Earlier this year I did my first competition. There were some big guys there. I, unfortunately, wasn't one of them. I came in at 197 on the day of the show and carbed up to 210 the next day and looked the same condition but much fuller(live and learn). Anyway, some of the best guys in the show were middleweights. One guy, Brian, came in at about 174 and was very ripped at 5' 9" or so. He almost took the whole show in addition to the middleweight division, a very advanced competitor- and, he had a LOT more quality muscle mass than I did, though I was 20 something lbs. heavier. The biggest man in the show was 227 and very lean and dry, but to look at him you'd swear he was 250 something- that's conditioning for you. Now, this is at a State level competition. I can't even begin to explain how much bf% and water weight affects the differences in quality out on the street.
Jacob