The 74kg weight class at the Olympic Games will be one of the best to watch with multiple former world champions and medalists looking to take out the reigning champion Zaurbek Sidakov.
The Field:
Zaurbek Sidakov (Russia)
Kyle Dake (United States)
Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (Belarus)
Daichi Takatani (Japan)
Taimuraz Salkazanov (Slovakia)
Viktor Rassadin (Tajikistan)
Chermen Valiev (Albania)
Georgios Kougiomtsidis (Greece)
Khetik Tsabolov (Serbia)
Turan Bayramov (Azerbaijan)
Younes Emami (Iran)
Bekzod Abdurakhmanov (Uzbekistan)
Geandry Garzon (Cuba)
Amr Hussen (Egypt)
Anthony Montero (Venezuela)
Bacar Ndum (Guinea-Bissau)
Zaurbek Sidakov-
Sidakov has been one of the worlds premier wrestlers since he stepped on the scene back in 2018 defeating Frank Chamizo and Jordan Burroughs on his way to winning gold at the world championships.
At this point in time he is the heavy favorite to win the bracket after his performance in Belgrade last year running the gauntlet defeating: Kentchadze, Bekzod, Emami, Tsabolov, Kougioumtsidis, and capping off his run with a win over 4x world champion Kyle Dake in a long anticipated matchup.
Kyle Dake-
If there is one person in the world that can challenge Zaurbek Sidakov it is Kyle Dake. Dake vs Sidakov is the matchup many people predicted would happen at the Tokyo Olympic which would’ve settled the debate of best 74kg wrestler in the world, however Dake lost in the quarterfinals and fought back for bronze.
Out of all the wrestlers in this field except Sidakov, Dake is by far more credentialed and will be a big favorite to contend for the title and maybe get revenge from last years world finals.
Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov-
Kadi is one of the most talented wrestlers in the world. He won silver at the 2020 Olympic Games with a technical superiority victory over Kyle Dake and a win over Frank Chamizo. His only loss of the tournament came to Sidakov in the finals.
Last year at the world championships he lost first round to Kougioumtsidis of Greece and after he lost in the semifinals to Kyle Dake, Kadi was eliminated from the tournament.
Daichi Takatani-
Takatani seems to be one of the more overlooked wrestlers in this weight class but he has had some good results recently including his bronze medal finish at last years world championships.
He was able to post wins over Chamizo, Kaipanov, and Kougioumtsidis with his only loss of the tournament coming to Kyle Dake.
Taimuraz Salkazanov-
Salkazanov made the world finals in 2021 and 2022 falling to Kyle Dake both times, this past year in Belgrade he lost in th e quarterfinals to Kougioumtsidis of Greece and was eliminated from the tournament after his semifinal loss to Dake.
Khetik Tsabolov-
Seemingly out of his prime the former world champion looked to have a resurgence in his wrestler after switching federations from Russia to Serbia.
Tsabolov won gold in Tashkent back in 2014 and silver at the 2017 world championships in Paris. This past year in Belgrade it was a phenomenal run as his only loss of the tournament came to eventual champion Sidakov in the quarters.
He might not be a favorite to win the tournament but with that performance last year he definitely might be getting overlooked a bit.
Cherman Valiev & Viktor Rassadin-
Both Russian transfers, Chermen Valiev competing for Albania, and Viktor Rassadin for Tajikistan. Really hard to tell what will happen with these two but they can both definitely medal should things fall into place for them.
They met in the semifinals of the last chance qualifier with Rassadin coming out on top 3-2 due to a challenge point being granted for a singlet pull after the match had concluded.
