Day 1 of the 2018 Russian Freestyle Nationals is in the books. Brackets for 57, 65, 74, 86, and 96 kilograms have been completed up through the semifinals. The finals are scheduled for Saturday, 10:30 AM central time. The prelims for 61, 70, 79, 92, and 125 are scheduled to begin before that at 3 AM central.

For the latest international freestyle rankings, click here. 

57: #4 Zaur Uguev (Dagestan) vs #18 Donduk-ool Khuresh-ool (Tuva)

Uguev dodged a bullet when #6 Ibragim Ilyasov fell in the quarters to Ismail Hajiyev. Donduk-ool may have avoided #5 Azamat Tuskaev, but his semi's opponent who beat Tuskaev, #19 Aryan Tyutrin, was also no slouch. 

65: #9 Akhmed Chakaev (Chechnya) vs Bekhan Goigereev (Chechnya)

It's been five years since Goigereev won a world championship (down 60kg), but the 30-something veteran showed he still had some tricks left up his sleeve when he beat #4 Naachin Kuular in the semifinals. Chakaev had an easier path, although his semis opponent, Islam Dudaev, is an up-and-comer to keep an eye one.

Check out Chakaev against Logan Stieber from the 2o12 Beat the Streets event:

74: #4 Khetik Tsabolov (Ossetia) vs #6 Zaurbek Sidakov (Ossetia)

This was the finals matchup we expected, although both had to navigate a bracket packed with landmines. Tsabalov particularly impressed when he dispatched #12 Nikita Suchkov in the semifinals.

86: #3 Artur Naifonov (Ossetia) vs #4 Dauren Kurugliev (Dagestan)

Time finally ran out on 2017 World bronze medalist #5 Vladislav Valiev, when he fell 2-0 to Kurugliev in the semifinals. Valiev took out another contender, #14 Arsen Musalaliev in the round of 16. Naifonov did not face anyone of that caliber on his way to the finals. 

97: #1 Abdulrashid Sadulaev (Dagestan) vs #4 Vladislav Baitsaev (Ossetia)

We get the most anticipated finals matchup, as the Russian Federation decided to separate these two on either side of the bracket. Baitsaev was able to get past #7 Rasul Magomedov in the quarters, while Sadulaev had a surprisingly tough match against unranked Batraz Gazzaev in the semis. 

Watch last year's RusNats final between Sadulaev and Baitsaev: