U23 World silver medalist Jacob Cardenas (photo courtesy of Kostadin Andonov/UWW)57KG
Dzhabrail Gairbekov (RUS) won the Yusup Abdusalamov tournament over Anzor Mazhidov (RUS) with Gadzhimagomed Akhmedov (RUS) taking bronze over Magomed Gazigandov (RUS).
Alexey Kopylov (RUS) won the Alexander Krylov Memorial Tournament over his brother #11 Petr Kopylov (RUS) by forfeit. Bronze medalists at the Krylov were Ayaal Belolyubsky (RUS) and Kharyashal Grigoriev (RUS).
#14 Nachyn Mongush (RUS) won the Second Ivan Poddubny Tournament over #8 Ramiz Gamzatov (RUS). Bronze medalists at the second Ivan Poddubny tournament were Muslim Sadulaev (RUS) and Dmitry Shamelo (BLR).
Aman Aman (IND) won the U-23 world championships over Ahmet Duman (TUR) with Bekzat Almaz Uulu (KGZ) and Kamyl Kerymov (UKR) taking bronze.
#9 Musa Mekhtikhanov (RUS) won the Ali Aliyev memorial over Magomed Abdurakhmanov (RUS) with Anzor Mazhidov (RUS) and Khalid Magomedov (RUS) taking bronze.
Aryan Tyutrin (BLR) won the Dmitri Korkin Memorial over #5 Reineri Andreu Ortega (CUB). Bronze medalists at the Korkin were #14 Nachyn Mongush (RUS) and Dimchik Batomunkuev (RUS).
From the results of these six tournaments, here is the movement in the rankings:
2021 world bronze medalist Tyutrin is back in the rankings at #5 for beating Andreu Ortega in the finals of the Dmitri Korkin memorial. Andreu Ortega falls one spot to #6 in the rankings.
Mongush moved up five spots to #9 for winning the second Ivan Poddubny tournament over Gamzatov. Mongush followed up his Poddubny title with a bronze medal finish at the Korkin after a semifinal loss to Andreu Ortega.
Tuskaev moves up two spots for beating Russian Nationals bronze medalist Mekhtikhanov in the second Ivan Poddubny tournament quarterfinals. Tuskaev lost in the semifinals to Gamzatov. Mekhtikhanov falls three spots to #12 for his loss to Tuskaev at the Poddubny. Tuskaev is able to move ahead of #11 Petr Kopylov (RUS) and #12 Amir Chamzyn (RUS), who beat Tuskaev at the All-Russian Spartakiad in August and Russian Nationals in June respectively, because Kopylov and Chamzyn both have losses to Mekhtikhanov: Kopylov's being at the All-Russian Spartakiad in the semifinals and Chamzyn in the bronze medal match of Russian Nationals. Gamzatov falls one spot to #9 for his loss in the finals of the second Ivan Poddubny Tournament to Mongush.
61KG
Artur Chebodaev (RUS) won the Alexander Krylov Memorial Tournament over Pavlov Yakov (RUS) with Fedor Postnikov (RUS) and Zhargal Damdinov (RUS) taking bronze.
#3 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RUS) won the second Ivan Poddubny Tournament over #10 Bashir Magomedov (RUS). The Bronze medalist at the second Ivan Poddubny tournament was Andrei Bekrenev (BLR).
#5 Arsen Harutyunyan (ARM) won his second U23 world title over Taiyrbek Zhumashbek Uulu (KGZ). Bronze medalists at the U23 world championships were Emrah Ormanoglu (TUR) and Assyl Aitakyn (KAZ).
#3 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RUS) won the Dmitri Korkin Memorial Tournament over #2 Akhmed Idrisov (RUS). Bronze medalists at the Korkin were Kezhik Mongush (RUS) and Andrei Bekrenev (BLR).
#11 Muslim Mekhtikhanov (RUS) won the Ali Aliyev over two-time Russian Nationals bronze medalist Cherman Tavitov (RUS). Bronze medalists at the Ali Aliyev were Akhmed Zubairov (RUS) and #10 Bashir Magomedov (RUS).
2021 world champion #3 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RUS) moves up one spot to #2 for beating Idrisov in the finals of the Korkin and avenging his loss from August at the All-Russian Spartakiad. Magomedov sits behind top-ranked 2022 world champion #1 Rei Higuchi (JPN). Magomedov has indicated he will go 65 KG for the 2024 Olympics and Higuchi has yet to declare his weight, but had a failed attempt at 57 KG in 2021 that saw him miss weight at the Asian Olympic Qualifier. Hopefully, we can see Magomedov/Higuchi in 2023.
Zhumashbek Uulu is in the rankings at #17 for finishing silver at the U23 world championships where he beat Ormanoglu, who beat Yasar Dogu runner-up #17 Andrey Dzhelep (UKR) in the quarterfinals.
Mekhtikhanov (RUS) got bumped up one spot to #10 for beating Bashir Magomedov at the Ali Aliyev. Magomedov (RUS) dropped one spot to #11 for his loss to Mekhtikhanov.
65KG
#13 Ramazan Ferzaliev (RUS) won the Yusup Abdusalamov tournament over Magomed Magomedov (RUS). Bronze medalists at the Abdusalamov were #7 Gadzhimurad Omarov (RUS) and Magomed Zharulaev (RUS).
Usman Shakhgiriev (RUS) won the Alexander Krylov Memorial Tournament over Vladislav Krivoshapkin (RUS) with Kezhik Chimba (RUS) and Viktor Zherbaev (RUS) taking bronze.
#6 Ibragim Ibragimov (RUS) won the second Ivan Poddubny Tournament over Elbrus Valiev (RUS) with bronze medalists being Umar Umarov (RUS) and Muslim Saidulaev (RUS).
#15 Vazgen Tevanyan (ARM) won the U23 world championships over Hamza Alaca (TUR). Bronze medalists at the U23 world championships were Ryamu Anraku (JPN) and Erik Arushanian (UKR).
Abdulmazhid Kudiev (RUS) won the Dmitri Korkin Memorial Tournament over #4 Shamil Mamedov (RUS). Bronze medalists at the Korkin were Usman Shakhgiriev (RUS) and Victor Zherbaev (RUS).
#13 Ramazan Ferzaliev (RUS) won the Ali Aliyev (RUS) over #7 Gadzhimurad Omarov (RUS). Bronze medalists at the Ali Aliyev were Ramazan Bagavudinov (RUS) and Magomed Tazhudinov (RUS).
2021 Russian Nationals bronze medalist Kudiev is back in the rankings at #4 for beating Mamedov (RUS). Kudiev's top five spot is justified also by his multiple wins over Ferzaliev from the 2021 season (Russian Nationals, Ali Aliyev), #13 Bajrang Punia (IND) and multiple-time Russian Nationals medalist Murshid Mutalimov (RUS). Mamedov falls one spot to #5 for his loss to Kudiev.
Ferzaliev (RUS) moves up six spots in the rankings to #7 for his titles at the Yusup Abdusalamov tournament and the Ali Aliyev and his two wins over Russian Nationals runner-up #7 Gadzhimurad Omarov (RUS). Ferzaliev has also posted wins this year over elite competition the like of #8 Ibragim Ibragimov (RUS), two-time world bronze medalist Akhmed Chakaev (RUS), and two-time World/Olympic trials runner-up Joey McKenna (USA). While #10 Gadzhimurad Rashidov (RUS) does have two past wins over Ferzaliev (2021 Russian Nationals, 2022 Russian Nationals), his loss to Omarov at Nationals plus Ferzaliev's two wins over Omarov this month allow for Ferzaliev to be ranked over the 2019 world champion.
70KG
Sayin Kazyryk (RUS) won the Alexander Krylov Memorial Tournament over Igor Upkhoev (RUS). Bronze medalists at the Krylov Memorial Tournament were #9 Ruslan Zhendaev (RUS) and Konstantine Kaprynov (RUS).
#10 Ernazar Akmataliev (KGZ) won his showcase match at the second Ivan Poddubny Tournament against #8 Inalbek Sheriev (RUS). Sheriev won the Poddubny over Ramazan Gadzhimagomedov (RUS). Bronze medalists at the Poddubny were Abudaud Ibragimov (RUS) and Turpal Ali Khatuev (RUS).
Giorgi Elbakidze (GEO) won the U23 world championships title over #3 Amir Mohammad Yazdani (IRI). Bronze medalists at the U23 world championships were Kanan Heybatov (AZE) and #13 Kota Takahashi (JPN).
Evgheni Zherbaev (RUS) won the Dmitri Korkin Memorial Tournament over #7 Anzor Zakuev (RUS). Bronze medalists at the Korkin were Konstantine Kaprynov (RUS) and Narek Harutyunyan (ARM).
Murad Evloev (AZE) won the Ali Aliev over Turpal Ali Khatuev (RUS). Bronze medalists at the Aliev were Akhmed Kasumov (RUS) and Dzhokhar Dzhobaev (RUS).
The biggest result of this month was the dominant return of 2021 70 KG world bronze medalist Evgheni Zherbaev (RUS) who won titles at 74 KG at the Alexander Krylov Memorial Tournament and at 70 KG at the Dmitri Korkin Memorial. Zherbaev posted wins over #7 Anzor Zakuev (RUS), #2 Israil Kasumov (RUS), and Konstantine Kaprynov (RUS). Zherbaev returns to the rankings at #3. Consequently, Poddubny supermatch winner Akmataliev (KGZ) gets bumped up eight spots to #2 for his past win over Zherbaev at the 2021 world championships and for his victory over Sheriev at the Poddubny.
Shiraev moved up to 74 KG where he finished as runner-up to #1 (74) Zaurbek Sidakov (RUS) at the Dmitri Korkin Memorial Invitational. Kasumov falls three spots to #5 for his losses to Zherbaev, Zakuev and Kaprynov. Zakuev moves up three spots to #4 for his win over Kasumov while Kaprynov debuts at #15 for beating Kasumov at the Korkin.
Shakhiev (RUS) drops one spot to #7 for his loss to Riza Ali Abbas (IRI) in the qualification round of the Korkin. Abbas debuts in the rankings at #16 for his victory over Shakhiev. Kanan Heybatov (AZE) is in the rankings at #19 and this was due to an earlier error on my part back in the September rankings when Heybatov won Junior world's where he beat Mulayam Yadav (IND) in the semis, after Yadav had upset #13 Kota Takahashi (JPN) in the quarters. To retroactively fix this, I have put in Heybatov at #19 and dropped Takahashi to #20. Both Heybatov and Takahashi took bronze at U23 world's.
Elbakidze returns to the international rankings at #11 for upsetting Amir Mohammad Yazdani in the U23 world finals. Yazdani falls nine spots to #12. The other addition to the rankings is Kazyryk, who slots in at #9 for winning the Alexander Krylov Memorial Tournament where he beat Zhendaev.
74KG
Kasum Kasumov (RUS) won the Yusup Abdusalamov tournament over Alan Kudzoev (RUS). Bronze medalists at the Abdusalamov were Mokhamad Nasirkhaev (RUS) and Abdulagadzhi Magomedov (RUS).
#3 (70) Evgheni Zherbaev (RUS) won the Alexander Krylov Memorial Tournament over #5 (70) Israel Kasumov (RUS). Bronze medalists at the Krylov were Semyon Tereschenko (RUS) and Tumen Bodiev (RUS)
#1 Zaurbek Sidakov (RUS) won the second Ivan Poddubny tournament over #10 Magomed Dibirgadzhiev (RUS). The bronze medalist at the Poddubny was Ruslan Bogatyrev (RUS).
#17 Mohammad Firouzpourbandpei (IRI) won the U23 world championships over Khadzhimurad Gadzhiev (AZE). Bronze medalists at the U23 world championships were Vasil Diacone (MDA) and Vadym Kurylenko (UKR).
Sidakov won the Dmitri Korkin Memorial Tournament over #5 (70) Kurban Shiraev (RUS). Bronze medalists at the Korkin were #9 Timur Bizhoev (RUS) and Stanislav Svinoboev (RUS).
Kasumov also won the Ali Aliyev over #10 Magomed Dibirgadzhiev (RUS). Bronze medalists at the Ali Aliyev were Kamil Abdulvagabov (RUS) and Anzor Ionov (RUS).
The major mover of this month was Kasumov who debuts in the rankings at #11 for beating #10 Dibirgadzhiev in the finals of the Ali Aliyev and winning the Yusup Abdusalamov tournament over Kudzoev).
Shiraev debuts in the 74 KG rankings at #8 after his runner-up finish to Sidakov (RUS) at the Dmitri Korkin Memorial. Shiraev is at #8 because he has a win over #6 David Baev (RUS) from the 2021 70 KG Yarygin.
#19 David Carr (USA) is out of the rankings because of his quarterfinal loss at the U23 world championships to Temuri Beruashvili (GEO). Beruashvili injury defaulted out to 5th and Carr was eliminated.
79KG
Dmitri Zainidinov (RUS) won the Alexander Krylov Memorial Tournament over Konstantine Vlasov (RUS). Bronze medalists at the Alexander Krylov Memorial Tournament were Timur Nikolaev (RUS) and Ayur Zhigzhitov (RUS).
#19 Akhmed Usmanov (RUS) won the Poddubny over #12 Radik Valiev (RUS). Bronze medalists at the Poddubny were #4 Khalid Yakhiev (RUS) and #2 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (BLR).
Vladimieri Gamkrelidze (GEO) won the U23 world title over Daulet Yergash (KAZ). Bronze medalists at U23 world's were #14 Carter Starocci (USA) and Arman Avagyan (ARM).
#19 Akhmed Usmanov (RUS) won the Dmitri Korkin Memorial Tournament over #12 Radik Valiev (RUS). Bronze medalists at the Korkin were Azret Ulimbashev (RUS) and #17 Nikita Suchkov (RUS).
Amanulla Gadzhimagomedov (RUS) won the Ali Aliyev over Begkhan Misrikhanov (RUS). Bronze medalists at the Ali Aliyev were Abdulla Tsatsaev (RUS) and Rasul Asluev (BRN).
The biggest mover from October was Usmanov (RUS) who skyrockets seventeen spots up the rankings to #2 for wins over Kadimagomedov, Valiev (RUS), and Suchkov (RUS). Kadimagomedov drops one spot to #3 for his loss to #2 Akhmed Usmanov (RUS) at the Poddubny.
Valiev moves up eight spots in the rankings to #4 for two runner-up finishes to Usmanov at the second Ivan Poddubny tournament and at the Dmitri Korkin Memorial Invitational. Valiev beat #11 Kakhaber Khubezhty (RUS) and #4 Khalid Yakhiev (RUS) at the Poddubny to regain his top-five spot in the rankings.
Daulet Yergash (KAZ) debuts in the rankings at #16 for upsetting Starocci in the U23 world semifinals. Gamkrelidze (GEO) is back in the rankings at #15 for beating Yergash in the U23 world finals. Gamkrelidze was ranked earlier this year for taking bronze at the Senior European Championships where he had beaten 2014 Russian Nationals runner-up Yakup Shikhdzhamalov (ROU).
86KG
Amanulla Gadzhimagomedov (RUS) won the Yusup Abdusalamov tournament over Yusup-Khadzi Aidaev (RUS). Magomedzagid Karimov (RUS) and Magomed Gadzhimagomedov (RUS) took bronze.
Azret Ulimbashev (RUS) won the Alexander Krylov Memorial Tournament over German Ustinov (RUS) with Emil Ramazanov (RUS) taking bronze.
#3 Artur Naifonov (RUS) won the second Ivan Poddubny tournament over #7 Vladislav Valiev (RUS). Bronze medalists at the Poddubny were Rasul Tikhaev (BLR) and #15 Arsenali Musalaliev (RUS).
Tatsuya Shirai (JPN) won the U23 world title over Trent Hidlay (USA). Bronze medalists at the U23 world championships were Emre Ciftci (TUR) and Ivan Ichizli (MDA).
#7 (92) Vladislav Valiev (RUS) won the Dmitri Korkin Memorial over Naifonov (RUS). Bronze medalists at the Korkin were #19 Slavik Naniev (RUS) and #6 Malik Shavaev (RUS).
Zaur Makiev (RUS) won the Ali Aliyev over Zagid Karimov (RUS). Bronze medalists at the Ali Aliyev were Adam Anzorov (RUS) and Alan Naifonov (RUS).
Valiev (RUS) is back in the 86 KG rankings at #4 for splitting matches with Naifonov (RUS), finishing silver to Naifonov at the Poddubny and beating Naifonov for gold at the Korkin.
#8 Ada Bagomedov (RUS) is out of the rankings after losses to Musalaliev at the Poddubny and to Ramazan Bulatov (RUS) at the Ali Aliyev.
Zaur Makiev (RUS), Zagid Karimov (RUS), Adam Anzorov (RUS), and Omar Ziyautdinov (RUS) are in the rankings at #16, #17, #18, and #19 for their Ali Aliyev performances. Makiev beat Karimov, Karimov beat Anzorov who beat Ziyautdinov for bonze after Ziyautdinov had upset four-time Russian Nationals bronze medalist Musalaliev (RUS). Makiev>Karimov>Anzorov>Ziyautdinov>Musalaliev is the simple way to look at it. Musalaliev (RUS) falls five spots to #20 for his loss to #19 Omar Ziyautdinov (RUS) at the Ali Aliyev.
92KG
Ayur Nimaev (RUS) won the Alexander Krylov memorial tournament over Nurgen Sergin (RUS) with Nikita Sofronov (RUS) taking bronze.
#7 (86) Dauren Kurugliev (RUS) won the second Ivan Poddubny tournament over Alan Bagaev (RUS) with #6 Guram Chertkoev (RUS) taking bronze.
Two-time Junior world champion Amirhossein Firouzpour (IRI) won U23 world's over Jacob Cardenas (USA). #9 Feyzullah Akturk (TUR) and #12 Miriani Maisuradze (GEO) took bronze.
Mohammad Asami (IRI) won the Dmitri Korkin Memorial Tournament over #6 Guram Chertkoev (RUS) with #4 Osman Nurmagomedov (AZE) and Nurgun Sergin (RUS) taking bronze.
Kurugliev won the Ali Aliyev by forfeit over Khabib Gadzhiev (RUS). Bronze medalists at the Ali Aliyev were Khabi Khashpakov (RUS) and Gadzhimagomed Nazhmudinov (RUS).
Iran had the strongest results from this month with Asami and Firouzpourbandpei (IRI) entering the top ten. Asami enters the rankings at #5 for winning the Dmitri Korkin Memorial with wins over Nurmagomedov (AZE) and Chertkoev, while Firouzpourbandpei sits at #9 for beating Akturk and Cardenas to win the U23 world's.
Kurugliev (RUS) makes his debut in the 92 KG rankings at #4 for winning the second Ivan Poddubny tournament over Bagaev and winning the Ali Aliyev over Gadzhiev.
Cardenas debuts in the rankings at #14 for taking silver at the U23 world championships and upsetting Senior world bronze medalist Maisuradze in the semifinals.
Valiev dropped back down to 86 KG where he finished runner-up to Naifonov (RUS) at the second Ivan Poddubny tournament and then won the Korkin over Naifonov.
All-Russian Spartakiad champ Chertkoev plummeted in the rankings down to #16 after losses to #4 Kurugliev, Asami, and #15 Zelimkhan Minkailov (RUS). Bagaev bumps up five spots to #13 for beating Minkailov at the second Ivan Poddubny tournament after Minkailov had beaten Chertkoev.
#20 Magomed Sharipov, a Russian Nationals bronze medalist this season, transferred to Bahrain.
97KG
#10 Gadzhimagomed Tazhudinov (RUS) won the Yusup Abdusalamov tournament over Magomedarip Abdulkhalikov (RUS). Bronze medalists at the Abdusalamov were Tazhudin Mukhtarov (RUS) and Tamerlan Kotsoev (RUS).
Maxim Tolmachev (RUS) won the Alexander Krylov Memorial Tournament over Nikita Akulinchev (RUS) with Yuri Ivanov (RUS) taking bronze.
#18 Sergey Kozyrev (RUS) won the second Ivan Poddubny tournament over Zhorik Dzhioev (RUS) with #10 Gadzhimagomed Tazhudinov (RUS) and Soslan Dzhagaev (RUS) taking bronze.
Amiraali Azarpira (IRI) won his second U23 world title over Tanner Sloan (USA). Bronze medalists at the U23 world championships were Islam Ilyasov (AZE) and Vasyl Sova (UKR).
Kozyrev won the Dmitri Korkin Memorial Tournament over Aleksandr Hushtyn (BLR). Maxim Tolmachev (RUS) took bronze.
#14 Shamil Musaev (RUS) won the Ali Aliyev over Magomedrasul Mutaev (RUS). Bronze medalists at the Ali Aliyev were Ramazan Shakhbanov (RUS) and Magomedarip Abdulkhalikov (RUS).
Musaev (RUS) moves up four spots to #10 for winning the Ali Aliyev over Mutaev. This happened because Musaev beat Ramazan Shakhbanov (RUS) in the semis after Shakhbanov had upset #10 Gadzhimagomed Tazhudinov (RUS) in the quarters. Tazhudinov had beaten #11 Igor Ovsyannikov (RUS) at the All-Russian Spartakiad after Ovsyannikov had beaten 2022 Russian Nationals champ #12
Shakhbanov (RUS) is in the rankings at #12 for upsetting Tazhudinov at the Ali Aliyev and taking bronze. Shakhbanov's best finish prior to this was a fifth-place finish at the 2020 92 KG Russian Nationals.
Dzhioev debuts in the rankings at #13 for beating Tazhudinov at the second Ivan Poddubny Tournament. Kozyrev gets bumped up seven spots in the rankings to #11 for winning the Korkin and Poddubny with victories over Dzhioev (RUS) and Hushtyn.
Tazhudinov (RUS) drops four spots to #14 for losses to Shakhbanov (RUS) and Dzhioev at the Ali Aliyev and Poddubny respectively. Russian Nationals bronze medalist Tazhudinov transferred to Bahrain.
125KG
Abdurashid Gairbekov (RUS) won the Yusup Abdusalamov tournament over Yusup Batimurzaev (KAZ) by forfeit. Bronze medalists at the Abdusalamov were Magomedgadzhi Nurasulov (SRB) and Tamerlan Kumyshev (RUS).
Nikita Khabarov (RUS) won the Alexander Krylov Memorial Tournament over Andrey Aronov (RUS) with Shota Kortiev (RUS) taking bronze.
Soslan Khinchagov (RUS) won the second Ivan Poddubny Tournament over Znaur Kotsiev (RUS). Bronze medalists at the Poddubny were #11 Anzor Khizriev (RUS) and #6 Vitali Goloev (RUS).
#13 Amirreza Masoumi Valadi (IRI) won the U23 world championships title over Solomon Manashvili (GEO). Bronze medalists at the U23 world championships were #18 Tony Cassioppi (USA) and #19 Alisher Yergali (KAZ).
Reineris Salas Perez (CUB) won the Dmitri Korkin Memorial Tournament over #5 Erik Dzhioev (RUS). Bronze medalists at the Korkin were Khinchagov and Ostap Pasenok (RUS).
Abdulla Kurbanov (RUS) won the Ali Aliyev over Magomed Alichuev (RUS). Bronze medalists at the Ali Aliyev were #7 Khasan Khubaev (RUS) and Alan Khugaev (RUS).
As is the case when dealing with Russian heavyweights there is always so much turnover, so we have to start from the very beginning. Soslan Khinchagov (RUS) gets ranked at #8 for winning the Poddubny over Znaur Kotsiev (RUS) who debuts at #10. The reason for these rankings is because Khinchagov beat #6 Vitali Goloev (RUS) in the semis after Goloev had upset #5 Erik Dzhioev (RUS) in the quarters. Kotsiev is ranked because he beat #7 Khasan Khubaev (RUS) and #11 Anzor Khizriev (RUS) to make the finals.
Now, remember that win for Goloev over Dzhioev, because it'll be important when we fast forward to the Korkin where #5 Erik Dzhioev beats #8 Soslan Khinchagov in the semis, effectively negating his loss to #6 Vitali Goloev (RUS) at the Poddubny as Khinchagov had beaten Goloev in the Poddubny semis. So now, we have to add a Cuban and a Canadian to this equation because Reineris Salas Perez (CUB) goes and beats #5 Erik Dzhioev (RUS) in the finals of the Korkin which is huge for him and gets him ranked. But Salas had a 4-2 loss to Amarvheer Dhesi (CAN) at the world championships in September. So Dhesi has to be over Salas, but still, Salas needs to get appreciated for the work he did at the Korkin. So the final layout is Dhesi>Salas>Dzhioev>Khinchagov>Goloev>Kotsiev at #5, $6, #7, #8, #9, and #10 respectively.
97 KG Junior and U23 Russian Nationals champion Abdulla Kurbanov (RUS) won Ali Aliyev to debut in the heavyweight rankings at #11. Kurbanov's number eleven spot in the rankings is earned for his tech fall win over #7 Khasan Khubaev (RUS) in the semifinals.
Pound for Pound
2021 74 KG Olympic silver medalist #4 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (BLR) dropped nine spots in the rankings to #13 for his loss at the second Ivan Poddubny Tournament to Akhmed Usmanov (RUS). Akhmed Usmanov (RUS) returns to the pound-for-pound rankings at #12 for his win over #4 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (BLR). Usmanov's momentous September competition schedule saw him win titles at the second Ivan Poddubny tournament and at the Dmitri Korkin and skyrocket up seventeen spots in the 79KG rankings to #2 and return to the pound-for-pound rankings at #12 after a very inconsistent year that saw him fail to place at the Yarygin and Russian Nationals.
There was a major shuffle on the bottom half of the rankings from #14 to #25. So let's explain it on a macroscale before explaining it individually so as to prevent any confusion. Because of Russia's ban from international competition due to the current Russia vs. Ukraine war, they have increased their domestic competition frequency exponentially. So in a calendar year that would see the big competitions traditionally broken up like this: Yarygin, the Ali Aliyev, Senior/Junior/U23 Nationals, World's (for whoever won nationals or wrestle-offs) then the Umakhanov or the Alans at the end of the year. We've now almost doubled the competition frequency for major competitions with this year's schedule being the following: The Yarygin, Junior Nationals, 1st Ivan Poddubny Tournament, Senior Nationals, All-Russian Spartakiad, U23 Nationals, 2nd Ivan Poddubny tournament, Dmitri Korkin Memorial, Ali Aliyev.
This drastic increase in domestic competition frequency in Russia to accommodate for their international ban, means that the turnover at a rate for establishing new contenders and established guys falling off has been put on overdrive. A result of this new competition schedule is that the leaders of the weight can no longer sit out the majority of competition and only compete at the Yarygin or Nationals and have to wrestle more and increase their chance of losing more.
Now having explained why the Russian competition schedule is so important, let's talk about why there was a huge shift in the pound-for-pound rankings. So the first big news is that four-time World/Olympic medalist #18 Gadzhimurad Rashidov (RUS) is out of the pound-for-pound rankings altogether. Rashidov had wins over the pound-for-pound competition the likes of Haji Aliyev (AZE), Takuto Otoguro (JPN), Ismail Musukaev (HUN), and Rei Higuchi (JPN) and had been a consensus top ten pound-for-pound fixture for much of 2017-2022. But the pressure cooker that was Russia's domestic competition schedule this year saw him fail to win Russian Nationals after a semifinal loss to #9 (65) Gadzhimurad Omarov (RUS) and then lose again in the All-Russian Spartakiad to #5 (65) Shamil Mamedov (RUS). Rashidov at his peak was a top-five pound-for-pound talent, but his results this year have caused him to plummet in the 65 KG rankings and is currently ranked 10th internationally and 6th domestically in Russia. He simply has not had a pound-for-pound quality year and that happens, that doesn't mean he can't come back, but it'll be the first time in half a decade he'll be out of the pound-for-pound.
Now time to address the rest of 65 KG. Because the weight has been in such a state of turnover, and traditional pound-for-pound staples from Russia dropping like flies, 65 KG had to be rearranged in the pound-for-pound. #14 Rahman Amouzadkhalili (IRI), #15 Ismail Musukaev (HUN), and #16 Haji Aliyev (AZE) all dropped eight spots to #22, #23, and #24 respectively due to the ever-fluctuating nature of 65 KG and the trio not being able to establish a current resume worthy of a higher pound-for-pound ranking. #17 Shamil Mamedov (RUS) was cut from the pound-for-pound rankings for his loss in the finals of the 65 KG Dmitri Korkin Memorial Tournament to #25 Abdulmazhid Kudiev (RUS), who is in the rankings for his win over Mamedov.
To accommodate for the fluctuation of 65 KG, I bumped up all the other 2022 world champions who had previously been occupying the 19-25 spots. Getting the biggest bump in the rankings was 97 KG world champion #23 Kyle Snyder (USA), who moved up nine spots in the rankings to #14 off the strength of his four World/Olympic titles plus his win #2 Abdulrashid Sadulaev (RUS). #20 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RUS) moved up four spots to #16 for taking back his spot as Russia's #1 61 KG wrestler with a win over #17 Akhmed Idrisov (RUS) in the finals of the Dmitri Korkin Memorial. #24 Zelimkhan Abakarov (ALB) got bumped up six spots to #18 and he can't get higher because he has a loss to #16 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RUS) from the Yarygin and doesn't have a win over Magomedov this year like #17 Akhmed Idrisov (RUS) does.
92 KG world champion #21 Kamran Ghasempour (IRI), 70 KG world champion #25 Taishi Narikuni (JPN), and 125 KG #22 Taha Akgul (TUR) got bumped up to #19, #20, and #21 respectively. I put Narikuni up ahead of Akgul because while Akgul has more titles, the title that Narikuni won this year at 70KG holds greater pound-for-pound value than the barren wasteland that is 125KG.
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