Tag: Pittsburgh Pro
Derek Lunsford & Samson Dauda Stand Out as 2023 Mr. Olympia Favorites After Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing
Jim Manion’s 2023 Pittsburgh Pro concluded with six new champions. However, one of the biggest talking points of the weekend was the guest posing spectacle, which featured Derek Lunsford, Nick Walker, Samson Dauda, Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay, Hunter Labrada, and Shaun Clarida.
Brimming with contenders, the Men’s Open division continues to add excitement to the sport, and the division has seen major changes as of late. At last year’s 2022 Pittsburgh Pro, Big Ramy failed to show up. Instead, Derek Lunsford took his place and dominated headlines for weeks. He posed alongside Quinton Eriya, Nick Walker, Brandon Curry, and Labrada. While Ramy later apologized for his absence, some were concerned that his misstep might cost him on the horizon.
In Sept. 2022, Derek Lunsford accepted a special invitation to compete in the Open class at Mr. Olympia. With zero size limitations, Lunsford would shock the world by taking second place to his teammate and newly crowned champion, Hadi Choopan. Surprisingly, Ramy fell to fifth.
Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing / gilcoproductions
Nick Walker, who earned third at the same contest, made a quick turnaround at the 2023 Arnold Classic in March. He entered the show as the on-paper favorite but was outmatched by Samson Dauda in second place as judges deemed the Nigerian’s physique more complete.
With this year’s Mr. Olympia show taking place in less than six months, many of the division’s top contenders stormed the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro for a special guest posing appearance. Given the shape and fullness of Lunsford in the 2023 off-season, many fans believe he has the greatest chance of dethroning Choopan in November.
Is Derek Lunsford or Samson Dauda the 2023 Mr. Olympia No. 1 Contender? – Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing Highlights
Find pictures and videos below from the guest posing event at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro last weekend:
Given the physiques on display in Pittsburgh, it’s safe to say this year’s Mr. Olympia contest will be immensely competitive. Some Open contenders such as Nick Walker believe Choopan won’t repeat as champion. With that in mind, ‘The Mutant’ envisions the next Mr. Olympia title being won by himself or Lunsford.
Two-time Arnold Classic winner William Bonac also chimed in on the 2023 Olympia discussion. He appeared on The Menace Podcast with Dennis James and recently predicted Choopan will defend successfully. However, he acknowledged that the Mr. Olympia title is within Walker’s grasp if he can add more quad sweep.
Meanwhile, Samson Dauda, fresh off his 2023 Arnold Classic victory, is confident he has the skills to upset the champ. According to Dauda, if he improves his back, there are no other areas in which Derek or Hadi can beat him.
RELATED: Ronnie Coleman Predicts Derek Lunsford Will Defeat Hadi Choopan at 2023 Mr. Olympia
Big Ramy’s plans for the rest of the year are unclear, as the former champion suggested he might take a break. Nevertheless, the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest is still generating a lot of excitement among the fans, who are eager to see how Choopan copes with the challenge of defending his title.
Published: 15 May, 2023 | 11:06 AM EDT
2023 Pittsburgh Pro Results and Scorecards (Live Updates)
One of the most celebrated contests on the IFBB Pro League schedule, the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro, takes place on May 12-13 in Pittsburgh PA. This show holds special significance due to NPC President and IFBB Pro League Chairman Jim Manion’s name being attached to it.
The Pittsburgh Pro serves as a qualifier for 2023 Mr. Olympia, taking place Nov. 2-5, in Orlando, Florida. Six divisions were featured at the event this weekend: Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, Women’s Physique, Figure, Bikini, and Wellness.
There are a number of returning champions eager to prove themselves once again. Among them is Natalia Abraham Coelho, the current 2022 Women’s Physique Olympia who recently dethroned Sarah Villegas.
Bikini legend Ashley Kaltwasser will look to make it four titles in Pittsburgh. She recently placed third at 2022 Olympia and is a three-time Olympia Bikini titleholder. Fans also expect an exciting performance from Kassandra Gillis, who is the current Arnold Classic Wellness champion.
A comprehensive preview of the event can be found here. With a star-studded guest-posing lineup on deck, this weekend promises to be a memorable one.
Check out the results of the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro below:
2023 Pittsburgh Pro Winners
Classic Physique: Michael Daboul
Men’s Physique: Coming Soon!
Women’s Physique: Natalia Abraham Coelho
Figure: Cherish Richardson
Bikini: Coming Soon!
Wellness: Gisele Machado
2023 Pittsburgh Pro Results
Classic Physique
During prejudging and finals, Michael Deboul and Eric Wildberger Lisboa cemented themselves as frontrunners. Both men brought exceptional upper body development and top-notch conditioning. While many fans online deemed it a toss-up, the judges awarded Michael Daboul with the victory.
Winner — Michael Daboul
Second Place — Eric Wildberger
Third Place — Alexander Westermeier
Fourth Place — Daniil Famponte
Fifth Place — Camilo Diaz
Sixth Place — Tomas Adame-Hernandez
Seventh Place — Brandon Cooper
Eighth Place — Rob Van Sant
Ninth Place — Kendahl Richmond
Tenth Place — Munkhsaruul Altangerel
Women’s Physique
Winner — Natalia Abraham Coelho
Second Place — Emily Schubert
Third Place — Amandine Kolly
Fourth Place — Joseli Schoenherr
Fifth Place — Marie-Solange Essoh
Sixth Place —
Seventh Place —
Eighth Place —
Ninth Place —
Tenth Place —
Figure
Winner — Cherish Richardson
Second Place — Natalia Soltero
Third Place — Maria Luisa Baeza Diaz Pereira
Fourth Place — Erika Morales Morgan
Fifth Place — Madison Dinges
Sixth Place — Manon Dutilly
Seventh Place — Jennifer Zienert
Eighth Place — Ashley Howells
Ninth Place — Ashley Radiance Fuller
Tenth Place — Paula Ranta
Wellness
Winner — Gisele Machado
Second Place — Kassandra Gillis
Third Place — Lili Dong
Fourth Place — Tefani-Sam Razhi
Fifth Place — Jennifer Zollars
Sixth Place —
Seventh Place —
Eighth Place —
Ninth Place —
Tenth Place —
Men’s Physique
Coming Soon!
Bikini
Coming Soon!
2023 Pittsburgh Pro Scorecards
Coming Soon!
Fitness Volt congratulates the winners on their major victories!
Published: 12 May, 2023 | 9:42 PM EDT
Big Ramy Breaks Silence: Apologizes To Jim Manion & IFBB Pro
Big Ramy issues a direct apology to Jim Manion, the IFBB Pro league, and the fans for missing the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro.
After a long period of silence, Big Ramy has issued a direct statement apologizing to Jim Manion and the IFBB Pro league for his unexplained guest posing absence at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro. His apology comes after a wide amount of criticism from fellow athletes, coaches, and fans. While Ramy does directly apologize, he still does not provide a detailed reason for why he missed the guest posing – other than citing “personal issues.”
The 2022 Pittsburgh Pro is one of the most exciting pro competitions of the year. This is largely because of the massive selection of super star guest posers that appear to pay tribute to IFBB Pro president Jim Manion. This year, Big Ramy was the featured headliner for the guest posing event. However, Ramy did not appear. Instead, Derek Lunsford jumped on stage last minute to replace him.
Fans were confused – and we later found out that even Big Ramy’s own coach Dennis James was confused as well. There was no advance notice of Ramy’s absence. In fact, even after the Pittsburgh Pro event, which was on May 6-7th, Ramy and his team were virtually silent with no explanation. Now just two and a half weeks later, Ramy has opened up and spoken directly for the first time about the issue.
You can watch Big Ramy’s official statement, which was posted on Instagram, below:
In the video, Big Ramy appears solemn and somewhat reserved. He acknowledges that he has been silent for quite some time – and then jumps directly into an apology to Jim Manion:
“Hey guys, I know I have been absent for a while now and I would like to explain to you all what has been happening. First I would like to apologize to Mr. Jim Manion and IFBB Pro league for not coming to the Pittsburgh Pro.”
Big Ramy then moves on to mention the reason for his inability to make it to the Pittbsurgh Pro event. However, he does not give much detail at all – stating that he cannot go into detail about the situation for an undisclosed reason.
“Due to personal reason that I cannot go into details about, I can’t fly to Pittsburgh. It’s nothing hurts me more than to know I missed that event and I let many people down. Mr. Jim Manion and last bodybuilding fans, I am very sorry from the bottom of my heart.”
Big Ramy then takes a moment to confirm that he is still dedicated to being a champion bodybuilder – and always strives to do what is best for the sport. But he also acknowledges that he is human and that mistakes do happen and will likely happen again in the future.
“I think you all know, I am from day one I start bodybuilding, I try to do my best to be a good guy for any person he need to be a bodybuilder. Maybe I make some mistakes but I am a human and I know in the future I will make some mistakes because I am still a human.”
Big Ramy is the current and 2x Mr. Olympia champion. With that crown comes a responsibility to the sport. Many fans look up to him as a champion and expect the best attitude and performance from his presence year after year. His silence and his absence at the Pittsburgh Pro, to many, was unbefitting of a Mr. Olympia champion.
That being said, Big Ramy has finally addressed the fans, his fellow athletes, and the league directly. This will likely build, perhaps, some good will in those who have been waiting for some sort of answer.
On the flip side, Big Ramy still is not able to give a specific reason for missing the show or his silence. Perhaps it truly is a private issue that he cannot publicly comment on. However, there will be some who see this as a cop out and a non satisfying answer.
Regardless of how the larger community reacts to this – his apology will hopefully put this conversation behind us and allow the sport to look forward towards Big Ramy’s next showing at the Mr. Olympia later this year.
Generation Iron will update this article as more information becomes available. Until then, stick around the Generation Iron Fitness Network for news and coverage on all things bodybuilding, strength sports, and fitness.
Dennis James Unfiltered: Claims Big Ramy Made A “Mistake Not To Show Up In Pittsburgh”
Dennis James states he is “disappointed” with Big Ramy and believes skipping Pittsburgh was a bad call.
Dennis James got candid in a recent roundtable interview regarding Big Ramy, his absence at the Pittsburgh Pro, and what this means for his future as the current Mr. Olympia champion. James has been working with Ramy and helped prepare him during Olympia prep alongside other coaches – which eventually earned him the Mr. Olympia title in 2020 and 2021. In this new interview, it appears that Dennis James himself has no clue what really happened, why Ramy missed the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro, and claims to be “worried” and “disappointed” in Ramy’s recent actions and lack of communication.
The main takeaway from the interview is that Dennis James has not heard from Big Ramy since the Pittsburgh Pro – and it has him worried. James has been deeply involved with Ramy’s Mr. Olympia prep over the past few years. In fact, James even let Ramy stay at his house in the United States to finish his contest prep in 2021 before the Olympia.
Dennis James is a legend both on stage in his former active competition years and as a bodybuilding coach in recent years. So for James to still have no clarity on what exactly happened after Big Ramy skipped the Pittsburgh Pro is a bit of a shock. Even more shocking is that James was at the Pittsburgh Pro ready to help with last minute prep before the guest posing. Up until the very day of the show – James expected to see Ramy. He has yet to hear or see him since.
Dennis James gets candid about Big Ramy and his absence at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro
During the roundtable interview with Muscle & Fitness, Dennis James didn’t hold back with his info and thoughts on Big Ramy and the Pittsburgh Pro. It’s clear that there are a lot of gaps to still fill in – but James was as honest as he can be with the information he currently knows:
“Everybody has some stories you know, and I’m going through the internet trying to find out what happened because I don’t even know. I seriously don’t know. I don’t know. I was there to support him because we agreed that I’d come to Pittsburgh to help him out. I was there. He was the one that didn’t show up.”
Listen, all I know is that he’s okay, supposedly. I haven’t spoken to him. I reached out a couple of times, he didn’t respond, and I didn’t hear anything back. I’m still waiting to hear from him to find out what really happened.” Dennis James says.
While Dennis James does not know why Big Ramy missed the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro guest posing – he does at the very least know that it was not a medical emergency. He has been told that Ramy is stable and fine. However, he did not receive an answer as to what really happened.
Due to having no given excuse after so many weeks, Dennis James is “worried” and considers that Big Ramy missing the guest posing was a mistake. As he goes on to explain:
“I still don’t know what happened. I still don’t know. All I know, I think that was a big mistake not to show up in Pittsburgh.”
Dennis James then goes on to state that he fully expected Big Ramy to be present at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro literally up until the day of the event. James was at the event and waiting for Ramy to appear for final prep. He never came. This is what concerns James most – the lack of communication.
Knowing now that a medical emergency is out of the cards – what possible excuse can Ramy have for not showing up and not informing Dennis James about his absence. Even further, with weeks having passed since the event – how is it that James still has received no contact or answer?
Whatever the reason is, Dennis James is currently very concerned and, frankly, confused as to how this will effect the future of Big Ramy’s career. He goes on to state:
“Man. I don’t know. I don’t think it’s… I don’t know, it’s not good. I still hope that he will contact me and fill me in on what happened… The main thing for me is, i just want to know, what is he thinking not going there without calling and excusing himself in any way shape or form? that’s the only thing that bothers me a little bit right now.”
Dennis James continued:
I don’t know. I really don’t. I’m disappointed. I’m kind of disappointed, and I’m kind of worried, to the point where I’m like ‘what’s going on’ because i talked to him, two days before he was suposed to leave. I said, ‘Listen, make sure everything is good, don’t miss your flight’ because I know he missed a couple of flights here and there by accident… like I said, I don’t have an excuse for him. I’m not going to make up any excuses. we will have to see what happens. what comes from him when he’s ready to talk I guess.”
What does Big Ramy’s absence mean for the future of the 2022 bodybuilding season?
Ultimately, Dennis James has no new information as to what happened with Big Ramy’s 2022 Pittsburgh Pro absence. But James has become one of many who are worried and concerned for what it means for Ramy’s career. However, James is open to hearing a valid excuse when Big Ramy is ready to give it. Only time will tell if we get that response or not.
Regardless of Big Ramy’s absence, the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro was an exciting event that gave us the special surprise of Derek Lunsford guest posing. Not only that – but his massive size has spurred rumors that he may go up to Men’s Open in the future. Those rumors were further stocked by Hany Rambod admitting that Men’s Open is “not if, but when…”
You can watch the full roundtable interview including Dennis James’ comments below:
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Derek Dufour has been managing all digital operations on the Generation Iron Network for over six years. He currently manages a team of editors, writers, and designers to provide up-to-date content across the GI Network.
PHOTOS: Derek Lunsford Stole The Show During His Guest Posing At The 2022 Pittsburgh Pro
Derek Lunsford shocked fans with a massive guest posing at the star studded 2022 Pittsburgh Pro.
Derek Lunsford gave us an up close and personal look at his latest physique during his guest posing at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro – which commenced on May 7, 2022. This is Lunsford’s first on stage appearance of 2022. While this is still a strong seven months away from the Mr. Olympia, it provides fans with some insight into his offseason physique as he trains to potentially win his third Olympia title later this year.
The Pittsburgh Pro is a notable pro bodybuilding competition for being run by IFBB Pro and NPC president Jim Manion himself. Due to this, the Pittsburgh Pro always has a star studded roster of elite IFBB Pro competitors take the stage to guest pose. Beyond Derek Lunsford, Brandon Curry, Nick Walker, and Hunter Labrada all took the stage to guest pose as well.
Many fans were expecting to see Big Ramy take the stage at the Pittsburgh Pro – but he ended up being a no-show. Instead, Derek Lunsford made a surprise appearance and looked truly massive. In fact, many fans were pointing out that he looked as large or even larger than many of the Men’s Open competitors who guest posed alongside him that night.
Derek Lunsford is the current Men’s 212 Olympia champion – but his physique here showed that he could truly hold an impressive and controlled physique weighing well over the 212 limit.
Derek Lunsford is the number one competitor to beat at the 2022 Men’s 212 Olympia. Lunsford truly shocked and impressed at the 2021 Olympia, knocking out the returning champion Shaun Clarida. After many years of impressive showings, Lunsford transformed into perfection that night with a shock and awe performance. Many believe that if he could keep that kind of consistency, he will be an Olympia champion for years to come.
Most notable this weekend was the fact that Derek Lunsford was the only non-Men’s Open competitor guest posing. Derek Lunsford took the stage alongside Brandon Curry, Nick Walker, and Hunter Labrada. Not only did Lunsford look impressive in his own right – he looked fantastic standing side by side with the other Men’s Open competitors. This spurred many fans to wonder if he will one day transition into the Men’s Open division.
Many Men’s 212 competitors have transitioned to Men’s Open over the past few years. Most notable is Hadi Choopan – who has placed in the top five consistently in Men’s Open at the Olympia. Perhaps Lunsford can have the same kind of success if he transitioned upwards. He can hold much more size and height that Choopan – which might give him an even better advantage based on what we saw during the guest posing this weekend.
This is all just speculation though. For now, the main takeaway is that Derek Lunsford is still the number one competitor to beat at the Men’s 212 Olympia later this year. A lot can change over the next seven months, so nothing is set in stone. But this offseason physique was so impressive – many will hype Lunsford further for the rest of this season.
PHOTOS: Nick Walker Looks Massive Guest Posing At The 2022 Pittsburgh Pro
Nick Walker impressed with a massive guest posing routine at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro
Nick Walker showcased a phenomenal and massive offseason physique during his guest posing at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro – which was held this weekend on May 7, 2022. Walker’s guest posing is notable after switching coaches and not competing at the 2022 Arnold Classic – despite expressing interest in appearing at the show. He is now training towards the 2022 Mr. Olympia.
The Pittsburgh Pro is known for its star studded guest posing routines. The competition is run by IFBB Pro and NPC president Jim Manion, making it one of the more exciting events of the season each year. Alongside Nick Walker, Brandon Curry, Hunter Labrada, and current Mr. Olympia champion Big Ramy also guest posed.
There has been much hype and anticipation for Nick Walker’s appearance at the 2022 Mr. Olympia after his 2021 Arnold Classic win. This is the first on stage appearance of 2022 and an early indicator of his offseason progress. Walker’s consistent social media photo updates have showcased an incredibly on-point physique – but this is the first time of the year he appeared under the hot lights of the stage.
You can watch the video of Nick Walker guest posing at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro right here:
Nick Walker’s career has skyrocketed since 2020. At just 27 years old, Walker has sculpted a truly enormous and detailed physique. His win at the 2022 Arnold Classic cemented his iconic status – and many fans now hope to see him take aim at the Mr. Olympia throne. Walker placed fifth place a the 2021 Mr. Olympia. For a competitor still in his 20s, this is a phenomenal feat.
Nick Walker has often been compared to Olympia legend Dorian Yates in terms of his mass monster size and the shape of his physique. During a GI Exclusive interview in 2021, we discussed with Walker about the comparison and what his plans for the future hold. It’s clear that his vision has been on track thus far.
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With so much time ahead of him in his career, Nick Walker might just be the next phenom to take over the Olympia throne for years to come. He just needs to finalize the small details and take down the likes of legends such as Big Ramy and Brandon Curry. Time will soon tell how fast he can accomplish this feat.
Until then, make sure to stay tuned to the Generation Iron Fitness Network for more updates on Nick Walker and all other things bodybuilding, fitness, and strength sports.
PHOTOS: Brandon Curry Guest Posing At The 2022 Pittsburgh Pro
Photo via Instagram @mindtomuscle.in
Brandon Curry gives fans a first look preview of his physique since the 2022 Arnold Classic
Brandon Curry took the stage for an epic guest posing routine at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro – which was held this past weekend on May 7, 2022. The posing routine gave fans their first on-stage look of Curry since his victory at the 2022 Arnold Classic. Curry posed alongside Nick Walker, Hunter Labrada, and current Mr. Olympia champion Big Ramy.
The Pittsburgh Pro is one of the more notable pro bodybuilding competitions of the year. This is due to the star studded guest posing routines that grace the stage in celebration of Jim Manion – president of the IFBB Pro and NPC league. Typically the biggest names in bodybuilding showcase their physiques on stage – including the current Mr. Olympia champion. This weekend was no different.
Most notable about Brandon Curry’s guest posing routine is that he would be showcasing his physique on the same night as Big Ramy. Ramy narrowly defeated Curry at the 2021 Mr. Olympia competition. So this is our first time seeing both Curry and Ramy on stage back to back. While they are both still in the off season – this gives fans a progress update on their training leading into the Olympia later this year.
You can see photos of Brandon Curry’s guest posing routine here:
Brandon Curry won the Mr. Olympia title in 2019 but has been since shut out by Big Ramy over the past two years. However, with each competition Curry has slowly but steadily improved. In fact, his 2021 Mr. Olympia appearance might have been his beast yet – but was unable to edge past Big Ramy’s massive size.
Earlier this year, Brandon Curry competed in the 2022 Arnold Classic – where he faced off against William Bonac. The two were neck and neck for the entire weekend. Many predicted the win would go to Bonac. Ultimately, Curry took the first place prize. Since then, he has been focusing on prepping for the Mr. Olympia later this year in December. Of course, with a pitstop appearance at the Pittsburgh Pro.
Brandon Curry is one of the top names in contention to defeat Big Ramy at the 2022 Mr. Olympia. His consistency of his physique leaves fans confident that he can still be a true threat – especially if he further improves by this winter.
With the Mr. Olympia still seven months away, a lot can change from this guest posing routine and the final product. Only time will tell if Brandon Curry will step up and overcome Big Ramy or not. And that’s not accounting for the rising tide of younger athletes turning heads such as Nick Walker and Hunter Labrada. It will certainly be an interesting and exciting season of bodybuilding as it continues to unfold.
Make sure to stay tuned to the Generation Iron Fitness Network for more updates on all things bodybuilding, fitness, and strength sports!