Tag: Guest Posing
Hunter Labrada, Vitaliy ‘Good Vito’ Ugolnikov & Keone Pearson Shine in Recent Guest Posing
The IFBB Pro League has arguably never been more loaded with talent. In a collection of Instagram posts, fans were blown away by recent guest posing appearances from Hunter Labrada, Vitaliy ‘Good Vito’ Ugolnikov, and Keone Pearson.
With the 2023 Mr. Olympia competition approaching, athletes are on a mission to secure their qualifications. They have until the October 9 deadline. One competitor who has yet to earn his invite is Hunter Labrada, son of bodybuilding legend Lee Labrada.
Last year at the Mr. Olympia show, Labrada slipped placings. However, in 2022 he encountered difficulties as he dropped to seventh. In the aftermath, Labrada mentioned that problems arose with his prep and peak.
Moreover, fans and judges alike took notice of his washed-out midsection, which prevented him from placing higher. That hindrance is something Hunter has worked diligently on to fix. In addition to gut health shakes, he regularly practices vacuum poses for abdomen control. He and his father announced that Hunter planned to compete at the 2023 Tampa Pro and Texas Pro on the horizon. With five weeks away, Hunter appears to be close if not, at his all-time best.
Vitaliy ‘Good Vito’ Ugolnikov, meanwhile, traveled a different path en route to becoming an IFBB pro. Last year he switched from the IFBB Elite Pro League to the NPC (just like Michal Krizo). He wasted no time in earning his IFBB Pro card at the 2022 Musclecontest International Brazil Nationals. Vito, who has gone viral several times online for his freaky physique, has ambitious plans this year like Hunter.
Good Vito has kept fans updated on his progress before his next show. Considering his jaw-dropping physique updates, many consider him a frontrunner heading into the 2023 European Pro Championships in nine weeks.
And the 28-year-old Keone Pearson is another big name in the sport ready to dominate. Having found success in the Classic Physique division, fans are excited to see Pearson’s continued transformation in 212. He plans to compete in the 2023 Texas Pro in approximately five weeks. En route to the big day, Pearson has let fans in on his 3,500-calorie diet.
Hunter Labrada Looking Massive in Guest Posing Appearance
Check out Labrada’s recent guest posing appearance at the 2023 NPC South Central USA.
Vitaliy ‘Good Vito’ Ugolnikov Guest Poses, Falls Off Stage, and Reportedly Hospitalized
During Good Vito’s guest posing obligation at the 2023 Musclecontest International Brazil, his freaky muscularity and huge arms/quads were on full display. However, when he attempted to exit the stage by jumping off from the front, he appeared to injure himself.
Keone Pearson Teases Statue-Esque Physique While Guest Posing Before 2023 Olympia
Keone Pearson is five weeks from taking to the stage in Texas. You can find clips from his latest guest posing session at the NPC Twin Cities Open below:
All three of these competitors are after the same thing: a ticket to the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia contest – the biggest bodybuilding show of the year. There is no point system now so athletes who intend to enter Mr. Olympia must win a pro event. This year’s 2023 Mr. Olympia will take place in Orlando, Florida inside the Orange County Convention Center.
Having re-introduced deadlifts back into his workout routine, Labrada is optimistic about his chances in Texas, where he’s expected to face the reigning champion, Andrew Jacked. They actually competed against each other at Olympia last year with Hunter getting the upper hand.
Should Good Vito prove successful in getting an Olympia invite, many in the sport already see him as a promising threat. Top Men’s Open competitor Iain Valliere told Fouad Abiad during a recent Bro Chat Podcast that most athletes from North America are afraid to stand against Vito on stage.
Keone Pearson’s balance, muscularity, and symmetry have also gotten the attention of some big names in the sport, such as former Mr. Olympia Samir Bannout. While Bannout thought Pearson had the tools to win the 2022 Olympia show, he ended the contest in sixth.
RELATED: Samson Dauda Shows Off Monstrous 327-Lb Physique Guest Posing at 2023 USA Fit Games
Time will tell if Hunter Labrada, Good Vito, and Keone Pearson earn invites. Regardless, fans are in store for some epic contests in the weeks to come as 2023 Olympia inches closer.
Published: 10 July, 2023 | 3:36 PM EDT
Samson Dauda Shows Off Monstrous 327-Lb Physique Guest Posing at 2023 USA Fit Games
Samson Dauda continues to gain momentum in the viciously competitive IFBB Pro League Men’s Open division. Over last weekend, Dauda shocked his fans while guest posing at the 2023 USA Fit Games and revealed he’s weighing 327 pounds.
The potential of Dauda was evident from the start of his bodybuilding career. Though, in 2022, he gained considerable momentum. Fans saw him claim a pair of fourth-place finishes at the Arnold Classic and Boston Pro. Making his way to the Olympia for the first time, Dauda exceeded expectations and finished sixth. During the event, he proved himself standing against the former two-time champion Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay, who ultimately slid to fifth.
Without an invite to this year’s Olympia event, Dauda returned to the 2023 Arnold Classic. He faced stiff competition from fellow frontrunners Nick Walker and Andrew Jacked. While some in the sport found the results controversial, Dauda won and earned his way to this year’s prestigious show.
Dauda understands getting past Olympia runner-up Derek Lunsford, and champ, Hadi Choopan will be no easy task. In a Muscular Development interview, Dauda explained that the only way he could win 2023 Mr. Olympia gold was by thickening his back. And if his latest guest posing appearance is a sign of his progress, it appears Dauda is in a favorable position to do well at this year’s Olympia.
Samson Dauda Staying Active With Guest Posing in 2023 Off-Season, Shows Off Physique at 327 Lbs
‘Everything is bigger in Texas,’ as was the case with Samson Dauda’s latest guest posing appearance at 327 pounds.
“Guest posing today at @usafitgamesIn Dallas Texas327lbs” Dauda wrote.
In May, he joined a star-studded lineup of Men’s Open guest posers at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro. Samson shared the stage with Walker, Hunter Labrada, Big Ramy, Shaun Clarida, and Derek Lunsford. In the aftermath, most fans agreed that Dauda and Lunsford stood out as favorites ahead of the next Mr. Olympia.
A month later in April, Dauda took over the stage at the 10x Ben Weider 2023 to guest pose. He looked incredible and still conditioned despite enjoying a rebound period. Given the artistic nature and detail of his posing routines, it’s safe to say his busy schedule is paying off.
Even though he defeated ‘The Mutant’ in Columbus, Ohio, Nick Walker doesn’t seem to be concerned with Samson Dauda ahead of Olympia this year. He has no crystal ball but Walker predicted that 2023 Mr. Olympia will see either himself or Derek Lunsford win gold. It should be noted that eight-time winner Ronnie Coleman believes Lunsford will end Choopan’s reign when they rematch.
Steve Weinberger, who often serves as the head judge for Arnold Classics and Mr. Olympias, said that Dauda could push into the top three this year with added back improvements. He specified that Dauda will also need to keep a similar level of size that he presented last December.
RELATED: Samson Dauda ‘Fired Up’ to Bring Shock Factor at 2023 Mr. Olympia: ‘There’s Only 1 Result Left to Get’
Meanwhile, other competitors in the Open, such as William Bonac, believe Choopan is likely to defend successfully in November. Nevertheless, should Dauda thicken his back and add more detail, he and his coach Milos Sarcev are confident they could disrupt the lineup and win the 2023 Mr. Olympia show.
Published: 19 June, 2023 | 3:40 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