Take your pick from defending champion Dexter Jackson, his predecessor Jay Cutler, Phil Heath, Victor Martinez, Kai Greene and Dennis Wolf. Just for shits and giggles, let’s add Branch Warren, Toney Freeman and Silvio Samuel. And let’s not forget the fact that Ronnie Coleman is still undecided if he is going to make a comeback or not.

From a strategic standpoint, the ‘bigger is better’ mantra looks to be en vogue with the recent guest posing appearances by Heath, Cutler, Jackson and Coleman. While Cutler and Coleman have always possessed the ‘freaky’ physique, Heath and Jackson’s look was of the more aesthetic kind. Both appear to have added a good amount of weight and depending on their diet, may come into the Orleans Arena looking much different than they have in the past.

Greene, who won the 2009 Arnold Classic, is not as big as some of his fellow competitors but is wide in the right places to give him the appearance of being much larger. Martinez may be the favorite going in if he has made the slight improvements needed since March, when he finished as the runner-up in Ohio. Recovering from his injury has taken him a little longer than expected.

Warren may be a huge fan favorite and deserved his third place award at the Arnold, but he may have to be content with a good placing in the two most prestigious contests in the world. Freeman is in the same boat, and Samuel may have competed too many times in the calendar year to stay in top condition in September.

That leaves Wolf, who was lucky to finish as high as he did last year. Fourth place is nothing to be ashamed of but he even admitted that his timing was way off and he made mistakes in his diet preparation at the end. He then had to sit out the Arnold due to hernia surgery and has stated that he is fully recovered and ready to go.

Because he has the size and height advantage of the majority of the line-up, Wolf needs to work with what he has and not try to bulk up too much. If he can get a little more symmetrical and get his arms to catch up to his massive delts, he has to be considered a top dog going in.

The huge Branch Warren is coming back from an injured triceps and has his sights set on winning the show that he has taken the Most Muscular award in. In his two previous Arnold Classic appearances, Warren has finished in second and fourth the last two years.

If posing held as much weight as it did 30 years ago, Kai Green would take the top spot without much competition. His crazy routines have become famous and if he is in top condition after hernia surgery, the rest of the pack better watch out.

Although these three men have been spoken about as favorites to win the contest, coming back after a long layoff will not be easy. Toney Freeman will look to prove that and if he has imporoved even slightly from his fifth place finish at the last Mr. Olympia, he must be taken seriously. The X-Man may be 43, but his size and condition have never been questioned. If he can come in proportioned, his chances will become much better. It will be a shock if Freeman does not crack the Top 3 and may even take the title. 

A few wild cards heading into Ohio are Silvio Samuel, Gustavo Badell and Dennis James. ‘El Matador’ won the Iron Man Pro just three short weeks ago and cannot be taken lightly. Badell finished in the Top 10 at the O, but needs to tighten up his bloated and wide look.

James is reported to be in fantastic shape and is always a threat to break the Top 6.

As for the entire year of 2008, Toney Freeman started out slow with an eighth place finish at the Ironman Pro Invitational and seventh at the Arnold Classic. He then finished fourth at the Australian Grand Prix before winning both the Tampa Bay Pro and Europa Super Show on his way to Las Vegas.

The upcoming Arnold will be a very important show for Freeman. The competitor list is loaded, so it will not be an easy task. Victor Martinez, Branch Warren and Kai Green will be making their return from injury, and that trio was not present at the Mr. O, possibly helping Freeman place as high as he did. Also coming to Columbus, Ohio in March will be Gustavo Badell, Moe El Moussawi, Silvio Samuel, and six others.

As the years pass, it may only be a matter of time before they catch up with Freeman. Not everyone can be an Albert Beckles, who competed until he was 62 years of age.

What Freeman has going for him is his 6’2″ and nearly 300 pound frame. He was a presence on the stage at the Olympia and his deltoids were amazing. He will have to deal with a list of men who are all qualified to take home the title, especially the three who had to sit out in September.

If Freeman does not place high, it may spell the beginning of the end for him.

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

Heading into the 2008 Mr. Olympia contest, the one name being tossed around as a wild card was Phil Heath. The man known as the Gift was making his first appearance on the Olympia stage, but has had a very productive year. Winning the IFBB Iron Man and finishing second to Dexter Jackson at the Arnold Classic had the 28 year-old in line for a good finish in Las Vegas.

Two days before the Olympia, Heath remained humble about his chances. “Any time that you have the opportunity to be mentioned like that, it is a privilege,” he said. “Especially being a rookie, with the build up, to be in my position (being picked as) in the top six going in, for me, it’s an honor and a privilege.”

Sneaking into the top six became more likely once three solid competitors had to drop out due to injuries, including the runner-up last year, Victor Martinez. Although he acknowledged their capabilities, Heath felt confident enough to believe that he would finish high either way.

“I did beat Branch (Warren),” he said. “I did beat Kai (Green) this year already. It definitely makes it a more competitive battle. They’ll be terribly missed. I think they would have definitely changed the outcome.”

As Bob Cicherillo introduced Heath at the after party, he made a short statement that seemed to sound like a prediction. “Phil Heath will win this thing before too long.”

Finishing in the second runner-up position on his first attempt, that seems to be a good possibility.