The 30th annual Ivan Yariguin Grand Prix begins today in Krasnoyarask, Russia. In preparation for the prestigious event, we are closing out our weight class previews with the final four men's freestyle weights.

Watch 2019 Ivan Yariguin Grand Prix Live on Flo

January 23-26 | 11:00 PM Eastern

Day three closes out the tournament with 74kg, 86kg, 92kg, and 97kg. Leading the way for Team USA is Kyle Snyder, seeking to make history with his third straight Yariguin title, something no American has ever done. Also competing on this day are Isaiah Martinez of the Illini RTC and Sammy Brooks of the Hawkeye WC.

For the second straight year the Yariguin will kick off the ranking series events and provide athletes their first chance at earning seeding points for this year's world championships. The brackets for this day's weight will come out Friday morning and they will begin wrestling that night.

Previews: Day One | Day Two

74kg

Isaiah Martinez has eased his way onto the senior level and is the only American wrestling at 74kg this weekend. He made it to Final X: Lincoln, the first time he's finished top three on the ladder and been a national team member. Previously he'd made the finals of the 2014 FILA JR Trials, won University nationals in 2016 when the USA did not send a team to worlds, and wrestled for bronze at the U23 world championships in 2017.

Defending world champ Zaurbek Sidakov is the odds on favorite and is seeking his second Yariguin title. After finishing second last year to then defending world silver Khetik Tsabolov, he beat Tsabolov at Russian Nationals to earn the Russian world team spot. At the world championships he defeated Frank Chamizo for a second time and knocked off Jordan Burroughs en route to his world title.

When Sidakov made the Yariguin finals two years ago at 70kg, he defeated Timur Bizhoev in the quarterfinals. They met again in the quarters of Russian Nationals last August, with the Ossetian coming out on top in an eerily similar match: they traded shot clock points and Sidakov scored a takedown in the final minute to win 3-1.

Bizhoev has twice been to world championships, Cadets in 2013 and U23s last year, bringing home bronze both times. He was runner-up in the Medved field where Martinez finished third last year but they did not meet. Out of Krasnodar Krai, Bizhoev qualified for Yariguin by winning the Alans tournament in December.

Magomed Kurbanaliev is looking for his third Yariguin title, winning at 66kg in 2014 and 70kg last year. The 2016 world champ is higher in weight than he ever has been, another guy who had to go up a whole Olympic weight as UWW transitioned from day before weigh-ins to two consecutive scratch weigh-ins the day of the event.

Nikita Suchkov won the Mindiasvhili to qualify and also won the Dmitri Korkin back in September. The 2016 JR world bronze has been third the past two years at Russian Nationals, but his biggest accomplishment is who he beat to win the Korkin: Frank Chamizo.

Suchkov isn't the only recent age level medalist in the bracket. Giorgi Sulava of Georgia was bronze at U23s last year and also bronze as a Junior in 2016. Byambasuren Bat-Erdene was Junior world bronze, losing to Mekhi Lewis in the semis.

We haven't seen much of Yakup Gor lately, but he won the Georgian tournament last year and was bronze at Takhti Cup.

Nomad's Picks

GOLD: Sidakov, RUS

SILVER: Kurbanaliev, RUS

BRONZE: Bizhoev, RUS

BRONZE: Martinez, USA

86kg

Sammy Brooks is the lone American here, carrying on a long line of Hawkeye WC members who have competed at the Yariguin. People forget sometimes that the two-time All-American made three age level world teams.

Before we get to the Russians, returning world and Yariguin finalist Fatih Erdin of Turkey is the biggest name in the bracket. He wasn't a steamrolling juggernaut last year, but placed almost everywhere he went and consistently performed at a high level.

With the 10 weight class system back, as well as the transition to two day weigh-ins and a few older guys starting to transition out, Dauren Kurugliev was one of several guys from all around who finally made a world team. Between 2017 and 2018, he won six tournaments, including the Yariguin, Yasar Dogu, and Euros. But he was unable to medal in Budapest because he lost to David Taylor and Hassan Yazdanicharati. He teched Erdin in 2017.

Vladislav Valiev was right on the cusp last year but could make the world team again after getting bronze in Paris in 2017. He can sometimes struggle to get his offense going in high profile matches, which is why he's taken bronze three years in a row at Yariguin.

Asian Games bronze medalist Uitumen Orgodol of Mongolia should be in the mix; he lost in the first round last year to Valiev. Given that the three other Russians are so green, I think Orgodol gets a favorable draw and finishes on the podium.

Nomad's Picks

GOLD: Kurugliev, RUS

SILVER: Erdin, TUR

BRONZE: Valiev, RUS

BRONZE: Orgodol, MGL

92kg

There will be no Americans in this bracket. What we could see, however, is a rematch of the 2018 Russian Nationals finals between Batyrbek Tsakulov and Anzor Urishev.

Our good friend Ivan freestyle discovered that Urishev has the most Yariguin medals of anyone ever, and just last year made the finals. However, he's lost to Tsakulov twice: in the Ali Aliev semis and the above mentioned RusNats finals.

Anzor Urishev?? set the record for most number of Yarygin Prix medals. 8️⃣❗️ pic.twitter.com/sOvyZopBtZ

— Ivan_FSwrestling (@sikom_d) January 23, 2019

Although I think the Russians are the best in the bracket, it's hard to predict them getting more than two medals when the pigtails get factored in. So I think Altangerel, Mongolia's JR and U23 world team member.

Magomed Kurbanov won the Mindiasvhili, was second at the Alans, and third at the Intercontinental Cup, with both losses coming to Urisehv, so I'm riding the hot hand.

Nomad's Picks

GOLD: Tsakulov, RUS

SILVER: Urishev, RUS

BRONZE: Chinbat Altangerel, MGL

BRONZE: Kurbanov, RUS

97kg

It could be a bit anti-climactic as Kyle Snyder looks to become the first American man to win three Yariguin titles, but neither Abdulrashid Sadulaev nor Vladislav Baitsaev will be competing this weekend.

This will be the first time competing at the Yariguin as a full-time senior level athlete for Snyder. Now that he has graduated from Ohio State, he can take all the endorsement and prize money he receives. Given the composition of the field, it would be nice to see some new tricks out of Snyder, perhaps improved parterre or some different setups and attacks.

Unlock this video, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In

And why not complete the hat trick against the same guy he's beaten in the past two Yariguin finals, Rasul Magomedov. The U23 Euro silver might be the best Russian in a field of guys who aren't likely to wrestle on a senior world team anytime soon.

Magomedov was U23 Euro silver, while Igor Ovsyannikov was U23 world bronze. The latter is a Krasnoyarsk native and should do well in his home gym. Magomedov lost to Tamerlan Rasuev of Chechnya in the Mindiasvhilli finals. The 2017 Junior world champ Shamil Musaev could play the spoiler in this bracket.

There are three Mongolians in this bracket, none of whom are favored but could wind up medaling with a favorable draw. Baki Sahin of Turkey is making his first appearance outside of his home country.

Nomad's Picks

GOLD: Snyder, USA

SILVER: Magomedov, RUS

BRONZE: Ovsyannikov, RUS

BRONZE: Musaev, RUS