By Seth Petarra

The opening day of Russian Nationals was supposed to be about the continued dominance of world bronze medalist Akhmed Chakaev and world champion Magomed Kurbanaliev, but that wasn't the case. Instead, it was all about shocking upsets and super close matches on Monday. And what's Russian Nationals without a giant brawl? Without further delay, let's cover the top moments of day one:

Baev Upsets Kurbanaliev, Makes World Team

Outside of three-time world and Olympic champion Abdulrashid Sadulaev up at 97kg, there wasn't a wrestler as sure of a lock in his weight class as returning world champ Magomed Kurbanaliev coming into Russian Nationals. While it was known David Baev was one of the brightest young talents Russia had to offer, as evidenced by his 2016 junior European title and Russian junior national title this year, no one thought that he had progressed to the point of beating someone as dominant as Kurbanaliev. 

Baev put this belief to rest after an early takedown and a turn for Kurbanaliev. Baev went off and scored eight unanswered points from two huge collar tie knee picks and then fought back a Kurbanaliev comeback. Baev iced it off with a late takedown to win 10-10 and earn his spot in the semifinals.

Fresh off of his stunning upset, Baev had the most momentum of anyone going into the semifinals. Magomed Dibirgadzhiev didn't have a win of equal caliber to Baev, but he was still impressive on his way to the semifinal match. In what was an absolutely insane back-and-forth match, it was a late throw on the edge for Dibirgadzhiev that gave him the 17-13 win and a first-ever placing at Russian Nationals.

Baev was able to rally back from his semifinal loss to Dibirgadzhiev and beat Alibek Akbaev in the bronze medal match to make his first senior national team. Baev's offense, especially his claw series and collar-tie knee picks, are absolutely spectacular. And his ability to maintain position and move guys while still being so young at the senior level shows that Russia has a star on their hands at 65 or 70kg. Something else to consider is that Baev is still going to compete at junior worlds this year at 66 KG, and he's set to absolutely torch the field based off his performance at the 2017 Russian Nationals.

Rashidov Gets Revenge On Chakaev, Rallies Past Rassadin

Akhmed Chakaev's presence at the 61kg weight class here was not without controversy, as the returning world bronze failed to make weight, missing by 0.05 kilograms. The Russian Federation let him compete anyway, and he wrestled his way into the semifinals in what would be a rematch of his Yarygin finals match against two-time European champion Gadzhimurad Rashidov, who had made his way to the semifinals off the strengths of close wins over Nyurgun Skryabin and 2013 world champ Bekhan Goygereev. 

Aggressive from the get-go, Rashidov wouldn't allow for Chakaev to repeat the success he had in Krasnoyarsk and dismantled Chakaev for the win. Even more impressively, Rashidov did it from Chakaev's wheel house of an over-under, using smartly timed lat-pulls off of Chakaev pushing in hard off a right underhook to get go-behinds off of it. Rashidov was able to finish without giving up exposure to Chakaev which is even more impressive. 

Rashidov had a familiar foe in the finals, Viktor Rassadin. A 2016 university world champion, Rassadin was able to hold things close and circle and clear Rashidov's powerful under-hook. He looked to be in the driver's seat with 20 seconds left in the match up 3-1 after a shot clock point and a head inside single. But Rashidov showed he's got ice water in his veins and scored with a clutch head inside single with 10 seconds left to pick up his first Russian national title. Based on his performance here and throughout 2016 and 2017, Rashidov will be considered a serious threat to win a world title in Paris.

61kg Results

GOLD: Gadzhimurad Rashidov *3-3 Viktor Rassadin
BRONZE: Islam Dudaev 6-5 Shamil Omarov
BRONZE: Bekhan Goigereev 7-2 Akhmed Chakaev

Late Flurry By Kadimagomedov, Sidakov Leads To Huge Fist Fight

In a match that was controlled by the excellent positioning of Zaurbek Sidakov, it was one late flurry in the last 30 seconds that decided the match, which also ignited the mandatory giant brawl that Russian Nationals have become so well known for over the years. During this flurry, Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov drove Sidakov out of bounds, and Sidakov circled back to double him. 

After they blew it dead, Kudimagomedov looked for a duck, and Sidakov hit a dummy hand high-C reattack. As Sidakov looked to finish from a crack-back, Kadimagomedov hit him with an absolutely beautiful chest wrap. This call was contested heavily, and once the score read 6-2 Kadimagomedov, a massive brawl broke out. Unlike last year's brawl that caused all of Dagestan to leave, this brawl was resolved within 10 minutes, and the semifinals went on as planned.

Kadimagomedov Runs The Gauntlet To Win 70kg

After failing to place this year at the Yarygin, Kadimagomedov has absolutely gone off since then, winning the Yasar Dogu in dominant fashion. However, many saw him as a contender to medal but not yet as a title threat. 

Kadimagomedov proved these naysayers wrong as he beat past national champs Zaurbek Sidakov and Rasul Dzhukaev to make the finals, where he was able to hold on to win 2-1 over Magomed Dibirgadzhiev. Kadimagomedov's improvement this year has been incredible, and he's absolutely earned the right to represent Russia in Paris, where he should be viewed as a serious contender for a world title.

Dzhukaev Clutch Against Kasumov, Sidakov

Rasul Dzhukaev, the 2009 world runner-up. led the all-time series against Israil Kasumov 3-1 going into their quarterfinal matchup. Kasumov's title at the Baku GGP in November, plus a 2017 Yarygin title and European bronze, made it look like Kasumov had passed Dzhukaev. As is the case with most Dzhukaev matches, this one was incredibly close, with Kasumov leading most of the match after an early takedown. Dzhukaev was able to get a head outside single and then went to a gut wrench that got exposure. Finally, when Kasumov got over anxious on his own gut wrench, Dzhukaev was able to expose him and win. With this victory, Dzhukaev prevented Kasumov from making his fourth straight Russian Nationals finals match.

After losing a close match to Kadimagomedov in the semifinals, Dzhukaev was able to rally back in the consolation bracket to face Sidakov in the bronze medal match. Sidakov was up 2-0 with 10 seconds left in the match when Dzhukaev was able to match Sidakov on a high-C, hitting a nice high-C re-attack to double-off as Sidakov tried to chest wrap him through. With the win, Dzhukaev was able to reassert himself as a savvy veteran who's still a serious threat at 70kg.

70kg Results

GOLD: Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov 2-1 Magomed Dibirgadzhiev
BRONZE: David Baev 6-2 Alibek Albaev
BRONZE: Rasul Dzhukayev 3-2 Zaurbek Sidakov

Goygereev Cracks The Chakaev Code

Much of the match between 2013 world champ Bekhan Goygereev and 2016 world bronze medalist Akhmed Chakaev was listless, or at least it was until the very end. Up until then, Chakaev was entirely fine to tie up Goygereev's wrist, pound in his right underhook, and look for a step out tokeep things close. Goygereev was savvy to this and with short time left in the match, he was able to expose Chakaev off a whizzer kick near the edge of the mat and go up 3-1. 

After that, Chakaev came rushing in. But Goygereev got in on a head inside single and got four off his finish when Chakaev failed to take him through on a chest wrap. A late takedown off a front head wasn't enough for Chakaev, and he lost 7-3. For Goygereev, this revitalizes his career and shows he's here to stay. For Chakaev, his performance at Russian Nationals shows that his weight, his match management, and adapting to guys who can handle his physicality are all issues. It appears his time as a Russian world rep is done.