2019 Russian Federation Rankings - Men's Freestyle

86: Artur Naifonov

Rankings by Seth Petarra (@SethPetar).

Artur Naifonov rebounds from a rough ending to 2018 that saw him fail to place at the Alans by avenging a loss from the Russian Nationals to #2 Dauren Kurugliev in the finals of the Ali Aliev, Naifonov now leads the series 2-1 with his first win being at the 2018 Yarygin. The returning world rep, #2 Dauren Kurugliev won the Yarygin this year over world silver medalist #9 (INT) Fatih Erdin (TUR) before falling to #1 Naifonov in the Ali Aliev finals. Kurugliev has wins over #1 Naifonov, #3 Valiev, #4 Minkailov, #5 Musalaliev, and #6 Ktsoev. 2017 world bronze medalist #3 Vladislav Valiev has had an excellent year so far, taking bronze at the Yarygin and won the European championships. Valiev has defeated #1 (92) Zhabrailov, #2 Kurugliev, and #5 Musalaliev. 2018 Russian Nationals bronze medalist Zelimkhan Minkailov takes the #5 spot for his multiple wins over #6 Arsenali Musalaliev at the DRL. 

The aforementioned Musalaliev is coming off his second U-23 European title and a bronze medal at the Ali Aliev to go along with wins over #1 (92) Alikhan Zhabrailov, #2 Kurugliev, and #6 Ktsoev.  Khabib Gadzhiev takes the #7 spot after taking bronze at the Aliev over Zushen Lin (CHN) who had just beaten Ktsoev. Biikaev beat Naniev at the Alans where he was a runner-up and where Naniev upset Naifonov, and Shebzukov teched Naniev in the Junior national finals thus Biikaev at #8, Shebzukov at #9, and Naniev at #10, perfectly balanced as all things should be.