Russia vs USA at worlds

[Truzzcat]

I was going through Euros and noticed Mongush and spencer had a common opponent and was diving a bit deeper into mongush and it made me think Worlds may not be the walk in the park I thought it was for Spencer but I wanted to set this up more like a dual format than just those two.

57kg: Lee (2x u20 world champ olympic silver) vs Mongush (u23 world champ 2025 senior euros champ) common opponent Bazargonov spencer won 6-3 Mongush won 5-0. Mongush also notably lost in the finals to to suda 8-8 at 61kg who is probably our 61kg's biggest opp at worlds. I will go spencer here but I think Mongush is his toughest opponent and he is on a pretty wild growth trajectory. 1-0

61kg: Jax/Vito (senior gold and bronze)/(cadet silver) vs Uguev(2x world 1x olympic gold at 57kg) Uguev still won euros this year in a controversial one to Haryutunyan. Suda that I mentioned above is probably our toughest opponent I think either guy we send beats Uguev. 2-0

65kg: Real (ranking series bronze) vs Mamedov (junior world champ senior bronze) I love Reals trajectory and how freely he has been wrestling but Mamedov is a very unique challenge that I do not think Real can overcome right now. 2-1

70kg: PJ (Junior bronze) vs Baev (world gold, junior gold, u23 silver) PJ's gives him a shot against anyone I think but Yianni got to his legs and finished pretty surgically once he got through the head hands and Baev is wrestling as good as anyone at any weight right now. I think Baev takes this one 2-2.

74kg: Carr (cadet bronze, Junior gold) vs sounds like sidakov will be going (3x world gold 1x olympic gold) Sidakov did lose to valiev at Euros prior to the injury which should give some hope that he is becoming more human. That being said Carr did not have many answers to Salkazonov who has always been a tier below sidakov so I am not ready to predict that level of upset until I see it. 3-2 Russia.

79kg: Haines (pan am champ) vs Usmanov (junior silver world gold) Usmanov is a monster I think Levis inexperience internationally may prove troublesome for him but a the same time he is going to present a pace that the European guys will not like. Usmanov is a monster though I would pick him against whomever America sent aside from maybe Kyle. 4-2 Russia.

86kg: Zahid (world bronze, junior silver) vs Naifanov/Kadiev (junior gold,u23 silver, 2x world bronze)/(2x junior gold) (the russians on X think Kadiev is the second coming however to my knowledge Naifonov beat him last time they wrestled and he was the rep at euros so I am expecting him to be there. Whoever they send I think Zahid is the best wrestler at this weight. The only question is if his cardio allows him to be the best for 6 minutes. 4-3 Russia

92kg: I am not sure who Russia sends here Karugliev is their best guy but he wrestles for greece Trent should clear whoever goes at this weight perhaps Kadiev bumps. 4-4 

97kg: snyder vs Sadulaev we have seen this one before one guy appears to still be close to peak of his powers and the other has lost to a 20 year old from japan this year so I do not expect the upset we always hope for 5-4 Russia

125kg: Wyatt kills whoever they send 5-5 

[Husker_Du]

i'm not on top of everything RUS wrestling, but i saw a post that Sidakov was/is out until after worlds.

is that not the case? 

[Truzzcat]

2 hours ago, Husker_Du said:

i'm not on top of everything RUS wrestling, but i saw a post that Sidakov was/is out until after worlds.

is that not the case? 

He has since said he does not need surgery and will be competing. Sounds like a delayed wrestle off presumably against bhizoev.

[Wrasslin]

On 6/19/2025 at 9:21 AM, Truzzcat said:

I was going through Euros and noticed Mongush and spencer had a common opponent and was diving a bit deeper into mongush and it made me think Worlds may not be the walk in the park I thought it was for Spencer but I wanted to set this up more like a dual format than just those two.

57kg: Lee (2x u20 world champ olympic silver) vs Mongush (u23 world champ 2025 senior euros champ) common opponent Bazargonov spencer won 6-3 Mongush won 5-0. Mongush also notably lost in the finals to to suda 8-8 at 61kg who is probably our 61kg's biggest opp at worlds. I will go spencer here but I think Mongush is his toughest opponent and he is on a pretty wild growth trajectory. 1-0

61kg: Jax/Vito (senior gold and bronze)/(cadet silver) vs Uguev(2x world 1x olympic gold at 57kg) Uguev still won euros this year in a controversial one to Haryutunyan. Suda that I mentioned above is probably our toughest opponent I think either guy we send beats Uguev. 2-0

65kg: Real (ranking series bronze) vs Mamedov (junior world champ senior bronze) I love Reals trajectory and how freely he has been wrestling but Mamedov is a very unique challenge that I do not think Real can overcome right now. 2-1

70kg: PJ (Junior bronze) vs Baev (world gold, junior gold, u23 silver) PJ's gives him a shot against anyone I think but Yianni got to his legs and finished pretty surgically once he got through the head hands and Baev is wrestling as good as anyone at any weight right now. I think Baev takes this one 2-2.

74kg: Carr (cadet bronze, Junior gold) vs sounds like sidakov will be going (3x world gold 1x olympic gold) Sidakov did lose to valiev at Euros prior to the injury which should give some hope that he is becoming more human. That being said Carr did not have many answers to Salkazonov who has always been a tier below sidakov so I am not ready to predict that level of upset until I see it. 3-2 Russia.

79kg: Haines (pan am champ) vs Usmanov (junior silver world gold) Usmanov is a monster I think Levis inexperience internationally may prove troublesome for him but a the same time he is going to present a pace that the European guys will not like. Usmanov is a monster though I would pick him against whomever America sent aside from maybe Kyle. 4-2 Russia.

86kg: Zahid (world bronze, junior silver) vs Naifanov/Kadiev (junior gold,u23 silver, 2x world bronze)/(2x junior gold) (the russians on X think Kadiev is the second coming however to my knowledge Naifonov beat him last time they wrestled and he was the rep at euros so I am expecting him to be there. Whoever they send I think Zahid is the best wrestler at this weight. The only question is if his cardio allows him to be the best for 6 minutes. 4-3 Russia

92kg: I am not sure who Russia sends here Karugliev is their best guy but he wrestles for greece Trent should clear whoever goes at this weight perhaps Kadiev bumps. 4-4 

97kg: snyder vs Sadulaev we have seen this one before one guy appears to still be close to peak of his powers and the other has lost to a 20 year old from japan this year so I do not expect the upset we always hope for 5-4 Russia

125kg: Wyatt kills whoever they send 5-5 

Breakdown is great- thank you! Are you going to do an Iran/USA one too? Here's what I'm thinking:

• 57kg - Mongush (from southern Siberia- I call him Nacho Mongoose) has steadily ascended but Spencer too much horsepower. As an aside, it is mindboggling how big Russia (still) is. 1-0 USA
• 61kg - I'm picking Arujao (over both Forrest and Aguev). If Forrest beats Arujao, I think Aguev beats Forrest- too much experience and I'm a sucker for a super duck. 2-0 USA (Arujao), 1-1 (Forrest)
• 65kg - Mamedov is very good...too good. Real's benefit of being unknown internationally doesn't help him here. 2-1 USA (Arujao), 1-2 Russia (Forrest)
• 70kg - This is Baev's weight until someone beats him. Not PJ Duke this time around. 2-2 (Arujao), 1-3 Russia (Forrest)
• 74kg - I heard Sidakov was going to miss, but he looks just fine on social media; I expect him to wrestle. Russia has lost so many good guys at this weight to other countries, but no matter who they send, likely still beat Carr. His match with Salkazanov was telling as to where he's at internationally (although I'm still picking him for Bronze). 2-3 Russia (Arujao), 1-4 Russia (Forrest).
• 79kg - Haines has gotten a lot better and might surprise someone, but it won't be Usmanov 2-4 Russia (Arujao), 1-5 (Forrest).
• 86kg - Zahid's always good for 2 TDs (and apparently a turn if he transitions from a TD) per match. I think the Russians are high on Kadiev for good reason, but this is Zahid's weight to lose. 3-4 Russia (Arujao), 2-5 (Forrest). 
• 92kg - I think Russia sends Bagaev. Trent is a very sneaky edge of mat wrestler- low center of gravity, neutralizes opponents with his underhook and his pressure will be the difference in 2nd period. 4-4 (Arujao), 3-5 (Forrest)
• 97kg - I've typed too much already- Sadulaev 4-5 Russia (Arujao), 3-6 Russia (Forrest)
• 125kg - I don't know who RUS sends here- it's kryptonite and crazy they haven't developed a good heavyweight in a decade. Hendrickson wins. 5-5 (Arujao), 4-6 Russia (Forrest). 

That settled nothing for me! haha! 

[Truzzcat]

24 minutes ago, Wrasslin said:

Breakdown is great- thank you! Are you going to do an Iran/USA one too? Here's what I'm thinking:

• 57kg - Mongush (from southern Siberia- I call him Nacho Mongoose) has steadily ascended but Spencer too much horsepower. As an aside, it is mindboggling how big Russia (still) is. 1-0 USA
• 61kg - I'm picking Arujao (over both Forrest and Aguev). If Forrest beats Arujao, I think Aguev beats Forrest- too much experience and I'm a sucker for a super duck. 2-0 USA (Arujao), 1-1 (Forrest)
• 65kg - Mamedov is very good...too good. Real's benefit of being unknown internationally doesn't help him here. 2-1 USA (Arujao), 1-2 Russia (Forrest)
• 70kg - This is Baev's weight until someone beats him. Not PJ Duke this time around. 2-2 (Arujao), 1-3 Russia (Forrest)
• 74kg - I heard Sidakov was going to miss, but he looks just fine on social media; I expect him to wrestle. Russia has lost so many good guys at this weight to other countries, but no matter who they send, likely still beat Carr. His match with Salkazanov was telling as to where he's at internationally (although I'm still picking him for Bronze). 2-3 Russia (Arujao), 1-4 Russia (Forrest).
• 79kg - Haines has gotten a lot better and might surprise someone, but it won't be Usmanov 2-4 Russia (Arujao), 1-5 (Forrest).
• 86kg - Zahid's always good for 2 TDs (and apparently a turn if he transitions from a TD) per match. I think the Russians are high on Kadiev for good reason, but this is Zahid's weight to lose. 3-4 Russia (Arujao), 2-5 (Forrest). 
• 92kg - I think Russia sends Bagaev. Trent is a very sneaky edge of mat wrestler- low center of gravity, neutralizes opponents with his underhook and his pressure will be the difference in 2nd period. 4-4 (Arujao), 3-5 (Forrest)
• 97kg - I've typed too much already- Sadulaev 4-5 Russia (Arujao), 3-6 Russia (Forrest)
• 125kg - I don't know who RUS sends here- it's kryptonite and crazy they haven't developed a good heavyweight in a decade. Hendrickson wins. 5-5 (Arujao), 4-6 Russia (Forrest). 

That settled nothing for me! haha! 

I will try and find some time to do USA vs Iran and USA vs Japan awesome breakdown.

[wrestlingfan22]

4 hours ago, Truzzcat said:

I will try and find some time to do USA vs Iran and USA vs Japan awesome breakdown.

Japan's team will be set tomorrow. Here is what they have so far

57: Sakamoto (CWC) or Yumiya

61: Suda

65: Kiyooka or Tanabe

70: Aoyagi

74: Takahashi or Sato

79:Kamiya

86: H. Ishiguro

92: T. Ishiguro

97: Yoshida

125: Yamamoto

 

It will be far from Japan's best possible team, but it will still be very good with multiple threats for medals.  

Edited Saturday at 07:27 PM by wrestlingfan22

[Wrasslin]

On 6/21/2025 at 12:27 PM, wrestlingfan22 said:

Japan's team will be set tomorrow. Here is what they have so far

57: Sakamoto (CWC) or Yumiya (Sakamoto wins 10-0 and looked dominant doing it!) For sure 4 repping the Cowboys, possibly 5 (Valencia, Hendrickson, RBY, Sakamoto, Forrest?). They've gotta be pretty stoked in Stillwater. 

61: Suda

65: Kiyooka or Tanabe (Kiyooka beats Tanabe two straight, 4-3 and 13-2). Tanabe was nursing a sore knee that was painfully apparent in the second match. Also, Kiyooka's younger sister Mo lost her wrestle off so the pair will not get the opportunity to try and repeat as brother/sister world champs. 

70: Aoyagi

74: Takahashi or Sato (Takahashi beats Sato 3-1 to claim his world team spot @ 74kg)

79:Kamiya

86: H. Ishiguro

92: T. Ishiguro

97: Yoshida

125: Yamamoto

 

It will be far from Japan's best possible team, but it will still be very good with multiple threats for medals.  

Update above in RED: 

Edited Sunday at 10:10 PM by Wrasslin

[Wrasslin]

Sounds like Russia's Mamedov at 65kg won't be wrestling due to injury, which is unfortunate- I had him making the finals with a good shot of beating Kiyooka and beating Amouzad (as he did before at worlds). Whoever Russia sends now (maybe Ibragimov) will be competitive in the bracket and still beat Real Woods so no change from predictions above. 

[Truzzcat]

1 hour ago, Wrasslin said:

Sounds like Russia's Mamedov at 65kg won't be wrestling due to injury, which is unfortunate- I had him making the finals with a good shot of beating Kiyooka and beating Amouzad (as he did before at worlds). Whoever Russia sends now (maybe Ibragimov) will be competitive in the bracket and still beat Real Woods so no change from predictions above. 

I believe Abasghadzi returned to action recently. I would love to see him win the spot at Russian Nats. Ibragimov did give up a trap arm and like 5 turns to the kyrgestan guy at the ranking series so I guess we could hope Real could go to work on top. Abasghadzi has never been the guy he was at 61 at 65 but skill for skill he will be the best guy they can throw out in my opinion.

[Jon_Kozak]

Nachyn Mongush and Zaurbek Sidadkov won't be wrestling at Russian Nationals. As already mentioned, Sidakov is hoping for a special wrestle-off against whoever wins Russian Nationals, but he doesn't know if he'll get one yet. 

Brackets will be out in the next day or so - I'll have an article up with them when they're released and will be tracking all of the results over the next few days. 

[Truzzcat]

1 hour ago, Jon_Kozak said:

Nachyn Mongush and Zaurbek Sidadkov won't be wrestling at Russian Nationals. As already mentioned, Sidakov is hoping for a special wrestle-off against whoever wins Russian Nationals, but he doesn't know if he'll get one yet. 

Brackets will be out in the next day or so - I'll have an article up with them when they're released and will be tracking all of the results over the next few days. 

Is mongush looking for an exemption as well? He seems to be far and away better than Pavlov now Imo.

[Jon_Kozak]

1 hour ago, Truzzcat said:

Is mongush looking for an exemption as well? He seems to be far and away better than Pavlov now Imo.

I'd be shocked if they gave one to Mongush. They usually only give wrestle-offs to the exceptional - Sidakov, Sadulaev, Uguev.

Pavlov did beat Mongush at last year's Russian Nationals and the two had a close match at the Yarygin this year (it was 7-5). But I agree that Mongush has been better internationally. 

[Truzzcat]

13 minutes ago, Jon_Kozak said:

I'd be shocked if they gave one to Mongush. They usually only give wrestle-offs to the exceptional - Sidakov, Sadulaev, Uguev.

Pavlov did beat Mongush at last year's Russian Nationals and the two had a close match at the Yarygin this year (it was 7-5). But I agree that Mongush has been better internationally. 

Is mehkitkhanov your pick with Mongush not competing? Yavbatirov Is very good I am intersted to see how he does.

[Jon_Kozak]

5 minutes ago, Truzzcat said:

Is mehkitkhanov your pick with Mongush not competing? Yavbatirov Is very good I am intersted to see how he does.

I don't feel confident picking anyone at 57 - but the safe picks are Pavlov, Chebodaev, and Mutaliev. Magomed-Salyakh Ozdamirov is another guy to watch at 57 - he won U20 Russian Nationals and looks ready to challenge guys at the senior level. 

[Truzzcat]

5 minutes ago, Jon_Kozak said:

I don't feel confident picking anyone at 57 - but the safe picks are Pavlov, Chebodaev, and Mutaliev. Magomed-Salyakh Ozdamirov is another guy to watch at 57 - he won U20 Russian Nationals and looks ready to challenge guys at the senior level. 

Oh yes I saw che posting clips of him on twitter he seems super skilled. He looked like a kid still though so I wonder how he fairs physicality wise. 70kg looks super fun if all the guys on your article end up going intersting if Kaprynov of Eltemirov can break through.

 

I always root for ganishov at 74kg as well because it gives Keegan transitive wins from 2023 u23's.

Edited yesterday at 04:19 PM by Truzzcat