97 KG: Men's Freestyle 2019 World Championships Preview
Photo courtesy of ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP/Getty Images
Sadulaev/Snyder 3 is right around the corner and the 4x World/Olympic champ from Russia looks to have the upper hand going into the rubber match but will the American prodigy be able to replicate perfection from Paris and take out the Russian tank to win his fourth World/Olympic title? What about everyone else? Why am I asking you all these things? Why hasn’t my grandson called me in the past 3 months? I’ll try and answer the first two questions in this preview while It’s up to you to help me find the answer for the last two.
Title Contenders:
#1 Abdulrashid Sadulaev (RUS)- 4x World/Olympic champion (‘14,’15,’16,’18), 2017 world silver medalist, 2015 European Games champ, 2019 European Games champ, 2019 European Champion, 2014 Yarygin champ, 2018 Yarygin champ, 2018 92 KG European champ Key Wins: Vladislav Baitsaev (2017 Russian nationals finals, 2018 Russian Nationals finals, 2019 Russian world team wrestle-off), Nurmagomed Gadzhiev (2019 European championships, 2015 European Games), Kyle Snyder (2018 world finals), Reineris Salas Perez (2017 world’s, 2014 world finals), Elizbar Odikadze (2015 Alrosa Cup, 2017 world’s, 2018 world’s), Magomed Ibragimov (2018 world’s), Shamil Kudiyamagomedov (2014 Yarygin finals, 2014 Russian nationals finals, 2015 Russian Nationals finals), Anzor Urishev (2018 Yarygin finals), Sharif Sharifov (2016 Olympics, 2018 92 KG European Championships finals), Dato Marsagishvili (2014 Euros), Murad Gaidarov (2014 Euro’s finals). Key Losses: Kyle Snyder (2017 world finals), Shamil Kudiyamagomedov (2012 Ali Aliev), Gamzat Ozmanov (2013 Baku GGP).
#2 Kyle Snyder (USA)- 3x World/Olympic champ (‘15,’16,’17), 2018 world runner-up, 2x Yarygin champ (‘17 & ‘18), 2019 Yasar Dogu champ, 2019 Dan Kolov champ. Key Wins: Abdulrashid Sadulaev (2017 world finals), Khetag Gozyumov (2016 Olympic finals), Albert Saritov (2016 Olympics), Elizbar Odikadze (2016 Olympics, 2016 World cup), Reineris Salas Perez (2018 Grapple at the Garden), Abdusalam Gadisov (2015 world finals), Rasul Magomedov (2017 & 2018 Yarygin finals), Aslanbek Alborov (2017 world’s), Ali Khalil Shahbanibengar (2019 Yasar Dogu finals), Valerii Andriitsev (2019 Dan Kolov finals), Magomed Ibragimov (2016 Medved) Key Losses: Abdulrashid Sadulaev (2018 world finals), Rasul Magomedov (2019 Yarygin), Khetag Gozyumov (2016 Grand Prix of Germany), Aslanbek Alborov (2017 world cup, 2018 Yasar Dogu), Elizbar Odikadze (2016 World Club Cup), Anzor Boltukaev (2016 Yarygin), Khadzhimurad Gatsalov (2016 Medved, 2014 Beat the Streets).
4x World/Olympic champ #1 Abdulrashid Sadulaev has had a busier year then usual, winning the European Games and European championships with strong wins over the likes of #4 Nurmagomed Gadzhiev and #8 Aleksandr Hushtyn while teching Russian nationals champ #3 Vladislav Baitsaev in under a minute to win the world team spot for Russia. After an early season to #15 Rasul Magomedov at the Yarygin, returning world runner-up #2 Kyle Snyder (USA) has been on a roll ever since winning the Pan-Am Games, Pan-Am championships, Yasar Dogu, and the Dan Kolov notching wins over the likes of #7 Ali Khalil Shahbanibengar, #5 Valerii Andriitsev, #11 Reineris Salas Perez, and Pavlo Oliinyk.
Medal Contenders:
#3(92) Sharif Sharifov (AZE)- 2012 86 KG Olympic champ, 2016 86 KG Olympic bronze medalist, 2019 92 KG European champ, 2019 Takhti Cup bronze, 2018 International Ukrainain tournament champ, 2018 Alans bronze medalist Key Wins: Reza Yazdani (2015 world cup), J’den Cox (2016 Grand Prix of Germany, 2018 International Ukrainian tournament finals), Alikhan Zhabrailov (2018 Medved finals, 2018 Kadyrov Cup), Magomed Kurbanov (2019 European Championships), Irakli Mtsituri (2019 European championships). Key Losses: Abdulrashid Sadulaev (2016 Olympics, 2018 European championships finals), Aslanbek Alborov (2018 Yasar Dogu), Alireza Karimimachiani (2018 world’s), Javad Ebrahimi (2019 Takhti Cup), Anzor Urishev (2018 Alans semis)
#5 Valerii Andriitsev (UKR)- 2012 Olympic runner-up, 2014 world bronze medalist, 2016 Olympics 5th, 2019 Dan Kolov runner-up, 2019 Henri Deglane champ, 2015 European Games bronze medalist Key Wins: Anzor Boltukaev (2016 Olympics), Reza Yazdani (2019 Dan Kolov), Igor Ovsyannikov (2019 Dan Kolov), Khetag Gozyumov (2012 Olympics), Elizbar Odikadze (2014 world bronze medal match), Jake Varner (2014 world’s), Magomedgadzhi Nurov (2018 Medved), Riza Yildirim (2018 Medved) Key Losses: Kyle Snyder (2019 Dan Kolov finals), Jake Varner (2012 Olympics finals), Khetag Gozyumov (2014 World’s), Elizbar Odikadze (2015 European Games, 2018 Tbilisi GP), Shamil Musaev (2018 Tbilisi GP bronze medal match), Mojitaba Goleij (2018 Yasar Dogu), Fatih Yasarli (2018 Yasar Dogu, 2018 Medved), Ty Walz (2018 Medved bronze medal match).
#7 Ali Khalil Shahbanibengar (IRI)- 2019 Yasar Dogu runner-up, 2018 U-23 world bronze medalist. Key Wins: Aslanbek Alborov (2019 Yasar Dogu), Abraham De Jesus Conyedo Ruano (2019 Yasar Dogu). Key Losses: Kyle Snyder (2019 Yasar Dogu finals), Givi Matcharashvili (2018 U-23 world championships)
#8 Aleksandr Hushtyn (BLR)- 2018 European Championships runner-up, 2019 European Championships runner-up, 2019 Yarygin runner-up, 2019 European Games bronze, 2017 European championships runner-up, 2018 Medved champ. Key Wins: Elizbar Odikadze (2019 European championships), Nurmagomed Gadzhiev (2018 European championships), Batsul Ulziisaikhan (2019 Yarygin), Baki Sahin (2019 Yarygin), Magomedgadzhi Nurov (2018 European championships, 2019 European Games bronze medalist), Georgi Gogschelidze (2017 Alans bronze medal match), Fatih Yasarli (2018 Medved finals), Dzianis Khramiankov (2018 Medved) Key Losses: Magomed Ibragimov (2018 world’s), Abdulrashid Sadulaev (2015 Medved, 2019 European championships finals, 2019 European Games semis, 2016 U-23 European championships), Vladislav Baitsaev (2018 European Championships finals).
#9 Elizbar Odikadze (GEO)- 2018 world bronze medalist, 2015 Baku GGP champ, 2019 European Games bronze medalist, 2019 European Championships bronze medalist, 4x World/Olympic 5th place finisher (‘14,’15,’16,’17). Key Wins: Kyle Snyder (2016 World Club Cup), Magomed Ibragimov (2018 world bronze medal match), Reineris Salas Perez (2017 world’s repechage), Aslanbek Alborov (2017 Euro’s, 2018 world championships), Reza Yazdani (2012 world cup), Sharif Sharifov (2015 Baku GGP finals). Key Losses: Abdulrashid Sadulaev (2015 Alrosa Cup, 2017 world’s, 2018 world’s), Georgi Ketoev (2017 world bronze medal match), Vladislav Baitsaev (2018 European Championships), Nurmagomed Gadzhiev (2019 European Games), Aleksandr Hushtyn (2019 European championships), Valerii Andritisev (2014 world bronze medal match), Khetag Gozyumov (2015 world bronze medal match), Albert Saritov (2016 Olympics bronze medal match)
#10 Magomed Ibragimov (UZB)- 2016 Olympics bronze medalist, 2019 Ali Aliev champ, 2018 Asian championships gold medalist, 2018 Asian Games bronze medalist 2018 Yarygin bronze medalist. Key Wins: Reineris Salas Perez (2019 Ali Aliev finals), Aleksandr Hushtyn (2018 world’s), Mojitaba Goleij (2018 Asian championships finals), Reza Yazdani (2016 Olympics), Valerii Andriitsev (2016 Olympics bronze medal match). Key Losses: Abdulrashid Sadulaev (2018 World’s), Elizbar Odikadze (2018 world bronze medal match), Aslanbek Alborov (2017 Intercontinental Cup finals), Alireza Karimimachiani (2018 Asian games), Dzianis Khramiankov (2018 Medved), Khetag Gozyumov (2016 Olympics), Georgi Ketoev (2017 world’s).
#11 Reineris Salas Perez (CUB)- 2013 world runner-up, 2014 world runner-up, 2016 Baku GGP runner-up, 2019 Ali Aliev champ, 2010 world bronze medalist Key Wins: Aslanbek Alborov (2019 Ali Aliev, 2016 Baku GGP), Nurmagomed Gadzhiev (2019 Ali Aliev), Ehsan Lashgari (2013 world’s), Gamzat Osmanov (2014 world semis). Key Losses: Kyle Snyder (2019 Pan-Am games, 2018 Grapple at the Garden), Abdulrashid Sadulaev (2014 world finals, 2017 world’s), Elizbar Odikadze (2017 world’s), Magomed Ibragimov (2019 Ali Aliev finals), Ibragim Aldatov (2013 world finals).
#17 Albert Saritov (ROU)- 2011 world bronze medalist, 2015 Kadyrov Cup bronze, 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, 2019 Medved champ Key Wins: Cael Sanderson (2011 world bronze medal match), Ibragim Ciftci (2019 Medved), Ty Walz (2019 Medved finals), Dzianis Khramiankov (2019 Medved), Elizbar Odikadze (2016 Olympics), Yusup Abdusalamov (2011 world’s), Zaurbek Sokhiev (2011 world’s), Key Losses: Kyle Snyder (2016 Olympics), Sharif Sharifov (2011 world’s), Akhmed Bataev (2015 Kadyrov Cup)
#3(92) Sharif Sharifov (AZE) made a last second move up to 97 KG due to the fact European Games runner-up #4 Nurmagomed Gadzhiev suffered a knee injury leading up to the world championships and had to pull out. Sharifov has been reigning 92 KG world champ #1(92) J’den Cox’s kryptonite so far, beating the American at the 2016 Grand Prix of Germany and the finals of the 2018 International Ukrainain tournament. Sharifov is also a European champion this year. #5 Valerii Andriitsev (UKR) had a tumultuous 2018 that saw him finish no higher then 5th at the Yasar Dogu, Tbilisi GP, and the Medved but has come back strong this year with a runner-up finish at the Dan Kolov where he defeated 2x world champ #6 Reza Yazdani and Russian nationals runner-up #13 Igor Ovsyannikov. #7 Ali Khalil Shahbanibengar (IRI) has made major strides since taking bronze last year at U-23 world’s and it showed in his runner-up finish at the Yasar Dogu. Shahbanibengar upset two returning world bronze medalists in the form of #12 Aslanbek Alborov and Abraham De Jesus Conyedo Ruano before falling to returning world runner-up #2 Kyle Snyder in the finals.
#8 Aleksandr Hushtyn (BLR) has steadily improved throughout the years and this has been shown in his performances at his past two European championships, where he upset #4 Nurmagomed Gadzhiev in 2018 and #9 Elizbar Odikadze this year. Hushtyn also has a runner-up finish at this year’s Yargin as well and some of the best reattacks and go behinds at the weight. #9 Elizbar Odikadze (GEO) finally broke through last year to medal at the World/Olympic championships after four straight 5th place finishes by pinning 2016 Olympic bronze medalist #10 Magomed Ibragimov. Odikadze has past wins over the likes of #3(92) Sharif Sharifov, #5 Valerii Andriitsev, #2 Kyle Snyder, #6 Reza Yazdani, and Khetag Gozyumov but has suffered losses this year in the form of Murazi Mchedlidze, #8 Aleksandr Hushtyn, and #4 Nurmagomed Gadzhiev. #10 Magomed Ibragimov (UZB), the returning world 5th place finisher won the Ali Aliev in incredibly impressive fashion this year, pinning #11 Reineris Salas Perez (CUB) with a spladle, but followed it up with a disappointing 11-9 loss to #19 Dzianis Khramiankov (BLR). Keep an eye out for the throws of the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist.
#11 Reineris Salas Perez (CUB) put on his best performance at 97 KG since the 2016 Baku GGP where he was runner-up to 2014 world champ Abdusalam Gadisov and beat #12 Aslanbek Alborov by registering a runner-up finish at the Ali Aliev to #10 Magomed Ibragimov. The talented Cuban defeated #4 Nurmagomed Gadzhiev and #12 Aslanbek Alborov to make the finals but would get spladled and pinned by #10 Magomed Ibragimov (UZB). Salas Perez also has notched a bronze medal finish at the Pan-Am games and a silver at the Pan-Am championships with both losses coming to #2 Kyle Snyder (USA). #17 Albert Saritov (ROU), a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist and a 2011 world bronze medalist at 84 KG for Russia, made a strong return to competition winning the Ion Cornianu memorial and the Medved with the Medved being his best showing disposing of #18 Ty Walz and #20 Ibragim Ciftci.
Dark Horse (s):
#16 Magomedgadzhi Nurov (MKD)- 2019 Tbilisi GP champ, 2019 European Games 5th, 2019 European championships 5th. Key Wins: Givi Matcharashvili (2019 Tbilisi GP semis), Georgi Ketoev (2017 DRL), Mamed Ibragimov (2018 world championships). Key Losses: Abdulrashid Sadulaev (2019 European Championships, 2019 Euroepan Games, 2018 world’s), Aslanbek Alborov (2017 world’s), Aleksandr Hushtyn (2019 European Games bronze medalist), Magomed Ibragimov (2018 world’s repechage), Nurmagomed Gadzhiev (2019 European championships bronze medal match).
#20 Ibragim Ciftci (TUR): 2019 U-23 Euro champ, 2019 Medved bronze, 2017 junior world bronze, 2017 Junior Euros 5th. Key Wins: Givi Matcharashvili (2019 U-23 Euro semis), Shamil Musaev (2019 U-23 Euro finals), Kyven Gadson (2019 Medved), Batyrbek Tsakulov (2017 Junior Euros quarters) Key Losses: Shamil Musaev (2017 Junior world’s), Albert Saritov (2019 Medved), Murazi Mchedlidze (2018 Dan Kolov quarters), Batsul Ulziisaikhan (2018 Yarygin quarters), Givi Matcharashvili (2017 Junior Euros semis), Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (2017 Junior Euros bronze medal match)
#16 Magomedgadzhi Nurov (MKD) first got on the radar when he handled world bronze medalist Georgi Ketoev (ARM) in the DRL in 2017 and came back to prominence this year after winning the Tbilisi GP where he beat then #6(125) Givi Matcharashvili of Georgia in the semifinals. Nurov has finished 5th at the European Championships and European games, 13th at the Dan Kolov, and a Tbilisi GP title. Nurov’s best win this year is over Givi Matcharashvili, while he has suffered losses to #1 Abdulrashid Sadulaev, #8 Aleksandr Hushtyn, #4 Nurmagomed Gadzhiev, Zviad Metrevelli, and #6 Reza Yazdani. #20 Ibragim Ciftci (TUR), a junior world bronze medalist in 2017 made his impact felt at the U-23 level as he upset U-23 world champ Givi Matcharashvili and Yarygin champ #14 Shamil Musaev to take home the U-23 European championships title, and followed it up with a bronze medal finish at the Medved where he lost to eventual champ #17 Albert Saritov but recovered by beating Final X runner-up Kyven Gadson for bronze.