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Post by Tim Wescott on Mar 4, 2007 5:57:42 GMT -5
Men's Final Results: 1. Victor Martinez 2. Dexter Jackson 3. Toney Freeman 4. Gustavo Badell 5. Phil Heath 6. Silvio Samuel Saviour 7. Branch Warren 8. Ronny Rockel 9. Markus Ruhl 10. Vince Taylor 11. Mark Dugdale 12. Marcus Haley 13. Hidetada Yamagishi 14. David Henry 15. Sergey Shelestov 16. Luke Wood Most Muscular Award: Victor Martinez Best Posing Routine ($10,000): Marcus Haley    |
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Post by Tim Wescott on Mar 4, 2007 6:01:42 GMT -5
ll could have been interchanged without a lot of controversy because there was no clear-cut standout, the 2007 Arnold Classic featured a top five that all had strengths and weaknesses. Victor Martinez wasn't quite as dialed in as during the 2006 Mr. Olympia prejudging when he was a solid third behind Jay Cutler and Ronnie Coleman; Dexter Jackson wasn't as sharp as we've come to expect from "The Blade"; Toney Freeman was much tighter than his victory a week before at the Sacramento Pro, but lacked some depth in his back and detail in his glutes; Phil Heath, while the most striated and aesthetic bodybuilder on stage, still needs more front-to-back thickness in his upper body before he becomes a bona fide threat to take an Arnold or Olympia title; and Gustavo Badell, who wasn't even a part of the first callout of the day but gamely battled back by the end of prejudging to crash the top-five party.
In the final analysis, it would seem Martinez's amazing structure won out the day, helping him to a straight-firsts victory even while not quite in top condition. There are very few bodybuilders in the world who could pull off such a feat, but the Dominican Dominator is definitely one of them, and solidifies his position as a top threat to Cutler and Coleman's one-two lockdown at the Olympia.
While people will debate the Jackson versus Martinez decision, other interesting stories emerged from the top six. Freeman, for one, who at 40 is finally getting his due in the pro ranks by winning his last two contests and taking third at the Arnold. Also, Heath, who proved he could hang with the big boys and should have been no lower than fourth but got nudged into fifth by a hard-charging Badell; and Samuel, with his flaring rounded muscle bellies and a compact midsection (which he does lose control of sometimes, but that's not an uncorrectable flaw) who was all in all excellent.
To watch the replay of the Arnold Classic, click on the "Arnold" banner at the top of the flexonline home page and you will be taken to Bodybuilding.com and Flex's exclusive webcast, where the women's finals, men's prejudging and men's finals are archived.
LIST OF PREJUDGING CALLOUTS:
First callout: Toney Freeman, Phil Heath, Dexter Jackson, Victor Martinez
Second callout: Branch Warren, Ronny Rockel, Gustavo Badell, Silvio Samuel
Third callout: Markus Ruhl, Hidetada Yamagishi, Marcus Haley, Mark Dugdale, Vince Taylor
Fourth callout: Branch Warren, Silvio Samuel, Ronny Rockel, Markus Ruhl
Fifth callout: Hidetada Yamagishi, Sergey Shelestov, David Henry, Luke Wood
Sixth callout: Toney Freeman, Gustavo Badell, Silvio Samuel, Phil Heath
Seventh callout: Phil Heath, Toney Freeman, Dexter Jackson, Victor Martinez, Gustavo Badell
Eighth callout: Silvio Samuel, Ronny Rockel, Markus Ruhl, Branch Warren
Ninth callout: David Henry, Vince Taylor, Mark Dugdale, Marcus Haley
Tenth callout: Dexter Jackson, Gustavo Badell, Victor Martinez
Eleventh callout: Phil Heath, Toney Freeman, Gustavo Badell
Twelfth callout: Toney Freeman, Dexter Jackson, Victor Martinez
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Post by Tim Wescott on Mar 4, 2007 6:11:30 GMT -5
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Post by Tim Wescott on Mar 4, 2007 6:15:39 GMT -5
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Post by Tim Wescott on Mar 4, 2007 6:16:59 GMT -5
The new champ which was a total surprise to me!!  |
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Post by cavemuscle on Mar 4, 2007 8:42:34 GMT -5
Hmmmmmmm!
I can see how Branch's vascularity could place him over Ronny. However, it was my understanding that Luke wood bowed out due to lingering flu and jet lag, and Frank McGrath simply no showed with no comment or apology and was later seen dining out.
Let the controversy begin!
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Post by OptimumJoe on Mar 4, 2007 13:36:47 GMT -5
I was surprised to see Vic over Dexter because I didn't he was better then Dexter. He was as good as Dex at best.
Got to give Toney some props for holding on to his look in all three of his shows
Phil placed well, but was better then Gustavo IMO. Gus's waist line is off the charts! Phil looked tighter as well
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Post by QuietBob on Mar 4, 2007 14:06:55 GMT -5
I only caught the webcast which was very difficult to do true comparisons with, but I thought Dexter or Freeman would take it. The way the commentators were talking, though, they seemed to have Vic toward the top.
Freeman just has that awesome x-frame with a well-controlled midsection and Dexter has the aesthetics (although I thought he lost control of his midsection more so than I've ever seen).
Vic seems to be developing the gut that has become so common in the top ranks these days (and didn't seem to be controlling it well).
Either way, Vic was a very happy and gracious champion and congratulations to him!
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Post by masterschamp on Mar 4, 2007 14:30:25 GMT -5
It's a shame to see another terrific physique starting to be ruined by a distended gut. Could care less about the placings......Give me the 70's and 80's physiques any day over this.
Keith
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Post by BigMikeReed on Mar 4, 2007 19:51:26 GMT -5
Well mytake- I think Martinez is the rightfulwinner.
I'm in the minority I guess as far as the guts go- I think Gustavo looked great. He may just not remember to pull the midsection is as well as some of the others... they all have them- it's part of the game at that level.
Disappointed in Branch's condition- I'm a HUGE Branch fan. Honeslty part of this guys problem here was coloring! He needed to get better tanning/products on!
VERY happy to see Ronny Rockel pulling up a little. To me, this guy is the total package! Big mass but still symmetry head to toe- I'd like to see him place better.
Mike
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Post by Rich on Mar 4, 2007 22:08:32 GMT -5
I'm a big Heath fan these days, but it looks like he didn't bring his A-game, which is a tough game to beat.
I like Vic's physique, but as has been pointed out, he IS getting that gut, and sorry to say, it's just plain ugly. I don't care if all the top guys have it. IMO they shouldn't be the top guys if they do.
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Post by BigMikeReed on Mar 5, 2007 8:37:03 GMT -5
I'm a big Heath fan these days, but it looks like he didn't bring his A-game, which is a tough game to beat. I like Vic's physique, but as has been pointed out, he IS getting that gut, and sorry to say, it's just plain ugly. I don't care if all the top guys have it. IMO they shouldn't be the top guys if they do. Well.. ugly is in the eye of the beholder I guess. IMO unless it's getting to Dave Palubo like proportions then it's ok. The top guys are at the top becuase their huge- you can't be huge top to bottom EXCEPT for the midsection. Freakish growth doesn't work that way and that's what got these guys to the Arnold. |
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Post by Intensity on Mar 6, 2007 9:18:07 GMT -5
Thanks for the time you spent posting the contest pictures Tim! I didnt have the opportunity to see the show because it's wasnt available on PPV this year here in Montreal… so having those WOTW Arnolds threads with the results, pictures and your comments is a great resumé!
So will Silvio Samuel be a top contender now?
Mike i agree that the midsection tends to grow when the rest of the body grows… IMO this is not the question… the question is, should the judges start to reward more esthetic physique with smaller guts even if it's at the expense of a bit of mass, as Keith said, the ratio muscle mass/midsection was a lot better on the 70's and 80's physique…
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