Every year The Yarygin is one of the toughest men’s freestyle tournaments. Russia often uses the results to help determine their representatives for Worlds or other high events. Take a look at some of the top competitors who will be in action at this year's Yarygin.

Watch the 2021 Ivan Yarygin Memorial International Tournament

May 27-30 | Starting 12:00AM ET each day

Abasgadzhi Magomedov - 61kg

• Euro Gold - 2021
• Russian Nationals Gold - 2020 and 2021
• Yarygin Bronze - 2020
• Yarygin Silver - 2019
• Junior World Gold - 2018

Abasgadzhi Magomedov looks to be Russia’s best 61kg wrestler and is in the driver’s seat to represent Russia at the 2021 World Championships. Magomedov won Junior Worlds in 2018 and teched Josh Saunders there 10-0. He also has a previous win over Thomas Gilman (2019 Yarygin) from his time at 57kg. There, Magomedov was up 12-6 over Gilman and ended the match with a pin.

Watch Magomedov's win over Thomas Gilman:

#8 Nachyn Kuular - 65kg

• Yarygin Bronze - 2020
• Russian Nationals Silver - 2019
• Yarygin Silver - 2019 and 2015
• Russian Nationals Bronze - 2018
• Yarygin Bronze - 2018
• U23 World Gold - 2017

Nachyn Kuular has been one of Russia’s top 65kg wrestlers for the past 4 years and has wins over some of the best in the world. He defeated world and Olympic Champion Vladimer Khinchegashvili at the 2019 European Championships and at the 2018 Yarygin, Kuular defeated Logan Stieber 10-4 on his way to bronze.

#14 Ramazan Ferzaliev - 65kg

• Russian Nationals Silver - 2020, 2019
• Yarygin Silver - 2020
• Yarygin Bronze - 2019

Ramazan Ferzaliev has been 2nd or 3rd on Russia’s ladder at 61kg for the past 3 years. Now up at 65kg, Ferzaliev is looking to break through as against a new field of competitors. Just a few months ago at Russian Nationals, Ferzaliev made the semi-finals but lost to defending world champion, Gadzhimurad Rashidov on criteria - 2-2.

Watch Ferzaliev's Criteria Loss To Rashidov:

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#5 (at 65kg) Kurban Shiraev - 70kg

• Russian Nationals Bronze - 2021, 2020
• Euro Gold - 2020
• Junior World Silver - 2018

Kurban Shiraev is one of Russia’s best young stars but has not yet made a senior world team. In 2020, he won two consecutive elite tournaments - the Yarygin and the European Championships. At those events, Shiraev took out established senior level competitors in the process. At the Yarygin, Shiraev defeated world and Olympic Champion Soslan Ramonov. Then at Euros, he defeated Nyurgin Skryabin in the finals. Skryabin is a former Russian who now represents Belarus and defeated Ismail Musukaev to reach the Euro Finals.

At the writing of this article, The Yarygin is already underway and Kurban Shiraev made the finals in impressive fashion by defeating defending 2019 World Champion, David Baev. Prior to this match, Shiraev had been unsuccessful against Baev in 2 matches. Now, Shiraev will face veteran Viktor Rassadin in the finals. Should Shiraev win that match, he will put himself in great position to represent Russia at the 2021 World Championships.

Watch Kurban Shiraev's win over World Champion David Baev at the 2021 Yarygin:

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#7 Vladislav Valiev - 86kg

• World Bronze - 2017
• Euro Gold - 2019
• Russian Nationals Silver - 2019
• Yarygin Bronze - 2019, 2018, 2016
• Russian Nationals Gold - 2017
• Junior World Gold - 2013

Vladislav Valiev was Russia’s best 86kg wrestler for a short period of time and won world bronze in 2017. Valiev has since lost close matches to Russia’s past two 86kg world reps - Dauren Kurugliev (2-0 at 2018 Russian Nationals) and Artur Naifonov (4-2 at 2019 Russian Nationals). He’s looking to get back on top at The Yarygin after failing to place at the 2021 Russian Nationals.