March 2026 Men's Freestyle International Rankings

57 KG

#4 Akhmed Idrisov (RUS) and #5 Nachyn Mongush (RUS) got moved down to #12 and #13 respectively, because I looked back at their careers and I had overinflated their 57 KG value and their current standing in Russia as the #2 and #3 guys behind #11 Musa Mekhtikhanov (RUS). From this #6 Spencer Lee (USA) and #7 Bekzat Almaz Uulu (KGZ) move up two spots to #4 and #5 respectively.

#4 Spencer Lee (USA) won the Zagreb Open by injury default over Roman Bravo Young (MEX) with #9 Milad Valizadeh (IRI) and Fuga Sasaki (JPN) taking bronze. Roman Bravo Young (MEX) is back in the rankings at #7 for beating #9 Milad Valizadeh (IRI) in the semifinals of the Zagreb Open along with his win from last year 2024 Olympic bronze medalist #11 (61) Aman Aman (IND).

#4 Spencer Lee (USA) won the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series Tournament over #19 Ramiz Gamzatov (RUS) with Horst Lehr (GER) and Islam Bazarganov (AZE) taking bronze. 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games Champion #11 Abdymalik Karachov (KGZ), who’s upset over 2025 Senior World bronze medalist #12 Gulomjon Abdullaev got him in the rankings, dropped nine spots to #20 for his loss in the opening round to Muhammet Karavus (TUR). Karavus would be eliminated from competition when he lost in round of 16 to Yusuf Demir (TUR). Karachov fell so quick in the rankings because while on paper he has solid enough placement (2025 Islamic Solidarity Games champion, 2024 U23 world silver), he has absolutely no ranked wins outside of Abdullaev to anchor him to a high spot in the rankings compared to the world medals or strong Russian national placements of the bottom half of the top 20 (i.e. Atri, Idrisov, Mongush, Pavlov, Tyutrin, Batamunkuev, Chamzyn, Gamzatov).

#18 Aryan Tyutrin (BLR) won the Medved Memorial over Ruslam Azamatov (RUS) with #16 Dimchik Batamunkuev (BLR) and Yerasyl Munkhtaruly (KAZ) taking bronze. #18 Aryan Tyutrin (BLR) moves up two spots to #16 for his win over #16 (now #17) Dimchik Batamunkuev (BLR). #5 Bekzat Almaz Uulu (KGZ) won the Universal Sports Platform 4 57 KG tournament over #13 Nachyn Mongush (RUS) with Aliabbas Rzazade (AZE) taking bronze over Goga Dzigua (GEO). Artur Chebodaev (RUS) won the Semenov Cup over Ayaal Belolyubski (TJK) with Islam Mollaev (RUS) taking bronze. Nabi Kadiev (RUS) won the U23 Championships of Dagestan over Shamsedin Babayev (RUS) with Shaikh Bagatov (RUS) and Abdul Shakhbanov (RUS) taking bronze.

61 KG

The 61 kilogram rankings were restructured so that athletes with stronger career resumes (see Abakarov, DeSanto, Mongush, Hasegawa) filled out the top ten more than guys with weaker resumes who had been there based off 2025 world placements (i.e. recency) that was largely hinged on a follow the leader style format of qualification based off now fifteenth ranked Leonid Colesnic of Moldova upsetting 2023 57 KG Senior World bronze medalist #7 Zelimkhan Abakarov (ALB); this block of athletes starting from the top down in regards to placement, consisted of #7 Ahmad Javan (IRI), #8 Nuraddin Novruzov and #9 Kum Hyok Kim (PRK). Those athletes, including Colesnic, have now been moved to the 12-15 spots in the rankings.

#8 Austin DeSanto (USA) won the Zagreb Open over 2024 57 KG Olympic bronze medalist Aman Aman (IND) with Reza Momeni (IRI) taking bronze. Aman Aman (IND) takes the #11 spot in the rankings upon his return to competition. Reza Momeni (IRI) debuts in the rankings at #19 for upsetting #8 Austin DeSanto (USA) in their opening round match in pool action at the Zagreb Open. Momeni lost to #11 Aman Aman (IND) in the 2nd round of the tournament.

#1 Zavur Uguev (RUS) won the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series Tournament over #4 Chermen Tavitov (RUS) with #7 Zelimkhan Abakarov (ALB) and #8 Austin DeSanto (USA) taking bronze. #8 Austin DeSanto (USA) notched a significant ranked win 2025 57 KG Senior World runner-up #5 (57) Bekzat Almaz Uulu (KGZ) in the qualification round but lost in the semifinals 5-0 to #1 Zavur Uguev (RUS). #7 Zelimkhan Abakarov (ALB) garnered a pair of ranked wins, beating #10 (57) Gulomjon Abdullaev (UZB) in the round of 16 and avenging his loss from the 2025 Senior World Championships to #15 Leonid Colesnic (MDA) in the quarterfinals before falling to #4 Chermen Tavitov (RUS) in the semifinals.

Rustam Zhilyazov (RUS) won the Medved Memorial over Narayan Patil (IND) with Viktor Yakovlev (RUS) and Yakov Pavlov (RUS) taking bronze. Khabib Mekhtikhanov (RUS) won the U23 Championships of Dagestan over Musa Alibulatov (RUS) with Suhrab Adilkhanov (RUS) and Sultan Razhbabdinov (RUS) taking bronze. Artem Gobaev (RUS) won the Semenov Cup over Magomedsaid Osmanov (RUS) with Alexander Avelov (RUS) and Kezhik Seden (RUS) taking bronze. Musa Payzullaev (RUS) upset 2025 57 KG Russian Nationals runner-up #18 (57) Amir Chamzyn (RUS) in his quarterfinal match but forfeited out after his semifinal loss to Artem Gobaev (RUS).

65 KG

#3 (70) Tulga Tumur Ochir (MGL) won the United Sports Platform 4 65 KG tournament by injury default over #12 Bilol Sharip Uulu (KGZ) with #10 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RUS) taking bronze over Ruslan Abdullaev (AZE). #12 Bilol Sharip Uulu (KGZ) moves up four spots to #8 for beating #10 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RUS) in the semifinals to go along with his win from the 2025 Muhamet Malo Ranking Series Tournament over #9 (now #10) Ibragim Ibragimov (RUS). #12 Jordan Oliver (USA) beat Beau Bartlett (USA) at RAF 06.

#5 Sujeet Sujeet (IND) won the Zagreb Open over Peyman Nemati (IRI) with #20 Joey McKenna (USA) and Nika Zakashvili (GEO). #20 Joey McKenna notched an upset victory over #14 Takara Suda (JPN) in the quarterfinals before losing by 11-0 technical superiority to #5 Sujeet Sujeet (IND).

#5 Sujeet Sujeet (IND) won the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series Tournament over Rashid Babazade (AZE) with #20 Joey McKenna (USA) and Vito Arujau (USA) taking bronze. Repeating the same pattern from the Zagreb Open, #5 Sujeet Sujeet (IND) won by technical superiority over #20 Joey McKenna (USA) in the semifinals after McKenna had notched a ranked win in the quarterfinals, this time in the form of 2025 Senior World bronze medalist #6 Umidjon Jalolov (UZB). From McKenna’s two ranked wins this month, he moves up seven spots to #13, behind #12 Jordan Oliver (USA), who holds multiple wins over McKenna on the U.S. circuit.

Magomed Tazhudinov (RUS) takes the #20 spot for winning the Medved Memorial over Eldar Akhmadudinov (RUS) with #16 (now unranked) Islam Guseinov (BLR) and Adi Serikuly (KAZ) taking bronze. Karim Salkhbekov (RUS) won the U23 Championship of Dagestan over Magomedamin Bekbulatov (RUS) with Khalid Magomedov (RUS) and Magomed Rabadanov (RUS) taking bronze. Aripgadzhi Abdulaev (RUS) won the Semenov Cup over Andrey Tapharov (RUS) with Gadzhimagomed Gadzhiev (RUS) and Idris Dukuev (RUS) taking bronze.

70 KG

#10 Sina Khalili (IRI) won the Zagreb Open over #20 Akaki Kemertelidze (GEO) with Caleb Henson (USA) and Abhimanyou Abhimanyou (IND) taking bronze. Caleb Henson (USA) debuts in the international rankings at #13 for wins over Ali Aliyev runner-up #7 Ebrahim Elahi (IRI) and 2023 65 KG Senior World Champion Ismail Musukaev (HUN). Akaki Kemertelidze (GEO) moves up eight spots in the rankings to #12 for beating #13 Caleb Henson and #14 Ismail Musukaev (HUN) at the Zagreb Open. #10 Sina Khalili (IRI) moves up two spots to #8 for his Zagreb Open title over #12 Akaki Kemertelidze (GEO). #7 Ebrahim Elahi (IRI) drops eight spots to #15 for his loss to #13 Caleb Henson (USA) at the Zagreb Open.

2025 U23 World Champion #9 Kanan Heybatov (AZE) moved up to 74 KG where he is unranked after a loss to #14 Orozobek Toktomambetov (KGZ) at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series Tournament.

#2 Ernazar Akmataliev (KGZ) won the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series Tournament over Alec Pantaleo (USA) with #10 (65) Ibragim Ibragimov (RUS) and Zalkarbek Tabaldiev (KGZ) taking bronze. #19 Vasile Diacon (MDA) moves up to #11 due to a win over Zagreb Open runner-up #12 Akaki Kemertelidze (GEO) in the qualification round of the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series Tournament. Diacon was eliminated by #10 (65) Ibragim Ibragimov (RUS) in the repechage bracket. Both men lost to #2 Ernazar Akmataliev (KGZ).

#5 Viktor Rassadin (TJK) won the Medved Memorial over Maxim Lee (RUS) with Georgi Koliev (BLR) and Nachyn Kuular (KAZ) taking bronze. Adam Gadzhimagomedov (RUS) won the U23 Championship of Dagestan over Magomed Darzhania (RUS) with Bersan Galmakaev (RUS) and Muhammad Aliyev (RUS) taking bronze. Konstantin Topshinoyev (RUS) debuts in the rankings at #16 for winning the Semenov Cup over Ezir Tyulyush (RUS) where he upset #13 (now #17) Aisen Potapov (RUS) in the semifinals. Bronze medalists at the Semenov Cup where #17 Aisen Potapov (RUS) and Shakhzodbek Yarashev (UZB).

74 KG

#6 David Carr (USA) won the Zagreb Open over #2 Yoshinosuke Aoyagi (JPN) with Aliakbar Fazli (IRI) and Seyfulla Itaev (FRA) taking bronze. #10 Inalbek Sheriev (RUS) won the Universal Sports Platform 4 74 kilogram tournament over #1 (70) David Baev (RUS) with #19 Orozobek Toktomambetov (KGZ) taking bronze over #2 Yoshinosuke Aoyagi (JPN). #18 Younes Emami (IRI) beat #10 Inalbek Sheriev (RUS) in the semifinals of the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series Tournament.

Now that those significant results are laid out, the new order of the top ten can be explained in better context. #2 Yoshinosuke Aoyagi (JPN) falls five spots to #7 for his losses to #6 David Carr (USA), #10 Inalbek Sheriev (RUS), and #19 Orozobek Toktomambetov (KGZ). #10 Inalbek Sheriev (RUS) moves up five spots to #5 for his wins over #1 (70) David Baev (RUS) and #2 (now #7) Yoshinosuke Aoyagi (JPN) at Universal Sports Platform #4. 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games Champion #18 Younes Emami (IRI) moves up fourteen spots in the rankings up to #4 for his win over #5 Inalbek Sheriev (RUS) at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series Tournament.

#19 Orozobek Toktomambetov (KGZ) moves up five spots to #14 for beating #7 Yoshinosuke Aoyagi (JPN) in the bronze medal match of the Universal Sports Platform 4 74 kilogram tournament. #6 David Carr (USA) stays put at #6 with even with his win over #7 Yoshinosuke Aoyagi (JPN) at the Zagreb Open. This is due to Sheriev at #5 having a better resume than Carr (Wins over Aoyagi, Kurban Shiraev, #1 (70) David Baev, #6 (70) Sayin Kazyryk, Kanan Heybatov, #7 (70) Magomed-Emi Eltemirov vs. Carr’s wins over Mitchell Mesenbrink, Aoyagi, #9 Taimuraz Salkazanov, and Daichi Takatani).

#4 Younes Emami (IRI) won the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series Tournament over #14 Orozobek Toktomambetov (KGZ) with #5 Inalbek Sheriev (RUS) and Quincy Monday (USA) taking bronze. #9 Murad Kuramagomedov (RUS) is out of the rankings due to losing in the qualification round to Yegor Anchugin (KAZ).

Kuramagomedov was dropped out of the rankings so decisively due to the fact he held on due to a win over 2025 world runner-up Chermen Valiev (ALB) at the start of 2025 in the German Wrestling League and has only lost to elite guys (Salkazanov, Carr, Takahashi) but not notched any other significant wins since then. Couple this with Anchugin then going on to lose to Yernur Nurgazy (KAZ) in the round of 16 and Nurgazy then losing in the quarterfinals to Giorgi Elbakidze (GEO) and Kuramagomedov is out.

Quincy Monday (USA) slots in at #20 in the rankings after his bronze medal performance at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series Tournament that saw him notch wins over Giorgi Elbakidze (GEO) and 2024 Olympian Turan Bayramov (AZE).

#13 Imam Ganishov (RUS) won the Semenov Cup over Sergey Yakimov (RUS) with Alan Dziraev (RUS) and #11 Alan Kudzoev (RUS) taking bronze. #13 Imam Ganishov (RUS) moves up one spot to #12 for beating #11 Alan Kudzoev (RUS) in the semifinals; Kudzoev drops one two spots to #13 behind Ganishov.

Gadzhimurad Gadzhiev (RUS) won the Medved Memorial over Meirzhan Ashirov (KAZ) with Sanzhar Dozhanov (KAZ) and Omar Murad (EGY) took bronze. Agadzhi Magomedov (RUS) won the U23 Championship of Dagestan over Akhyad Nasirkhaev (RUS) with Gazimagomed Gadzhiev (RUS) and Sergey Klimenko (RUS) taking bronze. #6 David Carr (USA) beat Bubba Jenkins (USA) at RAF 06. #9 Taimuraz Salkazanov (SVK) beat Keegan O’Toole (USA) at RAF 06.

79 KG

#1 Georgios Kougioumtsidis (GRE) moved up to 86 KG where he failed to place at the Zagreb Open after an opening round loss to Abofazl Shamsipour (IRI) and took silver at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series Tournament to #1 (86) Ibragim Kadiev (RUS). Kougioumtsidis has been removed from the rankings due to moving up. The new #1 is 2025 Senior World runner-up #2 Levi Haines (USA).

Zelimkhan Khadjiev (FRA) won the Zagreb Open over #8 Dean Hamiti Jr (USA) with Adel Panaeian (IRI) and #9 Evan Wick (USA) taking bronze. #8 Dean Hamiti Jr (USA) beat #9 Evan Wick (USA) in the semifinal. Khadjiev takes the #6 spot in the rankings for beating #7 Dean Hamiti Jr (this is due to everyone moving up one due to the removal of Kougioumtsidis). Khadjiev had been removed from the rankings due to losing to #4 Suldkhuu Olonbayar (MGL) at the Senior World Championships when he was low ranked but in retrospect, I should have added him back in once Olobayar moved back up from his win over Usmanov at PWL along with considering his resume and just never got around to it in all honesty, but he is a mainstay in the top ten since his return to competition after serving a four year suspension.

#8 Evan Wick (USA) beat #15 (86) Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (BLR) by technical superiority at RAF 06 for one of the best wins of his career. Wick stays put at #8 due to his loss to #7 Dean Hamiti Jr at the Zagreb Open while Kadimagomedov returns to the 79 kilogram rankings at #9 based off his loss to Wick balanced out by a title at the Medved Memorial.

#2 Mohammad Nokhodi (IRI) won the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series Tournament over #8 Dean Hamiti Jr (USA) with Luka Chkhitunidze (GEO) and Dzhabrail Gadzhiev (AZE) taking bronze.

#9 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (BLR) won the Semenov Cup over Nurlan Otegenov (KAZ) with #18 Kasum Kasumov (RUS) and Nikolay Sivtsev (RUS) taking bronze.

Georgy Abaev (RUS) won the Semenov Cup over Arsen Kulov (RUS) with #14 Davud Daudov (RUS) and Ramis Khasanov (AZE) taking bronze. Arsen Kulov (RUS) is in the rankings at #17 for beating #14 (now #18) Davud Daudov in the qualifying round of the Semenov Cup; Abaev takes the #16 spot for beating #17 Kulov in the finals. Abdurakhman Abdusalamov (RUS) won the U23 Championship of Dagestan over 2025 Ali Aliyev runner-up Malamagomed Gamzatov (RUS) with Kalsyn Abakarov (RUS) and Ramazan Gadzhibekov (RUS) taking bronze.

86 KG

#7 Parker Keckeisen (USA) won the Zagreb Open over #7 (79) Vladimeri Gamkrelidze (GEO) with #1 Zahid Valencia (USA) and #18 Ali Savadkouhi (IRI) taking bronze. #7 (79) Vladimeri Gamkrelidze (GEO) takes the #4 spot in the rankings for upsetting #1 Zahid Valencia (USA) with an 11-0 technical superiority win in the quarterfinals; #1 Zahid Valencia (USA) drops four spots to #5 for his loss to Gamkrelidze. #7 Parker Keckeisen (USA) moves up four spots to #3 for his wins over #4 Vladimeri Gamkrelidze (GEO), #5 Zahid Valencia (USA), and #18 Ali Savadkouhi (IRI).

#5 Ibragim Kadiev (RUS) won the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series Tournament over 2025 79 KG Senior World Champion #1 (79) Georgios Kougioumtsidis (GRE) with #3 Arsenii Dzhioev (AZE) and Bolat Sakaev (KAZ) taking bronze. #5 Ibragim Kadiev (RUS) moves up four spots to #1 for his absolutely spectacular run over the past month that has seen him pick up titles at the Ivan Yarygin Memorial and Zagreb Open and pick up wins over #1 (79) Georgios Kougioumtsidis (GRE), #3 Arsenii Dzhioev (AZE), #7 Artur Naifonov (RUS), #8 Bozigit Islamgereev (RUS), #9 Arsen Balayan (RUS), and #16 Kyle Dake (USA).

#3 Arsenii Dzhioev (AZE) moves up one spot to #2 behind Kadiev due to his bronze medal finish at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series Tournament that saw him beat #4 Vladimeri Gamkrelidze (GEO), #5 (79) Akhmed Usmanov (RUS), and #16 Kyle Dake (USA). Dzhioev gets the #2 spot over #3 Keckeisen due to a more robust international resume (2025 world bronze, 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games champion, wins over Gamkrelidze, Dake, #6 Kamran Ghasempour, and #13 Rakhim Magamadov).

#1 (79) Georgios Kougioumtsidis (GRE) is not eligible to be ranked in the 86 KG rankings as he lost in the qualification round of the Zagreb Open to eventual 5th place finisher Abofazl Shamsipour (IRI). #4 Vladimeri Gamkrelidze (GEO) notched a top fifteen win over #11 Eugeniu Mihalcean (MDA) by 11-0 technical superiority in the qualification round before being eliminated by #2 Arsenii Dzhioev (AZE).

#7 Artur Naifonov (RUS) won the Universal Sports Platform 4 86 KG tournament over #15 Azamat Dauletbekov (KAZ) with Malik Shavaev (KGZ) taking bronze over Nate Jackson (USA). 2025 European silver medalist #15 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (BLR) moved back down to 79 KG where he is currently ranked ninth. Abdulhamid Nurmagomedov (RUS) won the U23 Championship of Dagestan over Hasan-Baba Khasanbabev (RUS) with Majidgadzhi Aliyev (RUS) and Jabu Zagirov (RUS) taking bronze.

Azret Ulimbashev (RUS) won the Medved Memorial over Daulet Yergesh (KAZ) with Ali Shamirov (RUS) and Magomednabi Magomedov (RUS) taking bronze. Arslan Bagaev (RUS) won the Semenov Cup over Dibir Magomedov (RUS) with Abdulmuslim Abdulmuslimov (RUS) and Buyanto Shadapov (RUS) taking bronze. #5 Zahid Valencia (USA) beat Mohamad Sebie (USA) by technical superiority at RAF 06.

92 KG

#3 Mohammad Azimi (IRI) won the Zagreb Open by injury default over #1 Trent Hidlay (USA) with Dustin Plott (USA) taking bronze. #1 Trent Hidlay (USA) had a strong showing at the Zagreb Open as he beat #3 Mohammad Azimi (IRI), #12 (86) Abofazl Rahmani (IRI), and Michael Macchiavello (USA) at the tournament. Concurrently, 2025 86 KG U23 World bronze medalist #12 (86) Abolfazl Rahmani (IRI) had an absolutely brutal draw for the tournament, losing close matches to Senior World champ #1 Trent Hidlay (USA) and U23 World champion #3 Mohammad Azimi (IRI) and not placing.

#18 Alan Bagaev won the Semenov Cup over #17 Azamat Zakuev (RUS) with Azamat Khadzaragov (RUS) and Kazbek Suanov (RUS) taking bronze. #18 Alan Bagaev (RUS) moved up thirteen spots in the rankings to #5 and I did this because I looked back at his resume (2024 Russian Nationals champion, 2023 Russian Nationals bronze) and wins and saw with him avenging his loss to Zakuev (RUS) in the Semenov Cup finals, Bagaev had wins over #4 Amirhossein Firouzpour (IRI), Yarygin runnerup #5 Mustafagadzhi Malachdibirov (RUS), #8 Nurgun Sergin (RUS) and #17 Azamat Zakuev (RUS) and deserved a top five spot.

#4 Amirhossein Firouzpour (IRI) won the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series Tournament over #12 Miriani Maisuradze (GEO) with Akhmed Bataev (BUL) and #15 (86) Azamat Dauletbekov (KAZ) taking bronze. #12 Miriani Maisuradze (GEO) moves up two spots to #10 for beating #10 Jacob Cardenas (USA) in the quarterfinals. Akhmed Bataev (BUL) takes the #15 spot for beating #10 Jacob Cardenas (USA) for bronze; Cardenas drops six spots to #16 for his losses to Maisuradze and Bataev. Kamil Kurugliev (KAZ) debuts in the rankings at #19 for beating #20 Dustin Plott (USA) in the opening round of the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series Tournament; Plott is in at #20 for beating Michael Macchiavello (USA) at the Zagreb Open.

Gamzat Hasanov (RUS) won the U23 Championship of Dagestan over Magomed Yusupov (RUS) with Kamil Abdulkadirov (RUS) and Rustam Gadzhiev (RUS) taking bronze. #17 Abubakar Abakarov (AZE) won the Medved Memorial over Gamzat Hasanov (RUS) with Nurkerim Erniyaz (KAZ) and Beibarys Kasimbek (KAZ) taking bronze.

#16 Yusup-Khadzhi Aidaev (RUS) is out of the rankings as he moved down to 86 KG where he took fifth at the Semenov Cup with losses to Dibir Magomedov (RUS) and Abdulmuslim Abdulmuslimov (RUS).

97 KG

Stephen Buchanan (USA) won the Zagreb Open over #13 Hassan Yazdani (IRI) with Andro Margishvili (GEO) and Vicky Vicky (IND) taking bronze. Stephen Buchanan (USA) debuts in the rankings at #14 for beating #13 (now #15) Hassan Yazdani (IRI) in the finals of the Zagreb Open. Buchanan also won the Henri Deglane Cup in January. Buchanan is unable to debut higher in the rankings due to a loss at RAF 06 to 2024 Olympic silver medalist #9 Givi Matcharashvili (GEO).

#1 Abdulrashid Sadulaev (RUS) won the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series Tournament over #8 Mukhamed-Takhir Khaniev (RUS) with #2 Kyle Snyder (USA) and #7 Rizabek Aitmukhan (KAZ) taking bronze. #8 Mukhamed-Takhir Khaniev (RUS) moves up six spots to #2 for beating #2 Kyle Snyder (USA) and #6 Magomedkhan Magomedov (AZE) to make the finals of the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series Tournament.

#8 (92) Akhmed Mirzabegov (RUS) beat #9 (92) Nurgun Sergin (RUS) in the finals of the Semenov Cup with Ramazan Shahbanov (RUS) and Timur Kotaev (RUS) taking bronze. #8 Rizabek Aitmukhan (KAZ) won the Universal Sports Platform 4 97 KG tournament over #10 Alikhan Ktsoev (RUS) with #15 (92) Akhmed Bataev (BUL) taking bronze over Merab Suleimanashvili (GEO).

#13 Alikhan Zhabrailov (RUS) won the Medved Memorial over Ruslan Lelyukaev (RUS) with Ivan Kirillov (RUS) and Awusayiman Habila (CHN) taking bronze. Sagid Gamzatov (RUS) won the U23 Championship of Dagestan over Murad Magomedov (RUS) with Salavat Makhtiev (RUS) and Gamzat Abdurakhmanov (RUS) taking bronze.

125 KG

#3 Shamil Sharipov (BRN) won the Zagreb Open over #10 Wyatt Hendrickson (USA) with Morteza Jan-Mohammadzadeh (IRI) and Dinesh Dinesh (IND) taking bronze. Morteza Jan-Mohammadzadeh (IRI) returns to the rankings at #8 for beating #14 Vladislav Baitsaev (HUN) and 2025 Senior World bronze medalist #5 Robert Baran (POL) on his way to bronze; Jan-Mohammadzadeh lost by fall to #10 Wyatt Hendrickson (USA) in the quarterfinals. #10 Wyatt Hendrickson (USA) moves up four spots to #6 after his victories over #8 Morteza Jan-Mohammadzadeh (IRI) and #5 (now #9) Robert Baran (POL).

#9 Abdulla Kurbanov (RUS) won the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series Tournament over #11 Mason Parris (USA) with #6 Wyatt Hendrickson (USA) and Kamil Kosciolek (POL) taking bronze. #11 Mason Parris (USA) moves up six spots to #5 for beating #6 Wyatt Hendrickson (USA) by 14-3 technical superiority victory in the semifinals. #9 Abdulla Kurbanov (RUS) moves up five spots in the rankings to #4 for beating #5 Mason Parris (USA) in the finals. #6

Wyatt Hendrickson (USA) notched two ranked wins on his way to bronze, beating 2025 Senior World runner-up #4 (now #7) Giorgi Meshvildishvili (AZE) and #10 Hakan Buyukcingil (TUR). Hakan Buyukcingil (TUR) takes the #10 spot in the rankings for upsetting #6 (now #11) Mohsen Siyar (GER) in the round of 16.

2025 Junior World Yedige Kassimbek (KAZ) takes the #18 spot in the rankings for beating #19 Dzianis Khramiankov (BLR) in the finals of the Medved Memorial. Bronze medalists at the Medved Memorial were Prutviray Patil (IND) and Rasul Kopsergenov (RUS). #20 Zelimkhan Khizriev (RUS) won the Semenov Cup over Soslan Khinchagov (RUS) with Bagautdin Zaynutdinov (RUS) and Georgy Byazrov (RUS) taking bronze. Bagautdin Zaynutdinov (RUS) won the U23 Championship of Dagestan over Akhmed Timursultanov (RUS) with Akhmed Mutaliyev (RUS) and Rashid Susuev (RUS) taking bronze.

Pound for Pound

2025 70 KG Senior World Champion #11 Yoshinosuke Aoyagi (JPN) and 2025 74 KG Senior World Champion #12 Kota Takahashi (JPN) have been removed from the rankings. The reason for this is due to Aoyagi taking three losses in February to #5 (74) Inalbek Sheriev (RUS) and #14 Orozobek Toktomambetov (KGZ) at the Universal Sports Platform 4 74 KG tournament along with a loss to #6 (74) David Carr (USA) in the finals of the Zagreb Open. Takahashi is out due to him losing to Aoyagi in the finals of the Meiji Cup.

Inalbek Sheriev (RUS) is in the pound for pound rankings at #25 for beating #1 (70) David Baev (RUS) and #7 (74) Yoshinosuke Aoyagi (JPN) at the Universal Sports Platform 4 74 KG tournament. 2025 74 KG Islamic Solidarity Games Champion Younes Emami (IRI) is in the rankings at #24 for beating #25 Inalbek Sheriev (RUS).

#13 Hassan Yazdani (IRI) was removed from the rankings due to losing to #14 (97) Stephen Buchanan (USA) in the finals of the 97 KG Zagreb Open. While Yazdani’s 86 KG credentials are undeniable (ten-time World/Olympic medalist, four-time World Champion) and he has beaten multiple pound for pound ranked athletes (i.e. four-time World/Olympic champion David Taylor, #17 Kamran Ghasempour, #18 Artur Naifonov, #19 Hayato Ishiguro, #20 Trent Hidlay), his current standing at 97 KG hurts his pound for pound argument a year and a half after his last competition at the 2024 86 KG Olympics in August. While it sounds ludicrous to say “Hassan Yazdani is out of the pound for pound rankings” for anything other than an injury, unfortunately as it stands right now, he slots at the #2 guy in Iran right now (behind #4 (97) Amirali Azarpira) and ranked #15 at 97 kilograms and he only has notable wins at 97 KG over the #3 guy in Iran in #16 (97) Mojtaba Goleij (IRI) along with a loss to #14 (97) Stephen Buchanan (USA) at the Zagreb Open.

Mukhamed-Takhir Khaniev (RUS) debuts in the pound for pound rankings at #10 for beating 2025 97 KG Senior World Champion #7 Kyle Snyder (USA) in the 97 KG quarterfinals of the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series Tournament. #7 Kyle Snyder (USA) falls four spots to #11 for his loss to Khaniev.

Parker Keckeisen (USA) debuts in the pound for pound rankings at #14 for beating 2025 86 KG Senior World Champion #14 (now #16) Zahid Valencia (USA) at RAF 04 in December 2025 and for winning the Zagreb Open over #15 Vladimeri Gamkrelidze (GEO). 2023 79 KG Senior World runner-up Vladimeri Gamkrelidze (GEO) debuts in the pound for pound rankings at #15 for beating #16 Zahid Valencia (USA) by 11-0 technical superiority at the Zagreb Open.

#18 Ibragim Kadiev (RUS) moves up six spots in the rankings to #12 for winning titles at the 86 KG Ivan Yarygin Memorial and Muhamet Malo Ranking Series Tournament where he’s notched wins over #13 Arsenii Dzhioev (AZE), #18 Artur Naifonov (RUS), #9 (86) Bozigit Islamgereev (RUS), 2025 79 KG Senior World Champion Georgios Kougioumtsidis (GRE), and #10 (86) Arsen Balayan (RUS). #16 Arsenii Dzhioev (AZE) moves up three spots to #13 for his win over #15 Vladimeri Gamkrelidze (GEO) at the 86 KG Muhamet Malo Ranking Series Tournament coupled with a win from the 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games over #17 Kamran Ghasempour and 2025 Zagreb Open over 2025 92 KG Senior World Champion #20 Trent Hidlay (USA).

Due to the removal of Yazdani, Aoyagi, and Takahashi along with the pursuit of not creating log jams in the rankings by over concentrating weights (i.e. 74 kilograms and 86 kilograms) and having the rankings be more representative of pound for pound resumes across all weights, I included 92 KG Senior World runner-up Amanulla Gadzhimagomedov (RUS) at #21 for past wins over #17 Artur Naifonov (RUS) and past pound for pound ranked athlete #4 (92) Amirhossein Firouzpour (IRI). 2025 57 KG Senior World Champion Chongsong Han (PRK is back in the rankings at #23.

I thought it would be best to end by explaining why I removed Kyle Dake from the pound for pound rankings. Dake’s resume is credentials are undeniable, he is a six-time World/Olympic medalist with four Senior World titles and victories over World/Olympic champions Jordan Burroughs (USA), David Taylor (USA), Frank Chamizo (ITA), J’den Cox (USA), Zahid Valencia (USA), and Denis Tsargush (RUS). But, in the year 2026, at the weight 86 kilograms, in the current landscape, I have to say unfortunately that Dake had to be dropped.

The argument for Dake being dropped from the rankings stems from moving up to 86 kilograms where during the 2025 season, Dake’s best wins were over Parker Keckeisen in his debut Senior freestyle season and Chance Marsteller on the U.S. Circuit. Dake did not go to any international competitions in 2025 after going up two weight classes from the 2024 Olympics where he lost to Daichi Takatani of Japan at 74 kilograms. Dake’s best wins in the 2020-2024 quad were Jordan Burroughs, Frank Chamizo, Taimuraz Salkazanov, Khetag Tsabolov, Jason Nolf, and #25 Younes Emami. Truly elite territory.

Now in 2025-2026 Dake’s best wins as previously mentioned are a then unranked Parker Keckeisen (rankings are not retroactive, meaning because Keckeisen is #14 now in March 2026, Dake’s win over Keckeisen in his senior freestyle debut season of 2025 does not carry the same weight as if he would beat him now) and Chance Marsteller. He lost three matches to #5 (86) Zahid Valencia (USA). He competed at no international competitions and got no ranked wins throughout 2025 to bolster his resume. Dake’s first international competition in 16 months is the 86 KG Muhamet Malo Ranking Series Tournament where he takes fifth with losses to #12 Ibragim Kadiev (RUS) and #13 Arsenii Dzhioev (AZE) with wins in repechage over 2025 79 KG Senior World bronze medalist Khidir Saipudinov (BRN) and Shane Jones (PUR).

As it stands right now, Dake is currently ranked sixteenth in the world at 86 kilograms. While Dake may have current wins in the pound for pound over #16 Zahid Valencia (2018 79 KG Final X), #14 Parker Keckeisen (2025 86 KG U.S. Open semifinal), and #24 Younes Emami (2022 74 KG Senior World Championships semifinals, 2024 74 KG Olympic quarterfinals), at the current time and his current weight, Dake cannot be in the pound for pound. To be as honest as possible, Dake’s last elite pound for pound wins were during the 2021 season where he unseated Jordan Burroughs as the king of 74 kilograms in the U.S. during the 2021 Olympic Trials and when he beat Frank Chamizo for bronze at the Olympics.

But during that span, while Dake showed dominance in fields where he reigned supreme (2021 and 2022 74 KG Senior World Championships) come time for the big pound for pound matchups at the big events, Dake would come up short. Loss by technical superiority to #9 (79) Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov at the 2021 74 KG Olympics, then in his next premier match at the 2023 Senior World finals Dake would come up short against Zaurbek Sidakov. Then in the 2024 Olympics in a field without Dake was supposed to have a clearer path to the finals and be able to correct his mistake from Tokyo. What happened was the opposite, Dake lost 20-12 to eventual runner-up Daichi Takatani of Japan in the semifinals. This is not to call Dake a bad wrestler by any stretch of the imagination, but what I am saying is that in the last Olympic cycle (2020-2024), Dake has consistently faltered against top flight competition in the biggest of moments.

Now in the current Olympic cycle (2024-2028). it’s progressed to where he isn’t making Senior World teams after going from 2018-2024 as the World/Olympic representative. In closing, it is a tenuous argument to make for Dake’s inclusion in the pound for pound rankings with no current ranked wins in his current weight class along with multiple losses counting against him.