Abdulrashid Sadulaev
World champion at 18, Olympic champion twice
- Born
- May 9, 1996, Tsurib, Dagestan, Russia
- Nationality
Russia- Height
- 177 cm (5′10″)
- Style
- Takedown-to-gut-wrench finisher
- Weight
- 86 kg, 92 kg, 97 kg
- Active
- 2012–present
- Status
- Active · age 30
The medals
2 Olympic golds, 6 world titles
The story
bdulrashid Sadulaev, nicknamed 'The Russian Tank', was a world champion at 18. The Dagestani won world titles at 86 kg in 2014 and 2015 and Olympic gold in Rio in 2016, then moved up to 97 kg for three more world titles and a second Olympic gold in Tokyo. His series with American Kyle Snyder defined the era: Snyder edged their 2017 world final 6-5, and Sadulaev answered by pinning him in the 2018 final and beating him again for Olympic gold in Tokyo. After a serious neck injury, he returned to win a sixth world title at 92 kg in 2024 and a European title in 2026. That July, Snyder pinned him in their Real American Freestyle rematch in Tbilisi.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- Olympic champion (Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020)
- World champion ×6 (2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2024)
- European champion (2014, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2026)
- European Games champion (2015, 2019)
Defining matches
- 2017LOSSvs Kyle Snyder (World final, 5-6)
- 2018WINvs Kyle Snyder (World final, fall)
- 2021WINvs Kyle Snyder (Tokyo 2020 Olympic final, 6-3)
- 2024WINvs Miriani Maisuradze (World final at 92 kg, 6-0)
- 2026LOSSvs Kyle Snyder (Real American Freestyle, Tbilisi, fall)
Turn one takedown into a big lead: Sadulaev's 2024 world title run chained takedowns straight into gut wrenches. The moment you land on top, lock the waist and turn your partner before they can build a base.
