With the US Open coming up and Russian nationals and the US Freestyle World team Trials set to happen in the same weekend (June 9-10) its never too early to start looking forward to world competition. If for no other reason than to see who will stand between the American rep and a world medal. 

Magomed Kurbanaliev has been a mainstay on the Russian circuit for the better part of five years, winning numerous international tournaments at 65kg (or 66kg before the weight changes). Kurbanaliev won University games gold in 2013, Euro Gold and in 14’ and took home a bronze medal  the from world championships in 2013. 

At the non-Olympic weight world championships this December in Hungary Kurbanaliev went up to 70kg and finally broke through with his first gold medal. While most people expected Kurbanaliev to head back down to 65kg it was made clear this week in an interview with wresters.ru that the two time world medalist will stay up at 70kg. When asked by wrestrus.ru if he felt as though he were small for the weight Kurbanaliev made mention to the fact that he’s been considered small since he was a child, but he simply doesn’t like pull weight. 

The U.S. landscape at 70kg will be more clear after the U.S. Open this weekend, but James Green has owned the weight since 2015 when he won a bronze medal in the world championships in Las Vegas.