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Jay Cutler managed to overcome a less-than-stellar performance at Friday night's prejudging to pick up his second consecutive Sandow statue along with $155,000 in prize money. Perhaps the most incredible part of this controversial win may have been the fact that second-place finisher, Victor Martinez, somehow left the prejudging arena trailing the champ by a measly two points. How Victor could have finished two points behind a soft and water-retentive Cutler is beyond my imagination. To make matters worse, at Saturday night's Mr. Olympia finals, Victor won Round 3 (the posing round) and seemed poised to upset the reigning champ. Once again, however, on this night, Victor would not emerge on top. Instead, the judges allowed Jay to hold on to his title for yet another year, setting up a 2008 rematch that should prove to be the most exciting yet.
While Victor's mass, shape and symmetry made him a crowd and media favorite, his conditioning was still not the ultra-shredded, dry-as-a-bone look that I know he's capable of. Perhaps the judges are holding Victor up to a higher standard in hopes that he will, one day, bring the "supreme" package we all know he's capable of to the Olympia stage.
Finishing in third place was Dexter Jackson. While Dexter may not be the tallest or the most muscular guy onstage, he always brings the tightest, driest package- and on this particular day, that enabled "The Blade" to cut through the great Ronnie Coleman and move up one spot from last year's fourth-place finish.
Eight-time Mr. Olympia, Ronnie Coleman, managed to snag fourth place despite several apparent injuries. While Ronnie's left lat was still significantly smaller than his right and one quad also looked to be damaged in a similar way, he still managed to come in dry and ripped. After his final posing routine on an Olympia stage, Ronnie gave a great speech, deferring all his happiness, great luck and success in bodybuilding to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. While Jesus may not have been enough to give Ronnie his ninth Sandow, he did instill a sense of peace and genuine happiness with the enthusiastic crowd.
Fifth place went to "The German Giant," Dennis Wolf, who in only his second appearance at the Mr. Olympia earned the right to come back next year. What's even more amazing is the fact that every fan in attendance seems to have WOLF FEVER! They just can't get enough of this guy and according to bodybuilding icon, Flex Wheeler: "One day, Dennis Wolf will be Mr. Olympia."
Rounding out the top six was a superbly conditioned Melvin Anthony, who silenced all the naysayers by overcoming a poor fourth-place finish at the Atlantic City Pro two weeks earlier. Melvin brought the best package he was capable of on this night and although he moved down a spot in the rankings, he finally established himself as a hard-hitting "regular" top-six placer.
Finishing seventh through 10th was Silvio Samuel (7th), Gustavo Badell (8th), Johnnie Jackson (9th) and David Henry (10th).
FULL
PHOTO GALLERY OF MENS FINALS AND PREJUDGING
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