Tag: Hadi Choopan
Terrick El Guindy Says Hadi Choopan Sent a ‘Clear Message’ to Derek Lunsford W/ 2024 Arnold Classic Win
The dust settled in Columbus, Ohio with Hadi Choopan emerging as the 2024 Arnold Classic champion. In a recent YouTube video, judge Terrick El Guindy recapped the event and discussed Choopan’s chances of swiping Derek Lunsford’s Olympia title in October. Actions speak louder than words — and that was certainly the mantra Hadi Choopan lived […]
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Milos Sarcev, Jay Cutler Break Down Top Open Contenders 13 Weeks from 2023 Mr. Olympia
The 2023 Mr. Olympia competition goes down in less than 13 weeks, prompting bodybuilding veterans to discuss the Men’s Open lineup. In a recent Cutler Cast Podcast, Jay Cutler and Milos Sarcev gave their thoughts on a number of top frontrunners like the reigning champion Hadi Choopan, Samson Dauda, Hunter Labrada, and Andrew Jacked. Last […]
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Hadi Choopan Shares Massive Update Months from 2023 Mr. Olympia, Destroys 1,102-Lb Hack Squat
Bodybuilder Hadi Choopan is more motivated than ever to ensure the Mr. Olympia title stays in Iran. In a pair of Instagram posts, Choopan showed off an impressive physique update and hack squat training session months before taking to the stage.
Choopan built his career off the back of consistency, discipline, and hard work. His grainy muscle hardness is proof of that, and his ability to get shredded for shows remains one of his most notable strengths. After three years straight of finishing in the top four at the prestigious show, Choopan’s crowning moment came last year in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In the 2022 Mr. Olympia competition, Choopan competed against a historic lineup with plenty of new names breaking into the top 15. During the prejudging rounds, Choopan’s conditioning guided him to the finals. He battled Nick Walker and Derek Lunsford en route to claiming gold. As for the former two-time champion Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay, he fell to fifth in a shocking upset.
Plenty of threats loom for Choopan as the hunted champion. In March, Samson Dauda defeated Walker to secure the 2023 Arnold Classic title. Having finished sixth at Olympia in his debut, Dauda and his trainer Milos Sarcev have emphasized back development to improve their standing in November.
Derek Lunsford also anticipates another battle with Choopan. In an appearance on Dennis James’ The Menace Podcast, Lunsford predicted that Walker and Dauda would be competing for third/fourth place at the 2023 Mr. Olympia. In a show of confidence, Choopan teased his opponents with a physique update dated one month ago.
“Let’s Play a Game, A Month Ago” Hadi Choopan Shares Physique Update + Training Session
With the tail-end of the off-season approaching, Choopan checked in with a massive update. Even though there are months until show day, Choopan is still displaying jaw-dropping muscle striations in his chest.
“Let’s play a game?A month ago” Choopan posted.
In a separate post, Choopan impressed with some huge hack squats, and de-loaded weight as he progressed through the workout. He started with a maximum weight of 1,102 pounds.
“It’s hard, don’t talk too hard, do it, repeat it more this year, we have to repeat it without rest☝?You and me together whit GOD?@hanyrambod” Choopan shared.
Instagram @hadi_choopan
Veterans of the sport have labeled their frontrunners. Athletes rep Bob Cicherillo and Milos Sarcev consider Dauda a legitimate threat to Choopan. In a recent Cutler Cast Podcast, Sarcev predicted that the top three finishers of 2023 Mr. Olympia will be Dauda, Choopan, and Derek Lunsford.
Eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman expects Derek Lunsford to get his hand raised against Choopan in November. During a YouTube video, Coleman shared that not only does he think Lunsford will win the Mr. Olympia in 2023, but he called him his favorite bodybuilder of the current generation.
Nick Walker, who is amid preparations to bring his best, doesn’t think he’ll have to worry about Choopan winning again. ‘The Mutant’ said more than likely the finals will come down to himself and former 212 champ Lunsford.
This isn’t Choopan’s first update of the 2023 bodybuilding season. Similar to his latest progress video, Choopan showed off a month-old physique update back in June. Fans were blown away by the conditioning Choopan was carrying despite it being his off-season.
RELATED: Hadi Choopan Looks Massive in 2023 Off-Season, Shares Brutal Row & Leg Press Workouts
The 2023 Mr. Olympia contest is approaching and Choopan is determined to bring his best to the stage. Given how close the show was between him and Lunsford in 2022, fans look forward to seeing the rematch settled.
Published: 28 July, 2023 | 2:12 PM EDT
“I Never Thought He’d Accomplish What He’s Accomplishing” Chris Aceto Praises Nick Walker’s Potential
Preparations for the upcoming 2023 Olympia contest in November are heating up. Contenders in the Open class are aiming to bring their best to dethrone the reigning Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan. In a recent Mutant and the Mouth Podcast, Nick Walker and bodybuilding coach Chris Aceto discussed his potential of winning the coveted crown later this year.
Walker entered the IFBB Pro League brimming with potential, having laid claim to his first Pro title at the 2021 New York Pro. From there, he wasted no time in performing against elite talent. He stormed Columbus, Ohio for his debut on the Arnold Classic stage. ‘The Mutant’ even predicted beforehand that he would leave the town victorious, and that’s exactly what happened.
At Walker’s first Olympia competition, he shocked the world with a fifth-place finish. His combination of freakish muscle mass and conditioning set him apart from his peers. Despite encountering obstacles last year (like temporarily splitting from his trainer Matt Jansen), Walker still shined in his sophomore Olympia appearance.
In the 2022 Olympia finals, Walker faced off with Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford – two men trained by bodybuilding guru Hany Rambod. In the end, Walker settled for bronze and the Olympia People’s Champ Award. As for Choopan, he secured his first Sandow trophy against Lunsford and became the only Iranian-born Mr. Olympia titleholder.
Chris Aceto has served as a long-time bodybuilding coach to several high-profile names in the sport. He’s worked with Mike Francois, Jay Cutler, Paul DeMayo, and helps shape Men’s Open pros of today, like Andrew Jacked. In his latest undertaking, Aceto took a closer look at Nick Walker and the physique he’s bringing to 2023 Olympia.
Chris Aceto Talks Nick Walker’s 2023 Olympia Potential, Derek Lunsford’s Flow & Hadi Choopan’s Muscle Maturity
Aceto admits he was ‘100% wrong’ about Nick Walker’s potential as a Men’s Open bodybuilder.
“I think for me the problem is when people talk about me it’s no big deal, right? People are like, ‘Oh you look like a fridge, you got a wide waist.’ No one is like, ‘True,’ right? The moment I say something that has some validity to it, everybody just loses their fucking mind,” said Walker.
“They say, ‘Stay in your lane,’” Aceto shared.
“Exactly, what people don’t understand, I respect all of them. I’m friends with all of them but I’m – you asked me my opinion, I’m going to give you what I truthfully think. Just like I would expect people to be honest about what they truthfully think about my physique. Chris, Chris has said multiple times I’ll never be good I believe on many podcasts,” said Walker.
“I said that over and over. This is the most improved terrible body in the history of the sport, I’m serious. You know what, how many times on the radio have I said, I’m wrong, I was only 100% wrong in terms of Nick Walker. I mean, I wasn’t 40% wrong. Yeah, you look crazy,” Aceto explained.
While Aceto has been critical of Walker’s structure in the past, he was blown away by Nick’s accomplishments in such a short period of time. Aceto mentioned that moving forward, Walker should always be in title discussions for 2023 Olympia.
“When I post my updates tomorrow, that’s what I’m going to write as my caption, the most improved terrible physique,” said Walker.
“You know what, obviously, Nick, you’ve accomplished more I think than the collective expectation has been for Nick Walker. You know what, most, the hardest thing – the best way to get to your peers – which is as important as the judge’s respect, is for people to say, ‘Ah Nick sucks. Oh, wait, he beat me.’ Then he did it again. He beat so and so and beat so and so. It shuts people up. It makes people go like wow I was really wrong on Nick Walker. I never thought he’d accomplish what he’s accomplishing,” Aceto shared.
Chris also discussed Derek Lunsford’s flow and Hadi Choopan’s game-changing muscle maturity.
“That’s why when people say, now people say, Olympia, when your name is not mentioned I’m like, what? Even when I came from Kamal’s right. I said impossible lowest is third. Lowest is third. I said the lowest was third. I put all my money on Derek and Hadi would just surprise me like I didn’t know what to do with him, you know what I mean? He’s [Choopan] hard to handicap because he has a lot of strengths. He has a lot of tools. Obviously, I wouldn’t say he – this is not a knock against anyone, he does not have a flow of Derek even though he has more density than Derek and more maturity than Derek, so there’s a contrast.”
“Last year, he [Hadi Choopan] was either going to be first or third,” added Aceto.
One of the last times fans heard from Chris Aceto, he took issue with the 2023 Arnold Classic scorecards. Like many others, Aceto thought Walker could have won in Ohio. He shared that Walker would have defeated Samson Dauda in a ‘one versus one’ comparison but never got the opportunity. Other veterans of the sport such as Samir Bannout also thought Walker won the show soundly.
With so many contenders hungry for Choopan’s title, this year’s Olympia show will be packed with action. Walker has been open about his game plan and is currently growing a huge chest and quads to balance out his appearance. Given the way the wind is blowing, Walker is confident either he or Derek Lunsford will win the next Mr. Olympia title.
RELATED: Nick Walker on 2023 Olympia: ‘Samson Dauda’s Back is Shit, Big Ramy Is Done & Andrew Jacked Won’t Make Top 5’
Watch the full video from the Mutant and the Mouth Podcast YouTube channel below:
Published: 18 July, 2023 | 3:33 PM EDT
Milos Sarcev Backs Derek Lunsford & Hadi Choopan as Favorites for 2023 Mr. Olympia
Iranian bodybuilder Hadi Choopan cemented his place in the history books with a sensational victory at the 2022 Mr. Olympia. Along with Choopan, former 212 Olympia champion, Derek Lunsford received major praise for his debut performance in the Men’s Open class. In a recent episode of Cutler Cast, renowned bodybuilding coach Milos Sarcev backed Choopan and Lunsford as favorites going into the 2023 Mr. Olympia.
Fans witnessed one of the most competitive and exciting seasons of the last few years in 2022. Former two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay was tasked with the challenge of facing veterans like former champion Brandon Curry, William Bonac, and the ever-consistent Hadi Choopan along with a plethora of other top-tier talents, including Nick Walker, Andrew Jacked, and Samson Dauda. Aside from the mass monsters of the Open, Derek Lunsford entered the show following a special invite.
In the end, Big Ramy got knocked off the top by Choopan, who became the first Iranian to win the coveted Sandow trophy. Lunsford made a statement in his Open debut by taking silver in a close-fought contest with Choopan. Then, Dauda asserted his place in the mix of title contention by dominating the competition at the 2023 Arnold Classic earlier this year.
The 2023 Pittsburgh Pro presented an opportunity for some of the top Open competitors to give fans a sneak peek at the looks they plan to bring for the 2023 Mr. Olympia. Following the guest posing appearances, many thought Lunsford and Dauda emerged as the frontrunners for the show. Although Choopan was not in attendance, he sent warning shots with a massive physique update in the days that would follow.
Lunsford received the backing of bodybuilding legend and eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman, who also called him his favorite contemporary bodybuilder last month. Former Mr. Olympia Samir Bannout voiced a similar sentiment in backing Lunsford as the biggest threat at this year’s Olympia.
As for Lunsford, he reported significant improvements in the off-season and expects to return to action stronger than ever. Hadi Choopan doesn’t seem too worried as he issued a fiery message showing off his monstrous physique in an update weeks ago.
Derek Lunsford teamed up with Dauda for a grueling back workout session over two weeks ago. Both men boasted their humongous frames and pushed each other to the limit under the guidance of Hall of Famer Chris Cormier.
Milos Sarcev backs Derek Lunsford & Hadi Choopan as favorites for 2023 Mr. Olympia
In a recent YouTube video, Milos Sarcev shared his thoughts on the frontrunners for the 2023 Mr. Olympia.
According to Sarcev, there’s a high chance Choopan retains the title this year and the next.
“I have all the respect for Hadi,” said Sarcev. “Hadi could be three times Mr. Olympia.”
He backed Lunsford and Choopan as the favorites entering the show and highlighted the danger that 2023 Arnold Classic winner Samson Dauda brings.
“Derek & Hadi are frontrunners. Samson is going to the show to win and will do everything possible for him to win.”
Sarcev says Lunsford would be Mr. Olympia if it was judged from the back
Sarcev believes Derek Lunsford boasts one of the best backs in the game and is nearly unbeatable in front poses, like the front double bicep and front lat spread. For Sarcev, the deciding factor would be how convincingly Lunsford gets beaten in his weaker poses from the side.
“Derek would be Mr. Olympia if it was judged from the back already. He lost from the side a little bit and when you think front, front double biceps, front lat spread, he’s super dangerous because then you can really see the definition and hardness on the chest on those two poses and he had a crazy v-taper so you gotta give him. He has front double bicep, front lat spread, he looks crazy in all these poses. He’s super dangerous. From the back, he’s phenomenal. The other poses, he can be beaten. Can he be beaten in other poses convincingly enough? That remains to be seen. I still think Hadi Choopan is going to come [and be in the driver’s seat].”
Derek Lunsford showed off his huge legs in a heavy-duty off-season lower-body workout last week. He indulged in a friendly hot-dog eating contest, devouring 3,300 calories in a post-workout cheat meal. Then, he laid out a sleeve-busting arm workout to build jacked biceps earlier this week.
RELATED: Derek Lunsford Goes Through Title-Worthy Back Workout With Chris Bumstead
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 7 July, 2023 | 7:57 AM EDT
Nick Walker on 2023 Olympia: ‘Samson Dauda’s Back is Shit, Big Ramy Is Done & Andrew Jacked Won’t Make Top 5’
Nick Walker‘s brutally honest personality was on full display during a recent interview. In an HD Muscle YouTube video, Walker revealed his top five for 2023 Mr. Olympia and examined contenders expected to compete this November.
“Everyone is just getting better, that’s just the reality. The newcomers are getting better and better and the older guys are going out. The young kids are coming up,” said Nick Walker.
The Men’s Open division’s popularity is at an all-time high following the last two major bodybuilding shows. Last year’s Mr. Olympia contest was filled with twists, turns, and unexpected surprises as Hadi Choopan claimed gold in a memorable affair. However, the former two-time champ, Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay‘s night did not go as planned. He was sidelined for most of prejudging and was eventually awarded fifth place.
Nick Walker, on the other hand, improved on the Mr. Olympia stage once again in third with 212-turned-Open talent Derek Lunsford securing runner-up. Instead of using the time to rebound, Walker jumped back into the 2023 Arnold Classic on short notice. He faced Samson Dauda and Andrew Jacked in Columbus, Ohio, — two names he already defeated on the Olympia stage.
In the end, Samson Dauda’s shape, symmetry, proportions, and conditioning proved to be a winning combination. And while he bested Walker on that night, ‘The Mutant’ isn’t convinced Samson will contend for gold at this year’s Mr. Olympia. In a Mutant and the Mouth Podcast, Walker said it would either be himself or Lunsford accepting the first-place trophy.
With less than five months until the biggest bodybuilding show on the calendar, preparations are heating up for everyone, including Walker. Before capping off his brief off-season, the 28-year-old picked apart some of the top names he intends to face in the coming months.
Nick Walker’s Top 5 for 2023 Mr. Olympia, Talks Hunter Labrada’s Path to Redemption, Samson Dauda & Big Ramy
Walker believes the 2023 Mr. Olympia top five will feature himself, Hadi Choopan, Derek Lunsford, Samson Dauda, and Hunter Labrada. Similar to Labrada, Walker says Samson’s weakest body part is his back.
“To be honest, I think it will be me, Hadi, Derek, I think Samson will jump into the top five, it’s four right there right? And I’m going to throw one out there, I think Hunter is going to get a spot back,” said Walker. “Well, okay, if we’re going to talk facts, Samson’s got a shit back too. I don’t know. Neither is Samson’s [back 3D]. Samson’s is flat as a board. There’s nothing going on there. From the front Samson is a monster but he turns around, wait what happened?”
In Walker’s opinion, Big Ramy is done. However, he mentioned that he’s still young enough to take time off and return with improvements.
“I think Ramy is done. I think Ramy is done,” said Walker. I do know Ramy, he’s done. Oh my God, he’s the sweetest guy.”
“I don’t think he’s done but he needs the year off to refocus, do some shit, and then come back. He’s still not young young, but he’s still young enough where he can make some changes.”
Nick predicts Labrada will have to win a battle against rookie Justin Shier to earn his spot on the Olympia stage.
“It is [Hunter’s weak spot is his back] but I think Hunter is hungry. [He was] devastated [after last year]. He knows what he needs to do. Do I think it’s going to be a while before his back catches up? Sure. But do I think it looks a lot better already? Yeah. So if he wins, which he probably will… he’s got plenty of time to keep making improvements.”
“I think that will be a battle [at Chicago Pro]. If Hunter can peak right and obviously we all know Matt doesn’t miss – so Justin [Shier] will be peaked. That’s going to be a battle. It’s going to be tough. I think Hunter overall is a little overwhelming than Justin. He’s a little wider and bigger but Justin’s can just hang, if Justin is a little better conditioned and peaked right, I think he can take out Hunter.”
“I’ll use Chris Bumstead as an example, one year he had no back, the following year he had the best back in Classic. That was one year. All it takes is hard work.”
Andrew Jacked Top 5? Walker says NO.
When asked about Andrew Jacked, Walker doesn’t believe he’ll outshine Samson Dauda or place in the top five this November.
“No [Andrew Jacked won’t make top five at 2023 Olympia]. No way [he beats Samson Dauda]. No. No. No. I have Samson, I have him in the top 6-8 spot,” added Walker.
Michal Krizo
As for Michal Krizo, Walker admits he’s big but doesn’t see him doing better than 10th. He added that Hadi didn’t win soundly last year so he doesn’t see him as a dominant titleholder like Phil Heath was.
“No [not a fan of his]. No, he’s big. He’s a big boy. But no. I see him maybe 10th. Maybe,” Walker said. “I think, listen, Hadi is great but just in my opinion, he’s a one-hit-wonder. He wasn’t like a Phil Heath where he won and you’re like, ‘Oh shit.’ I didn’t feel that with him, you know. With the competition now, even if I win, I don’t think it’s guaranteed I win again.”
Walker Casts Doubt on Blessing Awodibu & Regan Grimes This Year
According to Walker, until Awodibu brings up his legs, he will remain in the third call-out at Olympia. In addition, he doubted Regan Grimes’ potential and said he doesn’t think he ‘has the heart’ for bodybuilding.
“Blessing needs to get some legs before he talks shit,” said Walker. “I love Blessing but I think… Blessing just has – he’s afraid to ask for help. It’s like – I tried to help him, I’ve had friends try to give him advice, but Blessing is like ‘I don’t want advice.’ Alright, well that’s why you’re in the third call-out. And he was in the third call-out.”
“Regan, listen, he’s a nice guy. He should stick to the IG stuff. Listen, I just don’t think he has the mindset. Now that I’m around him a lot, I don’t think he has the heart. I don’t think he has the consistency. Bodybuilding is I’d say 100% mindset, yes. If your mind is not in this you will fail. He doesn’t look any different to me. He doesn’t, I’m sorry but he doesn’t. Yeah [it’s a mental thing] of course. I think he wants to but he’s just always distracted by other shit. Unfortunately, if you want to be at the top you unfortunately have to cut everything off. You have to be all in,”
After wrapping up his discussion on the Open class, Walker shared that Phil Heath won’t be coming back. When asked why, he pointed to monetary reasons.
“No, no. They [Masters Olympia] ain’t paying enough for him to come back,” Walker shared.
With contest schedules intensifying, plenty of top names have offered their take on who will become the next Mr. O. William Bonac, a two-time Arnold Classic titleholder, is convinced Choopan will repeat as champion later this year. Yet, former eight-time Olympia winner Ronnie Coleman doesn’t agree. He recently stated that Derek Lunsford will overthrow Choopan to become the next Mr. Olympia.
Samson Dauda has been open about his game plan for his sophomore Olympia appearance. He and his trainer Milos Sarcev agree that his only path to victory against Lunsford and Choopan is by bringing a more complete back. With that in mind, Dauda believes once his back is on par with the rest of his physique, the title will be his.
Given that Nick Walker has yet to slip on the Mr. Olympia stage, it’s hard to imagine he won’t showcase improvements in November. With how close last year’s show was, fans look forward to seeing who becomes the 18th man in history to win a Sandow trophy.
RELATED: Hadi Choopan Looks Ripped in 2023 Off-Season Physique Update Ahead of Title Defense
You can watch the full HD Muscle YouTube video below:
Published: 29 June, 2023 | 11:37 AM EDT
Ronnie Coleman Reacts to Reigning Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan’s Craziest Lifts
Ronnie Coleman was revered for his monstrous physique and strength during his bodybuilding career. In a recent YouTube video, Coleman reacted to some of reigning Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan’s most impressive gym lifts.
“What’s going on guys? Big Ron here. I’ve seen my boy Hadi Choopan been doing a lot of work over the years and finally got himself a title. I thought it would only be appropriate if I did some reaction videos to some of his training, so let’s get into this, yeah buddy,” said Coleman.
During his tenure, Coleman dominated the Men’s Open division for nearly a decade. Nicknamed ‘The King,’ Coleman brought unparalleled size, conditioning, and firepower to the world’s brightest stages. He routinely pushed and defeated heavy hitters in the category such as Jay Cutler, Flex Wheeler, and Kevin Levrone.
Coleman wasn’t just known for his skills on a bodybuilding stage. Throughout his career, he made headlines for recording stunning feats of strength. He’s deadlifted 800 pounds for reps and has leg pressed over 2,300 pounds.
A pioneer of freaky mass, Coleman collected eight Mr. Olympia titles from 1998-2005. He was well respected for his intense training style which often incorporated heavy weight for a high number of reps. Despite retiring in 2007, Coleman’s impact on the sport is undeniable. Given his experience and expertise, his opinions regarding the Men’s Open division are often sought out.
In the wake of the 2022 Mr. Olympia contest, Hadi Choopan claimed gold while Derek Lunsford, a former 212 Olympia champ, finished runner-up. The contest was close and in Coleman’s opinion, Derek Lunsford now has the potential to take out Choopan this November. In his latest endeavor, however, Coleman isn’t looking at the Olympia contest. Instead, he examined some of Choopan’s greatest lifts inside the gym.
Bodybuilding Legend Ronnie Coleman Blown Away by Hadi Choopan’s Greatest Lifts
The video starts with Choopan performing a series of cable exercises.
“Show me how you got that title, show me all the thickness you got there, let’s go, let’s do this, light weight.”
Then, Coleman reacted to Choopan firing off reps of heavy barbell curls.
“Get them arms as big as possible. That’s a big-armed dude. Let’s go Hadi. Let’s do this. What you got going on? Just playing around in the gym right now,” said Coleman. “Let’s show them how it’s supposed to be done. Yeah, buddy! Big thick chest, big thick arms, lifting that light weight baby, like it ain’t nothing. Ain’t nothing to it but to do it Hadi, you got this.”
Coleman watched Choopan hit huge barbell squats and reps on the leg press machine, an exercise Ronnie was famous for in his prime.
“Let’s go, you got this,” said Coleman. “Hard work always pays off. Now you got the title buddy.”
“Who is going to be the Mr. O in 2023. Those were some impressive lifts. Congratulations on the title Hadi, I’m looking forward to seeing you on the stage later this year. Yeah buddy.”
In retirement, Coleman is a busy man but makes time for fun reaction videos, usually in response to impressive lifts or gym fails. In addition to looking at the Open Mr. Olympia’s latest lifts, Coleman recently assessed four-time Classic Physique Olympia Chris Bumstead’s best feats of power. Coleman was most impressed after Cbum managed to deadlift 600 pounds with relative ease.
Though, it’s not just top-tier bodybuilders that Coleman keeps an eye on. He’s also given his reaction after watching four-time World’s Strongest Man Brian Shaw demonstrate some of his craziest exercises performed on camera. Overall, Coleman was stunned at the strongman’s abilities on the car deadlifts and truck pull.
With the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest approaching in November, fans expect that it will be another unpredictable contest. Choopan will again aim to fend off his teammate Lunsford, third-place 2022 O finisher Nick Walker, and frontrunner Samson Dauda, who recently claimed gold over ‘The Mutant’ at the recent 2023 Arnold Classic show.
RELATED: 8x Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman Gives Health & Mobility Update: “My Walking Is About the Same”
You can watch the full video from Ronnie Coleman’s YouTube channel:
Published: 26 June, 2023 | 4:33 PM EDT
Hadi Choopan Looks Ripped in 2023 Off-Season Physique Update Ahead of Title Defense
Iranian bodybuilder Hadi Choopan is on a mission to defend his throne at the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia. He’ll face challenges from rising contenders in the Men’s Open division. In a recent Instagram post, Choopan looked massive in an off-season physique update.
Hadi Choopan entered the IFBB Pro League as a Men’s 212 competitor with a lot of hype. Hailing from Iran, he encountered obstacles related to traveling overseas and getting a visa for different competitions. He decided to switch to the Men’s Open class and gained attention for his impressive muscle mass, definition, and conditioning after taking bronze in his first Mr. Olympia appearance in 2019. He continued to work his way up the ranks and proved to be one of the most consistent athletes in the sport, having never placed below fourth in his pro career.
Choopan created history by becoming the first Iranian to win the coveted Sandow trophy at the 2022 Mr. Olympia last December. He managed to defeat former 212 Olympia champion Derek Lunsford in a close-fought battle and rising sensation Nick Walker. Following the outcome, Choopan received a hero’s welcome back in his native land and got honored with a ten-foot-tall statue. He didn’t slow down in his training and left fans stunned with a different ripped physique update earlier in the 2023 off-season.
After Samson Dauda’s victory at the 2023 Arnold Classic, renowned coach Milos Sarcev backed him as a major threat for Choopan and Lunsford at the 2023 Mr. Olympia. IFBB athletes’ representative Bob Cicherillo expressed a similar sentiment in his analysis of the show.
While some may be counting Hadi Choopan out, bodybuilding Hall of Famer Chris Cormier believes he would give it his all since he possibly has more on the line than other competitors. Two months ago, eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman picked Lunsford to dethrone Choopan at the next Mr. Olympia.
Walker also doubts ‘The Persian Wolf’ can retain the title and expects himself to compete with Lunsford for gold. On the other hand, Cicherillo favored Choopan to beat Walker in a one-on-one showdown on stage months ago. However, bodybuilding veteran William Bonac extended his support for the champion to win another Sandow trophy.
Hadi Choopan looks massive in the off-season physique update
In a recent Instagram post, Hadi Choopan looked huge in an off-season physique update.
“The world revolved under my feet and I said to the worlds, I am the soldier of the Persians, the owner of the kingdom,” wrote Choopan via Google Translate. “I stood up and hit the nail of the tricolor flag of the Iranians, which once again danced in the breeze, a leaf of the historical string (Sando) that is sleeping in my house.”
RELATED: Samson Dauda Says Hadi Choopan & Derek Lunsford Will Lose 2023 Mr. Olympia If He Improves His Back
Recently, Choopan sent warning shots with an insanely jacked off-season physique update where he delivered a fiery message to his competitors. Based on his latest progress video, Choopan has no intentions of leaving the door open for a new champion to emerge later this year.
Published: 15 June, 2023 | 5:07 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
Hadi Choopan & Andrew Jacked Give Huge Off-Season Updates, Jacked Reveals Weight of 301.6-lb (136.8-kg)
Reigning Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan and rising sensation Andrew Jacked are some of the biggest names in the Men’s Open division. Choopan created history by winning his maiden Sandow trophy at the 2022 Mr. Olympia while Andrew Jacked, real name Chinedu Andrew Obiekea, took the bodybuilding world by storm last year. In a recent Instagram post, Jacked shared an impressive physique update revealing he’s tipping the scales at a gigantic 301.6 pounds (136.8 kilograms).
Andrew Jacked emerged as a promising Men’s Open prospect with an incredible combination of muscularity, shape, and proportions. Dubbed the ‘Mona Lisa of bodybuilding,’ Jacked kicked off last season with a dominant win at the 2022 Texas Pro, beating the likes of Martin Fitzwater, Steve Kuclo, and former 212 Olympia champ Kamal Elgargni. He followed up with another impressive performance at the 2022 Arnold Classic UK to score back-to-back wins. Though, it only took his win in Texas to guarantee his spot on the Olympia stage.
There was a lot of hype behind Andrew going into the 2022 Mr. Olympia. He presented a stellar package and cracked the top ten in his maiden performance, finishing eighth. Following the result, his coach George Farah revealed that Jacked nearly withdrew from the contest due to illness.
Specifically, George Farah explained that Andrew was suffering from bronchitis and a 102-degree fever but refused to use it as an excuse while performing atop the Olympia stage. Instead, Jacked fought through adversity and finished 8th. Fellow Men’s Open standout Nick Walker later praised Jacked’s performance and backed him as a potential title contender in the future.
Earlier this year, Jacked signed up for the 2023 Arnold Classic. He enlisted the help of renowned gurus Chris Aceto and Chris ‘Psycho’ Lewis to get ready for the competition. Four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler extended his support for Andrew to come out on top of the contest. In the end, Andrew finished third behind Walker and champ Samson Dauda.
Andrew Jacked shares a massive physique update weighing 301.6-lb (136.8-kg)
In a recent Instagram post, Andrew Jacked shared a gigantic physique update where he tipped the scales at a shocking 301.6 pounds (136.8 kilograms).
“10days into the offseason,” wrote Andrew. “301.6Lbs/136.8kgs still maintaining leanness whilst putting on decent mass.”
Two months ago, Andrew Jacked reported positive results after getting his blood work completed. He also spilled the beans on his first meeting with IFBB head judge Steve Weinberger, who regularly officiates the biggest contests in the world such as the Mr. Olympia and Arnold Classic shows.
Jacked announced his return to action for the upcoming 2023 Texas Pro, where he will look to win and earn an invite to the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia. He plans to defend his title successfully as this contest served as his first pro show victory in the IFBB Pro League.
Meanwhile, Iranian bodybuilder Hadi Choopan first gained attention for his insane muscle mass, definition, and conditioning in 2019. He won the Vancouver Pro and secured an invite to the Mr. Olympia show, where he made a statement with a third-place finish. He has proven to be one of the most consistent athletes in the sport as he never placed below fourth in any of his Mr. Olympia appearances.
Last season, Choopan dethroned former two-time champ Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay at the 2022 Mr. Olympia. Former 212 Olympia champ Derek Lunsford came close but fell to Choopan, who became the first Iranian-born champion in the history of the sport. Upon his reentry back home, he received a warm welcome back as a ten-foot-tall statue was built to honor Choopan’s achievement.
After Dauda’s win at the 2023 AC, coach Milos Sarcev backed him to potentially beat Choopan and Lunsford if he kept improving. IFBB athletes’ representative Bob Cicherillo voiced a similar sentiment in his analysis of the frontrunners for the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia. Legendary bodybuilder Ronnie Coleman picked Lunsford to win the title as well. On the other hand, bodybuilding veteran William Bonac is confident Choopan could add a second Sandow trophy to his collection.
Hadi Choopan shares jacked off-season physique update
In a recent Instagram post, Hadi Choopan shared a shredded physique update in the off-season.
“Run go home run,” cautioned Choopan.
Hadi Choopan gave fans a look into his training in the 2023 off-season two weeks ago. He laid out an intense lower-body workout routine that he’s utilizing to get ready for the next Olympia.
RELATED: Samson Dauda, Milos Sarcev Say Back Thickness Key to Defeating Hadi Choopan: ‘No Breaks from Training’
Choopan is leaving no stone unturned to defend the title successfully when he returns to the stage. However, it will be no easy task as he faces danger from Lunsford, Jacked, Dauda, and a slew of other hungry contenders.
Published: 16 May, 2023 | 7:04 PM EDT