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Olympic Games Watch Party

97kg Olympic Preview - Will Kyle Snyder Take Out Sadulaev For Olympic Gold?

97kg Olympic Preview - Will Kyle Snyder Take Out Sadulaev For Olympic Gold?

An in depth preview of the 97kg weight class at the Tokyo Olympics. See how Kyle Snyder compares to the rest of the 97kg Olympic field.

Jul 8, 2021 by Jon Kozak
97kg Olympic Preview - Will Kyle Snyder Take Out Sadulaev For Olympic Gold?
UPDATE: We now have Kyle Snyder's Olympic bracket. Read our breakdown of his draw, then dive into everything you need to know about the field in this preview.

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UPDATE: We now have Kyle Snyder's Olympic bracket. Read our breakdown of his draw, then dive into everything you need to know about the field in this preview.

Kyle Snyder is Team USA’s Olympian at 97kg in a field that includes 2 past world and Olympic champions and 7 other world/Olympic medalists. This 97kg Olympic preview will give an overview of Snyder’s senior level career and explore the careers of each of his potential competitors in Tokyo. We'll also break down the competitors into tiers based on medal contenders, dark horses and long shots at the Olympic Games.

Aug 1-8, 2021 · Resumes Friday at 2:00 AM UTC

Olympic Games Watch Party

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Snyder Vs Sadulaev - Round 3 For Olympic Gold

Kyle Snyder won his last world title in dramatic fashion over Abdulrashid Sadulaev. In the 2017 world finals, Snyder defeated Sadulaev 6-5 to not only win world gold, but also clinch a team title for USA. However the tide has turned for Snyder and Sadulaev since 2017. In that time, Sadulaev won 2018 worlds by pinning Snyder in the finals. Then, in 2019, Snyder failed to make the finals after losing to Sharif Sharifov in the semis - 5-2. Sadulaev went on to defeat Sharifov in the finals on his way to his second straight gold. 

On top of the losses to Sadulaev and Sharifov, Snyder has suffered defeat at the hands of Elizbar Odikadze and Mohammad Mohammadian. While Snyder has avenged the Odikadze loss a few times, Mohammadian looks to be the biggest threat to Snyder at the Olympics (aside from Sadulaev of course). Mohammadian pinned Kyle Snyder and teched Bo Nickal at the 2020 Matteo Pellicone. In June 2021, Mohammadian won the Poland Open and teched Kollin Moore in the process. 

Though Snyder hasn’t been on top of the world in 4 years, he’s proven he’s capable of defeating anyone in the world. In the past years Kyle Snyder has won championships, he’s suffered defeat in the months leading up to world/Olympics but has peaked when it mattered most. Snyder’s early success at the highest level might cause some to forget he’s only 25 years old and likely has his best wrestling ahead of him. 

Take a look at Kyle Snyder’s Senior Level Profile:

Kyle Snyder (USA)

Record Since 2018 - 70-8

Senior Level Record - 138-16

Accolades:

  • 2016 Olympic Gold
  • 2015, 2017 World Gold
  • 2018 World Silver
  • 2019 World Bronze

18-4 Record Against 97kg Olympians:

Kyle Snyder's win over Abdulrashid Sadulaev in the 2017 World Finals:

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Will Sadulaev Continue His Reign?

Abdulrashid Sadulaev is the favorite at 97kg in Tokyo. Since his loss to Kyle Snyder in the 2017 World finals, Sadulaev has looked almost unbeatable. While he did forfeit in his recent finals bout at the Ali Aliev (June 2021), he was on a 51 match winning streak. In that time period, he won 29 of the 51 matches by either tech (25), pin (2) or forfeit (2). In the 22 matches that went the full 6 minutes, he recorded shut-out wins in 12 of them and only allowed a total of 25 points in the remaining 10 matches! All of this to prove the point - Abdulrashid Sadulaev has been dominant at the highest level for a long time!

It’s also important to note who Sadulaev has been competing against during his run as the pound for pound best men’s freestyle wrestler. Sadulaev has defeated 10 of the 15 Olympians in the 97kg field and is 25-2 (1 forfeit loss) in his career against this field. He has repeatedly proven to be a step ahead of the rest in the world at 97kg and should be considered the favorite to win the gold medal in Tokyo.

Take a look at Sadulaev’s profile below:

Abdulrashid Sadulaev (RUS)

Record Since 2018 - 49-1 (1 forfeit loss)

Accolades:

  • 2016 Olympic Gold
  • 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019 World Gold
  • 2017 World Silver
  • 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 Euro Gold

25-2 Record Against 97kg Olympians:

Sadulaev's win over Kyle Snyder in the 2018 World Finals:

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Contenders

As already mentioned, Mohammad Mohammadian looks to be the clear threat to knock off Kyle Snyder and Abdulrashid Sadulaev. Mohammadian won world bronze back in 2014 but then was forced to serve a 4 year suspension from 2015-2019 after he tested positive for a banned substance. Since his return, Mohammadian has defeated 6 different Tokyo Olympians - Kyle Snyder, Aleksandr Hushtyn, Alisher Yergali, Mohamed Fardj, and Abraham Conyedo. However, Mohammadian also suffered a loss to Sharif Sharifov and two losses to fellow Iranian, Ali Shabani. Mohammadian looks to have moments where he can defeat anyone in the world, but his recent close matches and losses should give one pause in going “all-in” on Mohammadian in Tokyo.

After Mohammadian, it’s challenging to determine a “cut-off’ for medal contenders. On paper, not much differentiates #4-#12 in our Olympian rankings at this weight. Many have traded wins and losses throughout their careers and medaled at past world championships. With that in mind, Suleyman Karadeniz, Sharif Sharifov, and Elizbar Odikadze have either defeated Kyle Snyder or Mohammad Mohammadian in the past or seem to be carrying momentum into the Olympic Games. This, therefore, makes those wrestlers the "main contenders" in the next tier at 97kg.

Elizbar Odikadze has a past win over Kyle Snyder from the 2016 World Clubs Cup. Odikadze has also wrestled for bronze at 97kg every year for the past 6 worlds/Olympics! Like Odikadze, Sharif Sharifov has proven to be one of the best wrestlers in the world for years and has a win over both Kyle Snyder and Mohammad Mohammadian. Though Sharifov is at the end of his career, his experience should be considered an advantage on the biggest stage in wrestling. Suleyman Karadeniz is on the other end of the spectrum - he’s young (25 years old) and hasn’t wrestled for a medal yet at worlds. However, he has 2 recent wins over Elizbar Odikadze (Feb. 2021 and June 2021) and has won 3 of the last 6 tournaments he’s wrestled in, while medaling in all 6.

Check out the top contender’s profiles below:


Mohammad Mohammadian (IRI)

Record Since 2018 - 27-3

Accolades:

  • 2014 World Bronze

8-4 Record Against 97kg Olympians:

Mohammadian's win over Kyle Snyder from January 2020:

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Suleyman Karadeniz (TUR)

Record Since 2018 - 30-17

Accolades:

  • 2020 World Cup Bronze
  • 2020 Euro Gold
  • 2021 Euro Silver

3-4 Record Against 97kg Olympians:


Elizbar Odikadze (GEO)

Record Since 2018 - 44-16

Accolades:

  • 2018 World Bronze
  • 2015 Euro Silver
  • 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 Euro Bronze

13-12 Record Against 97kg Olympians:


Sharif Sharifov (AZE)

Record Since 2018 - 38-13

Accolades:

  • 2012 Olympic Gold
  • 2016 Olympic Bronze
  • 2011 World Gold
  • 2019 World Silver
  • 2009 World Bronze
  • 2019 Euro Gold
  • 2010, 2018 Euro Silver
  • 2011 Euro Bronze

7-7 Record Against 97kg Olympians:

Sharifov's win over Kyle Snyder from 2019 Worlds:

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The “Dark Horses”

The next five wrestlers in the “dark horse” category have had flashes of success but have been unable to sustain that success to win at the highest level or defeat Abdulrashid Sadulaev or Kyle Snyder. The dark horses are - Abraham Conyedo, Aleksandr Hushtyn, Albert Saritov, Magomed Ibragimov, and Reineris Salas. It might seem odd to consider some of these “dark horses” - all but Hushtyn have medaled at the world or Olympics in the past. However, the inconsistencies from the wrestlers in this tier will need the perfect draw and will need to upset at least one wrestler in the top tier to even wrestle for a medal. Take a look at the profiles of the dark horses at 97kg:

Abraham Conyedo (ITA)

Record Since 2018 - 26-15

Accolades:

  • 2018 World Bronze
  • 2020 Euro Bronze

4-7 Record Against 97kg Olympians:

Conyedo's win over Sharif Sharifov from the 2021 Poland Open:

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Aleksandr Hushtyn (BLR)

Record Since 2018 - 45-16

Accolades:

  • 2017, 2018, 2019 Euro Silver
  • 2019 Euro Games Bronze

10-11 Record Against 97kg Olympians:


Albert Saritov (ROU)

Record Since 2018 - 20-6

Accolades:

  • 2016 Olympic Bronze
  • 2011 World Bronze
  • 2020 Euro Silver

4-8 Record Against 97kg Olympians:


Magomed Ibragimov (UZB)

Record Since 2018 - 28-10

Accolades:

  • 2016 Olympic Bronze
  • 2017, 2018 Asian Gold
  • 2018 Asian Games Bronze

7-13 Record Against 97kg Olympians:


Reineris Salas (CUB)

Record Since 2018 - 40-13

Accolades:

  • 2013, 2014 World Silver
  • 2010 World Bronze
  • 2006, 2009, 2010, 20142015, 2018 Pan-Am Gold

4-8 Record Against 97kg Olympians:

Salas' win over Mohammad Mohammadian from 2014 Worlds:

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A Tier Of Their Own

Alisher Yergali and Magomedgadzhi Nurov are two guys that don’t fit into any of the above tiers. Magomedgadzhi Nurov medaled at the 2019 World Championships by defeating Yergali in the bronze medal match. Then, Yergali recently avenged that loss in the bronze match at the 2021 Poland Open. On top of that, neither guy has a win over any of the wrestlers in the top tiers at 97kg and Nurov has lost to seven of the above wrestlers. 

The other wrinkle is both Yergali and Nurov will be seeded at the Olympics. Yergali is the 3 seed (same side as Snyder) and Nurov is the 4 seed (same side as Sadulaev). There’s a very slim chance they upset either of those Olympic Champions and, if they fall before the semi-final match, their opponent is unlikely to win over Snyder or Sadulaev. Yergali and Nurov will be very draw dependent and have not shown to be a threat to the rest of the Olympic field at 97kg.


Alisher Yergali (KAZ)

Record Since 2018 - 22-12

Accolades:

  • 2021 Asian Silver
  • 2020 Asian Bronze
  • 2019 World 5th

2-4 Record Against 97kg Olympians:


Magomedgadzhi Nurov (MKD)

Record Since 2018 - 24-23

Accolades:

  • 2019 World Bronze

1-13 Record Against 97kg Olympians:

Longs Shots

The remaining three wrestlers have not medaled at worlds/Olympics in the past and have zero wins combined against the previous 13 wrestlers mentioned. Any of these wrestlers would be some of the biggest surprise medalists in Olympic history if they were to take home a medal from Tokyo. Take a look at the long shots:


Jordan Steen (CAN)

Record Since 2018 - 15-10

Accolades:

  • 2017, 2018 Pan-Am Bronze

0-5 Record Against 97kg Olympians:


Mohamed Saadaoui (TUN)

Record Since 2018 - 12-2

Accolades:

  • 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 African Gold

1-0 Record Against 97kg Olympians:

  • 2-0 win over Mohammed Fardj (2021 African OG Qualifier)


Mohammed Fardj (ALG)

Record Since 2018 - 13-21

Accolades:

  • 2020 African Gold
  • 2019 African Games Bronze

0-2 Record Against 97kg Olympians:

  • 2-0 loss to Mohamed Saadaoui (2021 African OG Qualifier)
  • 12-0 loss to Mohammad Mohammadian (2019 World Military Games)


97kg Records Against Olympic Field:

  1. Abdulrashid Sadulaev (RUS) - 25-2
  2. Kyle Snyder (USA) - 18-4
  3. Mohammad Mohammadian (IRI) - 8-4
  4. Suleyman Karadeniz (TUR) - 3-4
  5. Elizbar Odikadze (GEO) - 13-12
  6. Abraham Conyedo (ITA) - 4-7
  7. Sharif Sharifov (AZE) - 7-7
  8. Aleksandr Hushtyn (BLR) - 10-11
  9. Albert Saritov (ROU) - 4-8
  10. Magomed Ibragimov (UZB) - 7-13
  11. Reineris Salas (CUB) - 4-8
  12. Alisher Yergali (KAZ) - 2-4
  13. Magomedgadzhi Nurov (MKD) - 1-13
  14. Jordan Steen (CAN) - 0-5
  15. Mohamad Saadaoui (TUN) - 1-0
  16. Mohammed Fardj (ALG) - 0-2


Check out where these wrestlers rank in our Olympic Rankings based on head to head wins and loss against the Olympic Field at 97kg