Here is my quick synopsis of the event being that I was there in person...
1.Victor: Thick as heck and in great condition. Awesome back and huge arms and delts. I had no problem with him being first, but I still feel he was not at his best.
2.Dareem: His best ever overall showing. He was thicker and the "grainiest" man onstage. It came down to more hardness (Dareem) vs. more thickness (Victor) and thickness won. If Dareem won I do not think anyone would have been upset.
3.Gustavo: Awesome! Hard and thick. He is really complete. If his quads were just a bit harder from the front he may have been higher.
4.Branch: FREAK!!!!!! He was the crowd favorite and when he was compared to others you could see just how hard and thick he is. His legs are ridiculous and Platz-like. His back is simply mounds and mounds of muscle. His chest is shredded. If he would have won I do not think anyone would have booed. They DID boo at his 4th place though.
5.Troy: He looked great, but just ran into a wall with the top 4. He is capable of beating all of the guys ahead of him if he tightens up a bit more. Great overall physique.
6.Craig: His best pro shape yet. He was pretty tight and very thick. His presentation was excellent. I really like his tenacity and desire to improve from show to show.
7.Jonnie: He dialed it in nicely. His chest and back are thick as a brick and he got better and better as the show wore on. The bodies that placed ahead of him were just better overall physiques (although I would have had no problem with Jonnie beating Craig).
8.Toney: Screw job! Toney could have been as high as 5th! He was wider than anyone. His waist was smaller and tighter than anyone's. And, he was hard as nails. The judges didn't really notice him in the first round as he got the 3rd callout, but after he did his individual free posing I think they realized just how good Toney looked. In the third round he got second callout and more than held his own with the top 5. Still, Toney can be thicker and when he starts competing in the 290s he will be a force that cannot be denied!
1.Victor: Thick as heck and in great condition. Awesome back and huge arms and delts. I had no problem with him being first, but I still feel he was not at his best.
2.Dareem: His best ever overall showing. He was thicker and the "grainiest" man onstage. It came down to more hardness (Dareem) vs. more thickness (Victor) and thickness won. If Dareem won I do not think anyone would have been upset.
3.Gustavo: Awesome! Hard and thick. He is really complete. If his quads were just a bit harder from the front he may have been higher.
4.Branch: FREAK!!!!!! He was the crowd favorite and when he was compared to others you could see just how hard and thick he is. His legs are ridiculous and Platz-like. His back is simply mounds and mounds of muscle. His chest is shredded. If he would have won I do not think anyone would have booed. They DID boo at his 4th place though.
5.Troy: He looked great, but just ran into a wall with the top 4. He is capable of beating all of the guys ahead of him if he tightens up a bit more. Great overall physique.
6.Craig: His best pro shape yet. He was pretty tight and very thick. His presentation was excellent. I really like his tenacity and desire to improve from show to show.
7.Jonnie: He dialed it in nicely. His chest and back are thick as a brick and he got better and better as the show wore on. The bodies that placed ahead of him were just better overall physiques (although I would have had no problem with Jonnie beating Craig).
8.Toney: Screw job! Toney could have been as high as 5th! He was wider than anyone. His waist was smaller and tighter than anyone's. And, he was hard as nails. The judges didn't really notice him in the first round as he got the 3rd callout, but after he did his individual free posing I think they realized just how good Toney looked. In the third round he got second callout and more than held his own with the top 5. Still, Toney can be thicker and when he starts competing in the 290s he will be a force that cannot be denied!
