When asked if this was his most difficult win, English barely hesitated when he replied, “Definitely. I was just glad that I persevered.”

Without David Henry in the line-up due to military duty, English stared down James “Flex” Lewis and Jose Raymond and successfully defended the 202 Showdown title. The differences between this year and the previous ones were obvious and English acknowledged as much.

“Each year istotally  different, but you can never measure the heart of a champion,” he said. “Most of the competitors in my division are all champions in their own right. They have already won pro shows. So I always give everyone the same respect. You can never look passed anyone.”

Lewis finished as the runner-up and bested Raymond (third) after losing to him at the New York Pro. Jaroslav Horvath took fourth place in his final competition before retirement, Shaun-Joseph Tavernier placed fifth and Jason Arntz dropped one spot from last year but still came in looking good enough for the top six.

Seven through 10 were as follows: Stan McQuay, “Tricky” Jackson, Allan Auguste and Marvin Ward.

“I’m actually happy right now,” Cutler said with a smile as he congratulated Heath on the win.

Overcome with emotion, Heath reveled in being congratulated by the other nine finalists and then brought up a story when he first met Cutler backstage at a local bodybuilding show. “I was playing college basketball back then…all scrawny and I saw (Cutler) walk by and I thought to myself, ‘That’s one big dude,’” recalled Heath.

Heath becomes the 13th man to win the Sandow and prevented Cutler from joining an elite group with five or more titles (Lee Haney, Dorian Yates, Ron Coleman).

Rounding out the top 10 were Kai Greene, Victor Martinez, Dennis Wolf, Dexter Jackson, Toney Freeman, Brandon Curry, Ronny Rockel and Hidetada Yamagishi.

Nicole Wilkins reclaimed the Figure Olympia title she lost to Erin Stern in 2010, with Stern taking the runner-up spot and Ava Cowan placing third.

OFFICIAL RESULTS – MEN’S OPEN

In the fitness category, Adela Garcia defended her title successfully, holding off Tanji Johnson.

Sonia Gonzalez dropped from being the first Bikini Olympia champion a year ago to fifth place, as 2011 Ms. Bikini International Nicole Nagrani, 19, was named the winner.

In women’s bodybuilding, Dayana Cadeau and Mah-Ann Mendoza both competed for the last time. Both are veterans of the sport and will be missed.

FINAL PLACINGS

WOMEN’S BODYBUILDING

1. Iris Kyle
2. Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia
3. Brigita Brezovac
4. Debi Laszewski
5. Alina Popa
6. Sheila Bleck
7. Kim Perez
8. Nicole Ball
9. Monique Jones
10. Tina Chandler
11. Kim Buck
12. Heather Foster
13. Cathy LeFrancois
14. Halle Nielsen
15. Skadi Frei-Seifert
16. Dayana Cadeau
17. Mah-Ann Mendoza

FITNESS

1. Adela Garcia
2. Tanji Johnson
3. Myriam Capes
4. Tina Durkin
5. Oksana Grishina
6. Michelle Blank
7. Bethany Cisternino
8. Jodi Boam
9. Camala Rodriguez
10. Nicole Duncan
11. Diana Paula-Monteiro
12. Regiane Da Silva
13. Kizzy Vaines

BIKINI

1. Nicole Nagrani
2. Nathalia Melo
3. Dianna Dahlgren
4. Jaime Baird
5. Sonia Gonzales
6. India Paulino
7. Alison Rosen
8. Juliana Daniell
9. Abigail Burrows
10. Justine Munro
11. Diana Graham
12. Natalie Pennington
13. Christina Vargas
14. Vanessa Prebyl
15. Cristina Vujnich
16. Barbara Bolotte
16. Candyce Graham
16. Cristy Mendivil
16. Dina Al-Sabah
16. Jennifer Drennan
16. Jennifer Andrews
16. Jessica Jessie
16. Kelly Gonzalez
16. Marisa Lee
16. Missy Coles
16. Nathalie Mur
16. Shelsea Montes
16. Vanessa Campbell

“I’m excited that I found someone that believed in me,” he said last September. “I truly feel that I can get into the top 10.”

Although he did not fare as well as he liked at the O (15th), Alves was still on the map and a threat against a line-up that didn’t include the Jay Cutlers and Phil Heaths of the world. He proved that he still has what it takes by winning July’s Europa Show of Champions and tasted victory again this past weekend at the Phoenix Pro.

Alves, 43, was able to hold off a top-heavy line-up that included Hidetada Yamagishi (second), Ed Nunn (third) and Marcus Haley (fourth) and celebrate a key win in his home town.

After turning pro in 2002, Alves has competed in multiple shows each year. In 2003, he donned the posing trunks on 10 separate occasions and although he hasn’t kept that pace up, Alves is a regular at all of the top IFBB contests. In his rookie campaign, he finished in the top 10 at both the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia.

Now the real test comes for Alves to see if he can maintain the proper conditioning to have an impact in Las Vegas in two weeks. He has proven that he can rise to the top in that second tier-level contest, but he’ll need something extra to do that at The Orleans Arena.

TROY ALVES CONTEST HISTORY

‘The Predator’ fell from fourth place in his inaugural Olympia the year before to a disappointing seventh and the two-time Arnold Classic champion took a beating from the critics. In their defense, the Brooklyn, New York native did come in out of shape and had a distended midsection that was noticeable by everyone, including the judges.

Greene sat out this year’s Arnold – a strange decision but one that makes sense in some ways – to concentrate on the O. He seemed to peak earlier in the year since 2009 at the Arnold but now has changed his strategy to get it together six months later. If he knows that he has one shot every 12 months to do some damage, then it would seem wise to move up and go after the big prize.

having already dominated in Columbus, Greene’s career will be completed with at least one Olympia win. But that seemed as unlikely as Barry Bonds eventually being inducted into the Hall of Fame last September. Perhaps the best thing that could have happened to Greene was the shock of a bad showing on bodybuilding’s biggest stage.

There is a lot of pressure on him as far as quieting the critics and putting himself back on the map. Greene’s name has hardly been mentioned and no one is expecting him to be a factor at the Orleans Arena. But he can pull off a stunner and break into the top three by putting together a presentation like the one in Ohio the night he won his first Arnold.

The line-up for the O is stacked with Cutler, Phil Heath, Dennis Wolf, Branch Warren, Ronny Rockel and so many others, so Greene has his work cut out for him. His work ethic has come into question but that would seem ridiculous when you see Greene at his best. He has arguably the best back in the sport and brings a flair that is unmatched to the stage. Greene needs at least a top six placing to get back into the pack but anyone who counts him out of the top three this early has obviously forgotten how much of a difference he made not too long ago.

KAI GREENE’S CONTEST HISTORY

2005 New York Pro – 14th

2006 Iron Man Pro – NP

2006 a Ray Colorado Pro – 14th

2007 New York Pro – 6th

2007 Keystone Pro – 3rd

2007 Colorado Pro – 1st

2008 Arnold Classic – 3rd

2008 New York Pro – 1st

2009 Arnold Classic – 1st

2009 Australian Pro Grand Prix – 1st

2009 Mr. Olympia – 4th

2010 Arnold Classic – 1st

2010 Australian Pro Grand Prix – 1st

2010 Mr. Olympia – 7th

Rockel has brought an incredible proportioned physique to the stage but had been stuck below the top three. His diminutive stature was the obvious reason why he would hear his name called after the likes of Branch Warren, Jay Cutler, Dennis Wolf and Phil Heath but that is something out of his control.

Rockel stuck to his game plan and it was a general consensus within the industry that he finally received his due. Now the question arises is how he can springboard the victory into a better placing in September at the Orleans Arena.

The line-up will be tough, as usual, but even more so now that Warren can come in flexing his first Arnold win. After finishing second and third, respectively, at the 2009 and 2010 Olympias, ‘Quadrasaurus’ is more than just a mere threat to Cutler’s reign. Speaking of the two-time defending champion, he will need to be knocked out to be dethroned and that doesn’t seem likely. Cutler learned from his mistakes in 2008 when Dexter Jackson swiped the Sandow from him and he has been in top condition ever since.

Last year, Heath took the stage looking amazing but still couldn’t defeat his close friend Cutler. ‘The Gift’ bowed out of the Arnold to concentrate on the Olympia and will need every advantage just to be the runner-up again. The ‘Big Bad Wolf’ has been on a tear since the last O and will be a tough out and Kai Greene will slip under the radar after a poor showing in Las Vegas. That may play right into his hands and ‘The Predator’ cannot be overlooked as a possible top six finisher.

So even though ‘The Rock’ can come into bodybuilding’s most prestigious show on a high note, he will have to peak again just to stand pat.

2011 IFBB Mr. Europe rand Prix Results:

1 – Ronny Rockel

2 – Roelly Winklaar

3 – Flex Lewis

4 – Robert Priotrkowitz

5 – Toney Freeman

6 – Essa Obiad

7 – Sergey Shelestov

8 – Thomas Bengali

9 – Alvin Small

10 – Marcos Chacon

If the call-outs are any indication, it will be English and Henry standing together again waiting for the official announcement tonight at The Orleans Arena to see who will take the 202. Jose Raymond and Eduardo Correa also came to play and that should be your top four. Jason Arntz showed some true emotion when he was named in the initial call-out and came here dry as the Sahara desert. Tricky Jacskon and Roc Shabazz will also be in the mix for the top six.

OLYMPIA 202 SHOWDOWN COMPETITORS

1 – Ahmad Ahmad

2 – Jason Arntz

3 – Eduardo Correa

4 – Kevin English

5 – Daryl Gee

6 – David Henry

7 – Jaroslav Horvath

8 – Ricky “Tricky” Jckson

9 – Stan McQuay

10- Luc Molines

11 – Steve Namat

12 – Bola Ojex

13 – Jose Raymond

14 – Roc Shabazz

15 – Mike Valentino

In the men’s open pre-judging, it appears to be Jay Cutler again. The local boy received the loudest ovation from the crowd and he appears even more conditioned than last year. Phil Heath is still very young so he will have his day, but for now ‘The Gift’ will have to be content with the runner-up position. Branch Warren, who took second last September, was on point and could very well finish there again, but he should be top 3 either way. 2008 Mr. Olympia Dexter Jackson seems to be in  the fourth position, going by the call-outs. Then it gets really interesting…

Ronny Rockell – who we have been touting as a top 6 competitor since the Arnold – may make us look smart tomorrow evening. The German looked fantastic and was part of the top call-outs. Then the biggest surprise of the night heard his name in the second call-out. Dennis Wolf, who did not even place a year ago, appears much more drier then he has recently and may creep into the top 6. Timing is everything and even when we interviewed Big Bad Wolf last night at the “Meet The Olympians” he had that bloated look and appeared to be carrying too much fluids. He told us that he prepared for this show by himself without the help of a guru or a nutritionist and the results speak for themselves.

Some disappointments were Kai Greene and Victor Martinez. Both did not look as good as they did last time on this same stage and Charles Glass, Greene’s former trainer, was heard afterwards saying that he felt sorry for him.

A few of the IFBB officials were saying that many of the competitors were dehydrating backstage. The competition is so tight that is understandable.

MuscleSport Mag’s Top 6 Prediction:

1 – Jay Cutler

2 – Phil Heath

3 – Branch Warren

4 – Dexter Jackson

5 – Dennis Wolf

6 – Ronny Rockel

Speaking of the defending champion, Cutler looks amazing. He should be able to retain the Sandow. Kai Greene was all covered up in his infamous hoodie, so we will have to wait and see until tomorrow. The majority of the pros were wearing a tight t-shirt or sleeveless shirt, so you can get a glimpse of what’s to come.

Phil Heath, Branch Warren and Victor Martinez looked good, but Dennis Wolf appears off again. Anything can change between now and then, but he still has that bloated look that has been his downfall of late.

In the 202, Kevin English looks amazing and will once again take that award back to Long Island. With the women, don’t take your eyes off Debi Lazewski. She sounded totally confident and looked sharp.

Here’s a few video clips and interviews to kick things off. It’s getting late and I’ve been up for over 22 hours between traveling and working. I’ve been in Las Vegas since the afternoon and I haven’t lost a dollar yet. I haven’t won anything, either. Time to go downstairs to the roulette wheel and change that…

;

Starting with ‘Meet the Olympians’ on Thursday evening, to the finals on both Friday and Saturday, up to the after party, The Orleans will be the place to be. An added plus is that many of the competitors also stay here, so we will be bringing you some behind the scenes material, as well, as we run into the men and women who will be on the big stage.

Photo by Francisco Pillari

No rest for the weary, as we will be spending the daytime hours at the Expo promoting MSM and grabbing some pros for interviews that will become segments on MuscleSport TV. Be sure to check our website frequently throughout the big weekend for the latest news and articles and brand new episodes of MuscleSport TV.

BE ON MUSCLE SPORT TV!!!

Here is your chance – the bodybuilding fan – to be seen and heard. Find us all weekend long to be filmed for MuscleSport TV giving your predictions, reactions, etc. We’ll be at The Orleans, Expo, Meet the Olympians, Finals, After Party, etc.

Be sure to come up to us and say hello! We want your opinion!