Kyle Snyder vs Akhmed Tazhudinov - Circle Back, Run It Back

When the RAF divisions shifted and the light heavyweight division bumped up to 215 pounds, a new titleholder would need to be crowned. Two of the most dangerous men in the division went toe-to-toe in a match that has needed a more definitive outcome since it went down. Unsatisfied with a 3-3 criteria outcome, Kyle Snyder and Akhmed Tazhudinov will clash once again for the light heavyweight title.

After pinning Anthony Cassioppi, many knew big things were in store for Akhmed Tazhudinov under the RAF banner. His next trip out would be challenging Kyle Snyder for the RAF light heavyweight title where he would fall short in a razor-thin 3-3 criteria victory for Snyder. Since then, Snyder has gone on to decisively defeat Aitmukhan, Matcharashvili and Sadulaev but the lingering criteria win has been calling for a more definitive ending.

What adds even more credence to the necessary rematch is the Tazhudinov/Snyder rivalry that began back at 2023 Worlds where Tazhudinov would win by a score of 11-0. A second match in august of 2024 would see a final score of 6-4 in favor of Tazhudinov before the RAF07 match that would serve as the beginning of Snyder’s title run.

Snyder winning the title over one of the only men to ever beat him twice had to make the victory all the more sweet but down 2-1 in the rivalry, Snyder is just as hungry to circle back to Tazhudinov as Tazhudinov is.

Tazhudinov jumped out to an early 3-1 lead over Snyder that carried into the final period at RAF07, a pushout point with just over 30 seconds left in the match was what it would take for Snyderman to tie the match and take home the victory as the final man to score. Has the American Olympic gold medalist figured out his dominant foe or did the ball simply bounce in his direction?

To defend his title against the only man to ever hold a tech fall victory over him, Snyder will need to make the match ugly, early. Attack the hands and no chasing big takedowns. He nearly took the second matchup which was a low-scoring affair and he holds the RAF title by winning an even lower-scoring matchup.

Snyder's biggest advantage is his ability to wrestle through positions with pressure, hand-fighting and sheer strength. He should rely on grit and discomfort and make sure to not give Tazhudinov the clean, open-space exchanges where Tazhudinov's timing and offense are likely to make the difference.

Tazhudinov should look to make Snyder attack legs instead of long upper-body exchanges that turned into late pushout points in their RAF07 matchup. That kind of physicality favors Snyder, if Tazhudinov uses fakes, reattacks and lower-body attacks, he can keep the match from becoming a boundary war.

The other change Tazhudinov will look to make is to cut off Snyder’s keys to victory in their last match. Keep the battle in the center of the mat. Two pushout points in the final period were the difference in champions in the first meeting. Tazhudinov's length has proven to be a major problem for Snyder. His best work comes when the American has to reach through his long frame to get to his legs. That's where Tazhudinov can use his counters, re-attacks and upper-body attacks.

It’s one of the most interesting rivalries in wrestling today and both men view this as much more than a run-of-the-mill match. In fact, there’s even more on the line for both men than the RAF light heavyweight title. This matchup is the most important one they’ve had in a little while.

Can Tazhudinov drive a nail in the coffin of his rivalry with one of the greatest of all time or will Snyder knot things up and show the Dagestani young gun he’s still got some work to put in?

Find out at RAF Moscow!

Catch Kyle Snyder vs Akhmed Tazhudinov LIVE at RAF Moscow, Saturday, September 5!