2020 Individual World Cup Men's Freestyle Recap

57 KG

GOLD: #1 Zavur Uguev (RUS) over Arsen Harutyunyan (ARM) 10-0

BRONZE: Andrey Yatsenko (UKR) over #16 Stevan Micic (SRB) 4-2

BRONZE: Rahman Amouzadkhalili (IRI) over Vladislav Andreev (BLR) 4-0

#1 Zavur Uguev’s third straight world title and what more can you say than just pure dominance, 5 wins, 4 techs and 1 pin, outsourcing his competition 45-1 just absolutely dominant. Uguev’s decimated Arsen Harutyunyan (ARM), Rahman Amouzadkhalili (IRI), Vladislav Andreev (BLR), Anatolii Buruian (MDA), and Bekobolot Myrzanazar Uulu (KGZ). Arsen Harutyunyan (ARM), the 2019 61 KG European champion who faced off against Uguev in the finals beat 2017 world bronze medalist Andrey Yatsenko (UKR), 2019 European Games runner-up #16 Stevan Micic (SRB), and Romanian national champion Razvan Marian Kovacz (ROU) to reach the gold medal final. 

57 kilograms was a weight with a very clear favorite in the form of Uguev who more so than anyone of the Russian team displayed his dominance against the field. Even with that being the case, there were still some very interesting things that happened at 57 KG that affected the weight. The first big one is returning world bronze medalist #4 Ravi Kumar (IND) being pinned by Gamzatgadzhi Khalidov (HUN) in the round of 16, up 6-0 after being reversed and pinned. Khalidov was eliminated by #16 Stevan Micic (SRB) in the quarterfinals and my thoughts on Khalidov are that while he had a great win over Kumar, I am just not super sold on him as being a big time contender at 57 KG moving forward especially when it fills out even more in 2021 as guys descend for the Olympics. Someone who did emerge to me as a major contender was 2x Cadet world champion Rahman Amouzadkhalili (IRI) who looked very strong throughout the tournament and controlled 2019 Medved champ Vladislav Andreev (BLR) 4-0 to win bronze. #16 Stevan Micic (SRB) got his 2nd straight 5th place finish at the world championships in both cases where he could have made a strong medal and even finals run, Micic has had issues closing out matches. This case seemed compounded due to lack of competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic affecting training, but Harutyunyan was a match Micic had control over and then fell late to a frontrunner in Harutyunyan and then his bronze medal match against Andrey Yatsenko (UKR), who he had beaten earlier in the year in the bronze medal match of the Matteo Pellicone tournament, Micic lost 4-2 in a match he had control of early.

One of the major takeaways I have from after watching the Individual World Cup and Uguev’s title runs from 2018-2020, is that the only person who I give a chance of beating him is #2 Azamat Tuskaev (RUS). Those two are by far and away the best in the world at 57 kilograms, and it is a tragedy that they both have to be competing for the same team. 

61 KG

GOLD: #1 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RUS) over #11 Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov (AZE) 5-1

BRONZE: #14 Georgi Vangelov (BUL) over Muhamad Ikromov (TJK) 9-8

BRONZE: Agustin Destribats (ARG) over Razmik Papikyan (ARM) 5-2

#1 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RUS) has been on an absolutely spectacular run over the past year on his way to cementing himself as the consensus #1 wrestler at 61 kilograms with the Individual World Cup title being the cherry on top. In the DRL in 2019 he beat 2016 world bronze medalist #11 Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov (AZE) then at the Alans he beat Ali Aliev champion Zelimkhan Abakarov (RUS) in the semis before losing to #2 Ramazan Ferzaliev (RUS) in the finals. Beginning the year Magomedov dominated 2018 world champion #9 (57) Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez (CUB) 12-2 in the DRL and less then two weeks later at the Yarygin this year he finished bronze after a semifinal loss to #3 Alexander Bogomoev (RUS). Magomedov rebounded from his Yarygin bronze medal match by beating #6 Shamil Omarov (RUS), #8 Ibragim Abdurakhmanov (RUS), and #7 Magomed Magomedov (RUS) to take gold at the Soslan Azaev memorial tournament. Magomedov’s Russian national title would come up in the most clutch way possible, from a 4-2 in in the semis over #8 Ibragim Abdurakhmanov (RUS) to his 9-7 win over #2 Ramazan Ferzaliev (RUS) that saw him avenge past losses at the 2019 Ali Aliev and the 2019 Alans finals.

With all that Magomedov had done, he was the clear frontrunner to win the Individual World Cup and he did just that in definitive fashion with wins over #11 Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov (AZE), Agustin Destribats (ARG), Razmik Papikyan (ARM) and Volodymyr Borukuv (UKR). #11 Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov’s path to the final saw him defeat Arman Eloyan (FRA), #14 Georgi Vangelov (BUL), and Muhamad Ikromov (TJK). 

The rest of the bracket outside of Magomedov and Gvarzatilov got busted up quite a bit, so let’s recap all that happened. Agustin Destribats (ARG) won Argentina’s first ever world medal at the senior world championships in what was a very legitimate run with upset wins over #5 Ulukbek Zholdoshbekov (KGZ) by pin, returning world bronze medalist Rahul Aware (IND) by a 6-6 score, and Razmik Papikyan (ARM) 5-2. Razmik Papikyan (ARM) flew completely under my radar as his best placement was in 2016 as a 46 KG Cadet European championships but he had a strong 5th place showing here where he beat 2019 Yarygin bronze medalist #15 Eduard Grigorev (POL) 8-7 in the round of 16 and Volodymyr Borukov (UKR) in repechage. Another guy who had a strong run to 5th was Muhamad Ikromov of Tajikistan who upset 2x European bronze medalist #13 Recep Topal (TUR) and 2016 57 KG Olympian Ivan Guidea (ROU). 

After the year that he has had, I expect for #1 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RUS) to be the guy for Russia moving forward and someone who will control this weight for the foreseeable future. 

65 KG

GOLD: Vazgen Tevanyan (ARM) over #9 Ismail Musukaev (HUN) 9-1

BRONZE: Gor Ogannesyan (UKR) over Nicolai Grahemz (MDA) 7-1

BRONZE: #4 Haji Aliyev (AZE) over Ilman Mukhtarov (FRA) 10-4

65 kilograms was a very strange weight that while there was marred by injuries and absences (no #2 Takuto Otoguro, #3 Bajrang Punia, #10 Alejandro Valdes Tobier)  but even in the face of those, still had a young contender emerge in the form of Vazgen Tevanyan (ARM) who took home gold. Tevanyan had good wins (Gor Ogannesyan at 2019 senior world’s, Ilman Mukhtarov and Maxim Sacultan at U-23 Euros) and U-23 Euro title last year but a pretty spotty placement record outside of that so I couldn’t really with faith so oh here’s a guy who can make a definite run and with the presence of #1 Gadzhimurad Rashidov (RUS) who had looked spectacular at world’s last year and this year at Russian nationals, it just didn’t look like this was the time for Tevanyan. But then things changed.

The round of 16 match between #1 Gadzhimurad Rashidov (RUS) and #4 Haji Aliyev (AZE), one of the most highly anticipated matches of the entire Individual World Cup was stopped before it could even begin as Aliyev finished a single leg that injured Rashidov’s knee and gutted him and after that Rashidov had to injury default after. Move forward into the quarterfinals and Aliyev wins a tight 6-4 win over Ernazar Akhmataliev (KGZ) and in the process gets a rib injury. His semifinal match he gives up a contested four pointed against returning world bronze medalist #9 Ismail Musukaev (HUN) tries to mount a comeback and falls 7-6. Aliyev wrestles for bronze against Ilman Mukhtarov (FRA) and in the face of a rib injury that is obviously hindering his performance, is able to come away with a 10-4 win.

On Tevanyan’s side of things, he looked really solid all the way through the finals, teched 2019 Yarygin runner-up Nicolai Okhlopkov (ROU) 10-0, beat Haji Ali (BRN) 11-0, won a 6-0 over a tough Nicolai Grahmez (MDA) and got past Gor Ogannesyan (UKR) 7-2 in the semis. The finals he looked great, held off big flurries from Musukaev and scored late with a go behind and a series of gut wrenches to win 9-1. Some odds and ends results that surprised me was Ilman Mukhtarov (FRA) beating #12 Nyurgun Skraybin (BLR) 6-4 on the repechage side of Musukaev’s bracket and then Nicolai Grahemz (MDA) beating 61 KG European bronze medalist Nikolai Okhlopkov (ROU) 3-2 on the repechage side of the Tevanyan bracket. 

Given the circumstances of the field that Tevanyan won in, I think the best takeaway from the Individual World Cup is that Tevanyan is a strong medal contender but there are still some guys I see that give him issues (#2 Takuto Otoguro, #10 Alejandro Valdes Tobier, #1 Gadzhimurad Rashidov, potentially #3 Bajrang Punia) and his results are valid even with it being true that I wouldn’t bet on him to show out in a field complete with Otoguro, Punia, or Valdes Tobier. A win over the Musukaev who competed at the Individual World Cup is still a very strong win and given the circumstances that it occurred under and the ever fluctuating nature of 65 KG, it is one hundred percent fine that Tevanyan is the top ranked guy until someone beats him, or he loses, or Rashidov is healthy again or someone else emerges. That’s the beauty of a weight that is always changing and growing like 65 kilograms, it changes.

70 KG

GOLD: #3 Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (POL) over #7 Heydar Yavuz (TUR) by VIN 5-0

BRONZE: Arman Andreasyan (ARM) over #1 Cherman Valiev (RUS) by injury default

BRONZE: Islambek Orozbekov (KGZ) over #15 Gitinomagomed Gadzhiev (AZE) 6-5

#3 Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (POL) earned his 3rd world bronze medal with a title at the Individual world cup with a 5-0 win over Dan Kolov runner-up #7 Heydar Yavuz (TUR) in what was a rematch from the European Championships won by Gadzhiev. Because #1 Cherman Valiev (RUS) defaulted out in the semis against Gadzhiev and Andreasyan it’s really hard to say of how a matchup between him and Gadzhiev would have gone that day, as Valiev had done more than enough to earn his status as the number one guy in the world but given Gadzhiev’s career and body of work even with the Valiev’s injury case he can still have a strong enough argument for the top spot. #7 Heydan Yavuz (TUR) beating George Bucur (ROU), #15 Gitinomagomed Gadzhiev (AZE), and Islambek Orozbekov (KGZ) was to be expected but the real surprise that came out from those guys that Yavuz beat was Islambek Orozbekov (KGZ) coming out of nowhere to beat #15 Gitinomagomed Gadzhiev (AZE) 6-5. Gadzhiev has had strong wins in the past over #4 Ilyas Bekbulatov (UZB), #8 Ramazan Ramazanov (BUL) and #17 Anzor Zakuev (RUS) so to see an unheralded guy like Orozbekov beat him was surprising and a sign that Kyrgyzstan is making strong growth in it’s men’s middleweights. 

74 KG

GOLD: #1 Razambek Zhamalov (RUS) over #6 Frank Chamizo (ITA) 4-2

BRONZE: Taimuraz Salkazanov (SVK) over Murad Kuramagomedov (HUN) 2-2

BRONZE: #18 Fazli Eryilmaz (TUR) over Azamat Nurikov (BLR) 7-2

As the self proclaimed conductor of the Zhamalov hype train, I would like to take this time to recap Zhamalov’s career to put into perspective what his title at the Individual World Cup means.

From the beginning in 2016 where unseen contender at 18 years old he took out 3x Asian champion #18 (65) Daulet Niyazbekov (KAZ) in the 2016 61 KG Intercontinental Cup finals, the growing year of 2017 from 61 to 65 KG where he would beat the reigning junior world champion Abdulla Akhmedov (RUS) in the 65 KG Yuri Gusov tournament finals. 

2018, that saw him turn heads with his semifinal run at 70 KG senior Russian nationals and his matches against world champions Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov and David Baev followed by coming up short against #12 Khadzhimurad Gadzhiev (AZE) in the 70 KG junior world finals and finishing the year with a title at the Intercontinental Cup and bronze at the Alans.  

2019, where he became the man to beat at 70 KG after bronze at the Yarygin with titles at the U-23 European Championships and Ali Aliev and wins over #1 (70) Cherman Valiev (RUS), #2 (70) David Baev (RUS), #1 (79) Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (BLR), a runner-up finish at Russian nationals with a 11-10 loss in match of the year to eventual world champion #2 (70) David Baev (RUS). His move up to 74 KG where he beat two 2x senior national bronze medalists in #8 Timur Bizhoev (RUS) and #14 Nikita Suchkov (RUS) to win gold at the 74 KG Yuri Gusov tournament to become the U-23 world rep where he would go on to win gold in Budapest.

2020, Zhamalov’s strongest year to date leading up to the Individual World Cup. His best finish yet at the Yarygin, punctuated by another win over #8 Timur Bizhoev (RUS) in the quarterfinals, a dominant 8-0 victory over 2019 Russian national champion #7 Magomed Kurbanaliev (RUS) in the semifinals to avenge his 2018 70 KG Alans semifinals loss and a 3-1 loss in the finals to long time rival #9 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (RUS). Zhamalov’s first senior Russian national title would be a spectacular run and one that saw him skyrocket up the 74 kilogram and pound for pound rankings. A win over #14 Nikita Suchkov (RUS) was his toughest competition until the semis that saw him face #8 Timur Bizhoev (RUS) who had just beaten #9 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (RUS) in the quarterfinals and taken from Zhamalov his opportunity to avenge his past 3 losses to the two time 70 KG world champion Gazimagomedov. Zhamalov would win a heart pounding 6-6 win over Bizhoev and facing him in the finals was a revitalized #2 Khetik Tsabolov (RUS) who had upset the reigning two time world and national champion, the top ranked pound for pound wrestler in the world, Zaurbek Sidakov (RUS) in the round of 16 and taken revenge against #7 Magomed Kurbanaliev (RUS) to avenge his 2019 national finals loss. In what was a closely contested match, it was the defense and reattacks of Zhamalov that would give him a 5-1 win over #2 Tsabolov and give him his first senior national title. No man in the world had more momentum behind him going into the Individual World Cup than Zhamalov but one of his biggest challenges still awaited him in the form of two time world champion #6 Frank Chamizo (ITA).

#6 Frank Chamizo (ITA), like Zhamalov had been one of premier age group talents to break through at the senior level. Probably even more so then Zhamalov in hindsight, as in 2010 at 18 years old, competing at his first senior world championships for Cuba after failing to place at Junior World’s (16th after a loss to Rasul Mashezov of Russia), Chamizo took bronze at the 55 KG senior world championships. After an 11th place showing at the 2011 55 KG world championships, Chamizo was let go from the Cuban national team due to an inability to maintain his weight and now living on the streets, Chamizo defected to Italy and didn’t compete again until July of 2013 where he finished as a runner-up to 2014 70 KG European champion Ruslan Dibirgadzhiev (AZE) at the Grand Prix of Spain. Titles at the 2014 Yasar Dogu and 2014 Grand Prix of Spain would be Chamizo’s best achievements while competing for Italy until his career defining 2015. Failing to place at the Medved after losses to #7 Magomed Kurbanaliev (RUS) and Mandakhanran Ganzorig (MGL),  A U-23 European title over consensus top 10 talent Magomed Muslimov (AZE) and 2017 70 KG world champ Zurab Iakobishvili (GEO), a runner-up finish at the European Games to returning 60 KG Olympic champion #16 Togrul Asgarov (AZE), a weight cut gone wrong at the Grand Prix of Spain that saw him have to bump up to 70 KG where he lost in the finals to James Green (USA). Rebounding with a title at the Ziolkowski that saw him upset returning world champion #8 (65) Soslan Ramonov (RUS) All this leading up world championships in Las Vegas where Chamizo had the toughest bracket of any weight and made the gamble that paid off. Beating 70 KG European Games runner-up #3 (70) Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (POL) in his first match, #16 Togrul Asgarov (AZE) in the quarterfinals who had pinned him in the European Games finals, and a dominant pin over top ranked Sayed Ahmad Mohammadi (IRI) in the semifinals all to setup a finals match against dark horse Ikhtiyor Navruzov (UZB) who had upset returning world champion #8 Soslan Ramonov (RUS) and world bronze medalist Mandakhnaran Ganzorig (MGL). A last second scramble would earn Chamizo the 4-3 win and his first senior world title. 

Chamizo’s 2016 run had a runner-up finish at the Medved to eventual Olympic champion #8 Soslan Ramonov (RUS), a title at the European Championships over Mustafa Kaya (TUR) who had upset Russian terror #13 (74) Israil Kasumov (RUS) in the semis, and a bronze medal run at the Olympics that saw him face three past/present World/Olympic champs in David Safaryan (ARM), Zurab Iakobishvili (GEO), and #16 Togrul Asgarov (AZE) beating Safaryan and Iakobishvili but falling in a highly entertaining semifinal match against Asgarov and rebounding with a win over American contender Frank Molinaro (USA) in the bronze medal match. 2016 ended with Chamizo competing in the Deutsche Ringerliga (DRL) where he would lose matches against #10 (65) Alejandro Valdes Tobier (CUB) and #9 (79) Kakhaber Khubezhty (RUS).

Chamizo’s 2017 started off slow, getting pinned by #9 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (RUS) at the Dan Kolov and injury defaulting out, but would pick up steam where he would go undefeated going into the world championships, taking titles at the European Championships, the Ali Aliev, and the Ion Corneanu memorial with wins over #9 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (RUS, #3 Zaurbek Sidakov (RUS), #3 (70) Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (POL), and Mandakhnaran Ganzorig (MGL). Chamizo’s world title run was absolutely dominant as he showed himself to be above a class above a field of five returning World/Olympic medalists in Ikhtiyor Navruzov (UZB), Elamin Dogdurbek Uulu (KGZ), Akzhurek Tanatarov (KAZ), Yakup Gor (TUR), and James Green (USA). 2017 would end with Chamizo being upset at the Alans against #3 Zaurbek Sidakov (RUS) and defaulting out to 5th.

2018 is the year in which Chamizo would really begin to see even more attention surround him as he made the official move up to 74 kilograms, and the first thing and really the only thing on anyone’s mind was how would he stack up against reigning 5x World/Olympic champion #5 Jordan Burroughs (USA). Starting off the year with titles at the International Ukrainian Tournament and The Dan Kolov gave credit to Chamizo as someone who could challenge Burroughs. The beginning of Chamizo’s European championship run would add even more fuel to the fire, beating 2017 U-23 world bronze #10 Avtandil Kentchadze (GEO) and pinning returning world runner-up #2 Khetik Tsabolov (RUS) on his way to the semis where he would face 2x World/Olympic bronze medalist #19 Soner Demirtas (TUR). With short time left, Demirtas would score off a clutch last second stepout to win 4-3. 

The highly anticipated matchup against Burroughs would happen at Beat The Streets and it would be Burroughs emerging victorious in a controversial match and all eyes were on Burroughs and Chamizo heading into world’s. A mediterrean games title prepared Chamizo for his next gold that would come at the Yasar Dogu, facing against Burroughs in the finals it would be Chamizo coming away victorious this time able to use his superior scrambling to score off of Burrough’s shots. Chamizo’s final tournament prior to the world championships was the Dmitri Korkin, which while having him notch impressive wins over #13 Israil Kasumov (RUS) and #3 (79) Akhmed Usmanov (RUS), his habit of letting off the gas late in a match cost him in the finals against #14 Nikita Suchkov (RUS) and he would settle for silver.  Chamizo’s path to the world semifinals didn’t have much in regards to credentials, and the reigning 70 KG world champion would fall 3-2 to #3 Zaurbek Sidakov (RUS) who was coming off a career defining 6-5 upset win over #5 Jordan Burroughs (USA). Sidakov over #10 Avtandil Kentchadze (GEO), but before that all attention was on Chamizo/Burroughs round three. Burroughs, having made the adjustments necessary made it a priority reduced his shot volume and getting extended on shots and used a successful pushout and single leg heavy strategy to mitigate the scrambling of Chamizo and take home bronze with a 4-4 win.

Right out of the gate in 2019, Chamizo had his fourth matchup with Burroughs, losing to him in lopsided fashion at the Dan Kolov but rebounding with a win over #11 Alipasha Umarpashaev (BUL) for bronze. Chamizo would notch his third European championships title at his third weight by beating beating #8 Timur Bizhoev (RUS) and Zelimkhan Khadjiev (FRA). The Sassari tournament would be on Chamizo’s home turf of Italy and facing him was returning Russian national runner-up #2 Khetik Tsabolov (RUS). Pinning him the year prior at the European championships off stuffing a Tsabolov shot, Chamizo was faced with a much more dangerous Tsabolov and would be pushed to the brink but come out victorious with a 5-4 win. He bought home gold with a victory over Asian championships gold medalist Daniyar Kaisanov (KAZ). A fifth match between Chamizo and Burroughs would fail to materialize at the Yasar Dogu, as Chamizo defaulted out in the finals but did notch a strong win over #18 Fazli Eryilmaz (TUR). Chamizo’s world finals run would see his best wins come in the form of Zelimkhan Khadjiev (FRA) and Daniyar Kaisanov (KAZ) but #3 Zaurbek Sidakov (RUS) lengthened the gap between the two and won 5-2 in the finals.

Chamizo’s 2020 European championships title gave him his 5th senior level continental title (‘11 55 KG Pan-Am title for Cuba, ‘16 at 65 KG, ‘17 at 70 KG, ‘19 at 74 KG, ‘20 at 74 KG) and saw him avenge past losses to #9 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (RUS) and #19 Soner Demirtas (TUR). Chamizo’s path to the individual world cup saw him face the best competition on his side of the bracket in the round of 16 against #18 Fazli Eryilmaz (TUR) and in the semifinals against 2019 Yarygin bronze medalist Azamat Nurikov (BLR). The Individual World Cup finals match between #1 Zhamalov and #6 Chamizo was one of the best matches of the year and arguably the last quad. Leading 2-1 after an early scramble and with short time left, Chamizo looked well on his way to his third World title but a furious Zhamalov attack led to Zhamalov being able to throwby an underhook to get to a bodylock and rear standing. With less than 10 seconds left for Chamizo to defend and win his third world title and for Zhamalov to finish his attack to win his first, Zhamalov would fight and fight and finally find success with less than 5 seconds left, breaking Chamizo’s quadpod and earning the match winning takedown to win 3-2. A failed Chamizo challenge gave Zhamalov an extra point, making the final score 4-2 and seeing Zhamalov continue Russia’s gold medal run at 74 kilograms.

Even if it was a two man weight between Chamizo and Zhamalov, there were still some very important results for the weight. Returning 79 KG world bronze medalist Taimuraz Salkazanov (SVK) took bronze with a 2-2 win over Murad Kuramagomedov (HUN) in a battle between a North Ossetian and a Dagestani transfers. #18 Fazli Eryilmaz (TUR) took bronze with a 7-2 win over Azamat Nurikov (BLR) in what was a rematch of the Matteo Pellicone bronze medal match, also won by Eryilmaz. 2015 world bronze medalist Narsingh Yadav (IND) returned to competition after a four year drug suspension stemming from a positive drug test back in 2016 for the performance enhancing drug Metadienone. Yadav was eliminated in the first round of competition in a 10-9 loss in the qualification round to Osman Kubilay Cakici (GER). Azamat Nurikov (BLR) notched a very strong 8-4 win in the quarterfinals over Yasar Dogu champion #11 Alipasha Umarpashaev (BUL) which was to expected given their relative style matchups of lengthy chest wrap and throw heavy guys who don’t shoot much, it’s smarter to take the one with more experience even if given that style they don’t quite have a lot of consistency as guys adjust to it, nurikov was the best bet to go with. Really 74 kilograms as it stands as the deepest weight in international wrestling pinnacle so because of this when you see change it is going to start from 74 kilograms, and the change that we are seeing how is the bar continuing to be raised for younger athletes who more and more ready right out of the gate to contend for and win senior world medals and titles. The likes of Zhamalov, Salkazanov, Eryilmaz go to show that. As training programs continue to get refined and the level of talent continues to get better, it is only natural that the level of the field raises and you see more and more athletes senior level and senior successful athletes at a younger age. Also, special acknowledgement to Mitchell Finesilver of Israel who was a 2019 149 pound All-American for Duke, finishing 4th at the national tournament. 

79 KG

GOLD: #3 Akhmed Usmanov (RUS) over Muhammet Nuri Kotanoglu (TUR) 11-0

BRONZE: #1 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (BLR) over Baliyan Gourav (IND) 14-1

BRONZE: #20 Vasyl Mykhailov (UKR) over Akhsarbek Gulaev (SVK) 3-2

#3 Akhmed Usmanov (RUS) returned from a 2 year lay off after taking silver at the 2016 Junior world championships at 66 KG to turn heads at the 2018 Ali Aliev tournament at 74 kilograms where he would beat 2x 70 KG world champion #9 (74) Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (RUS), 2017 74 KG Russian nationals bronze medalist Alan Zaseev (RUS) and 2017 70 KG Russian nationals runner-up Magomed Dibirgazhiev (RUS). Usmanov’s momentum would be stopped in its tracks as he would fall to #8 (74) Timur Bizhoev (RUS) and fail to place at nationals but finish off his year strong by taking bronze at the Alans where he upset national runner-up #2 (74) Khetik Tsabolov (RUS) that was followed by another loss to Bizhoev. Usmanov’s 2019 wasn’t as strong as his 2018, finishing runner-up at the Ali Aliev #15 (74) Darsam Dzhaparov (RUS) and beating #4 Gadzhimurad Alikhmaev (RUS) and Azamat Nurikov (BLR) and then finishing seventh at Russian nationals after losses to eventual champion #7 (74) Magomed Kurbanaliev (RUS) and #14 (74) Nikita Suchkov (RUS) and finishing the year making his debut at 79 kilograms with bronze medal finishes at the Ugra Cup and the Alans. Usmanov’s 2020 prior to the Individual world cup began slow with a loss at the Yarygin to Asludin Magomedov (RUS), picked up with a title at the North Caucasian Federal District tournament over Russian nationals bronze medalist #13 Khalid Yakhiev (RUS) and finished on an incredibly strong note with a Russian national title where he beat returning world bronze medalist #10 Gadzhi Nabiev (RUS), Kunaev champion #12 Tazhidin Akaev (RUS), and 2019 74 KG Alans bronze medalist #4 Gadzhimurad Alikhmaev (RUS). 

The purpose of highlighting Usmanov’s career since 2018 was to highlight he is one of the premier cases of a young talent stuck in a meat grinder of a weight that was 74 kilograms, and even with the caliber of wins he had over past world champions and national medalists he still went two years without placing at Nationals, shows (1) the extreme depth Russia fields at 74 and (2) the opportunities that a weight like 79 kilograms gives in allowing for younger talent to be able to grow and perform at the world scene. 

The 79 kilogram weight class was a two man weight in all honesty and having covered one of the two, it is time to pay respect to the European champion #1 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (BLR). Kadimagomedov, a 2017 70 KG national champion for Russia, has one of the most elite body of wins for someone without a world medal to his name. Just to name a few of his most prominent victories: #2 (74) Khetik Tsabolov (RUS), #3 (74) Zaurbek Sidakov (RUS), #8 (74) Timur Bizhoev (RUS), #9 (74) Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (RUS), #14 (74) Nikita Suchkov (RUS), #15 (74) Darsam Dzhaparov (RUS), #5 (86) Magomed Ramazanov (RUS), #3 (70) Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (POL), 2009 world runner-up Rasul Dzhukaev (RUS), 2018 79 KG national runner-up Khusey Suyunchev (RUS) and #20 Vasyl Mykhailov (UKR). But even with one of the most impressive body of wins spanning across multiple weight classes, like Usmanov Kadimagomedov got stuck in the meat grinder of Russia’s domestic scene failing to place at 2018 74 KG Russian nationals after an upset loss to #6 Evgeni Lapshov (RUS) who took 5th, and then at 70 KG for the 2019 Russian national championships Kadimagomedov lost to #1 (74) Razambek Zhamalov (RUS) and #1 (70) Cherman Valiev (RUS) and failed to place. High off a dominating performance at the European championships where he demolished then top ranked Magomed Ramazanov (RUS), Kadimagomedov was the man to beat coming into the Individual world cup.

Even if the Individual World Cup was a two man race between #1 Kadimagomedov (BLR) and #3 Usmanov (RUS), the other 18 men in the field deserve some recognition and recap of the how they performed. In what I believed to be one of the poorer decisions in brackets since the Taylor/Yazdani first round match at the 2018 86 KG world championships, #1 Kadimagomedov (BLR) and #3 Usmanov (RUS) met in the quarterfinals with Usmanov walking away with a 4-1 win over the top ranked Kadimagomedov. Usmanov had no issues against Asian championships runner-up Baliyan Gourav (IND) in the semifinals, disposing of him 10-0 and his dominance would continue into the finals tech falled 2016 74 KG U-23 European champion Muhammet Nuri Kotanoglu (TUR) 11-0. Kadimagomedov had no issue rebounding from his quarterfinal loss to Usmanov, and thrashed Gourav 14-1 to take bronze.

Having covered Usmanov and Kadimagomedov in depth, Muhammet Kotanoglu (TUR) world finals run deserves recognition. Kotanoglu beat 2017 74 KG U-23 world runner-up, 2x 74 KG U-23 European runner-up (‘18 & ‘19) Akhsarbek Gulaev (SVK) in the quarterfinals after Gulaev was coming hot off a upset win in the round of 16 over Asian champion #15 Arsalan Budazhapov (KGZ), a longtime standout on the Russian domestic scene prior to him transferring to Kyrgyzstan at the end of 2019. The story of Kotanoglu’s semifinal win would be much the same, as #20 Vasyl Mykhailov (UKR) was coming off a strong win over 2019 Ali Aliev bronze medalist and 2013 74 KG world bronze medalist Rashid Kurbanov (UZB) in the quarterfinals. It could be argued that going into it, either Kurbanov or Budazhapov was the favorite to make it to the finals opposite Usmanov give the brackets, but Kotanoglu emerging victorious after beating Gulaev and Mykhailov who beat the favorites speaks to his ability to adapt. While I don’t think Kotanoglu can make the team either at 74 kilograms or 86 kilograms, his performance here gave him a strong argument as Turkey’s man moving forward and a contender at a weight defined by young talent and Russian depth. 

86 KG

GOLD: #3 Dauren Kurugliev (RUS) over #13 Zbigniew Baranowski (POL) 5-1

BRONZE: Osman Gocen (TUR) over Taimuraz Friev Naskideava (ESP) 11-8

BRONZE: #11 Piotr Ianulov (MDA) over Deepak Punia (IND) 4-1

After being the heir apparent to take the mantle for Russia’s 86 KG rep in 2017 and coming up short at Russian nationals after a qualification round loss to #10 Arsenali Musalaliev (RUS) and making a strong run to the world semis in 2018 only to be stopped by #1 David Taylor (USA) and #2 Hassan Yazdani Charati (IRI) and go home without a medal, falling to eventual world bronze medalist #4 Artur Naifonov (RUS) in the 2019 national finals, 2020 finally was the year that #3 Dauren Kurugliev (RUS) looked to have it all put together to take home gold. The 2019 European Games champion and 2x Yarygin champion (‘17&’19) had a fantastic run defeating the resurgent #11 Piotr Ianulov (MDA) 9-2 in the quarterfinals, returning world runner-up Deepak Punia (IND) 4-0 in the semis, and Akhmed Aibuev (FRA) 8-0 in the round of 16. One of the most important wins of Kurugliev’s gold medal run was his 5-1 victory over #13 Zbigniew Baranowski (POL), the 2019 92 KG European runner-up and Ziolkowski silver medalist who upset Kurugliev at the Ziolkowski. 

The other two guys I wanted to bring some attention to here were bronze medalists #11 Piotr Ianulov (MDA) and Osman Gocen (TUR). Starting off with Ianulov, the Moldovan in his 13th year of Senior level competition has had his career best year at the age of 34 taking gold at the Ziolkowski over #13 Zbigniew Baranowski (POL) and 2018 world runner-up #12 Fatih Erdin (TUR) and to follow it up by taking bronze in this field with wins over European bronze medalist #7 Boris Makoev (SVK) and returning world runner-up Deepak Punia (IND) is incredible. And I didn’t see this kind of run coming at all from Ianulov after he failed to place at the European championships after a loss to 2015 European Games bronze medalist Radoslaw Marcinkiewicz (POL). Ianulov is tied with the oldest world medalist in this field with Aiaal Lazarev (KGZ) at 34 years old and to be able to put together such a year this far into his career is huge. 

Osman Gocen (TUR) has the third rep that Turkey has sent in the past 4 world championships, with 3x World/Olympic medalist Selim Yasar (TUR) getting the nod in 2017 where he failed to place after a quarterfinal loss to eventual bronze medalist #6 Vladislav Valiev (RUS), #12 Fatih Erdin (TUR) who was silver at the 2018 world championships, and #12 Fatih Erdin (TUR) again at the 2019 world championships where he failed to place after a 9-9 loss in the round of 16 to eventual bronze medalist Taimuraz Friev Naskideava (ESP). Gocen brought up Turkey’s medal count at 86 KG for this quad up to two after taking avenging Erdin’s loss last year to Taimuraz Friev Naskideava (ESP) with an 11-8 victory. Now as 86 KG for Turkey is considered, Erdin is still the #1 guy with Gocen at second after he beat Yasar the Ziolkowski but ended up not placing due to a lack of points in the round robin format and Yasar at 3rd after losses to Erdin at the 2018 Yarygin and Medved and losing to Gocen this year at the Ziolkowski. It’ll be very interesting to see what choices Turkey makes moving forward for the upcoming quad. 

92 KG

GOLD: #2 Alikhan Zhabrailov (RUS) over #12 Georgi Rubaev (MDA) 6-0

BRONZE: #10 Erhan Yaylaci (TUR) over Gadzhimurad Magomedsaidov (AZE) 4-2

BRONZE: Samuel Scherrer (SUI) over Arkady Pogosyan (BLR) 8-4

#2 Alikhan Zhabrailov (RUS) added to his legendary family’s world medal count by taking gold in what was an admittedly diminished field in a weight that has already suffered from an absence of established talent as athlete’s go up to 97 or down to 86 KG in preparation for the Olympic cases. Zhabrailov’s world bronze from last year coupled with his title here at the Individual World Cup, brings the total of the Zhabrailov world medal count up to 3 world titles earned for 2 different countries (‘20 for Alikhan wrestling at 92 KG and ‘89 for Elmadi at 82 KG for Russia/Soviet Union, ‘94 for Lukman at 82 KG wrestling for Moldova), 1 world silver (‘95 for Elmadi at 82 KG wrestling for Kazakhstan), 1 Olympic silver medal (‘92 for Elmadi at 82 KG for the Soviet Union), and 1 world bronze medal (‘19 for Alikhan at 92 KG for Russia).

#2 Alikhan Zhabrailov (RUS) took home gold with a 6-0 win in the finals which were a rematch of last year’s world bronze medal match against 2x Russian nationals bronze medalist #12 Georgi Rubaev (MDA). Rubaev had a strong run to the finals, coming back from a 5-1 deficit to 2019 U-23 world runner-up Gadzhimurad Magomedsaidov (AZE) with a chin whip for 4 points and held on to take a 5-5 win. Another strong performance from Rubaev was him avenging his loss from November to #10 Erhan Yaylaci (TUR) at the Ziolkowski by defeating him 4-2 in the qualification round. Zhabrailov’s best win on his path to the finals was over European runner-up Samuel Scherrer (SUI), who after his quarterfinal loss to Zhabrailov would go on to take bronze with a 8-4 win over Arkady Pogosyan (BLR) and take home Switzerland’s second consecutive world medal after Stefan Reichmuth (SUI) successfully took home bronze at the 2019 86 KG world championships. #10 Erhan Yaylaci (TUR) stopped the momentum of Gazhimurad Magomedsaidov (AZE) to take bronze with a 4-2 win and while it was great recovery from Yaylaci after his qualification round to Rubaev, really the question remains the same for Magomedsaidov of when will he cash in and break through to the next level as he clearly has the physicality and skillset to do it but has still come up short. 

97 KG

GOLD: #1 Abdulrashid Sadulaev (RUS) over #8 Aleksandr Hushtyn (BLR) by injury default

BRONZE: #9 Suleyman Karadeniz (TUR) over Valerii Andriitsev (UKR) 2-1

BRONZE: Ahmed Bataev (BUL) over #15 Shamil Zubairov (AZE) 8-1

Taking his sixth World/Olympic title #1 Abdulrashid Sadulaev (RUS) looked as strong as ever, outscoring his competition 32-3 on his way to gold. Something that especially stood out from Sadulaev this year was his dominating par-terre game, especially evident in his crushing win over 2x World/Olympic world medalist Valerii Andritsev (UKR) in the semifinals who he blitzed through with a gut tech. The one match that Sadulaev wrestled that didn’t end in a technical superiority victory in his favor was against 92 KG European champion #9 Suleyman Karadeniz (TUR) who he still routed 8-0. 

Karadeniz has been one of the major strong points for Turkey this year as their weakness in the upperweights at 92 and 97 had finally been remedied after Karadeniz had a dominant run at the 92 KG European championships were he beat past world medalists #7 (92) Aslanbek Alborov (AZE) and #8 (92) Irakli Mtsituri (GEO). While Karadeniz has great athleticism and speed for the weight and one of the best reattack and duck series I’ve seen, the major question competing would he be undersized and lose out against the bigger men in the field, and in his bronze medal match against Andriitsev Karadeniz was able to stay composed and hold the center of the mat and not fall prey to the reattacks of the massive Andriitsev to take home a 2-1 win. #8 Aleksandr Hushtyn (BLR) had a strong run into the finals, which was expected of him but he still thoroughly controlled #15 Shamil Zubairov (AZE) and Ahmed Bataev (BUL) before injury defaulting out in the finals. Hushtyn within the past year has asserted himself as the man who can keep matches closest with Sadulaev among guys on the European scene, so I would be interested after his most recent performance how Hushtyn does in a more filled out field.

125 KG

GOLD: #4 Shamil Sharipov (RUS) over #11 Robert Baran (POL) 4-1

BRONZE: Aiaal Lazarev (KGZ) over #16 Jamaladdin Magomedov (AZE) 11-0

BRONZE: Dzianis Khramiankov (BLR) over #9 Oleksandr Khotsianivski (UKR) 6-5

Winning Russia’s first world medal since 2015, #4 Shamil Sharipov (RUS) made the most of his individual world cup. Now because 3x world champion #1 Geno Petriashvili (GEO) is still actively competing, Sharipov can’t quite take the #1 spot just based off the lack of resume but that doesn’t take away from what was a very strong run on his part. Another Russian who saw success in this field was Yakutian transfer 2016 Olympian Aiaal Lazarev (KGZ) who beat 2019 Ziolkowski champion Amarveer Dhesi (CAN) and 2015 world runner-up #16 Jamaladdin Magomedov (AZE) for bronze. Shamil Sharipov (RUS) wins over returning world bronze medalist #9 Oleksandr Khotsianivski (UKR) and 2x 97 KG U-23 world medalist Dzianis Khramiankov (BLR) were the most impressive of the field and Khramiankov was someone who had a major breakthrough performance this year beating 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Ibragim Saidov (BLR) in the finals of the Henri Deglane Grand Prix and then defeating returning world bronze medalist #9 Oleksandr Khotsianivski (UKR) to take bronze in the field. #11 Robert Baran (POL) cemented himself as one of the most prominent members of the Polish surge on the world scene, taking silver with wins over #16 Jamaladdin Magomedov (AZE) and Aiaal Lazarev (KGZ) and I am interested to see how he continues to grow after silver here at the individual world cup and at the European championships.

Outstanding Wrestler of the 2020 Individual World Cup

74 KG Individual World Cup champion #1 Razambek Zhamalov (RUS)

Having covered it extensively in the 74 kilogram recap, the best way to summarize why Zhamalov is deserving of this honor is perseverance. Zhamalov’s only losses at the domestic level since 2018 were to world champions #9 (74) Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (RUS) and #2 (70) David Baev, and #7 (74) Magomed Kurbanaliev (RUS). These losses have meant a 5th place finish at the 2018 Russian national tournament, and a runner-up finish in 2019 both at 70 kilograms. But Zhamalov continued to improve, defeated Kurbanaliev handedly at the Yarygin in January, and come time for nationals he beat the best standing in front of him. Beating #8 Timur Bizhoev (RUS) who was fresh off an upset over #9 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (RUS) who had beaten Zhamalov and Tsabolov at the Yarygin and thrashed everyone outside of Chamizo at Euros was a major statement. Being able to stop a dangerous as ever #2 Khetik Tsabolov (RUS) in the national finals after Tsabolov had beaten Kurbanaliev and handled the reigning pound for pound top ranked wrestler Zaurbek Sidakov proved without a doubt that Zhamalov deserved his spot. 

But the Individual World Cup would test his resolve as the top ranked wrestler, faced with a man who could match if not surpass him in scrambling and athletic ability and could make him pay for any missed attacks with lightning quick reattacks in #6 Frank Chamizo (ITA). Along the way, fighting off stiff competition the likes of Murad Kuramagomedov (HUN) and Taimuraz Salkazanov (SVK) that each presented him unique challenges that showed he could win tight, close matches prepared him to bring his very best to take on Chamizo. Down 2-1 with short time left against the man with arguably some of the best defense in the world, Zhamalov had to fight with everything in him to come up clutch and win with less than 5 seconds on the clock to take home gold. Everything that it took leading up the Individual World Cup and the masterful performance that Zhamalov showed at the Individual World Cup cement him as my pick as the outstanding wrestler for the Individual World Cup. 

Breakout Contender of the 2020 Individual World Cup

65 KG Individual World Cup champion Vazgen Tevanyan (ARM)

Going into the 2020 Individual World Cup I had marked Vazgen Tevanyan (ARM) as a potential dark horse because of his 2019 U-23 European title where he beat Ilman Mukhtarov (FRA) and Maxim Sacultan (MDA) coupled with his win over Gor Ogannesyan (UKR) at the senior world championships, but I hesitated to really proclaim him as my official dark horse pick based off his poor placement at senior euros (11th), Junior world’s 5th (loss to #5 (70) Kurban Shiraev of Russia and Talgat Syrbaz of Kazakhstan), 18th at the U-23 world championships (loss to Selim Kozan of Turkey) and 8th at the Takhti Cup (in a field of largely stylistically similar and superior Iranians). Vazgen’s performance here really really surprised me and it was promising for Armenia in that it showed improvements on his struggle to generate offense against higher level senior guys as he tech falled 2019 61 KG Yarygin runner-up Nikoali Okhlopkov (ROU) 10-0 and Haji Ali (BRN) 11-0, both guys known for their ability to slow down matches and in the case of Okhlopkov his countering ability. Vazgen being able to maintain his composure and repeat his winning effort from Nursultan to beat a scramble heavy Gor Ogannesyan (UKR) in the semis was big and absolutely his career defining performance was his 9-1 win over returning world bronze medalist #9 Ismail Musukaev (HUN), where he stayed stingy and kept strong positioning, stymying Musukaev’s big flurries until he was able to counter with a go behind and a series of gut wrenches late to take gold.

There’s a couple major ways to interpret Vazgen’s run here and what that means moving forward. One of the easiest, knee jerk reactions to go to is try and draw a comparison to Armenia’s last 65 KG champ, 2013 world champion David Safaryan (ARM) and see it as somewhat of a run off run where Safaryan upset a Russian who was supposed to win (#7 (74) Magomed Kurbanaliev) like Vazgen beat Musukaev (Russian transfer to Hungary). Again, because this take is pretty reactionary and misses out on a couple key details (mainly that much of Safaryan’s drop off was attributable to injuries, 65 KG growing in depth etc) it’s main sin is missing out on the tangible growth that Vazgen has made in the past year and how he has made his style successful for him at the senior level. 

The other argument that can be made is that the level of the field of the Individual World Cup was diminished to the point (missing #2 Otoguro, #3 Punia, #10 Valdes Tobier) that it doesn’t really scale up the full thing. While there’s some truth to that, Vazgen still dominated tough outs in Okhlopkov and Ali, and facing off against #9 Musukaev who beat #2 Otoguro, he put together his best performance and won 9-1. My take on Tevanyan is that the progress that he showed in his title winning performance here shows that he is a strong medal contender moving forward but I do still see him having issues stylistically against Otoguro and Valdes Tobier and against Bajrang it can go either way as he scores early and holds off a late Punia charge or Bajrang wears him out, as it stands after his current performance I would anticipate the former type of performance from Vazgen against Bajrang at this time, and that might be a recency bias of Vazgen’s success plus Bajrang’s recent losses but until then we will just have to see.