Arnold Classic 2015 discussion

[spamy]

Based on the pics, how they placed them next to each other and knowing how judging works, it could be that Dex has his fifth Arnold in the bag.

But the people saying that Compton is a better version of Wolf and he could beat him probably dislike Dennis too much.

Possible top 3 below

[whiskeyjackie]

Meanwhile at the expo...

[microspot]

btw about Branch conditioning that wins him shows; correct me if I'm wrong but no matter how good his conditioning is, doesn't his back always lack the feathering and detail that other "less conditioned" athletes have?

I think we are too quick to look at his legs from the back ,glutes and hammies which are super dry and separated because that is often where other athletes are lacking in conditioning and jump to the conclusion that he out-conditions everyone. But what the others lack in that aera, they make up for in their backs superior feathering and detail when compared to Branch. that should be taken into account when assessing conditioning

[Kenny Redd]

Great show I think branch has it though, minus 1 or 2 poses he looks really good.

Personally not a fan of Branch, but the judges LOVE him.

[NVious]

btw about Branch conditioning that wins him shows; correct me if I'm wrong but no matter how good his conditioning is, doesn't his back always lack the feathering and detail that other "less conditioned" athletes have?

I think we are too quick to look at his legs from the back ,glutes and hammies which are super dry and separated because that is often where other athletes are lacking in conditioning and jump to the conclusion that he out-conditions everyone. But what the others lack in that aera, they make up for in their backs superior feathering and detail when compared to Branch. that should be taken into account when assessing conditioning

That's a good point, one's weaknesses shouldn't be held against them, unless it's something that Branch does in a superior fashion (in which case mark that mother****er down for not holding his own to Branch), but Branch's bad back shouldn't hold him back because that's stupid, after all it's not backbuilding. It's conditionleggluteshreddingbuilding.

[jahaa]

Not sure if this been linked but its kinda cool.

[stealth_swimmer]

Meanwhile at the expo...

Nice!

You would have had Aaron over Hide Stealth? That is a tough sell my man.

Based off the finals webcast, Aaron looked sharper with narrower waist while Hide was bigger and rounder. Just depends on what you want. I had Correa 2nd cus of freaky rippedness.



Just saw the prejudging for the open. The judges might have Branch 1st, good for him, he brought his conditioning in. That being said, I'm still routing for Dexter and hope he wins it cus he's got a more aesthetic physique. Branch obviously has better legs with better quad separation, Dexter's lower back and glutes seemed more striated and obviously better proportions.


It also looked like the judges had Compton in 3rd, at least starting out, and then gave Cedric a chance for comparison. I had Cedric 3rd. This is probably Cedric's best conditioning so far. Cedric's only weak point other than conditioning (Compton also needs better conditioning) is he's gotta bring up his legs. Compton's gotta thicken up his back(the lats, not so much the trap/rhomboid area) and fill it out a little bit more.

Honestly, i think some placings could change at the finals. I think things are close enough to where the top 4 will be decided tonight.


Also, i got Roelly ahead of Evan. Evan's got better flow but he just doesn't seem to have much fine detail going on. He's vascular and round but seems to lack a lotta striations that the other guys at the top have. Roelly brought his gut back down, so that's good.


For the lower placings, I had B-Pak ahead of Curry (tired of him coming in so soft). I like aesthetics, but Brandon is just as unbalanced as B-Pak (but in reverse) without B-Pak's conditioning. Brandon looks straight-up pillowy. Beyeke came in really soft, too, but that shouldn't surprise us by now. Beyeke isn't just holding water, he's holding some fat.

[Alito2013]

branch's bad back shouldn't hold him back because that's stupid, after all it's not backbuilding. It's conditionleggluteshreddingbuilding.

lmao

[RobberBaron13]

^^ Yeah, judges do that.
Still, i see Dex as winner.More complete phisique.

[balls2wall]

Based on the pics, how they placed them next to each other and knowing how judging works, it could be that Dex has his fifth Arnold in the bag.

Not a chance. Dex looked like the odd man out. I have him 3rd at best.

[Naz19]

Great show I think branch has it though, minus 1 or 2 poses he looks really good.

I agree.

[AniMaLizTik]

That's a good point, one's weaknesses shouldn't be held against them, unless it's something that Branch does in a superior fashion (in which case mark that mother****er down for not holding his own to Branch), but Branch's bad back shouldn't hold him back because that's stupid, after all it's not backbuilding. It's conditionleggluteshreddingbuilding.

If the sport was actually "bodybuilding" then Ramy would be 3X Mr. O by now trying to beat Vic Richard's record of 15.

[stealth_swimmer]

Compton looked very good, his back was the best at the show.

When they stood next to each other, Cedric's back, especially in the back double biceps, blew his away.

[flangmasterj]

When they stood next to each other, Cedric's back, especially in the back double biceps, blew his away.

Not really.

[RichInMuscle]

One body part. Even his legs are horribly unsymmetrical. This is bodybuilding. If someone read the criteria for a class winning physique then looked at Branch they would need only a couple of seconds to see he meets only one of the criteria and that's conditioning (not even great at that).

This is the Arnold Classic. These are meant to be the greatest physiques on the planet.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to flangmasterj again.

[Vytis]

I much prefer Ced's or Justin's physique but I think Branch pulled off the win.

[Meshuggah]

Not really.

It looks close in this pic but this is also at an angle. In the stream Cedric blew him away in width, seperation, and conditioning.

[stealth_swimmer]

If the sport was actually "bodybuilding" then Ramy would be 3X Mr. O by now trying to beat Vic Richard's record of 15.

Not really. There's more to bodybuilding than size.

Not really.

Yeah, really, especially since that pic is angled with Justin closer to the camera. Not only that, but in the video when they were standing next to each other, Cedric's back was made even more impressive by the way he was flexing it to show off all the separation and grooves in it. They were popping out a lot more than in your pic.

It looks close in this pic but this is also at an angle. In the stream Cedric blew him away in width, seperation, and conditioning.

Exactly.

[orderoutofchaos]

IPhil heath had the same problem as Compton last fall where hr came out with bloofy abs and between poses looked watered down but in the night show the water was gone and he was sharp. Look for a real possibility that Compton has abs tonight and blows everyone away.

[purdey]

What happened to Evan?

[jaredmus]

I want to see Roelly and Compton in a Just ARM pose off, insane.

I see it , cedric then compton(justin looks a little to full, bit washed out in the abs) then dexter

[Coal Man]

Based on the prejudging pics, this is Dexter's show to lose.

[stealth_swimmer]

Oh, and glad to see Toney Freeman come in pretty good shape! Especially good considering his age, but just not enough to break the top ranks at this show. Plus, his left quad has atrophied (he said it was due to a hip problem which he got fixed, but it looks like the damage has been done and he can't really rebuild the leg much at his age, just hang on to the mass he already has).

[stealth_swimmer]

What happened to Evan?

I think he spilled over. His muscle looked round but not very many striations going on.

[TheIronAsylum]

looks like il miss live final going to the gym now hopefully back in time


hope Ced and Compton move up and do better i feel like compton will be improved

[purdey]

I think he spilled over. His muscle looked round but not very many striations going on.

are there pictures?

[Alito2013]

hope Ced and Compton move up and do better I feel like compton will be improved

100%

[aussieryan]

No one is really a stand out clear winner as far as I'm concerned. It just shows how closely matched the competitors at this level are.

Personally I think it's between Compton and Cedric. I can see how Dexter can beat them though I believe the size difference is a little too much for him to overcome. Of course, none of our opinions matter because we know Branch will be getting a gift and probably be in one of the top two spots with Dexter. I really hope if that's how it pans out that they give it to Dexter over Branch, as whilst Branch is impressive in some aspects he is very lacking in others whereas Dexter is much more complete. Still, Cedric and Compton are both very impressive and if I were judging it would be hard to pick between the two, both impressive in similar ways whilst both unique as well.

[flangmasterj]

[flangmasterj]