Salkazanov vs. Green: Two Technicians, One Tone-Setter

If you wanted to design a perfect opening match for RAF02, this might be it.

Two senior-level world medalists. Two highly respected veterans. And two wildly different styles that reward nuance over noise. Tajmuraz Salkazanov and James Green aren’t just elite—they’re experts in how they move, when they strike, and what they don’t give up.

On October 25 in State College, they’ll meet in the Welterweight division to open the second chapter of Real American Freestyle.

No warm-up. No feel-good story. Just a world-class fistfight of timing, traps, and total control.

The Return of James Green

From 2015 to 2021, no one repped the red, white and blue at 70kg like James Green.

He didn’t talk much. He just wrestled. And he did it at the highest level—six straight U.S. World Teams, a pair of World medals, and a style that always made people uncomfortable. Slick. Composed. Deadly in neutral.

After stepping away from competition in 2022 to coach for USA Wrestling, Green didn’t fade—he just got smarter. He stayed in the room. Stayed in shape. And now, he’s back. Bigger, stronger, and still fast enough to cause problems.

At 74kg, he’s stepping up. Literally. And he’s doing it against one of the world’s most frustrating outs.

This is not an exhibition. This is James Green proving he still belongs in the conversation.

The Salkazanov Method

Tajmuraz Salkazanov doesn’t get rattled.

Born in North Ossetia, raised in the deepest freestyle culture on Earth, and now competing for Slovakia, he’s turned consistency into an art form. Four Senior World medals. Two World finals. A bronze last month at the 2025 World Championships. And a long list of names—Dake, Chamizo, and others—he’s beaten on the big stage.

Salkazanov is not flashy. He’s precise. He controls space, shuts down angles, and punishes every inch you overextend. Wrestling him feels like playing chess underwater. You can’t rush it. And if you do, he’ll make you pay.

He’s top 3 in the world for a reason—and he’s walking into State College ready to remind U.S. fans what that means.

Quiet Match. Loud Stakes.

There’s no trash talk here. No hype machine. Just two grown men who’ve made a living out of technical excellence—and who understand that every exchange in a six-minute match matters.

Salkazanov will look to keep the match narrow, grounded, and brutally efficient.

Green will need to open it up. Create misdirection. Force hesitation. And prove that he’s still the faster mind in neutral.

If you love hand-fighting, level fakes, and last-second scores, this one’s for you.