Where Ramy deserved to place is the question. Phil was first. Second and third not so clear.
Watching the prejudging these guys impressed me. Ramy, Roelly, Dexter, Shawn, Kai and Dennis. These would have been my top seven. I know the way the judging system works in the IFBB so knew they had to place Jay in the top six. Dexter had to be there, too, but he deserved to be.
As big as Dennis is he looks strange in some poses. He was wide and huge except in the calves. Kai came in not cut enough for that size. A disappointment for what was expected.
Shawn Rhoden had a complete package top and bottom and cut. I felt after the judging the results would be the same as last year.
By time the finals arrived Dennis seemed to move up a notch. That comparison with the top three was a message to the judges that the guy in the middle was 1st. The other two are second and third.
Last week a peculiar and extremely unsporting post was made by Peter McGough stating that big Ramy was over-rated. Why was that made? Clearly Ramy was a threat and this message was preparing for his low placing. That horrible political 8th place. Thanks, Peter.
Roelly is another guy who isn't placed fairly. Here he was full and complete but managed only 7th. Damn those IFBB judges.
I didn't have to see the presentation to know the results. What a shame...again in the Olympia.
If you look at stills you can see Ramy was huge top and bottom. Pleasant shape and good lines. He is much better than 8th. Too many here rate guys mainly on condition. That should be only 25%. Size, shape and proportions are the other main factors. Using this criteria a different result would have happened. Dennis and Dexter lower because they lack calves. A fairer result could have been Phil, Shawn, Roelly, Ramy, Kai, Dexter, Dennis. Branch Warren placed too high again.