Tag: 2023 Mr. olympia
Jeremy Buendia Announces Comeback Battle for 2023 Olympia
American bodybuilder Jeremy Buendia boasts one of the most impressive records of any competitor in the Men’s Physique class. Although he stepped away from professional competition a few years ago, he never ruled out the possibility of a return. In a recent Instagram post, Buendia announced his plans to make his comeback at the 2023 Olympia and teased a battle with reigning champ Erin Banks on June 8 with a special collaboration.
Jeremy Buendia grew up playing football in his high school days. He found his passion for bodybuilding after suffering injuries to his neck and back. He earned his IFBB Pro card in 2013, the same year the Men’s Physique division was added to the Mr. Olympia competition. Buendia turned in a strong performance but fell short of the inaugural winner Mark Anthony Wingson.
Having narrowly missed out on the win, Buendia worked hard in the off-season and came back stronger than ever for the 2014 Mr. Olympia. He exacted revenge by dethroning Wingson to secure first. Then, Buendia managed to ward off the new crop of talent and went on a dominant run that saw him become a four-time Men’s Physique Olympia. His last appearance came at the 2018 Mr. Olympia, where he dropped the title to three-time winner Brandon Hendrickson.
Buendia teased a comeback to the Olympia stage in the final quarter of 2019. He teamed up with former Mr. Olympia Brandon Curry to get ready for the event. In July 2020, he offered a jacked physique update ahead of his anticipated return and later shared some of his best tips on training rear delts for muscle growth. Ultimately, his comeback was put on ice again.
The 32-year-old stunned with an impressive physique update in April last year. Buendia presented an improved package that sparked speculation about a potential move to the Classic Physique category. He confirmed his plan was to get back on stage bigger than ever before. Specifically, his goal was to bulk up to 225 pounds.
Jeremy Buendia and reigning Men’s Physique Olympia Erin Banks traded verbal jabs ahead of the 2022 Mr. Olympia last September. Buendia took issue with Banks disrespecting other contenders and Hendrickson stepped in to cool things down. As of late, Buendia opened up on his ambitions to win another Olympia contest following Banks’ victory in December. He believes the competition was razor-close and doubled down on his eventual return.
Jeremy Buendia announces comeback for the 2023 Mr. Olympia, teases battle with Erin Banks in June
In a recent Instagram post, Jeremy Buendia shared his plans to make a comeback for the 2023 Mr. Olympia. He also teased a battle with reigning Men’s Physique champ Erin Banks next month.
“I’m all in we are only 6 months away from the comeback!” he wrote. “Olympia Battle June 8th be sure to tune in to OlympiaTV.”
Jeremy Buendia gave his take on the current state of the Men’s Physique division four months ago. He recognized the danger presented by Banks’ height and believes that added size and conditioning could help him claim gold.
In addition, Buendia laid out a gigantic 4,600-calorie bulking diet he utilized to pack on 19 pounds in a span of two weeks last October. The off-season diet consisted of seven massive meals to keep him energized while still adding muscle mass.
RELATED: Jeremy Buendia to Flex Lewis: To Beat Erin Banks at 2023 Olympia, I Have to Bring a ‘Flawless Package’
It remains to be seen whether Buendia will follow through with his plan to step on the Olympia stage later this year, but all signs point to his return in November, where he’ll face off with Erin Banks.
Published: 4 May, 2023 | 11:12 PM EDT
Samson Dauda Says Hadi Choopan & Derek Lunsford Will Lose 2023 Mr. Olympia If He Improves His Back
Bodybuilder Samson Dauda‘s confidence is rising ahead of his next competition in November. In a recent Muscular Development interview, Dauda explained that a bigger and more detailed back is the ticket to his first Mr. Olympia title against Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford.
“That’s going to be one area where they’re holding their strengths on, we need to take that away,” said Samson Dauda.
Dauda caught the attention of the bodybuilding world last year when he turned in a sixth-place finish at the 2022 Mr. Olympia contest. At the event, he managed to push the former two-time champion, Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay who claimed fifth. Meanwhile, Hadi Choopan won with Derek Lunsford and Nick Walker taking second and third, respectively.
Dauda immediately jumped back into a show at the 2023 Arnold Classic in March. After the prize money swelled to $300,000, a few high-profile athletes joined the show, such as Elssbiay, Nick Walker, and Andrew Jacked. At his second Arnold Classic competition, Dauda earned gold in a close battle against ‘The Mutant’ and Jacked. While some in the sport found the results controversial, Dauda succeeded in earning his invite to the Olympia stage in 2023.
Bob Cicherillo, a notable voice in the bodybuilding community, has taken to a handful of podcasts to discuss the Men’s Open landscape. According to Cicherillo, Dauda and Lunsford are now equal threats to Choopan’s title after the Nigerian’s latest performance. Now taking a closer look at the potential showdown is Dauda, who joined Giles Thomas for a candid talk.
Samson Dauda on Hadi Choopan/Derek Lunsford: ‘Once I Improve My Back Shots, Where Else Can They Beat Me?’
Dauda said he’s already eying gold at the Olympia show scheduled for November 2-5 in Orlando, Florida.
“I mean, this one, I’m already thinking, okay, fu** we gotta go win the Olympia now,” said Samson Dauda. “A few weeks later off the Arnold stage yeah, I’m like let’s go. I mean, I’m still sort of taking it all in. Enjoying the idea, it’s the Arnold man, it just changes your life.
You sort of taking it in and enjoying the prospect of that but at no point in the back of your mind, every training session – I mean, you go to that gym, one thing is on the mind, you know what you’re training for now. I’m no longer training to be top 10, I’m not training to qualify for the Olympia, I’m not training to be in the top five, now you go into the gym training to be the Mr. Olympia, to be the greatest bodybuilder in the world. This is your moment, this is it,” says Dauda.
“This is the moment, that’s why you got to be prepared, first, you have to fight to be in that call out, then you have to fight to win that call out. Now, this is what you train for. This is what you’re in the gym for. This is what every session, every grueling pain, everything you put your body through, okay, you have to be ready for that one moment.”
Samson believes his back shots are the only obstacle preventing him from winning the Olympia.
“One thing, obviously, I want to make sure that — because I know the one point that those two guys [Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford] will have over me will be the back shots. So that one, okay, I got to close that door. Close that gap. I probably won’t be able to pass it but I will close it enough to where it no longer is a night and day sort of thing. Once I do that, the rest of it… where else can they touch me on?
Bring your weaknesses to match up with theirs so then you can show your glaring strengths and make those parts shine out,” added Dauda. “For us, break down our faults… break down what we know we’re weak at. Break down what anybody has an advantage over us; we say, ‘Right, let’s take it away, let’s fix that.’ So they don’t have that advantage.”
Even if he is unable to match the back density of Choopan or Lunsford, Dauda said the improvements would be enough to sway the judges.
“At least if we do that, it will be significantly enough to be like, ‘Okay, he might not beat them in that shot,’ but it’s enough to make them turn around and go, ‘Eh, but,’ and that’s all it needs to be.”
“We make sure we tick so much boxes that you might beat us in this shot or that shot, but guess what, when you overall tally the score, we get a lot more points than you do and this is how a physique works, being so balanced and so symmetrical that you can’t pick out a bad pose.”
Whether or not Choopan defends his title this year has become a topic of debate. Nick Walker is confident that the next Olympia will be decided following a battle between himself and Lunsford. He emphasized that Choopan won’t repeat as Mr. Olympia. However, William Bonac disagrees and recently stated that Choopan will definitely win at least one more Sandow, likely this year.
RELATED: Seth Feroce Says Nick Walker ‘Allowed to Be Fuc**ng Pissed’ After Samson Dauda Loss at 2023 Arnold Classic
While Mr. Olympia is still several months away, fans will get a sneak peek of the top contenders’ physiques at Jim Manion’s 2023 Pittsburgh Pro next weekend. Hunter Labrada, Derek Lunsford, Nick Walker, Samson Dauda, and Shaun Clarida will all make special guest posing appearances.
You can watch the full video below from the Muscular Development YouTube channel:
Published: 3 May, 2023 | 1:54 PM EDT
Chris Cormier & Olympia Judge Discuss Potential of Iain Valliere, Michal Krizo, And ‘Good Vito’
The 2023 bodybuilding season is underway, prompting Terrick El Guindy and Chris Cormier to discuss the potential Mr. Olympia lineup. In a recent episode of Prime Time Muscle, Cormier and El Guindy assessed the Olympia-winning potential of Iain Valliere, Michal Krizo Križánek, and Good Vito (Vitaliy Ugolnikov).
As a consistent top-seven finisher at Olympia, Iain Valliere came up short at the event last December. He earned 11th place though pushed through adversity during prejudging and finals. Reflecting on his last show, Valliere admits some mistakes were made regarding his nutrition, posing, and training. When the dust settled, Hadi Choopan claimed gold, and Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay was knocked down to fifth.
Fellow mass monster Krizo made his way to the Mr. Olympia stage following a historic bodybuilding season. He switched to the NPC, won a pro show, and earned his Olympia invite in the span of a few months. He proved himself in his Olympia debut with a 12th-place finish, just one spot behind Valliere.
Vitaliy Ugolnikov, well known as ‘Good Vito,’ continues to grow in popularity among the bodybuilding community. He boasts an impressive level of size and conditioning. Fans have also praised his biceps and flaring quads. Last November, Good Vito earned his IFBB Pro card after winning the Musclecontest International Brazil Nationals.
Chris Cormier and Olympia Judge on Iain Valliere: ‘He Needs to Bring Up His Calves & Back’
When all is said and done, El Guindy is convinced Valliere will be considered an all-time great Canadian bodybuilder.
“He’s a great bodybuilder. Iain is a great bodybuilder. He’s won plenty of pro shows. He’s going to go down in history as one of the best Canadian bodybuilders of all time; I got to give him credit for that. Was this performance his best performance? No. It wasn’t a good performance, he’ll be the first one to tell you, ‘I missed my peak, I’m going to be better next time.’”
El Guindy advised Valliere to improve his back and calves.
“The biggest issue here is his back. His back double biceps, his back lat spread, because look at this: this is one of his best poses [side triceps] this is how he won in Texas; this is how he won a lot of shows. Look at the hamstrings, the legs, he’s massive on top, he’s a mass monster. From the back here, this is not a good back double biceps,” said Terrick El Guindy.
“Let me tell you then: he needs to bring up his calves, his back, here’s the thing, I had a chance to talk to Iain Valliere. Sometimes, we look at the posing and maybe he needs to practice his back posing. I’m not saying he’s pinching his back on the back double biceps but on the back lat spread, I just don’t like it. He needs to fix that. If he fixes that and he becomes as good as that side chest, this guy is formidable.”.
Cormier on Michal Krizo: ‘Everything About Him is Raw, But He Has So Much Upside’
Chris Cormier believes Michal Krizo is still ‘raw’ or inexperienced in many aspects of bodybuilding such as posing. Given his mass and conditioning, Cormier predicted that the Slovakian native will give competitors problems on the horizon.
“He wanted to go up against the big boys, he wanted to be considered the best or one of the best in the world and I mean… he could have placed better but I was really impressed when he took that shirt off and hit that crab [during the presser]. The big old arms, he’s very raw as I noticed, very raw. Everything he does, from the posing, the training, everything is raw with him but he has so much upside. I think he’s going to give some people some real headaches pretty soon. I’m really impressed with what he can bring in the future. Those arms — they are gigantic,” said Chris Cormier.
“He might have some of the biggest arms in the history [of the sport]. To make it more disproportionate, he doesn’t have a big head. His head is kind of small so his arms look even bigger,” said El Guindy. “He’s just so impressive.”
‘He’s Another One That Will Shock A Lot of People’: Cormier Talks Good Vito’s Potential
According to ‘The Real Deal,’ Good Vito also has the capabilities to make major waves in the Men’s Open this year.
“Good Vito, he’s very young, big flaring quads. The back is not too bad for his age. I mean, at that age, you don’t expect someone to have that type of back development. I had a tough time building it for a long time. Just his depth to his body is pretty good,” said Chris Cormier.
“When that comes, you got to get around someone that’s actually done that shit [bodybuilding]. But he has so much upside, I was looking forward to trying to see if he was going to be able to get into a pro show and try to get to the Olympia but you know, there’s always time for that. He’s a young guy. He has a lot of road ahead of him. As long as he stays doing everything smart — I think he’s another one that can shock a lot of people pretty soon.”
El Guindy said he heard a rumor that Good Vito plans to compete at the 2024 Arnold Classic South America contest.
“I think he is in his late 20s. So, he’s a guy that was with the other federation,” El Guindy said. “I was able to connect him with some guys in Brazil who were looking for a bodybuilder [to sponsor]. He’s been training in Brazil. He’s massive. Now, the thing about [him], we have not seen him compete in the IFBB Pro League. Rumor has it he’s going to make his pro debut at the Arnold Classic in Brazil.”
In addition to those mentioned above, Andrew Jacked is another new contender who recently emerged as a Men’s Open threat. He recorded a spectacular season last year, where he claimed victories at the 2022 Texas Pro and Arnold Classic UK shows. He finished eighth in his debut at Mr. Olympia and earned third place in a close affair at the 2023 Arnold Classic.
It should be noted that this video and an Instagram post promoting this episode were initially deleted after offending fans online. They used words like ‘failure’ and bust’ to describe a few of the Men’s Open competitors that were unable to find success on the Olympia stage. In response to the backlash, El Guindy issued an apology and stressed he’d be more careful with his word choice in the future.
RELATED: Iain Valliere on Next Show: ‘I’m Not in A Big Sluggish Off-Season, I Could Go from 285 to 265 in 4 Weeks’
With such a talent-rich division, fans are excited to see which athletes earn invites to compete later this year. El Guindy and Cormier are confident Valliere, Good Vito, and Krizo have the potential to shake up the 2023 Mr. Olympia assuming they earn qualifications.
You can watch the full video below courtesy of the Olympia TV YouTube channel:
Published: 2 May, 2023 | 6:52 PM EDT
Hadi Choopan Looks Massive in 2023 Off-Season, Shares Brutal Row & Leg Press Workouts
Hadi Choopan is determined to repeat the success he enjoyed last year. In two posts published on Instagram, Choopan showed off his strength with leg presses and t-bar rows in preparation for the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest.
Choopan made history last year at 2022 Mr. Olympia and became the first man from Iran to win the prestigious title. The show was filled with surprises as Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay surrendered his throne in fifth whereas Derek Lunsford, a former 212 Olympia winner, cashed in his special invite for the Open with a second-place finish. Meanwhile, Nick Walker secured third in addition to earning the Olympia People’s Champ Award.
After Samson Dauda defeated Walker at the 2023 Arnold Classic in March, fans refocused their attention to the Olympia contest set for November 2-5 in Orlando, Florida. Veterans and active competitors have taken to social media to back their respective favorites. Bodybuilding legend Ronnie Coleman has stated Derek Lunsford will defeat Choopan in their next outing.
Nick Walker also said Choopan won’t repeat as champion this year. He believes the show will be determined after a showdown between himself and Derek Lunsford. Other notable voices in the community, such as Bob Cicherillo, believe Choopan at ‘100%’ beats everyone in the show. William Bonac shared a similar prediction recently and suspects Choopan will win another Sandow.
Hadi Choopan Sends Warning Shot to Open Class with Heavy Training Sessions
Check out Choopan’s t-bar row workout below:
“My ears are damaged and I love this blessing of God because it helps me to think only about my goal and not on the idle words of others. A warrior’s place is on the battlefield, not among weaklings.” Hadi Choopan wrote.
Then, Choopan powered through a set of heavy leg presses.
“We are together, move but don’t cheat, I’ll see you”
In a rare off-season update, Choopan gave fans a glimpse into his latest progress. Fans were taken aback by his striated chest and overall conditioning levels so far out from his next show. Choopan’s opponent, Lunsford, is guided by the same trainer Hany Rambod. They made it clear that Derek’s current focus is to bring more detail to his chest, arms, and legs moving forward.
Looking at the potential 2023 Olympia lineup, Bob Cicherillo laid out who believes could feasibly take out Choopan. Given Dauda’s improvements at the Arnold Classic, he named him and Derek Lunsford as equal threats to the reigning champ’s title.
RELATED: Chris Cormier, Terrick El Guindy on Hadi Choopan: ‘This Guy’s Stakes Are Higher Than Just Winning a Title’
Fans expect another unpredictable Mr. Olympia contest this fall as competitors have until October 9 to secure their invites. Considering his consistent nature, defeating Choopan will take a massive and calculated effort.
Published: 2 May, 2023 | 11:02 AM EDT
William Bonac: ‘Hadi Choopan Will Repeat as 2023 Mr. Olympia, He’s Going to Take Another Title’
William Bonac continues to deliver as a Men’s Open bodybuilder, competing twice in four months. In a recent The Menace Podcast, Bonac predicted Hadi Choopan would win 2023 Mr. Olympia and discussed what measures Nick Walker needs to take to become champion.
The Men’s Open division has endured major changes since 2022 Mr. Olympia. Hadi Choopan won his first title after outlasting a slew of threats in prejudging and the finals. Shockingly, Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay was unable to retain his throne in fifth whereas Derek Lunsford and Walker found themselves in second and third. Bonac, however, finished ninth, respectively.
At the 2023 Arnold Classic, Bonac redeemed himself with an impressive package, showcasing a blend of fullness and conditioning. While Bonac hoped to secure his third title in Columbus, Ohio, the veteran settled for seventh, proving himself against a lineup that saw Samson Dauda come out on top.
In light of his last two performances, Bonac suspended his current season. He set his sights on 2024 and plans to focus on rest and recovery. Looking ahead, ‘The Conquorer’ said his next show would likely be the Arnold Classic. Refusing to dismiss his Olympia ambitions, Bonac stated if he ‘brings his all,’ he could still retire with a Sandow trophy in the next two years.
In his latest endeavor, Bonac laid out who he believes might win the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest, scheduled for November 2-5, in Orlando Florida. Additionally, Bonac touched on what improvements Walker needs to make to reach the next level in his career.
William Bonac Says League ‘Going Away from Mass Monsters,’ Expects Hadi Choopan to ‘Repeat’ as 2023 Mr. Olympia
According to William Bonac, he’s ‘sure’ Hadi Choopan will win another title and believes he can definitely repeat at 2023 Mr. Olympia.
“I think definitely Hadi can repeat it, definitely. I think as you see… a lot of 212 guys are doing very good in the Open class. That’s something that I’ve noticed. They’re extremely good, maybe because they don’t look as big as Big Ramy, those mass monsters. I think they’re trying to go away from that. Not to say they are little guys, you understand. I also see that they are rewarding the taller guys. The few taller guys we have with beautiful aesthetics. That’s a good thing as well. No bloated guts you know, that’s what I see,” said William Bonac.
“We’ve seen him [Hadi Choopan] on the stage and he’s ripped to pieces. How are you guys backstage, you see more than we do. When you see Hadi, he is next level right?” asks Sarcev.
“He’s next level. Even with the pump up, when you stop pumping up, then he will come alive. The more he pumps up the freakier he gets. So, you know, I think honestly… last year or the year before the Olympia that he didn’t win — he looked way better. If he came even with that shape even now, that wasn’t even his best shape and he won it. So, I’m sure he’s going to take another title. If he brings the condition that he brought the year before, yeah,” Bonac shared.
Can Brandon Curry Regain the Mr. Olympia Title? Bonac Says ‘I Don’t Think So.’
Bonac believes his rival Brandon Curry will struggle to regain his Mr. Olympia title because he loses size in his legs when he shreds down before a contest.
“Brandon [Curry] is my dude man. I hope so [he takes another title]. I hope he can fight for the title like the direction that they are going — I think – I don’t think so,” Bonac added. “No because if he does that, he will lose the size then he doesn’t look so impressive. They have to play the size game a little bit because when he dials in too much, he will lose the size of his legs again.”
Bonac Says Nick Walker Needs Improved Quad Sweeps to Contend for 2023 Mr. Olympia Title
Milos Sarcev, Dennis James, and William Bonac agree that Walker needs more outer quad sweep for 2023 Olympia.
“Bigger legs, bigger chest, and I think his chest improved dramatically already,” said Sarcev.
“It’s just the legs, the sweep of the legs,” clarified Bonac.
“That quad sweep, that could be a genetic thing. I’m sure it’s not because he’s not working hard enough or he’s not doing what he’s supposed to,” Dennis James said.
Chris Cormier and Bonac also shared that Walker would benefit from some posing adjustments.
“From the side, he looks good, from the back he looks good, it’s just from the front or maybe maybe the way he stands on his legs, maybe he should turn it more like Brandon does, so you get more of the inner thighs [in the abdominals and thighs pose].”
“I would try to utilize my legs differently in those poses. The way he’s doing them is not helping him right now,” Chris Cormier explained.
Before confirming his one-year hiatus from the sport, questions about Bonac’s retirement circulated online. Bob Cicherillo, who serves as the announcer of the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia shows, said he would like to see Bonac receive a special invite for 2024 Mr. Olympia so he could retire on top.
As for Nick Walker, he recently argued that Choopan wouldn’t be able to successfully defend his title later this year. He believes the 2023 Olympia winner will be determined following a battle between himself and former 212 Olympia Derek Lunsford.
RELATED: William Bonac ‘Taking Measures’ for Inflamed Kidneys, Stops Oral Steroids In Prep for 2023 Arnold Classic
The 2023 Pittsburgh Pro takes place May 12-13 and serves as a teaser for bodybuilding’s ultimate destination. Given how unpredictable 2022 Olympia was, fans are looking forward to seeing their favorite competitors make a play for Hadi Choopan’s title.
You can watch the full video below from the Muscle and Fitness YouTube channel:
Published: 1 May, 2023 | 7:32 PM EDT
2023 Grl Pwr Championships Results — Romina Basualdo Wins
The 2023 Grl Pwr Championships took place on Saturday, April 29 in Orlando Florida. This weekend’s competition featured the Bikini division and served as a qualifier for the Olympia competition later this year.
The 2023 Mr. Olympia contest is scheduled for November 2-5, in Orlando Florida inside the Orange County Convention Center. Athletes have until October 9 to earn their respective invitations. Aside from the Men’s Open class, all other division’s top three finishers from the 2022 Olympia show are automatically invited back to this year’s event.
There have been significant changes to the Olympia Qualification System this year. Unlike in 2022, the point system has been removed. With that in mind, bodybuilders must win a pro show to guarantee their Olympia appearance in a few months.
As it stands, 2022 Bikini Olympia 10th place finisher Romina Basualdo will be in attendance looking to stamp her ticket. Meanwhile, fans expect Kathy Setiz and Reijuana Harley to push for gold given their consistency and stage presentation.
2023 Grl Pwr Bikini Championships Results
Winner — Romina Basualdo
Second Place — Reijuana Harley
Third Place — Jessica Machado
Fourth Place — Janine Herrera
Fifth Place — Kimberly Bonilla
Sixth Place — Carlee Stevenson
Seventh Place — Carolina Collazos
Eighth Place — Kathy Seitz
Ninth Place — Sophia Bernard
Tenth Place — Shey Webb
2023 Grl Pwr Pro Scorecard
2023 Grl Pwr Pro Bikini Scorecard
Fitness Volt congratulates the winner!
Published: 30 April, 2023 | 12:15 AM EDT
Michal Krizo Looks Massive and Ripped in Latest Update, Hints at Surprise Contest in 8 Weeks
Rising Men’s Open star Michal Krizo appears to be taking to the stage soon. In a recent Instagram stories post, Krizo shocked fans with a ripped physique update and teased a return in eight weeks.
Slovakian mass monster Krizo stole headlines on a consistent basis last year. He switched to the NPC from the IFBB Elite Pro League, then earned his pro card in short order after dominating the 2022 Amateur Olympia Italy. Having claimed victory at the EVLS Prague Pro next, Krizo guaranteed his passage to Mr. Olympia, where he embraced the opportunity with a 12th-place finish in his debut.
Krizo has ambitious plans for the 2023 season and the community has taken notice. Figureheads of the sport such as former Mr. Olympia Samir Bannout have urged Krizo to refine his posing skills. To shore up any stage nerves or weaknesses, Krizo guest posed at 300 pounds during the off-season a few weeks ago.
Aside from posing, the 32-year-old has been following a rigorous training schedule. He offered a glimpse into his bulking leg workout recently, where at the time, admitted his next competition would be the 2023 Arnold Classic UK (AKA: Experience With Sports Festival UK) in September. Fortunately for his fans, it looks like he’s changed his mind and teased his next show in less than two months.
Michal Krizo Teases Next Contest in 8 Weeks, Where Will He Compete?
Given the time frame revealed by Krizo, fans expect his next contest appearance to come at the 2023 Empro Classic Pro Spain on June 18.
Check out his physique update below:
Krizo showed off his fullness and vascularity in a separate IG stories post.
Krizo
Previously, Krizo laid out some of his goals for the current season. Reacting to his 12th-place performance at Olympia, Krizo said he was unhappy with his conditioning levels. He explained that his body felt ‘tired’ in December after peaking multiple times last year.
With time to accept the outcome of 2022 Olympia, Krizo hasn’t been shy about discussing his opposition. During last year’s contest, Krizo argued that the beautiful structure of Brandon Curry was overlooked. In fact, Krizo stated that Curry had the best upper body of the entire show and said he ‘deserved’ to place higher than fourth.
Krizo has also shared rivalries with a number of Open class stars like Nick Walker, Blessing Awodibu, and Iain Valliere. After Olympia, he buried the hatchet with all of them and placed ahead of Awodibu, who defeated Krizo at an amateur bodybuilding contest back in 2017.
RELATED: Bodybuilder Michal Krizo Crushes A Back Workout Eight Days Out of 2022 Olympia
Should he claim a pro show victory before October 9, Michal Krizo will have the chance to break into the first call-out and face the reigning Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan on bodybuilding’s biggest stage.
Published: 28 April, 2023 | 11:04 AM EDT
Sergio Oliva Jr. Aiming for 2023 New York & Cali Pro, Fires Back at ‘Instagram Bodybuilder’ Label
Legacy bodybuilder Sergio Oliva Jr. is slowly inching his way back into competition after taking a brief hiatus. In a Bodybuilding University YouTube video, Oliva Jr. opened up on his comeback plans, criticized fans labeling him an ‘Instagram bodybuilder,’ and shared his thoughts on the future of Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay’s career. Being the son…
Chris Bumstead: “I Brought My PEDs Down & It Allowed Me to Have to Train Harder”
Classic Physique star Chris Bumstead revealed some surprising details about his 2023 Olympia preparations. In a recent The Raw U. Podcast, Bumstead shared that he decreased his performance-enhancing drug (PED) use, which has allowed him to train harder in the current off-season.
“I just enjoy training hard when I’m in it and getting strong, so luckily that hasn’t changed,” shared Bumstead.
Bumstead first claimed the Classic Physique Olympia title in 2019 and has continued to display improvements to his physique year after year. Last December, it was revealed that Bumstead would no longer be working alongside Open class standout Iain Valliere. With 12 weeks until the 2022 Mr. Olympia competition, the 28-year-old joined forces with Hany Rambod, who is known for his innovative FST-7 training program.
Cbum shared his shredding diet weeks before taking to the stage last year. Ultimately, his efforts paid off as he handily won another Classic Physique Olympia title. After taking a victory lap, Bumstead explained that he overcame adversity after posing on stage with a torn bicep.
In a recent Don’t Be Sour Podcast, the four-time champ took an honest look at his future in the sport. He said his fear of losing is what motivates him to stay on top. While there have been talks of his eventual retirement, Bumstead made it clear that he won’t consider the possibility until after winning another Olympia. To shed some light on his PED use and diet plan for his next title defense, he joined Brett Wilkin for an interview.
Chris Bumstead Says ‘He’s Lowered PED Usage’ And Still ‘Pushes Really Hard’
In a show of transparency, Bumstead said he’s ‘brought his PEDs down’ and it’s enabled him to push harder during training sessions.
“It’s honestly been the exact same to be completely transparent, I brought my PEDs down and it allowed me to have to train harder. When I do, if anything, it now gives me that three months after a show to really just relax and let my body recover because I’m not anxiously being like, ‘I need to be huge.’ So, I need every second I have, I’m like, I can take the time off, relax, get into it.”
“I’ve been able to lower my PED usage from when I was younger even and still push really hard and it just keeps me under my weight cap; I still have a few pounds to play with I’m not dying to make weight like some people.”
Bumstead believes his muscle density has improved and shared that his trainer Hany Rambod doesn’t want him to bulk to 265 pounds in the off-season anymore.
“But when I got my pro card as a heavyweight bodybuilder I weighed 219 pounds or something and now I’m on stage at 240, 239 – so it’s taken me that long to put on like 20 pounds of muscle and it doesn’t really show too much on my frame, because I have a big frame but when you see comparison shots my density has gotten a lot better. But this is the first year, and I am looking forward to this and I was speaking with Hany [Rambod] and he was like, ‘We are not getting you up to 265 anymore this year.’
Bumstead Reveals 2023 Olympia Plan, Says Hany Rambod Wants Him to Compete ‘Much Leaner’
Given Bumstead’s muscle maturity and size, Rambod believes it would be best to exit the off-season at around 255-258 pounds.
“That’s only 25 pounds over my weight cap at what I typically compete at but I still want to be less than that. You have the muscle maturity and the size, we’ll keep you at 255, 258 – like much leaner, but hopefully try and get the same amount of mass on and when you diet down it will be really easy for you to get really lean because you’re not coming from such a high body fat point. My body can put on body fat pretty easily. That’s the goal this year. I’m not happy about that because I don’t like eating,” Chris Bumstead said.
“I’m already just beginning my off-season now barely eating like over 4,000 calories and I’m like, ‘Oh man, fu** I got to eat again?’ You know, it’s already there. So that’s definitely a benefit of Classic Physique this year and it will be interesting to see how it goes, hopefully, it makes me come in the best condition I’ve ever come to because I can get there earlier and slowly lean into it instead of crushing myself at the end of a prep like I’ve had to in the past just to make that weight but it’s not really a big difference. My training has definitely gotten better. Something I’ve at least gotten better with at least YouTube and this is I can just turn it on and off in like seconds.”
With off-season preparations underway, Cbum has opened up about his nutrition in detail. Earlier this month, Bumstead checked in with fans at 253 pounds and showed off a 3,500-calorie meal plan. Additionally, he’s offered glimpses into his training with a recent back-building workout.
RELATED: Larry Wheels on Chris Bumstead & Move to Classic Physique: ‘My Coach Said I Can Be Competitive With Just TRT’
Bumstead will aim to make it five Classic Physique titles later this year at 2023 Olympia, where he’ll rematch the newly minted Arnold Classic champion Ramon Queiroz.
Published: 24 April, 2023 | 6:30 PM EDT
2023 Los Angeles Grand Prix Pro Results — Carlos DeOliveira Wins
The Men’s Physique division headlined the 2023 Los Angeles Grand Prix Pro at the Anaheim Mariott in Anaheim, CA on April 22. Over 20 competitors battled on stage with hopes of earning a coveted invitation to the Mr. Olympia competition.
The bodybuilding calendar will welcome the next Mr. Olympia show from November 2-5, in Orlando, Florida inside the Orange County Convention Center. Athletes have until October 9 to qualify. The top three Men’s Physique finishers from 2022 Olympia are automatically invited back to compete again at this year’s event.
The Men’s Physique winner from this weekend will have a chance to take Olympia gold from Erin Banks – the man who just cemented himself as a two-time Arnold Classic champ.
Heading into SoCal, there were a few names fans expected fireworks from, like Carlos de Oliveira, who recently finished fifth at the 2023 Arnold Classic. In addition, Kevin Brown and Joseph Lee were eager to turn in statement-making performances.
2023 Los Angeles Grand Prix Pro Results
Men’s Physique
Winner — Carlos DeOliveira
Second Place — Joseph Lee
Third Place — Andres Ramos
Fourth Place — Kevin Brown
Fifth Place — Roberto Lima
Sixth Place — Aundre Benson
Seventh Place — Jorge Hernandez
Eighth Place — Damar Turner
Ninth Place — Steven Pham
Tenth Place — Franky Yan
2023 Los Angeles Grand Prix Pro Scorecard
Fitness Volt congratulates the winner!
Published: 23 April, 2023 | 4:03 AM EDT