Top journalists offer predictions for 2012 Olympic Games

Top wrestling journalists are offering their predictions for the 18 weight classes at the 2012 Olympic Games, set for Aug. 5-12 at the ExCel Center in London, England.

Journalists picked the champion in each weight class.

The results will be posted on TheMat.com following the Olympics.

Here are the journalist picks:

Petr Pavlov, Russian journalist from Yakutia
Freestyle
55 kg/121 lbs. - Hasan Rahimi - Iran
60 kg/132 lbs. - Besik Kudukhov - Russia
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Tasukhiro Yonemitsu - Japan
74 kg/163 lbs. - Denis Tsargush - Russia
84 kg/185 lbs. - Sharif Sharifov - Azerbaijan
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Reza Yazdani - Iran
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Bilal Makhov - Russia
Greco-Roman
55 kg/121 lbs. - Rovshan Bayramov - Azerbaijan
60 kg/132 lbs. - Onid Noroozi "” Iran
66 kg/145.5 lbs.- Kim Hyeon Woo - Korea
74 kg/163 lbs. - Roman Vlasov - Russia
84 kg/185 lbs. - Hristo Marinov - Bulgaria
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Jimmy Lidberg - Sweden
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Reza Kayaalp - Turkey
Women's freestyle
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Hitomi Sakamoto - Japan
55 kg/121 lbs. - Saori Yoshida - Japan
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Kaori Icho - Japan
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Stanka Zlateva - Bulgaria

Ikuo Higuchi, Japan Amateur Wrestling Federation (Japan)
Freestyle
55 kg/121 lbs. - Yang Kyong-Il (North Korea)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Besik Seradinovich Kudukhov (Russia)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu (Japan)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jordan Burroughs (USA)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Sharif Sharifov (Azerbaijan)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Abdusalam Gadisov (Russia)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Beylal Makhov (Russia)
Greco-Roman
55 kg/121 lbs. - Kohei Hasegawa (Japan)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Omid Noroozi (Iran)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Saeid Mourad Abdvali (Iran)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Roman Vlasov (Russia)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Nazmi Avluca (Turkey)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Ghasem Rezaei (Iran)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Mijain Lopez Nunez (Cuba)
Women's freestyle
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Hitomi Obara (Japan)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Saori Yoshida (Japan)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Kaori Icho (Japan)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Stanka Zlateva Hristova (Bulgaria)

Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Freestyle
55 kg/121 lbs. - Djamal Otarsultanov (Russia)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Besik Kudukhov (Russia)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Livan Lopez (Cuba)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jordan Burroughs (USA)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Anzor Urishev (Russia)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Jake Varner (USA)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Tervel Dlagnev (USA)
Greco-Roman
55 kg/121 lbs. - Hamid Sourian (Iran)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Almat Kebispayev (Kazakhstan)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Justin Lester (USA)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Roman Vlasov (Russia)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Nazmi Avluca (Turkey)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Mohamed Abdel Fatah (Egypt)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Dremiel Byers (USA)
Women's freestyle
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Clarissa Chun (USA)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Saori Yoshida (Japan)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Elena Pirozhkova (USA)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria)

Al Bevilacqua, nywrestling.com
Freestyle
55 kg/121 lbs. - Viktor Lebedev (Russia)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Besik Kudukhov (Russia)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Yabrail Hasanov (Azerbaijan)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jordan Burroughs (USA)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Jake Herbert (USA)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Reza Yazdani (Iran)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Tervel Dlagnev (USA)
Greco-Roman
55 kg/121 lbs. - Hamid Soryan (Iran)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Zaur Kuramagomedov (Russia)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Justin Lester (USA)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Selcuk Cebi (Turkey)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Damian Janikowski (Poland)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Rustam Totrov (Russia)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Mijain Lopez (Cuba)
Women's freestyle
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Hitomi Sakamoto (Japan)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Saori Yoshida (Japan)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Elena Pirozhkova (USA)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Ekaterina Bukina (Russia)

Jason Bryant, USA Wrestling
Freestyle
55 kg/121 lbs. - Djamal Otarsultanov (Russia)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Franklin Gomez (Puerto Rico)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Sushil Kumar (India)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jordan Burroughs (USA)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Ibragim Aldotov (Ukraine)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Abdusalam Gadisov (Russia)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Tervel Dlagnev (USA)
Greco-Roman
55 kg/121 lbs. - Hamid Soryan (Iran)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Almat Kebispayev (Kazakhstan)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Justin Lester (USA)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Arsen Julfalakyan (Armenia)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Pablo Enrique Shorey Hernandez (Cuba)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Timofej Dzeynichenko (Belarus)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Mijain Lopez (Cuba)
Women's freestyle
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Hitomi Sakamoto (Japan)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Saori Yoshida (Japan)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Kaori Icho (Japan)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria)

Brian Cazeneuve, Sports Illustrated
Freestyle
55 kg/121 lbs. - Radoslav Velikov (Bulgaria)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Besik Kuduhkov (Russia)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Mehdi Taghavi (Iran)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jordan Burroughs (USA)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Sharif Sharifov (Azerbaijan)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Reza Yazdani (Iran)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Bilyal Makhov (Russia)
Greco-Roman
55 kg/121 lbs. - Hamid Soryan (Iran)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Luis Liendo (Venezuela)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Saeid Mourad Abdvali (Iran)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Roman Vlasov (Russia)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Damian Janikowski (Poland)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Jimmy Lidberg (Sweden)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Mijain Lopez (Cuba)
Women's freestyle
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Hitomi Sakamoto (Japan)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Saori Yoshida (Japan)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Kaori Icho (Japan)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria)

Mike Finn, WIN Magazine
Freestyle
55 kg/121 lbs. - Viktor Lebedev (Russia)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Besik Kudukhov (Russia)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu (Japan)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jordan Burroughs (USA)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Sharif Sharifov (Azerbaijan)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Serhat Balci (Turkey)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Tervel Dlagnev (USA)
Greco-Roman
55 kg/121 lbs. - Hamid Soryan (Iran)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Zaur Kuramagomedov (Russia)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Justin Lester (USA)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Selcuk Cebi (Turkey)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Almin Selimov (Belarus)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Jimmy Lidberg (Sweden)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Riza Kayaalp (Turkey)
Women's freestyle
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Maria Stadnyk (Azerbaijan)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Saori Yoshida (Japan)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Kaori Icho (Japan)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria)

T.R. Foley, InterMat
Freestyle
55 kg/121 lbs. - Djamal Otarsultanov (Russia)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Franklin Gomez (Puerto Rico)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Yabrail Hasanov (Azerbaijan)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jordan Burroughs (USA)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Jake Herbert (USA)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Reza Yazdani (Iran)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Chuluunbat Jargalsaikhan (Mongolia)
Greco-Roman
55 kg/121 lbs. - Shujin Li (China)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Omid Noroozi (Iran)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Justin Lester (USA)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Roman Vlasov (Russia)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Nazmi Avulca (Turkey)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Artur Aleksanyan (Armenia)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Riza Kayaalp (Turkey)
Women's freestyle
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Hitomi Sakamoto (Japan)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Saori Yoshia (Japan)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Nasanburmaa Orchibat (Mongolia)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Ekaterina Bukina (Russia)

Eddie Goldman, No Holds Barred
Freestyle
55 kg/121 lbs. - Dyamal Otarsultanov (Russia)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Franklin Gomez (Puerto Rico)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Mehdi Taghavi Kermani (Iran)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jordan Burroughs (USA)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Sharif Sharifov (Azerbaijan)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Abdusalam Gadisov (Russia)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Bilyal Makhov (Russia)
Greco-Roman
55 kg/121 lbs. - Jung-Baek Lee (Korea)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Omid Noroozi (Iran)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Saeid Mourad Abdvali (Iran)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Roman Vlasov (Russia)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Alan Khugaev (Russia)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Artur Aleksanyan (Armenia)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Mijian Lopez (Cuba)
Women's Freestyle
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Hitomi Sakamoto (Japan)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Saori Yoshida (Japan)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Kaori Icho (Japan)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria)

Andrew Hipps, InterMat
Freestyle
55 kg/121 lbs. - Djamal Otarsultanov (Russia)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Besik Kudukhov (Russia)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu (Japan)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jordan Burroughs (USA)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Ibragim Aldatov (Ukraine)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Abdusalam Gadisov (Russia)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Tervel Dlagnev (USA)
Greco-Roman
55 kg/121 lbs. - Hamid Sourian (Iran)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Almat Kebispayev (Kazakhstan)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Saeid Morad Abdvali (Iran)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Roman Vlasov (Russia)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Nazmi Avluca (Turkey)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Artur Aleksanyan (Armenia)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Mijain Lopez (Cuba)
Women's Freestyle
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Hitomi Sakamoto (Japan)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Saori Yoshida (Japan)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Kaori Icho (Japan)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria)

Luke Meredith, Associated Press
Freestyle
55 kg/121 lbs. - Hassan Rahimi (Iran)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Besik Kudukhov (Russia)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Mehdi Taghavi (Iran)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jordan Burroughs (USA)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Sharif Sharifov (Azerbaijan)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Reza Yazdani (Iran)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Bilyal Makhov (Russia)
Greco-Roman
55 kg/121 lbs. - Ravshan Bayramov (Azerbaijan)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Omid Noroozi (Iran)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Manuchar Tskhadia (Georgia)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Roman Vlasov (Russia)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Damian Janikowski (Poland)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Amir Aliakbari (Iran)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Mijain Lopez (Cuba)
Women's freestyle
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Carol Huynh (Canada)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Saori Yoshida (Japan)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Kaori Icho (Japan)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria)

Craig Sesker, USA Wrestling
Freestyle
55 kg/121 lbs. - Radoslav Velikov (Bulgaria)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Franklin Gomez (Puerto Rico)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Mehdi Taghavi (Iran)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jordan Burroughs (USA)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Ibragim Aldatov (Ukraine)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Abdusalam Gadisov (Russia)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Tervel Dlagnev (USA)
Greco-Roman
55 kg/121 lbs. - Hamid Soryan (Iran)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Zaur Kuramagomedov (Russia)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Justin Lester (USA)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Selcuk Cebi (Turkey)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Almin Selimov (Belarus)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Jimmy Lidberg (Sweden)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Mijain Lopez (Cuba)
Women's freestyle
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Hitomi Sakamoto (Japan)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Tonya Verbeek (Canada)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Elena Pirozhkova (USA)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria)

Larry Slater, USA Wrestling
Freestyle
55 kg/121 lbs. - Viktor Lebedev (Russia)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Besik Kudukhov (Russia)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Mavlet Batirov (Russia)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jordan Burroughs (USA)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Jake Herbert (USA)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Reza Yazdani (Iran)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Bilyal Makhov (Russia)
Greco-Roman
55 kg/121 lbs. - Hamid Soryan (Iran)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Zaur Kuramagomedov (Russia)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Saeid Abdvali (Iran)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Roman Vlasov (Russia)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Almin Selimov (Belarus)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Mohammed El Fatah (Egypt)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Mijain Lopez (Cuba)
Women's freestyle
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Hitomi Sakamoto (Japan)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Saori Yoshida (Japan)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Kaori Icho (Japan)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria)

Bryan Van Kley, WIN Magazine
Freestyle
55 kg/121 lbs. - Viktor Lebedev (Russia)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Besik Kudukhov (Russia)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jared Frayer (USA)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jordan Burroughs (USA)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Dato Marsagishvili (Georgia)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Serhat Balci (Turkey)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Bilyal Makhov (Russia)
Greco-Roman
55 kg/121 lbs. - Elbek Tazhyiev (Belarus)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Almat Kebispayev (Kazakhstan)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Saeid Mourad Abdvali (Iran)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Selcuk Cebi (Turkey)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Pablo Shorey Hernandez (Cuba)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Jimmy Lidberg (Sweden)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Riza Kayaalp (Turkey)
Women's freestyle
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Hitomi Sakamoto (Japan)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Saori Yoshida (Japan)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Kaori Icho (Japan)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria)