WEEK SIXTY-FIVE :: Who Will Win The 2006 Arnold Classic?

[the_fake_webmaster]

* Note: How can I win? Answer all questions in the order that they are asked.
------------------------------------------------------------

TOPIC: Who Will Win The 2006 Arnold Classic?

For the week of: Feb 23rd - March 1st
Wednesday @ Midnight Is The Final Cut (Mountain Time, US & Canada).

-------------------------------------------------------------

With a star filled line-up, the 2006 Arnold Classic will be one that will be remembered for a long time to come. The returning champion Dexter Jackson will be competing to regain his title. Can he be beat? With Lee Priest coming off a win at the Iron Man, can he hold his condition and beat out Dexter? Will Chris Cormier get his first Arnold win (after six times as the runner-up!)?

Give your opinion on who will be in the top ten and give full details for why you believe it will go down that way.

2006 Arnold Classic Men's Competitors

1. Troy Alves
2. Melvin Anthony
3. Gustavo Badell
4. Darrem Charles
5. Chris Cook
6. Kris Dim
7. Tony Freeman
8. Ahmad Haidar
9. David Henry II
10. Dexter Jackson
11. Johnnie Jackson
12. Dennis James
13. Victor Martinez
14. Mustafa Mohammad
15. Lee Priest
16. Branch Warren

* Last updated (2/28/06)

Bonus Question: Have you ever attended the Arnold Classic Expo? If so, what did you think of it and how was your experience? Was it what you thought it would be? How could it be made better?

-------------------------------------------------------------

Don't discuss any other topic in this section. ONLY discuss the question above.

The best response will get $75 in credit to use in our online store! The other good responses will be used in an article on the main Bodybuilding.com site, with the poster's forum name listed by it. Become famous!

Thanks,
Will
Webmaster
Bodybuilding.com

[jons_click@hotmail.com]

I think dexter jackson is going to take it all at the arnold his phyisque is incredible. I really think he could have won the olympia if he would have competed

[blade1980]

I know dexster is going to win it ,because he took off from the O last year to focus on the Arnold Classic this year.

[ClintH]

Dexter is definetley going to place very well, and while I do believe that he may win, I cannot count out Lee Priest. While his past has been a bit rocky, he seems to be back into the full swing of things with the Iron Pro. I honestly hope he comes in just as conditioned, and with the same composure as well as conditioning. I believe that extra confidence may give him the boost he needs to rule the stage. However, I cannot count out Martinez!

[spirit3530]

I am guessing it will be

dex
gustavo
priest
henry
cormier

[owenjudo2k5]

i think it will be ..

1st gustavo badell
2nd johnnie jackson
3rd chris cormier or troy alves

[got6rings]

I believe for this years Arnold its gonna be:

1. Dexter Jackson- He has had a full year off to add quality size and detail, plus he has nailed his conditioning in his past two competitions.
2. Gustavo Badell- Did not compete is the Ironman this year, so he will be able to come in fuller and more detailed; plus he has worked on his stomach issues.
3. Branch Warren- The man is on fire right now, thick as a road block. I believe he will bring a complete package to the Arnold.
4. Lee Priest- Looked great at the Iron Man, he has brought all of his potential together and will be a big threat at this year's show.
5. Johnnie "O" Jackson- My personal favorite at the show; the judges must have been blind at the Olympia, Johnnie was so cut and shredded plus had great size and proportions. He has done wonders for his physique in the past two years.
6. Darrem Charles- Has been competing very well in the past year and half. Comes in great condition and has ridiculous bicep peaks.
7. David Henry II- As a military man myself I respect that David served in the Air Force(same with Johnnie being in the Army). Has a incredible back and does come in great condition, so far has impressed a lot of people.
8. Victor Martinez- Has not been in his prime for since the NPC, but I believe he is gonna be in better condition at this show than he was at the Olympia.
9. Dennis James- Massive and thick. But in this line-up were everybody is not a "mass freak" he is gonna need to come in shredded to really be noticed.
10. Chris Cormier- Many are probably wondering why I placed Cormier finishing up my top ten(since he has been 2nd for 6 years), well his performance at the Olympia showed that he is capable of looking average in this sport and not being able to compete with all of these title contenders.

*This will be my first Arnold Classic and I'm very excited to visit and walk through the expo for a chance to meet all of my favorite bodybuilders and fitness models.

Semper Fi,
got6rings

[reflexions]

* Note: How can I win? Answer all questions in the order that they are asked.
------------------------------------------------------------

TOPIC: Who Will Win The 2006 Arnold Classic?


me

[hell24keeper]

DEXTER is gonna win it!!!

[Ricky121]

I believe Gustavo Badell is going to be the victor this year. Gustavo is really working hard in order to be the champion, as displayed in The Mr. Olympia, in which he placed 3rd in, just under Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler. Wait a second......Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler are not competing in the Arnold! Therefore, I believe Gustavo Badell has the body, motivation, and genetics to dominate the competition at the 2006 Arnold.

[RippedJordanian]

why arent ronnie and jay competing

[BladeMaster]

hmmm good question...probably because they compete in Olympia and they cant do both

[LiftCoach213]

I really like the odds for several of the top competitors in this year's Arnold. However, I personally think Gustavo Badell should have it all ready to go. By skipping the Ironman, he should come in as thick and as hard as ever.

We can't count out Dexter or Johnnie Jackson, either. Lee Priest is coming off of his biggest win in a long, long time, and he'll be pressing the favorites. One guy I haven't seen a lot of folks talk about is Troy Alves. Despite placing third in the Ironman, I think he may be able to dial it in for the Arnold and make some serious waves (he's my sleeper, if you can call him that). Keep your eyes on Branch Warren as well. With those sequoia tree trunk legs and that thickness and width, don't even come close to counting him out. Victor Martinez, Darrem Charles, Dennis James, and Chris Cormier round out the rest of the pack, and I wouldn't be surprised if any of those showed up and did very well. I think this will be an entertaining and very close competition.

Now, with all of that being said, just remember who won the challenge round at the big "O" last year....that'd be Mr. Badell. If I had no other basis for my prediction, I'd still have to pick him.

Okay, here's my top ten for the 2006 Arnold.

1. Gustavo Badell
2. Dexter Jackson
3. Troy Alves
4. Lee Priest
5. Branch Warren
6. Johnnie Jackson
7. Chris Cormier
8. Victor Martinez
9. Darrem Charles
10. Dennis James

[Vandal Savage]

My top ten:
1. Dexter Jackson- the 2005 winner will repeat with his classic unparalleled conditioning and amazing lines. He's had a whole year to guarantee his number one spot.
2. Chris Cormier- Chris loves the Arnold, and he's got a lot to prove based on his low showing at the '05 Olympia. He will prove it based on his outstanding physique and unmatched aesthetics. He'll be number two unless Badell really surprises. But Chris is always the wild card. He might be sick or unprepared, in which case he could drop radically.
3. Gustavo Badell- Gustavo is ALWAYS on. He's a lock for this spot unless Chris stumbles, and then Gustavo will take #2. Gustavo's muscle is incredible, and his lines are great. He can't match Chris when Chris is on, though, and Dexter's conditioning is too much for him. But Gustavo has #3 locked up tightly, and will move up if Chris falls.
4. Victor Martinez-Victor's Back is amazing. His size is overpowering. His back double bi reminds one of Ronnie Coleman. And that's saying a lot. He's got #4 unless he fails on conditioning.
5. Dennis James- The Menace. His size is inhuman. And if he's cut (and he likely will be) that size will dwarf the attempts of other competitors to get ahead of him. His delts, chest and quads will keep him high.
6. Lee Priest-Lee will be fighting for this spot with Branch Warren. He's a mighty competitor, but his short stature will leave him struggling at this level. His legs and glutes, while excellent, are not at the level they should be to match Branch and Dennis, which is why he'll be in this spot.
7. Branch Warren- Branch is a freak in the best sense of the word. He'll match his ungodly quads with sick conditioning. That'll be good enough for #7, and perhaps might move him ahead of Lee. But Branch will have to fight for that spot. These two spots are tough to call.
8. Melvin Anthony- the symmetry, posing and lines will take Melvin to this spot. He doesn't have the size to overcome those ahead of him, though, and his conditioning (especially in the rear) will prevent him from moving up -- though, in my opinion, this is a competitor who, with more muscle and better conditioning, should be top 4 every time.
9. Darrem Charles- Darrem is fantastic. His conditioning is usually excellent. His shape and muscle size will ensure a top 10 placing, but I don't see him taking Melvin.
10. Johnnie Jackson-Johnnie is mountainous. He will finish out the top 10, and could even be higher if he finally comes in as sharp as he can.
11. David Henry- David will have no need to come in sharp. He does need more muscle. He's a Mr. Olympia, just too small. He needs more size to contend with those ahead of him. It's too bad as his lines and muscle are perfect.
12. Troy Alves- Troy's conditioning usually does not hold up after a few days. His upper body is quite good, but his conditioning does not generally warrant a higher placing, and he is not a standout in the way that those above him are.
13. Mustafa Mohammad- This man has the biggest quads in the IFBB, and that's saying something. But he NEVER is conditioned as he should be. Thus, 13 will be good for him.
14. Ahmad Haider- Mr. Abs will have this spot. His weaknesses have not bee remedied (lack of arms is primary). But still he's extremely pleasing to the eye. Lack of size generally also.
15. Toney Freeman- his size and muscle is really unbelievable. But because he's so tall, he looks thin in some points. His chest seems to lack depth. Incredible competitor though.
16. Chris Cook- killer smile and good hair. But, judging on bodies, Chris is not at the level he needs to be to compete with this elite group.

*** I hear Mark Dugdale has withdrawn. That's too bad. I'd have put him somewhere near Troy Alves otherwise.

Should be a great contest.

[mark prater 123]

who cares?

[lickmybigboy]

1st Dexter
2nd Badell
3rd either lee priest or branch warren

i am looking forward to this event as i feel anyone of these bodybuilders could take the title on the night, there is no guaranteed winner like the olympia

[stoph8n24]

I know dexster is going to win it ,because he took off from the O last year to focus on the Arnold Classic this year.

He took off a year because he just signed with Met-rx and he didn't want his placing in the Olympia to be associated with Muscletech since that was his last supplement sponsor. If you remember after his Arnold Classic win, Muscletech printed a ton of ads with him and their products associating the win and Muscletech so people still remembered Dexter with Muscletech up until he was at the Olympia Expo in the Met-rx booth.

[ryan_swan]

Hey,
If anyone is interested in two tickets to the Classic, email me at ryan_swan@hotmail.com... I was supposed to have my two friends here with me, but they didn't end up coming, so we have two tickets for the mens bodybuilding finals section L5 Row E Seat49 and 51 ( they are beside each other)... They are 75.00 each ticket (which is what we paid for them).

[Big Meat]

I'm thinking Jackson, Priest, Badell, Martinez, and Warren to round out the top five. Cormier just looked way too off at the O



Bonus Question: Yeah, I've been to the Arnold Classic Expo in 2003. I had a great time but it was way too crowded. It was hard to move or stop and talk to people in the booths. That stuff doesn't usually bother me but it did this time. Other than that though, it was amazing!

[Dallas68]

here is my thinking...

[bassemdahdouh]

My Top TEN and a little more:
1. Ahmad Haider:
Body Part:

ABS= this man’s abs is absolutely AMAZING! His definition and lining is prime and will catch the judges’ eyes just as any abs would on the beach. His physique is large and his abs gives him a leaner look which would contribute greatly towards his chances.
Grade= 10/10

Legs= his massive legs adds to the illusion of a massive figure. The shredded and clean rivets show determination and power. His glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps and calves are all accounted for and play a great role in his physique.
Grade= 9/10

Back= his chiseled back is enormous. It is amazing how defined it is. The rivets are easily spotted and his V shaped body is absolutely perfect.
Grade= 9.5/10

Arms= WOW! This man’s arms are incredible! He doesn’t have OVERLY large arms, which is a good thing, and his arms seem more normal and add to his natural massive look. He really out does himself with his triceps and deltoids. They are worked perfectly and have great definition. His biceps are decent size, not overly large. His forearms are as big as grapefruits and they don’t seem to distort his physique.
Grade= 9/10

Style= Even though I added this category I think that his facial features and hair style play a great role. He has a handsome face and a serious look which adds towards his points.
Grade= 9.5/10

Overall I think he will win and here is his BPA (Body Point Average), similar to that style of the good old days of high school and college GPAs.

BPA= 3.76




2. Mustafa Mohammed:
Body Part:

ABS= Great abs which illustrates how lean and mighty he has become but he doesn’t have an 8 pack which hurts him a bit. Overall his abs helps him greatly.
Grade= 8.5/10

Legs= Great legs! Massive and powerful. Also veins are visible which adds towards his points. All of muscle groups visible and able to see.
Grade= 9/10

Back= is amazing how defined it is. The rivets are easily spotted and his V shaped body is acceptable but not perfect. Overall his back adds towards his points.
Grade= 9/10

Arms= AMAZING!!! This man’s arms are incredible! His large arms add to his massive look. He really out does himself with his biceps and deltoids. They are worked perfectly and have great definition. His biceps are incredibly huge. His forearms are as big as oranges and they aide towards his perfect set of arms.
Grade= 10/10

Style= He has cunning look and a military style look which adds towards his points.
Grade= 9.7/10

BPA= 3.696




3. Dexter Jackson:
Body Part:

ABS= amazing abs which demonstrate dedication and power. His obloquies are really outstanding aided towards his V shape look. Overall his abs helps him greatly.
Grade= 9/10

Legs= WOW those are HUGE! THOSE ARE DESTRUCTOVLY HUGE. Veins are flying everywhere which adds towards his points. All of muscle groups visible and able to see. Best body part he has.
Grade= 10/10

Back= great V body for a last year champion. He improved in the upper lats but overall amazing gains.
Grade= 9/10

Arms= THOSE ARE B-I-G!!! His large arms add to his massive look. He really out does himself with his biceps, deltoids, forearms, and TRICEPS. They are worked perfectly and have great definition. His forearms are incredibly huge. His forearms are as big as cantaloupes and they aide towards his perfect set of arms.
Grade= 9.7/10

Style= He has mischievous look and a coldish style look which kind of degrades his chance towards his points.
Grade= 8/10

BPA= 3.656

4. Gustavo Badell:
Body Part:

ABS= too bulky. They really distort his figure but they are decent. They show determination and effort.
Grade= 8/10

Legs= Golden buff turkey legs! Gigantic and powerful. Also veins are visible which adds towards his points. All of muscle groups visible and able to see. By far one of his best.
Grade= 9/10

Back= BEST PART OF HIS BODY! It is amazing how defined it is. The rivets are easily spotted and his V shaped body as perfect as the best of the best. His back defiantly adds towards his points.
Grade= 10/10

Arms= too Bulky but AMAZING!!! His large arms add to his massive look. He really out does himself with his biceps and deltoids. His forearms are as big as 3 apples and they aide towards his points.
Grade= 9/10

Style= He has dashing look and a military style look which defiantly adds towards his points.
Grade= 9/10

BPA= 3.6


5. Victor Martinez:
Body Part:

ABS= way too bulky. They really distort his figure but they are decent. They show extreme definition but lack a natural look.
Grade= 7/10

Legs= Misleading. They seem big but there is a spot where I don’t see any rivets or veins. Never the less they are big and powerful. Most of muscle groups visible and able to see. Not one his best though.
Grade= 8/10

Back= It is amazing how defined it is. The rivets are easily spotted and his V shaped body as perfect as the best of the best. His back defiantly adds towards his points.
Grade= 9.5/10

Arms= AMAZING!!! His large arms add to his massive look. He really out does himself with his biceps and deltoids. His forearms are as big as melons and they aide towards his points.
Grade= 9.5/10

Style= He has assertive look and a torso high style look defiantly adds towards his points.
Grade= 9/10

BPA= 3.44


6. Branch Warren:
Body Part:

ABS= perfect but not quiet there! Defined and easily spotted.
Grade= 8/10

Legs= BIG, BIG & BIG! They have lots of rivets and veins. Never the less they are big and powerful. Most of muscle groups visible and able to see. One his best!
Grade= 9/10

Back= FREAK I TELL YOU FREAK! AMAZING ONE OF THE BEST BACK SEEN! I give him props for the complete definition and perfect physique.
Grade= 9.8/10

Arms= Not the best in the world but will do. Biceps, Deltoids, triceps and forearms all seem a little smaller than his competition. Not one of his best.
Grade= 8/10

Style= He has freakish look and an utterly awkward style look that defiantly depletes some of his points.
Grade= 8/10

BPA= 3.424


7. Johnnie Jackson:
Body Part:

ABS= perfect! Defined and easily spotted. But no 8 pack! ONE OF HIS BEST!
Grade= 9/10

Legs= BIG, Small and kind of big! They have lots of rivets and veins. Never the less they are big and powerful. Most of muscle groups visible and able to see. Not the best I have seen.
Grade= 8/10

Back= A bit smaller than others. But does him well and aides him a bit. But by far his lowest score.
Grade= 7/10

Arms= good but not GREAT! I see all the same but still is outstanding compared to some people. Overall his arms are pretty damn good.
Grade= 8.8/10

Style= He has friendly look and a companionate style look that defiantly helps him.
Grade= 9/10

BPA= 3.344


8. Dennis James:
Body Part:

ABS= Not the greatest but decent. I give him props for trying.
Grade= 8/10

Legs= Well not utterly HUGE or AMAZING but ok. I think he did a job well done but could have done better.
Grade= 7/10

Back= TOO BIG! WAY TOO BIG! Makes him a curling V instead of a nice V. So it degrades his points and chances.
Grade= 7.5/10

Arms= BY far the best body part he has! HUGE, AMAING and HUGE! All veins visible and works great for him.
Grade= 10/10

Style= He has old weirdo look and a style look that defiantly helps him.
Grade= 9/10

BPA= 3.32
9. Kris Dim:
Body Part:

ABS= great but not quiet there! Defined and easily spotted.
Grade= 7/10

Legs= BIG, BIG & BIG! They have lots of rivets and veins. Never the less they are big and powerful. Most of muscle groups visible and able to see. One his best!
Grade= 9/10

Back= A bit small compared to the rest.
Grade= 6/10

Arms= Not the greatest I have seen. Many others are 2-3 times bigger and more defined.
Grade= 6/10

Style= He has sympathetic look and charming style but doesn’t cut it.
Grade= 7/10

BPA= 2.8

10. Gustavo Badell:
Body Part:

ABS= too bulky. There is no prime definition. They really distort his figure but they are decent.
Grade= 6/10

Legs= Small for his body. But they are decent. Veins visible which aid his appearance.
Grade= 6.8/10

Back= By FAR it is the BEST PART OF HIS BODY! It is amazing how defined it is. The rivets are easily spotted and his V shaped body. His back defiantly gets points back.
Grade= 9/10

Arms= Not the greatest I have seen. Seem undefined compared to others.
Grade= 7/10

Style= He has stunning look but his a non-assertive style look decreases his chances.
Grade= 6/10

BPA= 2.784



Bonus Question: Have you ever attended the Arnold Classic Expo? If so, what did you think of it and how was your experience? Was it what you thought it would be? How could it be made better?

No unfortunately I have not attended one. But I hope I can attend one in the near future. I hope to see the living and breathing freaks of nature that we all are inspired by. They work hard and I give them all my respects. I hope my critiques were not overboard because according to my standards, all people who put the same dedication and hard work into their physique deserve attention. From the overweight middle aged man trying to get that Varsity Football player high school body back to that same kid in the weight room working out 5:45 AM and another time at 3:00 PM. All people need attention from other people.

To all hard workers:
You deserve your results and keep at it. If you are ever in doubt log on to Bodybuilding.com and you could learn something new.

[ho_124]

Who Will Win The 2006 Arnold Classic?

With a star filled line-up, the 2006 Arnold Classic will be one that will be remembered for a long time to come. The returning champion Dexter Jackson will be competing to regain his title. Can he be beat? With Lee Priest coming off a win at the Iron Man, can he hold his condition and beat out Dexter? Will Chris Cormier get his first Arnold win (after six times as the runner-up!)?
To answer the first question, I don’t think that Dexter Jackson can be beaten in this competition. First of all, Dexter Jackson has taken a lot of time off competitions to get ready for this competition, he didn’t even go to the 2005 Mr. Olympia. Because of this I think he is more than ready for this competition and I would assume he is in tip top condition and taken all the time he needs to prepare for this. Also some of the bigger names aren’t there such as Jay Cutler who beat Dexter Jackson in the 2004 competition, so Dexter Jackson’s chances of winning are looking quite good.

I honestly don’t think Lee Priest can hold out his condition and beat Dexter Jackson. You must understand preparing for a competition on a professional level is harder than you would think. Not only is the training hard to bring lagging body parts up to par, but also they have to cut certain foods and supplements out of their diet for at least a month before entering to increase muscle definition. For example as you all know creatine retains water and makes muscles look puffy, and you can’t have that in a competition if you want to win. Everything must be monitored such as water intake, sodium intake and basically everything they do or eat. On top of that they have to take diuretics to flush out all the water in their system so they look as cut as possible. Because Lee Priest just came out of a tournament and had to do all this, I would think it would be very hard for him to do it again. It’s very tough on the body and also hard mentally as well, and I don’t think he can hold up that long without letting up a little bit. On the other hand Dexter Jackson only has to do this process once, and since he hasn’t been in a competition for a while, he will probably prepare very well. One thing about diuretics is that when bodybuilders use them they take quite a few high dosages to flush out all the water in their system. This leaves them very dehydrated and is why some have to go to the hospital. As you can imagine being dehydrated like that is super hard on the body and I don’t think Lee Priest’s body will be able to hold up to that again.

I don’t think Chris Cormier will get his first win after being the runner up six times. The first obstacle he has to overcome is beating Dexter Jackson and that probably won’t happen because he already took time to prepare and cut for the 2005 Mr. Olympia while Dexter Jackson has been putting on mass through all these competitions. Also in the 2005 Mr. Olympia he got beaten by people who are in this very competition, so his chances aren’t looking too good. So unless he puts on a freakish amount of muscle mass, his chances of winning are very slim.


Give your opinion on who will be in the top ten and give full details for why you believe it will go down that way.
1. Dexter Jackson
Like I said above Dexter Jackson has taken a lot of time off competitions to prepare just for this one so he is more than ready. This is a huge advantage since some of the bodybuilders competing have taken time to cut and prepare for other competitions while Dexter Jackson was busy putting on muscle. This means that Dexter Jackson had more time to pack on muscle. Also some of the bigger names aren’t there and his main competitors like Lee Priest have already been in a recent competition and probably won’t be able to get ready for this one.
Dexter Jackson also is quite symmetrical especially in his arms and his chest. Although his abs aren’t the best, they are still quite good, for example his abs are more tightly packed an well developed than other bodybuilders such as Ronnie Coleman. If you compare Ronnie’s abs to Dexter’s abs you can see that Ronnie’s just look like they were messily slapped on, but Dexter’s look compacted and well shaped which is a good thing. He also has freakish mass on his back but it isn’t messy with muscles popping out everywhere. It’s very symmetrical and well defined. One minor weak point might be his legs, because in my opinion they could use a little work to put on a little more mass, but remember he has taken time off to put on more mass so I might be wrong.

2. Gustavo Badell
Gustavo Badell is going to place very high in this competition, just look at the 2005 Mr.Olympia results, he placed 3rd and that’s very good considering he was going up against Ronnie and Jay Culter. His main competition Lee Priest just came out of a competition and I don’t think he will be as ready as he could be for this one since it takes a lot of effort to prepare for one and it’s hard on the body as I said above. Also I think he has more mass than Lee Priest for example his chest is crazy and he when he flexes his arms at the same time he looks massive. His legs and abs also have a lot of muscle mass to them but one weak point might be that his back isn’t up to par as the other competitors.

3. Lee Priest
Lee Priest is at a disadvantaged position because he already came out of a competition and like I mentioned above it is very hard to prepare for another right when you finished one because it is tough on the body and mind. But other than that his first place in the Iron Man just shows that he can place very high in competitions so he is very capable in placing in the top three. Also he packs a lot of mass, and more so than the other competitors. His arms and especially his wrists are one of the best in the game and he also in my opinion has the best abs in this competition. His legs are also pretty good but his back needs a little more work. One thing that is very weak for Lee Priest is how his arms are probably the best and super huge, but his chest is small compared to his arms which makes him look somewhat disproportional.

4. Chris Cormier
Chris Cormier is definitely going to move up a few spots which can be seen in his poor performance in the Mr. Olympia. He lost to a few guys who are in this competition which puts him in a bad position. But other than that I think he was very well rounded with very good muscle mass. He packs quite a bit of mass in his legs and upper body which are quite symmetrical and defined. One highlight however is his back, which I believe is one of the best in the competition. One weak point is his abs are sort of sloppy because of GH use but he makes up for that with his massive arms that go well with his chest.

5. Dennis James
Dennis James is definitely a top contender in this competition since he did quite well in the 2005 Mr. Olympia placing sixth, and Ronnie Coleman or Jay Cutler aren’t even in the competition. He has enough mass to place him in the top five and has a strong upper body and legs. His back is also one of the better ones in the competition and his only real weakness are his abs which are somewhat sloppy. He’s probably got the best shoulders in this competition which go very well with his massive arms and chest. His traps also stand out with his shoulders.

6. Jonnie Jackson
Jonnie Jackson is probably the most well rounded guy in the competition and he will definitely place in the top ten in this competition. He isn’t the biggest guy there but he also packs enough muscle to get him to into the middle places. He’s quite symmetrical and his body is quite proportional. There aren’t really many weak points to him or anything truly outstanding. His arms, chest, and abs go well together and are very well shaped. His calves could use some work as well as his traps but other than that the rest of his body parts are looking quite good.

7. Darrem Charles
A very strong competitor but his only main drawback is that he doesn’t have enough muscle to rise to the top places. But other than his muscles are good overall such as his upper body and abs. His back is quite good but a weak point might be that his legs look quite small compared to some of the guys there. Also his muscle symmetry is sloppy and his muscle shape isn’t the greatest which will also be a drawback for him.

8. Chris Dim
Definitely a strong competitor and has enough mass to make the top ten. He’s got really good abs as well his chest and arms are looking very sharp. His legs although defined and symmetrical could use a little more mass. He also has a very good upper back but his lower back definitely is lagging and he needs to work on that. He also has great symmetry in all his body parts and his muscle shape is excellent.

9. Victor Martinez
Victor Martinez has doesn’t have enough mass to get a high placing but probably make the higher spots in the top ten. His arms are great but I don’t think his chest and abs look that great. His back is alright but his lower back needs work. One highlight are his legs, he’s probably got one of the biggest quads in the competition which will definitely be a strong point for him.

10. Troy Alves
Troy Alves is one of the weaker competitors in the Arnold Classic for one thing he definitely doesn’t have enough mass to make the top rungs. His chest and abs also aren’t shaped very well and also his traps don’t show that well. His arms are good but they don’t go well with his chest and the abs. He does have an alright back though and his quads and his legs are his highlights.

[ho_124]

Bonus Question: Have you ever attended the Arnold Classic Expo? If so, what did you think of it and how was your experience? Was it what you thought it would be? How could it be made better?
No I have never attended an Arnold Classic Expo although I would gladly go if I had the chance. Since there has never been an Arnold Classic in my city and never will be I haven’t really had the opportunity to see this show. And since I’m not like some people who would spend a huge air fair to go to one event, I don’t think I will get a chance to see one.

[NoNameNecessary]

The Arnold Classic…..A Look Into the Competition

What is it?

The Arnold Classic is not only one of the biggest IFBB competitions of the year, but it is also one of the biggest and most important Fitness Expos of the year. In the bodybuilding world, it is the biggest event of its type, rivaled only by the Olympia. Besides the four main events (The Arnold Classic, Ms. International, Fitness International, Figure International), there is a wide variety of other events, that range from Powerlifting to Tae Kwon Do to Table Tennis. This surely is an event for everyone. But let’s get down to the event that really matters…the Arnold Classic Men’s Bodybuilding Competiton…


What is going on this year at the Classic?

This year there are many high caliber athletes who will be competing in the classic, all of whom, except one (Chris Cook), have previously been or are currently qualified for the Olympia competition. All of these men are at the top tier of bodybuilding, and if they all come in looking their best, this will be one of greatest Arnold competitions in some time. The judges will have a very tough time deciding who to place where. With all of that said, I present to you….

The Returning Champion, Dexter Jackson:

The returning champion Dexter Jackson will be competing to regain his title. Can he be beat?

Dexter “The Blade” Jackson has been resting since the 2005 San Francisco Pro, where he was bested by Chris Cormier, just one week after winning it all at the Classic in Columbus. Instead, he chose to work on a project with his new sponsor, Met-Rx.

Since, he has taken a year off and given his hard work ethic, everyone is wondering whether or not he will repeat this year? He is certainly the favorite to be shaking Arnold’s hand when all of the dust clears. His 230-pound frame brings a package that is sure to impress as soon as he sets foot in the arena. Dexter says, “It will be game over for everyone else,” upon his initial appearance on stage. His performance at the Classic should be one for the ages, win or lose. However, expect “The Blade” to come in with his infamous blend of mass and conditioning, and again leave in a new Hummer.

The Challengers:


Who Won’t Be Competing:

Chris Cormier- The 5’9’’ 250-pounder is coming off of a horrible 13th place showing at the Mr. Olympia last year. Many people were looking forward to seeing if he could now win the Classic, after SIX consecutive second place finishes. However, he has chosen to sit out this year, looking to improve for the Olympia this year under the teaching of Dorian Yates, who himself is a six-time Olympia champion. But we will see Cormier in competition sometime soon, as he still needs to qualify for “The O.” It’s anybody’s guess where we will see him competing next. All we can be sure of is that the competition won’t be as stiff.

Mark Dugdale- It was reported just before the 2006 Iron Man that Dugdale’s daughter had fallen ill with food poisoning, however, it wasn’t. Amongst other personal problems, Dugdale has contracted the flu, and had to be hospitalized due to hydration. When in the hospital, his preparation for the Classic was obviously thrown off, and thus, Dugdale chose to sit this one out.

Who Will be Competing:

The Best of the Rest:

Gustavo “The Frican Rican” Badell – Gustavo Badell will be the only one challenging Dexter Jackson for the prize at the Arnold Classic. These two have been battling it out over the past couple of years. At the Olympia in 2004, Badell placed one spot higher than Jackson (Jay Cutler was champion, with Chris Cormier finishing 2nd). However, earlier in that same year, Jackson beat him at the Iron Man and at this same competition, the Arnold Classic. And as we all now, in 2005, Jackson won the Classic and is looking to repeat again.

But Badell is hot off a great finish in 2005. With his new cut, “streamlined” physique, he won the Challenge Round, where he beat the reigning Olympia champion, Ronnie Coleman. He’s looking to bring the complete package, the think, but balanced 245 pounds of muscle to the Classic, and that he indeed will. He can compete with any bodybuilder of our day, as he showed during the Challenge Round, and his looking to make a mark on the sport, a HUGE mark. Will it start at that Classic? There are many that think so.

Lee Priest- Priest is fresh off of a well-deserved win at the Iron Man, where he took home a large sum of $15,000. He beat out David Henry, one of the top rising stars, not only in the votes of the judges, but by the fans as well. Will he be able to follow up with another impressive finish at the Arnold?

It is undisputed fact that Lee Priest has the best arms in the game. Along with his arms, he brought along his legs at the Iron Man, although he lacked sweep in his quads. He is looking to improve on his fourth place finish in the Classic last year, and has a very good chance to do so. If he can come in even more dry and lean than he did at the IM, he should be able to do so. It should be very entertaining to watch his routine, as he did win Best Poser at the Iron Man as well. He is one of the more threatening competitors that can be found in the lineup.

Branch Warren- No one in the bodybuilding game is hotter than Branch Warren right now. The 5’7’’, 240-pounder is fresh off two wins in pro shows, the Europa Supershow and the Charlotte Pro Invitational, and in his Olympia debut, he made an impressive showing, and finished eighth.

He could quite possible have the best games EVER in the history of the sport. Each and every year throughout his professional career, he brings pounds of new muscle, while managing to keep it hard, dense, and veiny. Look for Warren to finish in the top five, with his best being a third place finish.

Victor Martinez - Ronnie Coleman appointed Vic Martinez as his successor, not Jay Cutler, in the bodybuilding game. In the past, Martinez has shown that he can be great, and might be a top contender over the next few years. Recently, in 2003 he won the Night of Champions, and in 2004 won the GNC Show Of Strength. However, in his appearance at the Classic last year, he finished seventh in a very disappointing showing. He is looking to improve on his performance last year, and if he comes in at his best, he may need to be looked at as a potential upset.

Troy Alves – A calf injury forced him out of the Olympia last year, but he is back and ready to rumble. Last year, he finished eighth in Arnold Classic, and is looking to improve upon that this year. With his additional time off, he has been hitting the gym hard lately, and showed his new mass at the Iron Man. He lacked cuts and definition, but he should come in much drier for this competition. With Alves looking to prove that he is a mainstay at the top of the bodybuilding world, he will challenge for a top spot at the Arnold this year.

“Marvelous” Melvin Anthony- Anthony recently finished seventh at last years Olympia competition. He brings a blend of mass, and a small, twenty-seven inch waist. He should be a crowd favorite, as his posing routines are always well done and very entertaining. He finished fifth here at the Arnold last year, and is looking to improve upon that this year. However, I don’t know if he will, but he is a top ten finisher for sure. There is no doubt, however, that he will be the best poser of the night.

David Henry II- David Henry, standing at only 5-5, is making a big splash in the bodybuilding world. He won the Wild-Card round at last years Olympia, allowing him to gain last minute entrance into the competition, in which he finished 14th. Some, however, myself included, would have placed him in the top ten. He finished 12th at last years Arnold, but will improve this year, now that everyone knows this little man with the big reputation.

Darrem Charles- Darrem has won six shows in the past four years. He is a seasoned veteran who has been competing since 1989, and finally earned his first professional title at the 2002 Southwest Cup. He is very well-rounded and has the entire package, and will bring one of the better posing routines of the competition, that will rival only that of Melvin Anthony. A lot of people will be routing for this fan favorite.

Ahmad Haidar- Simply, he has the best abs in the game. He brings aesthetics to the stage that everyone else lacks. However, he needs to, because he will be one of the smaller guys up there. He’s hoping that 2006 will be a huge year for him, as he has worked on his physique to bring a little more size. However, I feel he lacks the mass to be a top contender, but he is still very fun to watch.

Toney Freeman- Toney won the Nationals back in 2002, and had a weak performance at the 2005 Classic with a 10th place finish. He came in at a whopping 268 pounds on the day of the competition, but he missed his conditioning, and was far from his peak. However, with added mass, if he hits it this year, he might be hard to miss, both literally and figuratively.

Mustafa Mohammad- He took 10th at the Olympia last year, placing him as one of the top ten bodybuilders in the world. Mohammad brings mass that many people in the game lack, however, his conditioning never seems to be spot on. Many of his fans did not appreciate the ranking at the Iron Man, and you can be sure they will be disappointed again. His physique simply doesn’t appeal to me, nor the judges. Weak finish for Mustafa.

Johnnie Jackson- Last year, he was the runner-up at the Europa Classic, and he is finally starting to get some attention from the judges. He is one of the biggest young up-and-comers, and could make an impact here. Look for his chest, back, and delts (due to his powerlifting backround) to make an impression on the judges. He’ll be fun to watch in the future.

[NoNameNecessary]

Chris Cook- The Arnold Classic is Chris’s first major competition. He has a great track record on the lower levels, when in 2003 and 2004 he just barely missed a pro card at the NPC USA Championships. Finally, four months later, he won his pro-card, every bodybuilders dream. In 2005, he arrived on the scene, but didn’t have much of an impact, where at the Toronto Pro he finished 10th and at the New York Pro he finished 6th. Lacks experience to do any damage here.

Great, we have all the competitors, but who is gonna finish where?

Well..without further a due…drum roll….

My Top Ten

1.Dexter Jackson –That’s right, Dexter will repeat as champion and will again leave with one of the biggest prizes of the year. He has added muscle, around five pounds of it, and will come in completely cut, and incredibly dry, and will repeat as champion.

2.Gustavo Badell- A sure pick for either first or second place. He will come in with the whole package, he will be large, cut, and lean, but I feel Jackson’s streamlined physique appeals to the judges more.

3.Branch Warren- He has the best legs in the game, and always comes in super tight, with great conditioning. A placing this high might surprise some, but it shouldn’t.

4.Lee Priest- Lee will follow up his win at the Iron Man with a good showing at the Classic. If Branch has the best legs, Lee has the best arms. He will be near his best all-time, and will come in even more dry than he did two weeks ago. However, he still needs to show some improvement in his hamstrings and glutes. 3 and 4 could be flip-flopped.

5.Victor Martinez- The man touted as the Ronnie Coleman’s successor will bring the size that he is known for, but will lack conditioning, which he is famous for. If he is on, he’s on, but if he’s off, he’s off. He could drop lower, or could move higher, but for now, he looks good where he’s at. He will barely edge out Troy Alves, and round off the top five.

6. Troy Alves- Troy will follow up on his Iron Man performance, and come in much more lean and dry. He will bring the complete package, but will just miss the top five. He simply does not have the pure mass to place that high.

7. Melvin Anthony- His unique blend of size with his small waist will place him inside the top ten. Also, his posing routine will push him ahead of the other three behind him.

8. David Henry- He is fresh off his Iron Man performance, where he placed very high. He will having another great showing at the Arnold, and his conditioning will push him ahead of Charles.

9. Darrem Charles- He will come in with great conditioning but simply lacks the mass to push ahead of Henry.

10. Ahmad Haidar- His conditioning and abs are the greatest in the game, so he will round out the top ten, but he simply lacks the size to place any higher.

There you have it folks, my top five. It should be a great competition this year. The 2006 Arnold Classic certainly will be a classic, one for the ages.

Bonus Question: Have you ever attended the Arnold Classic Expo? If so, what did you think of it and how was your experience? Was it what you thought it would be? How could it be made better?

I have never attended the Arnold Classic Expo, simply because of how the distance between me and Ohio. However, I would love to go, because it brings together many different worlds, with many different events for all different ages. It is certainly one of the great expos of the year.

The only negative thing I have heard about the Arnold was how crowded it got. That problem should be solved because they are moving it to a new venue for 2006. Should be fun to see how things pan out.

Well good luck to all the competitors, and safe travels for all those who are going. As always, thanks for reading.

God Bless,
Kyle

[Squat_lt]

My Article:

[Aussie LTD]

Arnold classic:

EDIT: It should read Gustavo won the Ironman last year.

[ac322]

Is it just me or is this one of the best line ups in a long time. it is extremely hard to judge this one ane what will the judges do if they all come dialed in. anyone of those guys can take it. Can't wait to see what happens.