans after a 3-0 win over Bulat Batoev. On the opposite end of the bracket, Dasha Sharastepanov had a strong run to 5th place as the 2018 Russian nationals bronze medalist beat #9 Astemir Kuantov, #10 Islam Dudaev, and Tulga Tumur Ochir (MGL) to return to the rankings at #8.

Shiraev’s second runner-up finish at the Alans coupled with the departure of #7 Ramazan Ferzaliev back to 61 and Kadyrov Cup runner-up #6 Muslim Saidulaev losing to Bekhan Goygereev sees him fill the #5 spot, with Alans bronze medalist Sayin Kazyryk taking the #6 spot. #4 Julian Gergenov was dropped five spots to #9 due to his loss to #15(INT) Zain Retherford who lost to Sayin Kazyryk in the quarters, and #5 Viktor Rassadin drops five spots in the rankings to #10 after a first round 3-2 loss to Aleksei Borovitski, who was pinned by eventual bronze medalist #10(INT) Sirojiddin Khasanov (UZB) in the round of 16.

70 KG

#2 Evgeni Zherbaev vs. #3 Cherman Valiev was the match of the tournament that everyone wanted to see as the two Russian nationals bronze medalists were on a collision course to meet, but it would not come to fruition as Zherbaev was pinned in a stunning upset by Ramazan Ramazanov in the semis. Ramazanov’s pin was no fluke, as the promising Dagestani teched #8 Alan Gogaev in the round of 16 and won 10-4 over 2018 Russian national runner-up Arpak Sat in the quarters.

#3 Cherman Valiev’s path to the Alans finals saw him dominate his way into the semis where he would run into 3x Russian national runner-up #5 Israil Kasumov. Coming back from a Kasumov rally after taking an early late, Valiev held on to win a hectic 13-8 match over Kasumov and concluded his tournament with a 4-2 win over the red hot Ramazan Ramazanov to take home the Alans title.

From the chaos that ensued from the Alans, #3 Cherman Valiev takes the #2 spot behind reigning world champ #1 David Baev, #4 Aznaur Tavaev climbs up one spot to #3 for his titles at the Intercontinental Cup and the Kunaev where he beat #2 Evgeni Zherbaev. #2 Evgeni Zherbaev drops two spots in the rankings to #4 for his losses to Tavaev and Ramazanov. Ramazan Ramazanov takes the #5 spot for his wins over Zherbaev and Gogaev. Alans bronze medalist Ruslan Bogatyrev enters the rankings at #7 for his wins over Kadyrov Cup champ #6 Rasul Arsanaliev and Dan Kolov runner-up #9 Anzor Zakuev.

74 KG

No major changes, as #2 Khetik Tsabolov won the Alans over 2017 70 KG world runner-up James Green (USA). Tsabolov beat Intercontinental cup runner-up Magomed Dibirgadzhiev and European championships bronze medalist #5 Timur Bizhoev (RUS). Bizhoev teched Kadyrov Cup runner-up Musa Baziev (RUS) for bronze.

79 KG

Unranked Khalil Aminov rebounded from failing to place at the Ugra Cup by winning the Alans with impressive victories over #1 Kakhaber Khubezhty, #2 Atsamaz Sanakoev, and #9 Radik Valiev. To make the finals, #1 Kakhaber Khubezhty disposed of Ugra cup bronze medalist Akhmed Usmanov. On the bottom side, #9 Radik Valiev upset Kadyrov Cup runner-up #6 Adam Khasiev by 12-2 tech in his second round match, before taking fifth after a contentious 5-5 loss to eventual champ Khalil Aminov.

From the Alans, Khalil Aminov takes the helm as Russia top ranked 79 KG wrestler with #1 Kakhaber Khubezhty and #2 Atsamaz Sanakoev each falling one spot to #2 and #3 respectively #9 Radik Valiev climbs up three spots in the rankings to #6 after teching former sixth ranked Adam Khasiev. Junior world champ Amkhad Tashukhadzhiev slots in at #7 for his wins over Khalid Yakhiev, Abubakar Abakarov, Radik Valiev, and Tazhidin Akaev, but can’t get higher due to the fact those wins happened before those guys were wrestling to the level they are at to be highly ranked. 

86 KG

2010 world bronze medalist Soslan Ktsoev gave his career a shot in the arm when he won the Alans by tech fall over North Ossetian transfer Intercontinental Cup champ #15 Georgi Rubaev (MDA). On the way to the finals, Valiev notched the biggest win for him of the year over European champ, Russian nationals runner-up #6 Vladislav Valiev 7-2. For his efforts, Ktsoev returns to the rankings at #4. Khabi Khashpakov enters the rankings at #8 for taking fifth at the Alans with losses to Ktsoev and Valiev but wins over Slavik Naniev, Zaur Makiev, and Azamat Zakuev. #9 Muslim Dadaev lost in repechage to #5 Vladislav Valiev, and #7 Magomedsharif Biikaev took bronze with a 4-3 win over Ada Bagomedov.

92 KG

#1 Magomed Kurbanov won the Alans with a win over #4(INT) Javad Ebrahimi to avenge a loss from earlier in the year at the World Cup. In the semis, Kurbanov beat #3 Anzor Urishev who won bronze by beating Bill Farrell Memorial Invitational runner-up Michael Macchiavello (USA). #2 Batyrbek Tsakulov took bronze with an 8-0 win over #4 Aslanbek Sotiev. #4 Aslanbek Sotiev pinned #6 Guram Chertkoev in the round of 16. #2 Alikhan Zhabrailov moved up to 97 KG after his performance at the Alrosa Cup in November and is ranked third at 97 KG domestically for beating #3(INT) Sharif Sharifov (AZE) and #12 (INT) Reineris Salas Perez (CUB).

97 KG

#2 Vladislav Baitsaev was runner-up at the Alans to 3x World/Olympic champ #2(INT) Kyle Snyder (USA). On his run to the finals, Baitsaev beat Russian nationals bronze medalist #5 Shamil Musaev and 2018 world bronze medalist #5(INT) Elizbar Odikadze. #5 Musaev lost 9-0 in the bronze medal match to #5(INT) Elizbar Odikadze. Snyder defeated #7 Magomedkhan Magomedov and #8 Znaur Kotsiev. Kotsiev was eliminated by Olympic bronze medalist #10 Magomed Ibragimov (UZB) in repechage, and Ibragimov was teched by European runner-up #9 (INT) Aleksandr Hushtyn (BLR) who won bronze 5-3 over #7 Magomedkhan Magomedov.

125 KG

The Big Bad Batras Gazzaev won the Alans title in incredibly impressive fashion thrashing 2x world bronze medalist #16 (INT) Nick Gwiazdowski (USA) to open and following it up with a 6-0 win over Khasan Khubaev in the quarterfinals to set up a match against U-23 world champ #6 (INT) Amir Zare (IRI). Gazzaev would win off a last second takedown to move onto the finals against #9 Baldan Tsyzhipov, who he had teched in the finals of the Kadyrov Cup. Gazzaev created even more separation from Tsyzhipov with a 10-0 tech in the first period to finish the year with four titles after moving up from 92 to 125 KG. For all that he’s done, Gazzaev ends the year ranked fifth internationally, and #3 behind Yarygin and European Games champ #1 Anzor Khizriev and 3x world champ #2 Bilyal Makhov. For his wins over #5 Shamil Sharipov and #6 Magomedgadzhi Nurasulov, #9 Baldan Tsyzhipov finishes the year ranked 5th at 125 KG.  #6 Magomedgadzi Nurasulov beat #5 Shamil Sharipov 2-0 for bronze.

P4P

#7 Khetik Tsabolov and #8 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov each got bumped up two spots to #5 and #6 respectively after Tsabolov won the Alans and beat #15 Timur Bizhoev and Gazimagomedov won the Kadyrov Cup to go along with his wins over #4 Baev and #11 Zhamalov from the Yarygin in January coupled with #6 Magomed Kurbanaliev losing to #15 Timur Bizhoev and #18(INT) Geandry Garzon (CUB) at the Alrosa Cup.

2017 world bronze medalist #14 Vladislav Valiev drops two spots in the rankings to #16 in the rankings after taking bronze at the Alans where he suffered a loss to 2010 world bronze medalist Soslan Ktsoev. Russian national runner-up Ramazan Ferzaliev slots in at #20 after winning his second straight Alans title with a 10-7 win over returning 57 KG champ #3(61) Abasgadzhi Magomedov. 2x World/Olympic champ Soslan Ramonov returns to the rankings at 65 KG after up and down performances at 70 that saw him finish runner-up at the Kadyrov Cup and bronze at the Ugra Cup before transitioning down to 65 KG to win the Alans over junior world champ Kurban Shiraev. #19 Evgeni Zherbaev is dropped from the pound for pound rankings after being pinned in the 70 KG Alans semifinals by eventual runner-up #5(70) Ramazan Ramazanov.