Tag: nEWS
IFBB Omaha Pro 2021 Results
A complete breakdown of the IFBB Omaha Pro 2021 results.
This weekend held the IFBB Omaha Pro 2021 on July 10 in Omaha, Nebraska. The even included three women’s divisions including Women’s Bodybuilding, Women’s Physique, and Bikini. In the highlight of the competition, Michaela Aycock won the Women’s Bodybuilding division. Read on for a full breakdown of the Omaha Pro 2021 results.
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Talking Huge With Craig Golias | EP 6: Kai Greene Vs Phil Heath, Victor Martinez Vs Jay Cutler, & More
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Craig Golias has doubts about Kai Greene’s 317 pound physique, talks Nicolas Villioud’s retirement, and much more.
Welcome to another episode of Talking Huge – a weekly digital series in which Craig Golias talks in-depth with Vlad Yudin on the latest trending topics in bodybuilding. Raw, honest, and uncut – Craig Golias shares his opinions on all things bodybuilding. In this episode, Craig Golias talks about Kai Greene’s recent 317 pound shredded physique, possible comeback rivalry rematches, Nicolas Vullioud’s retirement, and more!
This past week was packed with exciting updates and news in the bodybuilding world. Kai Greene made some considerable waves by not only posting his massive 317 pound shredded physique photo – but also calling out Phil Heath for some sort of challenge. Could it be a bodybuilding rematch? Victor Martinez also made mention in one of our own interviews that he would only compete again to rematch Jay Cutler in a special bodybuilding battle. Craig also talks his thoughts on Nicholas Vullioud’s retirement announcement at a young age. And we discuss some functional bodybuilding tips such as how to properly meal prep and break through plateaus.
Craig Golias: Kai Greene Is Not 317 Pounds And That Shredded
The first topic we discuss with Craig Golias is the recent waves Kai Greene made on social media. First, he posted an epic and shredded photo of himself – claiming to be 317 pounds. It was proof that despite no longer competing, that he was keeping in fantastic shape. Fans started speculating (again) if he would make some sort of comeback.
Craig Golias, while finding the photo impressive, does not believe that Kai Greene was actually 317 pounds in the photo. He just doesn’t see that being possible at Kai Greene’s height and build. According to Craig, there’s no way Kai can maintain that level of shredded physique while staying at 317 pounds. Instead, he is more likely 285 pounds. Craig admits that even at 285 pounds, his physique is shredded and impressive. But he thinks that the shock of his claim is a little misleading.
Craig Golias also touches on the news that Kai Greene has been calling out Phil Heath. Craig never found much excitement in their rivalry – but admits that if they were to do some sort of special bodybuilding PPV event that he would watch it.
What Craig would be more excited to see, however, is Victor Martinez rematch against Jay Cutler. Craig claims this would be the most exciting event in bodybuilding possible for him – much more exciting than Kai vs Phil.
Nicolas Villioud Shocking Retirement At Only 30 Years Old
Craig Golias also shares his thoughts on the recent retirement announcement by Nicolas Villioud. The promising bodybuilder is only 30 years old – and many fans had high hopes for his career in the coming years. According to Villioud’s own announcement – he retired because he felt he could not compete even with only 1% doubt in his mind. He has other goals he would like to accomplish with his life, it caused even the smallest doubt that he should compete, so he felt that this was the wrong mental attitude to have to ever become a champion.
Craig Golias agrees with this point and somewhat relates. Craig used to compete on the bodybuilding stage but quickly left to focus on his own goals of getting huge in his own way. The amount of repetitive work and dedication required to become a Mr. Olympia champion is all-consuming. If there is a doubt that this is what you seek to be fulfilled in life – it might be the right decision to retire.
Wrap Up
There are far more topics discussed in this episode than we can cover in this article. You can watch Craig Golias and Vlad Yudin discuss other topics such as how judging works in pro bodybuilding, how important meal prep for a shredded physique, and whether or not Craig would face off against Big Ramy in some sort of special battle. You can check it all out in the latest episode of Talking Huge above! Make sure to check out Talking Huge every week on Friday – only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network!
Flex Lewis Will Not Compete In Mr. Olympia 2021
Lewis, who has dominated for years in the 212 division, will not compete in Mr. Olympia for the second-straight year.
Flex Lewis is one of the all-time greats in the Men’s 212 division. He totaled seven-straight victories at Mr. Olympia in that division, the most all-time. In 2018, Lewis announced that he would retire from the 212 division and make the transition up to Men’s Open. Lewis recently announced that he will not compete at Mr. Olympia 2021. This makes for the second year in a row.
Flex Lewis posted a video on his YouTube channel explaining the decision. This is now the second year in a row that fans will have to wait for Lewis to make his much-anticipated debut at his new division. In 2020, Lewis withdrew from the competition after complications with a shoulder injury.
The video begins with Lewis giving us a look at his new gym, the Dragon’s Lair, that he opened in Las Vegas. He walks viewers through the gift shop and then into the back offices. When he reaches the gym itself, this is where he begins to break down his decision. It is around the four-minute mark of the video.
When discussing the reason for his opt out, Flex Lewis highlights the move to Las Vegas and the process opening up his new gym. Finally, Lewis discusses a deeper reason — he and his wife are trying to have another child.
Lewis also wanted to clarify that he did not withdraw from this year’s competition because of an injury.
“I feel really good. That time off last year from competing, did it mentally f*** me up? Yes, it did, because I knew what I look like, and I know I could be doing damage up on that stage. So now this year has come, and there are a wide variety of things that have happened this year.”
Flex Lewis made a name for himself as one of the best non-heavyweight bodybuilders of all-time. He enjoyed a reign of dominance from 2012-2018 where he was crowned champion in the 212 division at Olympia. As a Men’s 212 champion, Lewis can enter the competition automatically under his own ambition. That is not the case in Men’s Open. Lewis would have to qualify or receive an invitation to compete, which he had not yet this year.
Lewis has not competed since 2018 but he made it clear that he is not retiring.
“I appreciate everybody’s support. I’m not retiring,” Lewis said in the video. “There’s still so much burning desire and ambition for me to fulfill my bodybuilding dreams, and, God willing, injury-free, I will be on that bodybuilding stage next year.”
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder 3 Postponed After Fury Tests Positive For COVID-19
Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder 3 has been postponed.
Well that’s some unfortunate news. Just a few short weeks before they were to settle the score, it appears Tyson Fury versus Deontay Wilder 3 has been postponed. Apparently Fury and members of his camp contracted COVID-19.
This is truly an unfortunate turn of events. Both Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder appeared fired up for this third meeting. Both men have been working hard in their preparation for the bout and to have it get postponed only weeks out from the fight is gut wrenching.
The news was broke by Dan Rafael and The Athletic.
BREAKING: Per source, Tyson Fury was one of the people in his camp who tested positive for Covid-19 and the fight with Wilder is postponed. New date TBA. I’ve been told Fury got one vaccine dose but never got the 2nd. At least 3 others in camp also positive. #boxing #FuryWilder3
— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) July 8, 2021
According to Rafael Fury received one dose of the vaccine but not the second. This left him vulnerable to contracting the virus.
Top Rank Issues Statement
Top Rank, the promoter for Tyson Fury, were quick to shed minor details on the situation. They say that Fury is sick but not terribly so. They went on to release a statement about the current situation.
“We continue to monitor the health status of Tyson and his team, and the status of the event has not changed to date,” Fury’s promoter Top Rank said in a statement.
Deontay Wilder on the other hand is none too happy about the turn of events. He was heavily invested in this rematch and has wanted nothing short of revenge against Fury. For Wilder his legacy is on the line and to have to postpone it now appears to have set him off.
After winning arbitration over @Tyson_Fury when the champion sought to fight @anthonyjoshua instead of finishing his trilogy, @BronzeBomber is beside himself after this delay. “Again now, he did wrong and I’m the one being penalized,” Wilder told his manager Shelly Finkel.
— Lance Pugmire (@pugboxing) July 9, 2021
Deontay Wilder Is Not Happy
From that statement it doesn’t appear that Deontay Wilder is pleased with how things are unfolding. Nevertheless, he like the rest of the world will have to wait for the third meeting with Fury. Until then Wilder will have to go back to the drawing board and await confirmation on the new date. That means having to taper off his training a bit so he can peak at the proper time.
For Tyson Fury it means having to take rest and recover, hopefully beating out the virus. It’s fair to say this turn events is really a disaster all around. We’ll just have to wait to see how things turn out.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
Brian Shaw, Tom Stoltman and Other Strongmen Predict Dustin Poirier vs Conor McGregor 3
Strongman competitors pick who they believe will win the third bout between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor.
The third bout between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor is upon us. Some UFC were able to catch up with some of the best strongman athletes in the world at the 2021 World’s Strongest Man competition. The competitors gave their predictions on who would win the trilogy at UFC 264.
This weekend will see the conclusion of a trilogy bout for the record books. Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor are set to face off for the third time, both fighters going one and one in this epic series of fights. McGregor took the first bout while Poirier got his revenge in the second. Now the two bitter rivals hope to settle the score once and for all at UFC 264.
Epic Rivalry
The first bout saw Conor McGregor using a fleet footed style, bouncing in and out of range, scoring power shots with pinpoint accuracy. Dustin Poirier had a handful of moments in that first bout, but ultimately it was McGregor who scored a devastating knockout over the future interim lightweight champion.
The rematch would come several years after their first meeting. Conor McGregor had since become a two division champion and one of the most recognized figures on the planet. Dustin Poirier would go on to become the interim lightweight champion after besting Max Holloway.
The second bout between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor was far different than the first. The first round saw McGregor landing some solid punches, likely winning him the round on all score cards. Despite that however, McGregor sustained significant damage to his legs from the powerful low kicks of Poirier. The second frame would see Poirier continue the assault to the legs that would cripple McGregor and lead to his rival landing solid boxing combinations. Poirier finished the fight, forcing a third meeting between himself and McGregor.
Now the time has arrived and everyone is weighing in on who will win the trilogy. That includes some of the strongest men on the planet. The UFC caught up with the competitors at the 2021 World’s Strongest Man and asked for some predictions. Below is a list of the competitors who gave their predictions.
The Predictions Are In
Terry Hollands – Conor McGregor
Travis Ortmayer – Dustin Poirier
Gavin Bilton – Conor McGregor
Tom Stoltman – Dustin Poirier
Oleksii Novikov – Dustin Poirier
Eddie Hall – Conor McGregor
Evan Singleton – Dustin Poirier
Maxime Boudreault – Conor McGregor
Luke Richardson – Dustin Poirier
JF Caron – Dustin Poirier
Brian Shaw – Dustin Poirier
Mikhail Shivlyakov – Conor McGregor
Zydrunas “Big Z” Zavickas – Conor McGregor
Brian Shaw himself has trained with Dustin Poirier in the past, so no surprise on who he was picking. It will certainly be interesting to see the outcome of the bout. With the strongman competitors favoring Poirier over Conor McGregor 7-6 it’ll be interesting to see who got it right.
Who do you think wins at UFC 264, Dustin Poirier or Conor McGregor?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
Antoine Vaillant Opens Up About Relapse In Recent Video
Antoine Vaillant recently posted two videos on YouTube to discuss his recent relapse.
It is no secret that Antoine Vaillant has had a difficult past. He has battled drug addiction since his early days as a professional. After getting back on track a bit, Vaillant took to YouTube to discuss his recent relapse.
Vaillant burst onto the scene as a professional and quickly became one of the top Canadian bodybuilders. From the time he began competing, Vaillant faced problems with drugs. It has been a difficult road over the last few years for Vaillant. He competed in the 2018 Toronto Pro but took a break following the competition.
Vaillant came back onto the scene when he placed seventh in the 2020 New York Pro. It all came full circle for Vaillant when he stepped onto the stage once again. Vaillant took home first place in the 2020 California Pro and qualified for the 2020 Mr. Olympia, where he finished 14th.
After a few slip ups over the last year, Vaillant was able to stay the course and get back on track. He suffered a torn biceps and this opened the door once again. Vaillant filmed his YouTube videos on May 31 and posted them on the platform on July 1. This is where he was able to open up to the public about his recent relapse.
“Today is the 31st of May and you guys don’t know yet at this date, but tomorrow, I’m going back to rehab. Not the bicep rehab. Rehab rehab. The drug addiction rehab,” Vaillant said in the video.
Vaillant explains how he did not feel the need to use drugs while training for different competitions. He also did not attend any rehab meetings during 2020 because they were not being held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Once there were no competitions, there was nothing left to “fill that void.”
Vaillant has leaned heavily on his friends and family throughout the recovery process.
“At some points, my friends were worried,” Vaillant said.
“You can hide it for a little bit but you hide it by avoiding people. If I’m avoiding people, if I’m not doing as many stories or my stories are different, my friends know me so at some point, they just knew. I knew I couldn’t hide it anymore.”
Vaillant has a chance to better himself and help others struggling with the same problem moving forward. Using his platform, Vaillant can do a lot of good and there is no doubt that he will make a difference and be an inspiration for many people out there.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Gunter Schlierkamp: It’s Dangerous For Young Bodybuilders To Get Too Big, Too Fast
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Gunter Schlierkamp reflects on the passing of Dallas McCarver and the growing trend of bigger size in bodybuilding.
Last week, Gunter Schlierkamp discussed how bodybuilders need to match their muscle size to their genetic frame. Now in our latest segment, Schlierkamp continues sharing his thoughts on the growing trend of pushing the limits of mass monster size in bodybuilding. Is it getting too dangerous? For Schlierkamp, it depend son how you do it. His biggest concern is how fast bodybuilders, especially young athletes, are putting on size. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Gunter Schlierkamp explains how some young bodybuilders are putting on too much size at too fast a rate.
When Shawn Rhoden won the Mr. Olympia in 2018, it seemed as if there might be a shift in physique aesthetic moving forward. Would a more classic look start to be preferable instead of mass monster size? Ultimately, this was a passing thought – as two years later Big Ramy won the Mr. Olympia and brought back mammoth size to the title. It seems with a few exceptions, hulking mass monster physiques are here to stay.
We asked Gunter Schlierkamp about his thoughts on Big Ramy’s win and if it will push forward the trend of increasing the average size of pro bodybuilders. Gunter is unsure at the moment whether or not Big Ramy will reign as Mr. Olympia long-term. But he is a bit worried about the growing trend he’s seeing in modern bodybuilding. Less so about mass monster physiques in general and more about how it’s influencing younger athletes.
Gunter Schlierkamp understands that pushing the limits of size is part of bodybuilding – but he thinks that younger athletes are now rushing too fast to get there. Reaching a weight of near 300 pounds should be a slow process over many years. It shouldn’t be achieved short term. It seems, at least to Schlierkamp, that in today’s society of instant gratification – some young athletes want to reach the pinnacle faster than ever before.
Schlierkamp fears that this will lead to serious health issues. Again, he understands that mass monster physiques are a part of bodybuilding in the big picture. He knows all athletes take some risk to achieve it. But he’s convinced that rushing too fast at too young of an age almost guarantees serious health issues that could be avoided.
Gunter Schlierkamp reflects on Dallas McCarver, who passed away too soon at the age of 26. While it’s impossible to directly connect his cause of death to his mass monster size – Schlierkamp worries that this was the underlying cause.
He recounts a moment just before McCarver died – where he was asked on his opinion of the athlete. He admitted that his physique and size was astounding and impressive. But he also worried that he achieved it at such a young age that something bad would happen. Shortly afterwards, he heard the news of Dallas McCarver’s death. He was deeply saddened by not only the untimely death but the timing of his statement. Was he right? He worries so – and hopes that incoming bodybuilders take their time to build mass monster muscle rather than rush it.
You can watch Gunter Schlierkamp’s full comments on Big Ramy and young mass monsters in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Deontay Wilder Hits New Bench Press PR, Gets Roasted By Dillian Whyte
Deontay Wilder is the epitome of raw power in human form.
The former WBC heavyweight champion, Deontay Wilder has become known for his destructive punching power. Wilder isn’t the biggest heavyweight out there yet he’s knocked out most of his opposition. In this particular case, size doesn’t matter much at all. His fists are clearly filled with dynamite.
Set to face off with rival Tyson Fury for the third time later this month, Deontay Wilder has been hard at work in the gym. Honing his skills and pushing himself to new physical heights, Deontay Wilder is hoping to bring a new and improved version of himself to the ring.
The rubber match between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder is sure to be filled with a ton of suspense and drama. With the first bout ending in a draw and the second as a TKO victory for Fury, Wilder has his work cut out for him going into the third bout. In fact, Fury isn’t letting Wilder forget what happened in their second bout.
That said, Fury should also remember the kind of punishing power Deontay Wilder brings to the table.
Looking to leave no doubts after the third match, Wilder has been taking his training to new levels. Recently he posted a video of himself setting a new bench press personal record.
Let The Trolling Begin
Deontay Wilder was pretty fired up from the accomplishment. Too bad for him a fellow heavyweight boxer caught wind of the video. No, not Tyson Fury. It was none other than British boxer and current WBC interim heavyweight champion, Dillian Whyte.
Being a champion in his own respect, it’s not surprising that Deontay Wilder is in Dillian Whyte’s crosshairs. Whyte took to his Instagram to make a point about Wilder’s 310lb bench press PR. What exactly did he do? Well, Whyte lifted the same amount of weight with dumbbells instead of a barbell. He lifted it and did it for reps.
@bronzebomber screaming with the light weights ??? coward i rep your max. Anytime, anywhere we must fight. Let’s gooooo.
Already it looks like another rivalry could be starting up. Should he win or lose in his upcoming match, Deontay Wilder has another opponent waiting in the wings should he choose to battle Dillian Whyte.
What do you think of Deontay Wilder hitting a new PR and Dillian Whyte trolling him?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
Details Revealed For Hafthor Bjornsson vs. Eddie Hall Boxing Match
A location and cost to watch the fight between two strongmen competitors has been announced
Hafthor Bjornsson and Eddie Hall are both transitioning into the world of boxing. The two strongmen competitors will do so by facing each other in a boxing match slated for Sept. 18th. It’s an event that both strongman and boxing fans have been hyped about for quite some time. Now we’re finally getting some new solid info about the match. Details have been released about the event location and fans will now know how they can watch.
This fight was supposed to take place in Nevada but there is a new location. VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville will be the new host of this event. Tickets went on sale on July 5th and fans who cannot attend will be able to purchase the fight through pay-per-view. This can be done via CoreSports.world and it will cost $9.99.
Hafthor Bjornsson and Eddie Hall have developed quite the rivalry over the years. Hall was crowned the World’s Strongest Man in 2017 and was dethroned by Bjornsson a year later in 2018. In 2019, Bjornsson broke Hall’s deadlift world record of 500 kg (1,100 lb). He did this by getting 501 kg (1,105 lb) off the ground and this took their feud to a new level.
Now, the two will have a chance to settle this in the ring.
Leading up to the event, Bjornsson and Hall have been promoting themselves in different ways. Bjornsson has not been shy about sharing sparring videos on Instagram along with taking some exhibition fights to fine tune his skills.
In his first fight, Bjornsson took on Steven Ward and it ended in a draw. In fight two, it was not a good showing from Bjornsson. He took some good shots and was even knocked to the mat. Following his second fight, Bjornsson vowed to knock out Hall when they meet.
Hall has taken a more conservative approach. He has displayed some power along with his weight-loss journey but there is not much else out there. Hall seems like he is going to let his actions do the talking.
Bjornsson and Hall will be the main event of the night with two other bouts scheduled on the card. CrossFit athletes Jacob Heppner and Josh Bridges will go against each other while Stefi Cohen and Avril Mathie will meet for the second time.
It is always better to go into an event such as this one with a backstory. There is clearly some bad blood between Bjornsson and Hall, which will make this event an exciting one to watch.
Is this a boxing match that will you will be watching? For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Zane Watson: How To Properly Train To Failure In Bodybuilding
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Zane Watson answers: Is training to failure necessary for bodybuilding success?
In bodybuilding, training to failure is a tactic that requires a lifter to lift reps until they can no longer put up weight. Rather than hit a specific number of reps, the reps continue until the body part can’t physically perform no matter how hard you try. But how necessary is this tactic to succeed as a pro bodybuilder? In our latest GI Exclusive, Zane Watson discusses the misconceptions about training to failure and how to perform the tactic properly.
When discussing bodybuilding tips and workout guides, aspiring bodybuilders always want to know the trick to optimize training. How many sets? How many reps per set? Should you do high weight and low volume or lower weight with higher volume. There are arguments on all sides of these different questions. Ultimately, this is all window dressing. What is most important is that you exhaust your muscle and hit all the right areas of the muscle for full growth.
This is easier said than done and the reason so many different strategies exist. They are an effort to get the lifter to full exhaust their muscles, hit all the right spots, and commit to full range of motion. For Zane Watson, his training tactics were inspired by Dorian Yates and then later by Ben Pakulski. This made him favor training until failure during his training sessions.
But is training to failure necessary? In Zane Watson’s humble opinion, he believes it is a key part towards bodybuilding success. There are arguments that feeling sore after a workout isn’t required for building muscle. Watson respectfully disagrees. He thinks that for full growth in a way that bodybuilders are seeking – feeling sore is key to knowing you push your muscles deep.
Training to failure guarantees a workout that will make you feel sore afterwards. It’s a tactic he favors. Of course, there is a difference between physically training to failure and mentally training to failure. Some bodybuilders, especially those new to training, mentally block themselves of how far they actually push while their muscles are under pressure. This is the same reason why blindly following a certain set/rep structure can fail.
Part of the skill behind being a successful bodybuilder is knowing your body’s true limits. Knowing when you are truly exhausting your muscle vs just mentally unable to handle the stress and pain of moving past that wall. For Zane Watson, training to true failure rather than focusing on reps is a helpful way to push to the next level. It’s his biggest tip for bodybuilders to push past plateaus.
You can watch Zane Watson talk in more detail about training to failure, his bodybuilding inspirations, more in our latest GI Exclusive interview above!