Date of competition: Sunday, Sept. 12

Russia’s Beylal Makhov is the clear favorite in the freestyle competition at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

The massive Makhov, who stands 6-foot-6, won World titles in 2007 and 2009. He has made noticeable gains in strength since winning his first World title and will be very difficult to knock off. Makhov won the European Championships this year.

Iran’s Fardin Masoumi, who lost to Makhov in the 2009 World finals, has enjoyed another strong season. He recently beat 2009 World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev of the United States in the finals of a tournament in Iran. Masoumi is athletic for a big man and difficult to score on.

The other returning bronze medalist, Greece’s Ioannis Arzoumandis, also could be in the mix as well.

Returning fifth-place finishers are Alex Modebadze of Georgia and Disney Rodriguez of Cuba.

Azerbaijan’s Ali Issaev is another wrestler to keep an eye one. He won the 2009 European Championships.

First-time World Team member Les Sigman of the U.S. has more than held his own against top international wrestlers this year.

Sigman won three straight matches over Dlagnev – one in the U.S. Open and two in the U.S. World Team Trials – to make the World Team. He also owns a win over Arzoumandis and 2008 Olympian Steve Mocco of the U.S. this season.

This is the fifth different heavyweight in as many years to represent the U.S. at the Worlds or Olympics.

Turkey’s Fatih Cakiroglu is another wrestler to watch. He placed second at the European Championships this year. He was fifth in the World in 2007.

Cakiroglu won the Heydar Aliyev Golden Grand Prix last month in Azerbaijain. He beat Sigman and Dlagnev in that event.

RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS

2009 World Championships
Gold - Beylal Makhov (Russia); Silver - Fardin Masoumi (Iran); Bronze - Ioannis Arzoumanidis (Greece); Bronze - Tervel Dlagnev (USA); 5th - Disney Rodriguez (Cuba); 5th - Alex Modebadze (Georgia); 7th - Bartomiej Bartnicki (Poland); 8th - Ali Isayev (Azerbaijan); 9th - Arjan Bhullar (Canada); 10th - Alexei Shemarov (Belarus)

2008 Olympic Games
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Gold - Artur Taymazov (Uzbekistan); Silver - Bakhtiyar Akhmedov (Russia); Bronze – David Musulbes (Slovakia); Bronze – Marid Mutalimov (Kazakhstan); 5th – Disney Rodriguez (Cuba); 5th – Fardin Masoumi (Iran); 7th – Steve Mocco (USA); 8th – Otto Aubeli (Hungary); 9th – Aydin Polatci (Turkey); 10th – Liang Lei (China)

2007 World Championships
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Gold - Beylal Makhov (Russia); Silver - Alexis Rodriguez (Cuba); Bronze - Vadim Tasoev (Ukraine); Bronze - Artur Taymazov (Uzbekistan); 5th - Tommy Rowlands (United States); 5th - Fatih Cakiroglu (Turkey); 7th - Soung-Jin Go (Korea); 8th - Boyidar Boyadiev (Bulgaria); 9th - Ali Issaev (Azerbaijan); 10th - Marid Mutalimov (Kazakhstan)

2006 World Championships
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Gold – Artur Taymazov (Uzbekistan); Silver – Kuramagomed Kuramagomedov (Russia); Bronze – Fardin Masoumi (Iran); Bronze – Ruslan Basiev (Armenia); 5th – Davaanyam Lkhagvordorj (Mongolia); 5th – Recep Kara (Turkey); 7th – Khizar Durgayev (Azerbaijan); 8th – Otto Aubeli (Hungary); 9th - Liang Lei (China); 10th – Eldar Kurtanidze (Georgia)

2005 World Championships
120  kg/264.5 lbs. - Gold - Ayden Polatci (Turkey); Silver - Alexis Rodriguez (Cuba); Bronze - Otto Aubeli (Hungary); Bronze - Tolly Thompson (USA); 5th - Liang Lei (China); 5th - Kuramagomed Kuramogomedov (Russia); 7th - Rares Chintoan (Romania); 8th - Fardin Mousami (Iran); 9th - Vadim Tasoev (Ukraine); 10th - Artur Taymazov (Uzbekistan)