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IFBB Weekend Preview: FIBO Power and Pro Grand Prix Physique

April 11, 2013

A pair of contests take center stage this weekend in the IFBB, including the first IFBB Men’s and Women’s Physique events of the 2013 season.

FIBO POWER: COLOGNE, GERMANY

All eyes have been on Cedric McMillan since he announced he’d be throwing his hat in the FIBO ring two weeks ago, but it’s 43-year-old Johnnie Jackson who enters as the contest’s defending champion – and on the better roll. Jackson placed fourth to McMillan’s sixth at the Arnold Classic in March in the second meeting between the two. In their first meeting, McMillan edged past Jackson when the two finished 1-2 at last year’s New York Pro.

Ed Nunn also makes the trip overseas to compete in his seventh contest in the past nine months. Nunn is coming off an eighth-place finish at the Arnold and a fourth-place finish at the Australia Grand Prix.

Michael Kefalianos and Ronny Rockel were both way off at the Arnold Classic, and each paid the price as the two grabbed the last two spots in lineup when placing 12th and 13th, respectively. Each typically fares well on European soil, so if they have managed to improve since early March, each could be a threat for the top five or higher.

In Fitness, four of the top eight from March’s Fitness International will take the stage. Bethany Cisternino, coming off her third-place finish at the Arnold Sports Festival, leads the way. She’ll have to deal with hometown favorite Regiane DaSilva (5th, Fitness International), who always catches the eyes of the European judges. Ryall Graber-Vasani (6th Fitness International), Kizzy Vaines (7th) and Nicole Duncan (8th) should also be in the top-three-mix.

PRO GRAND PRIX: CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA

Some of the best in the Men’s and Women’s Physique divisions will take the stage in Southern California in the opening act of 2013 for each division. The stakes are considerably higher than a year ago as qualifying spots are on the line for the first-ever Men’s and Women’s Physique Showdowns on Olympia Weekend.

In Men’s Physique, Mark Anthony puts his undefeated professional record on the line against one of the largest lineups in the history of the young division. Anthony, the defending Grand Prix champion, ran off three consecutive wins at the beginning of last year before taking the rest of the season off.

Matt Christianer, who won the first-ever IFBB Men’s Physique competitor at last year’s Governor’s Cup, is the only other competitor in the lineup with a pro win on his resume. But a host of newcomers making their professional debuts should make for an interesting and unpredictable top five.

On the women’s side, Patricia Mello enters as the early favorite as the only competitor with a pro win on her resume (2012 Europa Show of Champions) and experience on her side. Mello placed second at this event in 2012 and has never finished out of the top three in her three professional physique competitions to date.