Russia hosted the Commonwealth Cup in Vladikavkaz on July 27-28 featuring some of the best men's freestyle wrestlers in the world. There were a number of notable results from this event but most interesting was the return of world and Olympic champions Abdulrashid Sadulaev and Zaurbek Sidakov. Sadulaev came away with the gold medal but Sidakov surprisingly lost his finals match to win silver. Check out the below article for a summary of Sadulaev and Sidakov's tournaments along with the full results for the entire event.

Sadulaev Is Still The King At 97 kg

The Russian Wrestling Federation originally marketed this event as the world team wrestle-off between Abdulrashid Sadulaev and 2023 Russian Nationals champion Alikhan Zhabrailov. However, that wrestle-off was pushed back to sometime in August leaving Sadulaev to wrestle a "warm-up" event. Sadulaev was challenged in his first two matches of the day against tough opponents in Shamil Musaev and Sergey Kozyrev. Musaev was a junior world champion in 2017 and U23 world silver medalist in 2019. Kozyrev was the Olympic rep for Russia in Tokyo at heavyweight after winning Russian Nationals in 2021. Then, in the finals, Sadulaev was literally unchallenged when his opponent Akhmed Tazhudinov forfeited in the gold medal match. Sadulaev will now prepare to make his 9th straight world/Olympic team in his wrestle-off against Zhabrailov in August.

Sadulaev's match results:

• Finals - Forfeit win over #11 Akhmed Tazhudinov (Bahrain)
• Semifinals - 5-2 win over #8 Sergey Kozyrev (Russia)
• Quarterfinals - 6-1 win over Shamil Musaev (Russia)

Sadulaev's semifinal win over Sergey Kozyrev

Sidakov Stumbles - World Championship Fate Unknown

Like Sadulaev, Sidakov was originally scheduled to wrestle the 2023 Russian Nationals champion at his weight, Cherman Valiev, for a spot on the world team. Instead, the Russian Wrestling Federation pushed that wrestle-off back leaving Sidakov in a 16-man bracket at the Commonwealth Cup. Sidakov reached the finals with relative ease after winning his first 3 matches setting up a finals bout against #11 Timur Bizhoev. In their gold medal match (which you can watch below), the two traded activity clock points until Bizhoev scored a step-out with 1.6 seconds left. After Sidakov lost a challenge, Bizhoev ultimately took the 3-2 victory. 

We outlined what the loss means for Sidakov in more detail in THIS ARTICLE, but simply put, Sidakov's fate is uncertain moving forward. He's proven to be the best wrestler in the world at 74kg as a 2X world and Olympic champion. On top of that, this was Sidakov's first loss at 74kg since October 2022. It hasn't been announced yet, but we should expect Sidakov to be allowed a special wrestle-off against both Timur Bizhoev and Cherman Valiev sometime in August. If he wins those matches, Sidakov will likely earn a spot at the 2023 World Championships.

Sidakov's match results:

• Finals - 3-2 loss to #11 Timur Bizhoev (Russia)
• Semifinals - 4-0 win over Akhmed Nurakhmaev (Russia)
• Quarterfinals - 9-0 win over Robert Dzukaev (Russia)
• Round of 16 - 11-0 win over Stanislav Svinoboev (Russia)

Sidakov's finals loss to Timur Bizhoev:

Gold Medal Matches

57 kg: #4 Artem Gobaev (Russia) VPO1  #20 Ramiz Gamzatov (Russia), 4-3

61 kg: #5 Akhmed Idrisov (Russia) VFO #11 Bashir Magomedov (Russia)

65 kg: Mohammadali Amouzad (Iran) VPO1 #16 Gadzhimurad Omarov (Russia), 4-4

70 kg: #16 Kurban Shiraev (Russia) VPO1 #18 Konstantin Kaprynov (Russia), 4-0

74 kg: #11 Timur Bizhoev (Russia) VPO1 #1 Zaurbek Sidakov (Russia), 3-2

79 kg: #6 Gadzhimurad Alikhmaev (Russia) VPO1 #8 Khalid Yakhiev (Russia), 3-2

86 kg: #5 Artur Naifonov (Russia) VPO1 #4 Amanula Gadzhimagomedov (Russia), 3-2

92 kg: Gadzhimagomed Nazhmudinov (Russia) VPO1 #11 Alan Bagaev (Russia), 4-1

97 kg: #1 Abdulrashid Sadulaev (Russia) VFO #11 Akhmed Tazhudinov (Bahrain)

125 kg: Anzor Khizriev (Russia) VFO Zelimkhan Khizriev (Russia)

Bronze Medal Matches

57 kg: Ramazan Abdurahimov (Russia) VPO Amir Magomedsultanov (Moldova), 3-0

57 kg: #19 Aryan Tsiutrin (Belarus) VSU1 Sultan Kurmanaliev (Kazakhstan), 13-2

61 kg: Andrey Bekrenev (Belarus) VPO Gadzhimagomed Gadzhiev (Russia), 6-0

61 kg: Chermen Tavitov (Russia) VPO1 Kairat Amirtaev (Kazakhstan), 6-1

65 kg: Artur Badtiev (Russia) VPO Magomed Tazhudinov (Russia), 2-0

65 kg: #9 Abdulmazhid Kudiev (Tajikistan) VSU Aripgadzhiev Abdulaev (Russia), 11-0

70 kg: Zagir Shakhiev (Russia) VPO1 Ramiz Khsanov (Azerbaijan), 5-1

70 kg: #17 Aznaur Tavaev (Russia) VPO1 Kenan Kheibatov (Azerbaijan), 7-6

74kg: Akhmed Nurakhmaev (Russia) VPO1 Robert Dzukaev (Russia), 6-1

74kg: #19 Anzor Zakuev (Russia) VSU Erfan Elahi (Iran), 11-0

79 kg: Orkhan Abasov (Azerbaijan) VFO Sobkhan Yari (Iran)

79 kg: #17 Kasum Kasumov (Russia) VPO Mokhmad Nasirkhaev (Russia), 4-0

86 kg: Zaur Makiev (Russia) VPO1 Akhmed Bagavudinov (Russia), 5-1

86 kg: Hadi Vafaypur (Iran) VPO1 Malik Shavaev (Russia), 8-2

92 kg: Omar Ziyautdinov (Russia) VSU #9 Tazhudin Mukhtarov (Russia), 10-0

92 kg: Amir Firouzpour (Iran) VPO1 #12 Askhab Saadulaev (Russia), 7-6

97 kg: Shamil Musaev (Russia) VPO1 #8 Sergey Kozyrev (Russia), 5-3

97 kg: Alexander Hushtyn (Belarus) VPO Gadzhimagomed Tazhudinov (Russia), 2-0

125 kg: Khabib Davudgadzhiev (Russia) VPO Ayaal Lazarev (Kyrgyzstan), 4-0

125 kg: Soslan Khinchagov (Russia) VPO1 Azamat Khosonov (Greece), 1-1

Repechage

57 kg: Ramazan Abdurahimov (Russia) VPO1 Magomed Saipudinov (Russia), 8-2

57 kg: Sultan Kurmanaliev (Kazakhstan) VFO #18 Azamat Tuskaev (Russia)

61 kg: Kairat Amirtaev (Kazakhstan) VFA Lev Prolomov (Russia) - 4-0

65 kg: Artur Badtiev VFO Dzhambulat Kizinov (Russia)

65 kg: #9 Abdulmazhid Kudiev (Tajikistan) VSU Ilyas Amanzholov (Kazakhstan),10-0 

70 kg: Zagir Shakhiev (Russia) VSU Andrei Yakushevsky (Belarus), 11-1 

70 kg: Kenan Kheibatov (Azerbaijan) VPO1 Georgy Sekinaev (Russia), 4-3

74kg: Robert Dzukaev (Russia) VPO1 Stanislav Svinoboev (Russia), 2-2

74kg: Erfan Elahi (Iran) VPO1 Rasul Shapiev (Macedonia), 9-1

79 kg: Sobkhan Yari (Iran) - Azret Ulimbashev (Russia) 8:4 touche

79 kg: #17 Kasum Kasumov (Russia) VSU1 Myrzabek Nurlybekov (Kazakhstan), 2-12

86 kg: Zaur Makiev (Russia) VIN Yeskali Dauletkazy (Kazakhstan)

86 kg: Malik Shavaev (Russia) VPO1 #19 Tazhitin Akaev (Russia), 4-2

92 kg: #9 Tazhudin Mukhtarov (Russia) - Azamat Khadzaragov (Russia), 9:2 

92 kg: #12 Askhab Saadulaev (Russia) VFA Shamil Zubairov (Azerbaijan), 5-5 

125 kg: Ayaal Lazarev (Kyrgyzstan) VPO1 Znaur Kotsiev (Russia), 3:1

125 kg: David Kabisov (Russia) VPO1 Soslan Khinchagov (Russia), 3:2

Semifinals

57 kg: #4 Artem Gobaev (Russia) VPO Amir Magomedsultanov (Moldova), 8-0

57 kg: #20 Ramiz Gamzatov (Russia) VPO1 #19 Aryan Tsiutrin (Belarus) 3-1

61 kg: #5 Akhmed Idrisov (Russia) VSU Aidamir Shigalugov (Russia), 10-0

61 kg: #11 Bashir Magomedov (Russia) VPO1 Chermen Tavitov (Russia), 1-1

65 kg: Mohammadali Amouzadkhalili (Iran) VSU Magomed Tazhudinov (Russia), 10-0

65 kg: #16 Gadzhimurad Omarov (Russia) VSU1 Aripgadzhiev Abdulaev (Russia), 13-2

70 kg: #16 Kurban Shiraev (Russia) VPO Ramiz Khasanov (Azerbaijan), 5-0

70 kg: #18 Konstantin Kaprynov (Russia) VPO1 #17 Aznaur Tavaev (Russia), 6-6

74kg: #1 Zaurbek Sidakov (Russia) VPO Akhmed Nurakhmaev (Russia), 4-0

74kg: #11 Timur Bizhoev (Russia) VPO #19 Anzor Zakuev (Russia), 2-0

79 kg: #8 Khalid Yakhiev (Russia) VPO Orkhan Abasov (Azerbaijan), 7-0

79 kg: #6 Gadzhimurad Alikhmaev (Russia) VPO Mokhmad Nasirkhaev (Russia), 5-0

86 kg: #4 Amanula Gadzhimagomedov (Russia) VSU Akhmed Bagavudinov (Russia), 10-0

86 kg: #5 Artur Naifonov (Russia) VPO1 Hadi Vafaipur (Iran), 3-1

92 kg: Gadzhimagomed Nazhmudinov (Russia) VPO1 Omar Ziyautdinov (Russia), 7-4

92 kg: #11 Alan Bagaev (Russia) VPO1 Amir Firouzpour (Iran), 7-4

97 kg: #1 Abdulrashid Sadulaev (Russia) VPO1 #8 Sergey Kozyrev (Russia), 5-2

97 kg: #11 Akhmed Tazhudinov (Bahrain) VPO1 Alexander Hushtyn (Belarus), 7-2

125 kg: Anzor Khizriev (Russia) VPO1 Khabib Davudgadzhiev (Russia), 3-1

125 kg: Zelimkhan Khizriev (Russia) VPO Azamat Khosonov (Greece), 5-0

Quarterfinals

57 kg: #4 Artem Gobaev (Russia) VPO1 Ramazan Abdurahimov (Russia), 3-2

57 kg: Amir Magomedsultanov ( Moldova) VSU Zhargal Bayanduev (Russia), 10-0

57 kg: Aryyan Tyutrin (Belarus) VFA Khalid Magomedov (Russia), 4-2

57 kg: #20 Ramiz Gamzatov (Russia) VPO Azamat Tuskaev (Russia), 3-0

61 kg: Aidamir Shigalugov (Russia) VSU Nurdaulet Bazarbaev (Kazakhstan), 10-0 

61 kg: Akhmed Idrisov (Russia) VPO1 Gadzhimagomed Gadzhiev (Russia), 4-1

61 kg: #11 Bashir Magomedov (Russia) VPO Kairat Amirtaev (Kazakhstan), 8-0

61 kg: Chermen Tavitov (Russia) VPO1 Akhmed Zubairov (Russia), 7-4

65 kg: Magomed Tazhudinov (Russia) VPO1 Ziraddin Bayramov (Azerbaijan), 2-1

65 kg:  Mohammadali Amouzad ( Iran) VPO1 Artur Badtiev (Russia), 3-2

65 kg: Aripgadjiyav Abdulaev (Russia) VPO1 Ramazan Bagavudinov (Russia), 8-5

65 kg: #16 Gadzhimurad Omarov (Russia) VPO1 Abdulmajid Kudiev (Tajikistan), 2-2

70 kg: Ramiz Khasanov (Azerbaijan) VPO1 Abulfaz Nasirov (Azerbaijan), 6-5

70 kg: #16 Kurban Shiraev (Russia) VPO Zagir Shakhiev (Russia), 6-0

70 kg: #17 Aznaur Tavaev (Russia) VPO Mustafa Akhmedov (Tajikistan), 4-0

70 kg: #18 Konstantin Kaprynov (Russia) VPO1 Kenan Kheibatov (Azerbaijan), 6-2

74kg: Akhmed Nurakhmaev (Russia) VPO1 #14  Magoma Dibirgadzhiev (Russia), 5-4

74kg: #1 Zaurbek Sidakov ( Russia) VPO Robert Dzukaev (Russia), 9-0

74kg: #11 Timur Bizhoev (Russia) VPO1 Erfan Elahi (Iran), 2-1

74kg: #19 Anzor Zakuev (Russia) VPO1 Magomedrasul Asluev (Bahrain), 3-1

79 kg: Orkhan Abasov (Azerbaijan) VFO Magomed Magomayev (Russia)

79 kg: #8 Khalid Yakhiev (Russia) VSU Azret Ulimbashev (Russia), 10-0

79 kg: Mokhmad Nasirkhaev (Russia) VPO1 Abdulkerim Abdulaev (Russia), 5-4

79 kg: #6 Gadzhimurad Alikhmaev (Russia) VPO1 #17 Kasum Kasumov (Russia), 6-3

86 kg: Akhmed Bagavudinov (Russia) VPO Farid Kabbarov (Azerbaijan), 4-0

86 kg: #4 Amanula Gadzhimagomedov (Russia) VPO Zaur Makiev (Russia), 5-0

86 kg: Hadi Vafaipour (Iran) VPO1 Alan Naifonov (Russia), 4-4 

86 kg: #5 Artur Naifonov (Russia) VPO Malik Shavaev (Russia), 2-0

92 kg: Omar Ziyautdinov (Russia) VSU1 Islam Tagir (Turkey), 12-2

92 kg: Gadzhimagomed Nazhmudinov (Russia) VPO1 Azamat Khadzaragov (Russia), 8-3

92 kg: Amir Firouzpour (Iran) VPO1 Azamat Zakuev (Russia), 9-1

92 kg: #11 Alan Bagaev (Russia) VPO1 Shamil Zubairov (Azerbaijan), 7-4

97 kg: Abdulrashid Sadulaev (Russia) VPO1 Shamil Musaev (Russia), 6-1

97 kg: #1 Sergey Kozyrev (Russia) VPO1 Aslanbek Gazzaev (Russia), 6-1

97 kg: Alexander Hushtyn (Belarus) VPO1 Tamerlan Dzhikaev (Russia) 2-1 

97 kg: #11 Akhmed Tazhudinov (Bahrain) VPO1 Gadzhimagomed Tazhudinov (Russia), 7-2

125 kg: Khabib Davudgadzhiev (Russia) VPO #17 Erik Dzhioev (Russia), 2-0

125 kg: Anzor Khizriev (Russia) VPO1 Znaur Kotsiev (Russia) 8-1

125 kg: Zelimkhan Khizriev (Russia) VPO1 Soslan Khinchagov (Russia), 5-4

125 kg:Azamat Khosonov (Greece) VPO1 #15 Dzianis Khromenkov (Belarus), 1-1

Round of 16

57 kg: #4 Artem Gobaev (Russia) VPO1 Magomed Saipudinov (Russia), 5-4

57 kg: Zhargal Bayanduev (Russia) VFO Musa Paizulaev (Russia)

57 kg: #19 Aryyan Tyutrin (Belarus) VPO1 Islam Bazarganov(Azerbaijan), 1-1

57 kg: #20 Ramiz Gamzatov (Russia) VSU Sultan Kurmanaliev (Kazakhstan), 11-0

61 kg: Nurdaulet Bazarbaev (Kazakhstan) VFO Abdurakhman Rasulov (Russia)

61 kg: #5 Akhmed Idrisov (Russia) VPO1 Andrey Bekrenev (Belarus), 6-1

61 kg: Gadzhimagomed Gadzhiev(Russia) VPO1 Dinislam Takhtarov (Russia), 9-5

61 kg: Kairat Amirtaev (Kazakhstan) VPO1 Yasin Rezaiaghuzgolekh (Iran), 4-3

61 kg: #11 Bashir Magomedov (Russia) VSU Lev Prolomov (Russia), 11-0

61 kg: Ahmed Zubairov (Russia) VPO Dzhabrail Gairbekov (Russia), 7-0

61 kg: Chermen Tavitov (Russia) VPO Hussein Sair (Turkey), 8-0

65 kg: Ziraddin Bayramov (Azerbaijan) VPO1 Armin Khabibzadesarukolai (Iran), 7-7

65 kg: Magomed Tazhudinov (Russia) VPO1 Kian Mahmujanlu (Iran), 4-3

65 kg: Artur Badtiev (Russia) VSU1 Shamil Tahir (Turkey), 13-3

65 kg: Mohammadali Amouzad (Iran) VFO Dzhambulat Kizinov (Russia)

65 kg: Aripgadzhiev Abdulaev (Russia) VPO1 Khamza Alaka (Turkey), 5-2

65 kg: Ramazan Bagavudinov (Russia) VPO1 Umar Umarov (Russia), 3-3

65 kg: Gadzhimurad Omarov (Russia) VPO Ilyas Amanzholov (Kazakhstan), 8-0

65 kg: #9 Abdulmazhid Kudiev (Tajikistan) VSU Nyurgun Skryabin (Belarus), 10-0

70 kg: Ramiz Khasanov (Azerbaijan) VPO1 Zaur Zigoev (Russia), 8-6

70 kg: Kuanysh Duysenkul (Kazakhstan) VPO Abulfaz Nasirov (Azerbaijan) 6-0

70 kg: #16 Kurban Shiraev (Russia) VSU Andrey Yakushevsky (Belarus), 11-0

70 kg: Zagir Shakhiev (Russia) VPO1 Magomed Surkhoev (Russia), 7-2

70 kg: #17 Aznaur Tavaev VPO Zaurbek Bugulov (Russia)(Russia), 7-0 

70 kg: Mustafa Akhmedov (Tajikistan) VPO Ramazan Gadzhimagomedov (Russia), 3-0

70 kg: Kanan Kheybatov (Azerbaijan) VPO1 Sabir Zhafarov (Azerbaijan), 4-1

70 kg: #18 Konstantin Kaprynov (Russia) VPO1 Georgy Sekinaev (Russia), 6-2

74kg: Akhmed Nurakhmaev (Russia) VFA #10 Mohammad Firouzpour (Iran), 7-1

74kg: #14 Magoma Dibirgadzhiev (Russia) VSU Bekarys Tolegenov (Kazakhstan), 10-0

74kg: Robert Dzukaev (Russia) VFO Ruslan Bogatyrev (Russia)

74kg: #1 Zaurbek Sidakov (Russia) VSU Stanislav Svinoboev (Russia), 11-0

74kg: Erfan Elahi (Iran) VPO1 #18 Magomet Kardanov (Russia), 7-2

74kg: #11 Timur Bizhoev (Russia) VPO Rasul Shapiev (Macedonia), 2-0

74kg: #19 (at 70) Anzor Zakuev (Russia) VPO1 #13 (at 70) Syrbaz Talgat (Kazakhstan), 5-5

74kg: Magomedrasul Asluev (Bahrain) VPO1 Murat Evloev (Azerbaijan), 4-1

79 kg: Magomed Magomaev (Russia) VPO1 Akhmed Manilov (Russia), 6-4

79 kg:Orkhan Abasov (Azerbaijan) VSU1 Abdula Gelishanov (Russia), 13-2

79 kg: #8 Khalid Yakhiev (Russia) VSU Sobkhan Yari (Iran), 10-0

79 kg: Azret Ulimbashev (Russia) VPO1 Yasin Gozgeshev (Russia), 6-4

79 kg: Abdulkerim Abdulaev (Russia) VFO Akhmad Magomedov (Macedonia)

79 kg: Mohmad Nasirkhaev (Russia) VFA Andrey Karpach (Belarus), 5-1

79 kg: #17 Kasum Kasumov (Russia) VPO1 Idar Khatanov (Russia), 5-3

79 kg: #6 Gadzhimurad Alikhmaev (Russia) VSU Myrzabek Nurlybekov (Kazakhstan), 11-0

86 kg: Akhmed Bagavudinov (Russia) VPO1 Arkady Pakhasyan (Belarus), 10-3

86 kg: Farid Kabbarov (Azerbaijan) - #15 Magomed Sharipov (Russia) 3:2

86 kg: #4 Amanula Gadzhimagomedov (Russia) VPO Eskali Dauletkazy(Kazakhstan), 9-0

86 kg: Zaur Makiev (Russia) VPO1 Rasul Tsikhaev (Belarus), 7-3

86 kg: Hadi Vafaypur (Iran) VSU Slavik Naniev (Russia), 11-0

86 kg: Alan Naifonov (Russia) VSU1 Adam Modosyan (Macedonia), 12-1

86 kg: #5 Artur Naifonov (Russia) VPO #19 Tazhitin Akaev (Russia), 7-0

86 kg: Malik Shavaev (Russia) VPO1 Jabrail Shapiev (Azerbaijan), 6-1

92 kg: Omar Ziyautdinov (Russia) VFA Magomedgadzhi Daitbekov (Russia), 5-0

92 kg:  Islam Tagir (Turkey) VPO1 Bekzat Amangali (Kazakhstan), 5-1

92 kg: Gadzhimagomed Nazhmudinov (Russia) VPO1 #9 Tazhudin Mukhtarov (Russia), 7-2

92 kg: Azamat Khadzaragov (Russia) VPO1 Alikhan Ktsoev (Russia), 6-4

92 kg: Azamat Zakuev (Russia) VFO Gadzhi Radzhabov (Belarus)

92 kg: Amir Firouzpour (Iran) VPO1 Samkhan Zhabrailov (Moldova), 12-4

92 kg: Shamil Zubairov (Azerbaijan) VPO Guram Chertkoev (Russia), 5-0

92 kg: #11 Alan Bagaev (Russia) VPO1 #12 Askhab Saadullaev (Russia), 7-5

97 kg: Shamil Musaev (Russia) VSU Magomed Ibragimov (Azerbaijan), 11-0

97 kg: #8 Sergey Kozyrev (Russia) VSU Marlene Kurlysbek (Kazakhstan), 10-0

97 kg: Tamerlan Dzikaev(Russia) VPO1 Mahdi Hadjilueyanmorafa (Iran), 8-2

97 kg: Gadzhimagomed Tazhudinov (Russia) VSU Tamerlan Kotsoev (Russia), 10-0

125 kg: Khabib Davudgadzhiev (Russia) VPO Khasan Khubaev (Russia), 6-0

125 kg: Anzor Khizriev (Russia) VPO Ayaal Lazarev (Kyrgyzstan), 3-0

125 kg: Znaur Kotsiev (Russia) VFO Said-khasan Akhmatov (Russia)

125 kg: Zelimkhan Khizriev (Russia) VPO1 David Kabisov (Russia), 8-3

125 kg: #15 Dzianis Khromenkov (Belarus) VPO1 David Dzugaev (Russia), 4-2

Check out our Men's Freestyle International Rankings.