Date of competition: Saturday, Sept. 17

Young Russian star Besik Kudukhov has become the dominant force in this weight class.

Kudukhov, 25, is now regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound wrestlers in the World after his recent string of dominance at 60 kg/132 lbs. He’s a three-time World champion.

Kudukhov has won back-to-back World championships in this division after bumping up to 60 kilos in 2009. Kudukhov also won a World title in 2007 at 55 kg/121 lbs.

Kudukhov won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics at 55 kilos. He was second in the World in 2006 and won a Junior World freestyle title in 2005.

Russia’s Opan Sat won the European Championships in this division, but Kudukhov is expected to be his country’s entry for the Worlds.

Kudukhov won the Russian Nationals this year and looks like the clear favorite to win this weight class at the 2011 Worlds in Istanbul, Turkey.

Kudukhov’s top challenge may be 2010 World silver medalist Vasyl Fedoryshin of Ukraine. Fedoryshin has placed in the top three in the World the past three years. He won a 2008 Olympic silver medal and a bronze medal at the 2009 Worlds. Fedoryshin placed third at the 2011 Europeans.

Past World champion Sayed Morad Mohammadi of Iran continues to excel. He won a bronze at the 2010 Worlds. The other returning bronze medalist is Zelimhkan Huseynov of Azerbaijan. Huseynov was second in the World in 2009.

Past World bronze medalist Sahit Prizreni of Albania, who has trained with the New York Athletic Club, was second in the Europeans this year. Bulgaria’s Anatolie Guidea, second in the World in 2007, was third in the 2011 Europeans. 

Dauren Zhumagazyyev of Kazahkstan won the Asian Championships this year.

Puerto Rico’s Franklin Gomez, a past NCAA champion for Michigan State, won the Pan American Championships this year. He is scheduled to compete in his second straight World Championships this year in Turkey. He trains with the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club.

Newcomer Reece Humphrey is the U.S. entry in this division after winning the spot over 2009 World Team member Shawn Bunch.

Humphrey has fared well internationally, winning World University silver and bronze medals. He placed fifth at July’s Ziolkowski International in Poland.

The U.S. is looking for its first World-level medal in this weight class since Mike Zadick won a World silver medal in 2006.

RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS

2010 World Championships
60 kg/132 lbs. – Gold - Besik Kudukhov (Russia); Silver – Vasyl Fedoryshin (Ukraine); Bronze – Sayed Morad Mohammadi (Iran); Bronze – Zalimhkan Huseynov (Azerbaijan); 5th – Ulan Nadyrbek Uulu (Mongolia); 5th – Ersin Cetin (Turkey); 7th – Alejandro Valdes (Cuba); 8th – Seung-Chul Lee (Korea); 9th – Malkhaz Kurdiani (Georgia); 10th – Artur Arakelyan (Armenia)

2009 World Championships
60 kg/132 lbs. – Gold - Besik Kudukhov (Russia); Silver - Zalimkhan Huseynov (Azerbaijan); Bronze - Dilshod Mansurov (Uzbekistan); Bronze - Vasyl Fedoryshin (Ukraine); 5th - Shogo Maeda (Japan); 5th - Sayed Mohammadi (Iran); 7th - Artur Arakelyan (Armenia); 8th - Maikel Perez Gonzales (Cuba); 9th - Bazar Bazarguruev (Kyrgyzstan); 10th-  Anatolie Guidea (Bulgaria)

2008 Olympic Games
60 kg/132 lbs. – Gold - Mavlet Batirov (Russia); Silver - Vasyl Fedoryshyn (Ukraine); Bronze – Kenichi Yumoto (Japan); Bronze – Seyed Morad Mohammadi (Iran); 5th – Bazar Bazarguruev (Krygyzstan); 5th – Zelimkhan Huseinov (Azerbaijan); 7th – Muzad Ramazanov (Macedonia); 8th – Yandro Quintana (Cuba); 9th – Yogeshwar Dutt (India); 10th – Saeed Azarbayjani (Canada)

2007 World Championships
60 kg/132 lbs. – Gold - Mavlet Batirov (Russia); Silver – Anatolie Guidea (Bulgaria); Bronze – Bazar Bazarguruev (Kyrgyzstan); Bronze – Sahit Prizreni (Albania); 5th – Tevfik Odabasi (Turkey); 5th – He Quin (China); 7th – Samat Khakupov (Kazakhstan); 8th – Murat Ramazanov (Macedonia); 9th – Themis Iakovidis (Greece); 10th – Vasil Fedorishyn (Ukraine)

2006 World Championships
60 kg/132 lbs. – Gold – Seyed Morad Mohammadi (Iran); Silver – Mike Zadick (USA); Bronze – Noriyuki Takatsuka (Japan); Bronze – Mavlet Batirov (Russia); 5th – Vasil Fedoryshin (Ukraine); 5th – Dutt Yogeshwar (India); 7th – David Pogosian (Georgia); 8th – Aliaksandr Karnitski (Belarus); 9th – Yandro Quintana (Cuba); 10th – Farzad Tarash (Australia)

2005 World Championships
60 kg/ 132 lbs. - Gold - Alan Dudaev (Russia); Silver - Yandro Quintana (Cuba); Bronze - Martin Berberyan (Armenia); Bronze - Mehdi Mohammadi (Iran); 5th - Levan Chabradze (Georgia); 5th - Oyunbileg Purevbaatar (Mongolia); 7th - Jae-Myung Song (Korea); 8th - Giuvi Sissaouri (Canada); 9th - Gergo Woller (Hungary); 10th - Tevfik Odabasi (Turkey)