At the Grand Slam in Baku the Japanese Ken Oyoshi and the Russian Makhmadbek Makhmadbekov reached the final for men U73kg. Oyoshi has just arrived on the circuit, hardly anyone knows him, but he has come to Baku as if he were Billy the Kid. The Russian is even younger but he has already won a Grand Slam and competes like a veteran with the energy of a youngster. The two won all their matches and measured forces in the grand finale.
Oyoshi tried an uchi-mata that could have been magnificent. Makhmadbekov responded with excellent work in ne-waza but they were both futile attempts. It was necessary to go further because they were already in golden score and both playing defence, so much so that in the end the Japanese lost by hansokumake and Makhmadbekov pocketed a second gold at a grand slam and said, “There is no secret to winning. I just work hard. As the rivalry is very big in Russia, I couldn’t make it to Tokyo. Now, the only option I have is to win and get the gold in Paris 2024. Gold in Kazan and here is good evidence that I am on the right track.” Makhmadbek Makhmadbekov won his second gold medal at a Grand Slam this year as he won in Kazan as well in May.
The Rustam Orujov and Hidayat Heydarov thing was like the disaster of the seventh cavalry regiment. Both lost their scalp at the hands of the new masters of the place.