Tag: 2023 Mr. olympia
Nick Walker Says His ‘Gut Feeling’ Is That He and Derek Lunsford Will Fight in Top 2 at 2023 Mr. Olympia
Nick Walker is ready to exact his revenge against fellow star Derek Lunsford at the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia. In a Mutant and the Mouth Podcast, Walker discussed his prep and chances against top contenders this November on the sport’s biggest stage.
The 2022 Mr. Olympia event served as one of the most surprising shake-ups to the Men’s Open division in recent years. In a stunning upset, former two-time champion Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay was ousted from his throne. Instead, Hadi Choopan, Derek Lunsford, and Nick Walker battled for gold.
Ultimately, Choopan emerged victorious and won his first Mr. Olympia title. Nick Walker, however, continued to improve on the big stage and took home a third-place finish. His rival, former 212 Olympia-turned-Open threat, Derek Lunsford, left Sin City with silver.
On the heels of his best Olympia performance, Walker entered the 2023 Arnold Classic on short notice. At the event, he faced Samson Dauda and Andrew Jacked in the finals. In the end, ‘The Nigerian Lion’ came out on top in a close affair. His victory prompted discussions online and in the community about judging standards.
Looking ahead, Walker is convinced Dauda won’t pose a threat to the Mr. Olympia title this Nov. Despite having taken runner-up to Dauda in March, ‘The Mutant’ insists the next Mr. Olympia trophy will be held by either himself or Lunsford.
With the massive event approaching, fans and bodybuilding veterans have named frontrunners. Former eight-time Mr. Olympia kingpin Ronnie Coleman is one of them. He argued Lunsford will defeat Hadi Choopan when the two meet for a second time later this year. Walker, on the other hand, believes 2023 will be his year to shine when the contest returns to Orlando, Florida.
“I Honestly Feel This Is My Year,” – Nick Walker Talks 2023 Olympia Prep & Derek Lunsford
In 2022, Walker was forced to navigate most of his off-season without his coach Matt Jansen. Given that Jansen oversees Walker’s diet, training, and supplementation, the 28-year-old said it impacted his results last year. However, that won’t be the case for his preparations in 2023.
“Yeah he [Derek Lunsford] beat me right, I kind of called that,” said Nick Walker. “Yeah, talking about having a half-ass off-season last year compared to how things have went this year. I personally feel… you know with the 20 weeks I’m going to have now, no travel, strictly just fucking focus, right? Knock on wood no hiccups, I honestly feel this is my year. I honestly do. I feel like everything is aligned and there’s always you know, Matt’s happy, I’m happy right? So he’s the one that has to look at me, so if he has no issues and everything keeps flowing the way it’s going, I personally feel this will be the year.”
Hadi Choopan vs. Derek Lunsford at 2023 Olympia? Walker Says Lunsford Wins.
Walker believes Lunsford would defeat Choopan in a rematch and added that it’s ‘inevitable’ that Derek wins a future Mr. Olympia show.
“If it came down to Hadi and Derek this year… and you’re a betting man, who do you bet on?” asks Guy Cisternino.
“Derek. And listen, I’ll probably get a lot of shit from the Hadi fans because I still get roasted,” said Walker. “He’s a Mr. Olympia, that’s it. He was slaying people when he was 212 in the Open. And he has some of the best conditioning, hands down, probably the best in my opinion. Not last year but the couple years prior, peeled to the bone.
But I think me and Derek are young, we’re fresh. I think – I don’t want to disrespect Hadi and say he’s getting older and the time clock is ticking here… but I think the only reason why Derek lost to Hadi was from the front. If Derek’s backside matched the front, Derek is going to win, it’s inevitable, Derek would have won,” said Walker.
“I just have a gut feeling that it will be me and him in the final two,” added Walker.
Walker Back Up to 294 Lbs, Talks Off-Season Updates & Cardio
Even though Walker dropped 10 pounds during his trip to Canada, he says his body has rebounded nicely as he’s now tipping the scales at 293 pounds.
“I actually think this weekend is 19 [weeks away from 2023 Olympia]. I believe so [we’re inside 20 weeks] yeah. Yeah, [cardio] is 20 minutes six days a week. That was my off-season cardio as well. With all the traveling I kind of slacked a little bit, it’s whatever. Now, it’s steady, it’s consistent so.”
“What I like to do in the mornings is all I’ll do my 20 minutes of cardio. I’ll turn it on [the sauna] and heat it up. I’ll train abs for a good 15 minutes or so or whatever. Yeah [at my house]. Right now, [crunches] if I don’t feel like doing them I’ll obviously go to the gym and after training hit them.”
He also specified that he’s eating less food compared to last year’s season.
“Yeah, I mean obviously, I don’t think the food if I can remember… because last year was a bad off-season, you know that. I don’t think I was eating as much this off-season compared to last off-season. But this is where I’ll say genetics plays a huge role. I think when you are able to just train the way you adapt, the way I’m adapting to this, I don’t need a shit ton of fucking food to grow.
Genetically, it’s just boom boom. I lost 10 pounds when I went to Canada for the Canadian tour. I was like 284-ish. And now I’m back up to 293 and I texted Matt and said, ‘Bro, I don’t know my weight is not – we’re not doing anything different I don’t know what’s going on.’ He’s like, ‘You’re not getting fat don’t worry about it.”
Derek Lunsford has given his thoughts on an impending showdown with Nick Walker. In a recent Muscular Development interview with Ron Harris, Lunsford was asked how he felt when media outlets said he was scared to face Walker at the 2023 Arnold Classic. The former 212 champ laughed off the comments and stressed that he’s ‘staying in his lane’ ahead of his next showing.
Walker, meanwhile, harshly evaluated some of his peers’ physiques during an HD Muscle video appearance. According to Walker, Samson Dauda’s back is ‘shit’ and added that Big Ramy is done. In addition, he said Andrew Jacked, who took third at the recent Arnold Classic, won’t sniff out a top-five placing at this year’s Olympia.
Having trained together in the past, Walker and Lunsford’s professional rivalry will be on full display later this year. If history dictates the future, Walker is slated to move up in placings at the Mr. Olympia contest in November.
You can watch the full video from The Mutant and the Mouth YouTube channel:
Published: 6 July, 2023 | 3:25 PM EDT
Iain Valliere: ‘Bodybuilders Don’t Want to Face Vitaliy “Good Vito” Ugolnikov He’s An Absolute Fuc**ng Freak’
Vitaliy Ugolnikov, well known as ‘Good Vito,’ continues to gain momentum despite having yet to earn an invite to 2023 Mr. Olympia. In a recent Bro Chat Podcast, Iain Valliere and Fouad Abiad discussed Vito’s potential in the IFBB Pro League and his chances against other Olympia contenders.
Ugolnikov’s entrance into bodybuilding was filled with excitement. He came from the IFBB Elite Pro League last year and switched to the NPC, similar to the path Michal Krizo took. His impact was immediately felt as he claimed his IFBB Pro card at the 2022 Musclecontest International Brazil Nationals. At the event, Vito displayed a stunning display of mass, conditioning, and fullness.
Good Vito’s huge arms and quads also set him apart from his peers. His physique has gone viral online as a result of some impressive updates. And with the hype he’s gained over the past several months, fans continue to back him as a legitimate wild card at Olympia, assuming he earns his invitation.
Currently, Ugolnikov is in preparation to bring his best at the upcoming 2023 European Pro Championships. In addition to progress videos and photos, Vito has kept fans up to date on his journey by showing off posing routines as well.
Iain Valliere, Fouad Abiad Debate Potential of Vitaliy ‘Good Vito’ Ugolnikov
According to Valliere, bodybuilders in North America don’t want to stand against Good Vito on stage.
“Every bodybuilder in North America thinks that exact same thing [I don’t want to go against this guy],” said Iain Valliere
“Vito is kind of that same build as Hadi…” said Fouad Abiad.
As for possible weaknesses, Valliere and Abiad agree Vito needs to strengthen his back.
“Yeah, but Vito is not nearly as strong in the back and the conditioning department as some of those guys you just named. Look, from the front double, is this guy an absolute fuc**ng freak,” replied Iain Valliere.
“If he has a shallower back than the others that doesn’t necessarily mean he can’t stand with them,” Abiad explained.
“I don’t think he has a bad back, but it’s definitely one of the more important factors. I’m not saying this guy doesn’t have a back, I’m just saying in the context of being in that top five, you know,” Valliere shared.
Vito must earn an invite for 2023 Olympia by winning a pro show. If he’s successful, Abiad believes he can threaten contenders at the competition with improved conditioning.
“I would like him to stand up more on that though [side chest pose],” Iain added. “Not a bad back. Fuc**ng shit, fuc**ng crap. I meant back double but that’s still a really good back lat spread.”
“The only thing I would say is he looks like he has enough muscularity, but he looks like he has to get his condition up to stand up [on the Olympia stage],” shared Abiad.
“His legs are just outrageous,” added Valliere. “Look at the fuc**ng muscularity on that guy. Yeah, [he’s] very young.”
Having credited Vito’s back, arms, and quads, Valliere and Abiad agree he’s a dark horse at the 2023 Olympia should he earn an invitation.
“Well, honestly, that’s my dark horse at the Olympia,” said Abiad.
“Could be, for sure,” replied Valliere. “He’s 12 weeks out, he’s doing one of the later European shows I think. At least I think. He just posted an update.”
While Vito has yet to test himself on an IFBB Pro League stage, he’ll get the chance very soon. His presence in the league has already generated a lot of chatter. In a recent Olympia TV video, bodybuilding judge Terrick El Guindy pointed out a few rising stars in the Open. One of them was Ugolnikov. Chris Cormier also praised Good Vito for his youth and potential, predicting that he’d shake up the category in the future.
Considering Vito’s monstrous build, fans online have accused him of doctoring or photoshopping pictures. In response to the allegations, Ugolnikov shared a follow-up video where he went on to disprove the unfounded remarks.
Even though he’s yet to make waves in North America, it appears it’s only a matter of time until fans see Good Vito on the sport’s biggest stages. He has until Oct. 9 to earn his invite to the 2023 Mr. Olympia competition. As for Iain Valliere, he qualified after his win against Hassan Mostafa at the recent Toronto Pro Supershow in June.
RELATED: Bodybuilder ‘Good Vito’ Vitaliy Ugolnikov Moves to Brazil, Continues Offseason Prep
You can watch the full video from the Fouad Abiad Media YouTube channel below:
Published: 5 July, 2023 | 11:54 AM EDT
2023 District of Taiwan Pro Results and Scorecards
The 2023 District of Taiwan Pro took place on July 2 and featured competitors from the Men’s Physique and Bikini categories. This event was located in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, and served as a qualifier for the upcoming Olympia show.
Bodybuilders still have plenty of time to earn their qualifications for the biggest show of the year. The cut-off period to earn an invite is October 9. This year’s Mr. Olympia will take place from Nov. 2-5 in Orlando Florida’s Orange County Convention Center.
The top three finishers from 2022 Olympia in Men’s Physique and Bikini are automatically invited back to this year’s edition of the show. As for the rest of the competitors, they will need to battle each other to determine who deserves the right to stand on the sport’s most prominent stage.
2023 District of Taiwan Pro Winners
Men’s Physique: Yoon Sung Lee
Bikini: Areum Song
2023 District of Taiwan Pro Results
Men’s Physique
Heading into this weekend, fans took notice of Wang Hsiang who last finished third at the 2019 NPC Worldwide Asia Grand Prix Pro Qualifier. He faced Yoon Sung Lee, a bodybuilder who impressed in third at the 2023 Asia Grand Prix Men’s Physique Pro. In the end, Yoon Sung Lee was victorious. Lee’s career highlight was a second-place finish at the 2022 Korea Men’s Physique Pro.
Winner — Yoon Sung Lee
Second Place — Wang Hsiang
Third Place — Minsu Kim
Fourth Place — Tomohito Koike
Fifth Place — Farouq Ishimoto
Sixth Place — Tom McNarma
Seventh Place — Tak Lam Charly Chau
Eighth Place — Ajith Raja
Ninth Place — Wu Chi Hung
Tenth Place — Woo Young Seo
Bikini
Sara Choi was on a mission for gold this weekend. Her last contest came at the 2023 Orchid Pro in sixth place. Sara reached her peak performance at the 2023 Musclecontest Japan Pro, securing a remarkable second-place finish. Additionally, she has showcased her skills at the Olympia on two occasions, achieving a 15th place finish in 2020 and sharing the 16th spot in 2021. She battled against Areum Song, who previously competed at last year’s Asia Grand Prix Bikini Pro where she finished runner-up. Ultimately, the judges favored Areum Song’s look best and she took first place this weekend.
Winner — Areum Song
Second Place — Sara Choi
Third Place — Uyanga Bataa
Fourth Place — Heather Hei Man Kam
Fifth Place — Elizaveta Dementere
Sixth Place — Anita Chen
Seventh Place — Kristina Ivanova
Eighth Place — Yume Kurokowa
Ninth Place — Wang Machen
Tenth Place — Cecilia Liang
2023 District of Taiwan Scorecards
2023 District Of Taiwan Pro Men S Physique
2023 District Of Taiwan Pro Bikini
FitnessVolt congratulates the winners on their major victories!
Published: 3 July, 2023 | 9:52 AM EDT
2023 Orlando Pro Results and Scorecards
The 2023 Orlando Pro delivered an exciting show and took place on July 1. Men’s Open bodybuilders gathered in Orlando, Florida for a chance to guarantee passage to the upcoming Mr. Olympia competition.
For this year’s most prestigious contest, athletes have until October 9 to secure their respective invites. The 2023 Mr. Olympia show will return to Orlando, Florida from Nov. 2-5 inside the Orange County Convention Center.
Qualifying has been more difficult this year because there are fewer months to earn an invite than in 2022. In addition, the point system has been removed so bodybuilders must win a pro show to step on the big stage.
Heading into this weekend, all eyes were on the defending champion Hassan Mostafa, who took gold at this event last year. Tonight was extra important for Hassan as he narrowly missed receiving his Olympia invite to Iain Valliere back at the 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow. Meanwhile, fans also expected a solid performance from veteran Phil Clahar, who continues to defy time with improvements season-to-season.
In the end, Phil Clahar emerged victorious this weekend in Orlando and will have the opportunity to face the reigning Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan. ‘The Persian Wolf’ asserted himself at the top of the category last year after dispatching contenders Derek Lunsford and Nick Walker in the finals.
2023 Orlando Pro Winner
Men’s Open: Phil Clahar
2023 Orlando Pro Results
Men’s Open
During prejudging and the finals, fans and the judges acknowledged it was a two-man battle between the reigning champion Hassan Mostafa and Phil Clahar. Clahar brought great conditioning which helped him shine during some of the comparisons. Many fans saw the contest close as Mostafa once again brought an impressive package to the stage.
Clahar has his sights set on the upcoming Masters Olympia contest in Romania on Aug. 26-27, 2023. Although he hasn’t clinched a victory in an Open show since turning pro in 2018, he has consistently been a strong contender in several competitions. In fact, he secured the second overall position at the 2021 Tampa Pro, finishing just behind Valliere.
Clahar’s most recent appearance was at the 2022 Boston Pro, where he achieved a respectable sixth place.
Winner — Phil Clahar
Second Place — Hassan Mostafa
Third Place — Stan de Longeaux
Fourth Place — Emmanuel Alvarez
Fifth Place — Chris Didomenico
Sixth Place — Jason Lowe
Seventh Place — Mohammad Alnsoor
Eighth Place — Ray Short
Ninth Place — Matt Kouba
Tenth Place — Erik Ramirez
2023 Orlando Pro Scorecards
2023 Orlando Pro Results Men S Open
FitnessVolt congratulates the winner on the big victory!
Published: 1 July, 2023 | 9:14 PM EDT
Terrick El Guindy, Chris Cormier Talk Bodybuilding Conspiracies & Andrew Jacked v Samson Dauda
Whether or not taller competitors have an edge in bodybuilding has long been debated. In a recent Prime Time Muscle episode, Terrick El Guindy shared with Chris Cormier why stature is overrated in bodybuilding. In addition, they discussed a possible battle between Andrew Jacked and Samson Dauda at 2023 Olympia.
The currents of the Men’s Open division have been choppy and unpredictable lately. With Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford taking the No.1 and No. 2 spots on the 2022 Mr. Olympia stage, many have begun to question if the category is swaying to favor physiques with less size and more detail, shape, and symmetry.
Following Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay‘s unceremonious drop to fifth place and the results of the 2023 Arnold Classic, El Guindy believes a new era of aesthetic bodybuilders is taking over the Open. This sentiment was also shared by 1990s standout Kevin Levrone. However, he believes Chris Bumstead is to thank for the rise of aesthetics in the Men’s Open.
In Nov., Dauda plans to bring his best to dethrone Choopan. And while Andrew Jacked shares the same goal, he has yet to qualify for the upcoming Mr. Olympia show. He’s targeted the 2023 Texas Pro in mid-Aug. where he intends to defend his title from last year successfully. Given the similar statures of Dauda and Jacked, Cormier and El Guindy discussed a pobable showdown between the two.
Terrick El Guindy Says Stature in Bodybuilding Is ‘Highly Highly Overrated’
While stature and height can be imposing, El Guindy argued it’s overrated as shorter athletes have found success in the Open such as Lunsford and Choopan.
“This thing about stature… is highly highly overrated, highly overrated. I mean look at Hadi Choopan. He’s one of the shortest guys and he’s Mr. Olympia. Shaun Clarida out of all the 212s he’s possibly the shortest 212 and he is Mr. Olympia 212,” said Terrick El Guindy.
“Listen a lot of people are talking about Chris Bumstead’s stature and how tall he is right now, well look at the history of the sport. The first Classic Physique champion was one of the shortest guys, Danny Hester. We move on to Breon Ansley, well what happened to the stature when Breon Ansley was beating Chris Bumstead? That wasn’t in play. It’s highly highly overrated.
It looks imposing on stage to look at a guy like Samson Dauda and Andrew Jacked but at the end of the day we’re judging the best bodybuilders and in this case, Hadi Choopan is the superior bodybuilder based on the 2022 Mr. Olympia,” said El Guindy.
Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan are shorter than Nick Walker, Brandon Curry, Andrew Jacked, Big Ramy, Samson Dauda, Michal Krizo, Rafael Brandao, Iain Valliere and they are all placing ahead of them. I’m telling you right now, this height stuff is highly overrated.”
Cormier added that Lee Haney looked taller than he actually was while competing at the height of his career.
“Lee Haney made everyone look like children next to them and he wasn’t actually that tall but he appeared that way because he was so imposing. No [he wasn’t the tallest] but just the way his body looked,” said Cormier.
Conspiracy Theories in Bodybuilding? Terrick El Guindy Says ‘Stop It Right Now’
El Guindy said there were conspiracies about who would win the 1998 Mr. Olympia. He added that there were rumors Big Ramy would win Olympia in 2013 and that never materialized either.
“All the conspiracies, so many conspiracies that Ronnie was going to win the ninth Mr. Olympia, he didn’t. So many conspiracies, oh who is going to win the 1998 Mr. Olympia? Nobody had it in mind that it was going to be Ronnie Coleman. He came out of nowhere. Oh, Big Ramy wins the New York Pro in 2013 and doesn’t win the Olympia approximately 7-8 years shows up in shape and wins the 2020 Olympia.
“Shawn Rhoden, nobody had him on the map winning against the supposed eight-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath so he could equal Ronnie Coleman and equal Lee Haney. It didn’t happen. Shawn Rhoden won. Stop it. Just stop it right now.”
El Guindy & Cormier Compare Andrew Jacked vs Samson Dauda
Cormier gave Jacked credit for an extremely busy schedule and said if he adds 10-15 pounds he’ll have a ‘devastating physique.’
“His [Andrew Jacked’s] body of work over the rookie season. It’s a huge body of work. He hasn’t had an off-season, he’s been trying to improve body parts on the fly, trying to improve posing on the fly, he’s a great showmen is what I’ve noticed.”
“Talking to both Chris’s, he was in 293-ish area for Olympia but maybe 10 pounds lighter at the Arnold Classic. With the length of his arms and legs and everything, you’re going to see that difference. Even the muscle appeared a lot harder, you’re going to see the fullness,” said Cormier. “I feel like if he came with that same type of tightness but add another 10-15 pounds if you could, then that’s a devastating physique.”
El Guindy emphasized that Andrew Jacked’s biggest enemy is Samson Dauda. He believes if Andrew was by himself on stage, he would have freak factor similar to Ronnie Coleman.
“At the Olympia Samson gets the first call out. Samson Dauda goes into the Arnold and places ahead of him. First place and third place. Samson Dauda is tall, not as tall as Andrew Jacked but he possesses more muscle density than Andrew Jacked. Andrew Jacked I thought was more conditioned than Samson Dauda,” said El Guindy.
“The biggest enemy for Andrew Jacked is Samson Dauda. He takes the impact away. If you see Andrew Jacked by himself, oh my God that’s the next coming of Ronnie Coleman. Then you bring Samson Dauda next to him and you go that’s kind of a Lee Haney-type of guy. If we didn’t have Samson Dauda, all of us would be betting on Andrew Jacked to dominate the business for the next 10 years.”
Chris Cormier isn’t the only bodybuilding veteran keen on discussing Andrew Jacked’s future. Recently, Jay Cutler gave his thoughts on the topic as well. Considering the improvements Jacked made from the Olympia to the Arnold, he believes it’s possible he could shock the world, assuming he qualifies for the event.
In the meantime, other top contenders are gearing up for their prep, like 2022 Olympia runner-up Derek Lunsford. He joined Hany Rambod on The Truth Podcast recently, where they discussed a number of topics including his progress, anxiety, and dealing with depression.
It remains to be seen if taller competitors truly have an advantage over their counterparts. Though El Guindy and Cormier agree if Andrew adds more tissue, he’ll be a dangerous threat to anyone on the Olympia stage, even the champion.
RELATED: Big Ramy Discusses Mental State Ahead of 2023 Mr. Olympia: ‘I Can’t Take a Year Off, I Need to Give It Everything”
You can watch the full Olympia TV YouTube video below:
Published: 30 June, 2023 | 9:21 AM EDT
Iain Valliere To Improve Triceps for 2023 Mr. Olympia, Talks Big Ramy’s Future & Samson Dauda
Anticipation for the upcoming Mr. Olympia continues to build as fans await the contest in less than five months. In a recent Olympia TV interview, Bob Cicherillo and Iain Valliere discussed the Men’s Open division. During the video, Valliere said he doesn’t believe Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay will win back his Mr. Olympia title.
“It’s all a mind game when it gets to this level. If Iain brings his A-game there, he’ll be right back up there, no question about it,” said Bob Cicherillo.
Iain Valliere is one of the most popular bodybuilders from Canada. In a career lasting almost a decade, Valliere has shown great promise, courtesy of his exceptional conditioning and detailed back. He started the 2022 season with an impressive victory at the Vancouver Pro, where he defeated Antoine Vaillant for first. This earned him passage to the season’s biggest show of the year.
The 2022 Mr. Olympia lineup was strong as many debutants planned to make statements. New names on the stage such as Andrew Jacked, Michal Krizo, and Samson Dauda were all labeled dark hoses ahead of the show. And while Ramy dominated the landscape from 2020-2021, a new champion arrived last December to take his title away. Hadi Choopan won gold. Ramy placed fifth, a harsh drop from the year prior.
Without a qualification to 2023 Mr. Olympia, Valliere worked in the off-season to bring his best look to date. He mapped out improvements and detailed his shredding diet for the new season. He targeted this year’s Toronto Pro Supershow. At the event, he battled with Hassan Mostafa in what many fans described as a close contest. Nevertheless, Valliere presented some of his best conditioning and earned his invite.
Iain Valliere Plans to Improve Triceps for 2023 Olympia, Talks Big Ramy’s Future
According to Valliere, Big Ramy won’t win back his Mr. Olympia title but he still believes he can be competitive on other stages like the Arnold Classic.
“I don’t believe Ramy will win the Olympia again. Do I think Ramy has a career ahead of him making money and being a competitive pro bodybuilder? Absolutely. I don’t think you need to be winning the Mr. Olympia to get six-figure contracts or to be a competitive bodybuilder. He can still win shows. He can still do well at the Arnolds.
Like, he was still a top five guy at the Arnold he’s getting a good paycheck he’s still getting good contracts. And look: even when he was off he was still top five at the Olympia. That’s nothing to snuff at right? I still think Ramy is absolutely a top-tier bodybuilder and will continue to be for a few years. But do I think he’s going to win the Olympia again, I do not,” said Iain Valliere.
Admittedly, Valliere says expectations and new talent might have factored into his last Mr. Olympia performance.
“When you had two years of seventh prior, look, the Olympia linup last year was not the same as 2020 or 2021. It was absolutely improved, there was a lot of new guys there, Samson there, Andrew there, Derek in the mix now,” said Iain Valliere. “Obviously there probably was some looming fear in my head that, ‘Shit I’m going to slip places I’m going to slip places,’ and that was shown in my presentation,” explained Valliere.
Looking ahead, Valliere plans to focus on his triceps which he believes will improve at least two of his side poses.
“There are some things still that I think need to be improved here. I had a little bit of loss of volume on my triceps that I think hurt me in the side chest and the side tri that can definitely be improved from a little bit of a nagging elbow issue I was having on that side specifically which is I think going to be a lot better come the Olympia. If we make some small tweaks there, I’m very confident in my shot to be in that group at the Olympia, for sure,” added Valliere.
Valliere & Bob Cicherillo Talk Samson Dauda, Nick Walker, Hunter Labrada, and Derek Lunsford
In a recent HD Muscle YouTube video, Nick Walker said Samson Dauda’s back was ‘shit’ and ‘flat as a board.’ However, Valliere disagrees. He believes Dauda can establish himself as a true Mr. Olympia contender with improved conditioning, not just back improvements.
“I don’t think I agree with that,” Valliere said. “Samson is making show to show year to year, I don’t think that’s going to be the case for a long time. Even when you look from – bring the conditioning in a little bit more from the Olympia to the Arnold it did show his back a lot better. For a back to look good, your conditioning must be excellent.”
In Bob’s opinion, Dauda’s back isn’t flat and even if it was, Samson still defeated Walker at the Arnold.
“Listen, Nick is being Nick and I appreciate that because I love these guys especially him, he’s not shy about making comments. Listen, is he literally flat as a board? No. And he better hope he’s not flat as a board because he beat him with that flat as a board back,” Cicherillo said.
Since Lunsford no longer abides by a weight restriction, Valliere suspects he’ll improve his conditioning and muscle density.
“In the case of Derek, I think him and Hany played his cards right for the Olympia but now as he gets more muscle maturity and more density to that muscle and he’s held on to it longer because he’s not pushing down to 212 and doing off-seasons, I think we’ll see that conditioning come up more and more and more,” Valliere said.
Lastly, Cicherillo offered Hunter Labrada some words of encouragement ahead of his latest Olympia campaign that starts with the 2023 Tampa Pro in August.
“He’s going to have his cut out for him. Hunter will have to be 100% and more importantly, Hunter has a habit of coming out – and he is just pouring water. He’s got to figure out notably, what he has to do to not be releasing so much water in that first round.”
This isn’t the first time Bob Cicherillo has taken a close look at the Men’s Open bodybuilders expected to compete in Nov. Following Dauda’s 2023 Arnold Classic victory, Bob labeled him alongside Lunsford as Choopan’s two biggest threats.
Big Ramy is also determined to become the only bodybuilder in the Open aside from Jay Cutler to win back an Olympia title. Despite recommendations from Bob and head judge Steve Weinberger to take a break, Ramy has made it clear he’s working ‘angry’ and harder than ever to bring his best physique possible later this year.
Given the number of potential contenders, 2023 Mr. Olympia is shaping up to be an unforgettable event. With his eyes on the first call-out, Iain Valliere plans to improve his triceps and sharpen his posing skills.
You can watch the full Olympia TV YouTube video below:
Find complete coverage of the 2022 Mr. Olympia, including pre-judging, event recaps, analysis, and final results at our Olympia coverage hub: FitnessVolt.com/olympia
Published: 29 June, 2023 | 5:48 PM EDT
Nick Walker on 2023 Olympia: ‘Samson Dauda’s Back is Shit, Big Ramy Is Done & Andrew Jacked Won’t Make Top 5’
Nick Walker‘s brutally honest personality was on full display during a recent interview. In an HD Muscle YouTube video, Walker revealed his top five for 2023 Mr. Olympia and examined contenders expected to compete this November.
“Everyone is just getting better, that’s just the reality. The newcomers are getting better and better and the older guys are going out. The young kids are coming up,” said Nick Walker.
The Men’s Open division’s popularity is at an all-time high following the last two major bodybuilding shows. Last year’s Mr. Olympia contest was filled with twists, turns, and unexpected surprises as Hadi Choopan claimed gold in a memorable affair. However, the former two-time champ, Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay‘s night did not go as planned. He was sidelined for most of prejudging and was eventually awarded fifth place.
Nick Walker, on the other hand, improved on the Mr. Olympia stage once again in third with 212-turned-Open talent Derek Lunsford securing runner-up. Instead of using the time to rebound, Walker jumped back into the 2023 Arnold Classic on short notice. He faced Samson Dauda and Andrew Jacked in Columbus, Ohio, — two names he already defeated on the Olympia stage.
In the end, Samson Dauda’s shape, symmetry, proportions, and conditioning proved to be a winning combination. And while he bested Walker on that night, ‘The Mutant’ isn’t convinced Samson will contend for gold at this year’s Mr. Olympia. In a Mutant and the Mouth Podcast, Walker said it would either be himself or Lunsford accepting the first-place trophy.
With less than five months until the biggest bodybuilding show on the calendar, preparations are heating up for everyone, including Walker. Before capping off his brief off-season, the 28-year-old picked apart some of the top names he intends to face in the coming months.
Nick Walker’s Top 5 for 2023 Mr. Olympia, Talks Hunter Labrada’s Path to Redemption, Samson Dauda & Big Ramy
Walker believes the 2023 Mr. Olympia top five will feature himself, Hadi Choopan, Derek Lunsford, Samson Dauda, and Hunter Labrada. Similar to Labrada, Walker says Samson’s weakest body part is his back.
“To be honest, I think it will be me, Hadi, Derek, I think Samson will jump into the top five, it’s four right there right? And I’m going to throw one out there, I think Hunter is going to get a spot back,” said Walker. “Well, okay, if we’re going to talk facts, Samson’s got a shit back too. I don’t know. Neither is Samson’s [back 3D]. Samson’s is flat as a board. There’s nothing going on there. From the front Samson is a monster but he turns around, wait what happened?”
In Walker’s opinion, Big Ramy is done. However, he mentioned that he’s still young enough to take time off and return with improvements.
“I think Ramy is done. I think Ramy is done,” said Walker. I do know Ramy, he’s done. Oh my God, he’s the sweetest guy.”
“I don’t think he’s done but he needs the year off to refocus, do some shit, and then come back. He’s still not young young, but he’s still young enough where he can make some changes.”
Nick predicts Labrada will have to win a battle against rookie Justin Shier to earn his spot on the Olympia stage.
“It is [Hunter’s weak spot is his back] but I think Hunter is hungry. [He was] devastated [after last year]. He knows what he needs to do. Do I think it’s going to be a while before his back catches up? Sure. But do I think it looks a lot better already? Yeah. So if he wins, which he probably will… he’s got plenty of time to keep making improvements.”
“I think that will be a battle [at Chicago Pro]. If Hunter can peak right and obviously we all know Matt doesn’t miss – so Justin [Shier] will be peaked. That’s going to be a battle. It’s going to be tough. I think Hunter overall is a little overwhelming than Justin. He’s a little wider and bigger but Justin’s can just hang, if Justin is a little better conditioned and peaked right, I think he can take out Hunter.”
“I’ll use Chris Bumstead as an example, one year he had no back, the following year he had the best back in Classic. That was one year. All it takes is hard work.”
Andrew Jacked Top 5? Walker says NO.
When asked about Andrew Jacked, Walker doesn’t believe he’ll outshine Samson Dauda or place in the top five this November.
“No [Andrew Jacked won’t make top five at 2023 Olympia]. No way [he beats Samson Dauda]. No. No. No. I have Samson, I have him in the top 6-8 spot,” added Walker.
Michal Krizo
As for Michal Krizo, Walker admits he’s big but doesn’t see him doing better than 10th. He added that Hadi didn’t win soundly last year so he doesn’t see him as a dominant titleholder like Phil Heath was.
“No [not a fan of his]. No, he’s big. He’s a big boy. But no. I see him maybe 10th. Maybe,” Walker said. “I think, listen, Hadi is great but just in my opinion, he’s a one-hit-wonder. He wasn’t like a Phil Heath where he won and you’re like, ‘Oh shit.’ I didn’t feel that with him, you know. With the competition now, even if I win, I don’t think it’s guaranteed I win again.”
Walker Casts Doubt on Blessing Awodibu & Regan Grimes This Year
According to Walker, until Awodibu brings up his legs, he will remain in the third call-out at Olympia. In addition, he doubted Regan Grimes’ potential and said he doesn’t think he ‘has the heart’ for bodybuilding.
“Blessing needs to get some legs before he talks shit,” said Walker. “I love Blessing but I think… Blessing just has – he’s afraid to ask for help. It’s like – I tried to help him, I’ve had friends try to give him advice, but Blessing is like ‘I don’t want advice.’ Alright, well that’s why you’re in the third call-out. And he was in the third call-out.”
“Regan, listen, he’s a nice guy. He should stick to the IG stuff. Listen, I just don’t think he has the mindset. Now that I’m around him a lot, I don’t think he has the heart. I don’t think he has the consistency. Bodybuilding is I’d say 100% mindset, yes. If your mind is not in this you will fail. He doesn’t look any different to me. He doesn’t, I’m sorry but he doesn’t. Yeah [it’s a mental thing] of course. I think he wants to but he’s just always distracted by other shit. Unfortunately, if you want to be at the top you unfortunately have to cut everything off. You have to be all in,”
After wrapping up his discussion on the Open class, Walker shared that Phil Heath won’t be coming back. When asked why, he pointed to monetary reasons.
“No, no. They [Masters Olympia] ain’t paying enough for him to come back,” Walker shared.
With contest schedules intensifying, plenty of top names have offered their take on who will become the next Mr. O. William Bonac, a two-time Arnold Classic titleholder, is convinced Choopan will repeat as champion later this year. Yet, former eight-time Olympia winner Ronnie Coleman doesn’t agree. He recently stated that Derek Lunsford will overthrow Choopan to become the next Mr. Olympia.
Samson Dauda has been open about his game plan for his sophomore Olympia appearance. He and his trainer Milos Sarcev agree that his only path to victory against Lunsford and Choopan is by bringing a more complete back. With that in mind, Dauda believes once his back is on par with the rest of his physique, the title will be his.
Given that Nick Walker has yet to slip on the Mr. Olympia stage, it’s hard to imagine he won’t showcase improvements in November. With how close last year’s show was, fans look forward to seeing who becomes the 18th man in history to win a Sandow trophy.
RELATED: Hadi Choopan Looks Ripped in 2023 Off-Season Physique Update Ahead of Title Defense
You can watch the full HD Muscle YouTube video below:
Published: 29 June, 2023 | 11:37 AM EDT
Urs Kalecinski Talks Body Fat w/ Greg Doucette, Must Lose 26 Lbs for 2023 Olympia
German bodybuilder Urs Kalecinski has emerged as one of the most promising talents in the Classic Physique division ruled by Chris Bumstead in the last few years. He was last seen in action at the 2023 Arnold Classic three months ago. In a recent YouTube video on his channel, Kalecinski teamed up with bodybuilding coach Greg Doucette to check his body fat levels and found out he would need to lose a minimum of 26 pounds of muscle mass to make weight for the 2023 Classic Physique Olympia competition.
Rising Classic Physique sensation Urs Kalecinski blew up on the scene courtesy of his refined muscle mass, size, detail, and symmetry in 2021. He narrowly missed out on the top prize to Mike Sommerfeld at the 2021 Xtreme Bodybuilding & Fitness Pro. He rebounded with a commanding victory at the 2021 Tampa Pro and finished his rookie season with a fourth-place finish at the Mr. Olympia show.
Kalecinski kicked off last year with a bronze medal at the 2022 Arnold Sports Festival. He scored a dominant win at the Boston Pro en route to 2022 Mr. Olympia. Last Nov., Kalecinski opened up on his plans to challenge four-time Classic Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead with aesthetics and perfect proportions. He teamed up with bodybuilding legend Jay Cutler for a heavy shoulder and arm workout to get ready for the event.
Although the two are friends, Kalecinski admitted his rivalry with Cbum was real and that they considered each other enemies on stage. In the end, he established his place in the mix of title contention with a third-place finish at the 2022 Mr. Olympia behind runner-up Ramon Rocha Queiroz and four-time Classic Physique king, Chris Bumstead.
Following the outcome, Kalecinski set his sights on the 2023 Arnold Classic, where his goal was to defeat Ramon Dino. Despite falling sick to food poisoning five days before the showdown, Kalecinski turned in an impressive performance and placed second to Dino three months ago. Kalecinski teamed up with Bumstead for a muscle-building arms workout two days after the event. Then, he enlisted the help of Open legend Cutler for a brutal back workout.
Urs Kalecinski Needs to Lose a Minimum of 26 lbs of Muscle to Make Weight for 2023 Classic Physique Olympia
During the recent YouTube video, Urs Kalecinski revealed he weighs 275 pounds at 10.3 percent body fat. Considering his size, Urs would need to lose at least 26 pounds of muscle mass to make the Classic Physique weight limit for the 2023 Mr. Olympia.
“I can’t believe that this is Classic. This is ridiculous. I don’t understand how you’re not in Men’s Open,” said Doucette.
Urs Kalecinski expressed his excitement to face Ramon Dino in another battle at the 2023 Mr. Olympia last week. He declared his ambitions to seek redemption and revealed he’d cut down to 1,800 calories to prepare for the contest.
While Kalecinski is certainly going full-throttle in the off-season, it remains to be seen how he’d fare against top talent in the Men’s Open. Nevertheless, fans look forward to seeing him cut weight and make a play for Bumstead’s title.
RELATED: Urs Kalecinski and Terrence Ruffin Join ‘Hypertrophy Coach’ For Brutal Push Workout and Posing Routine
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 28 June, 2023 | 7:19 PM EDT
2023 Mr. Olympia Contender Samson Dauda Shares Full Day of Eating in Off-Season
Samson Dauda, one of the leading frontrunners headed to 2023 Mr. Olympia, is giving fans a taste of his off-season diet. In a recent YouTube video, Dauda revealed the six meals he consumes daily in order to maintain a monstrous weight of over 320 pounds.
“This is a normal basic day at home with training and everything with it. So, it’s boring but this is what a typical day of my life looks like trying to improve my physique and prepare for the Olympia. Right now, we’re in the middle of the off-season so we get to see the meals I’m having. We get to see what a normal day at home looks like for me,” Samson Dauda shared.
Dauda’s IFBB Pro League career kicked off quickly but 2022 saw him break into the upper echelons of the Open class. He finished fourth at the Arnold Classic and Boston Pro contests. When he made it to the Olympia stage, Dauda shined. In his debut, he secured a sixth-place finish and during prejudging, gave then-reigning Mr. Olympia, Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay, a true run for his money.
Sailing into 2023 with considerable momentum, Samson Duada bet on himself and entered the Arnold Classic in March. At the event, he faced a number of formidable opponents, such as Akim Williams, reigning two-time 212 Olympia Shaun Clarida, Big Ramy, Andrew Jacked, and Nick Walker. Dauda cemented himself as an Arnold Classic champion in the end, which stamped his ticket to this year’s Olympia contest.
Led by bodybuilding coach Milos Sarcev, Dauda will attempt to take the title from Hadi Choopan on November 4. Dauda, confident in his chances, has taken to interviews and mentioned that growing his back will be the only path to the Mr. Olympia title. In the tail-end of his 2023 off-season, Dauda is now updating fans on the meals he’s eating to fuel his Olympia campaign.
Check Out the 2023 Off-Season Diet Samson Dauda Is Using to Prepare for Mr. Olympia
You can find a breakdown of Samson Dauda’s typical off-season diet below. He added that he consumes seven meals occasionally by having two helpings of sushi.
Meal 1
150 grams of oats
Hosstile ISO [H1] 1 scoop
5 eggs
Meal 2
450 grams of sweet potato
200 grams of beef steak
To prioritize his time for training and other pursuits, Dauda prefers his meals to be pre-made for readiness.
“The reason why we prep our meals in bulk, this is quicker. So all I have to do is heat up and eat. The thing is, if I had to eat now, I would have to cut my time to do anything else to start preparing the steak or food earlier. It would only take time out of each day if I have to prepare every meal fresh. This way, five minutes, done.
And I can focus on eating and moving to something else. If you have to prepare each meal as you go, you won’t follow your meal plan, especially if you got to eat six meals a day. You end up drifting off because it’s just too much work each day. It takes up too much time. Having everything pre-prepared in bulk, and then all you have to do is pick out each time, it’s just insanely easier,” said Dauda.
Meal 3
350 grams of cooked pasta
180 grams of mince (ground) 5% beef
Post-Workout Shake
Hosstile ISO [H1] two scoops
Hosstile CDX two scoops
homemade Pineapple Parsinip juice
ginger
Meal 4
2 cups of rice (white)
250 grams of chicken breast
Meal 5
Nando’s Half chicken & chips & corn
Meal 6
“Normally, I’d have chicken and rice if I was in prep,” added Dauda.
In addition to his contest schedule, Dauda has kept busy in the off-season with guest posing appearances. Back in May, he stole the show with Olympia runner-up Derek Lunsford at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro guest posing. Weeks later, they pushed each other in an ‘Olympia battle workout,’ led by bodybuilding veteran Chris Cormier.
Dauda has maintained impressive size during off-seasons. Similar to last year, Dauda continues to show off a ripped build weighing over 300 pounds. His latest guest posing at the USA Fit Pro saw him weigh in at a staggering 327 pounds.
The bodybuilding community has taken note of Dauda’s Mr. Olympia-winning potential. Athletes rep Bob Cicherillo recently named Duada and Derek Lunsford as Hadi Choopan’s top threats when they meet on stage later this year.
Given Dauda’s history of making improvements show-to-show, should he bring up his back, he could easily push into the podium as pointed out by head judge Steve Weinberger. Whether it’s nutrition or training, it’s clear Dauda plans on bringing his absolute best in Nov.
RELATED: Samson Dauda, Milos Sarcev Say Back Thickness Key to Defeating Hadi Choopan: ‘No Breaks from Training’
Watch the full video on the Samson Dauda YouTube channel below:
Published: 28 June, 2023 | 11:23 AM EDT
Shaun Clarida Shows Off Insane 206-Lb Physique Update 20 Weeks From 2023 Mr. Olympia
Shaun Clarida has officially begun preparations for his upcoming title defense in November. The reigning two-time 212 Olympia champ took to Instagram and showcased an impressive physique update where he tipped the scales at 206 pounds.
While he doesn’t enjoy the height of some of his peers, Clarida makes up for it with density, conditioning, and pure grit. He’s been referred to as a ‘Mini Ronnie Coleman,’ who is known for throwing around heavy weight for high reps.
With cartoonish proportions and three-dimensional muscle mass, Shaun Clarida quickly emerged as a preeminent threat in the 212 Bodybuilding class. After several years of failing to win the coveted Olympia title, Clarida reached the pinnacle of his career in 2020 when he ousted Kamal Elgargni for gold in a memorable showdown.
In 2021, he brought an improved physique but struggled against Derek Lunsford, a competitor held in high regard for his shape, aesthetics, and pronounced v-taper. In the end, Shaun took runner-up to Lunsford. Testing a new division, Clarida entered and won the 2021 Legion Sports Fest Pro, earning him the nickname ‘The Giant Killer.’
And while Derek Lunsford opted to compete in the Open at 2022 Mr. Olympia due to a special invite, Shaun stuck it out in the 212 class, aiming to win his title back. Clarida dominantly won his second 212 Olympia title last December. Instead of taking time to map out his next move, Clarida entered and finished fifth at the 2023 Arnold Classic.
Having led a busy schedule, Clarida is motivated to become a three-time champion later this year. He believes the birth of his daughter and a recent move to Texas will serve as huge boosts to his motivation on the horizon.
Shaun Clarida Shares ‘Starting Point’ for 2023 Mr. Olympia Prep, Shows Off 206-Lb Physique 20 Weeks Out
Clarida clarified that this photo was taken last week and served as his starting point for the 2023 Mr. Olympia prep.
At 206 pounds, Shaun appears full but is still holding on to a substantial amount of definition. Despite the off-season, his legs are impressively separated as well.
“?UPDATE?
This is my starting point 20 weeks out (taken last week) from the 2023 ⭕️lympia sitting at 206lbs.
Despite being one of the busiest years of my life/career between doing both the Olympia and the Arnold last season, the birth of my daughter and moving my family from New Jersey ➡️ Texas, it’s been one of the most productive. The new environment, having the fuel & motivation with Baby GK and always having a supporting cast of friends, family and sponsors have all kept me grounded and focused on the task and goal come November 3rd. ???
OFF TO THE RACES WE GO!” Shaun Clarida wrote.
Clarida has ambitious plans before he puts an end to his bodybuilding career. In March, he revealed he would like to break Flex Lewis‘ all-time 212 Olympia record of seven victories. During his appearance on Hany Rambod’s The Truth Podcast, Shaun elaborated on his future. He said his goal was to win multiple titles as a 212 athlete but still planned to occasionally test his mettle in the Open class.
In addition to their YouTube collaboration, Clarida and Rambod teamed up for an FST-7 chest workout. With hypertrophy as the primary objective, the training session was a success and highlighted how freaky Shaun looks when his physique is pumped up.
The 212 division is growing in popularity, and Clarida will have his hands full with contenders later this year. Breon Ansley, who gave Chris Bumstead trouble in the Classic Physique category, announced his switch to the 212 and said fans should expect another ’10 pounds of muscle mass’ when he hits the stage later this year.
RELATED: Bodybuilder Shaun Clarida Crushes A Demanding Chest And Delts Workout
With top contenders from last year and new blood like Ansley, fans are in store for an epic 212 showcase at the 2023 Olympia show. Clarida, who has flipped the switch for prep, plans to bring his best look to date in the near future.
Published: 26 June, 2023 | 9:56 PM EDT