2023 125 KG Senior World Championships Preview

Title Contenders

#2 Taha Akgul (TUR)- Three-time 125 KG Senior World Champion (‘14, ‘15, ‘22), 2016 125 KG Olympic Champion, 2020 125 KG Olympic bronze medalist. Key Wins: Khadzhimurad Gatsalov (2015 125 KG Yasar Dogu), #3 Amir Zare (2022 125 KG Senior World Championships), #4 Geno Petriashvili (2017 125 KG European Championships, 2018 125 KG European Championships, 2019 125 KG European Championships, 2021 125 KG European Championships, 2022 125 KG European Championships, 2023 125 KG European Championships). Key Losses: #1 Gable Steveson (2020 125 KG Olympics), #3 Amir Zare (2021 125 KG Senior World Championships), #4 Geno Petriashvili (2017 125KG Senior World finals, 2019 125 KG Senior World finals), Parvis Hadi (2018 125 KG Senior World championships). 

#3 Amir Zare (IRI)- 2019 125 KG U23 World Champion, 2019 125 KG Junior World runner-up, 2020 125 KG Matteo Pellicone champion, 2020 Olympic bronze medalist, 2021 Senior World champion, 2022 Senior world bronze medalist. Key Wins: #2 Taha Akgul (2021 125 KG Senior World’s), Geno Petriashvili (2021 125 KG Senior World finals), Bilyal Makhov (2020 125 KG Matteo Pellicone finals), Yusup Batirmurzaev (2019 125 KG U23 World Championships). Key Losses: #2 Taha Akgul (2022 125 KG Senior World Championships semifinals), #8 Mason Parris (2019 125 KG Junior World finals), #4 Geno Petriashvili (2020 125 KG Olympic semifinals).

#4 Geno Petriashvili (GEO)- 2020 125 KG Olympic silver medalist, three-time 125 KG Senior World champion (‘17,’18,’19), 2021 125 KG Senior World runner-up, 2022 125 KG Senior World bronze medalist, 2023 125 KG Bishkek Ranking Series Tournament champion. Key Wins: #3 Amir Zare (2020 125 KG Olympics), #2 Taha Akgul (2017 125 KG world finals, 2019 125 KG world finals), Zhiwei Deng (2018 125 KG world finals, 2023 125 KG Bishkek Ranking Series). Key Losses: #1 Gable Steveson (2020 125 KG Olympic finals), #3 Amir Zare (2021 125 KG World Finals), #13 Lkhagvagerel Mukhtur (2022 125 KG Senior World Championships semifinals), #2 Taha Akgul (2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 125 KG European Championships)

Medal Contenders

#5 Abdulla Kurbanov (AIN)- 2023 125 KG Russian Nationals champion, 2022 125 KG Ali Aliyev champion, 2022 125 KG Semenov Cup runner-up. Key Wins: #6 Alen Khubulov (2023 125 KG Russian Nationals), #7 Zelimkhan Khizriev (2023 125 KG Russian Nationals), #10 (97) Akhmed Tazhudinov (2022 97 KG Junior Russian National Finals), #12 Erik Dzhioev (2023 125 KG Russian National Finals). Key Losses:  #19 Alan Khugaev (2022 125 KG Semenov Cup finals), #10 (97) Akhmed Tazhudinov (2022 97 KG 1st Ivan Poddubny Tournament semifinals), #7 Zelimkhan Khizriev (2021 125 KG Umakhanov Tournament semifinals), #16 Dzianis Khramiankov (2021 125 KG Umakhanov Tournament bronze medal match). 

#8 Mason Parris (USA)- 2023 125 KG Budapest Ranking Series Tournament champion, 2023 125 KG World Team Trials Champion, 2019 125 KG Junior World champion, 2023 125 KG Final X runner-up. Key Wins: #3 Amir Zare (2019 125 KG Junior World finals), #9 Nick Gwiazdowski (2023 125 KG World Team Trials finals), Daniel Ligeti (2023 125 KG Budapest Ranking Series Tournament finals), Zhiwei Deng (2023 125 KG Budapest Ranking Series Tournament). Key Losses: #1 Gable Steveson (2023 125 KG Final X), #9 Nick Gwiazdowski (2023 125 KG U.S.Open).

#13 Lkhagvagerel Munkhtur (MGL)- 2021 125 KG Senior World bronze medalist, 2022 125 KG Senior World silver medalist, 2023 125 KG Asian Champion, 2020 125 KG Olympics 5th place finisher. Key Wins: #4 Geno Petriashvili (2022 125 KG Senior World Championships), Atsamaz Tebloev (2022 125 KG Yasar Dogu), Yusup Batirmurzaev (2022 125 KG Yasar Dogu, 2023 125 KG Asian Championships finals), Greg Kerkvliet (2019 125 KG U23 World Championships), #16 Dzianis Khramiankov (2020 125 KG Olympics) Key Losses: Buheerdun Buheerdun (2023 125 KG Bishkek Ranking Series Tournament), #2 Taha Akgul (2022 125 KG Senior World finals, 2020 125 KG Olympic bronze medal match), #4 Geno Petriashvili (2021 125 KG Senior World Championships), #1 Gable Steveson (2020 125 KG Olympic semifinals), 

Dark Horses

#17 Giorgi Meshvildishvili (AZE)- 2023 125 KG European bronze medalist, 2023 125 KG Ziolkowski runner-up, 2023 125 KG Zagreb Open runner-up, 2023 125 KG Dan Kolov champion, 2017 125 KG Alans bronze medalist. Key Wins: #18 Mostafa Junegani (2023 125 KG Dan Kolov finals), Hayden Zillmer (2023 125 KG Zagreb Open), Robert Baran (2023 125 KG Zagreb Open), Abraham Conyedo Ruano (2023 125 KG European Championships bronze medalist), #14 Soslan Khinchagov (2017 125 KG Sargsyan Cup). Key Losses: #2 Taha Akgul (2023 125 KG European Championships), Levan Berianidze (2017 125 KG Sargsyan Cup), #9 Nick Gwiazdowski (2023 125 KG Ziolkowski finals).

Action Fighter/Wrestler to Watch

Yusup Batirmurzaev (KAZ)- 2020 125 KG Asian Champion, 2019 125 KG U23 world bronze medalist, 2023 125 KG Asian Championships runner-up, 2023 125 KG Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series Tournament champion, 2021 125 KG Asian Olympic Qualifier champion, 2020 125 KG Matteo Pellicone finals Key Wins: #13 Lkhagvagerel Munkhtur (2021 125 KG Asian Olympic Games Qualifier), #9 Nick Gwiazdowski (2023 125 KG Zagreb Open bronze medal match), Parviz Hadi (2020 125 KG Asian Championships). Key Losses: #2 Taha Akgul (2023 125 KG Zagreb Open), #3 Amir Zare (2019 125 KG U23 World Championships, 2020 125 KG Matteo Pellicone finals), Khasanboy Rakhimov (2023 125 KG Bishkek Ranking Series Tournament), Yuri Idzinski (2023 125 KG Budapest Ranking Series Tournament).

The Breakdown

#2 Taha Akgul (TUR) looks to defend his title he earned last year in a field with two other past world champions in #3 Amir Zare (IRI) and #4 Geno Petriashvili (GEO) along with fighting against two dangerous newcomers in #5 Abdulla Kurbanov (AIN) and #8 Mason Parris (USA). Of this group, my favorite to win the title if he is healthy is #3 Amir Zare of Iran. Zare is an absolutely dominant handfighter who breaks the wills of his opponents and did so against #2 Taha Akgul (TUR) and #3 Geno Petriashvili (GEO) to win gold in 2021. I believe #4 Geno Petriashvili (GEO) is on the beginning of his decline but being a 6’6 heavyweight who shoots and has a gas tank and can scramble puts himself above most of the field. 

I’m most excited for the debuts of #5 Abdulla Kurbanov (AIN) and #8 Mason Parris (USA). Kurbanov looked excellent in winning Russian Nationals and his rare combination of size, strength, length, and a high percentage leg attack game punctuated by a great knee pull single and high crotch put me high on the young Russian. Mason Parris boasts a similar high output style heavy on knee pull singles but between the two, I am leaning more towards Mason, even with Kurbanov’s based off size advantage, given Mason’s strong showing for gold at the Budapest Ranking Series over the likes of Daniel Ligeti (HUN) and 2018 world runner-up Zhiwei Deng (CHN). Keep an eye on #17 Giorgi Meshvildishvili (AZE) as he is yet another active heavyweight who can score off low shots and scrambles but finds himself getting outhustled by the more physical heavyweights and better technicians. Yusup Batirmurzaev (KAZ) is an absolutely MASSIVE heavyweight standing over 6’5 feet tall and is a very capable thrower earlier in matches. If he is fresh and can catch more elite guys early in a match, he could be a real bracket buster. 

Predictions

GOLD: #3 Amir Zare over #2 Taha Akgul

BRONZE: #4 Geno Petriashvili 

BRONZE: #8 Mason Parris