2023 61 KG Senior World Championships Preview

Title Contenders

#1 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (AIN)- 2021 61 KG Senior World champion, 2022 61 KG Russian Nationals champion, 2023 61 KG Russian Nationals champion. Key Wins: #2 Muslim Mekhtikhanov (2023 61 KG Russian National Finals, 2021 61 KG Russian National Finals), #4 Taiyrbek Zhumashbek Uulu (2023 61 KG PWL 5), #3 Akhmed Idrisov (2022 61 KG Russian National Finals), #10 Daton Fix (2021 61 KG World Finals). Key Losses: #2 Muslim Mekhtikhanov (2023 61 KG Yarygin), #3 Akhmed Idrisov (2022 61 KG All-Russian Spartakiad), Alexander Bogomoev (2020 61 KG Yarygin).

Medal Contenders

#9 Vitali Arujau (USA)- 2019 57 KG Junior world runner-up, 2023 61 KG Budapest Ranking Series Tournament bronze medalist, 2023 61 KG Final X champion. Key Wins: #12 Nahshon Garrett (2023 61 KG Final X), #11 Austin DeSanto (2023 61 KG U.S. Open finals), #13 Nathan Tomasello (2023 61 KG U.S. Open), #18 Narankhuu Narmandankh (2023 61 KG Budapest Ranking Series Tournament), #3 Akhmed Idrisov (2019 61 KG Junior World Championships). Key Losses: #3 (57) Zelimkhan Abakarov (2023 61 KG Budapest Ranking Series Tournament), Toshiya Abe (2019 57 KG Junior World finals).

#3 Taiyrbek Zhumashbek Uulu (KGZ)- 2022 61 KG U23 World runner-up, 2022 65 KG Bill Farrell Memorial Invitational champion, 2023 61 KG Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series Tournament champion, 2023 61 KG Asian Champion, 2023 61 KG Bishkek Ranking Series Tournament champion. Key Wins: #7 (65) Nick Lee (2022 65 KG Bill Farrell Memorial Invitational), #15 (57) Arsen Harutyunyan (2023 61 KG Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series Tournament), Taras Markovych (2023 61 KG Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series Tournament finals), Minghu Liu (2023 61 KG Asian Championships finals), #15 Emrah Ormanoglu (2023 61 KG Bishkek Ranking Series Tournament), #20 Shota Phartenadze (2023 61 KG Bishkek Ranking Series Tournament finals). Key Losses: #15 (57) Arsen Harutyunyan (2022 61 KG U23 World finals), #1 (65) Rahman Amouzad (2022 65 KG World Cup), #1 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (2023 61 KG PWL 4).

#8 Reza Atri (IRI)- 2022 61 KG Senior world runner-up, 2020 57 KG Olympic 5th place finisher, 2023 61 KG Zagreb Open champion, 2019 57 KG Asian Champion. Key Wins: #18 Narankhuu Narmandakh (2022 61 KG Senior World Championships, 2023 61 KG Zagreb Open finals), Giorgi Vangelov (2022 61 KG Senior World Championships), Bekhbayar Erdenebat (2020 57 KG Olympics, 2018 57 Kg Senior World Championships), Suleyman Atli (2020 57 KG Olympics), Kumsong Kang (2019 57 KG Asian Championships). Key Losses: #1 (57) Zavur Uguev (2020 57 KG Olympics), #7 (57) Thomas Gilman (2020 57 KG Olympic bronze medal match), #2 (57) Rei Higuchi (2022 61 KG Senior World finals).

#18 Narankhuu Narmandakh (MGL)- 2021 61 KG U23 World bronze medalist, 2022 61 KG Senior World bronze medalist, 2023 61 KG Zagreb Open runner-up. Key Wins: Ulukbek Zholdoshbekov (2022 61 KG Senior World Championships), Giorgi Vangelov (2022 61 KG Senior World Championships), Arman Eloyan (2021 61 KG U23 World Championships), #15 Emrah Ormanoglu (2023 61 KG Zagreb Open), Majid Dastan (2021 61 KG U23 World Championships). Key Losses: #8 Reza Atri (2022 61 KG Senior World Championships, 2023 61 KG Zagreb Open finals), #3 (57) Zelimkhan Abakarov (2023 61 KG Budapest Ranking Series Tournament), #9 Vito Arujau (2023 61 KG Budapest Ranking Series Tournament), Artur Chebodaev (2021 61 KG U23 World Championships)

Dark Horses

#15 Emrah Ormanoglu (TUR)- 2022 61 KG U23 European Champion, 2022 61 KG U23 World bronze medalist, 2023 61 KG Zagreb Open bronze medalist, 2023 61 KG European bronze medalist, 2023 61 KG Bishkek Ranking Series Tournament bronze medalist, 2023 61 KG Yasar Dogu champion. Key Wins: #16 Recep Topal (2023 61 KG Yasar Dogu), Intigam Valizada (2023 61 KG Yasar Dogu), Assyl Aitakyn (2023 61 KG Bishkek Ranking Series), Khamzat Arsamerzouev (2022 61 KG U23 European Championships). Key Losses: #15 (57) Arsen Harutyunyan (2023 61 KG European Championships), #18 Narankhuu Narmandakh (2023 61 KG Zagreb Open), #4 Taiyrbek Zhumashbek Uulu (2023 61 KG Bishkek Ranking Series Tournament), Khamzat Arsamerzouev (2023 65 KG Budapest Ranking Series Tournament)

Action Fighter/Wrestler to Watch

The Breakdown

2021 Senior World champion #1 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (AIN) is the rightful favorite going into the World Championships. Magomedov has shown himself to be absolutely dominant when facing off against the rest of the world and I don’t expect a departure from that form here. Magomedov’s closest ranked competitor, #3 Taiyrbek Zhumashbek Uulu (KGZ), faced Magomedov at PWL-5 and was quickly dispatched by tech-pin. The most interesting match to me of the tournament lies in the potential matchup of #1 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (AIN) and #9 Vito Arujau (USA). Arujau has the length, speed, and explosiveness needed to take out Magomedov and is my best bet to upset the Dagestani. What my hesitation on Vito is his tendency to start slow in matches and he can get out hustled by stronger, more active handfighters who can shut down his big bursts of activity. But if Vito is at peak form, I expect him to contend with Abasgadzhi.

On the medal contender tier, I very much enjoy watching upper body specialist, returning world bronze medalist #18 Narankhuu Narmandakh (MGL) for his diverse upper body offense. He has been out hustled and outdone by better competition but keep an eye out for him to have exciting matches against the field. Returning world runner-up #8 Reza Atri (IRI) has a great chance of making a repeat appearance in the finals and his stingy style could pose a challenge to the high octane offense of younger competition. #15 Emrah Ormanoglu (TUR) has kept exceptionally busy in 2023, with bronze medal finishes at the European Championships, Zagreb Open, Bishkek Ranking Series Tournament, and Yasar Dogu. I think Ormanoglu’s physicality plus strong leg attack finishing could serve him well to medal in this bracket.

Predictions

GOLD: #1 Abasgadzhi Magomedov over #3 Taiyrbek Zhumashbek Uulu

BRONZE: #9 Vito Arujau

BRONZE: #8 Reza Atri

Seth PetarraSeptember 15, 2023Comment