Action was everywhere on the second night of the Ivan Yariguin Memorial tournament Saturday, with a series of comebacks and awe-inspiring displays of athleticism between a pair of former world champions.

Dzhamal Otarsultanov (RUS) and Bekkhan Goigereyev (RUS), who’ve each won world titles in the past two years gave fans the match of the night, contesting each takedown attempt with creative, knee-bending rebuttals.

Otarsultanov, the 2012 Olympic champion at 55 kg, gave up an early takedown to the focused Goigereyev, but quickly used an improbable overhook toss on the edge to take the 4-2 lead. Goigereyev, a 2013 World Championship at 60 kg looked to battle back form the deficit, but gave up a series of takedowns, while only managing an additional chest-lock exposure for two points. The crowd gave the champions an appropriate send-off for the efforts, rising to their feet as each walked from the mat.

Otarsultanov who is coming off a prolonged absence after injury said he was finally excited about competing again. “I’m now looking forward to wrestling. The break was good for me, I feel better and I am focused again on winning the Olympics.”

At 65 kg Magomed Kurbanaliyev (RUS) used a late takedown and consecutive trapped-arm gut wrenches to eke past Alibetgadzhi Emeyev (RUS), 7-6. Though Kurbanaliyev had given up consecutive exposures from a chest lock early in the second period, the explosive wrestler found an opening and made the most of his brief opportunity.

The 70 kg between Ramazan Shamsudinov (RUS) and Israil Kasumov (RUS) also didn’t disappoint, with the heavily favored Kasumov issuing a spectacular scramble that put six points on the board. The scramble over and the wrestlers clear of their ties, Shamsudinov rested and turned his head to the referee, and was blast doubled for another four points. Kasumov, who is from Krasnoyarsk, welcomed the cheers of the crowd.

On the women’s side it was once again the Japanese who dominated the competition. The Siberian crowd was brought to its feat by 55kg champion Kanako Murata who battled back from an early 4-0 deficit to a dominating 16-6 technical fall victory. Murata out-muscled her opponent and at one point late in the second period shot a double leg, lifted her, and launched her for four points.

Yuki Irie was in control for the entire 48 kg final, before ultimately finding a head-and-arm combination in a scramble and pinning Russia’s Nadezha Federova. At 63 kg Jurika Ito made her first period fall of Julia Bartnovskaya seem effortless. Ito, who’d struggled in earlier rounds, including an improbable last-second comeback in the second round, celebrated her victory with a modest fist pump in the air.

The Japanese team didn’t enter any wrestlers at 75 kg, leaving Mongolia’s Burmaa Orchibat to take home the Yariguin prize money after a convincing 5-1 victory over Vasilla Marzalyuk of Belarus.

Action concludes tomorrow with men’s freestyle action at 86, 97, and 125 kg starting at 10:00 local and concluding with the finals at 15:30.

Women’s Wrestling

48 kg

Gold: Yuki Irie (JPN) pin Nadezha Federova, 4:55

Bronze: Anzhela Vetoshinka (RUS dec. Elena Vostrikova (RUS), 2-1

Bronze: Valerija Chepsorakova (RUS) dec. Anastasiya Tabaev (RUS), 2-1

55 kg

Gold: Kanako Murata (JPN) tech fall Zalina Sidakova (BLR), 16-6 in 5:39

Bronze: Irina Ologonova (RUS) pin Orkhan Purvedorj (MGL), 5:08

Bronze: Veronika Chumikova (RUS) dec. Natalia Kovzunova ((BLR), 8-0

63 kg

Gold: Jurika Ito (JPN) pin Julia Bartnovskaya (RUS), 2:37

Bronze: Yulia Prontsevich (RUS) pin Polina Teselenko, 3:31

Bronze: Inna Trajukova (RUS) tech fall Svetlana Babuchkina (RUS), 12-1 in 5:45

75 kg

Gold: Burmaa Orchibat (MGL) dec. Vasilla Marzalyuk (BLR), 5-1

Bronze: Anzhela Kataev (RUS) tech fall Ekaterina Bukina (RUS) 10-0, 2:51

Men’s Wrestling

61 kg

Gold: Dzhamal Otarsultanov (RUS) dec. Bekkhan Goigereyev (RUS), 10-4

Bronze: Murshid Mutalimov (RUS) dec. Yegor Ponomarev (RUS), 5-0

Bronze: Murad Nukhkadiyev (RUS) forfeit Gamlet Ramonov (RUS)

65 kg

Gold: Magomed Kurbanaliyev (RUS) dec. Alibetgadzhi Emeyev (RUS), 7-6

Bronze: Solsan Ramonov (RUS) tech fall Ghadzimurad Nurudinov (RUS), 11-0 in 3:52

Bronze: Akmed Chakayev (RUS) dec Alan Gogayev (RUS), 3-0

70 kg

Gold: Israil Kasumov (RUS) tech fall Ramazan Shamsudinov (RUS), 11-0 in 1:17

Bronze: Mulid Lampezhev (RUS) dec. Khusey Suyunchev (RUS), 5-0

Bronze: Khetik Kabolov (RUS) pin Arsalan Budazhapov (RUS), 2:26