The answer is simple. Branch places much higher because he is American and Paco is not.
Yup. But beside of it, he should have had to dedícate himself to promote himself and he didnt do it. For example, He didnt visit Steve W after NY pro every time.
He and his trainer took pro competition like amateur. They tried to get good placing only, then he got bad placing and they went home with good depression. Thats a wrong way of thinking about IFBB pro league. They had to notice that IFBB pro league is same as WWE.