World Championships preview in men's freestyle at 70 kg/154 lbs.
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by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling
Photo: World bronze medalist James Green takes his third crack at a World title this year in Paris, France. Photo by Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com.
Video: James Green at World Team Training Camp
Date of competition: Saturday, August 26
A heavy influx of talent has moved into the 70 kg/154 lbs. weight category following the 2016 Olympic Games, creating a thunderstorm of a bracket set to compete at this year’s World Championships in Paris, France.
With seven athletes ranked in the current UWW World Rankings, juggernaut Russia will no doubt be well represented in Paris. The nation boasts the defending World champion at the weight class in World No. 1 Magomed Kurbanaliev. However, Kurbanaliev was ousted at the Russia Nationals and will be replaced by World No. 8 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov, who won the Yasar Dogu this year.
Two Olympic bronze medalists from the Rio games have bumped up from 65 kg/143 lbs. to give it a go here.
Currently ranked No. 2 at 65 kg, Frank Chamizo of Italy is undoubtedly one of the most talented wrestlers in this weight class. Chamizo was the 70 kg European champion, as well as Ali Aliev Tournament and Ladislau Simon Memorial gold medalist this year. He was a World champion in 2015 prior to winning his Olympic bronze.
Also making the move to 70 kg is the fourth-ranked wrestler at 65 kg and Asian silver medalist, Ikhtiyor Navruzov of Uzbekistan. As many international wrestling followers will recall, Navruzov was the beneficiary of the last second fleeing call in the Olympic bronze-medal match that caused a Mongolian display of protest. The year prior, he fell to Chamizo in a phenomenal World final in Las Vegas.
The man Navruzov defeated for Olympic bronze, Mandakhnaran Ganzorig of Mongolia, joins the list of weight shifters this go around. Ganzorig is a two-time World bronze medalist and ranked No. 9 in the World at 65 kg.
American talent James Green enters the World Championships as the highest ranked wrestler in the field at No. 2 and the top seed for the tournament. Green has picked up three international gold medals in 2017, including a Pan American championship. He was a World bronze medalist in 2015.
World No. 10 Nurlan Bekzhanov of Kazakhstan finished with the 70 kg silver medal at last year’s World Championships, but will not be entered in the field. Instead, Kazakhstan will roll with World No. 6 Akzurek Tanatarov, who was the Asian champion and 2012 Olympic bronze medalist.
Two-time Asian champion Mostafa Hosseinkhani of Iran enters as No. 5 in the World following an undefeated international season and a 2016 World bronze medal. Hosseinkhani is the only man to own a win over Green this year, a 2-0 decision in the World Cup finale.
The second bronze medalist from last year’s World Championships was Elaman Dogdurbek Uulu of Kyrgyzstan. He has not competed internationally since Budapest, but does hold the No. 11 World ranking and will take part in Paris.
World No. 4 Magomedmurad Gadzhiev of Poland is a potential medal threat following a silver-medal performance at the European Championships. He was an Olympian at 65 kg last year, but was downed by American Frank Molinaro in the opening round and failed to place.
Azerbaijan is expected to give its World Championships slot to U23 European Champion Gadjimurad Omarov, who sits at No. 14 in the World. Omarov, a 2013 Junior World bronze medalist, gets the nod over European bronze medalist Ruslan Dibirgadzhiyev.
Moldova’s Mihail Sava will be a tough out for any of the top contenders. He was a World bronze medalist in 2014 and University World silver medalist in 2016. Sava was awarded the No. 3 seed based on his international performances this year that was highlighted by a bronze medal at the Waclaw Ziolkoski Memorial.
Other entrants of note are World No. 19 Zurabi Erbotsonashvili of Georgia, Miroslav Kurtev of Bulgaria and African champion John Ogbonna of Nigeria.
Seeding for 70 kg is a somewhat moot point, with Green and Sava the only two eligible seeds expected to compete. Non-entrants Kurbanaliev and Bekzhanov were awarded the No. 2 and No. 4 seeds, respectively.
This weight category will be contested on the last day of men’s freestyle action, Aug. 26. The tournament will begin at 10 a.m. local time, with finals scheduled for 7 p.m. Paris is situated six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time.
A live stream of the World Championships, as well as brackets for each weight, will be provided to U.S. residents on Trackwrestling.com.
UWW World Rankings
1. Magomed Kurbanaliev (Russia)
2. James Green (United States)
3. Israil Kasumov (Russia)
4. Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (Poland)
5. Moustafa Hosseinkhani (Iran)
6. Akzurek Tanatarov (Kazakhstan)
7. Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (Russia)
8. Magomedrasul Gazimadomedov (Russia)
9. Zaurbek Sidakov (Russia)
10. Nurlan Bekzhanov (Kazakhstan)
11. Elaman Dogdurbek Uulu (Kyrgyzstan)
12. Ildus Giniyatullin (Russia)
13. Ruslan Dibirgadzhiyev (Azerbaijan)
14. Gadjimurad Omarov (Azerbaijan)
15. Nikolay Kurtev (Bulgaria)
16. Hamed Rashidi (Iran)
17. Evgeni Zherbaev (Russia)
18. Alexander Semisorow (Germany)
19. Zurabi Erbotsonashvili (Georgia)
20. David Tlashadze (Georgia)
World Championships Seeds
1. James Green (United States)
2. Magomed Kurbanaliev (Russia)
3. Mihail Sava (Moldova)
4. Nurlan Bekzhanov (Kazakhstan)
Recent World and Olympic Results
2016 World Championships
70 kg/154 lbs. – Gold – Magomed Kurbanaliev (Russia); Silver – Nurlan Bekzahanov (Kazakhstan); Bronze – Mostafa Hosseinkhani (Iran); Bronze – Elaman Dogdurbek Uulu (Kyrgyzstan); 5th – Rashid Kurbanov (Uzbekistan); 5th – Nobuyoshi Takojima (Japan); 7th – James Green (United States); 8th – Miroslav Kirov (Bulgaria); 9th – Mihail Sava (Moldova); 10th – Zsombor Gulyas (Hungary)
2015 World Championships
70 kg/154 lbs. – Gold – Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (Russia); Silver – Hassan Yazdanicharati (Iran); Bronze – James Green (United States); Bronze – Yakup Gor (Turkey); 5th – Azamat Nurykau (Belarus); 5th – Miroslav Kirov (Bulgaria); 7th – Davit Tlashadze (Georgia); 8th – Nurlan Bekzhanov (Uzbekistan); 9th – Bekzod Abdurakhmonov (Uzbekistan); 10th – Haiwei Ling (China)
2014 World Championships
70 kg/154 lbs. – Gold – Khetik Tsabolov (Russia); Silver – Yakup Gor (Turkey); Bronze – Ali Shabanau (Belarus); Bronze – Bekzod Abdurakhmanov (Uzbekistan); 5th – Cleopas Ncube (Canada); 5th – Zalimkhan Yusuopv (Tajikistan); 7th – Yoan Blanco (Ecuador); 8th – Nick Marable (USA); 9th – Kim Dai-Sung (Korea); 10th – Evgheni Nedealco (Moldova)
Video: James Green at World Team Training Camp
Date of competition: Saturday, August 26
A heavy influx of talent has moved into the 70 kg/154 lbs. weight category following the 2016 Olympic Games, creating a thunderstorm of a bracket set to compete at this year’s World Championships in Paris, France.
With seven athletes ranked in the current UWW World Rankings, juggernaut Russia will no doubt be well represented in Paris. The nation boasts the defending World champion at the weight class in World No. 1 Magomed Kurbanaliev. However, Kurbanaliev was ousted at the Russia Nationals and will be replaced by World No. 8 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov, who won the Yasar Dogu this year.
Two Olympic bronze medalists from the Rio games have bumped up from 65 kg/143 lbs. to give it a go here.
Currently ranked No. 2 at 65 kg, Frank Chamizo of Italy is undoubtedly one of the most talented wrestlers in this weight class. Chamizo was the 70 kg European champion, as well as Ali Aliev Tournament and Ladislau Simon Memorial gold medalist this year. He was a World champion in 2015 prior to winning his Olympic bronze.
Also making the move to 70 kg is the fourth-ranked wrestler at 65 kg and Asian silver medalist, Ikhtiyor Navruzov of Uzbekistan. As many international wrestling followers will recall, Navruzov was the beneficiary of the last second fleeing call in the Olympic bronze-medal match that caused a Mongolian display of protest. The year prior, he fell to Chamizo in a phenomenal World final in Las Vegas.
The man Navruzov defeated for Olympic bronze, Mandakhnaran Ganzorig of Mongolia, joins the list of weight shifters this go around. Ganzorig is a two-time World bronze medalist and ranked No. 9 in the World at 65 kg.
American talent James Green enters the World Championships as the highest ranked wrestler in the field at No. 2 and the top seed for the tournament. Green has picked up three international gold medals in 2017, including a Pan American championship. He was a World bronze medalist in 2015.
World No. 10 Nurlan Bekzhanov of Kazakhstan finished with the 70 kg silver medal at last year’s World Championships, but will not be entered in the field. Instead, Kazakhstan will roll with World No. 6 Akzurek Tanatarov, who was the Asian champion and 2012 Olympic bronze medalist.
Two-time Asian champion Mostafa Hosseinkhani of Iran enters as No. 5 in the World following an undefeated international season and a 2016 World bronze medal. Hosseinkhani is the only man to own a win over Green this year, a 2-0 decision in the World Cup finale.
The second bronze medalist from last year’s World Championships was Elaman Dogdurbek Uulu of Kyrgyzstan. He has not competed internationally since Budapest, but does hold the No. 11 World ranking and will take part in Paris.
World No. 4 Magomedmurad Gadzhiev of Poland is a potential medal threat following a silver-medal performance at the European Championships. He was an Olympian at 65 kg last year, but was downed by American Frank Molinaro in the opening round and failed to place.
Azerbaijan is expected to give its World Championships slot to U23 European Champion Gadjimurad Omarov, who sits at No. 14 in the World. Omarov, a 2013 Junior World bronze medalist, gets the nod over European bronze medalist Ruslan Dibirgadzhiyev.
Moldova’s Mihail Sava will be a tough out for any of the top contenders. He was a World bronze medalist in 2014 and University World silver medalist in 2016. Sava was awarded the No. 3 seed based on his international performances this year that was highlighted by a bronze medal at the Waclaw Ziolkoski Memorial.
Other entrants of note are World No. 19 Zurabi Erbotsonashvili of Georgia, Miroslav Kurtev of Bulgaria and African champion John Ogbonna of Nigeria.
Seeding for 70 kg is a somewhat moot point, with Green and Sava the only two eligible seeds expected to compete. Non-entrants Kurbanaliev and Bekzhanov were awarded the No. 2 and No. 4 seeds, respectively.
This weight category will be contested on the last day of men’s freestyle action, Aug. 26. The tournament will begin at 10 a.m. local time, with finals scheduled for 7 p.m. Paris is situated six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time.
A live stream of the World Championships, as well as brackets for each weight, will be provided to U.S. residents on Trackwrestling.com.
UWW World Rankings
1. Magomed Kurbanaliev (Russia)
2. James Green (United States)
3. Israil Kasumov (Russia)
4. Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (Poland)
5. Moustafa Hosseinkhani (Iran)
6. Akzurek Tanatarov (Kazakhstan)
7. Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (Russia)
8. Magomedrasul Gazimadomedov (Russia)
9. Zaurbek Sidakov (Russia)
10. Nurlan Bekzhanov (Kazakhstan)
11. Elaman Dogdurbek Uulu (Kyrgyzstan)
12. Ildus Giniyatullin (Russia)
13. Ruslan Dibirgadzhiyev (Azerbaijan)
14. Gadjimurad Omarov (Azerbaijan)
15. Nikolay Kurtev (Bulgaria)
16. Hamed Rashidi (Iran)
17. Evgeni Zherbaev (Russia)
18. Alexander Semisorow (Germany)
19. Zurabi Erbotsonashvili (Georgia)
20. David Tlashadze (Georgia)
World Championships Seeds
1. James Green (United States)
2. Magomed Kurbanaliev (Russia)
3. Mihail Sava (Moldova)
4. Nurlan Bekzhanov (Kazakhstan)
Recent World and Olympic Results
2016 World Championships
70 kg/154 lbs. – Gold – Magomed Kurbanaliev (Russia); Silver – Nurlan Bekzahanov (Kazakhstan); Bronze – Mostafa Hosseinkhani (Iran); Bronze – Elaman Dogdurbek Uulu (Kyrgyzstan); 5th – Rashid Kurbanov (Uzbekistan); 5th – Nobuyoshi Takojima (Japan); 7th – James Green (United States); 8th – Miroslav Kirov (Bulgaria); 9th – Mihail Sava (Moldova); 10th – Zsombor Gulyas (Hungary)
2015 World Championships
70 kg/154 lbs. – Gold – Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (Russia); Silver – Hassan Yazdanicharati (Iran); Bronze – James Green (United States); Bronze – Yakup Gor (Turkey); 5th – Azamat Nurykau (Belarus); 5th – Miroslav Kirov (Bulgaria); 7th – Davit Tlashadze (Georgia); 8th – Nurlan Bekzhanov (Uzbekistan); 9th – Bekzod Abdurakhmonov (Uzbekistan); 10th – Haiwei Ling (China)
2014 World Championships
70 kg/154 lbs. – Gold – Khetik Tsabolov (Russia); Silver – Yakup Gor (Turkey); Bronze – Ali Shabanau (Belarus); Bronze – Bekzod Abdurakhmanov (Uzbekistan); 5th – Cleopas Ncube (Canada); 5th – Zalimkhan Yusuopv (Tajikistan); 7th – Yoan Blanco (Ecuador); 8th – Nick Marable (USA); 9th – Kim Dai-Sung (Korea); 10th – Evgheni Nedealco (Moldova)
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