World Freestyle Rankings

[arm-spin]

We had a lot of fun with these last year so let's do it again. I haven't been paying near as much attention this year, so this is strictly a shot in the dark. All input is welcomed. My criteria combnies both past results and present preformance, I don't have a strict formula or anything

55 kg-
1- Lebedev, Russia. I wish he would wrestle more, but he is at the top- and probably #2 pound-for-pound- until he loses.
2- Otasultranov, Russa. I feel for this guy. Been winning just about everything for years but stuck behind Kudukhov and then Lebedev on the depth chart.
3- Veiikov, Bulgaria. Comically inconsistent, but has 4 world medals including silver last year.
4- . Ramihi, Iran Don't know much about him but he placed 3rd wth a brutal bracket last year
5- Khinegashvili, Turkey. 2x jr world champ is one of my personal favorites.
6- Yang, North Korea. Former world champ with a win over Lebedev.

60 kg
1- Kudukhov,Russia. Best pound for pound in the world. People were trying to stall him out like crazy at last year's worlds and took him to some clinches . Interesting to see how he wrestles with the pressure of the Olympics on him.
2- Asgarov, Azerbayjan. Former silver medallist has been tearing through everything including Europeans and Qualifiers this year. Probably the highest scoring top level wrestler in the world today.
3- Sat, Russia. Still very good, but did lose to Asgarov and another Russia this year.
4- Gomez, Puerto Rico. After his suprising silver at worlds, he beat a tough Cuban to win the Pan Ams.
5- Yumoto Japan. Beat Fedorishin and took Kudukhov to double clinches at last year's worlds.
6- Fedorishin, Ukraine. Getting old, but still good.

66 kg. This weight could probably be ranked about a dozen different ways. Here's my best shot at it...
1- Taghavi, Iran. 2 titles in 3 years. Still beatable, though- lost to another Iranian recently.
2- Yonomisu, Japan. 2x world medallast has beaten Taghavi in the past
3- Lopez, Cuba. Great run at last year's worlds to bronze, Pan Am chanp.
4- Hasaynov, Azerbayjan. Bit of a difficult year with loss to Metcalf, won his nationals at 74.
5- M. Batriov. Most accomplished guy here, but long ago at a lighter weight. Could be ranked anywhere from 2 to not at alll.
6- Gogaev, Russia. The young Yarygin/Euro champ is a bit of a pinner it seems.
7- Kumar, India. Assuming he actually qualifies for the Olympics, he hasn't yet.
8- Stadnik, Ukraine- Olympic finalist struggling quite a bit. Note that his nemesis Shahiin (2x champ) doesn't even make the list, that is how deep 66 is these days

74 kg:
1- Burroughs, USA. I cautiously have him at #3 pound for pound, currently has a bit of that "unbeatable" mystique IMO.
2- Tsargush, Russia. Has picked things up offensively since last year's worlds.
3- Goudrazi, Iran. Should maybe be #2, but I can't get over his 0-2 record vs Tsarguh.
4- Adam Saitiev. Has looked great so far, I hope he wins the Olympic spot.
5- Geduev, Russia. What a thrower!
6- Aliyev, Azerbayjan. Not unbeatable by any means, but gave Burroughs a tough match at worlds and won the consi bracket that Tsargush was in.

84: lots of fun guys to watch here too. Anyone in this list could win the worlds.
1- Sharifov, Azerbayjan. World champ and former bronze medallist.
2- Aldaatov, Ukraine. Another inconsistent guy who always seems to peak for worlds and has the most hardware here (along with Sokhiev).
3- Dato, Ukraine. Would not shock me to have him at #1 soon. World bronze, Euro gold and silver.
4- Saritov, Russia
6- Sokhiev, Uzbekistan. Hasn't done well lately but is still a 4x world medallist.
7- Ganev, Bulgaria. Still probably too high; 2nd at Euros and then a wierd loss at the qualifiers.
8- Urishev, Russia. Won Yarygin this year again. Could arguably be higher, but has never made a world team.

96- the toughest one to rank IMO.
1- Gadisov, Russia. On a hell of a tear. Lost one to Gogchelidze this year I think; wn Euros, qualifiers and Yarygin in mostly dominant fashion.
2- Yazdani, Iran. Defending world champ lost a close one to Gadisov.
3- Gayzumov, Azerbayjan. The best guy here IMO but he DNP at last year's worlds and hasn't wrestled much since, apparently injured.
4- Saidov, Russia. 2nd at Yarygin over Varner. Doesn't seem to compete a whole lot, so hard to rank.
5- Varner, USA. World bronze, Yarygin bronze, Pan Am champ. Has less hardware than many of these guys, but has lookd prety nasty.
6- Tigiev, Uzbekistan. Dangerous veteran.
7- Gatsalov, Russia. Easily the most accomplished wrestler on this list but seems to have lost a step.
8- Balci, Turkey. Ranked too low? I know he beat Varner and Tigiev but I've never really seen him as a superstap.
9- Gogchelidze, Georgia.

120 kg: I really have no clue with these guys, please help out.
1- Shemarov, Belarus. Actually beat Makhov in a grand prix event before taking him out with double clinches at worlds.
2- Makhov, Russia. Arguably the favorite again. Has admitted to struggling with the weight cut, what a beast-man he is.
3- Taymazov, Uzkebekistan. 2x olympic champ.
4- Dlagnev, USA. Beat Taymazov at the worlds, but lost to him beforehand and has been beatable since.
5- Akhmedov, Russia. Won the Yargyin, but apparently got sick at the Euro's or soemthing and had to pull out.
6- Akgul, Turkey.

[teseo]

Here are mine, from my blog

ZONA DE LUCHA: RANKINGS

Pretty similar to yours armspin. I removed Fedorishin from my 60kg top10 due to his recent loses. Also, I listed Rasul Murtazaliev #5 in the same category, he beat Opan Sat in the Ivan Yarygin tourney this year (I know Guidea beat him in the European Championships, but I still think Murtazaliev deserves to be ranked that up). Anyway, I update the ranks after any big event.

[JensenS]

Always enjoy reading these.

Like you I feel for Otarsultanov. Fun guy to watch wrestle, but has just been stuck behind some absolute animals.

[Zapp Brannigan]

Sam Hazewinkel

[vaisforlovers]

Here are mine, from my blog

ZONA DE LUCHA: RANKINGS

Pretty similar to yours armspin. I removed Fedorishin from my 60kg top10 due to his recent loses. Also, I listed Rasul Murtazaliev #5 in the same category, he beat Opan Sat in the Ivan Yarygin tourney this year (I know Guidea beat him in the European Championships, but I still think Murtazaliev deserves to be ranked that up). Anyway, I update the ranks after any big event.

Varner at 10?

[teseo]

Varner at 10?

96kg is a tough category. Sure, Varner could be ranked #9 and give Gogshelidze #10, but Sheikov got bronze medals in the last two Worlds, and Andriitsev did great at last Euro, making it to the final and losing only to Gadisov. I respect Varner as a top level guy here, but as I said, it's a tough one to choose.

[JudoWrestler]

84kg is absolutely stacked... I have Gadisov #1 at 96kg.

[vaisforlovers]

I can honestly say that I dont know but so much about international results. Just seems odd that hed be a bronze medalist last year that low. Seemed like top 6 would be more approprate, but again this is not my expertise.

[gbdaz]

I can honestly say that I dont know but so much about international results. Just seems odd that hed be a bronze medalist last year that low. Seemed like top 6 would be more approprate, but again this is not my expertise.

Its because the world championship for the most part isn't the toughest comp, he did very well to get the bronze in a stacked weight, i would've had him above andriitsev, he managed to beat tigiev at worlds but i think tigiev was a bit tired from his battles against gogshelidze, gatsalov and balci earlier in the day. I do think varner could pull some upsets at the olympics with strong conditioning and growing confidence its building up for him.
My top 5 at 96-
1)yazdani
2)gadisov
3)gazyumov
4)gatsalov
5)saidov(I know he hasn't wrestled much but he only seems to lose to the guys above him)
I would say balci as 5th but with refs and oil helping him and a horrible style to watch, i prefer saidov, if muradov wrestled comps he'd probably be in there.