BEIJING — Cuba's Mijain Lopez and Khasan Baroev of Russia are the world's dominant Greco-Roman wrestling big men. All that changes is who wins the Olympic gold medal — in Athens, it was Baroev and in Beijing on Thursday, it was Lopez.

Lopez, a world champion in every year except one since Athens, tossed Baroev for a 5-point move in the first period of the 120-kilogram finals, then won the second and decisive period 1-1 on tiebreaker.

"Lopez is the best in the world," said Baroev, a strong endorsement from the 2004 gold medalist. "If things change, maybe I can beat him."

Baroev has beaten Lopez in a world championship only once since Athens at a one-sided victory in China in 2006. Lopez was world champion in 2005 and 2007.

They are the only two wrestlers to win the weight class over the last six years.

There's a mutual respect between the 25-year-old Lopez (he turns 26 next week) and the 25-year-old Baroev, despite their long-standing rivalry.

"Though he lost, it's a good thing (to get the silver)," Lopez said of Baroev.

Winning the bronzes were Mindaugas Mizgaitis of Lithuania and Yuri Patriekeev of Armenia.

The last heavyweight to win a world title not named Lopez or Baroev is Dremiel Byers, a U.S. Army sergeant who succeeded 2000 gold medalist Rulon Gardner on the U.S. team.

Byers won in 2002 but hasn't followed up since, and he didn't medal Thursday after losing 0-3, 1-1, 1-1 to Jaimar Sjoberg of Sweden in the quarterfinals. Sjoberg went on to lose to Lopez in the semifinals 4-0, 5-0.

"I feel bad for him because he's good enough to medal in this thing," U.S. Greco coach Steve Fraser said of Byers.

Byers turns 34 next month but wants to try for London in 2012, even though he would be one of the oldest U.S. Olympic wrestlers in history if he made the team.

The problem? Lopez and Baroev will still be in their 20s.

"We're in good form right now," Lopez said.