MY HUMBLE ASSESSMENT OF THE TOP 4

[Disgusted]

In no particular order.  

Shawn Rhoden

Shawn has put on some decent size since last year and it certainly hasn't hurt him. One may argue that he has a "gut" problem but when he hits his poses there is no evidence of this. From the front his waist is super tiny and all of his abs are visible from top to bottom so not an issue at least with me. He has visibly brought up his legs which is very hard to do especially later in one's career. Shawn has great flow and aesthetics, he has been called the poor man's Flex Wheeler but I think this is a little unfair since in this era like it or not one needs to be bigger and I don't see Flex fairing too well at Shawn's weight either. Shawn is a little soft in certain shots more so than I would have liked.  Slight film of water? or maybe just needs to fill out more. I am going with slightly flat so hopefully this can be corrected by tonight.

Dennis Wolf.

This guy was spot on when it came to conditioning and for such a large man he nailed it! He has found his formula and he has obviously stuck to it. From the side his hamstrings are ridiculous but from the rear just still slightly flat but I'm nit picking here. He has brought up his lower back to the point where I don't think he can be criticized for it anymore. He was full and hard and vascular I commend him on his ability to combine all 3 of those qualities which by themselves are hard enough to attain let alone all 3 at once. Flaws? Nerve damage to his calf which will be of no issue when it comes to his placing. Lower lats but at this show I don't feel it's much of an issue. If he can hold his conditioning he will place very well, if he can come in even 2% sharper it may be lights out!

Phil Heath

Well from the very moment Phil walked out He looked like someone who had 2 inches of height cut from his waist. Very blocky with his oblique's sticking out with only a 2 pack to be seen. He was somewhat flat from the front especially in his chest area. There was no pop at all when he hit his signature poses.  He looked awkward when hitting certain poses like his front lat spread and even the FDB. His money shot the BDB still is good enough to throw a monkey wrench into the line up but IMO not enough to have him winning this show. Even his tan was off. I suspected a while back when I saw some training footage of him that he was off and he knew  it. He looked smaller than usual and gone were the sneak peak photos that we have witnessed from years past.  Phil is IMO the worst he has looked ever and if he can make some corrections for tonight (I don't think he can) he deserves a medal but not the Olympia.

Dexter Jackson.

Once again Dexter had brought in some amazing conditioning. Is it the best he ever had? NO but! he is bigger and much fuller than in the past. What sets Dexter apart from all thee guys,  Dexter is conditioned from head to toe!! there is not a body part that looks soft. Even the best conditioned guys up there are not 100% conditioned all over. Dexter's flaw would be his legs. He never had huge thighs and the other 3 guys have amazing quads when it comes to mass and detail. Dexter has always had trouble keeping his quads flexed in his front poses and last night I noticed this again. Props to him no matter where he places.

Dark Horse Ramy. If Ramy had Wolf's conditioning he would have been handed the Sandow at the prejudging. Why the FUCK is it so hard to get this man in shape!!!!! I can tell you it's NOT!! Someone needs to help this poor guy because if he comes in again next year like he did last night he needs to hang it up. DIET DIET DIET DIET!!!!! Ramy still has a decent amount of fat to lose, at least another 20 pounds to go before he is in Olympia shape.

[Parker]

Good analysis. About Rhoden. Guys with Rhoden's type of physique---Brian Buchanan, Flex Wheeler, Melvin Anthony, and Jojo Ntiforo all look better at lighter weights. The 215-230 range. Once over that, they lose definition and the gut starts to come into play. Rhoden doesn't have Flex's trademark round muscle bellies, and back detail and thickness. Also, Rhoden's triceps are not as full, and this shows in comparisons against Phil.

You maybe right about Phil, I too noticed no sneak peek shots. Also, his abs started to get blurry as the posing went on.

Wolf impressed me.

Dex, is dangerous! Phil was right about Dex.

Kai, if in shape, would have really pushed Phil.

[a_pupil]

seeing as phil is a mega-dosing/grow into the show kind of guy, do you think his body is burning out in terms of not responding to the high doses anymore or is it a diet/conditioning thing?

[240 is Back]

Phil is IMO the worst he has looked ever and if he can make some corrections for tonight (I don't think he can) he deserves a medal but not the Olympia.

For those new getbiggers... Disgusted has prepped pros and knows his shit more than 99% of people on this board.  A master of getting athletes in shape overnight for a show.  He knows his stuff, and he's spot on.

[Alucard]

seeing as phil is a mega-dosing/grow into the show kind of guy, do you think his body is burning out in terms of not responding to the high doses anymore or is it a diet/conditioning thing?

Personally i think he's not responding anymore, he's a blown up narrow bodybuilder, he's maxed out since 2010... I don't think it's diet or even the drug protocol, i'm he has a "winning" formula that he uses every year... I basically agree with Disgusted, but i think that Heath is going to win again, nobody is impressive enough, nobody stands out...

[chaos]

Fair assessment.

[Pete Nice]

Good bodybuilding post, as usual.

  Squadfather approved.

[wes]

Great assessment as expected.

[hazbin]

For those new getbiggers... Disgusted has prepped pros and knows his shit more than 99% of people on this board.  A master of getting athletes in shape overnight for a show.  He knows his stuff, and he's spot on.

damn, too bad I didn't know that when I was fugging up all my contests.

[local hero]

When disgusted or van speak, we all pull up a chair and listen...

Id love to know how these two gentleman would handle rami...

[Simple Simon]

When disgusted or van speak, we all pull up a chair and listen...

Id love to know how these two gentleman would handle rami...

Rami is eating way too much and doing zero cardio, his gassing onstage shows that.

[local hero]

Id imagine weighing 22 and a half stone at under 5'10 would leave anyone winded...

[Simple Simon]

Id imagine weighing 22 and a half stone at under 5'10 would leave anyone winded...

thats exactly why he needs to drop 30lbs.

[Disgusted]

Rami is eating way too much and doing zero cardio, his gassing onstage shows that.

I've seen  him breath like this before. Once when Dennis was putting him through some poses. I'm pretty sure he walked offstage last night and they were fanning him. Makes me wonder. If I were him I'd get some tests done mainly an ejection fraction.

[240 is Back]

When disgusted or van speak, we all pull up a chair and listen...

Id love to know how these two gentleman would handle rami...

I'm betting disgusted would have ramy's waist tight and come in a lot lighter?

we saw disgusted pull of some amazing feats in the past.  guys literally went from big gut to outstanding waistline in a week.

[local hero]

Rami's waist is still tight.... That's the odd thing about him... He's just smooth as fuck

[wes]

Rami's waist is still tight.... That's the odd thing about him... He's just smooth as fuck

He`s way too heavy in general.


Big guy,but doesn`t need to be that heavy as it will hinder his conditioning bigtime just like it has this time out.


Mirror,not scale.   

[Disgusted]

I'm betting disgusted would have ramy's waist tight and come in a lot lighter?

we saw disgusted pull of some amazing feats in the past.  guys literally went from big gut to outstanding waistline in a week.

Thanks I seriously doubt he or any of his trainers would ever contact me but I would be willing to take him on the last 10 weeks at least to monitor him and tweak some things. I've done this many times I'd even do it anonymously don't care about recognition just wanna see him do good.

[local hero]

He's the only guy who could out right win, in the way yates or Coleman did...

[wes]

He's the only guy who could out right win, in the way yates or Coleman did...

Yup,too bad Jim can`t dial him in.

[WOOO]

Dark Horse Ramy. If Ramy had Wolf's conditioning he would have been handed the Sandow at the prejudging. Why the FUCK is it so hard to get this man in shape!!!!! I can tell you it's NOT!! Someone needs to help this poor guy because if he comes in again next year like he did last night he needs to hang it up. DIET DIET DIET DIET!!!!! Ramy still has a decent amount of fat to lose, at least another 20 pounds to go before he is in Olympia shape.

Really?

[240 is Back]

Ranmmy would be wrecking it at 290 shredded

[Disgusted]

Really?

Yes keep in mind along with fat comes fluid. Notice I didn't say 20 pounds of fat.

[WalterWhite]

Yes keep in mind along with fat comes fluid. Notice I didn't say 20 pounds of fat.

Spot on bro.

[WOOO]

Yes keep in mind along with fat comes fluid. Notice I didn't say 20 pounds of fat.

Ok. Agreed.