Date of competition: Saturday, Sept. 11

This weight class has belonged to Russia the past six years.

The Russians have won every World and Olympic title at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. in freestyle dating back to 2004.

The Russians are very deep in this class. Khadshimourad Gatsalov won the World title in 2009 and Shirvani Muradov won the Olympics in 2008. Gatsalov also won the 2004 Olympics and captured World titles in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Russia’s entry at the Worlds this year may be Ibrahim Saidov, who won the Russian Nationals. Saidov placed third at the Ivan Yarygin Grand Pix in 2008.

Russian freestyle coach Dzambulat Tedeev said either Saidov or Gatsalov will compete in the Worlds this year.

Returning World silver medalist Khetag Gazyumov of Azerbaijan is expected to contend for the title again this year. He won the European Championships and the Heydar Aliyev Golden Grand Prix in 2010. He won an Olympic bronze medal in 2008.

Returning World bronze medalist George Gogchelidze of Georgia placed second in the Europeans. He has placed as high as second in the World and was third in the 2008 Olympics.

Serhat Balci of Turkey won the other World bronze medal in 2009. He was third in the 2010 Europeans.

Iran’s Saeed Abrahimi placed fifth in the World last year. He is a past World silver medalist.

The U.S. has a first-time World Teamer here in J.D. Bergman, who has placed in numerous international events and is a legitimate World medal contender.

Bergman recently dropped a close, three-period match in the final seconds to Gazyumov in a dual meet in Azerbaijan.

Bergman is strong and physical, and has shown he can match up with anybody in this class.

Bergman beat Jake Varner, a World quarterfinalist in 2009, to make the U.S. Team.

RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS

2009 World Championships
Gold - Khadshimourad Gatsalov (Russia); Silver - Khetag Gazyumov (Azerbaijan); Bronze - Serhat Balci (Turkey); Bronze - George Gogchelidze (Georgia); 5th - Ruslan Sheikhau (Belarus); 5th - Saeed Abrahimi (Iran); 7th - Oldrick Wagner (Germany); 8th - Saleh Moustafa Emara (Egypt); 9th - Jake Varner (USA); 10th - Edgar Yenokyan (Armenia)

2008 Olympic Games
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Gold - Shirvani Muradov (Russia); Silver - Taimuraz Tigiyev (Kazakhstan); Bronze – George Gogschelidze (Georgia); Bronze – Khetag Gazyumov (Azerbaijan); 5th – Michel Batista (Cuba); 5th – Georgii Tibilov (Ukraine); 7th - Kurban Kurbanov (Uzbekistan); 8th – Gergely Kiss (Hungary); 9th –Hakan Koc (Turkey); 10th – Saeid Abrahimi (Iran)

2007 World Championships
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Gold - Khadshimourad Gatsalov (Russia); Silver - Saeed Abrahimi (Iran); Bronze - Kurban Kurbanov (Uzbekistan); Bronze - Daniel Cormier (United States); 5th - Hakan Koc (Turkey); 5th - Alexej Krupniakov (Kyrgyzstan); 7th - Vasili Tismenetzki (Ukraine); 8th - Stefan Kehrer (Germany); 9th - Khetag Gazumov (Azerbaijan); 10th - Georgi Gogchelidze (Georgia)

2006 World Championships
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Gold - Khadshimourad Gatsalov (Russia); Silver – George Gogsehelidze (Georgia); Bronze – Michel Batista (Cuba); Bronze – Ruslan Sheyikhov (Belarus); 5th – David Zilberman (Canada); 5th – Ali Reza Heidari (Iran); 7th – Aleksei Kruphyakov (Kirghizistan); 8th – Vasil Tesmynetskyy (Ukraine); 9th – Stepan Kehrer (Germany); 10th – Patal Rohit (India)

2005 World Championships
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Gold - Khadshimourad Gatsalov (Russia); Silver - Luka Kurtanidze (Georgia); Bronze - Aleksei Krupnykov (Krygyzstan); Bronze - Vasyl Tesmeyneckyy (Ukraine); 5th - Tae-Hyun Koo (Korea); 5th - Siarhei Pernikau (Belarus); 7th - Amir Ganji (Iran); 8th - Bartolomie Bartnicki (Poland); 9th - Nurzhan Katayev (Kazakhstan); 10th - Gergely Kiss (Hungary)