Written by Peter McGough
08 January 2016

16teammd-2016predictions

Team MD's Predictions for 2016

Let Us Know Yours!

 

Making predictions is like urinating off the edge of a cliff: Your efforts may return to haunt you. With such comebacks in mind, Team MD makes their predictions for 2016. Let us know what your predictions are, and what you think of our crystal ball gazing efforts.

DAVID BAYE PREDICTS

1) Justin Compton establishes himself as a true Olympia contender. While he locked down a third place finish at the 2015 Arnold Classic, showing that he's got what it takes to be a real threat, I think we will see him standing with Kai Greene in a final two-person callout at this year’s Arnold. And win or not, he will push Kai and prove beyond a doubt he can hang with the best.

predictions-compton

2) Cody Montgomery Proves he's got a future in the IFBB. We've all seen it happen more times than we can count, people turn pro at a young age and we never see them realize their full potential or the progress stops all together. Although I don't think he'll be a top contender at the Arnold Classic, he'll prove he can hang and he'll move forward to do some big things at other shows in 2016.

3) NPC National Bodybuilding continues to prove that we still have some superstars in the making. For a few years, the quality of the NPC National level shows was in question. Between the USA's, North Americans and Nationals, amateur bodybuilders, both young and old, proved that they are starting to realize that conditioning is king and we're getting back to seeing some real quality coming out of the NPC.

4) Dexter to continues to be...well...Dexter. In his 46th year you'd think he would've showed some signs of slowing down in 2015. But the reverse was true as he broke records and continued his storied career. All signs point to Dexter being every bit as competitive in 2016 and look for him to push for a top Olympia spot once again.

5) Instafamous starts to lose its fame. I think the YouTube and Instagram star bubble is about to burst. While we got some enjoyment and interesting conversation pieces from some internet all stars over the past few years, I think moving forward into 2016 and beyond, the fans are outgrowing this fad and will get back to being interested in people who have proven their worth on a competitive stage.

6) Big Ramy continues to wow with his incredible size, but doesn't quite bring the detail to take home the title. While I'd love to see Ramy show up completely "shrettet" as he so eloquently put it at the Olympia press conference, I've lost some faith in his ability to do so. I think I speak for the entire bodybuilding community when I say I'd love to see him at 100%, but I just don't know that its gonna happen....again. I hope he proves me wrong!

7) Maybe the boldest of my predictions: Kai Greene sits out another Olympia. I think there's a strong possibility we won't see Kai back on stage in Las Vegas this year. I think he will focus on winning a handful of Arnolds and maybe another big show or two but won’t challenge Phil for the title for a second year in a row. For the sake of the entire sport, again, I hope I'm wrong.

8) Dallas McCarver just keeps on keepin' on! As one of the brightest young stars in the industry, Dallas really shocked some folks with winning his first pro show (the California Cup) followed by 13th place at the 2015 Olympia. I'm betting we see Dallas rack up a few more pro wins in 2016 and crack the top 10 at the 2016 Olympia.

9) Classic Physique ends up being a fan favorite. People love the freaks and they always will, but there is also a big portion of the bodybuilding fan base that would love to see competitions featuring dramatic V tapers, 30” waists and the classical poses we've all come to love over the years.   I think the addition of the new division will spark the interest of fans young and old take off in spectacular fashion.

10) Phil Heath takes #6 in dominating fashion. After a not so convincing win in 2014, many fans were hoping for Phil to slam the door on his competition in 2015, which despite still winning, he fell short of doing. After questionable wins in both 2001 and 2002, we saw Ronnie Coleman come back in 2003 and dominate the field in a manner that we hadn't seen in quite some time. I think after two close calls in a row, Phil will be hungrier than ever to prove his place amongst the best champions of all time and I believe we'll see him at his best in years, possibly his best ever en route to tying Dorian Yates at six Olympia titles!

predictions-phil

SHAWN RAY PREDICTS

1) Phil Heath retains title #6 Mr. Olympia, tying Dorian Yates.

2) Each of the six Arnold Classic contests, spread across the globe this year, will have a different champion.

3) Young Guns Dallas McCarver and Justin Compton score IFBB Pro victories in 2016.

4) Classic Men's Physique overflows with athletes.

5) We’ll witness the disappearance of veteran pro men bodybuilders from the 2016 contest stage, making way for the new breed and next generation.

6) NPC rule changes will have a profound impact on the quality, judging and running of amateur shows for the better, and will generate record breaking numbers.

7) New top class European bodybuilders will emerge, making things uncomfortable for American champions.

8) More Physique Contests (Men’s and Women’s) will be added due to their popularity.

9) More than ever athletes will be severely penalized for bloated stomachs.

10) China and South Africa joining the Arnold Classic circuit will be a hugely popular and successful addition.

PETER McGOUGH PREDICTS

1) Justin Compton will push Kai Greene all the way at March’s Arnold Classic. At 27, Compton is still riding an improvement curve and he’s smart enough to right the mistake of coming in too heavy last year. If he comes in sharp and full he could spring a surprise.

2) Men’s Physique will continue to grow. That means grow in competitor numbers and grow in size. These guys are getting bigger and bigger – and more cut – and at some point a “You’re too big” ruling will occur.

3) Classic Physique will be an instant hit as aesthetics takes precedence over mass. But the question is, shouldn’t the men’s bodybuilding divisions present “Classic” physiques?

4) 2014 NPC Nationals overall bodybuilding champ Susan Smith will wow the audience with her look as she enters the Arnold Women’s Physique class. A fully qualified doctor Susan is a physical physician.

predictions-susan

5) Kai Greene will enter the 2016 Mr. Olympia contest. The current word is he won’t (after his highly publicized absence last year) enter. But by as the year progresses his sponsors, and his own drive to be recognized as the best in the world, will combine to make him flex for big bucks in Las Vegas.

6) Phil Heath will win his sixth Sandow. There seems no one on the 2016 horizon who can match Phil head-to-toe, and as he has proved on several occasions he can still win at less than 100%. Look for him to nail it this time around.

7) Cody Montgomery, Dallas McCarver and Justin Compton will continue to improve and these 20 somethings will be recognized as the future of the sport.

8) Look for Maxx Charles, Dallas McCarver and Juan Morel to crack the Olympia top ten this year, while Roelly Winklaar and William Bonac will move up from the seventh and eighth placings they earned at the 2015 Olympia.

9) Big Ramy will continue his Groundhog Day thing in 2016. I sincerely hope I’m wrong – we want to see a ripped and full Ramy.

10) In the 212s, Flex Lewis will extend his winning streak to five, with Jose Raymond and David Henry in pursuit – if the latter can hit 100% then look out. A sleeper in the 212 division could be Sweden’s Ahmad Ahmad – he deserved much higher than eighth last year and will make a leap forward.

predictions-flex

11) Bonus round: I will win the lottery, play center-forward for England at Wembley, be on the cover of GQ, earn a knighthood, discover the elixir of youth, the Kardashians and Kanye will be kidnapped by aliens and Justin Bieber will disappear up his own orifice. A man can dream can’t he?

RON HARRIS PREDICTS

1) Kai Greene will win his third Arnold Classic title, but will not compete in the Mr. Olympia. This will fuel his reputation as an “Uncrowned Mr. Olympia” among his fans, though everyone else will simply see it as avoiding the event, and by proxy, Phil Heath.

predictions-kai

2) We will witness the retirement of one or more of the following men: Victor Martinez, Dexter Jackson, Johnnie Jackson, Toney Freeman, or Branch Warren. All have been in the game a very long time, all are over 40, and it’s very likely that at least one will say goodbye to the stage this year.

3) Classic Physique will be a hit, though judging criteria will be somewhat confusing at first as the division finds its place and competitors strive to figure out what judges are looking for and expecting.

4) “Social media bodybuilders” will continue to gain fame and success, without ever having to step on stage.

5) There will be several more premature deaths among our iron tribe. Alarmists will condemn these as the inevitable result of drug abuse, while others will insist the deaths were in no way related to their lifestyle or substances they may have used to achieve their immense physiques.

6) National NPC events such as the USA and Nationals will see upwards of 1,200 total entries each, maybe even swelling to 1,500 or more as Classic Physique divisions lure droves of competitors away from natural organizations. Until now, these men knew they were far too small to challenge non-tested bodybuilders. Now, with strict weight limits for each height class, they will be on an even playing field at last.

7) Lee Thompson’s NSpire organization will shut down operations. Based on what I have seen so far in terms of competitors and sponsors, it simply can’t sustain itself.

8) At least one more pro will come out with his own ‘Signature Series” supplement brand.

9) Either Big Ramy will finally show up in the dry, grainy condition we have been waiting to see from him, or he will continue to display the same package as before – enormous but lacking fine details. If it’s the former, he will emerge as the greatest threat to Heath since Kai. If it’s the latter, fans will realize he will likely be another in a long line of giants who never lived up to lofty expectations, like Nasser, Ruhl, Fux, etc.

predictions-ramy

10) Phil Heath will win his sixth Mr. Olympia, but will be pushed hard by both Dexter Jackson and Justin Compton.

There you have it; the Good, The Bad and The Plug Ugly. Show us you have the crystal balls to make your own predictions of what we will see in 2016.

 

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