Tag: derek lunsford
Jay Cutler Breaks Down 2023 Mr. Olympia Top Contenders: ‘Can Andrew Jacked Shock the World?’
Legendary bodybuilder Jay Cutler led a highly decorated career that saw him become a four-time Mr. Olympia. Since moving on from professional competition, he’s turned into a revered figure known for his sharp eye for talent. In a recent episode of Cutler Cast, Cutler shared his breakdown of the top contenders for the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia competition.
Jay Cutler first made headlines for his monstrous muscle mass, size, and conditioning in the IFBB Pro League Men’s Open division in the 2000s. He dominated the competition at the 2002 Arnold Classic and racked up two more AC titles in the following years. He developed an intense rivalry with eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman, who kept him at bay from the top prize. After four runner-up finishes, Cutler finally dethroned his longtime foe and secured his maiden Sandow trophy. He hung up his posing trunks with four Mr. Olympia wins under his belt.
The Men’s Open division hosts some of the freakiest mass monsters in the world and serves as the marquee category at any bodybuilding event. The division’s landscape continues to evolve with a rise in talent joining the division from around the world.
Former two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay got knocked off the top at the 2022 Mr. Olympia last season. Hadi Choopan reigned supreme as the new champion whereas former 212 Olympia king Derek Lunsford stunned the world with a silver in his Open debut. Nick Walker moved up the ranks and rounded out the top three. Meanwhile, Hunter Labrada missed the mark and fell out of the top six, meaning he would need to earn an invite to the competition this year.
Andrew Jacked / Instagram
Rising sensation Andrew Jacked is another contender who presented a major threat to the more experienced veterans. Samson Dauda emerged as a budding contender after placing sixth at the previous Olympia event. He further asserted his place in the mix by coming out on top of the 2023 Arnold Classic three months ago.
Slovakian bodybuilder Michal Krizo entered the group with a lot of hype behind him last year. He presented insane arm development along with freakish overall muscularity. He’s coming off a commanding performance in his last outing at the 2023 Empro Classic Pro that saw him score gold last week.
Jay Cutler breaks down top contenders of 2023 Mr. Olympia
In a recent YouTube video, Jay Cutler shared his analysis of the top contenders for the 2023 Mr. Olympia.
Cutler started by praising Krizo’s latest win and identified areas he would like to see improved.
“He was looking so paper thin, especially in the upper body, the arms are some of the best in the business and it looked like he made improvements, which I think he did improve from his prior showings. But I don’t know if he came down in size a little bit to gather the condition,” said Cutler. “I still feel like he’s still going to have trouble pushing the top spots at the Olympia.
“He still needs to get more density in the side of the leg, the hamstring, glutes, and the back’s improved but he still… arms are so big. When you have arms that big it kinda takes from the lats unless you’re like a Nick Walker.”
Cutler believes Dauda and Lunsford are the frontrunners for the contest. He also highlighted the danger Choopan and former champ Brandon Curry may present.
“I didn’t want to start counting places because I hated when people did that to me but there’s a lot of good guys. That six to ten is going to be… We just saw Derek and Samson too. They trained together a couple days ago and Derek looks tremendous which he always has and Samson looks tremendous which he has for the past few years. Obviously, the Arnold winner. Question is if Derek would’ve done the Arnold, we could keep talking about that.”
“Contention wise, Hadi’s been kind of shouting out ‘don’t forget about me.’ We’re also forgetting Brandon Curry.”
Derek Lunsford / Instagram
Cutler supports Big Ramy competing at the event
Jay Cutler extended his support for Big Ramy to return and compete at the 2023 Mr. Olympia. He believes Ramy doesn’t have enough time to sit out a year and could perform well if he came in his best form.
“Ramy sounds like he’s going to come back and compete, which I’m all for. He needs to possibly take a step away and I think it’s got a little misconstrued. I hate the fact that Steve Weinberger has kinda been put on the spot because he said basically go back to what you’re doing. I don’t think he ever said like he needs to take the whole year off. I don’t even know how it was said but there’s a lot of controversy right now.
“The point is he just needs to regroup and do what he does best and come in the best of his ability. There’s no real timeline on that. He’s 38, he can’t take a few years off, his health is really great. I hear his training is really great. He’s had some atrophy compared to years prior on the arms, triceps, I think he’s admitted to having some downsizing there. But he looked great at the Arnold. He could’ve probably placed a little better but I don’t want to discredit the people that did.”
‘Can Andrew Jacked win & shock the world?’ asks Cutler
The 49-year-old praised Andrew Jacked for his immense potential in the sport. He expressed his excitement about watching Andrew go up against Hunter Labrada and others at the nearing 2023 Texas Pro. For Cutler, the biggest question is if Jacked could do enough later this year to win the coveted Sandow trophy.
“I hear great things about Andrew too. The big showdown is going to be Texas. There’s going to be other guys too. I know there’s a lot of international shows but that’s going to be like what, who’s not going to qualify there. Those two guys [Andrew and Hunter] need to be in the lineup because they’re people we’re talking about and the question is, can Andrew come and win the Olympia and shock the world?”
Jay Cutler is currently on a mission to take his physique to the next level as part of the ‘Fit for 50’ body transformation challenge for his 50th birthday. He revealed he’s gained 15 pounds in preparation for the challenge earlier this week.
This year’s competition in the Men’s Open division is shaping up to be one of the most exciting and competitive. Fans will be waiting in anticipation to see which competitors qualify and who ultimately takes the crown of Mr. Olympia.
RELATED: Jay Cutler Offers Tips for Sculpting Abs: ‘Remember You’re Trying to Condition Them, Not Build Muscle’
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 24 June, 2023 | 10:24 AM EDT
Derek Lunsford, Samson Dauda Look Huge in Update During 2023 Mr. Olympia Battle Workout
Preparations for the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest are ramping up for Open class talent. In a special Olympia TV production, Derek Lunsford and Samson Dauda gave physique updates and pushed each other with a back workout battle/posedown.
“We’re going to have – we need some intensity guys. This is not going to be a show for powderpuff training. It’s going to be hardcore, I want to see everybody going all-out. I mean this – we got to bring it today. You guys ready?” Cormier said.
Many fans believe the Men’s Open division has never been more exciting. There have also been major shake-ups in the category over the last several months. At the 2022 Mr. Olympia contest, a new hierarchy was established after Hadi Choopan claimed gold. After receiving a special invite for the Open class, former 212 Olympia Derek Lunsford proved himself with a second-place finish. This event also served as Samson Dauda‘s Mr. Olympia debut where he placed sixth.
While Lunsford decided to sit out the 2023 Arnold Classic, Dauda had other plans. With momentum from Las Vegas, Dauda brought his best to Columbus, Ohio, and ultimately defeated finalists Nick Walker and Andrew Jacked to claim gold. Veterans and figureheads of the sport took notice of his Mr. Olympia-winning potential. Athletes rep Bob Cicherillo has gone on record saying that Choopan’s biggest threats are Lunsford and Dauda.
Ronnie Coleman, a name that carries a lot of weight in the IFBB Pro League, has suggested that Lunsford will become the next Mr. Olympia champion. He specified that the former 212 winner will likely dethrone Choopan later this year. When tasked with choosing his favorite bodybuilder of this generation, Coleman said it was a tie between Lunsford and Dauda.
Meanwhile, Nick Walker, who also aims to win Mr. Olympia, doesn’t see Dauda as a concern despite losing to him in March. In ‘The Mutant’s’ opinion, the next Sandow trophy will be awarded to himself or Lunsford, depending on who brings better improvements in November. Though, for Samson Dauda, he has never been more confident, and believes with a bigger back, he can become the number one bodybuilder in the world.
Derek Lunsford, Samson Dauda Give Physique Updates & Test Limits with Back Workout Battle
Led by Chris Cormier, Lunsford, and Dauda pushed each other through a series of back workouts. Lunsford believes his back is currently better than Dauda’s. Samson, on the other hand, said he would have won the 2023 Arnold Classic even if Lunsford entered the contest.
“Yeah man, I mean back has always been my strong point. So, I figured we’d get in here today and have some fun,” said Lunsford. “Like I said, I think my back shots are my strong points, so as of right now, I would say yes [my back shots will beat Samson Dauda at 2023 Olympia] and I’m prepared to improve it for this year.”
“Bodybuilding is judged on more than just a back shot right, it’s about who is the most complete and that’s what I bring. At the same time, I know I can learn a thing or two like I’ve always done in the past, I’ve taken my opponent’s strengths and made them my own, and use the same strengths to beat them,” said Dauda. “Oh yeah [if Derek Lunsford was at the 2023 Arnold I would have beat him] damn right. I don’t back down for no one.”
Cormier predicted that there would be palpable tension during the training session since they share the same goal of wanting to become Mr. Olympia.
“I think they’re going to have to show each other who is going to be the more dominant competitor on stage. And I think it’s all going to start right here with Olympia Battle 3. I think my man [Samson Dauda] is large and in charge and I think being second at the Olympia [for Derek Lunsford] there’s going to be some tension today,” Chris Cormier said.
Find their full back workout list below:
Lat Pulldown Machine – 4 sets
Barbell Rows – 5 sets
Seated Cable Row Machine – 4 sets
Stiff Arms Pulldown Aka Straight Arms – 4 sets
Chest Supported Low Row Machine – 4 sets
“That’s the bodybuilding mentality,” Lunsford shared. “This is fun for me to come out here, train with the Arnold Classic champion Samson. It’s a big back day.”
“This is the off-season. This is bodybuilding. This is a big man’s game,” said Dauda.
Following the workout, Lunsford and Dauda removed their pump covers for a posedown. They both hit mandatory poses on command before ending the battle.
Even though Choopan hasn’t been competing in the U.S. or guest posing doesn’t mean he’s not attacking his off-season with a chip on his shoulder. Last week, ‘The Persian Wolf’ gave fans a sneak peek into the off-season physique he’s been building. In addition, Choopan continues to push himself with heavy workouts posted on Instagram.
As for Derek Lunsford, he joined his coach Hany Rambod for The Truth Podcast recently. They sat down to discuss anxiety, depression, and obstacles in the way of his 2023 Mr. Olympia prep. Despite some setbacks during the off-season, Lunsford assured his fans that ‘everything is good’ as he eyes the next stage of his preparations.
Many believe Lunsford and Dauda cemented themselves as Mr. Olympia favorites during the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro guest-posing event. Given their dedication and work ethic, fans look forward to seeing how they fare in Orlando, Florida this November.
RELATED: Samson Dauda, Milos Sarcev Say Back Thickness Key to Defeating Hadi Choopan: ‘No Breaks from Training’
You can watch the full video from the Olympia TV YouTube channel below:
Published: 21 June, 2023 | 11:28 AM EDT
Samir Bannout Urges Big Ramy to Get Healthy & Backs Derek Lunsford as Most Dangerous at 2023 Mr. Olympia
Egyptian bodybuilder Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay left the door open for a new champion to emerge and paid the price for it at the 2022 Mr. Olympia last December. While many seem to count him out, others believe he could get back in the winning column. In a recent episode of The Muscle Maturity podcast, former Mr. Olympia Samir Bannout called on Big Ramy to get his health in order and encouraged him to take a similar approach as Derek Lunsford.
The 2022 season turned out to be one of the most exciting and competitive of any in recent years. Former two-time Mr. Olympia Big Ramy went into the Olympia contest as the betting favorite to retain the title based on his overwhelming muscle mass and size. He was tasked with the challenge to ward off proven veterans like Hadi Choopan and a crop of new talent in rising sensations Nick Walker and Andrew Jacked.
Along with the mass monsters of the Men’s Open class, former 212 Olympia king Derek Lunsford entered as the wildcard after receiving a special invite to test out his abilities in the Open Olympia. In the end, Ramy missed the mark and suffered a crushing defeat. He got dethroned by Choopan and dropped down to fifth place with Lunsford taking silver.
Following the result, fans were quick to bash Ramy and called on him to step away from professional competition. He was hoping to redeem himself at the 2023 Arnold Classic but could not assert his place in the mix of title contention. IFBB athletes’ representative Bob Cicherillo theorized Ramy would not be able to win another Sandow trophy unless he completely transformed his physique.
Big Ramy at 2022 Olympia
Ramy hit back at the critics for asking him to hang up his posing trunks. He expressed his passion for the sport and indicated no plans to move on anytime soon regardless of the outcomes. Ahead of his guest-posing appearance at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro, Ramy hinted at the possibility of taking a brief hiatus for the rest of the year.
Big Ramy opened up about his drive to regain his status as the best bodybuilder in the world last month. He believes training with anger helped him amp up the intensity and would ultimately benefit him on stage.
When it was time for his guest-posing appearance, Ramy presented an improved package but got outshined by the likes of Lunsford, Walker, and 2023 AC champion Samson Dauda. Cicherillo admitted Ramy looked better although he was not convinced the improvements were enough.
IFBB head judge Steve Weinberger recommended Ramy take to the sidelines to work on his shoulders, arms, and back muscle development along with his overall proportions.
Samir Bannout urges Big Ramy to get healthy
In a recent Rumble video, Bannout called on Big Ramy to prioritize his health and take some time off to heal the issues. He also suggested Ramy quit using hardcore supplements.
“I think one good year of maintenance training and really work in every way to improve his health in general,” said Bannout. “I talked to Ramy and he said according to doctors that would be in his best interest. It’s really hard for me to say 100 percent but more likely he should take care of his health and take a break from hardcore supplements, you know what I mean? Let his mind and body more healing time.”
Although Bannout wants Ramy to slow down, he doesn’t recommend taking a whole year off.
“If he takes off completely and becomes a couch potato, he’s done.”
Bannout believes following a similar path devised by coach Hany Rambod for Derek Lunsford could benefit Ramy.
“Maybe Ramy should follow similar principle like what Hany’s doing to Derek, maybe he can promote his mass again and get healthier, cleanse his liver and cleanse everything in his body and relax his mind.”
Lunsford has gained a lot of momentum since his last outing at the 2022 Mr. Olympia. Legendary bodybuilder Ronnie Coleman sees him as the man to dethrone Choopan and called him his favorite bodybuilder of this generation earlier this month.
Bannout shares his most dangerous competitors for 2023 Mr. Olympia
Samir Bannout backed Derek Lunsford as the biggest threat to Choopan’s title at the 2023 Mr. Olympia along with Samson Dauda.
“Hadi will be ready for sure but again it’s not going to be easier, it’s going to get harder because everybody wants him right now. The most dangerous guy would be Derek and then Samson and then who else is dangerous? Nick, Andrew is dangerous, Krizo. Can Krizo do it?”
Earlier this month, Big Ramy confirmed he would not sit out a year and plans to step on the stage for the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia. His focus is set on bringing a better package and not on the placement he gets.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 16 June, 2023 | 9:11 AM EDT
Derek Lunsford Reflects on Battling Anxiety, Depression & Talks 2023 Mr. Olympia Prep
Rising Men’s Open star Derek Lunsford is itching to end his off-season for contest prep. In a recent The Truth Podcast with Hany Rambod, Lunsford discussed his game plan for 2023 Mr. Olympia, improvements, and dealing with anxiety/depression. Last year, Lunsford found himself in a unique position at the Pittsburgh Pro. After Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay was unable to fulfill a guest posing obligation, Lunsford took his place. Sharing the stage with Nick Walker, Quinton Eriya, Hunter Labrada, and Brandon Curry, Lunsford shocked the world, as he held his own against Open talent despite his status as a 212 competitor. Eventually, Lunsford would receive a special invitation to compete in the Open division at Mr. Olympia. While some in the sport thought he should have earned his invitation, Lunsford made the most of his Open class debut. He finished runner-up to Hadi Choopan, while Ramy fell to fifth place in a surprising turn of events.
Derek Lunsford decided to prioritize improvements instead of participating in the 2023 Arnold Classic won by Samson Dauda. In May, Derek got the chance to stand next to him and a star-studded lineup at Jim Manion’s Pittsburgh Pro. Given Lunsford’s condition at the Pittsburgh Pro guest posing, fans expect his best physique yet in a few months.
Derek Lunsford Joins Hany Rambod to Discuss 2023 Mr. Olympia Prep
According to Rambod, Derek’s preparations intensify 10-12 weeks before Mr. Olympia.
“Usually about 10 or 12 weeks out we try to shut it down. So, we’re far enough out, we have plenty of time. But I think what he’s alluding to is the fact that he’s been so busy, when you’re out constantly, even in the off-season, it’s hard to even get all the meals in because you’re traveling, all of the rest in because you’re traveling, to get all of the really good high-level workouts in because you’re using gyms that are probably not accustomed to,” said Rambod.
Lunsford says ‘training is good’ and mentioned that he’s made improvements since the 2022 Mr. Olympia show. He’s excited to ramp up his training efforts on the horizon.
“Things are good right now, training is good. I’ve made solid improvements since the Olympia, but I really want to get into my own routine at home, my own gym, and be able to just crank up the training over these next couple of months, for sure,” Derek Lunsford shared.
Lunsford on Dealing with Anxiety & Depression: ‘Mine Comes From Me Feeling Like I’m Not Doing Enough’
Admittedly, Lunsford said he was in a ‘dark place’ after slipping placings during his time competing at Olympia in the 212.
“It was not purposeful, like God I don’t need you. But you just think you need to take control and do it yourself. Then you realize one day, you just wake up and you’re like, ‘Man, this just ins’t working out.’ I don’t know why. I’m doing everything – I feel like I’m doing everything right, I’m working really hard but it’s not panning out, I feel like I’m going backward if anything. There was a point in my life where I was in such a dark place man. So depressed that it was to the point that I literally didn’t even want to be here anymore,” said Lunsford. “Yeah [when I was sliding backwards in placings at Olympia]. It wasn’t just the placings, I thought it was the placings at the time but it was really just how I viewed myself. I just kind of started realizing like, ‘Oh, man. I’m not the person that I truly want to be.’ I want to be one person I say I’m one person but I’m acting in a different way. I don’t like it. And I want to truly live my life better.”
After talking about his experiences with depression, Lunsford gave his take on dealing with anxiety. He said finding balance, working hard, and pushing forward has helped him deal with the setback.
“You can disconnect. Anxiety can come from different places, right? I think even if you can disconnect from the comments or comparing yourself to somebody else in your position or whatever, I think myself for example, when we were talking the other day on the phone. My anxiety has sometimes come from me feeling like I’m not doing enough. Whether it’s I’m not training enough or I’m not putting up enough numbers in the gym or okay, I’m not posting enough or I’m not going here, there, or everywhere enough. I’m not making enough calls or just whatever it is that I’m trying to accomplish that good isn’t good enough kind of mentality. It can drive you far in life but also, if it’s really affecting you mentally, it can also hold you back at times too,” Lunsford said.
Lunsford shared a prior conversation with Rambod that made him realize that his personal life, business life, and bodybuilding life needed more balance.
“We were talking on the phone the other day about finding balance in all of this, working hard and pushing forward but also being able to have this sort of calmness and patience along the way,” Lunsford said. “Actually it’s funny, Hany called me what was it like two months ago? You were like, ‘Hey how are things going?’ And I’m like, ‘Everything is good.’ He could tell I was worked up about what we just talked about the business stuff and the bodybuilding, he goes, ‘How’s life at home?’ I tell him, ‘Well, to be honest if I’m 100% honest, I put that on the backburner a little bit.’ He goes, ‘Hey man, you have to get your crap together. He told me to go on vacation.”
Fans and bodybuilding veterans alike have voiced their opinions on possible frontrunners for the 2023 Mr. Olympia event. In light of Dauda’s latest win in Ohio, event announcer Bob Cicherillo labeled ‘The Nigerian Lion’ and Derek Lunsford as equal threats to Choopan’s title. Meanwhile, 2022 Olympia third-place finisher Nick Walker is ready to make a statement after taking runner-up to Dauda at the recent Arnold Classic. Looking ahead, Walker has made it clear he believes the 2023 Olympia show will be decided between himself and Lunsford. Considering how close Lunsford came to earning the title last year, fans look forward to seeing him stand against his teammate Choopan once again. In the months to come, Derek plans to travel less in order to dial in preparations for the 2023 Mr. Olympia in November.
You can watch the full video from Hany Rambod’s Youtube channel below:
Published: 13 June, 2023 | 2:11 PM EDT
Ronnie Coleman Names Derek Lunsford As His ‘Favorite’ Bodybuilder of This Generation
Ronnie Coleman, a living legend with eight Mr. Olympia titles, has seen talent come and go since stepping away from the stage. In a recent YouTube video, Coleman named Derek Lunsford and Samson Dauda as his favorite two bodybuilders.
While making history as one of the winningest Mr. Olympia athletes to ever take part in the sport, Coleman built a massive physique that has stood the test of time. En route to defending his title for almost a decade, he battled on stage with fellow icons such as Jay Cutler, Dexter Jackson, and Flex Wheeler.
Since retirement in 2007, Coleman has been open about his career. He credits Flex Wheeler for helping him win his first Mr. Olympia after connecting with coach Chad Nicholls. The sport has certainly undergone changes since Ronnie’s time on top, but that doesn’t mean he’s stopped sizing up the Men’s Open.
Weeks before last December’s 2022 Olympia event, Coleman predicted Derek Lunsford would serve as Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay’s greatest threat. However, the contest’s outcome saw Hadi Choopan reign supreme against a stellar lineup. Coleman was blown away by Lunsford’s runner-up appearance though, so much so, he is now predicting the former 212 champ will win 2023 Olympia this November.
Ronnie Coleman Discusses New Era: Names Derek Lunsford & Samson Dauda As His Favorite Athletes
Coleman named Derek Lunsford and 2023 Arnold Classic winner Samson Dauda as his favorite bodybuilders of this generation.
“My favorite bodybuilder at the moment, let’s see… hmm, Derek Lunsford, probably the number one favorite. Probably my number two favorite… I kind of like that guy that won the last Arnold Classic, name is Samson Dauda. If I had to pick a favorite, it’d be those two.”
After taking a closer look at today’s Open class, Coleman praised athletes for hard training and strict dieting.
“I see every generation has its own era. Mostly all of us have to work extremely hard and diet extremely hard and make the biggest sacrifices ever. So, I think that the next generation of bodybuilders is a pretty good class of guys. They work extremely hard. They train hard. They diet hard. So, I think the new generation is a pretty good generation,” said Ronnie Coleman.
Lastly, an optimistic Ronnie Coleman gave fans an update on his health.
“Well, I’m doing pretty good. I’m in great health and my last check-up was back in March. I had a really good clean bill of health as far as my last check-up goes. Now, I have another one probably in a couple of months. So, we’ll see how that goes. But for now, I’m doing pretty good.”
In addition to backing him as a title threat, Coleman recently collaborated with Derek Lunsford. They took part in a grueling back and biceps-focused training session. During the workout, Coleman introduced Derek as the next Mr. Olympia champion.
Whether Hadi Choopan defends successfully has become a topic of debate. William Bonac who decided to take the year off for improvements, believes Choopan will handily retain gold in a few months. However, 2022 third-place Olympia finisher Nick Walker doesn’t see ‘The Persian Wolf’ repeating as champion. Therefore, he predicted the outcome will be determined following a showdown between himself and Lunsford.
Meanwhile, former champ Big Ramy has set his sights on redemption. He finished fifth at the last Olympia and fourth at the 2023 Arnold Classic. Having received a stem cell treatment, fans are hopeful that Ramy will win back his title in Nov. but questions about his commitment to the sport continue to swirl as of late.
There’s no denying that the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest is shaping up to be even more unpredictable than the previous year’s edition. Fans look forward to seeing their favorite athletes back on stage, including Ronnie Coleman.
RELATED: Chris Cormier Reflects on Gunter Schlierkamp Almost Defeating Ronnie Coleman at 2002 Mr. Olympia
You can watch the full video from Ronnie Coleman’s YouTube channel below:
Published: 6 June, 2023 | 1:06 PM EDT
Derek Lunsford Goes Through Title-Worthy Back Workout With Chris Bumstead
Bodybuilders Derek Lunsford and Chris Bumstead are in the absolute prime of their physical and mental abilities. The duo are working hard to extend their competitive legacy under famed bodybuilding coach Hany Rambod’s guidance. Recently, they went through an off-season back workout to get ready for this year’s conquests.
Lunsford is an American professional bodybuilder that made a switch to the IFBB Pro League’s Men’s Open division in 2022. Prior to that, he competed in the 212 division and achieved the ultimate goal of winning the 212 Olympia title in 2021. However, the 30-year-old grew out of the division. Upon receiving the special invitation to compete in the Men’s Open division at the 2022 Olympia, the former 212 kingpin got in the gym to put in the work.
At 2022 Olympia, Lunsford dominated the stage and surged past elite competitors like former 2-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay, Nick Walker and Samson Dauda to secure a runner-up finish.
Lunsford’s training partner in this session, Chris Bumstead, is a Canadian IFBB Pro bodybuilder and arguably the most famous active bodybuilder in the world. CBum has established himself as the most successful competitor in the history of Classic Physique division with four consecutive Olympia wins. Since snatching the title from former champ Breon Ansley at the 2019 Olympia, CBum has fended off fierce competition to retain it at the 2020, 2021 and 2022 Olympia.
Both men have handed the reins of their training to famed coach Hany Rambod who is their head coach. Recently, they trained back under his guidance and the video of this session was posted on Lunsford’s personal YouTube channel. So without much ado, let’s see how Hany Rambod guided his pupils through the workout.
Derek Lunsford and Chris Bumstead go through the back workout
Derek Lunsford had to guest pose at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro on the day of this back workout. As a result, he kept the workout relatively light and did not go overly heavy.
“Not gonna go crazy today because we’re doing the guest posing tonight. It’s not like we’re changing anything as far as the diet or workout… Nothing like that. We’re just gonna go in there and have fun tonight but also not trying to fill the stomach up a lot…” Lunsford said.
Iso-lateral Lat Pulldown
Rambod instructed CBum and Lunsford to start the training session with lat pulldown on an iso-lateral plate-loaded machine. He suggested using a reverse grip for the first few sets and switching over to the neutral grip for the subsequent sets.
Lat Pulldowns primarily target the latissimus dorsi and the upper back muscles. It is a great way to increase the back width. According to an ACE sponsored study, lat pulldowns, along with seated cable rows, are the second best exercise for lats after pull-ups and chin-ups (1). Lunsford and CBum pushed through a few sets of lat pulldowns to get things started and took to the next exercise.
T-Bar Rows
Lunsford and Bumstead then moved over to this classic back building exercise and cranked out a few sets. Bodybuilding experts swear by the muscle and strength building benefits of this movement. T-bar rows work the majority of the muscles in the upper and the middle back. This includes latissimus dorsi, trapezius, teres major, teres minor, posterior deltoid and infraspinatus muscles. Additionally, T-bar rows also work the brachialis and pectoralis major muscles as well.
Hany Rambod shed light on some of the common technical errors people make while doing the exercise and stated:
“What you’ve got to make sure is you’re pulling all the way… A lot of people just end up doing a really weird version of a shrug when they use heavy weight. Make sure that you’re being able to bring your elbows back and you’ll be able to contract your last to some degree. If you end up using too much weight, all you’re doing is a shrug.”
The bodybuilder duo performed some solid sets of T-bar rows with perfect technique before taking up the next exercise.
Seated Cable Rows
Seated cable rows not only help with muscle and strength building but also help improve the posture. CBum and Lunsford annihilated a few sets of seated cable rows under Coach Rambod’s watchful eye and took to the next exercise.
Incline Dumbbell Rows
This free weight exercise served as the finisher to Lunsford and Bumstead’s back workout. Incline dumbbell rows help emphasize more on the back muscles as the setup takes the need for muscle stabilization out of equation (2). The duo performed this exercise to stimulate the back muscles further and called it a day in the gym.
Overall, the workout included:
Derek Lunsford’s physique looked stage ready and massively improved during guest posing at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro. Experts suggest that he can beat reigning Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan if he brings fuller pecs and quads. Looking at his progress in the gym, it does seem like he is a step closer to the goal for sure.
Watch Derek Lunsford and Chris Bumstead go through the back workout here, courtesy of Derek Lunsford’s personal YouTube channel:
Reference
What is the Best Back Exercise? (ACE Sponsored Research)
(Authors – Holly Edelburgh, John P. Porcari, Clayton Camic, Attila Kovacs, Carl Foster and Daniel J. Green)
14 Best Back Exercises to Build the Perfect Back
(Author – Jeremy Ethier)
Published: 24 May, 2023 | 3:28 AM EDT
2023 Mr. Olympia Contender Derek Lunsford Shares Incredible Body Transformation
Bodybuilder Derek Lunsford made waves in the IFBB Pro League with his switch to the Men’s Open division for the 2022 Mr. Olympia contest. The former 212 sensation made a statement in his Open debut and believes he’s destined for glory ahead. In a recent post made on Instagram, Lunsford showed off his insanely jacked body transformation from years ago to today.
Derek Lunsford first rose to prominence for his impressive muscle mass, shape, and definition as a Men’s 212 competitor in 2017. He earned an invite to the Mr. Olympia competition after dominating the competition at the 2017 Tampa Pro. He turned in a strong performance and finished fifth in his maiden Olympia appearance. Over the next three years, Lunsford continued to work his way up the ranks and narrowly missed out on the 212 Olympia title twice in 2018 and 2019. In 2021, he finally secured first in the 212 category.
Last season, Lunsford expressed a desire to test himself against mass monsters of the Open class. He shocked fans with a guest-posing appearance at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro which paved the way for him to receive a special invite for competing in the Open 2022 Mr. Olympia contest.
He entered the show as the wildcard of the division with a ton of buzz surrounding him. In the end, Lunsford backed up the hype and shook up the division with a runner-up finish behind Hadi Choopan at the event last December.
Forging ahead, Derek made it clear his aim was to become Mr. Olympia and laid out his training and diet regimen for achieving his goals two months ago. In a follow-up video, he demonstrated a grueling arms workout he utilized for gaining muscle in the off-season.
IFBB Pro League athletes’ representative Bob Cicherillo backed Lunsford and Samson Dauda as frontrunners to dethrone Choopan. Additionally, Lunsford faced heat from fellow standout Nick Walker who believes he should’ve placed ahead of the former 212 Olympia champ. Moreover, Walker discounted Choopan’s chances of defending the title and predicted a war with Lunsford on stage.
Derek Lunsford teamed up with bodybuilding legend Ronnie Coleman for a brutal back and biceps training session last month. The eight-time Mr. Olympia mentored Lunsford through the challenging workout routine. A week later, Coleman was convinced Lunsford would win the next Olympia event.
Derek Lunsford shares jacked body transformation
In a recent Instagram post, Derek Lunsford shared an unreal body transformation comparing his older look to his new physique, where fans can see the bodybuilder has clearly packed on a substantial amount of muscle tissue.
Derek Lunsford stunned fans with an impressive guest posing appearance at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro earlier this week. Following the outing, it was evident that fans agree Lunsford and Dauda are the favorites going into the upcoming Mr. Olympia contest.
RELATED: Milos Sarcev Says Samson Dauda ‘Can Beat’ Derek Lunsford, Hadi Choopan at 2023 Mr. Olympia
Lunsford is determined to win the Mr. Olympia title in November. Given the success he’s achieved in the Open class in such a short time, fans are convinced 2023 might be his year.
Published: 21 May, 2023 | 11:16 PM EDT
Flex Lewis Talks Steroid Use, Says He Could’ve Won Open Mr. Olympia: ‘I Beat Hadi & Lunsford’
Welsh bodybuilding icon Flex Lewis pioneered the gold standard for the Men’s 212 division during his days of competition. Although he was eyeing a move to the Open division, he chose to hang up his posing trunks officially last year. In a recent episode of Bradley Martyn’s Raw Talk, Lewis opened up on his steroid use and argued that he could’ve won Mr. Olympia in the Open based on the results of the 2022 Mr. Olympia.
Flex Lewis made a name for himself as a 212 competitor with insane arms, overall muscle development, and next-level conditioning. In 2011, Lewis narrowly missed out on 212 Olympia gold to Kevin English in his debut. He returned with a vengeance the next year and secured his maiden Sandow trophy at the 2012 Mr. Olympia.
He went on a dominant run that saw him win seven 212 Olympia titles in a row from 2012-2018. Besides the Olympia, Lewis also went undefeated in other contests such as the EVL Prague Pro, the inaugural 212 event at the Arnold Sports Festival, and more.
Lewis was considering the idea of moving to the Men’s Open class but eventually decided against it. He announced his retirement from competition in May 2022 due to health problems stemming from contest prep issues. Since stepping away, Lewis dropped down in size significantly. He showed off his downsized look weighing 213.6 pounds last June.
Flex Lewis / Instagram
Flex continued to lean down and even got on a personalized TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) plan to help him achieve his new physique goal. He offered a jacked physique update presenting his new look in Sep. 2022. Then, he laid out an intense arms workout routine targeting triceps and biceps while teasing the possibility of a comeback months later.
In Nov. 2022, Flex Lewis teamed up with budding Men’s Open prospect Andrew Jacked to help him get ready for the 2022 Mr. Olympia. He mentored Jacked through a grueling quads training session. The pair regrouped for another taxing back workout weeks later.
The 39-year-old showed off his shredded physique in an update earlier this year. He laid out the diet and training regimen he utilized to gain weight after dropping 60 pounds as he reported a weight of 200 pounds. Lewis has not completely shut the door on competing again. He revealed he would be willing to entertain a comeback, but only if it’s for a seven-figure deal.
Flex Lewis opens up on his steroid use & cautions others
Flex Lewis / Instagram
In a recent YouTube video, Flex Lewis discussed details pertaining to his steroid use.
“The truth of the matter is I went through a sport where I had a weight cut,” said Lewis. “I had to make a class. I never had the ability to have an incredible off-season and if I was to do more to get in shape then I would make weight. I was able to retire very healthy, obviously injuries and stuff like that, but I have two kids whilst I’ve been prepping, retired with all my hair. This means nothing or something.
“Take it from me. I have nothing to hide by saying this legitimately I’ve done obviously more than the average gym-goer but I never used and abused my body. Thankfully, I had a coach, Neil Hill, who is known for being very conservative. His mindset was if you can grown on ABC why do you need XYZ?”
He issued a warning to others against using gear too much.
“Anybody young that makes the decision to go that route, first of all, whatever they do they are going to respond but the tren aspect of things, holy sh*t! There’s people joining the gym and talking about taking that stuff. I didn’t use that stuff until four weeks out from my show. That’s the god’s honest truth. There was no reason for me to use it in the off-season for obvious reasons I had to make a weight cut. But somebody now just to look good in the gym, there’s so many. You can forget kids to be honest with you if you’re running this for day in day out for years and years.”
“In terms of the supplementation that some of these guys are taking, you start off with that, that’s not going to make you a better bodybuilder. It’s actually going to be a detriment to you because you are going to destroy your receptors and then when you go okay I’m not growing so now I have to take more and that’s the mentality. More is better. It’s not. It’s the glass gets full then there’s nowhere else to go.”
Lewis highlighted the dangers of using Trenbolone for regular gym-goers.
“I have an end goal to compete, to be the best in the world, by adding things periodically you knew what was working what wasn’t working but then in the off-season you’re eating and drinking everything. A lot of these guys train their a** off Monday to Friday and then chase pu**y at the clubs on the weekends and they’re doing stacks that some guys are doing pre-contest which blows my mind. The trending word I see everywhere is tren. It blows my mind. That’s so mainstream that guys are coming up to me like what do you think about this?”
Lewis: ‘I Could Have Been the First Champ-Champ’
Flex Lewis is confident he could have become the first athlete to win titles in 212 and the Open division at the Mr. Olympia contest.
“I truly believe I would’ve won the Olympia or been the first ever champ-champ but it’s a woulda, coulda, shoulda right? But if you look at the people who just came first and second, I beat them both. Hadi just won, I beat him in Korea and Derek Lunsford came second, who took over the reign from me as a 212 champ, incredible guy, will be a champion in the future but I’ve beaten him too. So, it would’ve been a great mix for me to be up in that.
“I felt [the direction of Open bodybuilding] was going there. That’s one of the reasons why because originally when I had this mentality of shifting from the 212 to the Open, people were telling me no they’re always going to go for the biggest guy. But then shape and structure started coming through because of guys like Chris Bumstead and the Classic Physique getting such a great response.
“I wanted to have the best of both worlds, bringing Classic lines, symmetry, and structure, and bring it to the Open class.”
Lewis revealed many people were trying to convince him to return, including a judge who attempted to lure him out of retirement following Olympia.
“There’s a lot of people trying to get me back out of that mentality but I was okay. I moved on, done a lot of different things. I had to process it my own way.”
“When I made that decision, I had to stand on my two feet and say no. Everybody wanted me to come back. After the Olympia, you know any judge came up to my ear and basically said hey you could have won this. You could do it next year, good hype. My heart was in this sport since I was 19. I devoted my life to this craft and right now, I’ve set myself up for that segue. But that transition was tough though.”
Flex Lewis gave fans a look into three of his favorite exercises for building massive triceps two weeks ago. He joined forces with Strongman legend Eddie Hall for a collaborative arm workout session days later.
You can watch the full video below:
RELATED: Retired Bodybuilder Flex Lewis Crushes a Sleeve-Ripping Arms Workout on Fans’ Demand
Lewis is the winningest Men’s 212 competitor in the history of the Mr. Olympia show with seven wins. He appears content with his achievements and has moved on to other business ventures.
Published: 16 May, 2023 | 10:16 PM EDT
Derek Lunsford & Samson Dauda Stand Out as 2023 Mr. Olympia Favorites After Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing
Jim Manion’s 2023 Pittsburgh Pro concluded with six new champions. However, one of the biggest talking points of the weekend was the guest posing spectacle, which featured Derek Lunsford, Nick Walker, Samson Dauda, Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay, Hunter Labrada, and Shaun Clarida.
Brimming with contenders, the Men’s Open division continues to add excitement to the sport, and the division has seen major changes as of late. At last year’s 2022 Pittsburgh Pro, Big Ramy failed to show up. Instead, Derek Lunsford took his place and dominated headlines for weeks. He posed alongside Quinton Eriya, Nick Walker, Brandon Curry, and Labrada. While Ramy later apologized for his absence, some were concerned that his misstep might cost him on the horizon.
In Sept. 2022, Derek Lunsford accepted a special invitation to compete in the Open class at Mr. Olympia. With zero size limitations, Lunsford would shock the world by taking second place to his teammate and newly crowned champion, Hadi Choopan. Surprisingly, Ramy fell to fifth.
Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing / gilcoproductions
Nick Walker, who earned third at the same contest, made a quick turnaround at the 2023 Arnold Classic in March. He entered the show as the on-paper favorite but was outmatched by Samson Dauda in second place as judges deemed the Nigerian’s physique more complete.
With this year’s Mr. Olympia show taking place in less than six months, many of the division’s top contenders stormed the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro for a special guest posing appearance. Given the shape and fullness of Lunsford in the 2023 off-season, many fans believe he has the greatest chance of dethroning Choopan in November.
Is Derek Lunsford or Samson Dauda the 2023 Mr. Olympia No. 1 Contender? – Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing Highlights
Find pictures and videos below from the guest posing event at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro last weekend:
Given the physiques on display in Pittsburgh, it’s safe to say this year’s Mr. Olympia contest will be immensely competitive. Some Open contenders such as Nick Walker believe Choopan won’t repeat as champion. With that in mind, ‘The Mutant’ envisions the next Mr. Olympia title being won by himself or Lunsford.
Two-time Arnold Classic winner William Bonac also chimed in on the 2023 Olympia discussion. He appeared on The Menace Podcast with Dennis James and recently predicted Choopan will defend successfully. However, he acknowledged that the Mr. Olympia title is within Walker’s grasp if he can add more quad sweep.
Meanwhile, Samson Dauda, fresh off his 2023 Arnold Classic victory, is confident he has the skills to upset the champ. According to Dauda, if he improves his back, there are no other areas in which Derek or Hadi can beat him.
RELATED: Ronnie Coleman Predicts Derek Lunsford Will Defeat Hadi Choopan at 2023 Mr. Olympia
Big Ramy’s plans for the rest of the year are unclear, as the former champion suggested he might take a break. Nevertheless, the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest is still generating a lot of excitement among the fans, who are eager to see how Choopan copes with the challenge of defending his title.
Published: 15 May, 2023 | 11:06 AM EDT
Hany Rambod Teases Big Package from Derek Lunsford at 2023 Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing
Excitement for the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro continues to build as a star-studded lineup is expected to guest pose at the event this weekend. In a recent The Truth Podcast, Hany Rambod previewed the show and provided off-season updates from Derek Lunsford, Hadi Choopan, and Chris Bumstead.
Months before last year’s Mr. Olympia contest, Rambod’s pupil Derek Lunsford stole the show at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro. He guest posed alongside other Open class talents without appearing undersized, having gone toe-to-toe against the likes of Brandon Curry, Nick Walker, and Hunter Labrada.
In light of Derek’s dominant showing in Pittsburgh, many believe it prompted Olympia officials to award him with a special invitation to compete in the Open category. After accepting the honor last September, Lunsford wasted no time in asserting himself as a title contender.
At the 2022 Mr. Olympia event, Hadi Choopan claimed gold after finally blending together an immaculate balance of size, muscularity, and hard conditioning. Unlike in years prior, champion Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay fell short on stage in fifth while Lunsford, who debuted in the Open class, walked away in second.
With the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro guest posing show taking place this weekend (May 13-14), Rambod took a closer look at the gathering. In addition, he discussed the off-season progress of Lunsford, Choopan, and Bumstead.
Hany Rambod Talks Hadi Choopan Training at 100% & Derek Lunsford Not Having Size Limitations
Before starting a prep, Rambod mentioned that he sometimes implements a ‘dry run’ where he manipulates water, sodium, and carbohydrate intake. He added that Lunsford was attempting to keep his weight controlled last year, but that won’t be the case this weekend.
“Now, if you’re four or six weeks out, that’s a whole different story. I have done that in the past, where it’s four to six weeks out and someone is guest posing and we do what we call a dry run. What we do is a manipulation of maybe water, carbs, sodium, to get to know the person’s body. I have done that in the past.”
“Like I said, [last year] it was definitely low calories, low carbs, and all of the things that made him in better shape. Theoretically, he’s not going to be in as good of shape because he’s not trying to keep his weight down. Where last year, they’re like why did he look so good, it was because he was trying to keep his weight down. No weight control [now].”
Hany says the Pittsburgh Pro sets up the rest of the bodybuilding calendar. Following the guest posing obligation, Rambod plans to lay out more aggressive game plans for Lunford, Choopan, and Bumstead.
“Pittsburgh is a whole different story, the great thing about Pittsburgh, with Phil, Jay, Ronnie, I’ve been going to Pittsburgh for 25 years. It’s one of the places where you get to see guys that are getting ready for shows that just want to jump on stage or you have people that are just the top five, you see Gunter, Ronnie, Jay, Kai, and you’re just like, ‘Whoa.’”
“Yes, Derek is guest posing. Yes, he is guest posing. He’s been doing a lot of appearances but he hasn’t guest posed. I think he’s ready to take his shirt off finally,” says Hany Rambod. “Not usually, but because of where we’re at in the season, I do like my athletes looking a certain way by this time in terms of where we’re at and we reverse-engineer from the Olympia backward, and now that the Olympia is a little sooner this year, four or five weeks… it is something I use as a gauge.”
“Derek is going to be coming out here so we can kick off the season and we will see where he’s at when he gets to guest pose and see what everyone looks at and be able to assess where we need to be from here and how we can make adjustments but so far everything is going very well with his previous check-ins, same with Chris. I think it was the first time he [Bumstead] has never done off-season check-ins before,” added Rambod.
According to Rambod, the reigning Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan is now training at 100% intensity.
“I’ve spoken to Hadi, he’s now back to training 100% or what I consider 100%, he’s really pushing himself hard, can’t wait to get together with him again.”
Rambod Says Chris Bumstead’s Bicep is Healed and They Are Looking to Hit New ‘Milestones’
Rambod believes Bumstead’s stem cell therapy treatment helped his torn bicep. He finished the conversation by stressing the need to keep all of his athletes within striking distance for the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia competition.
“I just don’t think he trained. I don’t think he trained period. I think he literally took months and months off before he was able to train,” said Rambod. “He did stem cells and a bunch of therapy on it [his biceps] and he trained and was able to get back up to 100% fairly quickly even then I told him to take it easy, you don’t want to reinjure yourself. But getting all the guys in striking distance to start the prep is really what it’s all about at this point.”
“You need to hit those milestones and make sure you’re tracking it properly.”
In a previous appearance on his podcast, Rambod discussed Nick Walker’s potential as an IFBB Pro. Speaking with Fouad Abiad, Rambod underlined Walker’s love and loyalty for bodybuilding, expressing that he ‘lives the sport 24/7.’
Fellow coach and guru, Chris Aceto, rendered his thoughts on the guest posing gathering in Pittsburgh. He anticipates an on-stage battle between Lunsford and Big Ramy given the strengths of their respective physiques. Regardless, he stressed that the Pittsburgh guest posing event is an opportunity to leave an impression with judges months from Olympia.
A packed lineup will take over Pittsburgh this weekend, including Nick Walker, Hunter Labrada, Samson Dauda, Derek Lunsford, Big Ramy, and Shaun Clarida. If the spectacle is anything like last year, bodybuilding fans will have a lot to talk about in the lead-up to 2023 Mr. Olympia.
RELATED: Hany Rambod: Coaching Hadi Choopan/Derek Lunsford at 2022 Olympia Felt Same As Training Jay Cutler/Phil Heath
Watch the full video below from Hany Rambod’s YouTube channel:
Published: 11 May, 2023 | 5:01 PM EDT