KYZYL TUVA REPUBLIC HOSTS RUSSIA NATIONALS!
All Daily Video Recaps on JO Wrestling YouTube
last updated June 26, 2022, 16:40pm EST
2022 RUSSIAN NATIONALS This is a historical year, being the 30th Russian Federation National event since the Soviet Union's fall, and the first Championships in the Tuva Republic since 1997. Despite drawing 3 Olympic Medalists, Zaur Uguev (gold), Gadzhimurad Rashidov (bronze), Artur Naifonov (bronze), unfortunately it will also be missing 2 Olympic Gold Medalists, Zaurbek Sidakov (injured) and Abdulrashid Sadulaev (exception).
JO Wrestling is lucky and has 2 correspondents there, will be hard to keep up with the content and updates but will do our best!
DAY 1 (June 23)- 11am-2pm (12am- 3am EST) qualification/prelims 61kg, 70kg, 79kg,92kg
4pm (5am EST) semis for 61kg, 70kg, 79kg,92kg
DAY 2 (June 24)- 11am-2pm (12am- 3am EST) qualification/prelims for 57kg, 65kg, 74kg, 86kg, 97kg, 125kg; repechage 61kg, 70kg, 79kg,92kg
2pm (3am EST) semi finals for 57kg, 65kg, 74kg, 86kg, 97kg, 125kg
3-530pm (4-630am EST) Opening Ceremony
530pm (630am EST) finals for 61kg, 70kg, 79kg,92kg
DAY 3 (June 25)- 615-9am (715-10pm EST) repechage 57kg, 65kg, 74kg, 86kg, 97kg, 125kg
930-1030am (1030-1130pm EST) finals for 57kg, 65kg, 74kg, 86kg, 97kg, 125kg
1030am-1230pm (1130pm-130am EST) 3rd place for 57kg, 65kg, 74kg, 86kg, 97kg, 125kg
PREVIEWS/PREDICTIONS/RESULTS
MEN'S FREESTYLE 57KG-Video of Top 4
57kg Preview/Prediction: Olympic Champion Zaur Uguev returns to first competition since Tokyo. North Ossetian Azamat Tuskaev is on the bottom half of the top bracket and has been wrestling well this spring, despite not winning Yarygin. Nachyn Mongush is on the top bottom half with Muslim Sadulaev and my favorite Artem Gobaev, who has Ramiz Gamzatov in the 1/8. Mongush was leading Uguev 6-2, but finished second at Russia Olympic Trials, so I wouldn't be surprised to see a rematch here, however Gamzatov is coming off Yarygin victory and Tuskaev won Poddubny.
57KG UPDATES: No surprise here, Uguev advances to the finals after defeating hometown favorite Amir Chamzyn in the 1/2 finals. Chamzyn took out Tuskaev and could have made it an all Tuvan final! There was some doubt Uguev wouldn't be ready since he hasn't competed since Tokyo Gold, but he looks fantastic. Tuvan Nachyn Mongush took out Ramiz Gamzatov in the bottom 1/2 final and will see the long awaited rematch Uguev from last year!
57KG FINAL RECAP: Zaur Uguev looked fantastic and the break may be exactly what he needed. Nachyn Mongush wrestled him well and was within a point this time, 3-2. Gamzatov came back for bronze as well as Mektikhanov.
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MEN'S FREESTYLE 61KG-Video of Top 4
61kg Preview/Prediction: World Champion Abasgadzhi Magomedov of Dagestan is the clear front runner here. Fedor Baltuev gave Abasgadzhi a run at Yarygin final, but is not here according to correspondent Timur Badaev, he is out of competition injured. Abasgadzhi is an excellent study and has a beautiful misdirection that I teach.
61KG UPDATES: Abasgadzhi cruised his way to the finals and will take on Magomedrasul Idrisov who took out Aldar Balzhinminayev in the 1/2 finals.
61KG FINAL RECAP: Abasgadzhi wins a typical Abasgadzhi 4-2 over Magomedrasul Idrisov. Bashir Magomedov and Chermen Tavitov both grabbed bronze.
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MEN'S FREESTYLE 65KG-Video of Top 4
65kg Preview/Prediction: Gadzhimurad Rashidov has not competed since earning Bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, allowing Zagir Shakhiev to take home a World Gold in Oslo a couple months later. Since then, Shakhiev however has been hurt and lost to u20 World Champion Shamil Mamedov along the way. Mamedov sits on the top of the bottom bracket while Shakhiev has a gauntlet to get thru as the #2 seed with Sadulaev, Khadartsev, Sharastepanov, Ibragimov. Rashidov himself also has a gauntly and will most likely see Ferzaliev, Badtiev, and Mutalimov before the 1/4 finals.
65KG UPDATES: What a shake up in this weight class. Rashidov hasn't competed since Tokyo and got knocked out in the 1/2 final by Gadzhimurad Osmanov. The gauntlet on the bottom wasn't survived by any of the athletes I mentioned. Ibrahim Ibrahimov advances and takes on Osmonov.
65KG FINAL RECAP: As previously mentioned, this weight class got shaken up by Rashidov losing in 1/2 finals and did not even medal. Ibrahimov over Omarov for the National title while Abdulaev and Antonov grabbed bronze each.
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MEN'S FREESTYLE 70KG-Video of Top 4
70kg Preview/Prediction: Yakutia's Viktor Rassadin is coming off a great spring of wrestling, winning the Yarygin and then nearly taking out Enzor Akmataliev at the Yasar Dogu. He will have to get thru veteran Israil Kasumov who has multiple wins over Zaurbek Sidakov at this weight. On the bottom half of the bracket is my favorite Kurban Shiraev as well as Aznor Zakuev, one of the most explosive wrestlers in this weight class.
70KG UPDATES: This weight class didn't disappoint, despite it being a non-Olympic weight. If you know the players, you anytime they come to the carpet, they will perform and not necessarily create upsets, but results that simply have been a long time coming. Anzor Zakuev took out Kurban Shiraev to make the finals and Israil Kasumov put up over 10 points on Viktor Rassadin to make the finals. I saw this playing out a few ways, including this one, but it wasn't necessarily the first one I envisioned.
70KG FINAL RECAP: I talked to Anzor right before this and was really pulling for him and his brother Azmat who is also in finals with their Kabardino-Balkaria teammate Malik Shavaev, all coached by Father Zakuev. Kasumov stopped the victory train and wins his second consecutive Nationals. He was forced into a wrestle off for Worlds last year and lost to Zherbaev who took bronze. Rassadin and Shiraev both wrestled back to take bronze medals.
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MEN'S FREESTYLE 74KG-Video of Top 4
74kg Preview/Prediction: No Olympic Champion here, Zaurbek Sidakov was hurt a few weeks ago by his teammate World Champion David Baev in the Poddubny finals. Baev seeks to take out World Cup Champion Razambek Zhamalov (again within last month) in the 1/2 finals who is the number one seed. On the bottom half is 2x World Champion Magomedrasul Gadzimagomedov and number 2 seed Cherman Valiev who has been one of my favorites for quite some time now.
74KG UPDATES: This one played out as expected. Baev took out Zhamalov at the Puddubny a few weeks ago but Zhamalov got his revenge. These guys have been battling for years, mostly at 70kg and it's always back and forth. Chermen Valiev is the guy I believe will succeed Sidakov and it's no coincidence they're North Ossetian training partners.
74KG FINAL RECAP: Sometimes finals are not that exciting with a lot of scoring, but if you truly understand the tactics and chess match that is happening, you will appreciate the sport and the performances like Zhamalov's0 3-2 win over Valiev. North Ossetia had an amazing tournament winning the top 3 Olympic weights... imagine if Valiev won! Baev grabbed bronze and Dibirgadzhiev took the other bronze.
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MEN'S FREESTYLE 79KG-Video of Top 4
79kg Preview/Prediction: Radik Valiev has been the number one guy here recently, nearly had Olympic Finalist Kadimagomedov beat a few weeks ago and looks to stay on top. He will have to deal with Akhmed Usmanov who in his own right held the top stop just a year ago before Malik Shavaev took the reigns.
79KG UPDATES: Malik Shavaev steamrolled his way to the finals, upending 2 nemesis in Radik Valiev and Akhmed Usmanov. On the bottom half, Magomed Magomaev got thru Aklimaev and Suchkov.
79KG FINAL RECAP: Malik Shavaev edges Magomed Magomaev in the finals while Radik Valiev and Nikita Suchkov bring home bronze medals.
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MEN'S FREESTYLE 86KG-Video of Top 4
86kg Preview/Prediction: Artur Naifonov has been gradually pulling away from Kurugliev and the rest of this field to prove he belongs with Hassan Yazdani and David Taylor. I see Naifonov not only winning Russia Nationals, but knocking off one, if not both Yazdani and Taylor in the near future. Darren Kurugliev, who has now lost 2x in a row to Naifonov will contend with Magomed Ramazanov in the 1/8 final.
86KG UPDATES: Naifonov as expected make the finals, however Kurugliev does not survive Amanula Rasulov in the 1/2 finals.
86KG FINAL RECAP: Naifonov brought home his third national title, defeating Amanula Rasulov in the finals. Musalaliev and Bagomedov each won bronze.
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MEN'S FREESTYLE 92KG-Video of Top 4
92kg Preview/Prediction: I am a big Zakuev brother's fan and look for Azmat Zakuev to win his first Russian Nationals. He will need to push thru Chertkoev on his bottom half while Magomed Kurbanov continues to reign this non-Olympic weight. He will most likely see Magomed Sharipov in the 1/2 finals.
92KG UPDATES: As expected, Kurbanov and Zakuev were determined as the finalists.
92KG FINAL RECAP: Magomed Kurbanov defends and wins a hard fought 2-0 victory over a late charging Azmat Zakuev. Sharipov and Valiev both came back for bronze medals.
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MEN'S FREESTYLE 97KG
97kg Preview/Prediction: With no Olympic Gold Abdulrashid Sadulaev and no Alikhan Zhabrailov, the field is open for Aslanbek Sotiev to finally win his first National title. Shamil Musaev has been wrestling well, Yarygin finalist scoring takedown on Kyle Snyder, and will look to stop Sotiev's bid.
97KG UPDATES: Sotiev and Musaev will collide. North Ossetian Sotiev is solid fundamental wrestler while Dagestani Musaev is sneaky and can score from anywhere. Will be a great final on the carpet.
97KG FINAL RECAP: Arslanbek Sotiev takes his first title and second of 3 North Ossetian Gold medals. He defeated Shamil Musaev and Ahmed Tazhudinov. Tazhudinov and Sergey Kozyrev won bronze medals.
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MEN'S FREESTYLE 125KG
125kg Preview/Prediction: The Khizriev brothers, Anzor, Zalimkhan and Azmat look to keep this weight class interesting.
125KG UPDATES: Both Khizriev brothers lost. Zalimkhan actually got hurt and was unable to medal. Alen Khubulov and Tamerlan Rasuev make the finals.
125KG FINAL RECAP: Khubulov makes it a North Ossetian sweep of the top 3 upper Olympic weights. Valiev was just a point away from making it top 4. Rasuev takes home silver while Eric Dzhioev and Baldan Tsyzhipov each win bronze medals.
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