2015 أرنولد مهرجان الرياضة : أرنولد كلاسيك
The Blade is back! After sitting out last year's Arnold Classic for just
the third time in the last 15 years, Dexter Jackson will vie for his
record fifth title against a talented field of top competitors. The
45-year-old Floridian, who won previously in '05, '06, '08, and '13, is
currently tied with Flex Wheeler for the most overall Arnold Classic
titles. But with $130,000 at stake—the sport's second-biggest payday—a
deep lineup of competitor will eagerly try to get in Dexter's way.
If you can't be among the 175,000 sports fan who make the trip to
Columbus, Ohio, to watch 18,000 athletes compete in 50 sports and events
on March 6-7, you can still see the live action right here on
Bodybuilding.com. Here's a preview of the 13 men who will step onstage
that weekend.
Lionel Beyeke
Lionel Beyeke
was the subject of controversy in another Arnold show, the Arnold
Brasil last year. Many fans and some experts thought he should've won
the show—Steve Kuclo did—while Lionel finished a disappointing fourth.
In fact he never found the winner's circle last year, so he is looking
for redemption to start the 2015 season.
Evan Centopani
Evan Centopani
placed fifth last year in Columbus, but chose to take a long offseason
to focus on improving his chest to match his powerful arms and
shoulders. Word is that he'll show up weighing as much as 270 pounds,
which would make him one of the bigger boys onstage. At age 32, he could
finally be ready to live up to his world-class potential.
Justin Compton
Justin Compton
hails from Kentucky and has made an impact since exploding on the scene
in 2012. He'll be making his Arnold Classic debut and has been focusing
on his lower body during the offseason, specifically calves and
hamstrings. He's already got a pro win under his belt, the IFBB Europa
Show of Champions in Orlando. I and many others see great things from
him just over the horizon.
Brandon Curry
Brandon Curry
slipped to eighth last year after finishing seventh the year prior, but
this former Arnold Classic Brasil champ is an excellent poser. He has
the potential to finish much higher, but after an up-and-down last few
years, it's hard to know what to expect.
Marius Dohne
Marius Dohne
competed in the Arnold Brasil, but this will be his Ohio debut. Hailing
from South Africa, he's a guy many people don't know, but he's capable
of winning a pro show, which he did in Tampa in 2012. If his legs match
his top-notch conditioning, the top six isn't out of the question.
Vitaly Fateev
Vitaly Fateev has picked a great place to make his pro debut! This big
Russian won the Arnold Europe Amateur show—with a perfect score. Vitaly
has big arms and good legs and could conceivably crack the top 10, a
good way to start his career.
Toney Freeman
Toney "The X-Man" Freeman
is the only guy in the lineup who is older than Dexter. At 48, this is
his 10th year competing at the Arnold Classic. At 6-foot-2 and near 280
pounds, there's no doubt he'll bring the overall size, V-taper, and big
legs that have made him a perennial contender. He finished ninth a year
ago here, but nabbed third as recently as 2013.
Dexter Jackson
Dexter "The Blade" Jackson
has shown no sign of letting down at 45 years old. Besides his four
Arnold Classic wins, he's one of only three men who can lay claim to
hold both the Arnold and Olympia titles in their career, along with
Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler. With a team that includes nutritionist
George Farah and legendary trainer Charles Glass, Dexter is almost
always in peak condition, which automatically means he'll be in
contention at the end. He finished fifth in the Olympia last year, and
nobody who finished ahead of him is in this field, so he must be
considered the favorite.
Michael Kefalianos
Michael Kefalianos
hails from Greece. He's never finished better than ninth, so he's got
some room to climb. His symmetry and his upper chest have held him back
thus far. Always highly conditioned, I see him battling for a spot in
the top 10.
Cedric McMillan
Cedric McMillan
is the X-factor in this competition. He finished sixth two years ago in
his Arnold Classic debut, then took third last year in a tight battle
with Shawn Rhoden and winner Dennis Wolf. This year, he hopes his
symmetry and posing will compete with Dexter while his 260-pound frame
holds off Evan and Justin.
Ben Pakulski
Ben "Pak-Man" Pakulski
is known for otherworldly leg development, which helped him stand out
at the Arnold Classic in 2013, where he finished second. His plans to
bring up the rest of his body backfired, as he slipped to seventh last
year and didn't compete anywhere else. His potential is undeniable, but
the question coming in for this Canadian is whether he's brought up his
upper body enough.
Branch Warren
Branch Warren
has never finished lower than fourth in the Arnold Classic, and he won
both of his previous appearances, in 2011 and 2012. I would expect
nothing worse than the top five, and if he brings his trademark grainy
conditioning, he could be in the mix for a top spot.
Roelly Winklaar
Roelly Winklaar,
aka "The Dutch Beast," was a top contender for the Arnold last year
before a motorcycle accident forced him to withdraw. He did manage to
win in Chicago and qualify for the Olympia, but his conditioning was off
and he finished out of the top 10. He's got one of the best pairs of
arms in the sport, along with great shoulders. He needs to be shredded
and improve on his posing to make a play for the top five in this field.
Predictions for the 2015 Arnold Classic
- Dexter Jackson
- Evan Centopani
- Justin Compton
- Cedric McMillan
- Branch Warren
What do you think? Will Dexter will take his fifth ASC title, or will
another bodybuilder take his turn at the top? Give us your favorites in
the comments below, and follow the action live on March 6-7 on
Bodybuilding.com.