Tag: derek lunsford
Jay Cutler Draws Similarity to Brian Shaw, Talks 2023 Pittsburgh Pro: ‘Derek’s Going to Wow People Again’
Bodybuilding legend Jay Cutler moved on from professional competition years ago but always has his finger on the pulse of the sport. He’s not lost his passion for fitness and is currently working towards a body transformation challenge. In a recent video posted on YouTube, Cutler talked about his similarities to Strongman icon Brian Shaw and shared his thoughts on the upcoming 2023 Pittsburgh Pro and lowering his carb intake to get leaner for the ‘Fit for 50’ challenge.
Jay Cutler first made headlines for his insane muscle mass, size, and overall proportion as a Men’s Open competitor in the IFBB Pro League in 1999. He racked up three Arnold Classic titles and graced the covers of several magazines in the early 2000s. His fierce rivalry with legendary bodybuilder Ronnie Coleman elevated his star power.
Cutler fell short of the eight-time Mr. Olympia on four occasions before finally securing his maiden Sandow trophy in 2006. He added a successful title defense the following year and reclaimed the title in 2009 by dethroning Dexter Jackson. With four Olympia wins under his belt, Cutler hung up his posing trunks after a final appearance in 2013.
Jay Cutler And Brian Shaw
Earlier this year, Cutler gave his take on using steroids and cycling on and off gear to achieve the results he wanted. However, he stressed the importance of being consistent with training and nutrition to sculpt the ideal physique regardless.
The 49-year-old offered some of his best workout tips on developing a gigantic chest two months ago. He recommended feeling the contraction in each movement and laid out the exercises he liked to utilize for the training session. He’s currently gearing up for the ‘Fit for 50’ body transformation challenge he set for himself. He shared an impressive physique update where he showed off his monstrous package as part of the challenge.
Jay Cutler draws a likeness to legendary Strongman Brian Shaw
In a recent YouTube video, Jay Cutler found similarities between Strongman legend Brian Shaw and himself after the 2023 WSM.
Brian Shaw / Courtesy of World’s Strongest Man
Legendary strongman Brian Shaw is one of the most successful strength competitors of all time. He won four World’s Strongest Man contests (2011, 2013, 2015, 2016) and competed in the finals of the competition for a historic 16 times. He stands as the fourth most decorated strongman in history with 26 titles.
Shaw was last seen in action at the 2023 World’s Strongest Man a month ago. He revealed he contracted an infection that resulted in him nearly losing his leg while getting ready for the event. He detailed how he overcame the setback and identified the infection as a severe case of leg cellulitis. Fortunately, he recovered in time and made his way to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for the show.
The 41-year-old completed his final WSM showing with a record-breaking performance on the Stone-Off to get his entry into the finals. In the end, he finished the event in seventh place. Following the result, Shaw admitted age may have factored into his performance and called for a change in the format of the show last week.
“It sounds like he’s got a lot of great things going on that his transition will be similar to mine,” said Cutler. “It’s kind of funny because we have a lot of similarities in our career, four times champ, and I finished six my last. So when you were saying he finished seventh I was like I got six the last one.”
Matt: “We always joke about that. There’s Brian Shaw and Jay Cutler, both got three Arnolds. You guys are so alike. Me being around both of you I see the similarities, it’s almost eerie. It’s like he’s the Strongman version of you.”
Coleman was left stunned after watching some of Shaw’s most insane lifts in Strongman contests earlier this month.
Cutler shares his expectations for the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro
Many of the top Men’s Open contenders will take their talents to the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro for guest posing appearances, including Olympia runner-up Derek Lunsford, fellow standout Nick Walker, former two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay, and freshly minted Arnold Classic champ Samson Dauda.
Jay Cutler believes Ramy has the most pressure on his shoulders given his dethroning at the 2022 Mr. Olympia and expects Lunsford to make a statement another time after his previous Pittsburgh Pro showing last year.
“I think Derek’s going to wow people again. I think Nick’s on a mission. I saw he’s starting prep. Will Ramy show up and what will he look like? I think that’s the big question. I think Ramy will be big as hell and Samson will be big. We’ve seen some pictures of him. He’s going to scare some people. So, I think Ramy will be huge, Samson will be huge, Nick will be huge, Derek will be crazy and better condition than last year because he’s going to have more muscle.”
“I expect the house to come down man. I wish I was going to be there.”
Derek Lunsford Posing At The 2022 Pittsburgh Pro
Cutler reveals goal for ‘Fit for 50’ challenge
Jay Cutler opened up on his ambitions for the ‘Fit for 50’ challenge. While he has no intentions of coming back to competition, his aim is to get leaner.
“I’m making a priority to get my workouts in so I eat one meal. I haven’t done cardio fasted I stopped doing that. I did a little bit after training today so I try to get the training in to get in front of everything else so it’s done.
“That’s what I kinda dealt with when I downsized. That’s the difference like I look good in certain but in my back the muscle’s not filling out the skin so I feel like sometimes when I stand I have little folds and stuff. I’m hoping that what’s going to do over this time of dieting, it’s going to shrink that a little bit but also give me a little more fullness to the muscle where I don’t really want to get a lot bigger but I really think the nutrition is going to play the key in this and having enough protein and obviously carbohydrates mixed in there but I’m trying to scale back. I would like to do a little lower carbs even though I was a huge carb advocate just because I got bigger on that where I’m not trying to be bigger. I’m just trying to be leaner so that’s kinda the goal by the time I finish this thing.”
Jay Cutler is confident he could significantly improve his physique with proper nutrition, training, and only using TRT (testosterone replacement therapy). Last month, he compared his training style to that of six-time Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates. In stark contrast to Cutler’s volume-heavy approach, Yates would push himself to near failure each time he worked out.
Last week, Cutler identified a need to add volume in certain areas of his physique. He’s been consuming a high-protein diet along with regular workouts to achieve the goal.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 10 May, 2023 | 9:01 AM EDT
Chris Aceto Talks Big Ramy & Derek Lunsford Battle at 2023 Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing: ‘Leave an Impression’
With the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro approaching next weekend, Chris Aceto is taking a closer look at the stars expected to perform on stage. Speaking in a RxMuscle interview, Aceto predicted standout performances from Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay and Derek Lunsford, who both share the same goal of winning this year’s Mr. Olympia show. The Men’s Open division has been turned upside down after the conclusion of the 2022 Mr. Olympia event. For starters, Ramy fell to fifth place after most in the community suspected he was off on stage, such as IFBB Pro League head judge Steve Weinberger. Instead, Hadi Choopan reigned supreme and won his first title whereas Derek Lunsford and Nick Walker rounded out the podium in second and third. Judging became a hot topic on the heels of the 2023 Arnold Classic competition which took place in March. Despite his status as the highest-ranking Olympian, Walker ended the show in second behind Nigerian native Samson Dauda. In the meantime, Lunsford made it clear that he was using the off-season to increase his chances of winning the next Mr. Olympia.
Last year, Lunsford guest posed in place of Big Ramy who failed to meet his obligation. Lunsford and Walker stole the show anyhow, which paved Derek’s way to a special invitation from the Olympia brass to compete in the Open. Given the significance of the Pittsburgh Pro guest posing event, fans consider it an appetizer for what is to come in November at 2023 Olympia.
Chris Aceto on Big Ramy at 2023 Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing: “100% Slam Dunk Bigger Than He’s Ever Been”
Aceto believes Big Ramy will remind the bodybuilding community that he’s still a viable Mr. Olympia threat once he’s done guest posing in Pittsburgh.
“Mark my words, slam dunk. He’ll be in good shape and he’ll be way bigger than he’s ever been. We can play this show back but go ahead. 100% to use the 100% three times in one show,” said Chris Aceto.
Similar to last year, Aceto expects Derek Lunsford to make a powerful impression. He anticipates the former 212 Olympia to be even bigger on stage than in 2022. In addition, he believes Lunsford will have made improvements to his upper body, most notably his chest.
“We got Ramy, who else? Lunsford will look better than last year, he’s also gearing up to leave an impression. Unfortunately, if you’re not gearing up to make an impression for this show, you’re making a mistake. Derek is gearing up to leave an impression that he’s going to win the Mr. Olympia. He’s going to be bigger than last year, rounder, his upper body will be better.
He’ll probably be close to last year’s condition, but probably better. But the scuttlebutt will be you know, his front double is better than Ramy’s front double and his back double is better than Ramy’s back double because he’ll be in better condition than Ramy because naturally it’s easier for him to get in better condition than Ramy.” “Some people have an easier time getting into condition than others, added Aceto. “I think it’s [small waist] is probably a combination of all those. He’s just crazy round,” said Aceto.
Aceto Touches on Judging & How Hadi Choopan Won 2022 Mr. Olympia Title: ‘Tremendous Condition Still at a Bigger Weight’
Aceto says judges at major contests like Mr. Olympia look at physiques for something ‘truly special.’ He specified that Choopan won last year because he brought excellent conditioning but paired it with more size.
“The Olympia, you know, when you’re being judged at the Olympia, I think the judges want to see no stone left unturned. That means they want to see something special. At that level, everyone is big, so they need to see something that is truly special. Look at how successful Hadi has been from day one at the Olympia, this year, of course, he was fuller than ever, not fuller, but bigger and he brought tremendous condition still at a bigger weight and that’s what put him over the top. They want to see something special, usually something special means conditioning.”
In regards to the judging process, Aceto believes it’s fair to wait a few days after a show before asking officials what areas of improvement are needed to advance further in the sport.
“I would never go up to a judge and say hey what did you think between second and first or first and second, I would give him a lot of time before I ask him, and I wouldn’t necessarily blab it out on a show, ‘Oh I spoke to Bill, oh I spoke to Steve and they had so and so in ninth place during prejudging, then he ended up in ninth because of XYZ, a show is a show, but you have to keep some level of fairness there if that makes sense.” “People can come off as biased or unfair when they connect it to the Olympia and make criticisms of people’s attention,” said Aceto.
The last time fans heard from Chris Aceto, he discussed the chances of four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler returning to the stage. Despite fan speculation, rumors online, and the return of Masters Olympia in August, Aceto said Cutler isn’t even considering it on a scale of 1-10. RELATED: Chris Aceto Talks 2023 Arnold Classic Judging Backlash, Says Nick Walker Beats Samson Dauda ‘1v1’ Next weekend, bodybuilding fans will have a teaser of the upcoming season at Jim Manion’s 2023 Pittsburgh Pro. In addition to the contests, Nick Walker, Samson Dauda, Shaun Clarida, Hunter Labrada, Big Ramy, and Derek Lunsford will be in attendance to stake their claim as the next contender to push Hadi Choopan for gold.
Watch the full RxMuscle interview below:
Published: 9 May, 2023 | 4:28 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
Nick Walker Eyes Derek Lunsford Battle at 2023 Olympia: ‘I Don’t See Hadi Choopan Repeating’
Bodybuilder Nick Walker has ambitious plans for the rest of his current season. In a recent Mutant and the Mouth Podcast, Walker addressed whether or not legs are a weak point and envisioned a showdown against Derek Lunsford at the 2023 Olympia contest.
“The goal for me into this Olympia is to have the Olympia fullness to match the Arnold condition. If I can do that, I think I win hands down,” said Nick Walker.
At last year’s Mr. Olympia, Hadi Choopan claimed gold after his fourth attempt at the event. He dethroned two-time winner Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay, who finished fifth and defeated Derek Lunsford and Nick Walker en route to securing the sport’s most notable achievement.
Walker made a quick turnaround in Columbus, Ohio at the 2023 Arnold Classic, however, was unsuccessful in his quest for a second title. While the outcome was deemed controversial in the eyes of many professionals, Samson Dauda pulled off the victory nonetheless and earned his invitation to the next Olympia. Meanwhile, Walker still believes he should have gotten his hand raised.
Having placed runner-up to Dauda, Walker opened up on results. Even though he thought he brought a winning package, the 28-year-old plans to use the judges’ criticism as fuel for his next competition. With this year’s Olympia taking place November 2-5, Walker set his sights on another battle with Lunsford as he doesn’t believe Hadi Choopan will repeat as champion.
Nick Walker Says He Has Solid Shot of Defeating ‘Comparable’ Hadi Choopan, Derek Lunsford at 2023 Olympia
According to Walker, Choopan won’t be champion by the end of the next Olympia competition. He insisted that the show will be determined following a battle with Lunsford.
“Yeah. I mean look, I think I have a shot of winning any show that I do, for the Olympia, yeah, I mean the two people that were in front of me were Hadi and Derek, and I think they are very comparable; I think that’s why they were one and two.
Listen, I love Hadi but I don’t see him repeating in my opinion and Derek, you know… he could continue to beat me now that he has a full off-season actually to put the work in and put size on now, so we’ll see. But everyone knows I improve drastically show to show. So, it’s just going to really come down to what me and him look like and who is in better shape, honestly,” shared Walker.
“People don’t understand, Derek is not small by any means. Like, he’s a big guy and he’s got great shape right? You know, so, what I was trying to do even for the Olympia and for the Arnold was improve the shape. That’s what I was trying to do. And I think it worked in my favor for the Olympia because I was still very very full, but I think when I came into the Arnold, I wasn’t as full, a lot more conditioned, and the waist was definitely more streamlined but I just didn’t have the pop that everyone likes, I guess.”
Walker Reveals If Legs Are a ‘Weak Point,’ Talks Training Tactics and Useful PEDs in Prep
Reflecting on his last show, Walker said his legs lost volume, which he believes might have been a by-product of over-training.
“Everyone says that my legs are my weak point right? I connect probably the best with my legs. So, I never have to do a ton of volume. I did legs yesterday. I did one set with four different exercises, four sets total, my legs are trashed, like fuc**ng trashed. I’m sore as fu** bro. I just know how to – in my mind, when people say, ‘Oh your legs are small.’ Well, maybe I’m just doing too much. Everyone was like, ‘Oh you need to do legs twice a week.’ It’s like, if I’m getting that sore and connecting so well with just that, I don’t need it; I don’t think I need another [session].”
He explained going ‘too hard’ during cardio could have resulted in his legs being downsized in Ohio.
“I think what happens for me, is when I do cardio, I think I go too hard as well. We’re the same. We go that’s it, we’re cranking. I think when you get in a calorie deficit for so long, you’re cranking the cardio hard – the legs are going to go. It’s the only body part that’s going to go. I think that with training legs and connecting as well as I do on a frequent basis, on top of the hard cardio. The legs are going to go if you’re in a calorie deficit.”
While making improvements in the off-season, Walker credited Romanian deadlifts for being more beneficial than conventional deadlifting. He added that pull-ups are an underrated exercise for building a world-class back.
“I think what’s more beneficial than a deadlift in my opinion… is RDLs [Romanian deadlifts],” said Walker. “You know what I think is the most underrated back exercise, pull-ups. I think in my opinion, pull-ups can build one of the best backs in the world.”
Before calling it a day, Walker revealed he uses T3 as necessary when he encounters a stall point in prep progress. He shared that he’s now taking MPP (nandrolone phenylpropionate) and routinely changes around his stack.
“Needed [T3 use] if necessary. It’s [for] the end of a prep or maybe you hit a stall point – you kind of just – a little dose and it’ll go a long way,” Walker shared. “No, not really [I don’t use peptides].”
“Over the years, you try different shit, you use different – you know. What I use throughout my past four or five years, I don’t really have [acne] breakouts,” Walker said. “I’m pretty good with my joints so knock on wood. I think it [MPP] helps, I do.”
With the next Olympia on the horizon, eight-time winner Ronnie Coleman has kept an eye on the show’s contenders. Earlier today, Coleman backed Lunsford to defeat Hadi Choopan at the 2023 Olympia, stressing that it’s only a matter of time before the former 212 Olympia takes the number one spot.
Since winning his first Sandow, Choopan has been quietly training in Iran. Walker is confident that a balance of fullness and conditioning will be the key to taking out Choopan and Lunsford at his next Mr. Olympia show.
You can watch the full video below:
Published: 17 April, 2023 | 7:00 PM EDT
Ronnie Coleman Predicts Derek Lunsford Will Defeat Hadi Choopan at 2023 Mr. Olympia
Bodybuilding legend Ronnie Coleman still follows the sport in retirement. In a recent YouTube video, Coleman predicted Derek Lunsford will defeat Hadi Choopan when they rematch at the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest scheduled for November 2-5, in Orlando, Florida.
Coleman, who reigned over the Men’s Open division, amassed eight Mr. Olympia titles before calling it a career. He used every bit of his muscle mass and size to remain a dominant champion, having defeated some of his era’s best, like Jay Cutler, Flex Wheeler, and Kevin Levrone.
The Open class has undergone seismic shifts following two major contests. Last year, the 2022 Olympia competition awarded Hadi Choopan the victory after a close battle with 212-turned-Open star Derek Lunsford. Some in the sport such as Shawn Ray and Wheeler criticized Choopan’s victory, arguing that Lunsford’s back was more defined.
To complicate matters at the top of the Open class, sixth-place Olympia finisher Samson Dauda won the recent Arnold Classic. As a result of his performance, event announcer Bob Cicherillo named Dauda and Lunsford as equal threats to Choopan’s title in November.
Ronnie Coleman Predicts Derek Lunsford Defeats Hadi Choopan at 2023 Olympia, Says CBum’s Physique ‘Best He’s Ever Seen’
Coleman didn’t mince words during the ‘Ask Me Anything’ (AMA) segment and believes Derek Lunsford will defeat Choopan to become the 2023 Mr. Olympia.
“Yes, I do [think Derek Lunsford will 2023 Mr. Olympia]. Now, let’s see what’s going to happen,” said Ronnie Coleman.
During the AMA, Coleman also touched on four-time Classic Physique Olympia Chris Bumstead‘s career and package. Despite competing in different divisions, Coleman says CBum has one of the best physiques he’s ever seen ‘period.’
“Well, I think Chris Bumstead is one of the greatest Classic bodybuilders of all time. Absolutely, the best physique I’ve ever seen in Classic Physique, he’s got to be the best physique I’ve ever seen period.”
Over the past few months, fans and even Chris Bumstead, have entertained the idea of a move into the Open class. In a recent The Truth Podcast with Hany Rambod, Bumstead hinted at a possible contest in 2024 and added that he’d compete at the Arnold Classic in the Open if organizers moved the show a few weeks after the Olympia.
Given Bumstead’s growing popularity (over 16.9M followers on Instagram), veterans of the sport like Levrone believe CBum’s physique ushered in a new era of aesthetics in Open bodybuilding. He credited Bumstead’s impact in Classic Physique for helping pave the way for other shapely athletes like Dauda and Andrew Jacked.
RELATED: Derek Lunsford Builds Huge Back and Biceps With Legend Ronnie Coleman
As for Lunsford, he’s remaining busy in the off-season with strenuous training sessions ahead of the Pittsburgh Pro guest posing show. Coleman is confident that the former 212 Olympia winner will have the tools to defeat Choopan and other contenders at the upcoming Olympia.
Watch the full video below, courtesy of Ronnie Coleman’s YouTube channel:
Published: 17 April, 2023 | 2:03 PM EDT
Derek Lunsford Shows Off Sculpted Physique After Killer Shoulders Workout in The 2023 Off-Season
Derek Lunsford is leaving no stone unturned to maximize his gains in this off-season and bring a complete package to the 2023 Olympia. His off-season training is picking up pace, and Lunsford recently went through a shoulder workout and included a few chest exercises in the session as well. America’s own Lunsford has cemented his position…
Iain Valliere Criticizes Derek Lunsford’s Special Invite, Claims “There Is No Excuse Not To” Qualify During A Show
Iain Valliere shared his thoughts on Derek Lunsford receiving a special invitation to the 2022 Olympia.
Derek Lunsford officially received a special invitation to compete in Men’s Open at the 2022 Olympia. Naturally, this decision was going to ruffle some feathers from those who disagree with the decision. Iain Valliere decided to share his opinion and criticize the process claiming that Lunsford could have competed in a show.
On Instagram, Bi’s and Tri’s shared the news of Lunsford receiving an invitation. Valliere appeared in the comments section of the post sharing his thoughts on the decision.
“My main issue with it here is absolutely no effort was made to qualify and go through the proper channels like everyone else competing there, and there is still plenty of shows, so there is really no excuse not to. He was in good shape all the way back in Pittsburgh for the guest posing, he easily could have done a show and qualified, but instead he used the extra time to be better for the O and rely on an invite. Just not a kosher move imo.”
Derek Lunsford and the 2022 Olympia
Derek Lunsford appeared as a guest poser during the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro. This is when he got the initial chance to show off the size that he put on next to other mass monsters in Men’s Open. The event in Pittsburgh took place during the first week of May so Iain Valliere believes Lunsford should have entered a show over the summer to qualify for the Olympia.
Valliere was victorious at the 2021 Texas Pro and Tampa Pro in back-to-back weeks to qualify for the Olympia. This year, he won the Vancouver Pro and will now appear at the biggest show once again. As for Lunsford, he is the reigning 212 Olympia champion and will now have a chance to compete in the biggest division.
There were many who believed that Derek Lunsford would miss the Olympia if he did not receive this invite. The size that he put on would be difficult to lose to get back down to 212. At the same time, he was not qualified for Men’s Open.
Nonetheless, we will see what Derek Lunsford has to offer in Men’s Open come December. Do you believe that Iain Valliere is right to criticize the decision? This will be an added storyline heading into the event.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Derek Lunsford Has Received Special Invitation To Compete In Men’s Open Division During 2022 Olympia
Derek Lunsford will now have a chance to compete in Open bodybuilding!
Reigning 212 Olympia champion Derek Lunsford will now have a chance to compete in a different division. After speculation, Lunsford has received a special invitation to compete in the Men’s Open division during the 2022 Olympia.
Lunsford submitted a formal request to receive a special invitation for the biggest show of the year and it was approved by Olympia promoters and the IFBB Professional League.
“After careful consideration, the Olympia promoters and the IFBB Professional League have granted Lunsford a Special Invitation. The addition of Lunsford further bolsters what many are calling “one of the best lineups” in the history of the event.”
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.
Kamal Elgargni Believes Competitors Should Earn Qualification To Olympia, Says Derek Lunsford “Needs More Time”
Kamal Elgargni recently discussed the 2022 Tampa Pro and Derek Lunsford’s potential move to Men’s Open.
Kamal Elgargni is preparing to make his debut in Men’s Open after being a champion in the 212 division. He will not be the last to do so as Derek Lunsford might be preparing to do the same thing in the coming years. This is a topic that Elgargni discussed during a recent interview.
Elgargni was crowned the 2019 Olympia 212 champion, finishing ahead of Lunsford. Now, he is making the move to Men’s Open while Lunsford is the reigning 212 champion. He returned in 2020 to defend his title but fell to Shaun Clarida. He has been training with some of the mass monsters, such as Nick Walker, in Men’s Open preparing to take the stage.
Elgargni shared his plans to compete in both the 2022 Tampa Pro and Texas Pro in the upcoming weeks. In a recent interview with Muscular Development Magazine, Elgargni discussed his prep, along with Lunsford’s potential move to Men’s Open.
Kamal Elgargni Believes Derek Lunsford Needs More Time
Kamal Elgargni knows a thing or two about the Olympia process and Derek Lunsford as a competitor. They have had some battles on stage in the past. Elgargni was honest about his opinion and believes that competitors should have to earn their way to the biggest stage in the sport.
“Well, to be honest, for him, if he gets the invite, I think everybody should earn their win and their qualification but there is some circumstances or there is sometimes you need some special invites if, if as we see, come on Ron. We’ve seen lately with heavyweights We haven’t seen much quality there.”
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Kamal Elgargni is qualified for life to compete in the 212 division because he is a former champion. Also, the top finishers from the previous show automatically qualify for next year’s show. Other than that, athletes have to win a show to qualify or earn enough points in the standings to gain access to the Olympia.
Elgargni continued to explain how Lunsford has the ability and look to compete in Men’s Open but might not be ready just yet. He believes that the 212 champion needs more time to polish his physique and make improvements.
“When Derek did Pittsburgh, that guest pose, he fits up really well as you see with social media going crazy and he deserves it. He will be, he’s got all the tools to be a Mr. Olympia. He’s good, but I think he needs more time. To give him an invitation, that’s, I look at that more business-wise.”
Kamal Elgargni is preparing to step on stage in two major shows this season. If he is able to win one, he will have a chance to battle some of the best competitors in the world. As for Lunsford, Elgargni views this as a business decision.
“What’s Derek going to make? What’s Derek going to do? I think it’s too early to give it to him because he’s won only one time in Mr. Olympia in the 212.”
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King Kamali Believes Derek Lunsford Would “Look Small” Against The Top Five In Open Bodybuilding
King Kamali weighed in on how Derek Lunsford would look compared to the other elite competitors in Men’s Open.
It has been weeks now since the conversation began about Derek Lunsford moving to Open bodybuilding. The speculation began when he appeared as a guest poser at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro next to some of the elite competitors in Men’s Open. This made many believe that he could hold his own if he made the switch. King Kamali is not one of those believers when it comes to Lunsford against the top five.
Lunsford was able to get over the hump during the 2021 Olympia and take home the 212 title. He had been vying for this honor for years and was finally able to reach the pinnacle. Now, it seems as though he has put on more muscle mass this offseason. This has many in the sport doubting his chance at defending his title in 212 this year, including Olympia President Dan Solomon.
READ MORE: Dan Solomon Claims Derek Lunsford Might Not Be In Olympia Without Special Invitation
Derek Lunsford might need a special invitation to compete in Open bodybuilding at this year’s Olympia. Big Ramy received this invitation prior to his title in 2020. He did not earn enough qualification points to make it that way and was given an invitation by the committee. This might be the way that Lunsford needs to work it as well.
It is unknown if Lunsford will ultimately receive this invitation but there is still time. It is clear that he is training for Men’s Open but would he be able to sneak into the top five?
King Kamali Believes Derek Lunsford Would Be Behind Many Competitors
Recently, Nick Walker joined Fouad Abiad on his podcast and discussed the status of Derek Lunsford. Walker finished fifth at the Olympia last year and believes he can climb the leaderboard further. When discussing Lunsford, Walker claimed that he might be able to make the top five. Walker even said that Lunsford could beat him in the future but not this year.
King Kamali went in depth about different competitors that would still finish ahead of Lunsford in Men’s Open.
“I’m just saying that there is going to be a few guys in trouble. So, he can’t beat Hadi. He can’t beat, I don’t think he can beat Ramy if Ramy is in shape. I don’t know, I don think he will beat Brandon if Brandon is in shape but I think he fares very well with all the other guys,” King Kamali explained.
King Kamali then used a quote from Dorian Yates to compare to Lunsford’s situation. Yates was told that if Nasser El Sonbaty built his back that he would lose. Yates responded and said “he’s been training for 18 years. What makes you think he’s going to get a back in one year?”
“Derek is a fantastic bodybuilder. He looks great. Great symmetry. He’s made some great improvements, okay?”
“When he stands next to the top five guys in the Open class of the Olympia, he’s king to look small.”
Where it stands right now, it seems as though Derek Lunsford moving to Men’s Open is not a case of if but when it will happen. When Lunsford decides to make the jump, there will be plenty of eyes on his first show at the next level.
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