Date of competition: Sunday, Sept. 18

Russia’s Bilyal Makhov has captured the last two World titles at this weight class.

The 6-foot-7 Makhov is an imposing presence in this division. He beat two-time Olympic champion Artur Taymazov of Uzbekistan in the 2010 World finals at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

2008 Olympic silver medalist Bakhtiyar Akhmedov won the Russian Nationals this year, but Makhov is expected to be Russia’s entry at the Worlds. Taymazov beat Akhmedov in the 2008 Olympic finals.

Taymazov continues to wrestle well, winning the Asian Championships and Ukrainian Memorial this year.

American Tervel Dlagnev, a 2009 World bronze medalist, is back looking strong after making his second U.S. World Team.

Dlagnev posted a recent win over two-time World bronze medalist Ioannis Arzoumanidis of Greece.

Dlagnev continues to improve and will definitely be in the mix to win a medal this year. He has now wrestled all the top competitors in this weight class.

Georgia’s Levan Berianidze is a returning World bronze medalist in this weight class.

Iran’s Fardin Masoumi, a 2009 World silver medalist, is another top contender in this division.

Masoumi recently won the Ziolkowski International in Poland. He beat Aleksei Shemarov of Belarus in the finals. Shemarov beat Dlagnev and Makhov en route to the finals.

Turkey’s Fatih Cakiroglu won the 2011 European Championships with Shemarov taking second.

Hungary’s Daniel Ligeti, fifth in the World last year, placed third in the Europeans this year.

RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS

2010 World Championships
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Gold – Bilyal Makhov (Russia); Silver – Artur Taymazov (Uzbekistan); Bronze – Levan Berianidze (Georgia); Bronze – Ioannis Arzoumanidis (Greece); 5th – Daniel Ligeti (Hungary); 5th – Ali Isayev (Azerbaijan); 7th – Fardin Masoumi (Iran); 8th – Marid Mutalimov (Kazakhstan); 9th – Les Sigman (USA); 10th – Zhiwei Dong (China)

2009 World Championships
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Gold - Bilyal 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)