93 Dorian was a beast, huge, dense, ripped. He was unbeatable that day. He was also at least 25 pounds bigger than Flex. I know the popular opinion is that if Flex would have competed in his condition from earlier that year he possibly could have beaten Yates for the Olympia. I disagree 100%. A GOOD big bodybuilder will beat A GREAT smaller bodybuilder every time whether you believe it's the way things should be or not. Yates beat Flex in 93 because he was HUGE compared to him, along with having great condition. ND, you like to point out how it was harder for Ronnie to beat Flex in 98. The reason it was harder was that they were similar in size and it boiled down to fewer variables, primarily shape and condition. The size variable wasn't in play like it was in 93 when Dorian beat Flex. Size is the primary factor in competition. Flex wasn't sharp and this is why he lost. A good fight but Ronnie won. If that same Ronnie would have met 93 Yates, it would have again come down to shape, condition, etc. since both men were basically the same size. I know you like to point out that Yates was eight pounds more than Ronnie but you only know that because it's been printed. To the naked eye they were basically the same size. So without the size difference, the contest comes down to condition, balance, shape, etc. To most people, myself included, Ronnie earns a close victory over Yates because he has better shape, detail, and finish. You like to point out that Ronnie had gyno and small calves, but bodybuilding contests just aren't decided on those things. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, they just aren't decided on who has gyno or small calves, local contests aren't even decided on those things. Maybe they should be, but they aren't. Ronnie 98 vs Yates 93 would be a war, possibly one of the best matchups ever, but most peoples eyes tell them that Ronnie would win. Now, if you want to have 03 Ronnie vs 93 Yates, I think this one wouldn't be as close as 98 Ronnie vs 93 Yates. 03 Ronnie is just too big and has enough condition to beat anyone who's ever stepped on a bodybuilding stage. 30 pound would just be too much for Yates to overcome, even with his incredible condition. A GOOD big guy (287 pound Ronnie) will always beat a GREAT small guy (small being relative 257 pound Yates). I'm not saying it's right or wrong, that's just the way it is.
Obviously I disagree and I'll explain in detail exactly why.
Ronnie in 1998 would NOT beat Dorian I'm sorry if Ronnie just barely beat Flex in 1998 he's NOT beating Dorian. Flex was much sharper when he faced Dorian in 1993 when he faced Ronnie in 1998. Dorian
dominated Flex and the rest of the feild , he was so dominating in fact the judges didn't even need to call him out the in the muscularity round .
To anyone with the excuse Ronnie was ' overlooked ' at the 1998 Mr Olympia please spare me. Yes the general precontes consensus was it was Flex Wheelers show to win ( or lose ) but all that nonsense came to a dead halt when Ronnie showed up in remarkable shape , the judges deemed him the best man at the conclusion of the prejudging , he was NOT overlooked thats exactly why he won.
Now concerning the topic of Dorian's weight advantage which vs Ronnie in 1998 was
eight pounds , now for you to write this off as no advantage is pure nonsense . now if we were talking 3 or 4 pounds I'd say Okay but we're talking about a solid
eight pounds of dense muscle on a man 1 inch shorter to say it would make no difference is not being honest . case in point Ronnie 1998 vs Ronnie 1999 , guess what he just had an
eight pound weight advantage from one year to the next and look how much of a diference it made . Yates at 257lbs dry is a noticably bigger than Ronnie thats just a plain fact .
Now you say the contest comes down to condition , balance & shape. Dorian equals Ronnie 1998 in terms of conditioning and surpasses Ronnie 1999 . balance no question Dorian has better balance of any year Ronnie. and shape. now granted Ronnie does have some better shaped muscles but so does Dorian. Dorian has better calves , abdominals , side head triceps , forearms , I would say lats , Ronnie has his edges in biceps , quads , and etc. from a shape prospective its a push Ronnie may have a more pleasing apperance due to his small waist but he's NOT in the same leauge as Cormier or Flex in terms of shape that would outright dominate.
Now this is a summary of the judging criteria
The comparisons of the compulsory poses cannot be overemphasized
as these comparisons will help the judge to decide
which competitor has the superior physique from the standpoint of
muscular bulk, balanced development, muscular density and
definition.Ronnie 1998 cannot match Dorian in terms of muscular bulk , balanced development and muscle density or definition ( conditioning ) Ronnie 1999 while can match Dorian in terms of muscular bulk he still trails in terms of balanced development , muscular density and definition ( conditioning ) Dorian simply enjoys these advantages in most of the mandatory poses , this is exactly how he dominated everyone . he was the biggest , dryest , densest , and most balanced . and believe me when a contest is this close bitch-tits are going to come into play especially when one competitor has them and the other does't .
Ronnie beat Flex in 1998 because he was bigger ( muscular bulk ) and had ripped hams & glutes ( definition/conditioning )
2003 I think just based on a 30lb size advantage Ronnie would probably beat Dorian but you never know Nasser was 285 in 1998 and Ronnie beat him at 249lbs so you never know .
