Predictions for the Mr. Olympia 2014!

[Primal]

Kai with perfect condition is simply more spectacular standing next to Phil.Perfect condition and Kai wins.

Ah ok! What did you think about Kai in 2012 then cog? Arguably his closest to having the title, if I remember correctly I think he was only 1 point away and it was a close battle between the two.

Prae, what do you think separates Ramy from the rest of the pack? What weaknesses can you see on Kai that Ramy and Phil can easily beat him out?

-Primal

[steve_d]

Kai just doesn't have the aesthetics. As others have mentioned, his shape doesn't look pleasing. It's not his conditioning. If he and phil are in great condition, phil wins. If phil is slightly off, he still wins. Big Ramy is the only person who has a chance - however big ramy will be way off and come out of the top 3 most likely. This is why I said there is only one person who has a chance to beat phil, and that's ramy. But Ramy will likely fall short conditioning wise.

Phil and Ramy just look more human (if that makes sense?). Round muscle bellies, etc. With Phil being at his best, he will never lose until Ramy unleashes his potential to then be the best. In all likelihood Phil will not lose this year or any year to anyone but Ramy when he comes fully equipped for battle. Everyone else can be fully equipped, but still lose.

[Praetorian]

Ah ok! What did you think about Kai in 2012 then cog? Arguably his closest to having the title, if I remember correctly I think he was only 1 point away and it was a close battle between the two.

Prae, what do you think separates Ramy from the rest of the pack? What weaknesses can you see on Kai that Ramy and Phil can easily beat him out?

-Primal

Ramy will win when h brings freaky conditioning to the stage...ie shredded, full, dry, and hard as nails...until then its all Phil.

Ramy has the goods to do it but the question is will he go far enough down that road.

P

[cog]

Kai just doesn't have the aesthetics. As others have mentioned, his shape doesn't look pleasing. It's not his conditioning. If he and phil are in great condition, phil wins. If phil is slightly off, he still wins. Big Ramy is the only person who has a chance - however big ramy will be way off and come out of the top 3 most likely. This is why I said there is only one person who has a chance to beat phil, and that's ramy. But Ramy will likely fall short conditioning wise.

Phil and Ramy just look more human (if that makes sense?). Round muscle bellies, etc. With Phil being at his best, he will never lose until Ramy unleashes his potential to then be the best. In all likelihood Phil will not lose this year or any year to anyone but Ramy when he comes fully equipped for battle. Everyone else can be fully equipped, but still lose.

Phil reminds me of Shawn Ray at times,near perfect....but too nice.People still want a freak show... The presence Wolf projects when he begins his routine, the hardness,same with Kai.... Short clavicles and not looking hard enough ...and the lower abdomen last year are reasons I don't think Phil should repeat,but you being a judge might see things differently.

[Primal]

Kai just doesn't have the aesthetics. As others have mentioned, his shape doesn't look pleasing. It's not his conditioning. If he and phil are in great condition, phil wins. If phil is slightly off, he still wins. Big Ramy is the only person who has a chance - however big ramy will be way off and come out of the top 3 most likely. This is why I said there is only one person who has a chance to beat phil, and that's ramy. But Ramy will likely fall short conditioning wise.

Phil and Ramy just look more human (if that makes sense?). Round muscle bellies, etc. With Phil being at his best, he will never lose until Ramy unleashes his potential to then be the best. In all likelihood Phil will not lose this year or any year to anyone but Ramy when he comes fully equipped for battle. Everyone else can be fully equipped, but still lose.

Oh ok, I see what you're getting at Steve, you just don't like how Kai is genetically built. That's fair, everyone has their tastes. I for example never did like Ronnie Coleman. His structure always bugged me and so did his stomach...

Now that everybody agrees that Phil is bound to win this year, where do you think everyone else will fall? Who do you think will make it into the top 10? What placings do you think they will have? Does anyone think Branch will be able to maintain his top 10 spot? Heard there are a lot of newcomers this year.

-Primal

[steve_d]

Not really saying I don't like Kai - He has some freaky parts, and in some poses I like him better than anyone. However his flaws are not just minor flaws, it throws it off quite a bit, and a judge will be put off by it. It's tough to judge and usually the way its done is backwards - ie, you start eliminating people from the mix. Once its down to say phil and Kai, its easier to say kai doesn't win, then it is to say phil doesn't win. Many people love Kai, he's got a big fan base - and those people as cog mentions like freaks. Yes, people still like freaks, however those fans aren't the judges. The ifbb still has their own criteria, and that criteria isn't looking for mutants. Kai looks seriously like he's not from this planet. That can be a good thing, or a great thing depending who you are. If you're a judge, it's a good thing, but not a great thing - and it's the reason he's always in the mix but never on top.

Branch might maintain top 10, likely he will, but I don't think he deserves it. Unless he looks like he did at the arnold when he won. But I don't see him looking that good again. I'd like to see Dexter in the top 5. Wolf, rhoden and kai as well. Really, its anyone's game. Victor will probably be in the mix, and Ramy if he's lean should be in a top 6 position. It all comes down to who's lean. Once again, it looks like anyone's game from 2nd or 3rd all to way to 10th.

[Praetorian]

Yep much easier to do the elimination process and when anyone stands next to Phil your weak points become quite glaring. My top three picks in no particular order if they come in diced are Ramy, Phil, and Rhoden...all these guys are just plain gifted beyond gifted. Kai I would put fourth and Wolf fifth.

P

[Primal]

Not really saying I don't like Kai - He has some freaky parts, and in some poses I like him better than anyone. However his flaws are not just minor flaws, it throws it off quite a bit, and a judge will be put off by it. It's tough to judge and usually the way its done is backwards - ie, you start eliminating people from the mix. Once its down to say phil and Kai, its easier to say kai doesn't win, then it is to say phil doesn't win. Many people love Kai, he's got a big fan base - and those people as cog mentions like freaks. Yes, people still like freaks, however those fans aren't the judges. The ifbb still has their own criteria, and that criteria isn't looking for mutants. Kai looks seriously like he's not from this planet. That can be a good thing, or a great thing depending who you are. If you're a judge, it's a good thing, but not a great thing - and it's the reason he's always in the mix but never on top.

Branch might maintain top 10, likely he will, but I don't think he deserves it. Unless he looks like he did at the arnold when he won. But I don't see him looking that good again. I'd like to see Dexter in the top 5. Wolf, rhoden and kai as well. Really, its anyone's game. Victor will probably be in the mix, and Ramy if he's lean should be in a top 6 position. It all comes down to who's lean. Once again, it looks like anyone's game from 2nd or 3rd all to way to 10th.

Wow, really good breakdown of Kai! It's pretty cool hearing it from a judge standpoint.

Hmm, good picks Prae, I'd love to see Rhoden be in the top 3. I think he has an amazing physique! I'd love to see Ramy come in great condition, it'd be awesome to see how he would stand against Phil when they are both at their best!

-Primal

[cog]

[url]http://ca.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?hspart=ddc&hsimp=yhs-ddc-bd&p=Denis+ Wolf+and+Phil+ Heath&type=124_alt_ddc_dss_bd_com

Go through a few till you find the off stage group shot where Wolf has no tanning spray on.

[cog]

http://www.musculardevelopment.com/n...l#.VA_FXGctDKI