Tag: Originals
Talking Huge With Craig Golias | EP 14: Will The Recent Bodybuilder Arrest Strike Fear In The Sport?
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Craig Golias reacts to the recent shocking pro bodybuilder arrest and how it might affect the sport moving forward.
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 reacts to the high profile pro bodybuilding arrest, talks about the importance of rest in bodybuilding, and how to avoid bloating on a bodybuilder diet.
Just hours before hopping on to record Talking Huge, breaking news shook the bodybuilding world. A pro bodybuilder was arrested for alleged possession of steroids. Suddenly, a part of our planned conversation was shifted. The news spread fast and brought up a lot of questions. Vlad wanted to know what Craig Golias’ thoughts were on the still developing story. This topic takes up a large chunk of our recent episode conversation. But we also cover some listener questions such as how to avoid bloating, Craig’s body measurements, and more. Let’s jump right into it.
Will The Recent Pro Bodybuilding Arrest Strike Fear Into The Industry?
It’s an unwritten reality that steroid use in pro bodybuilding exists. In order to reach the freak factor massive size while also holding shredded conditioning – bodybuilders often rely on steroids and other PEDs. This, of course, is illegal under US law. But in reality, it’s often rare for a bodybuilder to actually be accused and arrested for possession of steroids.
So it came as a shock when a pro bodybuilder was arrested for just that. A shipment of “controlled substances” was shipped from Canada to Miami, Florida. The authorities caught on, tracked the package, and arrested the bodybuilder upon the package being accepted and opened.
The news spread fast throughout the bodybuilding industry. Will this arrest be an early sign of more to come? Should competitors who use PEDs be worried about getting caught? Will this shocking news story change the way the industry works? At least for a short term period?
Craig Golias isn’t too worried. In fact, he thinks most pro bodybuilders understand the safety precautions to take so that they won’t get caught. The fact that controlled substances were shipped internationally was the first red flag. Most bodybuilders know not to ship drugs internationally like that.
Craig Golias also hopes that the pro bodybuilder in question gets off with very few convictions. Craig believes that the serious arrests happen for those who are creating and selling steroids. Users often get off easy. At least, that’s what Craig believes to be true.
At the time of this episode’s release – a lot is still unknown and the story is still developing. Craig Golias is no expert (nor does he claim to be). This episode is purely his raw gut reaction to the news mere hours after it was announced.
Craig Golias Answers: How To Avoid Bloating In Bodybuilding
Craig Golias also touches upon the topic of bloating in bodybuilding. Does he ever suffer from bloating? And how does he deal with it. The unfortunately reality is that most bodybuilders have to deal with bloating. A bodybuilder diet, especially while bulking, requires a massive influx of food. This more often than not causes bloating.
So what does Craig Golias due to relieve the uncomfortable pressure of bloating? Craig often drinks a lot of water. It might feel worse at first but helps flush the bloating. Beyond that, he simply lives with it. It’s unavoidable as a bodybuilder. He makes sure to simply give himself a few hours between eating and actually training – so that he’s more comfortable while in the gym.
Wrap Up
There are far more topics discussed in this episode than we can cover in this article. Craig Golias also talks about the proper amount of sleep a bodybuilder should have per day, his body size measurements, and more! 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!
Ryan Terry Answers: Is Men’s Physique Muscle Mass Getting Too Big?
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Ryan Terry reflects on the evolution of Men’s Physique since its inception and whether or not athletes are becoming too big.
Ryan Terry is a Men’s Physique competitor who has been competing for quite some time. So he’s been able to witness the evolution of physiques within the division throughout the past decade. If you were to look at Men’s Physique in 2013 and compare it today – the muscle mass on the athletes has grown significantly. It almost looks like a different division. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Ryan Terry weighs in on whether or not Men’s Physique muscle mass has gotten too big.
Whenever a new division is added into pro bodybuilding, there is a transition stage as the athletes and judges determine what the “perfect champion” looks like for the category. During this time, the sport evolves, the physiques change, and eventually the division settles into its own very unique look. During our recent interview with Ryan Terry, we asked him to look back at the inception of Men’s Physique and compare it to how physiques look today.
Ryan Terry admitted that the physiques are much larger than they used to be. He attributes this to athletes trying to continually push the envelope and one up each other. With each year, athletes will try to improve. How do they do that? By becoming more conditioned and building more mass to get a slight edge. It’s small – but over many years it slowly changed the division.
Ryan Terry actually thinks that the size has become so much larger – that it would be possible for a Classic Physique competitor to drop down into Men’s Physique if they don’t meet the height to weight requirements in Classic. This might not have happened, Terry admits, but the fact that it may be possible is worrying to him for the Men’s Physique division. Where is the line drawn? How much bigger will these athletes get?
Ultimately, Ryan Terry doesn’t have an answer. But he’s keenly aware of what is taking place and constantly trying to reevaluate his physique for success. He doesn’t want to become too large – but he wants to win. This is part of his challenge when going up against athletes like the current Olympia champion Brandon Hendrickson. Terry and Hendrickson’s physique are very structurally different. This poses a challenge for Terry – but he’s not worried. He keeps his eye on how the division is changing, how Hendrickson is changing, and is putting in steps to upgrade and become a champion himself.
You can watch Ryan Terry go into full detail about the growth of Men’s Physique and his tactic for taking on Brandon Hendrickson in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Victor Martinez Answers: Why He Left MHP And Started SuperHero Labz
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Victor Martinez opens up about staying off the competitive stage and focusing on his new supplement company SuperHero Labz.
Earlier in August 2021, Victor Martinez announced that he was leaving supplement company MHP after a long tenure as a sponsored athlete. The reason was to start his own supplement company – SuperHero Labz. We had a chance to reconnect with Martinez via video chat to go into detail about why he made this big change and what to expect from his new business endeavor. In our GI Exclusive interview, Victor Martinez explains why he left MHP and the mission statement for SuperHero Labz in an already oversaturated supplement market.
Victor Martinez had been a sponsored athlete for supplement company MHP for quite some time. So it came as a shock in the industry when it was announced he was leaving the company to start his own supplement business. His new company, SuperHero Labz, combines his love of superheroes (which inspired him to become a bodybuilder) with his fitness experience to make a series of quality products. We reconnected with Martinez to discuss what sparked such a sudden change and how he plans to overcome the oversaturated supplement industry.
Victor Martinez starts off by explaining he has no ill will towards MHP. He respects and appreciates his entire time working with them – but he felt now was the correct time to become the leader of his own business. The decision initially sprang from getting a pay decrease via MHP. Again, he does not hold this against them. In fact, he claims almost any other company would have completely dropped him. But due to loyalty they kept him on board.
Victor Martinez also doesn’t plan to compete in pro bodybuilding again anytime soon. This is largely due to being a father and wanting to dedicate time to his family. He points out that pro bodybuilding isn’t like other pro sports where you get paid for simply being on the team. You only get paid if you win – and he doesn’t feel prepared to fully focus on that while dedicating time to his family.
It was at this moment the stars aligned. He had been speaking with potential business partners on starting a supplement company. He pulled the trigger and SuperHero Labz was born. The artwork showcases the pop imagery of old school superhero comics. But Martinez wanted to ensure he wasn’t just showing fictional superhero characters on the bottles. Instead, he wanted to focus on the real world superheroes – hard working mothers, fathers, businessmen, fire fighters – and many other hard working individuals.
Victor Martinez points out that supplements are to help improve the body, make it stronger, and achieve goals. That’s the kind of superhero logic he’s infusing into the brand. Those whose who want to work hard, make a difference, and support families. SuperHero Labz supplements aim to help with those kind of goals through their products.
Even though Victor Martinez may not plan to compete anytime soon, you may notice his physique is still large and impressive. That’s because he wants to make sure that his products via SuperHero Labz are the right quality. He maintains his physique and uses the products he helps develop to ensure they are the best for bodybuilders and fitness athletes.
You can watch Victor Martinez go into more detail about his plan for supplement rollouts, how he aims to make them the best products on the market, and more in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
You can also check out SuperHero Labz at their official website right here.
Patrick Moore Talks Boxing Past, Thinks Today’s Super Fights Are A Joke
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Patrick Moore thinks that boxing is in a great decline – and saw it coming over a decade ago.
Patrick Moore is a pro bodybuilder that is starting to make major waves in the industry this year. Ever since his win at the California Pro 2021, his progress has been a highlight as he continues to post photos and video of his impressive physique. But before dedicating his life to bodybuilding – Moore competed as a boxer. In our recent video conversation, before we were able to dive into his bodybuilding career – we took a detour recapping his boxing past and his thoughts on fights today. In our latest GI Exclusive, Patrick Moore details how he believes recent influencer “super fights” are the end result of over a decade of decline for the sport.
Patrick Moore has a somewhat unconventional path towards becoming the powerhouse pro bodybuilder we know today. He started off as a boxer – and was truly passionate about the sport. But he noticed that boxing as a whole was starting to decline. Ever since Evander Holyfield’s exit nearly a decade ago, Moore saw the sport he love start falling into a void. In fact, he believes the recent super fights, such as McGregor vs Mayweather or Paul vs Belfort, are “jokes” and the end result of a sport that lost it’s way.
It’s due to this, in part, that Patrick Moore became a bodybuilder. He always loved the gym and was lucky enough for someone to suggest he start training other body parts. This eventually led to competitive bodybuilding. He thought it would be easy – but upon getting smoked at the NPC Nationals (18th place), he realized he had a lot more work to do. It became his passion, he went pro, and now he’s starting to truly turn heads with his impressive physique.
We’ll get into more detail about Patrick Moore’s bodybuilding career, success, and future in future segments from our video conversation. For now, we took a quick detour to discuss in more detail his criticism of boxing today. Moore claims in our interview that he believes these influencer superstar boxing matches are rigged. He can tell simply by the way boxers like Mayweather behave while facing off against someone like McGregor. Despite being retired – Moore believes they are deliberately ignoring decades of training and tactics. Why? Because they are in it for the money.
“It’s money. And I get it man. No fighter wants to fight for less than what they feel like they’re worth,” Patrick Moore states in our interview. He continues:
“And they just have to – someone somewhere have to take a loss both on their record and maybe even financially… If a fighter is used to 10 million a fight and maybe they fight the best of the best and it’s for eight million. Well maybe they just need to take the eight to give the sport what it needs. I mean, we want to see the best of the best go at it, not ‘Okay well this guy has a lot of height so we’ll out him against this guy.’ No man, let the good guys go at it.”
Patrick Moore pulls from his personal experience as a boxer himself. He knows what it’s like when a truly top class boxer goes all out against another equally talented competitor. In his opinion, what he’s seeing in a fight like Jake Paul vs Tyron Woodley, is not reflective of what Woodley is capable of. He doesn’t believe that fight could have possibly gone all the way – unless Woodley was holding back.
Patrick Moore tries to bridge his actual experience with boxing and his passion for the sport into a credible criticism of the flaws in current boxing. Yet it can’t be ignored that these fights do bring in record numbers of viewers and revenue. Perhaps boxing has changed and declined in Moore’s eyes. But to new younger fans of the sport – maybe this change is the beginning of a new version of boxing. One that they will hold dear.
In either case, you can watch Patrick Moore go into detail about his boxing past, his thoughts on modern boxing, and more in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Lukas Osladil On Bodybuilding Since 10 Years Old: I Have Taken No Real Breaks For 31 Years
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Lukas Osladil’s Rise: From Bodybuilding At 10 Years Old To Mens Open Olympia Threat
Lukas Osladil is a pro bodybuilder that epitomizes the saying, “slow and steady wins the race.” He’s a true threatening competitor in the top contenders at the Mr. Olympia. But it took him a journey of 31 years to get where he is today. He decided to become a bodybuilder at the young age of 10 years old. Since then he’s never looked back and taken nearly no breaks in his journey towards improvement and success. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Lukas Osladil details his origins in bodybuilding at 10 years old and the rigorous journey to becoming pro.
Lukas Osladil is a bodybuilder with an incredible physique that has been competing as a pro since 2011. But his journey in bodybuilding started much earlier than that. Bodybuilding has been his passion since 10 years old. As if it was almost fate, Osladil woke up one morning and quickily decided that he wanted to dedicate his life to being a bodybuilder. He knew nothing about the sport, what was required, or even how to train and diet. He simply knew that he would do whatever was in his power to build muscle mass – starting out by simply doing push ups every day.
“But I don’t know why did I make the decision to start bodybuilding but I think it must have been from some dream I had the night before,” Lukas Osladil states in our interview. He continues:
“Because I don’t know why – why would I decide so quick after I woke up? At the time I was 10 years old and my weight was 28 kilograms [61 pounds]. I just knew to build muscles you need to start using weights many times a week or something and then it will grow. But that’s all I knew about it.”
It of course took Lukas Osladil many years to eventually learn the true techniques and practices of competitive bodybuilding. But his heart and spirit remained dedicated from that moment forward every single year. He grew up in a town with no bodybuilding outlet. He hadn’t seen a bodybuilding show before. He simply used willpower to turn this into his life’s work.
Lukas Osladil proudly can claim that he has been bodybuilding in some capacity for 31 years. He had never taken a break and always put bodybuilding as his main priority. From what we can tell – this will remain his tactic until he retires – hopefully with a Sandow trophy under his belt.
Lukas Osladil details his dedication speaking with Vlad Yudin in our interview:
“And since the day I decided to do bodybuilding, I have been doing it until now and I’ve never stopped. The biggest break I’ve had was maybe like two weeks in the 31 years. And then one week maybe every year or every other year. So no big break or something.”
It’s often said bodybuilding is a lifestyle. Lukas Osladil is a pure embodiment of that motto. Before it was a sport he competed in. Before it brought him any money or possibility of a career. Osladil dedicated his entire waking life towards self improvement in bodybuilding. He has since won the Arnold Classic South America and placed in the top 10 of the Mr. Olympia.
He may still be some steps away from becoming an Olympia champion – but based on his dedication over the past three decades, we can imagine a future of continued slow and steady improvement. A championship title might still be in the cards.
You can watch Lukas Osladil go into full detail about his bodybuilding origins in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Dr. Testosterone: “Diuretics Are An Instant Danger And Can Kill You Right Away”
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Dr. Testosterone details why diuretics and insulin are the two most dangerous drugs used in bodybuilding.
Dr. George Touliatos, aka Dr. Testosterone, has often been outspoken about his support for steroid use in the sport of bodybuilding. In fact, he believes that steroids, while causing long term health issues, are no where near the biggest threat to a bodybuilder’s health. According to Dr. T, diuretics and insulin are the two riskiest drugs commonly taken by competitive bodybuilders. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Dr. Testosterone focuses on diuretics and how quickly that can turn dangerous.
Over this past summer, there was a sudden series of bodybuilder deaths that made headlines in the industry. Many of the deaths were competitors under the age of 50. It was a sad stretch of time in bodybuilding. While there were no direct links between the various deaths – the news reignited a conversation about health in bodybuilding. Jake Wood, owner of the Mr. Olympia, even made a comment lobbying for healthier standards in the sport.
We recently had a chance to reconnect with Dr. George Touliatos, also known as Dr. Testosterone. We decided to take this opportunity to ask him about the health dangers in bodybuilding. Most specifically, if diuretics were a real danger in the sport – and just how necessary they are for success as a pro bodybuilder.
There are many experts and athletes who have begun to speak out about the use of diuretics in bodybuilding. Legendary bodybuilder Ronnie Coleman went on the record to say that he thinks they should be completely banned from the sport. So just how dangerous are these drugs really?
Dr. Testosterone makes it clear that diuretics are one of the riskiest drugs a bodybuilder can take. When used correctly, they are harmless. But the consequences for misusing diuretics are fast and have a high change of being fatal. Misuse of diuretics can lead to a bodybuilder to pass out quickly after use – and if not treated fast enough can lead to death.
Dr. Testosterone stresses that this is only the case when misused. But compared to other drugs used in the sport – the cost for accidentally overdosing can be swift and deadly.
“Diuretics are an instant danger and can kill you right away,” Dr. Testosterone states in his interview. Other PEDs can have long term health effects but very few can lead to sudden major health consequences like diuretics. The only other drug with that kind of sudden danger is insulin.
So how prevalent is diuretic use in the sport. Is it a “mandatory” aspect for athletes to achieve the quality of physique we are familiar with on stage? Dr. Testosterone flip flops on this question for a moment – then seems to ultimately say that, as it stands right now, they seem to be a required aspect of bodybuilding contest prep.
“When you want to have ripped glutes, you know, this is the final touch. The ripped glutes. To be shredded,” Dr. Testosterone states in our interview. He continues:
“Because the Christmas tree, the hams, and the pecs are striated even four weeks out. But the glutes, which is what they see from the rear, you know? And they judge the conditioning out of this. I guess, they [diuretics] are mandatory. It depends on how you use them.”
You can watch Dr. Tesosterone go into full detail about diuretics in bodybuilding by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Iain Valliere On The Risk Vs Reward Of Competing In The Arnold Classic & Olympia Back To Back
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Iain Valliere explains why he is doing the Arnold Classic right before the Mr. Olympia – even though he has already qualified.
Iain Valliere has become a big part of the bodybuilding conversation in 2021. He’s had near back to back wins at the Tampa Pro and the Texas Pro. This earned him qualification to the Mr. Olympia. It’s also notable as he knocked out powerhouse Steve Kuclo at the Texas Pro. Despite having already qualified for the Mr. Olympia, Valliere is still set to compete at the Arnold Classic before facing off for the Sandow trophy. Why? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Iain Valliere explains why he wants to compete in both the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia.
Typically, when a pro bodybuilder earns Olympia qualification for the year – they stop competing and focus solely on the Olympia competition. This is normally done to preserve all energy on being as perfect as possible for the biggest competition of the year. Iain Valliere is bucking this trend. He’s already competed at the Texas Pro after qualifying for Olympia previously at the Tampa Pro this year. Not only that – but he’s still set to compete at the Arnold Classic.
Competing in many shows within one year – especially close to the Mr. Olympia can be a huge risk. This is for a variety of reasons. Athletes can burn out. They can get thrown off mentally by placing low in a show just before the Olympia. They can also have their physique and conditioning timing thrown off by focusing on one show – only to be a few days off with their conditioning by the time they hit the Olympia weekend.
During our conversation with Iain Valliere, we asked him to explain why he decided to do the Arnold Classic. Did he consider skipping the show to focus solely on the Mr. Olympia? Iain Valliere is not oblivious to the importance of this decision – and he certainly considered skipping the Arnold Classic to focus on Olympia. Ultimately, he decided to stick the course.
“It was a discussion especially after winning Texas it’s like, you know, I knew my stock was high,” Iain Valliere stated in our interview. He continued:
“And I knew that I had a lot of moment going into the Olympia. Basically the last two shows of the season I had won… But at the end of the day I know that I get better as shows go on. I think Tampa right to Texas one week apart is indicative of that.”
There’s a risk vs reward aspect to competing at competitions so close to each other. It seems Iain Valliere is confident that this will actually help him stay focused and improve rather than throw him off. If it works out – we might see the best version of Valliere step onto the stage.
In fact, he believes the Arnold Classic being closer to the Olympia is better than it’s typical dates. For those looking to compete at the Olympia, the Arnold Classic falls right in off season. This, Valliere argues, is more damaging to prep than if the competitions were close together as they are this year.
You can watch Iain Valliere go into even more detail about his recent string of victories and his plans for the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Tito Ortiz: Bodybuilders On Steroids Look Like “Skinny Broken Down Old Men” By Age 60
Tito Ortiz believes steroids should not be allowed in bodybuilding or any other sport.
Bodybuilding often gets criticized in the mainstream media for steroid use and lack of testing in the sport. Yet it’s important to note that other sports have their own problems with steroids – even with testing. MMA in particular has various federations that drug test their athletes – and there have been multiple times where an athlete has failed. The sad truth is that many athletes across all sports find ways to game the system. That’s why when we spoke with UFC Hall Of Famer Tito Ortiz, we wanted to get his opinion on drug testing in not only bodybuilding but sports overall. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Tito Ortiz explains why he thinks steroids have no place in any sports including bodybuilding.
Tito Ortiz is a powerhouse name in the MMA world. He is best known for his time in the UFC, where he is a former Light Heavyweight Champion, having held the title from April 14, 2000 to September 26, 2003. Ortiz was one of the MMA’s early stars and ultimately became the biggest pay-per-view draw of 2006 for his fights with Chuck Liddell, Forrest Griffin, and Ken Shamrock.
We asked Tito Ortiz if he felt steroids and other performance enhancing drugs had a place in MMA and other sports. Without deliberation, Ortiz made it clear he was against steroids and PEDs in any sport. He finds it to give athletes a disadvantage and ultimately a health risk that isn’t worth it.
It might be easier to hold that opinion for a sport like MMA – where strength is a major factor in the competition. If you use PEDs to become stronger than someone in a fight, that can certainly be seen as unfair. But what about bodybuilding? A sport that is about the judgement of a physique and not a face off of physical ability. Does Ortiz draw a line for certain sports and not others?
We use an example here of testosterone. If a bodybuilder is naturally testosterone deficient compared to another – it could perhaps be considered more fair to allow PEDs so that the athlete can get an even chance against a genetically gifted bodybuilder. Tito Ortiz doesn’t agree. He thinks that an athlete needs to be aware of what they are getting into when they dedicate their life into a sport. If a bodybuilder cannot step up and try to fill that gap without the use of drugs – perhaps that’s just their lot in life.
Tito Ortiz further explains the kinds of risks that bodybuilders take when they decide to use PEDs and steroids to enhance their physique. He thinks there is a risk of young people watching bodybuilding or any other sport and idolizing steroids. That risk is not seeing the long game. They only look at the big bodybuilders or the powerful athletes. They don’t see the aftermath in their later years. Ortiz goes on to say that most bodybuilders who use PEDs in their prime look like “skinny broken down old men” by the time they hit sixty.
Do you agree with Tito Ortiz’s take on bodybuilding and steroids? Watch his full comments in our GI Exclusive interview segment above and let us know your thoughts!
Tito Ortiz Answers: Who Is The Greatest Bodybuilder Of All Time?
Tito Ortiz reveals his involvement and passion for bodybuilding, how it’s poised for a big comeback, and makes his pick for greatest bodybuilder of all time.
While Tito Ortiz is first and foremost a top tier MMA fighter, he has a deep respect, passion, and involvement with the sport of bodybuilding. Bodybuilding was the initial foundation that led Ortiz towards MMA in the first place – though he didn’t even know it was called bodybuilding at the time. He just wanted to get big. And he still holds a fire in his heart for the athletes in bodybuilding who keep pursuing that dream. So what does he think of the current state of the sport? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Tito Ortiz explains why he thinks bodybuilding is going to make a big comeback and also makes his pick on who is the greatest bodybuilder in history.
Tito Ortiz might not hold a mass monster physique, but his love and passion for getting big has been with him since he was a teenage. It’s what ultimately led him towards mixed martial arts – a path that would take him towards being one of the top fighters in MMA. Even though his life became about MMA, he never left bodybuilding behind. Ortiz currently works with a consulting firm for bodybuilding where he helps young bodybuilders learn how to market themselves. An important part of any sport to bring more eyeballs on the competitions and thus bring more mainstream attention (and cash) to an athlete or league.
Tito Ortiz is a man who keeps watch on the bodybuilding world just as much as he focuses on his MMA career. Given that level of passion for bodybuilding, what does he think of the current state of the sport? Many have expressed that the quality of physiques is going downhill compared to decades past. Does Ortiz agree? He couldn’t think that it’s farther from the truth and he points more towards statistics to prove his point.
Tito Ortiz actually believes that bodybuilding is in the process of making a comeback (which of course implies that he at least thinks at some point it went downhill). He points towards how the Olympia and many other major competitions grow in size every year. Perhaps people verbally complain about the physiques being lower quality – but the attendance seems to argue the opposite. Or perhaps, that the change is minuscule compared to how many people find the sport as whole entertaining to watch.
Perhaps the fans arguing for a chance is a part of the beginning for some sort of comeback. With the introduction of the Classic Physique division a few years ago and its continued success – we might just be too close to the action to realize a long term progression that signals bodybuilding will be bigger than ever in the coming decade.
We decided to end off our conversation with Tito Ortiz about bodybuilding by rewinding and looking to the past. Who was the greatest bodybuilder in the history of the sport? Tito Ortiz jumps right over usual picks such as Ronnie Coleman or Lee Haney – and goes for the old school original choice. Ortiz thinks Arnold Schwarzenegger is the greatest of all time. This is when you consider the big picture of everything he accomplished. He is arguable the only bonafide bodybuilding mainstream celebrity. That kind of success legitimized the sport and put it into the spotlight. And to Ortiz, that makes him the greatest of all time.
You can watch Tito Ortiz’s full comments on bodybuilding in or latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Tito Ortiz: The Top 3 Best & Worst Moments Of His MMA Career
Tito Ortiz looks back at both the biggest highs and lowest lows of MMA fighting career.
Life is full of highs and lows. Not surprisingly, the bigger risk you take the bigger the reward. It doesn’t come without a few blemishes upon looking back. These kinds of risks are necessary for pro athletes who want to become the best. This holds true for Tito Ortiz. You don’t become a champion MMA fighter without making a few mistakes along the way. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Tito Ortiz breaks down the top three best and worst moments of his MMA fighting career.
While Tito Ortiz isn’t done fighting just yet, he has lived a full and exciting life as a MMA fighter. That’s why we asked him to look back at his full career and recount the highest highs and the lowest lows of his career. You can’t have the highs without the lows. And for pro athletes, failures often lead to learning and experience. They help build a competitor into the champion they will one day become.
So it seems fitting that Tito Ortiz starts off by listing his failures. He mentions this is to end on a high note but one can’t help but think it’s also because the lows truly do teach us how to become more successful. As we bounce back and learn from hindsight – we become stronger as a result.
For Ortiz, the lows truly hit hard. He mentions losing his title to Randy Couture, wearing a t-shirt that stated, “Dana’s my bitch,” and most painful of all – being accused of physical assault against his former girlfriend. Eventually the accusation was recanted – but the firestorm the indecent brought upon him and his family was a fight that no amount of MMA training could prepare him for.
And family is a big word for Tito Ortiz – as it ends up taking two whole picks for his greatest moments in his MMA career. Ortiz starts by describing the high of becoming a champion. This is a moment one certainly saw coming on his list of top 3 best career highs. He followed it up with the birth of his fist son and his final pick of the life he was able to give his children. To Ortiz, seeing his family provided for through his passion of fighting is a gift no championship title can overcome.
You can watch Tito Ortiz go into detail about his darkest low moments and his powerful high moments in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
*Header image courtesy of Instagram