2019 Final Men's Freestyle International Rankings

Photo courtesy of Kadir Caliskan/United World Wrestling

57 KG

Akhmed Idrisov has rebounded incredibly from a disappointing performance at the junior world championships that saw the returning champion take bronze after a lopsided loss to eventual runner-up Vito Arujau (USA). Ranked sixteenth off the strength of wins in the Deutsche Ringerliga (DRL) against 3x European champ Giorgi Edisherashvili (AZE) and 2x U-23 champ #12 Reineri Andreu Ortega (CUB), Idrisov was one of the most redhot competitors going into the Alans. Idrisov did more than enough to back it up, as he pinned Intercontinental Cup champ #14 Abubakar Mutaliev (RUS) and controlled 2018 Yarygin runner-up Azamat Tuskaev (RUS) 4-0 on his way to the finals. In the finals, Idrisov would see 2x world bronze medalist #5 Bekhbayar Erdenebat (MGL). The sixteenth ranked Russian controlled the match winning 5-2 over Mongolian veteran, allowing him to skyrocket up eleven spots in the rankings to #5.

#5 Bekhbayar Erdenebat (MGL) got redemption from last year’s performance at the Alans that saw him got teched by 61 KG U-23 world bronze medalist Dinislam Takhtarov (RUS) first round at 61 KG. Erdenebat’s route to the finals saw him win tight matches over Russian nationals champ #15 Ramiz Gamzatov (RUS) and junior european champ Alexander Sabanov (RUS). In the finals, Erdenebat would fall in 5-2 to surging talent Akhmed Idrisov (RUS). 

The 57 KG field of the Alans was incredibly loaded with talent from both the championship and consolation bracket. #14 Abubakar Mutaliev repeated his 10-8 win from the Intercontinental Cup with a tight 2-1 win in the quarterfinals against 2017 world runner-up Thomas Gilman (USA). Mutaliev would be pinned in a high octane 9-8 match against eventual champ #5 Akhmed Idrisov (RUS) in the semis and would get pinned again in his match for bronze against North Ossetian stalwart Azamat Tuskaev (RUS). 

The second junior level talent to really break through at the Alans along with #5 Akhmed Idrisov (RUS), was junior european champ Alexander Sabanov (RUS). Sabanov defused a bracket full of landmines on his way to bronze, beating 2018 Russian nationals runner-up Donduk-Ool Khuresh Ool (RUS), 2017 Asian championships runner-up Zanabazar Zandanbud (MGL), and Russian nationals champion #15 Ramiz Gamzatov (RUS). Sabanov’s impressive performance at the Alans sees him debut in the 57 KG rankings at number fourteen. 

Three time junior world champ Spencer Lee’s senior level freestyle debut was long awaited and it did not disappoint. The two time NCAA champion for the University of Iowa dominated his way into the U.S. open finals, teching all his competition. Opposite Lee was 2015 NCAA champion Nathan Tomasello, who was coming off a runner-up finish at the Bill Farrell Memorial Invitational to 2018 133 LB NCAA champ Seth Gross (USA) via 11-1 tech fall. Lee would thoroughly control the match 8-2 over Tomasello to win his first senior national title and establishing himself as the favorite going into the Olympic trials.

Ninth ranked at 61 kilograms and the 65 KG Meiji Cup champ over 2018 65 KG world champ Takuto Otoguro (JPN), Rei Higuchi (JPN) finally returned to the weight that saw him first announce himself at the senior level with an Olympic runner-up performance by winning the All-Japan championships over 2017 world champion #20 Yuki Takahashi (JPN) at 57 KG. Because of his extensive resume across 57, 61, and 65 KG, Higuchi returns at number three in the world at 57 kilograms. 

61 KG

#19(65) Ramazan Ferzaliev (RUS), the Russian national runner-up at 61 KG made his return to the weight and tournament that saw him put his name on the map. Ferzaliev wouldn’t disappoint as he notched his second straight Alans title with a 10-7 win over #7 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RUS) after emphatically running through Shamil Omarov (RUS) and Magomed Magomedov (RUS) to make the finals. 

#7 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RUS), the returning 57 KG Alans champ made the finals with an incredibly impressive run that saw him beat world 5th place finisher #16 Abbos Rakhmonov (UZB) and avenge a loss from the DRL to Ali Aliyev champ and 2x Russian nationals bronze medalist #3 Zelimkhan Abakarov (RUS) in the semis.

One of the biggest stories of this weight, and arguably of the whole tournament was the absolute shellacking that reigning world champ #1 Beka Lomtadze (GEO) took at the hands of relative unknown Magomed Magomedov (RUS) in the quarterfinals. Magomedov, while one of the most surging talents going into the semis, failed to maintain the momentum he built and ultimately fell in the semis 9-1 to eventual champ #1 Ramazan Ferzaliev (RUS) and by pin to #8 Shamil Omarov (RUS) for bronze. Even with that being the case, for his wins over #1 Beka Lomtadze (GEO) and Intercontinental Cup champ #8 Ibragim Abdurakhmanov (RUS), Magomed Magomedov (RUS) enters the rankings at #10. 

3x Russian nationals champ Alexander Bogomoev (RUS) ranked fourth going into the Alans and a returning bronze medalist, failed to place after losing in the round of 16 to world champ #5 Beka Lomtadze (GEO). Bogomoev falls eight spots in the rankings to #12 for his loss to Lomtadze. 57 KG world bronze medalist #8(57) Nurislam Sanayev (KAZ) moved up to 61 KG where he failed to place after losing 6-3 to eventual 5th place finisher #14 Abbos Rakhomonov (UZB), who would fall in the bronze medal match to #4 Zelimkhan Abakarov (RUS). 

From the Alans, #19(65) Ramazan Ferzaliev (RUS) ascends all the way to the top spot of the 61 KG rankings, while #7 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RUS) takes the #2 spot after his win over #3 Zelimkhan Abakarov (RUS). While Idrisov does have wins over Ferzaliev and Abakarov, his loss to Lomtadze who just loss to Magomedov keeps him from taking the #1 spot. Shamil Omarov (RUS) takes the #8 spot for pinning Magomed Magomedov (RUS) for bronze, who is in at #9 for beating #1 Beka Lomtadze (GEO) and #8 Ibragim Abdurakhmanov (RUS), who falls two spots to #10. For his loss to Magomed Magomedov, reigning world champ #1 Beka Lomtadze (GEO) falls four spots to #5, while #4 Alexander Bogomoev (RUS) falls eight spots to #12 for his loss to Lomtadze in the round of 16. Out of the rankings is #13 Dinislam Takhtarov (RUS) who moved up to 65 KG. Abbos Rakhmonov (UZB) moves up two spots in the rankings for beating #8(57) Nurislam Sanayev (KAZ) who returns to the 61 KG rankings at #15.

65 KG

#4 Soslan Ramonov (RUS) won in a stacked field at the Alans to hold down his top five spot. Starting off his tournament, the 2x World/Olympic champ teched #10 Murshid Mutalimov (RUS) and followed it up with wins over 2018 Miner’s Cup champ Sirojiddin Khasanov (UZB, 2018 Russian nationals bronze medalist Dasha Sharastepanov (RUS), and junior world runner-up Kurban Shiraev (RUS) to take gold. In the repechage of Ramonov’s bracket, Khasanov would notch a strong #10 Murshid Mutalimov (RUS) 7-6 and than win on criteria 4-4 over Dasha Sharastepanov (RUS).

On the opposite side of the bracket, Kurban Shiraev (RUS) made his second straight Alans finals with a dominant showing, outscoring his competition 34-1 including a pin over 2018 junior world champ Sayin Kazyryk (RUS) who was fresh off an upset win over #16 Zain Retherford (USA) in the quarterfinals. 

The Alans was a tournament of upsets and thus these upsets must be covered in their own unique section. #16 Zain Retherford upset Russian nationals bronze medalist #14 Julian Gergenov (RUS) by tech but would lose 6-4 in his quarterfinals match to Sayin Kazyryk. Bekhan Goygereev (RUS) beat Kadyrov Cup runner-up #18 Muslim Sadulaev (RUS) before being teched by Amir Mohammadi Yazdanicharati (IRI), who got teched by Kurban Shiraev (RUS). On the bottom side, Aleksei Borovitski (RUS) beat #17 Viktor Rassadin (RUS) first round, Dasha Sharastepanov’s run to 5th saw him beat #20 Islam Dudaev (RUS), Astemir Kuantov (RUS), and pin Tulga Tumur Ochir (MGL).

From all the chaos of the Alans and the U.S. Open, the following occured: Sirojiddin Khasanov (UZB) takes the #10 spot for beating Mutalimov and Sharastepanov at the Alans, #10 Mutalimov and #11 Valdes Tobier drop one spot each to #11 and #12 respectively. Kurban Shiraev (RUS) comes back to the rankings at #13, while Alans bronze medalist Sayin Kazyryk (RUS) debuts at #14 for beating #16 Zain Retherford (USA) who now sits at #15 for beating #14 Julian Gergenov (RUS). #12 Ilyas Bekbulatov (UZB) and #13 Yianni Diakomihalis (USA) fall five spots each to #17 and #18. Dasha Sharastepanov (RUS) returns to the rankings at #20 off the strength of his 5th place finish at the Alans along with a win over 3x world champ #6 Haji Aliyev (AZE) at the Korkin.

The U.S. Open saw Jordan Oliver (USA) completely dominate his opponents, not allowing a single point to be scored on as he out classed the competition 50-0 to win the 65 KG title. Joey McKenna, a 2017 U-23 world bronze medalist, took out Ziolkowski champ, 2x NCAA champ for Cornell #13 Yianni Diakomihalis (USA) in the semis before being teched by Jordan Oliver (USA) in the finals. 

70 KG

#6 Cherman Valiev (RUS) looked exceptional on his way to winning the Alans, taking a barn burner of a match 13-8 against #8 Israil Kasumov (RUS) before stopping redhot Ramazan Ramazanov (RUS) in the finals. Ramazan Ramazanov’s path to the finals saw him tech 2017 65 KG world bronze medalist #13 Alan Gogaev (RUS) in his second round match follwed up by a 10-4 win over 2018 Russian nationals runner-up Arpak Sat (RUS) setting up a huge matchup against Russian nationals bronze medalist #2 Evgeni Zherbaev (RUS). In a back and forth match, Ramazanov was able to lockup a bodylock on the edge and throw Zherbaev for the pin to make the finals. Finally, concluding all the chaos from the Alans was the strong run to bronze from returning 5th place finisher Ruslan Bogatyrev (RUS). Bogatyrev beat Kadyrov Cup champ #9 Rasul Arsanaliev (RUS) and Dan Kolov runner-up #16 Anzor Zakuev (RUS) on his way to bronze.

From all the chaos that went down from the Alans, here’s what happened: Cherman Valiev (RUS) climbs four spots in the rankings up to #2, Aznaur Tavaev (RUS) up four spots to #3 for his past win over #2 Evgeni Zherbaev, #2 Evgeni Zherbaev (RUS) falls two spots to #4, Ramazan Ramazanov (RUS) debuts at #7, #9 Rasul Arsanaliev (RUS) drops six spots to #15 for his loss to Ruslan Bogatyrev (RUS). Ruslan Bogatyrev (RUS) slots in at #14 for his wins over Arsanaliev and Zakuev.

There was some shuffling of some of the top guys in Adam Batirov, Zurab Iakobishvili, and Mustafa Kaya. The main reason for this is that in Batirov and Kaya’s case, it was inactivity and that Batirov only had one major comp (world’s) where he beat Mustafaev but lost to Gadzhiev, and Kaya beat Gadzhiev and Mustafaev to win Euro’s this year but had to be dropped a bit due to inactivity. Iakobishvili has had poor placement (DNP at Euros and Tbilisi GP) plus his best win this year is over Ikhtiyor Navruzov at world’s repechage so he had be dropped accordingly. 

74 KG

#10 Avtandil Kentchadze (GEO) won the Murad Gaidarov Memorial tournament in impressive fashion over #20 Amanulla Gadzhimagomedov (RUS). Kentchadze also beat Intercontinental Cup runner-up Magomed Dibirgadzhiev (RUS) while competing. #7 Khetik Tsabolov (RUS) beat #5 Timur Bizhoev (RUS) in the quarters of the Alans on his way to the finals where he beat 2017 70 KG world silver medalist James Green (USA). For his work, Tsabolov goes up two spots to #4. Due to his superior body of work, Tsabolov takes the number four spot, Razambek Zhamalov falls to #6, 2x 70 KG world champ and Kadyrov cup champ #8 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov takes the #5 spot, and #6 Magomed Kurbanaliev falls one spot to #7 behind #6 Timur Bizhoev (RUS).

After two up and down years that saw him finish in the round of 12 at 165 pounds, University of Michigan’s  2017 NCAA All-American (3rd at 165) Logan Massa looks to be wrestling the best he ever has, and showed it by winning the U.S. Open over 2019 165 pound NCAA champ Mekhi Lewis. 

World bronze medalist #17 Zelimkhan Khadjiev (FRA) failed his drug test for the world championships and has been removed from the rankings. #12 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (RUS) beat #13 Darsam Dzhaparov (RUS) while at the DRL. U-23 world runner-up Mohmmad Nokhodilarimi (IRI) enters the rankings at #19 off the strength of wins at U-23 world’s over Byambadorj Bat-erdene (MGL) and Murad Kuramagomedov (HUN).

79 KG

#13 Khalil Aminov (RUS) went off to win the Alans, beating #2 Khubezhty, #3 Sanakoev, and #11 Valiev to take the title. #11 Radik Valiev took fifth after injury defaulting to #3 Atsamaz Sanakoev, but made his way to the quarters with a dominating 12-2 tech fall win over former sixth ranked Adam Khasiev (RUS). #2 Kakhaber Khubezhty’s path to the finals saw him dominate 2018 74 KG Ali Aliyev champ #20 Akhmed Usmanov (RUS) 9-1 in the semis, but in the finals the Russian nationals bronze medalist would fall in a rematch of the nationals quarterfinals 8-6 to #13 Khalil Aminov (RUS). For the strong work that he did at the Alans, Aminov skyrockets up twelve spots in the rankings to #2.

#15 Magomed Mutalibov and #16 Amanulla Gadzhimagomedov cut down to 74 KG for the Murad Gaidarov tournament and took 5th and second respectively, with Gadzhimagomedov beating Mutalibov and Arsalan Budazhapov (KGZ). Because of the gap they left in the rankings, Ernak Kardanov, Khabib Magomedov, and Amkhad Tashukhadzhiev are able to enter the rankings. Magomedov at sixteen for beating Kardanov who beat #6 Gadzhi Nabiyev (RUS) at the Ali Aliyev this year and Semenov cup runner-up #19 Malik Shavaev (RUS) opening round at the Alans. One of the guys who didn’t get enough credit during the year was Junior world champ Amkhad Tashukhadzhiev who slides in at #11 for his wins over Khalid Yakhiev, Tazhidin Akaev, Radik Valiev, and Abubakar Abakarov. The tricky thing about Tashukhadzhiev is the timing of all of his wins as they are some of the most elite of the weight but they came at inopportune times when guy’s weren’t wrestling at their best levels. Even that being the case, his resume is too impressive to not deserve some credit, so he slots in right outside of the top ten at #11. 

86 KG

Soslan Ktsoev (RUS) made a major statement in winning the Alans by tech over #15 Georgi Rubaev (MDA) after falling out of the rankings due to poor placement and head scratching losses. Ktsoev’s run saw him control European champ #6 Vladislav Valiev (RUS) along with Kadyrov Cup champ #18 Muslim Dudaev (RUS) and Khabi Khashpakov (RUS). Georgi Rubaev’s path to the finals saw him beat #13 Rasul Tikhaev (BLR) who was hot off two impressive wins in November in the DRL over 4x World medalist #11 Ali Shabanov (BLR) and Russian nationals bronze medalist #14 Arsenali Musalaliev (RUS). For their performances from the Alans, Ktsoev returns to the rankings at #14 and Rubaev at #15. 

A 2x World/Olympic medalist (2011 & 2012) at the weight, Dato Marsagishvili (GEO) dropped down from 92 KG to win Georgian Nationals with a 10-0 tech fall win over 2015 world bronze medalist Sandro Aminashvili (GEO). Marsagishvili takes the #5 spot upon his return. #8 Alex Dieringer was in the top 10 of 86 KG due to the wins and resume he had built up at 79 KG and when he lost it was inevitable he wouldn’t have as much of a 86 KG resume to prevent him from plummeting in the rankings. Being that Dieringer lost in the U.S. Open semis to eventual runner-up Myles Martin (USA), he falls ten spots down in the rankings to #18. Zahid Valencia can’t enter the rankings because his best win is over a 79 KG Dieringer from 2018, and just lost at the Intercontinental Cup to Omar Zainiidinov (RUS) and Myles Martin (USA) can’t be ranked because he lost to Zahid, even when he beat Dieringer in the semis.

92 KG

A weight that was inevitably going to be heavily impacted by the onset of the Olympic year and two neighboring Olympic weights, 92 KG saw some highly relevant matches take place at the Alans and the departure of five ranked wrestlers and the return of 2018 national runner-up Anzor Urishev. #3 Magomed Kurbanov avenged his finals loss to #7 Anzor Urishev (RUS) with a 3-1 win in the quarterfinals followed up by a 3-0 win over 97 KG Bill Farrell Memorial Invitational runner-up Michael Macchiavello (USA) in the semis. In a tight match, Kurbanov avenged a loss from the world cup to #4 Javad Ebrahimi with a 4-2 win. Ebrahimi defeated #6 Batyrbek Tsakulov (RUS) in the semis along with Medved champ #10 Aslanbek Sotiev (RUS) in the quarters. 

The bronze medal matches would see Tsakulov dominate Sotiev 8-0 and Urishev win a close 8-6 match against Macchiavello. Depending on his future performance at 97 KG and the state of 92 KG going forward and Russia’s eligibility status to compete due to the new sanctions put on due to doping violations, Michael Macchivaello could be one of the premier contenders in 92 KG in short time.  

Yasar Dogu runner-up Bendegues Toth (HUN) enters the rankings for his win over Suleyman Karadeniz (TUR) back at the Yasar Dogu. Yankouski for his world silver finish in 2018 and win over Bolukbasi and Bolukbasi for his top 10 status in 2018 (I must reiterate that while the top ten of 92 KG can have good depth after that it’s an absolute mess and I expect it to get much worse to be honest). Grieve for it however you see fit.

97 KG

Kyle Snyder’s move the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club paid major dividends as he dominated his way through the Alans beating Russian national champ #7 Vladislav Baitsaev (RUS) 5-2 in the finals, along with wins (8-4 and 10-0) over Olympic bronze medalist #10 Magomed Ibragimov (UZB) and European runner-up #9 Aleksandr Hushtyn (BLR). On the backside, Hushtyn avenged a loss form the 2018 world championships with a 10-0 tech fall win over #10 Magomed Ibragimov (UZB) and won bronze with a convincing 5-3 win over 2018 junior world champ Magomedkhan Magomedov. 

Baitsaev’s path to the finals saw him defeat 2018 world bronze medalist #5 Elizbar Odikadze (GEO) and Yarygin champ #15 Shamil Musaev (RUS). For bronze, Odikadze dominated the U-23 world runner-up Musaev with a 9-0 win. Odikadze’s role as spoiler to young talent in this tournament also saw him take a controlling win over 2x Junior world champ Abbas Foroutanrami (IRI), who won the Alrosa Cup last year over 2017 Russian nationals heavyweight runner-up #13(125) Magomedgadzhi Nurasulov (RUS).

Intercontinental Cup runner-up Hayden Zillmer (USA), a fixture of the top ten at 92 KG, won his first U.S. Open title with a stellar 10-10 comeback win over 2018 U-23 world runner-up Kollin Moore (USA).

125 KG

Big Bad Batras Gazzaev continued his tear through heavyweight with an impressive run to the 125 KG Alans title. Gazzaev disposed of 2x world bronze medalist #16 Nick Gwiazdowski (USA), U-23 world champ #7 Amir Zare (IRI), and Baldan Tsyzhipov (RUS) to pick up his fourth title to end the year. Batraz climbs up seven spots in the rankings to #5 for his Alans title. Baldan Tsyzhipov ended his year strong, taking silver at the Alans and beating #13 Magomedgadzhi Nurasulov (RUS) and #14 Shamil Sharipov (RUS) to slot in at #12 in the rankings. For bronze, #13 Nurasulov would take a 2-0 win over #14 Sharipov. #7 Amir Zare continued to show he’s one of the brightest age group talents there is, as he teched world bronze medalist #8 Khasanboy Rakhimov (UZB) 12-2 in the round of 16 and then got a pushout tech on 2x world bronze medalist #16 Nick Gwiazdowski (USA) to take bronze.

Anzor Boltukaev, The former god of thunder fallen from Mount Olympus quelled any hopes of him being relevant at heavyweight by forfeiting 2 minutes into the first period against #14 Shamil Sharipov (RUS). While sad, Boltukaev’s inevitable irrelevancy is a necessary evil needed to balance the world, as the amount of seismic activity caused by his legendary bolt-wheels devastated much of central Russia and parts of Southeast Asia. 

Dom Bradley (USA) won the U.S. Open over Anthony Nelson to go along with his runner-up finish at the Bill Farrell Memorial Invitational to Gable Steveson (USA). Steveson returns to the rankings at #18, while Bradley slots in at #19. Russian nationals 5th place finisher Atsamaz Tebloev (RUS) takes the #17 spot for pinning Ali Aliyev runner-up and Russian nationals bronze medalist #20 Pavel Krivstov (RUS).

P4P

Some small changes on the bottom half of the top twenty with Khetik Tsabolov taking Magomed Kurbanaliev’s old spot due to Kurbanaliev’s losses at the Alrosa Cup to Genadry Garzon and Timur Bizhoev. A new addition to the pound for pound rankings is 2x World/Olympic champ Soslan Ramonov (RUS) at #21.