2022 World Championship Rankings - Men's Freestyle

70 - Magomedmurad Gadzhiev

Defending world champion, Magomedmurad Gadzhiev hasn't competed since worlds in October but should still be considered a slight favorite at 70kg this year. Last year in Oslo, Gadzhiev defeated #3 Zurabi Iakobishvili and #6 Ernazar Akmataliev on his way to gold. 

The biggest threat to Gadzhiev this year at worlds will likely be 65kg silver medalist Amir Yazdani. In February at the Yasar Dogu, Yazdani won gold and defeated 2021 world silver medalist Ernazar Akmataliev and James Green along the way. 

Another threat that has recently emerged is Japan's Taishi Narikuni. He recently won gold at the Asian Championships where he defeated 2021 world silver medalist Akmataliev.

Alec Pantaleo has had the best results of any wrestlers for Team USA internationally but doesn't currently have any seeding points. In fact, it's unlikely for any of Team USA's 70 kg reps to earn enough seeding points to secure a spot in the top 8 seeds meaning they will be randomly drawn into the 70kg bracket at worlds. 

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