2019 International Rankings - Men's Freestyle

70 KG Evgeni Zherbaev (RUS)

By Seth Petarra (@SethPetar)

2018 Korkin champ Evgeni Zherbaev (RUS) made his return to 70 KG with a dominant showing at the President Cup of Buryatia where he won the title over two-time Russian Nationals bronze medalist Murad Nukhadiev (RUS) and beat returning national runner-up Arpak Sat (RUS) and Ali Aliev bronze medalist #8 Cherman Valiev (RUS). Zherbaev takes the #1 spot in the rankings off the strength of past wins over #2 Gazimagomedov, #5 Kaya, #8 Valiev, #9 Baev, and world champs Soslan Ramonov (RUS) and #8(74) Khetik Tsabolov (RUS).

Ali Aliev bronze medalist #8 Cherman Valiev (RUS) took bronze at the President Cup of Buryatia after taking a loss to #1 Zherbaev and maintains his #8 spot in the rankings. 

Asian champ Nurkhoza Kaipanov (KAZ) debuts in the rankings at #16 after winning the Sassari tournament over #18 Georgi Koliev (BLR), who beat Asian championships bronze medalist #19 Younes Emami (IRI) who has a win over #20 Meysam Nasiri (IRI) in the finals of the Takhti Cup earlier this year in February.