World Ranking Leader U81kg Timur Arbuzov

Timur Arbuzov finished 2025 as the world’s top-ranked judoka in the U81kg category after a remarkable season that confirmed his rise from promising talent to dominant force. The Russian fighter captured the World Championship title in Budapest and added the European crown in Podgorica, establishing himself as the leading athlete in one of judo’s most competitive divisions.

Despite reaching the top of the ranking, Arbuzov remains focused on the process rather than the pressure. “My task is to train; I don’t think about anything else,” he explains. That simple philosophy has guided his development from junior standout to senior world champion.

His journey, however, was far from straightforward. Arbuzov’s first four tournaments at senior level ended in defeat, a difficult transition after success in the cadet and junior ranks. Instead of discouraging him, those losses became a turning point. “It was a difficult period because I had never had so many consecutive defeats,” he recalls. “After those losses I drew conclusions and became stronger.”

Guided by his personal coach, the national team staff and the constant support of his father, Arbuzov rebuilt his approach step by step. He refined his tactics, worked on flexibility and groundwork and learned to analyse each setback with precision. A key adjustment came after losing to Japan’s Sotaro Fujiwara in Tokyo, when he focused on improving his strategy against left-handed opponents.

Now more balanced and tactically mature, Arbuzov combines explosive attacks with strategic control.

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