2023 Senior worlds September 16-24

[zzs006]

Freestyle entries released for 2023 World Championships | United World Wrestling

United World Wrestling has released the freestyle entries for the 2023 World Championships.

uww.org

All entries have been released. Here are the men’s freestyle competitors. Men’s freestyle is also the first group to compete.

I’m happy to do another weight by weight breakdown if people are interested. Obviously, most of these guys are more well known than the guys at the U20 level but I thought it was helpful having a resource with everyone’s credentials I could easily check. If you guys are into it I’ll start in the next few days and do all of the men’s freestyle weights

 

[zzs006]

The US has 2 people listed at each weight. I think the second person is the training partner brought along. At 74kg Facundo is listed along with Dake, Bartlett listed with Nick Lee, and SVN is listed with Retherford. That is a huge deal for BB, SVN and Facundo. At 86kg McIntosh is listed with DT.

 

[hlstone]

The US has 2 people listed at each weight. I think the second person is the training partner brought along. At 74kg Facundo is listed along with Dake, Bartlett listed with Nick Lee, and SVN is listed with Retherford. That is a huge deal for BB, SVN and Facundo. At 86kg McIntosh is listed with DT.

Thanks for sharing that great news!

 

[backdrft76]

I’m happy to do another weight by weight breakdown if people are interested.

Yes, please!! You did a great job with U20's.

 

[jrod65]

I’m happy to do another weight by weight breakdown if people are interested.

 

[zzs006]

You guys seem into it so I’ll start doing them tonight. I have a bit more time until worlds but the weights are also much larger. I’ll definitely do the men’s freestyle and if I have time I might do some of the women’s.

 

[hlstone]

You guys seem into it so I’ll start doing them tonight. I have a bit more time until worlds but the weights are also much larger. I’ll definitely do the men’s freestyle and if I have time I might do some of the women’s.

Not all heros wear capes my friend.

 

[AgSurfer]

Not all heros wear capes my friend.

Don’t forget that Dracula wears a cape! 😁

 

[hlstone]

Don’t forget that Dracula wears a cape! 😁

Meh, Dracula is cool.

 

[katsujinken]

Interesting, all the Americans listed 2nd are training partners, at 65kg Otoguro is listed as the second wrestler from Japan... did he lose his spot?

 

[zzs006]

Interesting, all the Americans listed 2nd are training partners, at 65kg Otoguro is listed as the second wrestler from Japan... did he lose his spot?

No, he didn’t. He is their rep at 65kg. One of the potential biggest matches is him vs Amouzad

 

[zzs006]

57kg

US rep-Zane Richards
2 time AA for University of Illinois. 4 time national qualifier.
2023 4th ranking series-3rd
2023 Zagreb Open-5th (lost to Aman and Nishiuchi)
Beat past world champion and 2022 world silver Thomas Gilman to make the team

Top competitors-

Zaur Uguev-AIN(Russia)
2018 Senior worlds-1st
2019 Senior worlds-1st
2021 Olympics-1st

Suleyman Atli-TUR
2017 Senior Euro’s-3rd
2019 Senior Euro’s-1st
2020 Senior Euro’s-2nd
2021 Senior Euro’s-1st
2022 Senior Euro’s-2nd
2023 Senior Euro’s-2nd
2016 Olympics-16th
2021 Olympics-11th
2018 Senior worlds-3rd
2021 Senior worlds-5th
2022 Senior worlds-8th
2023 Ibrahim Moustafa-1st

Gulomjon Abdullaev-UZB
2021 Olympics-7th (teched by Gilman)
2022 Senior worlds-7th

Almaz Smanbekov-KGZ
2023 4th ranking series event-2nd
2023 3rd ranking series event-1st
2023 senior Asians-2nd

Aman Aman-IND
I found multiple guys listed with this name with a few around the same weight. This is my best guess
2021 cadet worlds-1st (beat Lilledahl in finals)
2023 Senior Asians-1st

Wanhao Zou-CHN
2022 Senior worlds-5th
2023 3rd ranking series event-3rd
2023 4th ranking series event-1st
2023 Senior Asians-5th

Georgi Vangelov-BUL
2015 Senior worlds-8th
2021 Senior worlds-7th
2022 Senior worlds-5th
2023 Senior Euro’s-3rd

Aliabbas Rzazade-AZE
2021 U23 worlds-1st
2022 Senior worlds-13th
2022 Senior Euro’s-2nd
2023 Zagreb open-1st
2023 Senior Euro’s-1st

Aryan Tsiutryn-AIN
2021 Senior worlds-3rd

Arsen Harutyunyan-ARM
2017 Junior worlds-3rd
2018 Junior worlds-3rd
2021 U23 worlds-1st
2021 Senior worlds-3rd
2022 U23 worlds-1st
2022 Senior worlds-3rd at 61kg
2023 Senior Euro’s-1st at 61kg

Zanabazar Zandanbud-MGL
2019 U23 worlds-5th
2022 Senior worlds-3rd
2023 Senior Asians-5th

Rei Higuchi-JPN
2016 Olympics-2nd
2018 Senior worlds-1st
2022 Senior Asians-1st
2022 Senior worlds-1st at 61kg

Zelimkhan Abakarov-ALB
2022 Senior worlds-1st (beat Gilman in finals)
2023 4th ranking series event-1st at 61kg (beat Vito)
2023 Senior Euro’s-2nd (lost to Harutyunyan)

Milad Valizadeh-IRI
Late replacement. No real good results of any kind
2023 4th ranking series event-9th (lost to Richard’s 17-6)

Update-Russians wrestlers weren’t listed on the initial release so I forgot to add them in. Just went back and added Uguev who is absolutely a gold medal contender. I still am picking Higuchi but Uguev is 1B to Higuchi’s 1A in my mind. The crazy thing is that both of these guys will be unseeded and just drawn in so they could actually meet first round. I’m really hoping for separation among the top guys or Richards on the easier side but we will just have to wait and see. 3 past world champions in this weight will make for some great wrestling

Very solid weight with very good depth and star power as well. I’m picking Higuchi but Abakarov, Harutyunyan, Rzazade, Aman, and Atli could all end up winning this weight. Higuchi absolutely killed everyone at worlds last year. His closest match was 15-7 against Gross and he teched everyone else 10-0. Richard’s is one of the weaker wrestlers on team USA but has been wrestling well especially beating Gilman in 2 straight matches. I think he can place if he gets a good draw but I don’t think it happens. 5th to 7th seems more likely to me. Iran probably doesn’t score any points here which definitely hurts them in the team race. They have a couple injuries which could prove big. I’m interested to see how Higuchi looks at 57kg after competing at 61kg. Smart to come down now in preparation for the Olympics next year. If he does slip up I think Harutyunyan is the next best guy especially after beating Abakarov at Euro’s even though it was at 61kg. Will definitely be a fun weight to watch

 

[Ian]

The US has 2 people listed at each weight. I think the second person is the training partner brought along. At 74kg Facundo is listed along with Dake, Bartlett listed with Nick Lee, and SVN is listed with Retherford. That is a huge deal for BB, SVN and Facundo. At 86kg McIntosh is listed with DT.

Snyder has Mike Machavello and Gable has Parris with him.

 

[STAND with PRIDE]

Snyder has Mike Machavello and Gable has Parris with him.

Never thought Gable thought much of Parris,he never showed him much respect on the mat anyway. Musta just been him practicing for WWE.

 

[AgSurfer]

Meh, Dracula is cool.

Dracula sucks!

 

[El-Jefe]

WIN Magazine lightweight preview:

2023 UWW Worlds Preview: 57k MFS, 55k GR, 50k WF - WIN Magazine

Photos: Zane Richards (men’s freestyle), Sarah Hildebrandt (women’s freestyle) and Brady Koontz (Greco-Roman) will compete in the lightest weight class of their wrestling style at the 2023 UWW Senior World Championships in September. (Photos by Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) The 2023...

www.win-magazine.com

 

[zzs006]

61kg

US rep-Vito Arujau
4time HS state champion. Record of 216-1 in hs
2019 NCAA-4th
2022-NCAA-3rd
2023-NCAA-1st
2016 cadet worlds-2nd
2019 junior worlds-2nd
2022 U23 worlds-10th
2023 pan-ams-1st
2023 4th ranking series event-3rd

Top competitors-

Abasgadzhi Magomedov-AIN (Russia)
2015 cadet worlds-2nd (lost to Otoguro)
2018 junior worlds-1st
2021 senior Euros-1st
2021 senior worlds-1st

Taiyrbek Zhumashbek Uulu-KGZ
2022 U23 Asians-1st
2022 U23 worlds-2nd
2023 Ibrahim Moustafa-1st
2023 3rd ranking series event-1st
2023 senior Asians-1st

Reza Atri-IRI
2018 senior worlds-11th
2019 senior worlds-5th
2021 Olympics-5th (lost to Gilman)
2022 senior worlds-2nd
2023 Zagreb open-1st

Stevan Micic-SRB
2019 senior worlds-5th
2022 senior worlds-3rd
2023 senior Euros-7th @ 65kg

Narankhau Narmandakh-MGL
2021 U23 worlds-3rd
2022 senior worlds-3rd
2023 Zagreb open-2nd

Emrah Ormanoglu-TUR
2021 senior worlds-9th
2022 U23 worlds-3rd
2023 Zagreb open-3rd
2023 senior Euros-3rd
2023 3rd ranking series event-3rd

Ossimzhan Dastanbek-KAZ
2023 U23 Asians-2nd
2023 4th ranking series event-2nd

Shota Phartenadze-GEO
2023 Senior Euros-3rd

Kodai Ogawa-JPN
2023 senior Asians-5th but only lost to Uulu 4-1 and Atri 7-4

Overall 61kg is a pretty weak weight. Lost some of the best guys going up or down in preparation for the Olympics next year. That said, Abasgadzhi Magomedov is a complete hammer. To me he is the favorite to win gold. Vito should absolutely medal and depending on the draw he could make the finals. He does scare me though because in the past you were never quite sure which Vito was going to show up. When he is on he’s one of the best in the world but at times that version doesn’t show up and he takes some inexplicable losses. He seems to have gotten that under control in the past year though and the best version has been showing up consistently. The other thing that scares me though is that he continues to get in shoot outs and much like I said about Bouzakis at U20’s that is a tough way to win multiple matches. He did it at trials but he can’t afford to wrestle that way at worlds. If he tightens up his defense he can go with anyone in the world. Zhumashbek Uulu is the other contender for gold. He lost to Magomedov in March in a close match but otherwise he has been on a roll winning everything he has entered. He teched Nick Lee at 65kg at the Farrell earlier this year. Reza Atri is always a tough competitor and should be in the medal hunt as well. I’ll be repeating this a ton but all of the Russian wrestlers will not be seeded and will be drawn into the bracket. This makes it super tough to predict anything but I have Magomedov, Uulu, and Vito as my top 3. Not a deep weight at all but still some absolute studs at the top.

 

[jrod65]

Schedule(graphic in Central time)

 

[zzs006]

65kg

US rep-Nick Lee
Cadet and junior national champion in hs
5 time NCAA AA for PSU
2 time NCAA national champion
118-13 college record at PSU
2023 Zagreb open-7th
2023 4th ranking series event-2nd

Top competitors-

Rahman Amouzad-IRI
2018 cadet worlds-1st
2019 cadet worlds-1st
2021 junior worlds-1st
2021 senior worlds-11th
2022 senior worlds-1st
2023 senior Asians-1st

Takuto Otoguro-JPN
2015 cadet worlds-1st
2018 senior worlds-1st
2019 senior worlds-5th
2020 senior Asians-1st
2021 senior Asians-1st
2021 Olympics-1st

Shamil Mamedov-AIN (Russia)
2021 junior worlds-1st
2022 Yaser Dogu-1st

Tulga Tumur-Ochir-MGL
2018 senior worlds-7th
2019 senior worlds-5th
2021 senior worlds-3rd
2021 Olympics-9th
2023 Zagreb open-1st
2023 3rd ranking series event-1st
2023 4th ranking series event-1st
2023 senior Asians-2nd (lost to Amouzad)

Ismail Musukaev-HUN
2019 senior worlds-3rd (beat Otoguro, lost to Rashidov)
2022 senior Euros-1st
2022 senior worlds 3rd (lost to Amouzad, beat Aliyev)
2023 Zagreb open-5th (teched Nick Lee, lost to Evan Henderson)

Haji Aliyev-AZE
2014 senior Euros-1st
2014 senior worlds-1st
2015 senior worlds-1st
2016 Olympics-3rd
2017 senior worlds-1st
2018 senior euros-1st
2019 senior euros-1st
2021 Olympics-2nd
2022 senior euros-2nd
2022 senior worlds-5th

Abdulmazhid Kudiev-TJK
2021 U23 Asians-2nd
2023 U23 Asians-1st
2023 3rd ranking series event-3rd
2023 senior Asians-11th

Umidjon Jalolov-UZB
2017 cadet worlds-2nd
2018 cadet worlds-1st
2019 cadet worlds-1st
3022 U20 worlds-1st

Ikromzhon Khadzhimurodov-KGZ
2021 senior Asians-3rd
2023 3rd ranking series event-3rd
2023 4th ranking series event-3rd

Vazgen Tevanyan-ARM
2021 Olympics-14th
2021 senior worlds-9th
2021 U23 worlds-2nd
2022 U23 worlds-1st
2022 senior worlds-11th
2023 Ibrahim Moustafa-1st
2023 senior Euros-1st

Alejandro VALDES Tobier-CUB
2017 senior worlds-3rd
2018 senior worlds-3rd
2019 senior worlds-11th
2022 senior worlds-12th

Sujeet Sujeet-IND
2022 U20 worlds-3rd

65kg is in my estimation the toughest weight in the world. Absolute hammers everywhere. At the top of the pecking order is defending world champion Amouzad and past Olympic and world champion Otoguro. Otoguro did not wrestle at all last year but he has been one of the best in the world no matter the weight in the past. Amouzad has been on a 2 year roll where he has been winning everything. Last year he beat Yianni in the world finals.

The next group which is only slightly behind them is Mamedov, Aliyev, and Tumur-Ochir. Mamedov is a bit of a question mark as Russia hasn’t competed much lately but he won Russian nationals and therefore he has to be considered a threat. Tumur-Ochir is the guy that I could see upsetting Amouzad or Otoguro. He lost to Amouzad at Asians but otherwise he has been killing everyone lately. Haji Aliyev is a legend in the sport but his best days might be behind him. He lost to Andrew Alirez earlier this year which doesn’t bode well for him here but he is still dangerous and someone no one will want to meet at this tournament.

Musukaev is the biggest wildcard maybe in the entire tournament. When he is on he is absolutely one of the best in the world but you never know which version of him will show up. A great example is earlier this year at the Zagreb where he teched Nick Lee with ease but then lost to Evan Henderson 2 matches later. He is never in shape as well so if the match goes deep he is likely to gas. Still, he is super dynamic and can beat anyone. I just can’t see him putting 4 or 5 great matches together in a row.

Tevanyan is the one last foreigner I will mention. He’s super tough and just won Euro’s so he can definitely do damage here.

As much as I love Nick Lee I have a hard time seeing him place here. He beat last years silver medalist Yianni to make the team which gives me some hope but this weight is so tough and he doesn’t have good results against the guys he faced. Musukaev and Tumur-Ochir have both teched him 10-0 recently. My other positive thought is that the brain trust at the NLWC will come up with good game plans for him especially since he has wrestled some of these guys lately. Nick needs to continue to tighten up his defense and not shoot himself out of matches. His game plan against Musukaev was horrible especially knowing his propensity to gas. If he can handfight hard and push matches deeper where his conditioning can be a weapon I think he has a chance to maybe wrestle for a medal. Much more likely is him finishing in the 5th to 9th area. I really hope I’m wrong and beating Yianni was just the beginning of his upswing

One last thing…this weight has a bunch of Americans representing other countries. There is Austin Gomez (MEX), Colin Realbuto (ITA), Josh Finesilver (ISR), and Sebastian Rivera (PUR). Lachlan McNeil is representing his home country of Canada but wrestles for the University of North Carolina. I think it’s great seeing kids that couldn’t make the US world team getting a chance to continue competing at the highest level. I think it’s showing the level of talent in the US just continues to rise

 

[El-Jefe]

 

[nerfstate]

View embedded media

Kyle Snyder deserves special recognition for how much he competes when he doesn’t have to. I guess the 1 seed will have to do.

 

[matter7172]

View embedded media

Defending World champion David Taylor as the 7 seed is a real headscratcher.

 

[Chickenman Testa]

Defending World champion David Taylor as the 7 seed is a real headscratcher.

That 2nd seed is not pleased.

 

[vhsalum]

Defending World champion David Taylor as the 7 seed is a real headscratcher.

Have to compete. Can't just sit on previous World's finishes and receive top seeds. It's a good thing.

DT didn't even go to Pan Ams.

 

[Sullivan]

Have to compete. Can't just sit on previous World's finishes and receive top seeds. It's a good thing.

DT didn't even go to Pan Ams.

DT gets more competition in his own room, than what he gets at Pan Ams.

 

[ss7]

DT gets more competition in his own room, than what he gets at Pan Ams.

That may be true. But unfortunately, he doesn't get any ranking points.

 

[El-Jefe]

Defending World champion David Taylor as the 7 seed is a real headscratcher.

Somebody at UWW really wants him to win OW.

 

[CholleyVandine]

Kyle Snyder deserves special recognition for how much he competes when he doesn’t have to. I guess the 1 seed will have to do.

Hopefully, the unseeded Sadulaev is drawn into the other half of the bracket, or the number 1 seed doesn't do much at all

 

[zzs006]

Defending World champion David Taylor as the 7 seed is a real headscratcher.

The only thing that really matters is him and Yazdani will be on opposite sides of the bracket.

 

[zzs006]

So UWW just changed their website and you can no longer look up everyone’s results (or I might not be smart enough to figure out how). They have the top 20 ranked guys in each weight (except 57 and 79 which they have like 80 guys) and I can look up their results but in most weights only a handful of those 20 are actually going to worlds. It’s a pain in the ass now. So anyways, I think I still pieced together the main competitors but I doubt I have full results for most of them. Hopefully UWW will continue working on the site and make it so results can be seen for anyone

 

[STAND with PRIDE]

DT gets more competition in his own room, than what he gets at Pan Ams.

Understatement of the year.

 

[zzs006]

70kg

US rep-Zain Retherford
2012 cadet worlds-1st
4 time NCAA AA
3 time NCAA champ-2016, 2017, 2018
Overall record of 128-3
2 time Hodge winner
Represented the US at worlds 4 times (17, 19, 22, and 23)
2022 Zouhaier Sghaier-1st
2022 senior worlds-2nd
2023 pan-and-1st

Top competitors-

Ernazar Akmataliev-KGZ
2021 senior worlds-2nd
2021 U23 worlds-1st
2022 senior Asians-2nd
2022 senior worlds-3rd
2023 Ibrahim Moustafa-1st
2023 3rd ranking series event-3rd
2023 4th ranking series event-5th

Evgheni Zherbaev-AIN (Russia)
2019 Russian Nationals-3rd
2021 Russian Nationals-2nd
2021 senior worlds-3rd
2023 Russian Nationals-1st

Ihor Nykyforuk-UKR
2019 U23 worlds-3rd
2021 senior Euro’s-3rd
2023 Ibrahim Moustafa-3rd
2023 4th ranking series event-1st
2023 senior Euro’s-3rd

Amir Yazdani-IRI
2015 cadet worlds-2nd
2021 senior worlds-2nd
2022 Yaser Dogu-1st
2022 U23 worlds-2nd
2023 4th ranking series event-5th

Ramazan Ramazanov-BUL
2022 senior Euro’s-3rd
2022 senior worlds-7th
2023 senior Euro’s-2nd

Sanzhar Doszhanov-KAZ
2023 4th ranking series event-3rd
2023 senior Asians-1st

Giorgi Elbakidze-GEO
2021 U23 worlds-5th
2022 U23 worlds-1st
2023 Ibrahim Moustafa-3rd
2023 Zagreb open-3rd
2023 3rd ranking series event-5th

Arman Andreasyan-ARM
2018 junior worlds-5th
2021 senior Euros-3rd
2021 senior worlds-5th
2022 senior Euros-2nd
2022 senior worlds-5th

Magomed Khaniev-AZE
2023 Yaser Dogu-1st
2023 U23 Euros-1st

Mulaym Yadav-IND
2022 U20 Asians-2nd
2022 U20 worlds-3rd

Yoshinosuke Aoyagi-JPN
2019 cadet worlds-3rd
2022 U20 worlds-3rd
2023 senior Asians-3rd

Servet Coskun-TUR
2022 senior worlds-8th
2023 3rd ranking series event-3rd

Zafarbek Otakhanov-UZB
2023 U20 worlds-10th
2023 senior Asians-2nd

Another non-Olympic weight so the depth and star power isn’t great but there are quite a few guys all around the same level so it should be fun.

Zain comes in as the favorite and I absolutely see him coming home with gold this year. Narikuni, his finals opponent from last year decided to wrestle greco this year so will not be back to defend his title. I think Zain continues to get better the more freestyle he wrestles and I expect to see the best version of him yet.

I feel like the next tier is just Zherbaev and Akmataliev. Akmataliev has taken 2nd and 3rd at the past 2 worlds so he wrestles well when it counts. Zherbaev won Russian Nationals over a tough field and like most of the Russian team has to be considered one of the best in the weight.

After the top 3 there is a much larger group of tough guys that can do damage but I have a hard time seeing them put 4 or 5 great matches together in a row. Baby Yaz is the most well known in this group and has won silver at worlds before but that was in 2021. His results have been up and down since then but he has the skill to beat anyone at this weight if he is on. Nykyforuk, Ramazanov, Doszhanov, and Andreasyan all have good results and should definitely be in the medal hunt.

Yadav, Aoyagi, and Otakhanov are all very young but have a few good results and are representing countries with great wrestling tradition. I’ll be watching them to see if they can breakthrough at this level and make a name for themselves.

 

[vhsalum]

So UWW just changed their website and you can no longer look up everyone’s results (or I might not be smart enough to figure out how). They have the top 20 ranked guys in each weight (except 57 and 79 which they have like 80 guys) and I can look up their results but in most weights only a handful of those 20 are actually going to worlds. It’s a pain in the ass now. So anyways, I think I still pieced together the main competitors but I doubt I have full results for most of them. Hopefully UWW will continue working on the site and make it so results can be seen for anyone

UnF-ing believable.

All the matches are gone too. I’ll never understand organizations that allow an “update” to their website - and lose all their data.

Same thing happened to NHSCA. You used to be able to look at every single bracket for all years past. Now? Gone.

 

[matter7172]

The only thing that really matters is him and Yazdani will be on opposite sides of the bracket.

Does it, though?

 

[zzs006]

74kg

US rep-Kyle Dake
4 time NCAA champion for Cornell
2018 senior worlds-1st
2019 senior worlds-1st
2021 Olympics-3rd
2021 senior worlds-1st
2022 senior worlds-1st

Top competitors-

Zaurbek Sidakov-AIN (RUS)
2015 junior worlds-3rd
2018 senior worlds-1st
2019 senior Euro’s-1st
2019 senior worlds-1st
2021 Olympics-1st

Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov-AIN (BLR)
2020 senior Euro’s-1st
2021 Olympics-2nd

Tajmuraz Salkazanov-SVK
2018 U23 worlds-1st
2019 senior worlds-3rd
2021 senior Euros-1st
2021 senior worlds-2nd
2022 Matteo Pellicone-1st
2022 senior Euros-1st
2022 senior worlds-2nd
2023 senior Euros-1st

Frank Chamizo-ITA
2015 senior worlds-1st
2016 Olympics-3rd
2017 senior worlds-1st
2019 senior worlds-2nd
2021 senior Euros-3rd
2021 Olympics-5th
2022 senior Euros-2nd
2023 senior Euros-2nd

Younes Emami-IRI
2017 junior worlds-3rd
2019 senior Asians-3rd
2019 senior worlds-3rd
2021 senior worlds-8th
2022 senior Asians-1st
2022 senior worlds-3rd
2023 Zagreb open-2nd (lost to Nolf)

Avtandil Kentchadze-GEO
2017 U23 worlds-3rd
2018 U23 worlds-1st
2018 senior worlds-2nd
2019 senior Euros-3rd
2020 senior Euros-3rd
2021 senior Euros-8th
2021 senior worlds-5th
2023 senior Euros-3rd

Turan Bayramov-AZE
2021 U23 worlds-7th
2021 U20 worlds-3rd (lost to O’Toole)
2021 Olympics-8th
2022 senior Euros-3rd
2022 senior worlds-10th

Soner Demirtas-TUR
2016 Olympics-3rd
2016 senior Euros-1st
2017 senior Euros-1st
2017 senior worlds-3rd
2018 senior Euros-1st
2020 senior Euros-3rd
2022 senior Euros-8th
2022 senior worlds-3rd
2023 senior Euros-3rd
2023 Ibrahim Moustafa-3rd

Bekzod Abdurakhmonov-UZB
2014 senior Asians-1st
2014 senior worlds-3rd
2017 senior Asians-1st
2018 senior worlds-3rd
2020 Olympics-3rd

Nurkozha Kaipanov-KAZ
2019 senior Asians-1st at 70kg
2019 senior worlds-2nd at 70kg
2021 senior Asians-1st
2022 senior Asians-2nd
2023 4th ranking series event-2nd

Daichi Takatani-JPN
2014 junior worlds-2nd
2018 senior Asians-2nd
2020 senior Asians-3rd
2022 senior Asians-3rd

Murad Kuramagomedov-HUN
2023 4th ranking series event-1st

If 65kg isn’t the toughest weight than 74kg is. Super super deep with true star power as well. For me, this is the weight I want to watch the most with the possible best matchup as well. Many people have Sidakov as the favorite and I understand why but for me I think Dake is still the man to beat. He seems to be wrestling better than ever which is a scary thought for the rest of the world. Nolf has gotten so much better in freestyle the past few years but he still didn’t come close to challenging Dake. His defense is as amazing as always and he can seem to score whenever he needs. Dake vs Sidakov is the one single match I really hope happens. We all need to see this match

Sidakov is 1B to Dakes 1A and he can absolutely win gold. He is a big match wrestler who always shows up when it counts. He lost recently in Russia and had a super close match to make the Russian team so I wonder if he is in the best form. He will get drawn into the bracket so we could see him vs Dake first round or any other round for that matter. Hopefully the wrestling gods separate them

Many will put Kadimagomedov above Dake as well because he killed him in the Olympics but other than that year he doesn’t have great results. He also has been competing in mma so who knows how much time he has been committing to wrestling. Still, he is as dangerous as they come and has the talent to beat anyone in this weight. I just don’t see it happening personally. I’m sure Dake would love to meet up and get the win back

We have a large group next who are all extremely good with good to great results as well. A few are getting older and possibly dropping off while a couple others are young but not quite in the top tier yet. This group consists of Frank Chamizo, Tajmuraz Salkazanov, Younes Emami, Avtandil Kentchadze, Turan Bayramov, and Soner Demirtas. Chamizo is always dangerous and can beat anyone but has lost to the top of this weight fairly consistently of late. Salkazanov is absolutely capable of making the finals for a 3rd straight year but Dake really seems to have his number. I would love to see him vs Sidakov with the winner getting Dake. Emami and Bayramov are the youngsters and they both can medal for sure. Emami did last year and seems close to breaking through big time. Kentchadze and Demirtas are old pros with great results and will be in the medal hunt as well. No one will want to see either of them especially early in the tournament

Kaipanov and Bekzod are the last 2 I will mention. Bekzod has been good for a very long time and has great wins in his career but is definitely on the downswing. He can pull a major upset but I can’t see him putting together a bunch of good wins in a row. Kaipanov was a world runner up in 2019 but at 70kg. He is in the mix in most tournaments he wrestles and is a tough out.

I have Dake winning his 5th world title with Sidakov coming in 2nd. Salkazanov and Emami bringing home bronze. There are so many incredibly tough guys this weight could get blown up easily. Sidakov, Chamizo, and Kadimagomedov are unseeded and will be drawn in so they could end up anywhere. I can’t wait to watch and see how this bracket plays out. Dake winning gold really puts him in great company as one of the best to ever do it in the US

 

[nerfstate]

 

[El-Jefe]

This has to be wrong about Davison -- he'd be a travel partner behind Parris or Gwiz.

 

[WildTurk]

This has to be wrong about Davison -- he'd be a travel partner behind Parris or Gwiz.

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Has to be Parris! Is Gable Hurt? Dang

 

[zzs006]

This has to be wrong about Davison -- he'd be a travel partner behind Parris or Gwiz.

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I can’t find an updated entry list anywhere but I’m sure Corby has better access than me. Still, all of that seems very strange. There has been lots of talk that Gable wasn’t going to wrestle so that isn’t surprising. Isn’t Davison at Michigan now? That would make sense having him listed as Parris’ workout partner then. All the previous weights had a second American listed who was the practice partner. Russia not having Uguev, Sidakov, or Sadulaev makes zero sense though. Those 3 are the best they have and they just held special wrestle-offs to get Sidakov and Sadulaev on the team. I guess we will find out but I can’t see them not competing

I just went and looked at the entry list posted on the UWW site and Davison is now the only heavyweight listed for the USA. Also, only 1 entry is listed for the US where there used to be 2. No Russian athletes are listed however just like there weren’t when it was first released. I still think Davison is a workout partner and Parris is going to be the guy and that all the Russian hammers will be there as well

 

[zzs006]

A bunch of Indias entries have changed as well. Also, the seeds have Bajrang listed as the 8th seed at 65kg and Jaglan as the 8 seed at 74kg but they aren’t listed on the entry list. So I have no idea what’s correct and what’s not