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2022 Ranking Series #1 Yasar Dogu

Yasar Dogu Preview And Predictions - Men's Freestyle

Yasar Dogu Preview And Predictions - Men's Freestyle

A full preview and predictions for men's freestyle at the 2022 Yasar Dogu.

Feb 24, 2022 by Jon Kozak

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The Yasar Dogu kicks off the 2022 international wrestling season and will be the first look for freestyle fans at the top wrestlers from Team USA and around the world. Take a look below at a full preview and predictions for every weight in the men’s freestyle division.

Feb 24-27, 2022 · Resumes Friday at 7:30 AM UTC

2022 Ranking Series #1 Yasar Dogu

The Favorite

With only 1 wrestler ranked in the top 20 in the world, 57kg isn’t the deepest weight at the Dogu. However, it will be a good opportunity to get a first look at wrestlers who could break through on the world stage this year. The favorite to win 57kg in Turkey was one of those surprise breakouts last year - Germany’s Horst Lehr. He won bronze at last year’s world championships defeating Russia’s #13 Abubakar Mutaliev and Azerbaijan’s #17 Afghan Khashalov. It will be interesting to see how Lehr performs now that he has a target on his back as one of the top 57kg wrestlers in the world.

Lehr's win over Mutaliev at 2021 Worlds:

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Other Contenders

Beka Bujiashvili (GEO) and Muhammet Karavus (TUR) could come away with the gold from Turkey. Bujiashvili has yet to represent Georgia at the world championships but he was a junior world bronze medalist and has a win over Vito Arujau from last season. Karavus is an up-and-comer for Turkey and placed silver at last year’s junior world championships.

Bujiashvili’s win over Arujau:

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Sleepers And Landmines

Numerous wrestlers could challenge for a medal at 57kg but there are three, in particular, to keep an eye on - Aman Aman (IND), Zanabazar Zandanbud (MGL), and Darian Cruz (PUR). Aman is coming off a great showing at the Kolov where he brought home a bronze medal and took out #17 Afghan Khashalov. Zandanbud has been one of Mongolia’s best 57kg wrestlers for the past few years and won a silver medal at the Asian Championships in 2017. Americans are of course familiar with 2017 NCAA Champion Darian Cruz who is now representing Peurto Rico and looking to challenge the best in the world at 57kg.

Prediction:

Gold - Horst Lehr (GER)

Silver - Beka Bujiashvili (GEO)

Bronze - Aman Aman (IND)

Bronze - Zanabazar Zandanbud (MGL)

Full 57kg Entries

Guesseppe Rea (ECU)
Beka Bujiashvili (GEO)
#7 Horst Lehr (GER)
Aman Aman (IND)
Seyed Azimisiyacheghaei (IRI)
Daulet Temirzhanov (KAZ)
Assylzhan Yessengeldi (KAZ)
Rakhat Kalzhan (KAZ)
Almaz Smanbekov (KGZ)
Munkh Batkhuyag (MGL)
Zanabazar Zandanbud (MGL)
Darian Cruz (PUR)
Martin Zidzik (SVK)
Hikmatullo Vohidov (TJK)
Mehmet Mevlut Yuce (TUR)
Ahmet Karavus (TUR)
Muhammet Karavus (TUR)
Roman Hutsuliak (UKR)

61kg

The Favorite

India’s 57kg Olympic silver medalist Ravi Kumar is up at 61kg and should be considered the favorite to win gold at the Dogu. Kumar is coming off a silver medal at the Kolov from last week losing only to #11 Zelimkhan Abakarov. That performance proved he can be just as successful up at 61 as he was at 57. Kumar’s relentless pace create a challenging matchup for whoever he’ll face in Turkey.

Ravi Kumar's win over Nathan Tomasello from last Summer:

Nathan Tomasello, USA vs Ravi Kumar, IND

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Other Contenders

The field at 61kg is LOADED with talent and there are a number of competitors who could win the bracket at the Dogu. Like Kumar, two-time world medalist Suleyman Atli (TUR) has made the move up from 57kg to 61kg. Atli’s performance in Turkey will tell us whether or not he’ll be able to perform at the same level up in weight as he has down at 57kg.

Russia’s Ramiz Gamzatov won the Yarygin at 57kg in January but is currently registered at 61kg for the Dogu. Gamzatov has been 2nd or 3rd on Russia’s ladder for the past 3 years and is perpetually ranked in the top 10 in the world. Gamzatov, though up at 61kg, has the talent to defeat anyone in this bracket and challenge the best in the world.

Iran’s Rahman Amouzad had a breakout year in 2021 when he won a junior world championship and wrestled in his first senior world championship. Though Amouzad fell short at Senior Worlds in Oslo, he is still one of Iran’s best young wrestlers and should be a threat on the senior level for years to come.

Sleepers And Landmines

The number of landmines at 61kg is almost too long to list. Ukraine has two of their best entered Taras Marovych and Andrey Yatsenko (2017 world bronze). Kyrgyzstan is sending their 2019 U23 World Champion Uulkbek Zholdoshbekov who is just getting started on the senior level but could be a major threat to some of the more established guys in this weight.

Nico Megaludis is also making his return to the mat for the first time in over two years. When competing regularly, Megaludis was always near the top 3 in the US and has had success internationally. While he’ll be an underdog against the top guys in the weight, Megaludis is capable of making a run in Turkey.

Prediction:

Gold - Ramiz Gamzatov (RWF)

Silver - Rahman Amouzad (IRI)

Bronze - Ravi Kumar (IND)

Bronze - Suleyman Atli (TUR)

Full 61kg Entries:

Georgii OKOROKOV (AUS)
Islam BAZARGANOV AZE)
Adam BIBOULATOV (FRA)
Teimuraz VANISHVILI (GEO)
Mangal KADYAN (IND)
#2 (at 57) Ravi KUMAR (IND)
Saeid ANVARIZIJOUD (IRI)
#19 (at 65) Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI)
Shamil OMAROV (ITA)
Zhassulan TASKUL (KAZ)
Akbar KURBANOV (KAZ)
Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ)
Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ)
#8 (at 57) Ramiz GAMZATOV (RWF)
Recep TOPAL (TUR)
#7 Suleyman ATLI (TUR)
Ahmet TAS (TUR)
Andrii YATSENKO (UKR)
#20 Taras MARKOVYCH (UKR)
Nicholas MEGALUDIS (USA)
Daniel DESHAZER (USA)
Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB)

65kg

The Favorites

65kg is by far the best weight at the Yasar Dogu and includes three major title contenders - Zagir Shakhiev, Bajrang Punia, and Ismail Musukaev. Shakhiev won the 2021 World Championships at 65kg but didn’t face Bajrang Punia or Ismail Musukaev. Bajrang and Musukaev have been mainstays at 65kg and are greater challenges than Shakhiev faced in Oslo.

Zagir Shakhiev's win in the 2021 World Finals:

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Other Contenders

The depth at 65kg is outstanding with #7 Shamil Mamedov, #10 Tulga Tumur-Ochir, and #15 Joey McKenna. Mamedov is coming off a gold medal at the Yarygin in January where he took out Tumur-Ochir, #9 Islam Dudaev, and #8 Ramazan Ferzaliev. Mamedov is also one of Russia’s best young wrestlers and took home a junior world title last summer.

Joey McKenna had one of his best international tournaments at the Yarygin where he defeated two-time world bronze medalist Akhmed Chakaev. McKenna will challenge for the 65kg world team spot this year and the Yasar Dogu will be a great test for McKenna against the best in the world.

Mongolia’s Tulga Tumur-Ochir took home his first world medal last year in Oslo when he beat India’s Rohit in the bronze medal match. Tumur-Ochir took a slight step back when he failed to medal at the Yarygin but is still a dangerous threat to anyone in this field.

Joey McKenna's win over Yianni Diakomihalis from the 2021 World Team Trials:

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Sleepers And Landmines

When there’s a world champion in the “sleepers” section you know the bracket is deep. Beka Lomtadze won a world title at 61kg in 2019 and is looking to replicate that success up at 65kg. At 30 years old, Lomtadze is likely nearing the end of his career but will be a tough out for anyone in this bracket. On the other end of the spectrum is Ukraine’s Erik Arushanian. He was a junior world champ in 2019 and is looking to man the 65kg spot for Ukraine for years to come.

Finally, Azerbaijan is sending two dangerous wrestlers in Ali Rahimzade and Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov. Both are looking to take over for Olympic Silver medalist Haji Aliyev. Rahimzade was U23 world silver in 2018 while Gvarzatilov won a senior world bronze medal back in 20116.

Prediction:

Gold - Zagir Shakhiev (RWF)

Silver - Bajrang Punia (IND)

Bronze - Ismail Musukaev (HUN)

Bronze - Shamil Mamedov (RWF)

Full 65kg Entries:

Ali RAHIMZADE (AZE)
Akhmednabi GVARZATILOV (AZE)
Ilman MUKHTAROV (FRA)
Quentin STICKER (FRA)
Beka LOMTADZE (GEO)
#5 Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN)
ROHIT (IND)
#4 Bajrang PUNIA (IND)
Rahman Daryoosh RAHIMPOOR (IRI)
Morteza Hassanali GHIASI CHEKA (IRI)
#6 (at 61) Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ)
Adil OSPANOV (KAZ)
Bekzat YERMEKBAY (KAZ)
Ikromzhon KHADZHIMURODOV (KGZ)
#10 Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL)
Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN (MGL)
Nikolai OKHLOPKOV (ROU)
#7 Shamil MAMEDOV (RWF)
#6 Zagir SHAKHIEV (RWF)
Ertugrul KAHVECI (TUR)
Mensur BAYOGLU (TUR)
Munir AKTAS (TUR)
Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR)
#15 Joseph MC KENNA (USA)
Evan HENDERSON (USA)
Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB)
Nodir RAKHIMOV (UZB)
Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB)

70kg

The Favorite

Ernazar Akmataliev had a breakout year in 2021 - he qualified for the Olympics, won silver at the 2021 World Championships, and took home gold at U23 Worlds. Akmataliev is one of the most entertaining wrestlers in the country with incredible big move potential. The Dogu will be an opportunity for Akmataliev to cement himself as one of the best wrestlers in the world at 70kg

Akmataliev's wild match to make the 2021 world finals:

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Other Contenders

70kg has a number of wrestlers who could take out Akmataliev and move up in the rankings. The top of that list is Russia’s Viktor Rassadin. He’s coming off a Yarygin title where he notably took out #6 Kurban Shiraev and #9 Anzor Zakuev. Rassadin has never represented Russia at the world championships but has been runner-up at Russian Nationals twice.

After Rassadin, Iran’s Amir Yazdani is capable of winning gold and defeating any wrestler entered in this bracket. Little Yazdani had a bit of a breakout year in 2021 when he won silver at the World Championship in Oslo down at 65kg. This field will be a great test for the Iranian up in weight.

70kg will be especially interesting for American wrestling fans with James Green, Jordan Oliver, and Anthony Ashnault all entered in the field. Ashnault will be a fairly heavy underdog in this bracket but Green and Oliver should challenge for gold.

Finally, Georgia’s Zurabi Iakobishvili was a world champion in 2017 and won world bronze last year in Oslo. Iakobishvili, if he’s wrestling at his best, can absolutely win this bracket.

Green and Oliver's match from the 2021 World Team Trials:

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Sleepers And Landmines

Because of the top-level talent in this weight, I don’t see any unknowns breaking through to make the finals at 70kg. However, there are a few wrestlers worth mentioning who could make some noise by medaling or upsetting some of the top dogs. First is Turkey’s Selahattin Kilicsallayan. He was a junior world champion back in 2013 and has represented Turkey multiple times at the senior world championships. While he doesn’t frequently win international tournaments, he frequently has good showings and wins over numerous ranked wrestlers.

After Kilicsallayan, keep an eye on Georgia’s Levan Kelekhsashvili. He placed 2nd at last year’s Yasar Dogu and even has a win from 2019 over world champ Iakobishvili.

Prediction:

Gold - Viktor Rassadin (RWF)

Silver - James Green (USA)

Bronze - Jordan Oliver (USA)

Bronze - Ernazar Akmataliev (KGZ)

Full 70kg Entries:

Gitinomagomed GADZHIYEV (AZE)
#7 Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO)
Levan KELEKHSASHVILI (GEO)
Vishal KALIRAMANA (IND)
Aliakbar FAZLIKHALILI (IRI)
Amirmohammad YAZDANICHERATI (IRI)
Sanzhar DOSZHANOV (KAZ)
Amandyk BAKEYEV (KAZ)
Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ)
#2 Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ)
Khanburged GANKHUYAG (MGL)
Mohammed J M Th A ABDULKAREEM (KUW)
#5 Viktor RASSADIN (RWF)
Daniel CHOMANIC (SVK)
Mustafo AKHMEDOV (TJK)
Cuneyt BUDAK (TUR)
Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR)
Servet COSKUN (TUR)
Ivan KUSYAK (UKR)
#15 Jordan OLIVER (USA)
#12 James GREEN (USA)
Anthony ASHNAULT (USA)

74kg

The Favorite

Surprisingly, 74kg is one of the “weaker” weights at the Yasar Dogu with only one ranked wrestler in the field - #18 Soner Demirtas. The two-time bronze medalist (16 Olympics, 17 Worlds) will be a favorite to win this bracket and this will be an opportunity for him to prove he’s still performing at his peak. At 30 years old, Demirtas is likely toward the end of his career and failed to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics last Summer. This field has a number of young, up-and-comers who will present unique challenges to the experienced Demirtas.

Other Contenders

The first up-and-comer to keep an eye on is Iran’s Mohammad Firouzpour. The young Iranian won silver at U23 worlds last summer and was a junior world bronze medalist in 2019. Iran has struggled to produce at 74kg and has not medaled there since Hassan Yazdani won gold at the 2016 Olympics. Firouzpour looks to have the potential to turn that streak around and the Dogu will tell us just how close he is to the best in the world at 74kg.

Nurkozha Kaipanov is one of the most entertaining wrestlers Kazakhstan has to offer but he’s had unpredictable results over the past two years. Kaipanov won bronze at the 2021 Matteo Pellicone and followed that up with a gold medal at the Asian Championships. However, he went on to represent Kazakhstan at Senior worlds and U23 Worlds going a combined 1-2. The Dogu will be an opportunity for Kaipanov to prove he can challenge for a world medal despite his past inconsistencies.

Sleepers And Landmines

Former Duke wrestler Mitch Finesilver has performed well in his first two years of senior-level competition for Israel. Finesilver won a bronze medal at the 2021 European Championships and was one match away from qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics. With the lack of top-level talent in this bracket, Finesilver has the ability to make the medal stand in Turkey.

Azerbaijan’s Soslan Tigiyev could be a dangerous threat both in this bracket and at the world level however, he’s still a bit of an unknown. Tigiyev previously represented Russia and was a cadet world champion back in 2019 where he notably defeated Alex Facundo.

Soslan Tigiyev's win over Alex Facundo:

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Prediction:

Gold - Soner Demirtas (TUR)

Silver - Mohammad Firouzpour (IRI)

Bronze - Soslan Tigiyev (AZE)

Bronze - Nurkozha Kaipanov (KAZ)

Full 74kg Entries:

Soslan TIGIYEV (AZE)
Pritam PRITAM (IND)
Mohmmadsadegh FIROUZPOURBANDPEI (IRI)
Mitchell FINESILVER (ISR)
Nurlan BEKZHANOV (KAZ)
Shynggys MUKHAMETKALIYEV (KAZ)
Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ)
Islambek OROZBEKOV (KGZ)
Abdullah J M Th A ABDALKAREEM (KUW)
Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL)
Sumiyabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL)
Zurab KAPRAEV BELBEROVA (ROU)
Iakub SHIKHDZHAMALOV (ROU)
Maxim VASILIOGLO (ROU)
Samet AK (TUR)
#18 Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR)
Tarik GUR (TUR)
Zielimkhan TOHUZOV (UKR)
Semen RADULOV (UKR)
Zielimkhan TOHUZOV (UKR)
Joey LAVALLEE (USA)
Asomiddin HASANOV (UZB)

79kg

The Favorite

The king is back! Jordan Burroughs is entering his 12th year of senior level competition and is still the best in the world. Coming off his 2021 world championship, Jordan Burroughs will be a big favorite in this field.

Jordan Burroughs gold medal match from the 2021 World Championships:

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Other Contenders

Though Burroughs is a big favorite, he could face a challenge in world champion Khetik Tsabolov. Burroughs and Tsabolov last met in the finals of the 2017 world championships where Burroughs came out on top, 9-6. Tsabolov’s results have slightly declined since that loss but he’s still capable of presenting unique challenges to Burroughs.

After Tsabolov, Kyrgyzstan’s Arsalan Budzhapov has had great results at the senior level. He won the 2020 Asian Championships and had a win over two-time world medalist Soner Demirtas last year. If Budazhapov is wrestling his best, he’s capable of making the finals.

Burroughs win over Tsabolov in the 2017 World Finals:

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Sleepers And Landmines

Iran’s Ali Savadkoui took bronze at the 2021 U23 Worlds and recently won Iranian nationals over longtime vet Bahman Teymouri. Savadkoui is another of Iran’s young talents on the rise looking to make an impact at the senior level.

Russia’s Gadzhimurad Alikhmaev is a dangerous opponent for anyone in this bracket and is coming off a 5th place finish at the Yarygin where Russia had all their top 79kg wrestlers. Alikhmaev also won silver at 2020 Russian Nationals where he placed ahead of world medalists Gadzhi Nabiev and Radik Valiev.

Prediction:

Gold - Jordan Burroughs (USA)

Silver - Ali Savadkoui (IRI)

Bronze - Khetik Tsabolov (SRB)

Bronze - Gadzhimurad Alikhmaev (RWF)

Full 79kg Entries:

Francisco de Deus KADIMA (ANG)
Gadzhimurad OMAROV (AZE)
Saifedine ALEKMA (FRA)
Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO)
Giorgi SULAVA (GEO)
Gourav BALIYAN (IND)
Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI)
Meiir KOSHKINBAYEV (KAZ)
Daulet YERGESH (KAZ)
Zhiger ZAKIROV (KAZ)
#9 Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ)
Alans AMIROVS (LAT)
#18 Gadzhimurad ALIKHMAEV (RWF)
Hetik CABOLOV (SRB)
Jakub SYKORA (SVK)
Nuri TEMUR (TUR)
Muhammet AKDENIZ (TUR)
Abdullah ARSLAN (TUR)
Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR)
Kasum KASUMOV (UKR)
Dmytrii TKACHENKO (UKR)
Chandler MARSTELLER (USA)
#1 Jordan BURROUGHS (USA)
David MC FADDEN (USA)

86kg

The Favorites

World and Olympic medalist Bekzod Abdurakhmonov is registered up at 86kg after winning bronze at 74kg last Summer in Tokyo. Despite the weight increase, Abdurakhmonov is the most credentialed wrestler in this field and should be considered a slight favorite to win gold in Turkey.

After Abdurakhmonov, Kazakhstan’s Azamat Dauletbekov will challenge for Gold. Dauletbekov placed 5th at 2021 Worlds and has past silver medals at both U23 and Junior worlds. On top of those accomplishments, Dauletbekov has impressive wins over #18 Javrail Shapiev, #10 Deepak Punia, Boris Makoev, and #17 Arsen-Ali Musalaliev.

Other Contenders

Mark Hall is the lone American wrestler at 86kg and is just getting started on the senior level. As a 3-time age-level world champion (1 cadet, 2 junior world titles), Hall will not take any international competitors by surprise. The Dogu is only Hall’s second overseas senior-level tournament and will be a great litmus test to see where he stacks up against the rest of the world at 86kg.

After Hall, Gadzhimurad Magomedsaidov could challenge for gold in Turkey. Magomedsaidov was a U23 world silver medalist in 2019 and also has 2 junior world bronze medals to his name. At just 24 years old, Magomedsaidov is poised to make an impact on the senior level and could represent Azerbaijan this year at the world championships.

Mark Hall's win over Myles Martin at the 2021 Matteo Pellicone:

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Sleepers And Landmines

Turkey has two landmines at 86kg on both ends of the age spectrum - Fatih Erdin and Osman Goce. Erdin is nearing the end of his career but does have a world silver medal to his name from 2018. Erdin has declined slightly since that performance but has been in and out of the rankings and has numerous wins over ranked opponents on his resume. Gocen unseated Erdin last year as the 86kg rep for Turkey after he qualified for the Olympics. On top of that, he won bronze at the 2020 individual world cup and has medals from both U23 and junior worlds. Gocen is the future for Turkey at 86kg and has the potential to win this bracket in Turkey.

Prediction:

Gold - Mark Hall (USA)

Silver - Gadzhimurad Magomedsaidov (AZE)

Bronze - Bekzod Abdurakhmonov (UZB)

Bronze - Osman Gocen (TUR)

Full 86kg Entries:

Gadzhimurad MAGOMEDSAIDOV (AZE)
Akhmed AIBUEV (FRA)
Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO)
Tarzan MAISURADZE (GEO)
Lars SCHAEFLE (GER)
Sandeep Singh MANN (IND)
Mojtaba ASGHARI OSMAVANDANI (IRI)
Ali MANSOURI (IRI)
Abylaikhan NURSULTANOV (KAZ)
#15 Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ)
Maksat SATYBALDY (KAZ)
Nurtilek KARYPBAEV (KGZ)
Saiakbai USUPOV (KGZ)
Ivars SAMUSONOKS (LAT)
Temuujin MENDBILEG (MGL)
Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL)
Ahmet KIS (TUR)
Osman GOCEN (TUR)
Fatih ERDIN (TUR)
Khasan ZAKARIIEV (UKR)
Mark HALL (USA)
#19 Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB)

92kg

The Favorite

92kg doesn’t have the depth of some of the other weights at the Dogu but could still present us with some interesting matches. Russia’s Guram Chertkoev is the favorite of those entered and is coming off his gold medal performance at the Yarygin in January. Chertkoev has never represented Russia at the world championships but is proving to be one of their top wrestlers at 92kg. Chertkoev needs to win in Turkey in order to make his case for the 2022 world team spot.

Guram Chertkoev's win in the finals of the 2021 Yarygin:

Guram Chertkoev vs Tamerlan Tapsiev

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Other Contenders

India’s Deepak Punia lost a heartbreaking decision to Myles Amine in the 86kg bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics and is now competing up at 92kg. Punia had moderate success last week at the Kolov in his first time up at 92kg where he took home a bronze medal. While he might be undersized, Punia has the skill to compete with almost anyone in the world and will likely find the podium at the Dogu.

Another lesser-known contender is Turkey’s #19 Erhan Yaylaci who is a U23 and Junior world bronze medalist. On top of those accolades, Yaylaci has a win over Russia’s Chertkoev from 2019.

Sleepers And Landmines

Iran’s young talent will be on full display at the Yasar Dogu and Ahmad Bazri is another example of the depth of Iran. Bazri will likely not challenge to take defending world champion Kamran Ghasempour's world team spot but will present an obstacle for every wrestler in this bracket.

After Bazri, the talent thins out substantially but I’m interested to see if India’s Viky can compete with some of the top wrestlers in this bracket. He was a junior world bronze medalist in 2019 and placed silver at the Asian Championships that year. India has performed well at the age-level world championships but hasn’t fully converted that on the senior level. Vicky’s performance in Turkey will be a testament to where India’s progress is in developing its young talent.

Prediction:

Gold - Guram Chertkoev (RWF)

Silver - Ahmad Bazri (IRI)

Bronze - Deepak Punia (IND)

Bronze - Erhan Yaylaci (TUR)

Full 92kg Entries:

Shamil ZUBAIROV (AZE)
Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO)
#10 (at 86) Deepak PUNIA (IND)
Viky VIKY (IND)
Ahmad BAZRIGHALEH (IRI)
Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ)
Elkhan ASSADOV (KAZ)
Omar ZHUMASH (KAZ)
Mirlan CHYNYBEKOV (KGZ)
#8 Guram CHERTKOEV (RWF)
Samed OZASLAN (TUR)
#19 Erhan YAYLACI (TUR)
Ahmet BILICI (TUR)
Andrii VLASOV (UKR)
Denys PAVLOV (UKR)

97kg

The Favorite

Mohammad Mohammadian announced his presence to the world when he pinned Kyle Snyder and teched Bo Nickal in January of 2020. However, Mohammadian was unable to medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Despite that down performance, Mohammadian is a dangerous wrestler whose physical abilities and high pace make him a nightmare matchup for every wrestler in this bracket. Expect to see Mohammadian in the gold medal match in Turkey.

Mohammadian's pin over Snyder:

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Other Contenders

The two threats to Mohammadian are Russia’s Alikhan Zhabrailov and Shamil Musaev. Zhabrailov has been on a tear over the last 2 years winning two Russian Nationals, the 2020 Individual World Cup, and the 2021 European Championships. Zhabrailov would have represented Russia at the world championships and Olympics if it wasn’t for the legend Abdulrashid Sadulaev. Zhabrailov’s performance in Turkey will truly tell us how close the young Russian is to the top wrestlers in the world at 97kg.

Shamil Musaev also has the misfortune of being behind Sadulaev but has had impressive results himself over the past two years. Musaev was a U23 World Silver medalist in 2019, a junior world champ in 2017, and most recently took silver at the 2022 Yarygin (losing only to Kyle Snyder).

Zhabrailov's win in the finals of the 2021 European Championships:

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Sleepers And Landmines

After the clear top 3, Kollin Moore and Givi Matcharashvili have had strong past senior-level results suggesting they can make some noise in this bracket. Last year Moore beat two-time world medalist Alireza Karimi on his way to winning the 2021 Matteo Pellicone. Matcharashvili had an equally impressive win over world and Olympic champion Sharif Sharifov at the 2021 Henri Deglane.

Prediction:

Gold - Alikhan Zhabrailov (RWF)

Silver - Mohammad Mohammadian (IRI)

Bronze - Shamil Musaev (RWF)

Bronze - Kollin Moore (USA)

Full 97kg Entries:

#16 Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO)
Satywart KADIAN (IND)
#6 Mohammad MOHAMMADIAN (IRI)
Bakdaulet ALMENTAY (KAZ)
Akezhan AITBEKOV (KAZ)
Mamed IBRAGIMOV (KAZ)
Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)
Nicolaas DE LANGE (RSA)
#11 Shamil Alievitch MUSAEV (RWF)
#14 Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (RWF)
Oktay CIFTCI (TUR)
Mustafa SESSIZ (TUR)
Bilal SAHIN (TUR)
Mahamed ZAKARIIEV (UKR)
Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR)
#17 (at 92) Kollin MOORE (USA)
Mukhammadrasul RAKHIMOV (UZB)

125kg

The Favorite

Two-time world and Olympic champion Taha Akgul has been the favorite to win almost every tournament he’s entered over the past 10 years and it will be no different in Turkey at the Yasar Dogu. Akgul might be towards the end of his career but his bronze medal at the Olympics and Worlds last year proved he’s still one of the best heavyweights on planet earth.

Akgul's win over Gwiazdowski in the bronze medal match at 2021 Worlds:

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Other Contenders

Khasanboy Rakhimov was one of the most promising young heavyweights in 2019 before he tested positive for banned substances after winning bronze at 2019 worlds. On top of that bronze medal performance, Rakhimov also had two wins over Gable Steveson in 2018 (pin) and 2019 (tech fall). Rakhimov is now back from serving his suspension and this bracket at 125kg will prove how close he is to the top guys in the world at heavyweight.

Nick Gwiazdowski is also entered into this heavyweight field and is coming off a 5th place performance at the 2021 senior world championships. Though Gwiz lost to Amir Zare and Taha Akgul, he proved he’s still among the top heavyweights and capable of winning medals at the highest level. He’ll be an underdog to Akgul but Gwiazdowski should be considered a threat to every other wrestler in the field.

Another contender in Turkey will be Mongolia’s Lkhagvegerel Munkhtur. Munkhtur won a bronze medal at the 2021 world championships and placed 5th at the Tokyo Olympics. His only losses in those two competitions were Gable Steveson, Taha Akgul, and Geno Petriashvili.

Rakhimov's win over Gable Steveson from the 2018 Junior World Championships:

Sleepers And Landmines

It’s hard to call a Yarygin runner-up a “sleeper’ but with the high-level competitors in this heavyweight field, Vitalii Goloev will be a major underdog to medal in Turkey. Goloev has been one of Russia’s better heavyweight prospects in recent years taking bronze at 2020 Russian Nationals and silver at 2019 U23 Worlds.

Germany’s Gennadij Cudinovic was a surprise qualifier for the Olympics last summer and could surprise some heavyweights in Turkey. Though Cudinovic lost a tight, 6-5 match to Munkhtur in Tokyo, he showed how dangerous he is when he pinned Kazakhstan’s Yusup Batirmurzaev in the opening round at the Games. It’s unlikely Cudinovich comes away with gold at the Dogu but he’s the perfect example of a landmine who could take out some highly ranked wrestlers.

Prediction:

Gold - Taha Akgul (TUR)

Silver - Vitalii Goloev (RWF)

Bronze - Nick Gwiazdowski (USA)

Bronze - Khasanboy Rakhimov (UZB)

Full 125kg Entries:

Johannes LUDESCHER (AUT)
Jere Tapani HEINO (FIN)
#19 Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER)
Daniel LIGETI (HUN)
Shivraj RAKSHE (IND)
Oleg BOLTIN (KAZ)
Alisher YERGALI (KAZ)
#20 Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ)
Muzafar ZHAPPUEV (KGZ)
#6 Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL)
#12 Vitalii GOLOEV (RWF)
Atsamaz TEBLOEV (RWF)
Magomedgadzhi NURASULOV (SRB)
Gabriel TYSZ (SVK)
Salim ERCAN (TUR)
Muhammed BANDIRMA (TUR)
#3 Taha AKGUL (TUR)
Volodymyr BURUKOV (UKR)
Oleksandr KOLDOVSKYI (UKR)
Hayden ZILLMER (USA)
#7 Nicholas GWIAZDOWSKI (USA)
Sardorbek KHOLMATOV (UZB)
Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB)

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