2023 70 KG Senior World Championships Preview

Title Contenders

#1 Evgheni Zherbaev (AIN)- 2023 70 KG Russian Nationals champion, 2023 70 KG Yarygin champion, 2021 70 KG Senior World bronze medalist. Key Wins: #2 Inalbek Sheriev (2023 70 KG Yarygin, 2023 70 KG Russian Nationals finals), #5 Aznaur Tavaev (2023 70 KG Russian Nationals), #6 Israil Kasumov (2023 70 KG Korkin), #3 (74) Cherman Valiev (2021 70 KG Russian Nationals), #10 (74) David Baev (2017 70 KG Nusuev Tournament, 2021 70 KG Russian Nationals wrestle-offs), #4 Konstantin Kaprynov (2023 70 KG Yarygin), #11 Syrbaz Talgat (2021 70 KG Senior World Championships) Key Losses: #13 Ernazar Akmataliev (2021 70 KG Senior World Championships), #6 Israil Kasumov (2021 70 KG Russian National Finals), Ilyas Bekbulatov (2023 70 KG PWL), #4 Konstantin Kaprynov (2023 70 KG Baikal Open finals).

#7 Ihor Nykyforuk (UKR)- 2023 70 KG Budapest Ranking Series Tournament winner, 2019 65 KG U23 World bronze medalist, 2023 70 KG European Championships bronze medalist, 2023 70 KG Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series Tournament bronze medalist Key Wins: #8 Joey McKenna (2023 70 KG Budapest Ranking Series), #12 Amr Hussen Reda (2023 70 KG Budapest Ranking Series), #13 Ernazar Akmataliev (2023 70 KG Budapest Ranking Series, 2019 65 KG U23 World Championships). Key Losses: Ramazan Ramazanov (2023 70 KG European Championships semifinals), #11 (74) Turan Bayramov (2019 65 KG U23 World Championships), #11 (65) Haji Aliyev (2022 70 KG Matteo Pellicone Tournament), Cody Chittum (2023 70 KG Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series Tournament)

#13 Ernazar Akmataliev (KGZ)- 2021 70 KG Senior World runner-up, 2022 70 KG Senior world bronze medalist, 2023 70 KG Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series Tournament Champion, 2022 70 KG Islamic Solidarity Games Champion, 2022 70 KG U23 world champion, 2021 65 KG Asian Olympic Games Qualifier Key Wins: #1 Evgheni Zherbaev (2021 70 KG Senior World’s), Vazgen Tevanyan (2022 70 KG U23 World’s), Giorgi Elbakidze (2023 70 KG Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series Tournament), Orozobek Toktomambetov (2023 70 KG Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series Tournament), Ilyas Bekbulatov (2021 65 KG Asian Olympic Games Qualifier), #10 Amir Mohammad Yazdani (2021 65 KG Asian Olympic Games Qualifier finals), #11 (74) Turan Bayramov (2021 65 KG International Ukrainian Tournament) Key Losses: Bajrang Punia (2020 65 KG Olympics), Taishi Narikuni (2022 70 KG Asian Championships, 2022 70 KG Senior World’s), #7 Igor Nykyforuk (2023 70 KG Budapest Ranking Series Tournament, 2019 65 KG U23 World Championships), #12 Amr Hussen Reda (2023 70 KG Budapest Ranking Series Tournament), #11 (74) Turan Bayramov (2019 65 KG U23 World Championships), Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (2021 70 KG Senior World finals), #11 Syrbaz Talgat (2023 70 KG Bishkek Ranking Series Tournament)

Medal Contenders

#9 Sanzhar Doszhanov (KAZ)- 2023 70 KG Budapest Ranking Series Tournament bronze medalist, 2022 70 KG Kunaev bronze medalist, 2023 70 KG Asian Champion. Key Wins: #10 Amir Mohammad Yazdani (2023 70 KG Budapest Ranking Series Tournament), Morteza Ghiasi Cheka (2023 70 KG Asian Championships), Orozobek Toktomambetov (2023 70 KG Asian Championships). Key Losses: #2 Inalbek Sheriev (2023 70 KG PWL-5), #8 Joey McKenna (2023 70 KG Budapest Ranking Series Tournament), #18 Tyler Berger (2022 70 KG Kunaev Tournament).

#10 Amir Mohammad Yazdani (IRI)- 2021 65 KG Senior world runner-up, 2022 70 KG Yasar Dogu champion, 2022 70 KG U23 World runner-up, 2023 70 KG Dan Kolov bronze medalist, 2023 70 KG Budapest Ranking Series Tournament 5th place finisher. Key Wins: #13 Ernazar Akmtaliev (2022 70 KG World Cup), James Green (2022 70 KG Yasar Dogu), Zurab Iakobishvili (2022 70 KG Yasar Dogu), Alibek Osmonov (2021 5 KG Senior World Championships), Orozobek Toktomambetov (2023 70 KG Budapest Ranking Series Tournament). Key Losses: #13 Ernazar Akmataliev (2021 65 KG Asian Olympic Games Qualifier), Ramazan Ramazanov (2023 70 KG Dan Kolov), #14 Zagir Shakhiev (2021 65 KG Senior World finals), #8 Joey McKenna (2023 70 Kg Budapest Ranking Series Tournament), #9 Sanzhar Doszhanov (2023 70 KG Budapest Ranking Series Tournament bronze medal match), Alec Pantaleo (2022 70 KG World Cup).

#12 Amr Hussen Reda (EGY)- 2020 74 KG Olympian, 2023 70 KG Budapest Ranking Series bronze medalist, 2022 74 KG Turlykhanov Cup bronze medalist. Key Wins: #13 Ernazar Akmataliev (2023 70 KG Budapest Ranking Series Tournament), Nurlan Bekzhanov (2023 74 KG Ibrahim Moustafa Tournament), Nurkhoza Kaipanov (2021 74 KG Ziolkowski). Key Losses: Semen Radulov (2021 74 KG Ziolkowski), #7 Igor Nykyforuk (2023 70 KG Budapest Ranking Series Tournament), Daniyar Kaisanov (2020 74 KG Olympics), Mitch Finesilver (2023 74 KG Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series Tournament).

#17 Zain Retherford (USA)- 2022 70 KG Senior World runner-up, 2022 70 KG Dan Kolov champion, 2019 65 KG U.S. world rep, 2022 70 KG Zouhaier Sghaier Tournament champ. Key Wins: Ramazan Ramazanov (2022 70 KG Dan Kolov), Zurab Iakobishvili (2022 70 KG Senior World Championships), #8 (65) Yianni Diakomihalis (2019 65 KG U.S. National Team wrestle-off), #11 Syrbaz Talgat (2022 70 KG Zouhaier Sghaier Tournament finals). Key Losses: Alejandro Valdes Tobier (2019 65 KG Senior World Championships), Adam Batirov (2017 65 KG Senior World Championships), Taishi Narikuni (2022 70 KG Senior World Finals).

Dark Horses

Ramazan Ramazanov (BUL)- 2023 70 KG European Championships runner-up, 2019 70 KG Alans runner-up, 2023 70 KG Dan Kolov champion. Key Wins: #7 Ihor Nykyforuk (2023 70 KG European Championships), #10 Amir Mohammad Yazdani (2023 70 KG Dan Kolov), #1 Evgheni Zherbaev (2019 70 KG Alans tournament). Key Losses: #3 (74) Cherman Valiev (2019 70 KG Alans finals), #11 (65) Haji Aliyev (2023 70 KG European Finals), Dzhabrail Gadzhiev (2023 74 KG Ziolkowski), #13 Ernazar Akmtaliev (2022 70 KG Senior World Championships quarterfinals).

Action Fighter/Wrestler to Watch

The Breakdown

2021 Senior World bronze medalist #1 Evgheni Zherbaev (AIN) comes into the Senior World Championships after a dominant run in the Russian domestic scene that saw him tech fall his way through the prestigious Ivan Yarygin Memorial and win Russian Nationals in dominant fashion over #2 Inalbek Sheriev (RUS). At his last World Championships, Zherbaev was also ranked number one in the world and was then upset in the semifinals by #13 Ernazar Akmataliev (KGZ). While the unfortunate possibility of a Zherbaev upset looms heavy with athletes who start faster then him and could take advantage of his sometimes plodding footwork (like Nykyforuk could with his killer high crotch/fireman’s combo) or catch him in a transitional big move (like Akmataliev did two years ago), he really is the best technician in the entire field and his handfighting, short offense, and par-terre is on another level and the consistency he has had this year is unmatched in a field that was defined by the best guys constantly trading matches.

#7 Ihor Nykyforuk (UKR) is a physical powerhouse who uses his speed and strength to stun opponents early with a fantastic fireman’s carry that he can hit multiple times in a match. While Nykyforuk lacks offensive variety, his ability to chain wrestle through his fireman’s and high crotch series and routinely get to legs makes him a very dangerous proposition in this bracket. Having said this about Nykyforuk, he is very limited offensively outside of the fireman’s and high crotch and does not adapt in matches against opponents who can handle his physicality. I would very much like to see if #17 Zain Retherford (USA) would have the skillset to take out Nykyforuk, as I believe Nykyforuk is the best top tier matchup for Zain at this level.

#13 Ernazar Akmataliev (KGZ) has had an up and down year, taking gold at the Zagreb Open, bronze at the Bishkek Ranking Series Tournament, and fifth at the Budapest Ranking Series Tournament and looking as if he would not qualify for the World Championships. Akmataliev has dropped matches this season to #11 Syrbaz Talgat (KAZ), #7 Ihor Nykyforuk (UKR), and #12 Amr Hussen Reda (EGY). But when Akmataliev is peaked, he is one of the most dangerous wrestlers in the world, exceptional from scoring exposure off his opponent’s attacks, with an incredibly diverse offensive repertoire on his feet punctuated by powerful upper body throws. Akmataliev’s downfall is he can let his opponent’s early on his legs and he can be outsized by the bigger guys at the weight as he is pretty undersized for the weight.

2021 65 KG Senior world runner-up #10 Amir Mohammad Yazdani (IRI) has shown himself of putting together exceptional performances against the best in the weight, punctuated by a win over #13 Ernazar Akmtaliev (KGZ) at the World Cup, but his tendency to fade late in matches doesn’t serve him well in this field. #10 Sanzar Dozhanov (KAZ) is a powerful Kazakhstani grappler in the mold of Daulet Niyazbekov (KAZ), heavily reliant upon his strength to force opponents into a front headlock for go behinds or reattacks and boasts a deadly head pinch that he relies on heavily for defense when his opponents are on his legs. I view Dozhanov as limited but dangerous to wrestlers with better finishing abilities. #12 Amr Hussen Reda (EGY) is a very exciting wrestler who lives off knee block throws and bodylocks and can at times show a competent snatch single to double leg but is very flat on his feet and can be lacking in defense against top flight competition. Returning world silver medalist #17 Zain Retherford (USA) has one of the most well rounded skillsets punctuated by excellent physicality and a fantastic knee pull single and front headlock series but has had issues in the past being exposed while deep on his single leg shots. Still, I like Retherford’s physicality and leg attack finishing ability to carry him through well in this bracket. Ramazan Ramazanov (BUL) holds a win over #1 Evgheni Zherbaev (AIN) from the 2019 Alans and is a threat throughout matches but his lack of any real consistent go to leg attack is what hampers me from marking him as a true title or medal contender.

Predictions

GOLD: #1 Evgheni Zherbaev over #13 Ernazar Akmataliev

BRONZE: #10 Amir Mohammad Yazdani

BRONZE: #17 Zain Retherford

Seth PetarraSeptember 15, 2023Comment