As we head to Columbus for the Arnold Classic weekend, here are the competitor lists, for those who did not see them, and who was added and who dropped out. This is going to be an exciting weekend, and surprises are rumored on who will emerge in the top three at these contests. Here are the lists…

2010 Entries – Arnold Classic

1. Melvin Anthony
2. Tarek Elsetouhi
3. Toney Freeman
4. Kai Greene
5. Phil Heath
6. Dexter Jackson
7. Johnnie Jackson
8. Robert Piotrkowicz
9. Ronny Rockel
10. Silvio Samuel – (not competing – pulled out)
11. Sergey Shelestov
12. Branch Warren
13. Roelly Winklaar
14. Hidetada Yamagishi

2010 Entries – Figure International

1. Monica Brant
2. Krissy Chin
3. Alicia Harris
4. Candice Houston
5. Heather Mae French
6. Monica Mark-Escalante
7. Angela Mraz
8. Jessica Putnam – (not competing – pulled out)
9. Larissa Reis
10. Kristal Richardson – (not competing – pulled out)
11. Felicia Romero
12. Rosa-Maria Romero
13. Sherlyn Roy
14. Mindi Smith
15. Erin Stern
16. Kristina Tauti
17. Kim Tilden
18. Andrea Watson
19. Latisha Wilder
20. Nicole Wilkins Lee
21. Christiana Casoni (added later)

2010 Entries – Fitness International

1. Myriam Capes
2. Regiane Da Silva
3. Nicole Duncan
4. Tina Durkin
5. Allison Ethier
6. Adela Garcia
7. Tracey Greenwood – (not competing – pulled out)
8. Oksana Grishina
9. Jennifer Hendershott – (not competing – pulled out)
10. Tanji Johnson
11. Julie Palmer
12. Kayde Puckett
13. Camala Rodriguez
14. Sylvia Tremblay
15. Kizzy Vaines
16. Trish Warren
17. Bethany Wagner – added later

2010 Entries – Ms. International

1. Heather Armbrust – (not competing – pulled out)
2. Lisa Aukland
3. Dayana Cadeau
4. Iris Kyle
5. Debi Laszewski
6. Zoa Linsey
7. Mah-Ann Mendoza
8. Yaxeni Oriquen Garcia
9. Jeannie Paparone
10. Betty Pariso
11. Alina Popa
12. Brenda Raganot
13. Elena Shportun-Willemer
14. Dena Westerfield
15. Antoinette Thompson – added later

With less than a week to go before the Arnold Classic, excitement is in the air as the competitors make their final preparations for the trip to Columbus, Ohio. No question about it that the Arnold Fitness Weekend is the largest of its kind it the United States, with over 100,000 fans coming to check out the action. However, for bodybuilding, fitness, figure and bikini (in amateur), there will be over 400 competitors on the stage.

The IFBB Pro Men’s competition starts with prejudging on Saturday at noon at the Veteran’s Auditorium, and ends with the finals at 7pm in the same place (which is about 3-4 blocks away from the convention center, where the expo is held). Defending the title is Kai Greene, who is going to have intense competition from Phil Heath, Branch Warren, Dexter Jackson and quite a few others.

For the female competitors, the IFBB Pro Figure, Fitness and Women’s Bodybuilding prejudging will be held on Friday at noon at the Convention Center Expo Stage, and the finals at 7pm at the Veteran’s Auditorium.

For the amateurs, the fitness, figure and bikini prejudging and bikini finals will be held on Thursday at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium at 7pm. On Friday, the amateur men’s and women’s bodybuilding prejudging will start at 9am at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium. And on Saturday, the Amateur Finals will be held on the Convention Center Expo Stage for all starting at 10am.

The complete schedule of events can be found at the official Arnold Sports Festival site, or just click below

One day after the IFBB Phoenix Pro, Dan Hill was at the Fitness Factory in Arizona at a photoshoot. It was his actual birthday, turning 24, and we surprised him with a cake. Needless to say, Dan was very surprised!

Gotta love this song – this is the best parody of the Black Eyed Peas song that I have heard. And for those of you looking to party after the Arnold Classic contests, be careful you don’t end up like this guy did.

With less than a week left to go before the IFBB Phoenix Pro, speculation as who is going to win the contest always is brought up. Everyone has an opinion, and the debate rages on as more pictures, videos, and past contest results render an opinion. But one thing is certain. Until that Saturday morning at prejudging, anything can happen.

With Bob Cicherillo, Dan Solomon and Larry Pepe discussing the Phoenix Pro on the PBW Radio program, and Lonnie Teper, Isaac Hinds, and Ron Avidan adding their opinions, here is what they chose as their top five.

Bob Cicherillo

1. Toney Freeman
2. Melvin Anthony
3. Troy Alves
4. Hidetada Yamagishi
5. Micheal Liberatore

Larry Pepe

1. Melvin Anthony
2. Toney Freeman
3. Troy Alves
4. Tarek Elsetouhi
5. Hidetada Yamagishi

Dan Solomon

1. Toney Freeman
2. Melvin Anthony
3. Troy Alves
4. Hidetada Yamagushi
5. Moe Bannout

Lonnie Teper

1. Toney Freeman
2. Quincy Taylor
3. Hidetada Yamagishi
4. Troy Alves
5. Tarek Elsetouhi
6. Melvin Anthony
7. Micheal Liberatore

Isaac Hinds

1. Melvin Anthony
2. Toney Freeman
3. Tarek Elsetouhi
4. Troy Alves
5. Micheal Liberatore
6. Hidetada Yamagishi

As for Ron Avidan, I looked into the RAS Rankings, and will abide by those rankings, which are…

1. Toney Freeman
2. Hidetada Yamagishi
3. Melvin Anthony
4. Troy Alves
5. Tarek Elsetouhi

Let the best competitors prove us wrong!

Something tells me that the 2010 NPC USA’s are going to be the biggest and best ever. This year, the NPC USA’s will award 4 IFBB pro cards to the Men’s Bodybuilders and 2 IFBB pro cards to the Women’s Bodybuilders. Additionally, there will be 6 IFBB pro cards each for both the Figure and Bikini divisions. The event hotel for this years event has also changed, to the Embassy Suites – Convention Center, at 3600 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Here is the latest flyer for the NPC USAs.

Joe Wheatley Productions is proud to announce that MuscleTech will be the Title Sponsor for all 3 shows this summer, The Muscle Beach International Classic & Armed Forces Championship (Memorial Day), Mr. & Ms. Muscle Beach (July 4th) and the Muscle Beach Championship (Labor Day).

Beginning with the Memorial Day contest, it will be open to all amateur athletes and active, reserve and retired members of the Armed Forces. This competition celebrates and acknowledges health and fitness and recognizes the contributions of the members of the Armed Forces to the United States.

Featured that day is a flyover from a C-17 Globemaster stationed at March AFB. Opening remarks from a high ranking Officer from Los Angeles AFB, an induction ceremony of new recruits, and static equipment displays are also highlighted at the event.

The flyover is extremely moving. I’d like to share the following story. Three years ago as the C-17 roared overhead when the National Anthem reached it’s crescendo, Lonnie Teper, “writer extraordinaire” for Iron Man Magazine stood next to me. I noticed a tear trickling down his cheek. I asked him if he was okay. He sheepishly replied, “Yeah, I ah got some suntan lotion in my eye”. I just smiled! They come in “Low, Slow, & Dirty” at about a thousand feet. If you aren’t doing anything on Memorial Day, it’s truly a sight to behold.

Representatives from the Health and Fitness Industry – Bodybuilding.com, Iron Man Magazine, Weider International, “TheOfficial Energy Shot of Muscle Beach”- AllDay Energy, House of Pain, Vitamin Water, ProFight, Gaspari Nutrition, Eric The Trainer, Ivanko, Global Rainfall and many others will be on site to provide education, samples and demonstrations of the most recent and advanced equipment and products that support and facilitate a healthy lifestyle.

Here is something from our sister site, Hardbody.com. Thanks to our friends at Pro MMA Radio, the WEC and now the UFC the deal just got a little sweeter. In addition to the WEC tickets, there will be a UFC prize pack (a shirt, hat, etc.) added to it. This is your chance to get hooked up with gear from the biggest promotion in MMA.

How do you get hooked up? Simple. Email isaac@hardbody.com and share why you’d love to attend the event. The most creative entry showing their love for MMA and the WEC will win. Photos, video, creative writing… Whatever it is that you think will get you the tickets. You have until Feb. 14th at 6pm PST to enter. We’ll announce the winner shortly after the deadline passes on Feb. 14th. Someone will get a little extra love on Valentine’s Day this year compliments of Hardbody, WEC and the UFC.

The ticket give-away is open to everyone. If you have any questions email me or post in the comments below.

Hidetada Yamagishi, two weeks out from the 2010 Phoenix Pro, courtesy of Ironman, and Lonnie Teper. Will Hidetada make the top three?

Chris Aceto, in his Ripped Report, is training three competitors for the 2010 IFBB Phoenix Pro, (Troy Alves, Deshaun Grimez, and Tarek Elsetouhi. Now Tarek is one of the biggest guys on stage, and although he has yet to break the top 4 at an IFBB show, you may never know what is in store at the first IFBB pro show of the year.

For pictures of Terek, Troy and DeShaun, go to Chris Aceto’s blog at the Ripped Report.

Here is a cool video of Johnnie Jackson getting ready for the 2010 IFBB Pro Phoenix contest, which will be on February 20th. The Phoenix Pro contest is the first IFBB contest of the year.

The video is courtesty of Muscletech.