Personally, I think the best Ronnie ever was the one we saw at the 99 O, when he came in the same shape as in 98, except a few pounds heavier. In 2001, he was too depleted and haden't gained any mass in the past two years. In 2003, Ronnie came in too big for his structure, obviously holding a considerable amount of bodyfat(6%) and water under his skin. His 99 shape, when he was 250 lbs, at 4% bodyfat and holding no film of water under his skin was perfect, as he showed full detail in his back, abs and thighs, with no muscle being overpowering and with a tight midsection.
Dorian's best shape ever, I think, was at the 96 O-which I happened to attend. At 255 lbs, at 2% bodyfat and dehydrated to point of almost needing a Potassium IV, Dorian showed extreme dryness, detail and separation. The minus was that he lost some of his incredible density and fullness, looking a little flat(even though he was still, by far, the fullest of the contest). Next year, Dorian weighed 266 lbs for pre-judging, ballooning to 274 lbs by the night show. His density and hardness were at their all time best, being, in fact, the greatest ever seen in all times. He was still carrying his trademark 2% bodyfat, with almost no water under his skin. However, being almost 20 lbs heavier than the past year had it's bad consequences too. For one, Dorian's midsection was wider, taking away from his balance, and he lost detail in his thighs, chest and also some on his back. He was by FAR the best of the contest, but Dorian failed to translate his extreme density and dryness AND crispness of detail ith muscular balance with his 270 lbs+ package.
Comparing Dorian to Ronnie can take two different forms. The first involves comparing the best of Ronnie vs the best of Dorian, and the second involves the biggest of Ronnie vs the biggest of Dorian. Let's start with the first. So, let's compare the 255 lbs Dorian from 96 to the 250 lbs Ronnie from 99. Ronnie showed slightly better detail and thigh development than Dorian, at that weight. He also displayed a more classical V-taper, with a great shoulder-toaist ratio. Dorian, on the other hand, trashes Ronnie in density, overall development, back detail, calves and traps development and annihilates him in conditioning. Point for Dorian. Now let's compare the 97 O Dorian to the 2004 Ronnie. Dorian was 274 lbs by the night show, at 2% bodyfat and superbly dry. Ronnie was 296 lbs at the 2004 O, at 5% or 6% bodyfat and clearly holding a thick film of water under his skin. Ronnie showed greater thigh and delt development than Dorian, but Dorian took Ronnie on calves, traps, hamstrings and chest. Ronnie's lats were as wide as Dorian's, but still not as thick. Ronnie's physique was completely out of proportion, with his waist being too wide for his delts and his trap and delt mass overpowering his chest. Ronnie's conditioning was one of the worst I've ever seen on a pro. Besides his unacceptable level of fat and water retained under his skin, he had un overrall bloated look on his entire body, making him display terrible muscular detail for a pro; I've seen NPC competitors show better separation than that. Point for The Yates. I've been to the 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2003 Olympias and I must say that, taking into consideration everything(mass, structure, density, detail and conditioning), Dorian was the superior bodybuilder. As Samir Bannout, Lee Labrada, Mike Mentzer, Sergio Oliva and Michael Francois have all said, at one moment or other:"Dorian is the greatest bodybuilder of all times". I second that.
SUCKMYMUSCLE
http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=46222.100________________________
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I thought you were in Brazil at this time getting your BJJ purple belt from Carlson Gracie?
