After years of close calls, being in World Team Trials finals and making national teams, Tyler Graff has broken through. On Saturday, September 21, Graff will finally get a chance to wrestle in the world championships.

Although he was able to compete at two Junior worlds and a University worlds, this will be Graff’s first opportunity at senior worlds. The foreign teams will have minimal tape on him, and hopefully with it being a non-Olympic weight, he’ll have an easier field to navigate than those above and below him.

World Previews: 57kg | 61kg | 65kg | 70kg | 74kg | 79kg | 86kg | 92kg

The Wisconsin alum took out world bronze medalist Joe Colon in three matches at Final X: Lincoln, showing off his tremendous par terre in the third and deciding match. After giving up the opening takedown, he finished off the series with a takedown into a lace. It was also notable as the first time a returning world medalist went down since the finals bye was introduced.

Rosters are due to United World Wrestling by September 4, so the field is still unknown, as many countries will only send a team of six to Kazakhstan, focusing on the Olympic weights. The contenders below are our best guesses based on the international results this year.

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The American: Tyler Graff

Now training with the NJRTC, Graff is working on a daily basis with three-time 61kg world team member Reece Humphrey. The move to Jersey also reunited him with one of his coaches when he was a Badger in Donny Pritzlaff.

It is uncommon for a 30-year-old to be making his world championship debut, but that's exactly what is happening for Graff. Perhaps that will create a sense of urgency that may not be felt by some of the younger guys on the team. That level of experience will also hopefully allow him to keep perspective and not let nerves affect his performance in Nur-Sultan.

Representing Titan Mercury, Graff has competed four times this year, taking losses at the U.S. Open in April and the Medved earlier this month. Losing twice to Joey Palmer in Vegas, and Russian backup Artem Gebekov in Belarus, are results that would seem to put Graff a tier below medal threat right now. But again, a good draw and a bracket that could potentially get vacated with guys going up and down in weight leaves the door open for a medal.

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Graff might potentially have a massive impact on the team race, which is exactly why his par terre game is such a fascinating wild card. He is one of the few guys on the team with both a gut wrench and a leg lace, and will likely find himself in a few shootouts. The four-time All-American should try to force his opponents to try to outscore him and rely on his ability to put points on the board.

Top 4 Seeds

This weight is one of the most likely to be shaken up. It's unlikely Cuba doesn't send the reigning world champ, but their federation is only allowed to send six reps, and will absolutely put resources into the Olympic weights. Colon is out and Gadzhimurad Rashidov is up at 65, so Rahul Aware (IND) could be your two or even one seed. India is sending Rahul Aware, and we should see European silver Beka Lomtadze (GEO). Iran's team isn't set in stone, so we're guessing Okhlopkov ends up sneaking into the four seed.

Breaking Down The Field

Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez (CUB) will be the only one in the bracket who has medaled at each of the past two world championships. The 35-year-old showed the true value of five-point moves in last year's finals, hitting one of his trademark "Bonne Bombs" to beat Rashidov on criteria. You're not likely to see him shoot much, but he's got some of the best counters in the world, and a vicious reverse left in par terre.

Magomedrasul Idrisov (RUS) cemented himself as the guy in Russia with Rashidov moving up. He's had an excellent run that included U23 World and European titles, as well as winning the Yarygin in January and the past two Russian Nationals at 61kg. Much of what Idrisov does is predicated off his righty underhook and he is very aggressive on top, but can sometimes get stuck on his back when he attempts his gut wrench.

At Euros, Idrisov lost an exceedingly strange match to Recep Topal of Turkey. Topal has been bronze at Euros the past two years but will probably be happy to see Graff instead of Colon. Last year at worlds, Topal lost to Vladimir Dubov who was then teched by Colon, and then at the Kolov this year Topal was teched by Colon in the quarters.

One of the newest additions to the world circuit is Arsen Harutyunyan (ARM). The young Harutyunyan is still Junior eligible and has competed at age level European and world championships for the past four years, winning medals each time at his continental. He was bronze at Junior worlds in 2017 and 2018 and won senior Euros earlier this year. His only meeting against an American was his 8-7 win over Roman Bravo-Young at Cadet worlds in 2015.

Iran has two options at 61kg: Asian champ and 2017 worlds rep Behnam Ehsanpoor, or Sassari Ranking Series champ and 2018 world fifth Mohammadbagheri Esmaeil Yakhkeshi. Currently holding the sixth most seeding points, Yakhkeshi would be the four seed ahead of Okhlopkov if he goes.

So far this year, Beka Lomtadze (GEO) has won tournaments in France and Georgia, and was silver at Euros. Lomtadze has represented Georgia five times at world championships, getting silver in 2016 behind Logan Stieber and fifth last year in Budapest.

It's unclear if Mongolia will be sending last year's bronze medalist Tuvshintulga Tumenbileg. He was at 61 for the Ziolkowski in Poland and Buryatia Cup, getting silver both times, but was down at 57 for the Mongolia Open, World Cup, and Yarygin. He beat Lomtadze in his bronze medal match.

Azerbaijan is a power country, but it's not clear who they'll be sending. My best guess is Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov, who has gone to four world championships, two as a Junior and two on the senior level. He was bronze in 2016 at non-Olympic weight worlds, and won JR worlds in 2013. His title at the Ukrainian Memorial last year included wins over Jon Morrison and Nahshon Garrett.

India is sending Rahul Aware, a veteran who won the Yasar Dogu this year. He last represented India at the 2014 world championships at 57kg. We also saw him compete at 55kg in 2011, and was JR silver all the way back in 2009. In seven trips to the Asian championships, he won bronzes this year and in 2011.

The Contenders

Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez, Cuba

• 2018 World Champ
• 2017 World Bronze
• 2015 Pan Am Games Champ
• 2014 World Bronze

Magomedrasul Idrisov, Russia

• 2019 Yarygin Champ
• 2018 U23 World Champ
• 2018 U23 European Champ

Arsen Harutyunyan, Armenia

• 2019 European Champ
• 2018 Junior World Bronze
• 2018 Junior Euro Champ
• 2017 Junior World Bronze
• 2017 Junior Euro Bronze

Beka Lomtadze, Georgia

• 2019 European Silver
• 2018 European Silver
• 2016 World Silver
• 2015 Euro Games Silver