It's a freestyle tournament like no other. With enough talent for multiple title-contending world teams, the Russian National Championships is one of the most exciting and competitive anywhere around the globe, and we're here to break down 61, 70, 79, 92 & 125 kilograms

Action is scheduled to begin at 4 AM ET. For the most up to date international rankings, click here.

61 Kilograms

Title Contenders

#2 Alexander Bogomoev (Republic of Buryatia): 2014&15 Russian Nationals champ, 2015 European games champ, 2018 Yarygin bronze medalist. Key Wins: #1 Gadzhimurad Rashidov, #1(65) Haji Aliyev, #8 Zelimkhan Abakarov

#3 Ismail Musukaev (Kabardino-Balkar Republic): 2015 57 KG Russian National runner-up, 2017 Alans tournament champ, 2018 Yarygin runner-up. Key Wins: #3(65) Vladimir Khinchegashvili, #7 Artem Gebek, #8 Zelimkhan Abakarov

Medal Contenders

#7 Artem Gebek (Dagestan): 2017 57 KG Russian Nationals runner-up, 2018 Ali Aliyev champ, 2013 Yarygin champ. Key Wins: #3 Ismail Musukaev, #5(57) Azamat Tuskaev, #3(57) Giorgi Edisherashvili, #8 Zelimkhan Abakarov

#8 Zelimkhan Abakarov (Chechnya): 2017 Intercontinental Cup champ, 2018 Ali Aliyev runner-up, 2017 Alans tournament runner-up. Key Wins: #3 Ismail Musukaev, #13 Abasgadzhi Magomedov, #6 Ibragim Ilyasov

#14 Magomedrasul Idrisov (Dagestan): 2018 U-23 European champion, 2016 Intercontinental Cup runner-up, 2016 Ali Aliyev. Key Wins:  #19(57) Aryan Tyutrin, #5(57) Azamat Tuskaev, #6(57) Ibragim Ilyasov

Dark Horse

#13 Abasgadzhi Magomedov (Dagestan): 2016 Junior European champ, 2017 Intercontinental Cup runner-up, 2017 Kunaev runner-up. Key Wins: #1 Yuki Takahashi, #12 Makhir Amiraslanov, #14 Daton Fix

Commentary

I really like three-time Russian National champ #2 Alexander Bogomoev to win his fourth national title here. Bogomoev’s style is so clean in regards to positioning and timing his opponents to get to his lefty sweep single that he’ll go double off to finish or shelf to finish, and Bogomoev’s reattack game especially his righty sweep single is absolutely impeccable plus his seemingly endless gas tank which makes him the favorite to me over a wildman like #3 Ismail Musukaev who’s got excellent shots that he gets off of his elbow control ducks, he doesn’t handfight nearly enough to break Bogomoev’s positioning and while Musukaev’s speed and timing are absolutely impeccable I just think that Bogomoev can match that and feed it directly into his reattacks.  

Below those two, I feel like #7 Artem Gebek and #8 Zelimkhan Abakarov are on their own tier as they are clearly some of the best at the weight class but I don’t know if either guy can bridge that gap against Bogomoev, but I know they can beat guy’s like Idrisov, Abdurashidov, and Dzhamal Otarsultanov. #14 Magomedrasul Idrisov is a guy who stood out to me at U-23 Euros for his insane pressure and how he could just bully guy’s in matches and get easy behinds and snap them down and look for a go behind and get to his big double. I’m interested to see how Junior world rep #13 Abasgadzhi Magomedov does against the field as he has a win over last year’s world champ #1 Yuki Takahashi (JPN) at the Yarygin before losing to Zelimkhan Abakarov his next match.

70 Kilograms

Title Contenders

#1 Magomed Kurbanaliev (Dagestan): 2018 European Champ, 2x Yarygin champ. Key Wins: #2 Soslan Ramonov, #1(74) Frank Chamizo, #2(65) Ilyas Bekbulatov, #3 Zurab Iakobishvili

#2 Soslan Ramonov (North Ossetia-Alania): 2x World/Olympic champ (‘14 & ‘16), 2018 Tbilisi GP runner-up. Key Wins: #1(74) Frank Chamizo, #1 Magomed Kurbanaliev, #1(65) Haji Aliyev, #5 Evgeni Zherbaev

#5 Evgeni Zherbaev (Republic of Buryatia): 2015 Russian Nationals bronze, 2017 Nusuev tournament runner-up, 3x President Cup of Buryatia champ (‘16,’17,’18). Key Wins: #6 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov, #8 Israil Kasumov, #4(74) Khetik Tsabolov

#6 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (Dagestan): 2015 world champ, 2018 Yarygin runner-up. Key Wins: #1(74) Frank Chamizo, #4(74) Khetik Tsabolov, #1(86) Hassan Yazdani Charati, 

Medal Contenders

#13 Alan Gogaev (North Ossetia-Alania): 2017 65 KG national champ, 2017 world bronze, 2010 world silver. Key Wins: #2(65) Ilyas Bekbulatov, #4(74) Khetik Tsabolov, #2 Soslan Ramonov, #10(74) Yakup Gor

#10 David Baev (North Ossetia-Alania): 2017 Russian Nationals bronze medalist, 2017 Junior world champ. Key Wins: #1 Magomed Kurbanaliev, #15(74) Murad Kuramagomedov, #17 Enes Uslu

Rasul Dzhukaev (Chechnya):2017 Russian Nationals bronze, 2009 66 KG world runner-up, 2015 Yarygin champ Key Wins: #6(74) Zaurbek Sidakov, #8 Israil Kasumov, Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu (JPN)

#15(74) Murad Kuramagomedov (Dagestan): 2017 Intercontinental Cup champ. Key Wins: #6 Magomerasul Gazimagomedov, #8(74) Magomed Dibirgadzhiev, Ikhtiyor Navruzov

Dark Horse

Rasul Arsanaliev (Dagestan: 2018 Tbilisi GP bronze, 2016 U-23 European champ. Key Wins: Gadjmurad Omarov, Aaron Pico, #16(74) Magomedkhabib Kadiamagomedov

Commentary

I like this year’s European and Yarygin champ #1 Magomed Kurbanaliev to win here. I understand that #2 Soslan Ramonov is the more athletic of the two, but I just think that Kurbanaliev’s overall skillset is more complete than Ramonov. If Ramonov shows up in peak form, I’m incredibly interested to see if his excellent claw knee pick, arm drag, head in the hole go behinds, and sweep single do against Kurbanaliev. 

Adding into the depth of the weight is #6 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov, who’s a Yarygin runner-up to Kurbanaliev this year. I think Ramonov’s style is too physical for Gazimagomedov to handle and while he’s great at finishing off bodylocks and has great head outside singles and is exceptional in flurries, I don’t think he has the speed or chain wrestling to beat Ramonov or Kurbanaliev. 

#5 Evgeni Zherbaev is a guy to watch as he knocked off #6 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov and #10 David Baev at the Nusuev last year. #13 Alan Gogaev is the returning 65 KG national champ but he hasn’t been seen in a year and the weight has evolved a lot since then, so I was going to give you a young guy to watch out for it would be returning bronze medalist #10 David Baev, who’s claw knee pick series and righty underhook throwby to a knee pick and a snatch single are great plus a match-ender of a lace makes me want to see if he’s made the adjustments from last year and is ready to improve upon a bronze medal finish in Ingushetia with a title in Odintsovo.

79 Kilograms

Title Contenders

#1 Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov (Dagestan): 3x Yarygin champ (‘14,’17,’18), 2015 Russian Nationals bronze medalist, 2018 European champ. Key Wins: #2 Kyle Dake, #3 Alan Zaseev #4(74) Khetik Tsabolov

#3 Alan Zaseev (North Ossetia-Alania): 2017 Russian Nationals bronze medalist, 2017 Alans champion, 2018 Yarygin bronze medalist. Key Wins: #6 Ali Shabanov, #4(74) Khetik Tsabolov, #8 Radik Valiev, #11 Kakhaber Khubezhty

#7 Radik Valiev (North Ossetia-Alania): 2x Yarygin bronze medalist (‘17&’18), 2018 U-23 European champ, 2016 70 KG Russian national runner-up Key Wins: #9 Tazhidin Akaev, #14 Magomed Ramazanov, #19 Adam Khasiev, Khalil Aminov

Medal Contenders

#11 Kakhaber Khubezhty (North Ossetia-Alania): 2018 Yarygin bronze medalist,2018 Tbilisi GP champ, 2013 Russian National champ. Key Wins: #1(74) Frank Chamizo, #3(74) Soner Demirtas, #5 Jabrayil Hasanov, #1 Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov, #3 Alan Zaseev.

#9 Tazhidin Akaev (Dagestan): 2017 Murad Gaidarov memorial tournament champ, 2018 Russian University National champ, 2018 Mindiashvili tournament champ. Key Wins: Gadzhi Nabiyev, #10 Khusey Suyunchev, #11 Kakahaber Khubezhty 

#10 Khusey Suyunchev (Karachay-Cherkess Republic): 2016 Russian Nationals bronze, 2017 Intercontinental Cup runner-up, 2015 Kadyrov Cup runner-up. Key Wins: #1 Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov,  #11 Kakhaber Khubezhty, Gadzhi Nabiyev

Dark Horse

Gadzhi Nabiyev (Dagestan): 2017 Russian Nationals runner-up, 2017 U-23 world champ, 2017 Intercontinental Cup bronze medalist. Key wins: #3 Alan Zaseev, #11 Kakhaber Khubezhty, #14 Magomed Ramazanov, #8(74) Magomed Dibirgadzhiev

Commentary

Having won the Yarygin, Dan Kolov, and the European Championships, #1 Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov looks primed to win his first Russian national title. His biggest competition is going to come in the form of returning bronze medalist #3 Alan Zaseev who Gadzhimagomedov beat in a crazy 8-6 match in March at the Dan Kolov. Someone who I think could potentially unseat Gadzhimagomedov is #7 Radik Valiev who had a 2-2 loss to Zaseev last year at nationals and 2-1 loss to Gadzhimagomedov at the Yarygin. If Valiev is peaked for Nationals and he’s made the necessary adjustments I think he could be nails. 

I think  #10 Khusey Suyunchev is also a strong favorite to repeat his medal-winning performance in 2016 but he’s got to get through a very tough bracket and will likely have to win a rematch of his 2016 bronze medal match against #11 Kakhaber Khubezhty. Your dark horse to watch is returning 74 KG Russian National runner-up Gadzhi Nabiyev, who’s dropped matches to Tazhdin Akaev, Amanulla Gadzhimagomedov, Ibragim Yusubov, and Umarkhan Magomedov but I think with Nabiyev’s past body of work and skill set if he’s peaked properly for Nationals he can get back to the form he saw in 2017 at 74 KG. 

92 Kilograms

Title Contenders

#2 Anzor Urishev (Kabardino-Balkar Republic): 3x Yarygin champ (2009,2013,2015), 2018 Yarygin runner-up, 2017 86 KG Russian Nationals bronze medalist, 2x European champ (2010&11), 2018 Tbilisi GP champ. Key Wins: #11 Alikhan Zhabrailov, #1 Sharif Sharifov, #5 Dato Marsagishvili, Abusalam Gadisov, #3 Javad Ebrahimi, #6 Yuri Belonovski

#6 Yuri Belonovski (Krasnoyarsk Krai):  2017 Yarygin bronze medalist, 2017 Russian Nationals bronze medalist, 2011 Russian Nationals runner-up. Key Wins: Anzor Boltukaev, Abdusalam Gadisov, #4(97) Vladislav Baitsaev

#8 Batyrbek Tsakulov (North Ossetia): 2018 Ali Aliyev champ, 2017 Alans tournament bronze medalist Key Wins: #2 Anzor Urishev, #3(97) Aslanbek Alborov, #8(86) Alexander Gostiev

#11 Alikhan Zhabrailov (Dagestan): 2017 86 KG U-23 world champ, 2017 Intercontinental Cup champ, 2018 Ali Aliyev champ. Key Wins: #11(86) Arsenali Musalaliev, #8(86) Alexander Gostiev, #17(86) Zbigniew Baranowski

Commentary

This is one of if not the most top heavy weight at Russian Nationals and a lot of that has to do with just how very new it is. After winning the Ali Aliyev, with wins over #2 Anzor Urishev and #3 Aslanbek Alborov #8 Batyrbek Tsakulov was seen as the guy going into Nationals but after getting pinned at U-23’s in June by #7 Shamil Zubairov (AZE) plus an incredibly impressive performance from Urishev in winning the Tbilisi GP, Urishev was seen as the guy to take the 92 KG spot for Russia. Urishev’s style is well rounded, with an excellent knee pull single, great arm drag, really well-developed front headlock he’ll look crosspick on, and excellent claw kneepick or underhook knee pick. 

As long as we’re focused on the shortcomings of Tsakulov, I feel that Yuri Belonovski serves as the archetypal model of someone’s who super strong for the weight and controls position gets an underhook throwby to a head inside single and wins matches like that. I even like #11 Alikhan Zhabrailov over Tsakulov just because while Zhabrailov may not be as strong as Tsakulov or as tough of a handfighter he more than makes up for it in timing and his ability to counter Tsakulov from a whizzer along with his excellent fireman’s carry off a 2-1 and his righty sweep single. Again, I think Tsakulov could do well, he’s just very limited in my mind and wrestles so much according to his strength great with a duck under off a collar tie, nice snatch single, and finishes really well off a seatbelt, good go behinds, but not that great of chain wrestling. 

Keep an eye out for Razambek Dzhamalov as well he’s going to be Russia’ junior world rep at 70 KG this year and is an intercontinental cup champ back in 2016 at 61 KG.

125 Kilograms

Title Contenders

#10 Muradin Kushkov (Kabardino-Balkar Republic): 2014 Russian National champion, 2018 Yarygin champ, 2018 Dan Kolov 5th. Key Wins: #11 Nick Gwiazdowski, #4(97) Vladislav Baitsaev, #9 Giorgi Meshvildishvili, #5 Oleksandr Khotsianivski

#15 Baldan Tsyzhipov (Republic of Buryatia): 2016 Russian nationals bronze, 2x Mongolia Open champ (‘16&17), 2016 Baku GGP bronze. Key Wins: #18 Alan Khugaev, #5 Oleksandr Khotsianivski, Bakhtiar Akhmedov

#16 Anzor Khizriev (Chechnya): 2017 Russian National champ, 2017 world 5th, 2x Yarygin runner-up(‘14&18). Key Wins: Magomedgadzhin Nurasulov, #10 Muradin Kushkov, #18 Alan Khugaev

Medal Contenders

#18 Alan Khugaev (North Ossetia-Alania): 2014 European runner-up, 2x Yarygin champ (‘14&17), 2014 Russian National runner-up. Key Wins: #16 Anzor Khizriev, #4 David Modzmanashvili, Anzor Boltukaev

#19 Tsbik Maksarov (Republic of Buryatia): 2017 Russian Nationals bronze medalist, 2016 Kunaev bronze, 2018 President Cup of Buryatia champ. Key Wins: #17 Anzor Khizriev, #15 Baldan Tsyzhipov, Zolboo Natsagsuren

Anzor Boltukaev (Chechnya): 2017 Yarygin runner-up, 2017 European runner-up(97), 2013 world bronze medalist (96). Key Wins: #2(97) Kyle Snyder, Adlan Ibragimov, Khadzhimurad Gatsalov

Commentary

In what has been a weak weight for Russia outside of 3x World champ Bilyal Makhov (Kabardino-Balkar Republic) and 5x World/Olympic champ Khadzhimurad Gatsalov (North Ossetia-Alania), it looks like #10 Muradin Kushkov will be the favorite to win his second national title to go along with the one he won in 2014. Kushkov will have to contend with returning national champ #17 Anzor Khizriev, 2014 National runner-up #18 Alan Khugaev, and the God of Thunder himself, Anzor Boltukaev. 

Two guys to keep an eye on are #17 Tsybik Maksarov, Magomedgadzi Nurasulov, and Adlan Ibragimov. Maksarov is a returning bronze medalist at the weight, Nurasulov is the returning runner-up, and Ibragimov is a returning bronze medalist.