Johnnie Jackson, who placed seventh in Ohio, finished as Wolf’s runner-up in the Land Down Under and home town favorite Michael Kefalianos took third. Ben Pakulski barely made the top 10 at the Arnold and finished fourth here. The rest of the placings were as follows: Grigori Atoyan (5), Adorthus Cherry (6), Darryn Onekawa (7), Luke Timms (8), Varinder Singh (9) and Daniel Hill (10).

This was a very important victory for Wolf, who competed for the third time in the young calendar year. He will certainly be a factor t the Mr. Olympia again this September and has improved in each show since the FLEX Pro, where he placed third.

Also included in that was another Most Muscular Award for Warren and he brought a package to the stage that was his best. Not only did he look hard and dry, but Warren was proportioned from his traps to his calves.

Dennis Wolf continued his amazing upward trend by placing second and appeared even tighter than he did at last year’s Olympia. A mild surprise with third place came when Victor Martinez (a past winner of the Arnold but who has been slightly off the past few years due to injury and personal tragedy) heard Evan Centopani’s name called out for fourth place. The youngster from Connecticut appeared headed for the top three at pre-judging but the Dominican Dominator did come in sharp.

Another former winner in Ohio placed fifth, as Dexter Jackson’s smaller physique was symmetrical enough to keep him in the top six. Ronny Rockel rounded out the group and looked impressive, as usual. He probably deserved better, but no one can deny the German’s physique – diminutive or not.

Johnnie Jackson came in looking better than he has in a while and placed seventh, the spot that Roelly Winklaar (eighth) found himself in last March. Toney Freeman and Ben Pakulski also made the top 10.

Another person receiving a warm welcome was Evan Centopani, who is competing in only his third pro show and first Arnold. He recently won the FLEX Pro and still appears sharp, but Dennis Wolf (who placed fourth at the FLEX) looks to have better conditioning here than he did in California, and that may be enough to get him past the young Centopani.

Dexter Jackson looks smaller than he has in the past but still is in great shape. Victor Martinez looks much better than he did at the 2010 Mr. Olympia but is not as hard as he used to be. Ronny Rockel looks really good as usual but once again it appears his diminutive stature will work against him when faced with such a big line-up. He deserves better.

Roelly Winklaar looks good, but not in the top six. Johnnie Jackson appears thick and hard. Toney Freeman doesn’t look as good as he did in September.

This is the way we see it turning out with pre-judging behind us:

1 – Branch Warren

2 – Dennis Wolf

3 – Evan Centopani

4 – Victor Martinez

5 – Ronny Rockel

6 – Dexter Jackson

We feel that Rockel is much better than both Victor and Dexter, but he will probably not get the nod over the larger Dominican Dominator.

Shortly after that, he was inked to a contract by Muscular Development magazine and graced the cover of their next issue. The buzz was surrounding Winklaar as he prepared for the New York Pro. This would be a good test for him against a quality line-up, but not one that he couldn’t hang with if he came to the Big Apple in top condition.

The likes of Toney Freeman, Hidetada Yamagishi, Dennis Wolf, Johnnie Jackson and Sergey Shelestov would be staring Winklaar in the face and he gladly accepted the challenge. Although these men had years of high end show experience at their disposal, the new guy in town didn’t blink.

Winklaar, who finished with 10 points, earned his first pro win, beating out Yamagishi (24) and Wolf (30) by a wide margin on the judge’s scorecards. This sets him up for the biggest decision of his young career – does he take the stage in Las Vegas this September or take time off for a potentially huge 2011?

It would obviously be difficult to peak more than once or twice in a calendar year and Winklaar has already done that. Does he want to come into his maiden Olympia not in his best shape? That’s a decision he needs to make. The experience of standing on that stage is enticing and may be invaluable, regardless of where he places.

We will find out soon enough what he intends to do, but the O will be a better show with the addition of Winklaar.

MEN’S 202

1 – Kevin English

2 – Jose Raymond

3 – Jason Arntz

WOMEN’S BODYBUILDING

1 – Cathy LeFrancois

2 – Sheila Black

3 – Heather Foster

BIKINI

1 – Missy Coles

2 – Shelsea Montes

3 – Sherlyn Roy

These are all things going through their minds and they had only a few hours before the evening Finals would commence. But most of these men had been through it all before. But this was was Roelly Winklaar’s first professional show, let alone the 2010 Arnold Classic.

The Netherlands resident did not appear satisfied afterwards but remained positive. “I feel good,” he said. “I did my best.” Winklaar made the second call-out and for a rookie, that was quite an accomplishment in itself in a line-up as deep as this one was. “If I don’t make the top six, I’ll try again,” he said.

After the introductions and individual posing routines, six men remained in their posing trunks while the rest packed up. Winklaar joined his trainer Sibilla Peeters in the audience and when asked, said that he had no idea where he had placed at that time. His mood may have been brighter if he knew that he did in fact finish seventh, ahead of Hidetada Yamagishi, Melvin Anthony, Robert Piotrkowicz, Tarek Elsetouhi, Johnnie Jackson and Sergey Shelestov.

A week later at the Australian Pro, Winklaar qualified for the Mr. Olympia by taking third place. And just recently, he was signed by Muscular Development magazine and appears on the cover of their upcoming issue.

Things are certainly looking up for Winklaar and even if he decides not to compete again right away, his future looks very bright, indeed.

Co-producer Jim Lorimer said in a statement that this year’s contestants will “astonish fans” with an outstanding show of talent and muscular physiques.

Iris Kyle will also be defending her title at the Ms. International and will have to look over her shoulder for Heather Armbrust, who finished fourth last year but second at the Ms. Olympia. Other prominent names are Debi Laszewski, Yaxeni Oriquen Garcia and Lisa Aukland. Keep your eye on Dena Westerfield, who finished a very respectable ninth last March in Columbus.

Jennifer Hendershott returns as the Figure International champ but a new Figure International winner will be named. Zivile Raudoniene stood in the winner’s circle in 2009 but left the sport shortly thereafter, reportedly to join Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Entertainment. Looking to jump in and take advantage will be Nicole Wilkins-Lee, who won the Figure Olympia.

A noted omission is Gina Alioitti, the 2008 champion, who has decided to sit this one out. According to a press release from Fitness Management Group, the 2009 runner-up at the Arnold and Olympia is undecided about her plans for the upcoming year. The 25-year-old California resident is not retiring but will be using this time to concentrate on her many business outlets, including her one-on-one coaching of her team of athletes for NPC competitors, her clothing line, recipe book and many others.

For more information, visit the show’s official website, www.arnoldsportsfestival.com.

22^nd Annual Arnold Classic

I.F.B.B. Competitors

March 5-7, 2010

Fouad Abiad, who placed second in Tampa, dropped to fourth. Other disappointments were Edward Nunn (seventh), Leo Ingram (ninth) and Johnnie Jackson (13th).

It is rare that everyone agrees with the judges in a bodybuilding contest and the two-day event at the Dallas Convention Center was certainly no exception. Following the prejudging, it appeared that James and Stubbs would be battling it out for the crown. James appeared sharper than when he won in Tampa and Stubbs, hoping for a career-best finish, had to feel confident going into the finals.

Wilmore snuck into the top three by the evening and qualified for his second Mr. Olympia. Stubbs, if he chooses to compete, will be making his first trip to Vegas. Abiad previously qualified with his Tampa finish.

After going eight years without a professional win, James won the 2001 Hungarian Grand Prix. Now he has two stateside this summer alone. He finished eighth in the 2009 Olympia and another top 10 finish in bodybuilding’s deepest and most prestigious show of the year would be quite an accomplishment for the 40-year-old. Although he may look better than he did a year ago, DJ will also be facing some quality names that missed out the last time around due to injury.

Kai Greene, Branch Warren and Victor Martinez will join an already stacked line-up that includes defending champion Dexter Jackson, Jay Cutler, Phil Heath and Dennis Wolf. For James to defeat any of those favorites, it will be very difficult. He may have peaked now and to go through another contest preparation in five weeks may be too  much to ask for, especially someone entering their fourth decade.

EUROPA SUPER SHOW RESULTS

1 – Dennis James

2 – Bill Wilmore

3 – Joel Stubbs

4 – Fouad Abiad

5 – Robert Piotrkowitz

6 – Ben White

7 – Edward Nunn

8 – Tarek Elsetouhl

9- Leo Ingram

10 – Alfonso Del Rio

11 – Grigori Abyan

12 – Marcus Haley

13 – Johnnie Jackson

14 – DeShaun Grimez

15 – Lionel Brown

A loaded line-up including some of the biggest names in bodybuilding grace the 2009 Arnold Classic. The most interesting ones are returning from various injuries and had to sit out the 2008 Mr. Olympia. Names like Victor Martinez, Kai Green and Branch Warren will be back on stage and ready to go and all three should be viewed as favorites going in.

Toney Freeman, who finished fifth at the O, should also finish high. Dennis Wolf, who had announced immediately after the Mr. O contest that he would compete at the Arnold, had to drop out following hernia surgery.

The official line-up for the 2009 Arnold Classic is:

Gustavo Badell
Moe El Moussawi
Toney Freeman
Kai Green
Ahmad Haider
Marcus Haley
Johnnie Jackson
Dennis James
Victor Martinez
Ronny Rockel
Silvio Samuel
Sergey Shelestov

Business is business. The cold, harsh reality is that Dexter Jackson is not the type of person that makes someone grab a magazine off the newsstand and plunk down their $4.00 or more for it. No offense towards the newly-crowned Mr. Olympia, but he was basically not controversial enough to warrant any good (or bad, depending on which way you’re looking at it) press. Thus, he didn’t warrant any covers in the world of bodybuilding magazines.

For right or wrong, Jackson is too ‘vanilla’ and this industry survives and strives by the ‘wow’ factor, which Jackson doesn’t bring. Is he a champion bodybuilder that deserves cover features? Absolutely, but a publisher has to look at the bottom line. The main selling point of print industry is the cover and headline. Why do you think piece of shit rags like the New York Post and the National Enquirer have made such an impact?

Jay Cutler brought an air of controversy with him due to the blocky look that attracted so much criticism. Was he a great champion? That is debatable, but he was and still is a face and body that sells. Like him or not, Cutler’s popularity cannot be disputed.

Perusing the newsstand shelves and the covers of the latest bodybuilding mags, ‘Muscular Development’ has Dennis Wolf; ‘Flex’ gives us a UFC-theme with Randy Couture and Brock Lesnar; ‘Muscle & Fitness’ stayed in the octagon with Frank Mir; ‘Iron Man’ has a faceless bodybuilder and ‘MuscleMag International’ shows Johnnie Jackson with a sub-heading of “Who Got Robbed at the Mr. Olympia?” Interesting indeed.

As far as Wolf is concerned, he may be the most overrated bodybuilder of today’s era. Because so many people try to compare him to Arnold, he receives a hell of a lot of attention that he really doesn’t deserve. Jackson is a decent guy, but an odd choice for a cover and not one that would make a difference as far as star power is concerned. Oddly enough, his name doesn’t even appear on the cover. The UFC angle is something that is a good cross-over market, but to have not one, but two publications from the same company go in that direction is a bit odd. There must be more to the story or at least some type of agreement in place.

So, there are many reasons why our new Mr. O is getting pushed to the back pages of even his own industry publications. And that is a shame, indeed.