It’s will be hard to argue if “The Gift” gets the nod, as he is showing improvements from 12 months ago. The same cannot be said of the defending title holder. Cutler appeared to be a little drier in 2010, but a day can make a big difference in bodybuilding. We will see tomorrow night.

Kai Greene, Dexter Jackson, Victor Martinez and Dennis Wolf were also in the first call-out and that should be the top six in no particular order. Greene is a little bloated but looks massive and he should be able to place third. The rest can be interchangeable.

On Saturday evening, we will find out if Cutler can win his fifth Sandow or become the first Olympia champion to be defeated on two separate occasions.

The figure competition is also on tap, where Nicole Wilkins-Lee and Erin Stern have chiseled out a great rivalry. Here is the full line-up:

FIGURE

Alea Suarez
Alicia Harris
Ann Titone
Ava Cowan
Candice Keene
Candice John
Chelsea Morgenstern
Cheryl Brown
Courtney West
Darlene Escano
Deena Walsh
Ella Horton
Erin Stern
Felicia Romero
Gennifer Strobo
Heather Dees
Holly Beck
Jami DeBernard
Jelena Abbou
Krissy Chin
Kristen Nagrani
Larissa Reis
Latisha Wilder
Michele Mayberry
Monica Specking
Natalie Waples
Nicole Wilkins
Raechelle Chase
Teresa Anthony

She has competed in four shows this year and has placed in the top six at each of them. LeFrancois has qualified for the Ms. Olympia and should not be overlooked by the deep line-up that will be present in Las Vegas. The Canadian comes in in top condition year in and year out and should have enough time between now and the middle of September to perfect her physique.

This was a bit of a surprise as LeFrancois finished out of the top three at the IFBB Toronto Pro Super Show only a week prior. But she apparently timed everything right and came in to the Sunshine State dried out and tight.

Now bodybuilding fans will have to wait and see what package LeFrancois will bring to the sport’s biggest stage. But the one thing that we do now for sure is that age is not a factor.

Last September, Greene had a bloated midsection and fell out of the top six. He then decided to not defend his Arnold title and use the New York Pro as a warm up for the Olympia. When asked by emcee Bob Cicherillo if he can in fact unseat Jay Cutler in Las Vegas, Greene was coy and joked with an ambiguous answer. “I’d like to thank my entire team,” he said with a laugh and a smile. But come September, this will be anything but funny.

Cutler has won four of the last five Olympias and will be a tough out. Phil Heath was a close second to Greene at the 2010 Arnold and gave his buddy Cutler a run for his money six months later. ‘The Gift’ is not going anywhere and has had a full year – like Cutler – to prepare for the O. Branch Warren won the Arnold and has finished in the top three two years in a row in Vegas.

What all of that means is that Greene will need to be in his best shape just to break into the top three. Sure, he can accomplish that but may need to wait until Cutler hangs up the posing trunks before adding a Sandow to his trophy case.

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To: All IFBB Professional League Male Bodybuilders

From: IFBB Professional League

Please be advised that the 202-lb and under category is changed to 212-lb and under. This change will take effect at the Sacramento Pro on November 5, 2011.

Short and to the point, but this can have a big effect on the future of not only the lighter class, but the men’s open, as well. Competitors that were on the bubble of making the 202 can now maintain a larger physique and still go head-to-head with the likes of Kevin English and David Henry. When Eduardo Correa and Seth Feroce both announced that they intended on moving up to the open class, it was a smart move by the IFBB to keep some of the popular names back in the 202/212.

This also opens the door for someone like Hidetada Yamagishi, who has done quite well for himself in the open but has a build that can dominate as a 212 competitor. Especially in the major shows on the calendar, Hide’s diminutive stature has worked against him. It may behoove him to consider this move.

The 202 and under will still be in effect at the Olympia, but the landscape will look a whole lot different come November.

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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

“My appetite was nothing,” Kyle said backstage afterwards. “I was eating probably (only) like two or three times a day. My training, I had to scale back a lot. Normally I’m obsessed with training  and was doing only two or three hours in the gym as opposed to four or five hours. It really played tricks on me.”

It was apparent during the pre-judging that Kyle was having difficulty but that didn’t hurt her with the judges. She did not lose any muscularity even with the issues she had to endure, although she did admit that she dropped some weight by not being able to take in as many calories as she usually does.

“I was second guessing myself…I’m not as full, not as tight, but overall the package was winning.”

Once again, Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia finished as the runner-up and appeared drier in the evening compared to the afternoon pre-judging. But that wasn’t enough for her to make up the ground she had lost, finishing 10 points behind Kyle.

A mild surprise with Alina Popa finishing third. The native of Switzerland did very well for herself by squeaking by Debi Laszewski, 34 points to 36. She also brings a more streamlined and symmetrical look that the sport needs to get back to and Kyle surprisingly agrees that this may be a sign of things to come.

“It has a lot to do with your shape and physique,” she said. “The X-factor is most important, not just muscle but condition. Some of the other ladies had better shapes. I think that’s the way it should always go. I was never into big size. I was more into condition and the X-factor.”

Betty Viana-Adkins and Cathy LeFrancois rounded out the top six. The rest of the line-up finished as follows: Jeannie Paparone (7), Tina Chandler (8), Dayana Cadeau (9), Maria Rita Bello (10), Maria Segura (11), Antoinette Thompson (12) and Sarah Hayes (13).

FITNESS INTERNATIONAL

“Chica’ does it again in the fitness category and more familiar names followed. Adela Garcia has become the standard in this division and Tanji Johnson (second) has made some great strides in closing the gap. Trish Warren was beaming backstage with her third place finish and heard her husband Branch cheering her on from the audience.

“I did,” she said with a smile. “I’m really happy with third place. I didn’t want to fall down from the Olympia. I knew that Tanji and Adela were going to come in strong. You have to knock out the champion to win and I’m happy and honored to be here.”

FIGURE INTERNATIONAL

Nicole Wilkins won another here in Columbus and was looking much better than her runner-up, Erin Stern. This sets up an interesting Olympia, where Stern bested Wilkins in 2010.

Ava Cowan took third and looked outstanding, as did Felicia Romero (fourth). Cheryl Brown and Courtney West placed fifth and sixth, respectively.

Kyle looked unbeatable from the rear, as usual. And her new hairstyle looks great. (Don’t want to sound like a sissy, but it does count for something with the women.) She did come in what was described as “a little under the weather” by MD’s Shawn Ray and it showed when she was on the side during the second call-outs. Kyle was being attended to by the show personnel and appeared to be dehydrating. Just goes to show you what a great champion she is.

The other three women in the first call-out were Debi Laszewski, Alina Popa and Betty Viana-Adkins. Laszewski looks as if she will either take third or even have a shot at the runner-up position if the judges agree that Oriquen-Garcia is off. Popa may be the surprise of the night and brings a much more streamlined look to the stage that is much needed in the sport. Viana-Adkins took a year off and that appears to have been the right move.

The finals will be here soon, so stay tuned with MSM, our Facebook and Twitter pages for updates and analysis.

The judges had this one nailed, with Centopani leading the way with 12 points and ‘The Blade’ 18. Abiad (34) barely held off Wolf (36), with Ben Pakulski and Ben White rounding out the top six.

For Centopani, he added this first place trophy to his 2009 New York Pro championship and now seems destined for great things in the sport of bodybuilding. He has timed everything right in his career and does not burn himself out with multiple contests. He picks and chooses his battles and it has apparently worked out well for the Connecticut native.

At 41, Jackson does not appear to be losing much and has been the antithesis of Centopani, competing in four or more shows a year throughout his illustrious career. He had three top six finishes a year ago (fourth at the Arnold Classic, second at the Australian Pro Grand Prix and fourth at the Mr. Olympia) and is on track to match or better that.

Abiad was last seen on the stage back at the 2009 Europa Super Show, where he finished fourth. The Canadian has yet to make a name for himself as a pro but this high placing may be just the type of springboard he needed. Abiad’s physique appeared wide and conditioned on his 6’2″ frame.

Written off after not placing at the 2009 Olympia, Wolf took fifth in Las Vegas last year and remained a force to be reckoned with in California. He may have to compete more than he would have liked to so he can qualify for the O, and next month at the Arnold may be his ticket out west. If not, perhaps the New York Pro may be his destination again.

Last March, Kyle somehow was able to prevail in the Ms. International (Arnold Classic), even though Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia came into Ohio looking absolutely stunning. Judging is not an exact science, but it did appear that Oriquen-Garcia was more defined than Kyle. By winning five of the last six Ms. I shows, Kyle has been a tough competitor to say the least. In 2008, she came in off due to suffering an injury and fell all the way to seventh. Oriquen-Garcia won her fourth Ms. I that year.

Heading into the Ms. Olympia, it appeared that it would be a two-woman race once again. “I’m coming in in really good condition,” Oriquen-Garcia said the day before the contest. “I did my best and I’m ready to win.” As far as peaking in March or now, she commented, “I think now is my time. Iris is a great athlete, but we have totally different lines. Let’s see what the judges are looking for this year.”

Kyle and Oriquen-Garcia stood should-to-shoulder holding hands on the stage awaiting the announcement of the winner. Kyle’s reaction seemed to be one of relief and exuberance when she heard her name called and Oriquen-Garcia appeared disappointed but showed good sportsmanship. She knows how it feels to be champion, as she did in 2005 when she won the O, and will have to wait another year for the opportunity. But at 44, the window of opportunity may be starting to close for her.

Oriquen-Garcia has already stated that she will be competing at the Ms. International in 2011 and Kyle surely will be defending her title, so both women will have a chance to do it all over again.

If the judges feel that Cutler has come into the show as good or better than he looked last September, then he will in all likelihood win his fourth Sandow trophy in five years. But Greene brings something extra to the table in showmanship and has become a fan favorite almost overnight. Prior to the 2009 Arnold, his name didn’t immediately conjure up thoughts of big wins, but the Brooklyn, New York native blew everyone away with a physique and posing routine that will go down in history as one of the most unique of all time.

At the 2009 Olympia, Greene did not look as sharp and took fourth in his first attempt at the Sandow. He obviously peaked earlier in the year and will try to use that to his advantage this time around. He knows what didn’t work then and will do his best to change that 12 months later.

Bodybuilding fans know that Greene will be be a force on stage. It depends on if the judges feel the same way.