David Taylor in the 2022 World finals (photo courtesy of Tony Rotundo; WrestlersAreWarriors.com)57 KG
#5 Zelimkhan Abakarov (ALB) won the Senior World championships over #3 Thomas Gilman (USA). Bronze medalists at the Senior World championships were Zanabazar Zandanbud (MGL) and Stevan Micic. Abakarov moves up three spots in the rankings to #2 for winning the Senior world championships with victories over Gilman, Micic, #5 Reineri Andreu Ortega (CUB) and #6 Gulomjon Abdullaev (UZB). Micic makes the biggest jump in the rankings after his performance in Belgrade, returning at #4 for his victories over Andreu Ortega, 2021 61 KG world bronze medalist #16 Toshihiro Hasegawa (JPN) and Asian championships runner-up #8 Rakhat Kalzhan (KAZ).
Reineri Andreu Ortega returns to the rankings at #5 for beating Abdullaev in repechage to make the bronze medal match where he lost to Micic. 2021 Olympic runner-up #2 Ravi Kumar (IND) drops five spots in the rankings to #7 after a round of 16 loss to Abdullaev. Zandanbud is in the rankings at #16 for beating Wanhao Zou (CHN) for bronze. Zou is in the rankings at #17 for victories over #12 Alireza Sarlak (IRI), #18 Aliabbas Rzazade (AZE), and #20 Darian Cruz (PUR). Cruz is into the rankings at #20 for beating European champion #17 Vladimir Egorov (MKD) in the round of 16.
Artem Gobaev won the U23 Russian Nationals over Zhargal Bayanduev. Rustam Zhilyasov and Alexander Kochevoi took bronze.
61KG
#3 Rei Higuchi (JPN) won the Senior World Championships over #4 Reza Atri (IRI). Bronze medalists at the Senior World championships were Narankhuu Narmandakh (MGL) and #5 Arsen Harutyunyan (ARM). Higuchi takes the number one spot in the rankings for victories at the world championships over Harutyunyan, #6 Seth Gross (USA), #9 Islam Dudaev (ALB), and Atri. Narmandakh is back into the rankings at #12 for beating #14 Ulukbek Zholdoshbekov (KGZ) and Georgi Vangelov (BUL) on his way to world bronze. Alexander Sabanov (RUS) takes the #20 spot in the rankings after winning U23 Russian Nationals over Gadzhimagomed Gadzhiev (RUS). Said Khunkerov (RUS) and Adam Arkhiev (RUS) took bronze at the U23 Russian Nationals championships.
65KG
#16 Rahman Amouzad took gold at the Senior world championships over #15 Yianni Diakomihalis (USA). Bronze medalists at the Senior World championships were #1 Ismail Musuakev (HUN) and #18 Bajrang Punia (IND). Amouzad skyrockets up the rankings to #1 for his victories over #1 Musukaev, #2 Haji Aliyev (AZE), and Diakomihalis. Diakomihalis moves up ten spots in the rankings to #5 for his runner-up finish, where he notched impressive victories over #11 Vazgen Tevanyan (ARM), #18 Punia, #19 Sebastian Rivera (PUR), and Vladimir Dubov (BUL). Punia made a strong return to form at the world championships with wins over two-time world bronze medalist Alejandro Valdes Tobier (CUB), #11 Tevanyan and #19 Rivera to win his fifth World/Olympic medal and move up seven spots in the rankings at #11. Rivera is back in the rankings at #19 for taking fifth at the world championships and beating Ziolkowski champion Tsogbadrakh Tseevensuren (MGL) in the quarterfinals. Rivera won the Matteo Pellicone and Grand Prix of Spain tournaments this year.
Dzhambulat Kizinov (RUS) makes his debut in the rankings at #9 for upsetting Senior Russian Nationals bronze medalist #7 Aripgadzhi Abdulaev (RUS) in the U23 Russian Nationals finals. Bronze medalists at the U23 Russian Nationals were Dalgat Abdulkadyrov (RUS) and Umar Umarov (RUS).
70KG
#10 Taishi Narikuni (JPN) won the Senior World Championships over #12 Zain Retherford (USA). Bronze medalists were #11 Ernazar Akmataliev (KGZ) and #19 Zurab Iakobishvili (GEO). Narikuni takes the number one spot in the rankings after victories over Akmataliev, Retherford, and #14 Ilyas Bekbulatov (UZB). While a trio of wins over guys in the lower half of the top twenty seems like an odd justification to warrant a number one spot in the rankings, remember that Akmataliev beat Evgheni Zherbaev (RUS) at last year's world championships and Zherbaev is the top-ranked man in Russia and beat former top-ranked #1 Israil Kasumov (RUS) to make the team and Narikuni beat Akmataliev twice this calendar year.
#19 Zurab Iakobishvili (GEO) moved up four spots for winning a world bronze medal by notching victories over #18 Servet Coskun (TUR) and #15 Arman Andreasyan (ARM). Bekbulatov returns to the rankings at #14 after making his world championships debut for Uzbekistan where he lost by tech fall to #1 Taishi Narikuni (JPN) and withdrew from the competition afterward. Bekbulatov has beaten world champions Soslan Ramonov, Frank Chamizo, Magomed Kurbanaliev, Nachyn Kuular, Haji Aliyev, and Logan Stieber and has top ten 70 KG wins over #4 Viktor Rassadin (RUS) and #7 Anzor Zakuev (RUS) but the thing with Bekbulatov that limits him is his frequent history of injuries plus choking in big international matches so 14 is the best he can do after coming off a year-long layoff and getting crushed in the world quarterfinals.
#6 Alan Kudzoev (RUS) has been removed from the rankings after moving up to 74 KG for the U23 Russian nationals championships where he was eliminated in the round 16 to Bisoltan Arslanov (RUS). Magomed-Emi Eitemeirov (RUS) won the U23 Russian Nationals championships over Gitin Gazimagomedov (RUS). Bronze medalists at the U23 Russian Nationals championships were Georgy Sekinaev (RUS) and Zaurbek Bugolov (RUS).
74KG
#2 Kyle Dake (USA) won his fourth world title over #3 Taimuraz Salkazanov (SVK). Bronze medalists at the world championships were #4 Frank Chamizo (ITA) and #16 Younes Emami (IRI). Emami makes a jump three spots up in the rankings to #13 for beating Islamic Solidarity Games champion #14 Turan Bayramov (AZE) in the quarterfinals. Daichi Takatani (JPN) makes his debut in the 74 KG rankings at #17 for beating #18 Nurkhoza Kaipanov (KAZ) in the qualification round. Salkazanov had ranked wins at the world championships over Chamizo (ITA), #12 Soner Demirtas (TUR), and Takatani (JPN). Dake's ranked wins were over Salkazanov and Emami.
Alexander Baltuev (RUS) won the U23 Russian Nationals over Umar Mutaliev (RUS). Bronze medalists at the U23 Russian Nationals were Saipulla Alibulatov (RUS) and Iman Ganishov (RUS)
79KG
#1 Jordan Burroughs (USA) won his eighth World/Olympic title over #3 Mohammad Nokhodilarimi (IRI). Bronze medalists at the world championships were #14 Vasyl Mykhailov (UKR) and Arsalan Budazhapov (KGZ). Mykhailov moves up eight spots in the rankings to #6 after an impressive run at the world championships that culminated with a world bronze medal after victories over #4 Bolat Sakaev (KAZ), #20 Bekzod Abdurakhmanov (UZB), Georgios Kougiomtsidis (GRE) and Ashraf Ashirov (AZE). Abdurakhmanov is back in the rankings at #20 for beating Iakub Shikhdzhamalov (ROU) and Muhammet Akdeniz (TUR).
Khalid Yakhiev (RUS) returns to the rankings at #4 for upsetting Senior Russian Nationals runner-up #6 Magomed Magomaev (RUS) in the finals of the U23 Russian Nationals championships. Bronze medalists at the U23 Russian Nationals championships were Idar Khatanov (RUS) and Ramazan Abuzagidov (RUS).
86KG
#2 David Taylor (USA) won his third World/Olympic title with a victory over #1 Hassan Yazdani Charati (IRI) in the finals of the Senior World Championships. Bronze medalists at the Senior World Championships were #12 Azamat Dauletbekov (KAZ) and Boris Makoev (SVK). Dauletbekov (KAZ) had an incredibly impressive world championships performance with wins over standout talents the likes of 2021 Olympic bronze medalist #10 Myles Amine (SMR), 2018 Yarygin bronze medalist Yurieski Torreblanca (CUB), 2018 world bronze medalist Taimuraz Friev (ESP) and Ethan Ramos (PUR). Due to the depth of the top half of 86 KG, Dauletbekov is only able to move up two spots to #10 but he absolutely put himself in the conversation of one of the most dangerous guys in the world outside of the trio of Taylor, Yazdani, and Naifonov.
Boris Makoev (SVK) made a strong return to the rankings at #12 after taking bronze at the world championships with a victory over #13 Sebastian Jezierzanski (POL). The reason for his strong return is his victory over #13 Sebastian Jezierzanski (POL) after Jezierzanski had upset #11 Fatih Erdin (TUR) in the qualification round. Tarsan Maisuradze (GEO) is in the rankings at #18 for beating 2021 world bronze medalist #20 Abubakr Abakarov (AZE) in the round of 16. Maisuradze was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Makoev. Senior Russian Nationals runner-up #5 Amanulla Rasulov (RUS) won U23 Russian Nationals over Arslan Bagaev (RUS). Bronze medalists at the U23 Russian Nationals were Ruslan Chertkoev (RUS) and Magomednabi Magomedov (RUS)
92KG
#1 Kamran Ghasempour (IRI) won his second 92 KG Senior World Championships title with a victory over #3 J'den Cox (USA). Bronze medalists at the Senior World championships were #13 Osman Nurmagomedov (AZE) and #14 Akhmed Bataev (BUL). Nurmagomedov moves up nine spots in the rankings to #4 for taking bronze at the world championships where he beat #8 Feyzullah Akturk (TUR) and #20 Radoslaw Marcinkiewicz (POL) and earns his #4 spot for his win finals win in the 2021 U23 world championships over #4 Azamat Zakuev (RUS). #14 Miriani Maisuradze (GEO) moves up two spots in the rankings to #12 for beating Bataev (BUL) to win world bronze.
Ashkab Saadulaev (RUS) won the U23 Russian Nationals championships over Shamil Gadzhialiev (RUS). Bronze medalists at the U23 Russian Nationals championships were Ivan Kirillov (RUS) and Ramazan Shabanov (RUS).
97KG
#2 Kyle Snyder (USA) won his fourth World/Olympic title by beating #4 Batyrbek Tsakulov (SVK) in the Senior World Championships finals. Bronze medalists were #5 Givi Matcharashvili (GEO) and #6 Magomedkhan Magomedov (AZE). Magomedov notched a small upset in the bronze medal match when he pinned #3 Mohammad Mohammadian (IRI). #5 Givi Matcharashvili (GEO) came back after trailing late to use a big four-point counter to beat #7 Vladislav Baitsaev (HUN). Tsakulov moves up one spot to #3 in the rankings for beating Matcharashvili and Baitsaev while #4 Mohammadian falls two spots to #6 for his loss to Magomedov. Matcharashvili ( moves up one spot to #4 for his world bronze medal win over #7 Baitsae along with his victory this year over fellow world bronze Magomedov at the Matteo Pellicone.
Soslan Dzhagaev (RUS) won the U23 Russian Nationals championships over Tamerlan Kotsoev (RUS). Bronze medalists at the U23 Russian Nationals championships were Yuri Ivanov (RUS) and Zhorik Dzhioev (RUS).
125KG
#2 Taha Akgul (TUR) won his fourth World/Olympic title by beating #12 Lkhagvagerel Munkhtur (MGL) in the Senior World Championships finals. Bronze medalists were #1 Amir Zare (IRI) and #3 Geno Petriashvili (GEO). Akgul moves up to the #1 spot for beating Zare in the semifinals and beating #12 Munkhtur in the finals. Munkhtur moves up nine spots in the rankings to #3 for beating Petriashvili in the semifinals of the Senior World Championships.
Abdulla Kurbanov (RUS) won the U23 Russian Nationals championships over Artem Pukhovsky (RUS). Bronze medalists at the U23 Russian Nationals championships were 2021 Junior world bronze medalists Andrey Bestaev (RUS) and Tamerlan Kumyshev (RUS).
Pound for Pound
Rei Higuchi (JPN) makes his return to the pound-for-pound rankings at #13 for winning the 61 KG world title and his 2016 57 KG Olympic silver medal. Higuchi has pound-for-pound wins over the likes of 2021 65 KG Olympic champion Takuto Otoguro (JPN) and past world champions Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez (CUB), Hassan Rahimi (IRI), and Kyong Il Yang (PRK). 65 KG world champion Rahman Amouzad (IRI) makes his debut in the pound-for-pound rankings at #14 for beating #13 Ismail Musukaev (HUN) and #16 Haji Aliyev (AZE) at the 65 KG Senior World Championships. Kyle Snyder (USA) is back in the rankings at #23 for his fourth World/Olympic championships at 97 KG. Zelimkhan Abakarov (ALB) is back in the rankings at #24 for winning the 57 KG world title over 2021 world champion #3 (57) Thomas Gilman (USA). Abakarov was a pound-for-pound staple in 2018 when he was the top-ranked 61 KG wrestler in the world going into the Russian National championships. The final entry into the pound-for-pound rankings is Taishi Narikuni (JPN) who gets in off the strength of winning the 70 KG world title.
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