Abdurakhmanov came to American University from Colby Community College, where he won two junior college titles -- the first at 157 and the second at 165. He originally hails from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where he was a junior national champion. Despite his freestyle credentials, when Abdurakhmanov signed with Cody at American, college wrestling enthusiasts didn't automatically expect a big impact. Accomplishments in other styles of wrestling don't always translate to success in college. For example, Lazaro Reinoso never won a Division II national championship, despite beating John Smith at the 1992 Olympics.
Mark Cody is in his fourth season as head coach at American University.Stock in Abdurakhmanov rose, however, just before the 2004-05 college wrestling season began. In late October, he competed in the Sunkist Open, where he beat NCAA champ Kirk White (4-1, 7-0) and NCAA runners-up Tyrone Lewis (2-4, 3-0, 3-0) and Jared Frayer (2-0, 4-0). In the finals, he lost a close match with Olympian and World bronze medalist (and three-time NCAA champ) Joe Williams 1-0, 2-0. Although this was still not folkstyle wrestling, the impressive list of opponents that Moose stormed through raised many eyebrows.
As the season started, Abdurakhmanov faced standing NCAA runner-up Jake Percival at the finals of the Mat Town invitational. Percival had just come off a big (11-7) victory over Ryan Bertin at the 2004 NWCA All Star Classic and took Bertin down three times in the first period.
Against Abdurakhmanov, Percival's impressive takedown skills were not as successful. Instead, it was Moose with three first-period takedowns before Percival had to default from an injury. After that match, even though it was a default, college wrestling followers had no choice but to view Abdurakhmanov as a force in the talented 157-pound DI field.
However, as the season went on, the grind of college wrestling seemed to diminish Abdurakhmanov's effectiveness. He sustained a rib injury in the semifinals of the Midlands and then injured his knee in the second round of the EIWA Tournament. Moreover, the weight cut became increasingly difficult. He entered the 2005 NCAA Championships with only a single loss and the fourth seed. He exited the competition 2-2 and left many wrestling fans scratching their heads.
This season, Abdurakhmanov has moved back up to 165. He again had an impressive, early season win against Minnesota's Matt Nagel. On paper, Nagel seemed like a tough opponent for Abdurakhmanov: a physical, well-conditioned Big Ten wrester with great defense and strong riding skills. However, Moose had little trouble and came out on top with a 13-3 major decision. (Ironically, like Percival the year before, Nagle was coming off a big win at the NWCA All-Star Classic against standing NCAA champ Johny Hendricks). So once again the expectation meter for this European standout is spiking. But because of how last season ended, skepticism remains -- and answers as to how he stacks up against top competition in tournament situations are not immediately forthcoming. Abdurakhmanov did not compete at the Midlands Championships over the weekend.
"It was my decision to hold him," said Cody. "He's one hundred percent healthy, but he got injured there last year and I want to keep him fresh."
Therefore, the rest of the regular season will not only deny opportunities for fans to see Abdurakhmanov face the top names in the weight class, but will also not give these wrestlers an opportunity to test out any game plan against him. Cody clarifies it's all about his athlete staying healthy and not scouting.
"Even if they did, Muzaffar has such great technique, I don't think it would matter," said Cody. "I think he's a difficult opponent to scout against. If you stop one thing, he'll just go to something else."
What is possibly most surprising about this European star is how strong he is from the bottom position.
"This guy can get off bottom as good as anyone I've coached," said Cody. "Our main focus has been on top. We've been working very hard on his riding."
When asked about position choice in a potential EIWA finals match-up against Troy Letters (known for his powerful crab ride), Cody remained confident.
"You have to see how a match goes, but I would feel good about him taking down," said Cody.
RevWrestling.com's Tom Franck went one-on-one with the enigmatic European dark horse of college wrestling.
Muzaffar Abdurakhmanov was a national champion in Uzbekistan.Abdurakhmanov: We don't have it like here, like NCAA. We don't have it like that. But we mostly have like club. You can say it's a club, but it's just special places where you can learn wrestling.
Do you have dual meets or is it mostly tournaments?
Abdurakhmanov: Mostly tournaments. We have dual meets maybe if other countries come or if you go there. But not a lot. Mostly only for seniors. We don't have dual meets for young guys. But sometimes maybe our neighbors from, like, Kazakhstan, if they come, we may wrestle. But not a lot.
How long is the season? Or is it year round?
Abdurakhmanov: The season is the whole year. No break for that. Like in here, after the season, everybody takes a break for a little while. But there -- no way. You're training the whole year, especially in summer. They go for camps. Month and a half, two months, like three months. Usually we train whole year with no stop.
Are there any tournaments that you try and peak for?
Abdurakhmanov: Yeah. Like nationals for certain age.
How did you wind up in the US?
Abdurakhmanov: I talked to my friends who went to Colby, who I training before. And then one day he called me he said come over to America to wrestle and you'll have education for that, no? And after that, I just decided to come. It's hard first time when I get here. I have no idea how I'm going to speak English. I never learned English before. And I'm never thinking about learning English someday. And life is full of surprises.
What was your experience like at Colby?
Abdurakhmanov: I liked it a lot, but first year was like frustrating because my English was so bad. I can't understand what my teachers were saying. Collegiate -- it's different for me because I never wrestle college style.
Was it difficult to learn to get out from the bottom position?
Abdurakhmanov (laughs): Oh yeah. How you know, freestyle is…you don't have to get out. It's hard to learn, but I think now I'm okay. After like three years.
Coach Cody said that he thought what made you so desirable to college coaches was that you could get out on the bottom -- even when you were at Colby.
Abdurakhmanov: Yeah. First year I had pretty good partners who were good on top. And my coach at Colby is a pretty good coach. And he taught me a lot on top and bottom. And by the second semester, I felt I was getting better on bottom.
When you were at Colby, did you know you wanted to go Division I after your two years?
Abdurakhmanov: Yes. I wanted to go to Division I because it was kind of my goal.
What did you think you needed to make the transition from junior college to Division I?
Abdurakhmanov: It's tougher guys. It's much harder practices. You have to be in really good shape. It's a bit different from junior college. But now, I think I'm fine because it's my second year working with Coach Cody and he is doing a really good job with everybody. He knows everything we need. He's been coaching for a long time and he knows what he's doing. Especially coming from a top program like Oklahoma State, Nebraska, you know? He's been around good guys and he's coached a lot of good wrestlers. And I think he has really good experience. For me, it's worked great. I like to train with Coach Cody.
Muzaffar Abdurakhmanov is currently ranked third in the country at 165Abdurakhmanov: It's freestyle. I felt great over there because I did not cut weight. I think when I'm not cutting weight I feel good. It kind of helps me rather than cut weight and then wrestle.
What was the decision like to go 157 your first year at American? You had won your junior college national title the year before at 165.
Abdurakhmanov: Yeah. When I won at 65, I weighed like 166, 165 and I thought, 'It's only eight pounds, you know?' At end of the season, my weight is going up. It's like, I weigh a lot, but I can't go 165. I have to make the weight at 57. It kind of knocked me out.
Do you think your two injuries had anything to do with you cutting so much weight?
Abdurakhmanov: Some coaches tell me like if you're cutting too much weight sometimes your muscles will be weak. So that's when you get the most injuries. I can't say it's because of that. It's wrestling -- anything can happen.
So how do you feel now at 165?
Abdurakhmanov: I feel good, you know? I don't have to worry about cut weight. I just training and training. Eat good, you know? It's wrestling, you don't know again. So far, I feel good.
In looking at the remainder of your schedule, it appears you won't face any of the wrestlers currently ranked ahead of you during the regular season. Do you think this benefits you in that it doesn't give them a chance to study you? Or would you rather face some of the top ranked guys?
Abdurakhmanov: I don't know. In college everybody knows each other. It's who is most ready. I think I just see one time what he's doing. It's in my mind. I just got to be ready for that - but still wrestle my style, you know what I mean? Sometimes it doesn't help even when you see that, you know? Guys good on top moves. He's going to do anyway. You just go and wrestle, I think.
What do you think you need to do to win the NCAA title this year?
Abdurakhmanov: Just stay healthy and do everything coach says. And you know, hopefully wrestle how I can wrestle.
After the season, what are your plans?
Abdurakhmanov: I like to be a coach and still competing -- like everybody's doing here.
Will you try and make the Uzbekistan national team?
Abdurakhmanov: I don't know. I'm not thinking about that yet. First, I need to finish school and get coaching job if I can. And then we'll see.
Do you miss freestyle?
Abdurakhmanov: Oh yes. It's a good style.
Would you like another shot at Joe Williams?
Abdurakhmanov: Oh yes. Why not? He's a good wrestler. Wrestling him is fun, you know?
What do you think you would need to do to beat him?
Abdurakhmanov (laughs): Joe Williams is doing a double leg with everybody, you know what I mean? It's like what I was talking about. If he is good on some move, he's going to do it anyway. I mean, I knew before I wrestled him I knew he's going to shoot a double leg and he still got it. I think everybody in the world knows his double leg.
Do you still follow world wrestling closely?
Abdurakhmanov: Oh yes.
What do you think the US needs to do to improve at the World Championships?
Abdurakhmanov (laughing): They have to stop collegiate and spend all the time on freestyle. They spend all this time on collegiate and then they've got to change style to freestyle. This is why in Russia a 20 years guy, 19-year-old guy -- world champion, Olympic champion, you know what I mean? Because they wrestle in that style in all their lives and don't have to change it.
Best of luck with the rest of the season.
Abdurakhmanov: Thanks a lot. I appreciate it. I need that.
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now