2020 Russian Nationals Recap
Check out recaps for all ten weights of 2020 Russian Nationals!
57 KG
Uguev trounces Tuskaev in battle of #1 vs. #2 for third national title
#1 Zavur Uguev is the reigning two time world champion and is entering the phase of his career where he continues to extend his dominance, after having to battle through his toughest world’s bracket ever to tech fall his old rival #4 Suleyman Atli (TUR) in the final, Uguev tech falled his way into the national finals with his defining win on his side of the bracket being a 10-0 domination of returning national runner-up
The biggest challenge to the reigning two time world champion would be a resurgent Azamat Tuskaev, who since a bronze medal finish at the Alans after a loss to champion #6 Akhmed Idrisov, had gone off an absolutely dominant run winning the Yarygin and the European championships picking up wins along with the way over the likes of #3 Suleyman Atli (TUR), #6 Akhmed Idrisov, #12 Horst Lehr (GER), #13 Georgi Vangelov (BUL), 2019 national champ #20 Ramiz Gamzatov, and 2019 Korkin champ Zhargal Damdinov. The premier match of the bottom half of the bracket pitted Tuskaev vs. Idrisov in a rubber match between the two and it would be Tuskaev getting by on the skin of his teeth to win 6-6 on criteria to make the semis where he would defeat reigning national champ #20 Ramiz Gamzatov to make the finals.
Tuskaev and Uguev in their fourth meeting would be as evenly matched as ever, a world finals if they both didn’t claim the Russian flag as their own. This time it would be Uguev who would claim win number three with a 1-1 criteria win. My takeaways from this is that 57 kilograms will be one of the best weights at world’s with Uguev being challenged by #3 Rei Higuchi (JPN), #4 Suleyman Atli (TUR), #5 Ravi Kumar (IND), either #8 Reineri Andreu Ortega or #9 Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez (CUB), #10 Reza Atri (IRI), #11 Bekhbayar Erdenebat (MGL), and #12 Horst Lehr (GER) to name the premier contenders at world’s. For Tuskaev, with the Olympics postponed to 2021 and if he can still maintain the level of wrestling he’s had since December, I see him as a very serious threat to dethrone Uguev but my real question arises what does he for the next quad after and is a potential transfer down the line?
57 KG Russian Nationals Results
GOLD: #1 Zavur Uguev over #2 Azamat Tuskaev
BRONZE: Muslim Sadulaev over Petr Konstantinov 7-1
BRONZE: #6 Akhmed Idrisov over #20 Ramiz Gamzatov 3-1
61 KG
#3 Abasgadzhi Magomedov notches first win over #2 Ramazan Ferzaliev to take home first senior national title.
Going all the way back to 2016 when he first beat #15 (57) Makhir Amiraslanov at the Junior European Championships, #3 Abasgadzhi Magomedov has been rightfully seen as one of Russia’s most promising senior talents. But be it due to grueling weight cuts, a lack of physicality, or simply the ridiculous depth of the weight he competed in or all of the above, Abasgadzhi had come up short the whole quad.
The end of 2019 is the best place to look to to see the foundations for Abasgadzhi’s 2020 success. After finishing 7th at Russian nationals due to a quarterfinal loss to eventual 5th place finisher #1 Alexander Bogomoev, Magomedov responded to this set back by winning the Sargysan over European champion Arsen Harutyunyan and competing in the Deutsche Ringerliga (DRL) where he beat 2018 world champion #9 (57) Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez (CUB) and 2016 world bronze medalist Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov. Beating national bronze medalist Zelimkhan Abakarov, who was #1 going into Russian nationals and owned a win over Magomedov in the DRL, Abasgadzhi had tons of momentum going into his Alans finals match as the returning 57 kilogram champion against returning champ #2 Ramazan Ferzaliev. Ferzaliev, the reigning national runner-up and owner of a tech fall win over Abasgadzhi at the Ali Aliyev, had looked like an absolute wrecking ball so far and would be a huge test for Abasgadzhi. Magomedov was game throughout the match and late in the match mounted a serious comeback but a game Ferzaliev sealed his victory with a late takedown to win his second consecutive Alans title with a 10-7 win.
A bronze medal finish at the Yarygin after a semifinal loss to old foe 3x national #1 Alexander Bogomoev springboarded Magomedov to success as he showed out at the Soslan Azaev memorial tournament defeating #6 Shamil Omarov, #7 Magomed Magomedov, and #9 Ibragim Abdurakhmanov. Abasgadzhi’s title run at nationals started with a win over 2917 57 kilogram national bronze medalist Dmitry Aksenov, a win over North Caucasian Federal District runner-up #18 Tamerlan Karaev, and a tight 4-3 win over #9 Ibragim Abdurakhmanov who had repeated his 2019 Intercontinental Cup win over #10 Artem Gebek in the round of 16.
#2 Ramazan Ferzaliev’s path to the finals saw the returning national runner-up dispose of 2018 57 kilogram U-23 European Ibragim Ilyasov and junior national champion #20 Fedor Baltuev to make a semifinal match against 2019 57 kilogram Korkin champ Zhargal Damdinov. Coming through unscathed, Ferzaliev sought to make it three straight wins in a row over Abasgadzhi Magomedov, but Abasgadzhi was not to be denied and came away with gold off the strength of a 9-7 win over Ferzaliev.
61 KG Russian Nationals Results
GOLD: #3 Abasgadzhi Magomedov over #2 Ramazan Ferzaliev 9-7
BRONZE: Zhargal Damdinov over Ibragim Ilyasov 13-2
BRONZE: #9 Ibragim Abdurakhmanov over Dmitry Aksenov 4-3
65 KG
Gadzhimurad Rashidov wins third national title, Shakhiev turns heads with win over Ramonov.
Returning world champion #1 Gadzhimurad Rashidov has one of the most complete skill sets in the world and he needs to as 65 kilograms is second to 74 kilograms as the toughest weight in the world and Russia boasts a dangerous and varied roster of athletes to push Rashidov. With the case of Rashidov being a near lock to make the finals on his side of the bracket, where the interest lies is on the bottom half of the bracket but before getting there let’s run through how the top half went. So Rashidov made the finals off of wins over Shamil Mamedov, Alan Gogaev, and Muslim Saidulaev but let’s talk about Muslim Saidulaev on the top half. A 2018 Alans champ over #5 Kurban Shiraev and a junior Euro runner-up and Kadyrov cup silver medalist, Saidulaev has proven to be a pretty strong member of the top ten domestically in Russia and seeing him take out established guys the likes of returning bronze medalist Julian Gergenov and 2018 national runner-up Bekhan Goygereev is really promising for his trajectory as a competitor moving forward even if he did lose to one of the biggest stalwarts in the weight in Alan Gogaev for bronze.
A battle between 2x World/Olympic champion #6 Soslan Ramonov and 2x world bronze medalist #9 Akhmed Chakaev looked to be the marquee matchup of the bottom half of the bracket, but it was not to come to fruition due to Zagir Shakhiev. 2016 46 kilogram Cadet world champion Zagir Shakhiev had posted bronze medal finishes at 61 Kilograms in 2019 at lower middle tier tournaments in the Sargsyan and the Ugra Cup so he was going on the typical age group pipeline to senior talent of placement at smaller tournament, it really wasn’t expected he’d be an X factor up a weight in such a short time.
Shakhiev proved to be built different as he obliterated Yarygin bronze medalist #8 (61) Kezhik Chimba in his opening match, throttled Yuri Arakelian in the round of 16, and in one of the most stunning upsets of the tournament dominated 2016 Olympic champion #6 Soslan Ramonov 8-0 in the quarterfinals. In the semis opposite 2018 national champion #9 Akhmed Chakaev, Shakhiev would be stymied by the physicality of Chakaev’s underhook offense and fell to the bronze medal match. Awaiting him for bronze was 2019 Sargsyan runner-up Artur Badtiev who had defeated returning bronze medalist #13 Murshid Mutalimov in earlier repechage. Mutalimov avenged a loss from the bronze medal match of the Yarygin to #11 Dasha Sharastepanov in the round of 16 and for Badtiev to notch a win over the likes of Mutalimov speaks to his talent in a talent filled weight like 65 kilograms. But no matter how much talent Badtiev may have it didn’t matter as Shakhiev again proved he was built different and teched him to earn bronze.
The finals match between Rashidov and Chakaev was controlled by the positioning and finesse of Rashidov who walked away with a 2-0 win over Chakaev and his third senior Russian national title. Rashidov is the heavy favorite to win world’s and unless he gets hurt I don’t see him losing.
65 Kilograms Russian Nationals Results
GOLD: #1 Gadzhimurad Rashidov over #9 Akhmed Chakaev 2-0
BRONZE: Alan Gogaev over Muslim Saidulaev 6-1
BRONZE: Zagir Shakhiev over Artur Badtiev 10-0
70 KG
Cherman Valiev takes out returning world champion David Baev in an all Ossetian final at 70 kilograms
Going into nationals, I believed that #3 Cherman Valiev was the toughest guy in the world for reigning world champion #1 David Baev and in all honesty his kryptonite. While Baev is one of the most offensively diverse and effective wrestlers in the world, he was unable to defeat the returning bronze medalist Valiev and fell to the U-23 world runner-up 4-2. I believe that with the incredibly deep pool of talent that Russia draws from that while Baev is an absolute pound for pound talent, at both 65 and 74 which are both Olympic weights he will have to consider moving too for next year he will be in a murderer’s row of the elite of the elite and I believe it to be very likely that he becomes a depth guy for sometime. This is until he resettles on 70 kilograms and that’s not considering that this isn’t the beginning of a dominant run from Cherman Valiev, who to his credit has been one of the premier names in the contingency of Russian youth talent breaking through at the senior level, turning heads back in 2017 with his Yarygin finals run where he took silver to European champion #4 Ilyas Bekbulatov (UZB).
Other significant results that occurred was #1 David Baev’s 8-0 quarterfinal win against 65 KG Yarygin and European champion #5 Kurban Shiraev. Imam Adzhiev, a 2016 61 KG U-23 European champion and 2017 65 KG nationals bronze medalist, returned after an extended lay off due to injuries and made the quarterfinals after an electric 9-7 win over 2017 61 KG national runner-up Viktor Rassadin. In the quarters, Adzhiev was pinned by 2018 national runner #14 Arpak Sat. Baev and Valiev were both dominant in their semifinals wins against 2x nationals medalist Murad Nukhadiev and 2018 national runner-up #14 Arpak Sat respectively. Anzor Zakuev beat returning 61 KG world runner-up Magomedrasul Idrisov 6-6 in the qualification round and in his quarterfinal match against Murad Nukhadiev was robbed leading with short time left off a Nukhadiev head pinch which Nukhadiev always uses as an opportunity to choke his opponents, which he did to choke out Cherman Valiev in his 8-0 semifinal loss. Another result of note was #3 Cherman Valiev dominant tech fall win over 65 kilograms Alans bronze medalist #14 (65) Sayin Kazyryk.
70 Kilograms Russian Nationals Results
GOLD: #3 Cherman Valiev over #1 David Baev 4-2
BRONZE: Ruslan Zhendaev over Murad Nukhadiev by injury default
BRONZE: #5 (65) Kurban Shiraev over #14 Arpak Sat 6-0
74 KG
Zhamalov moves up in weight and moves up gold for first senior national title at 74 kilograms.
The insanity that was the 74 kilogram tournament for Russian Nationals is deserving of an article on its own but for the intents and purpose of this one we’ll try and keep it concise. It is the best weight, in the best country in the whole world: #1 Zaurbek Sidakov, #5 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov, #6 Razambek Zhamalov, #7 Magomed Kurbanaliev, #8 Khetik Tsabolov, #5 (79) Nikita Suchkov, #14 Israil Kasumov, #17 Darsam Dzhaparov. And it had been a weight that for the last two years looked to have had established its new king domestically in the form of reigning two time world champion #1 Zaurbek Sidakov who hadn’t lost since a January 2018 loss in the Yarygin finals 2017 world runner-up #8 Khetik Tsabolov. And since finishing bronze the year prior at 70 kilograms, fellow two time world champion (‘15&’18 at 70 KG) Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov had won the Yarygin over #6 Razambek Zhamalov, #8 Khetik Tsabolov and #9 Timur Bizhoev and lost a close European finals match to two time world champ #4 Frank Chamizo (ITA). None of these should have beens materialized and what ended up happening was something no one could have predicted (but I did).
The most stunning result of the tournament occurred in the round of 16 in a rematch of the 2018 national finals, it would be #8 Khetik Tsabolov looked sharper than ever as he dismantled the reigning world and pound for pound number one ranked Zaurbek Sidakov 9-3. Tsabolov would breeze past Azamat Khadzagarov in the quarters and in the semis face his second straight national finals rematch in #7 Magomed Kurbanaliev who defeated him the year prior to win gold. In what was yet another high octane match, Tsabolov would walk away with a razor thin 8-7 win to make his third straight national finals match.
Opposite of Tsabolov on the bottom half of the bracket was #5 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov, #6 Razambek Zhamalov, #5 (79) Nikita Suchkov, and #9 Timur Bizhoev. My prediction going in was that this tournament would be the coronation of #6 Razambek Zhamalov as the leader of Russia. My prediction held through as Zhamalov was able to show poise and a comprehensive and astute offensive and defensive repertoire not seen at the weight since the likes of his coach Adam Saitiev. Zhamalov defeated 2x bronze medalist #5 (79) Nikita Suchkov to open his tournament, followed it with a victory of Saipula Alibulatov, a quarterfinal win against a surging Magomedmurad Dadaev, and it would be his semifinals match where he would be most tested.
#9 Timur Bizhoev had upset #5 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov in his quarterfinal match and has been an elite 74 KG competitor since 2018 notching wins over the likes of the aforementioned Gazimagomedov, #8 Khetik Tsabolov, 2018 world silver #10 Avtandil Kentchadze (GEO), #3 (79) Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov, 79 KG national champ #9 (79) Akhmed Usmanov, and #1 (79) Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (BLR). Bizhoev’s tournament began with a win over #17 Darsam Dzhaparov, continued to build with a win over Korkin champ Nadirbek Khizriev, notched one of the biggest wins over his career over #5 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov and his semifinals match against Zhamalov would decide who would take the mantle of the Russian new guard at 74 kilograms. Zhamalov and Bizhoev would throw the kitchen sink at each other, and it would only be off the strength of criteria that the returning 70 kilogram national runner-up would walk away victorious and book his second consecutive national finals match.
Between two of the most red hot competitors in the whole tournament, the match began tight as Zhamalov took a 1-0 lead over Tsabolov based off a passivity point. Going into the second period leading on criteria, Tsabolov would force the action and make the score 1-1 taking the lead off Zhamalov passivity. Zhamalov, seeing the initiative, countered to take a 3-1 lead. A Tsabolov knee pull single late had Zhamalov show off his incredible defense to stave off the past world champion and another late counter for Zhamalov would secure him his first senior Russian national title with a 5-1 win. Zhamalov is the favorite going into world’s and should and will win them.
74 Kilogram Russian Nationals Results
GOLD: #6 Razambek Zhamalov over #8 Khetik Tsabolov 5-1
BRONZE: #1 Zaurbek Sidakov over #7 Magomed Kurbanaliev 9-1
BRONZE: #9 Timur Bizhoev over #5 (79) Nikita Suchkov 3-1
79 KG
Akhmed Usmanov brings home gold at 79 kilograms.
A 2016 junior world runner-up at 65 kilograms that saw him make the Russian national team by defeating 2019 70 kilogram world champion David Baev, it wasn’t until 2018 when #9 Akhmed Usmanov would announce himself as a serious contender at the senior level at 74 KG. An electric run at the Ali Aliev saw him defeat returning 70 kilogram national runner-up Magomed Dibirgadzhiev, returning 74 KG national bronze Alan Zaseev, and in the finals #5 (74) Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov. Going into nationals as one of the favorites to medal, Usmanov was sent packing after a close loss to fellow young talent #9 (74) Timur Bizhoev who would go onto win bronze. Finishing the year off with a bronze medal finish at the Alans and an upset win over 2017 world runner-up #8 Khetik Tsabolov, Usmanov looked like in a good position to regain momentum on the domestic front for 2019.
2019 was a tougher year for Usmanov as he found himself stuck in the middle of the pack at 74 KG and failed to place at nationals after losing a rematch to #5 (74) Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov and his best placements of the year being bronze at the Alans and a runner-up finish at the Ali Aliev to #17 Darsam Dzhaparov. 2020 saw a up and down start for Usmanov as he failed to place at the Yarygin after losing 3-3 on criteria to unheralded Asludin Magomedov but then rebound to win the North Caucasian Federal District tournament over returning national bronze medalist #10 Khalid Yakhiev. What all of these results and performances indicated was that even giving his shortcomings in the past, Usmanov was absolutely somebody who could emerge as the guy at 79 KG.
79 KG was a weight that had been ravaged by guys moving to Olympic weights as #2 Magomed Ramazanov, #3 Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov, and #11 Radik Valiev all competed at 86 KG while #12 Dmitri Zainiidinov, #15 Khusey Suyunchev, and 2018 Yarygin bronze Alan Zaseev didn’t compete. Still, the field was bolstered by the presence of Alans champ #6 Khalil Aminov, 2019 bronze #7 Kakhaber Khubezhty, 2019 silver #8 Atsamaz Sanakoev, 2019 Alans bronze #9 Akhmed Usmanov, 2019 bronze #10 Khalid Yakhiev, 2019 Kunaev runner-up #13 Tazhidin Akaev, returning world bronze #14 Gadzhi Nabiev, junior national champ #18 Magomed Magomaev, and 2019 junior world champ #19 Akhmad Tashukhadzhiev.
The bracket for 79 KG broke down in that on the top half, #9 Akhmed Usmanov defeated returning world bronze #14 Gadzhi Nabiev in the round of 16, 2018 junior world bronze David Betanov in the quarters, and in the semis taking out #13 Tazhidin Akaev who beat #10 Khalid Yakhiev in the round of 16. The bottom half of the bracket was full of upsets that stemmed from two of Russia’s more underrated 74 kilogram stalwarts in Gadzhimurad Alikhmaev and Evgeni Lapshov. Returning national runner-up #8 Atsamaz Sanakoev handled #7 Kakhaber Khubezhty in the round of 16 but in the quarters would lose a tight match to Gadzhimurad Alikhmaev who was coming off a win over 2018 Intercontinental cup runner-up Amanulla Gadzhimagomedov. Evgeni Lapshov, fresh off a win over #6 Khalil Aminov in the quarters, would lose to Alikhmaev in the semis and fall to Amanulla Gadzhimagomedov for bronze. In the finals, after a closely scored opening period #9 Akhmed Usmanov scored two takes to take his first senior national title with a 5-2 win.
79 Kilograms Russian Nationals Results
GOLD: #9 Akhmed Usmanov over Gadzhimurad Alikhmaev 5-2
BRONZE: #14 Gadzhi Nabiev over #13 Tazhidin Akaev 2-1
BRONZE: Amanulla Gadzhimagomedov over Evgeni Lapshov 5-3
86 KG
Kurugliev wins second Russian National title and takes the series lead over Naifonov.
For the past 3 years, the 86 kilogram weight class domestically in Russia has been defined by the success of two men: 2019 world bronze medalist #3 Artur Naifonov and 2019 European Games champion #5 Dauren Kurugliev. Having met a total of 3 times prior with Naifonov leading the series 2-1 off the strength of wins at the 2018 Yarygin and 2019 Russian Nationals finals to counter Kurugliev’s 2018 national finals win, it looked as if their 4th meeting would be put in jeopardy in an absolutely loaded field enhanced by an influx of elite 79 KG talent. The largest bracket and with the most ranked competitors, 86 KG had the likes of the aforementioned Naifonov and Kurugliev along with; returning bronze medalist #2 (79) Magomed Ramazanov; 2018 79 KG world bronze #3(79) Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov; a pair of two time U-23 European champions in #11 Arsenali Musalaliev and #11 (79) Radik Valiev; 2010 world bronze medalist and 2019 Alans champion #15 Soslan Ktsoev; reigning 92 KG junior world champ #18 (92) Alan Bagaev; and Yarygin bronze medalist Magomedsharif Biyakaev.
Gadzhimagomedov and Ramazanov would show out as the top transplanted 86 KG talent, with Gadzhimagomedov posting a dominant win over Alans champ #15 Soslan Ktsoev 8-0 on his path to the top half quarterfinals, while Ramazanov took out #11 (79) Radik Valiev and Khabib Gadzhiev to make the semis. #11 Arsenali Musalaliev would notch one of the best wins of his career as he controlled Gadzhimagomedov in a 4-1 quarterfinals win while #5 Dauren Kurugliev posted a dominant 6-0 win over #2 (79) Magomed Ramazanov in the semifinals. Musalaliev’s lopsided 8-0 semifinal loss to eventual runner-up #3 Artur Naifonov eliminated Gadzhimagomedov from the chance of repechage and Ramazanov would rebound from his loss to Kurugliev with a 3-0 win in the bronze medal match against Abdulmuslim Timirbulatov.
The national finals match between Kurugliev and Naifonov would follow much of the same script between these two evenly matched competitors, as in their meeting this year in the Yarygin final it was Naifonov who won off a stepout and a passivity point and in the 2018 finals it was Kurugliev who was victorious in the same fashion. Kurugliev would win his second national title much in the way as he did the first, putting on a defensively stingy performance to stymie Naifonov to a 2-1 win. Depending on how the 2020 world championships are seeded and which nations send countries, I can very much see Kurugliev medaling or even winning worlds.
86 KG Russian Nationals Results
GOLD: #5 Dauren Kurugliev over #3 Artur Naifonov 2-1
BRONZE: #11 Arsenali Musalaliev over Magomedsharif Biyakaev 2-1
BRONZE: #2 (79) Magomed Ramazanov over Abdulmuslim Timirbulatov 3-0
92 KG
Alikhan Zhabrailov wins second national title over Magomed Kurbanov
Returning world bronze medalist #2 Alikhan Zhabrailov looked to notch his second national title in a row and he did just that in a field that included #4 Batyrbek Tsakulov, #5 Magomed Kurbanov, #9 Radik Nartikoev, #10 Anzor Urishev, #15 Tazhudin Mukhtarov, and #16 Guram Chertkoev. Handedly getting by Yarygin bronze medalist #9 Radik Nartikoev in the quarters by a 9-3 margin, Zhabrailov controlled 12 time Russian nationals medalist #10 Anzor Urishev 4-0 in the semis. #5 Magomed Kurbanov made his second national finals match with a commanding 9-2 win over #4 Batyrbek Tsakulov to avenge a loss from this year’s Yarygin. In the finals, #2 Alikhan Zhabrailov repeated his winning performance from last year’s national championships with a 3-2 win over #5 Magomed Kurbanov. #10 Anzor Urishev notched his record setting 13th Russian Nationals medal by taking bronze against Gadzhimagomed Nazhmudinov.
92 KG Russian Nationals Results
GOLD: #2 Alikhan Zhabrailov over #5 Magomed Kurbanov 3-2
BRONZE: #10 Anzor Urishev over Gadzhimagomed Nazhmudinov 2-1
BRONZE: #4 Batyrbek Tsakulov over Ramazan Shabanov 18-7.
97 KG
5x World/Olympic champion Sadulaev goes five for five at 97 KG Russian Nationals.
Top ranked Abdulrashid Sadulaev has been a dominant force domestically and internationally for the better half of a decade now but didn’t compete last year at nationals due to scheduling conflicts with the European Games. Proving that he is sharper than ever, the masterful Sadulaev tech falled his way into the finals, only allowing a total of 2 points scored on him and outscoring his competition 35-2. Awaiting Sadulaev in the finals was a surging Aslanbek Sotiev, who was 14th ranked at 92 kilograms going into nationals and had a runner-up finish at the 2018 92 KG U-23 world championships and a 2019 Junior European title at the weight as well. Sotiev’s run to the finals saw him truly establish himself as one of the elites at the weight, disposing of two past Russian nationals bronze medalist in 2018 bronze Zainulla Kurbanov in the qualification round and 2019 bronze and Yarygin champ #16 Shamil Musaev in the semis. That win over Musaev is especially impressive, as the past Junior world and Yarygin champ looked in his best form after having avenged his quarterfinal loss from the Yarygin to runner-up #15 Magomedkhan Magomedov 5-1 in the qualification round. I am very interested to see what Russia does with Sotiev moving forward as he has proven himself to be an elite competitor across two weights and with his youth and diverse offensive repertoire, he looks to be a imposing domestic presence for some time to come.
97 KG Russian Nationals Results
GOLD: #1 Abdulrashid Sadulaev over #14 (92) Aslanbek Sotiev 8-2
BRONZE: Erik Dzhioev over Rasul Magomedov 3-2
BRONZE: Aslanbek Gazzaev over #16 Shamil Musaev 5-0
125 KG
Alan Khugaev wins 3rd Russian National title in a field defined by upsets
With the return of #5 Anzor Khizriev and the presence of surging #3 Batraz Gazzaev in the field, #14 Alan Khugaev’s ability to repeat his title winning performance from 2019 looked to be in serious jeopardy. But Khugaev showed himself to be at his career best taking out the surging #15 Shamil Sharipov in the finals 7-4. Shamil Sharipov was the other major story of the weight as in the bottom half, he teched 2016 Russian Nationals champion Mukhamgazi Magomedov 13-2 in the round of 16 and upset heavy favorite returning two time national champ #5 Anzor Khizriev 5-3 in the semifinals. Tamerlan Rasuev was another one of the athletes that saw a major boost in their stock from Russian Nationals as he pinned #3 Batraz Gazzaev in the qualification round before falling in the quarterfinals to eventual national runner-up #15 Shamil Sharipov. Khugaev’s performance here should be promising going into the world championships if he is in a good bracket, but with the likes of #1 Geno Petriashvili, #2 Taha Akgul, #4 Amir Zare, #6 Yusup Batirmurzaev, #8 Oleksandr Khotsianivski, #11 Zhiwei Deng, and #12 Robert Baran competing him being a lock to medal isn’t a sure thing.
125 KG Russian Nationals Results
GOLD: #14 Alan Khugaev over #15 Shamil Sharipov 7-4
BRONZE: Vitali Goloev over Atsamaz Tebloev 9-8
BRONZE: #5 Anzor Khizriev over Saypudin Magomedov 7-5