When aesthetics aren't enough : Dexter vs Branch

[Nasty Nate]

Branch's asthetics have actually improved a ton in the past few years. I think thats what is helping him place so much higher in some of these shows recently. His waist is smaller and his upper body is catching up with his lower half.

Kudos to Branch, he was the freakiest guy on stage. Too bad he doesnt have a back.

Branch's back was one of the most detailed and thickest onstage.

[kevcat]

Branch looks like shit, and Dexter has a much better physique, i hope this helps 
And who gives a f*ck is he trains 'the hardest' ? Who actually knows this for a fact? Cos he throws around weights that are too heavy for him?  WOW !!

[mesmorph78]

Dexter all the way....
Going by this bigger and conditioned is better theory
kovaks and rhul should have a few sandows
dex was in shape he has the better genetic shape flow and bodyparts so he should beat branch end of
 missing bodyparts for branch arms and back two major bodyparts

dex has high calves and that's it.   
 

[ChristopherA]

Dexter all the way....
Going by this bigger and conditioned is better theory
kovaks and rhul should have a few sandows
dex was in shape he has the better genetic shape flow and bodyparts so he should beat branch end of
 missing bodyparts for branch arms and back two major bodyparts

dex has high calves and that's it.   
 

Branch looks like a bag of smashed assholes. Hope this helps

[Palpatine Q]

Branch sucks......LOL at all the fanboys.

"He trains so hard".....

[ChristopherA]

Branch sucks......LOL at all the fanboys.

"He trains so hard".....

Trains so sloppy is more like it. Torn lat, multiple torn tris, etc.

[dbdb]

aesthetics

agreed bushariffic!

bukkake in Nagasaki

[JP_RC]

Trains so sloppy is more like it. Torn lat, multiple torn tris, etc.

He trains incredibly sloppy and his form is awful, but it works for him you can't deny that. He pays it with the injuries though.

[BM OUT]

Branch sucks......LOL at all the fanboys.

"He trains so hard".....

Branch sucks but he kicked Dexters ass the last two years according to the ONLY ones that count,the judges.

[ChristopherA]

He trains incredibly sloppy and his form is awful, but it works for him you can't deny that. He pays it with the injuries though.

Yup. I just cringe at his form though

[Palpatine Q]

Branch sucks but he kicked Dexters ass the last two years according to the ONLY ones that count,the judges.

I thinks he sucks....I could care less what the "judges"  ::)LOL think

PS....I had him third in the prejudging thread. I know how it works, just don't agree with it

[kevcat]

Spot on groink .... 'he trains harder than anyone else'

[FREAKgeek]

x2.

this is one of the all time most idiotic posts ive read in 12 years of being at GB.com.

it probably explains why the 'O is the way it is though.

how anyone can put that pile of crap ahead of Dex in any of those poses except maybe for the rear double bi, is beyond comprehension.

yet it apparently has happened and still does.

that single front double bi alone should put Dex so far ahead of Branch that even if he was better in the others, he shouldnt catch up.

its amazing how "mass" is rated by some...

ridiculous.

I put that pile of crap ahead because he has better calves, better thighs, better back, better tris, wider structure, and better conditioning.
His chest is better in the front double too, Dexter's chest disappears. Dexter, as I've said, is more aesthetic. He has overall better arms
and his midsection is sharper, but overall it's not enough!

[mesmorph78]

Branch outweighs dexter
by about 20+ lbs
yes dexters arms are bigger
and bear in mind dexters arms are balanced with his body
so branch has a huge body with tiny arms how can a guy built like that pleace top 2 in the world
in the 90's he wouldn't even make top 15

[George Whorewell]

I would rate them about evenly.

Dex has aesthetics and symetery- Branch has size and conditioning.

Dex has better arms, Branch has better legs.

Body part for body part Branch owns Dex.

But in examining how everything ties in, Dex owns Branch.

Dex has structure, Branch has muscle maturity.

Six of one, half dozen of the other--You can make an argument for placing one over the other in either order.

[Figo]

bout 4 yrs ago, I thought Branch was going to take the O after Ronnie, then the injuries, and muscular imbalances started, and yet he has managed to resurrect his career to become a top 2/3 mr O competitor..

All due respect, I thought he was done, but according to the judges, it appears not. Its not a pretty physique, but that hasnt stopped Yates, Ronnie nor Jay before...

If one or two guys come in slightly off, and he steps it up a little more, who knows...?

[ThaRealist]

Branch's conditioning and legs are insane

[mesmorph78]

bout 4 yrs ago, I thought Branch was going to take the O after Ronnie, then the injuries, and muscular imbalances started, and yet he has managed to resurrect his career to become a top 2/3 mr O competitor..

All due respect, I thought he was done, but according to the judges, it appears not. Its not a pretty physique, but that hasnt stopped Yates, Ronnie nor Jay before...

If one or two guys come in slightly off, and he steps it up a little more, who knows...?

ronnie shouldn't be in that sentence ronnie is freaky but he had an amaaaazing phisyque

[disco_stu]

Branch can change his presentation and become slightly more aesthetic. If Dexter helped him it would make a big difference. Eg. His lats are so wide that they merge into his triceps in the front double biceps pose. If Branch lifts his elbows perhaps 2 inches he would have a better flow. He needs to keep his legs closer together and not squat down while posing. That accentuates his being bottom heavy. When standing relaxed he needs to keep his ^%@#%@# elbows close to his body and not out wide like some musclehead. I mean, don't these guys have any idea how to pose! He makes the same mistake front and back and looks the worse for it. Shortasses who are thick need to resemble Hercules and not try the fancy out wide poses.

again spot on.

[Fatpanda]

x2.

this is one of the all time most idiotic posts ive read in 12 years of being at GB.com.

it probably explains why the 'O is the way it is though.

how anyone can put that pile of crap ahead of Dex in any of those poses except maybe for the rear double bi, is beyond comprehension.

yet it apparently has happened and still does.

that single front double bi alone should put Dex so far ahead of Branch that even if he was better in the others, he shouldnt catch up.

its amazing how "mass" is rated by some...

ridiculous.

x3

[Lion666]

Front double : Branch



Back double : Branch



Ab/Thigh : Branch



Side Tri : Branch



Side Chest : Branch



Front Lat : Branch



Rear Lat : Branch



MM : Dexter

even though no the most pleasing build to everyone's taste, these photos show why branch deserves to be up there top 6, he may not ever win but he can get close with the size & condition

[lesaucer]

Branch owns that ninja turtle!!!

[Vince B]

No, no, NO, and NO, Branch does not have and never will have a better physique than Dexter. Period. Listen to the bullshit here in this thread. You can't judge via bodyparts. That might be useful to separate very close competitors. The sum has to be way more than individual parts.

Some of you think aesthetics is a small factor in these contests. Nope, not even close. It is all important. Yes, Branch has huge legs and is quite ripped. The vascularity reminds me of Dillett and it spoiled his physique, too. If the overall package looks amiss or distorted or unbalanced or weird or just plain awful then don't place that person anywhere in the top 6. End of story. Stop being apologists for that guy. Reward the guys who look great and not some freaky guy who trains hard. I mean, what kind of argument is that?

There is an argument that Dexter could have won this contest. From the results it appears the whole judging panel needs to be replaced. Well, more than half, anyway. Would need to view the video and be there. However, it really doesn't matter because most people are so confused because of past decisions that they have no idea what to think and what to say. If it is true that many of the decisions in the past Mr Olympias were suspect then that clearly means you cannot use those decisions as a basis to form criteria about judging. On the other hand, they delete the top 3 and bottom 3 to make sure that mediocrity prevails.

[shiftedShapes]

Who are the judges and what is the criterion? Also, who picks the judges and on what qualifications? I have never approved of the system where they assess judges by how well they agree with other judges. While that is important it makes for some anxiety of the judges to vote for who the others are voting for.

There are several factors that are important. What is the judging process? What is the scoring system? Do the rounds count equally? Where do the judges sit and are they separated? There should be no opportunity for judges to compare notes or have others discuss the contest with them. Therefore the whole process should be completed at the so-called prejudging. No posedown, etc., for points except perhaps for a best poser award if given. The history of both the women and men demonstates that decisions made after the judging often changes by time the contest is over. While that may reward the best men it also allows for some to influence the judges and this really shouldn't happen. I wouldn't want to see the judges separated and isolated but what else is going to guarantee independent and unbiased judging?

Dexter has a better physique than Branch Warren. So what if the guy is huge and ripped. His bodyparts don't go together well and I would never place him above Dexter, Phil, Ronny, and even Jay. That he does well in top shows is a credit to him but it reflects badly on the whole judging process. Overall appearance should be paramount and in that regard Branch should be placed lower. His legs are great but they are out of proportion to his upper body. He compounds this by placing them out wide in many poses.

you get a bad rap here vince, this is all right on the money.

[~UN_$ung~]

No, no, NO, and NO, Branch does not have and never will have a better physique than Dexter. Period. Listen to the bullshit here in this thread. You can't judge via bodyparts. That might be useful to separate very close competitors. The sum has to be way more than individual parts.

Some of you think aesthetics is a small factor in these contests. Nope, not even close. It is all important. Yes, Branch has huge legs and is quite ripped. The vascularity reminds me of Dillett and it spoiled his physique, too. If the overall package looks amiss or distorted or unbalanced or weird or just plain awful then don't place that person anywhere in the top 6. End of story. Stop being apologists for that guy. Reward the guys who look great and not some freaky guy who trains hard. I mean, what kind of argument is that?

There is an argument that Dexter could have won this contest. From the results it appears the whole judging panel needs to be replaced. Well, more than half, anyway. Would need to view the video and be there. However, it really doesn't matter because most people are so confused because of past decisions that they have no idea what to think and what to say. If it is true that many of the decisions in the past Mr Olympias were suspect then that clearly means you cannot use those decisions as a basis to form criteria about judging. On the other hand, they delete the top 3 and bottom 3 to make sure that mediocrity prevails.

fucking YUK.............god your such faggy old melt-queen


why do you even care anymore, fucking weird old man...........spending his days rambling endless and hatefully about how bodybuilding competitions are judged



go and live life, do what you do, lure young boys into your van............stop worrying about how IFBB contests are judged, you will never be involved with it anyway and no one respects your opinion