Tag: Samson Dauda
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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Milos Sarcev Talks Weaknesses of Samson Dauda and Nick Walker 3 Months from 2023 Olympia
Preparations for the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia are heating up as the show takes place this November. In a recent The Menace Podcast, Milos Sarcev laid out the strengths and weaknesses of Nick Walker and Samson Dauda three months before their showdown in Florida. Regularly weighing over 300 pounds, Dauda’s combination of stature, conditioning, […]
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Samir Bannout Predicts Derek Lunsford Wins 2023 Mr. Olympia, Says He Shouldn’t Worry About Size
The 2023 Mr. Olympia contest is inching closer, prompting Samir Bannout to examine the event in detail. In a recent Old School Labs Podcast, Bannout discussed the Mr. Olympia-winning potential of Derek Lunsford, Samson Dauda, and Hunter Labrada. In addition, Bannout blamed ‘the size game’ for killing off athletes unnecessarily.
Last year, the Men’s Open division transformed following Hadi Choopan’s victory at the 2022 Mr. Olympia. Fans could hear a pin drop in the arena as event announcer Bob Cicherillo delivered the results. En route to claiming gold, Choopan was tested by his teammate, 212-turned-Open star Derek Lunsford and Nick Walker.
Having secured runner-up in his Open debut, Lunsford left Sin City confident about the future. He briefly teased the idea of competing at the 2023 Arnold Classic, but decided to take advantage of a longer off-season instead. Known for his openness with fans, Lunsford said he’s already gained considerable muscle in preparation for his November showdown with Choopan.
Aside from Lunsford, Samson Dauda is optimistic about the upcoming Olympia competition. He narrowly defeated Walker at the Arnold Classic in March and raked in a record $300,000. With hype, a balanced physique, and Milos Sarcev as his trainer, fans expect Dauda to make a push for first in his next appearance. Bannout was the latest to discuss the lineup and laid out why he thinks a new champion will emerge in less than three months.
Samir Bannout Says ‘Playing the Size Game Is Killing Guys,’ Reveals Top 2023 Mr. Olympia Threats
According to Bannout, competitors are beginning to understand the risks of pursuing freakier physiques. He believes the rise in bodybuilding deaths is partially why Open competitions have lacked competitors, like this weekend’s 2023 Tampa Pro, which will feature 9 athletes from the respective division.
“I think most of the guys feel like, ‘Oh, you know, I’m going to get huge.’ But the thing is, they know right away it’s kind of risky to follow this route,” says Samir Bannout. “There’s a downside [to getting freaky big]. I think most people are pulling away and because there’s a lot of – well a lot of guys are dying. A lot of guys are dying. They’re not stupid. I mean, we don’t need to name the guys, we know. A lot of those guys are dying.”
“Coaches… they’re not mellowing out. They’re keeping the pressure of playing the size game and this is what’s really killing these guys,” shared Bannout. “That’s another thing causing the numbers to drop in the Open and people are going to Classic [Physique].”
“Nowadays with the coaches, what they advertise what they’re taking, oh my God, this is suicidal. That’s why I felt bad and get heartbroken to see guys like Shawn Rhoden no longer with us. Dallas McGarver no longer here. Gustavo, Nasser, those guys are supposed to be alive now!”
Samson Dauda
Next, Bannout examined the chances of Samson Dauda heading into this year’s Olympia. He believes if Dauda wants “etched paper-thin skin” he’ll have to drop at least 40 pounds.
“[He’s carrying] more than water, more than water. I believe he needs to drop at least 35-40 pounds. Look, I love his body. Incredible. Very impressive but the quality remains to be seen. If he wants to get that etched paper thin skin, he’s got to drop at least 40 pounds. So, yeah, he looks good. But I think there’s a difference between thin skin and hippo-like skin. I know the cause of the hippo kind of sickness of the skin. So, this is a problem.”
Hunter Labrada
Given Hunter Labrada competes at the Tampa Pro this weekend, Bannout gave his thoughts on the potential physique he’s expected to display.
“He looks way better than he did the last time we were talking about him,” Bannout shared. “Yeah, I mean if he was a little bit more tanned it would look a lot more impressive. I’m telling you, he has what it takes.”
“With a good enhancement to his tan and a little better on positioning, which his dad can fix that quickly, I wonder what he weighs right there because whatever he did, he changed something.”
“He looks a lot tighter than he did last time. There’s still more room for improvement until he steps on stage but definitely, what I don’t like right now is his color. I want to see him more, I want that healthy glow to his skin.”
Derek Lunsford
Looking ahead, Bannout predicted Derek Lunsford to win the 2023 Mr. Olympia competition but cautioned him not to focus on adding size.
“Look, all he [Derek Lunsford] needed is to look how he looked last year, a little sharper in the back department, and he’s right there,” Bannout said. “He’s so massive.”
“I think Derek is going to do it [win 2023 Mr. Olympia]. I just don’t think he needs to be more irrational about putting on more size. As is, go 24-carat and win the fucking title. The only guy who I think could possibly do it, who… Regan.”
Bannout isn’t the only former Mr. Olympia winner backing Derek Lunsford to upset Hadi Choopan in Nov. A few months ago, bodybuilding legend Ronnie Coleman said Lunsford would be named the next champion. ‘The King’ also admitted that Lunsford was his favorite bodybuilder of this era.
With Lunsford adding weight in the off-season, fans expect another jaw-dropping package when he hits the stage. As for Samir Bannout, he predicted Lunsford to win but stressed to all competitors that focusing on the size can result in lifelong consequences.
RELATED: Derek Lunsford Talks Battle w/ Hadi Choopan for 2023 Olympia Win, Says Nick , Samson to Fight for 3rd/4th
Watch the full video from the Old School Labs Rumble Channel Below:
Published: 3 August, 2023 | 2:46 PM EDT
Terrick El Guindy, Chris Cormier Talk Bodybuilding Conspiracies & Andrew Jacked v Samson Dauda
Whether or not taller competitors have an edge in bodybuilding has long been debated. In a recent Prime Time Muscle episode, Terrick El Guindy shared with Chris Cormier why stature is overrated in bodybuilding. In addition, they discussed a possible battle between Andrew Jacked and Samson Dauda at 2023 Olympia.
The currents of the Men’s Open division have been choppy and unpredictable lately. With Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford taking the No.1 and No. 2 spots on the 2022 Mr. Olympia stage, many have begun to question if the category is swaying to favor physiques with less size and more detail, shape, and symmetry.
Following Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay‘s unceremonious drop to fifth place and the results of the 2023 Arnold Classic, El Guindy believes a new era of aesthetic bodybuilders is taking over the Open. This sentiment was also shared by 1990s standout Kevin Levrone. However, he believes Chris Bumstead is to thank for the rise of aesthetics in the Men’s Open.
In Nov., Dauda plans to bring his best to dethrone Choopan. And while Andrew Jacked shares the same goal, he has yet to qualify for the upcoming Mr. Olympia show. He’s targeted the 2023 Texas Pro in mid-Aug. where he intends to defend his title from last year successfully. Given the similar statures of Dauda and Jacked, Cormier and El Guindy discussed a pobable showdown between the two.
Terrick El Guindy Says Stature in Bodybuilding Is ‘Highly Highly Overrated’
While stature and height can be imposing, El Guindy argued it’s overrated as shorter athletes have found success in the Open such as Lunsford and Choopan.
“This thing about stature… is highly highly overrated, highly overrated. I mean look at Hadi Choopan. He’s one of the shortest guys and he’s Mr. Olympia. Shaun Clarida out of all the 212s he’s possibly the shortest 212 and he is Mr. Olympia 212,” said Terrick El Guindy.
“Listen a lot of people are talking about Chris Bumstead’s stature and how tall he is right now, well look at the history of the sport. The first Classic Physique champion was one of the shortest guys, Danny Hester. We move on to Breon Ansley, well what happened to the stature when Breon Ansley was beating Chris Bumstead? That wasn’t in play. It’s highly highly overrated.
It looks imposing on stage to look at a guy like Samson Dauda and Andrew Jacked but at the end of the day we’re judging the best bodybuilders and in this case, Hadi Choopan is the superior bodybuilder based on the 2022 Mr. Olympia,” said El Guindy.
Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan are shorter than Nick Walker, Brandon Curry, Andrew Jacked, Big Ramy, Samson Dauda, Michal Krizo, Rafael Brandao, Iain Valliere and they are all placing ahead of them. I’m telling you right now, this height stuff is highly overrated.”
Cormier added that Lee Haney looked taller than he actually was while competing at the height of his career.
“Lee Haney made everyone look like children next to them and he wasn’t actually that tall but he appeared that way because he was so imposing. No [he wasn’t the tallest] but just the way his body looked,” said Cormier.
Conspiracy Theories in Bodybuilding? Terrick El Guindy Says ‘Stop It Right Now’
El Guindy said there were conspiracies about who would win the 1998 Mr. Olympia. He added that there were rumors Big Ramy would win Olympia in 2013 and that never materialized either.
“All the conspiracies, so many conspiracies that Ronnie was going to win the ninth Mr. Olympia, he didn’t. So many conspiracies, oh who is going to win the 1998 Mr. Olympia? Nobody had it in mind that it was going to be Ronnie Coleman. He came out of nowhere. Oh, Big Ramy wins the New York Pro in 2013 and doesn’t win the Olympia approximately 7-8 years shows up in shape and wins the 2020 Olympia.
“Shawn Rhoden, nobody had him on the map winning against the supposed eight-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath so he could equal Ronnie Coleman and equal Lee Haney. It didn’t happen. Shawn Rhoden won. Stop it. Just stop it right now.”
El Guindy & Cormier Compare Andrew Jacked vs Samson Dauda
Cormier gave Jacked credit for an extremely busy schedule and said if he adds 10-15 pounds he’ll have a ‘devastating physique.’
“His [Andrew Jacked’s] body of work over the rookie season. It’s a huge body of work. He hasn’t had an off-season, he’s been trying to improve body parts on the fly, trying to improve posing on the fly, he’s a great showmen is what I’ve noticed.”
“Talking to both Chris’s, he was in 293-ish area for Olympia but maybe 10 pounds lighter at the Arnold Classic. With the length of his arms and legs and everything, you’re going to see that difference. Even the muscle appeared a lot harder, you’re going to see the fullness,” said Cormier. “I feel like if he came with that same type of tightness but add another 10-15 pounds if you could, then that’s a devastating physique.”
El Guindy emphasized that Andrew Jacked’s biggest enemy is Samson Dauda. He believes if Andrew was by himself on stage, he would have freak factor similar to Ronnie Coleman.
“At the Olympia Samson gets the first call out. Samson Dauda goes into the Arnold and places ahead of him. First place and third place. Samson Dauda is tall, not as tall as Andrew Jacked but he possesses more muscle density than Andrew Jacked. Andrew Jacked I thought was more conditioned than Samson Dauda,” said El Guindy.
“The biggest enemy for Andrew Jacked is Samson Dauda. He takes the impact away. If you see Andrew Jacked by himself, oh my God that’s the next coming of Ronnie Coleman. Then you bring Samson Dauda next to him and you go that’s kind of a Lee Haney-type of guy. If we didn’t have Samson Dauda, all of us would be betting on Andrew Jacked to dominate the business for the next 10 years.”
Chris Cormier isn’t the only bodybuilding veteran keen on discussing Andrew Jacked’s future. Recently, Jay Cutler gave his thoughts on the topic as well. Considering the improvements Jacked made from the Olympia to the Arnold, he believes it’s possible he could shock the world, assuming he qualifies for the event.
In the meantime, other top contenders are gearing up for their prep, like 2022 Olympia runner-up Derek Lunsford. He joined Hany Rambod on The Truth Podcast recently, where they discussed a number of topics including his progress, anxiety, and dealing with depression.
It remains to be seen if taller competitors truly have an advantage over their counterparts. Though El Guindy and Cormier agree if Andrew adds more tissue, he’ll be a dangerous threat to anyone on the Olympia stage, even the champion.
RELATED: Big Ramy Discusses Mental State Ahead of 2023 Mr. Olympia: ‘I Can’t Take a Year Off, I Need to Give It Everything”
You can watch the full Olympia TV YouTube video below:
Published: 30 June, 2023 | 9:21 AM EDT
Iain Valliere To Improve Triceps for 2023 Mr. Olympia, Talks Big Ramy’s Future & Samson Dauda
Anticipation for the upcoming Mr. Olympia continues to build as fans await the contest in less than five months. In a recent Olympia TV interview, Bob Cicherillo and Iain Valliere discussed the Men’s Open division. During the video, Valliere said he doesn’t believe Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay will win back his Mr. Olympia title.
“It’s all a mind game when it gets to this level. If Iain brings his A-game there, he’ll be right back up there, no question about it,” said Bob Cicherillo.
Iain Valliere is one of the most popular bodybuilders from Canada. In a career lasting almost a decade, Valliere has shown great promise, courtesy of his exceptional conditioning and detailed back. He started the 2022 season with an impressive victory at the Vancouver Pro, where he defeated Antoine Vaillant for first. This earned him passage to the season’s biggest show of the year.
The 2022 Mr. Olympia lineup was strong as many debutants planned to make statements. New names on the stage such as Andrew Jacked, Michal Krizo, and Samson Dauda were all labeled dark hoses ahead of the show. And while Ramy dominated the landscape from 2020-2021, a new champion arrived last December to take his title away. Hadi Choopan won gold. Ramy placed fifth, a harsh drop from the year prior.
Without a qualification to 2023 Mr. Olympia, Valliere worked in the off-season to bring his best look to date. He mapped out improvements and detailed his shredding diet for the new season. He targeted this year’s Toronto Pro Supershow. At the event, he battled with Hassan Mostafa in what many fans described as a close contest. Nevertheless, Valliere presented some of his best conditioning and earned his invite.
Iain Valliere Plans to Improve Triceps for 2023 Olympia, Talks Big Ramy’s Future
According to Valliere, Big Ramy won’t win back his Mr. Olympia title but he still believes he can be competitive on other stages like the Arnold Classic.
“I don’t believe Ramy will win the Olympia again. Do I think Ramy has a career ahead of him making money and being a competitive pro bodybuilder? Absolutely. I don’t think you need to be winning the Mr. Olympia to get six-figure contracts or to be a competitive bodybuilder. He can still win shows. He can still do well at the Arnolds.
Like, he was still a top five guy at the Arnold he’s getting a good paycheck he’s still getting good contracts. And look: even when he was off he was still top five at the Olympia. That’s nothing to snuff at right? I still think Ramy is absolutely a top-tier bodybuilder and will continue to be for a few years. But do I think he’s going to win the Olympia again, I do not,” said Iain Valliere.
Admittedly, Valliere says expectations and new talent might have factored into his last Mr. Olympia performance.
“When you had two years of seventh prior, look, the Olympia linup last year was not the same as 2020 or 2021. It was absolutely improved, there was a lot of new guys there, Samson there, Andrew there, Derek in the mix now,” said Iain Valliere. “Obviously there probably was some looming fear in my head that, ‘Shit I’m going to slip places I’m going to slip places,’ and that was shown in my presentation,” explained Valliere.
Looking ahead, Valliere plans to focus on his triceps which he believes will improve at least two of his side poses.
“There are some things still that I think need to be improved here. I had a little bit of loss of volume on my triceps that I think hurt me in the side chest and the side tri that can definitely be improved from a little bit of a nagging elbow issue I was having on that side specifically which is I think going to be a lot better come the Olympia. If we make some small tweaks there, I’m very confident in my shot to be in that group at the Olympia, for sure,” added Valliere.
Valliere & Bob Cicherillo Talk Samson Dauda, Nick Walker, Hunter Labrada, and Derek Lunsford
In a recent HD Muscle YouTube video, Nick Walker said Samson Dauda’s back was ‘shit’ and ‘flat as a board.’ However, Valliere disagrees. He believes Dauda can establish himself as a true Mr. Olympia contender with improved conditioning, not just back improvements.
“I don’t think I agree with that,” Valliere said. “Samson is making show to show year to year, I don’t think that’s going to be the case for a long time. Even when you look from – bring the conditioning in a little bit more from the Olympia to the Arnold it did show his back a lot better. For a back to look good, your conditioning must be excellent.”
In Bob’s opinion, Dauda’s back isn’t flat and even if it was, Samson still defeated Walker at the Arnold.
“Listen, Nick is being Nick and I appreciate that because I love these guys especially him, he’s not shy about making comments. Listen, is he literally flat as a board? No. And he better hope he’s not flat as a board because he beat him with that flat as a board back,” Cicherillo said.
Since Lunsford no longer abides by a weight restriction, Valliere suspects he’ll improve his conditioning and muscle density.
“In the case of Derek, I think him and Hany played his cards right for the Olympia but now as he gets more muscle maturity and more density to that muscle and he’s held on to it longer because he’s not pushing down to 212 and doing off-seasons, I think we’ll see that conditioning come up more and more and more,” Valliere said.
Lastly, Cicherillo offered Hunter Labrada some words of encouragement ahead of his latest Olympia campaign that starts with the 2023 Tampa Pro in August.
“He’s going to have his cut out for him. Hunter will have to be 100% and more importantly, Hunter has a habit of coming out – and he is just pouring water. He’s got to figure out notably, what he has to do to not be releasing so much water in that first round.”
This isn’t the first time Bob Cicherillo has taken a close look at the Men’s Open bodybuilders expected to compete in Nov. Following Dauda’s 2023 Arnold Classic victory, Bob labeled him alongside Lunsford as Choopan’s two biggest threats.
Big Ramy is also determined to become the only bodybuilder in the Open aside from Jay Cutler to win back an Olympia title. Despite recommendations from Bob and head judge Steve Weinberger to take a break, Ramy has made it clear he’s working ‘angry’ and harder than ever to bring his best physique possible later this year.
Given the number of potential contenders, 2023 Mr. Olympia is shaping up to be an unforgettable event. With his eyes on the first call-out, Iain Valliere plans to improve his triceps and sharpen his posing skills.
You can watch the full Olympia TV YouTube video below:
Find complete coverage of the 2022 Mr. Olympia, including pre-judging, event recaps, analysis, and final results at our Olympia coverage hub: FitnessVolt.com/olympia
Published: 29 June, 2023 | 5:48 PM EDT
2023 Mr. Olympia Contender Samson Dauda Shares Full Day of Eating in Off-Season
Samson Dauda, one of the leading frontrunners headed to 2023 Mr. Olympia, is giving fans a taste of his off-season diet. In a recent YouTube video, Dauda revealed the six meals he consumes daily in order to maintain a monstrous weight of over 320 pounds.
“This is a normal basic day at home with training and everything with it. So, it’s boring but this is what a typical day of my life looks like trying to improve my physique and prepare for the Olympia. Right now, we’re in the middle of the off-season so we get to see the meals I’m having. We get to see what a normal day at home looks like for me,” Samson Dauda shared.
Dauda’s IFBB Pro League career kicked off quickly but 2022 saw him break into the upper echelons of the Open class. He finished fourth at the Arnold Classic and Boston Pro contests. When he made it to the Olympia stage, Dauda shined. In his debut, he secured a sixth-place finish and during prejudging, gave then-reigning Mr. Olympia, Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay, a true run for his money.
Sailing into 2023 with considerable momentum, Samson Duada bet on himself and entered the Arnold Classic in March. At the event, he faced a number of formidable opponents, such as Akim Williams, reigning two-time 212 Olympia Shaun Clarida, Big Ramy, Andrew Jacked, and Nick Walker. Dauda cemented himself as an Arnold Classic champion in the end, which stamped his ticket to this year’s Olympia contest.
Led by bodybuilding coach Milos Sarcev, Dauda will attempt to take the title from Hadi Choopan on November 4. Dauda, confident in his chances, has taken to interviews and mentioned that growing his back will be the only path to the Mr. Olympia title. In the tail-end of his 2023 off-season, Dauda is now updating fans on the meals he’s eating to fuel his Olympia campaign.
Check Out the 2023 Off-Season Diet Samson Dauda Is Using to Prepare for Mr. Olympia
You can find a breakdown of Samson Dauda’s typical off-season diet below. He added that he consumes seven meals occasionally by having two helpings of sushi.
Meal 1
150 grams of oats
Hosstile ISO [H1] 1 scoop
5 eggs
Meal 2
450 grams of sweet potato
200 grams of beef steak
To prioritize his time for training and other pursuits, Dauda prefers his meals to be pre-made for readiness.
“The reason why we prep our meals in bulk, this is quicker. So all I have to do is heat up and eat. The thing is, if I had to eat now, I would have to cut my time to do anything else to start preparing the steak or food earlier. It would only take time out of each day if I have to prepare every meal fresh. This way, five minutes, done.
And I can focus on eating and moving to something else. If you have to prepare each meal as you go, you won’t follow your meal plan, especially if you got to eat six meals a day. You end up drifting off because it’s just too much work each day. It takes up too much time. Having everything pre-prepared in bulk, and then all you have to do is pick out each time, it’s just insanely easier,” said Dauda.
Meal 3
350 grams of cooked pasta
180 grams of mince (ground) 5% beef
Post-Workout Shake
Hosstile ISO [H1] two scoops
Hosstile CDX two scoops
homemade Pineapple Parsinip juice
ginger
Meal 4
2 cups of rice (white)
250 grams of chicken breast
Meal 5
Nando’s Half chicken & chips & corn
Meal 6
“Normally, I’d have chicken and rice if I was in prep,” added Dauda.
In addition to his contest schedule, Dauda has kept busy in the off-season with guest posing appearances. Back in May, he stole the show with Olympia runner-up Derek Lunsford at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro guest posing. Weeks later, they pushed each other in an ‘Olympia battle workout,’ led by bodybuilding veteran Chris Cormier.
Dauda has maintained impressive size during off-seasons. Similar to last year, Dauda continues to show off a ripped build weighing over 300 pounds. His latest guest posing at the USA Fit Pro saw him weigh in at a staggering 327 pounds.
The bodybuilding community has taken note of Dauda’s Mr. Olympia-winning potential. Athletes rep Bob Cicherillo recently named Duada and Derek Lunsford as Hadi Choopan’s top threats when they meet on stage later this year.
Given Dauda’s history of making improvements show-to-show, should he bring up his back, he could easily push into the podium as pointed out by head judge Steve Weinberger. Whether it’s nutrition or training, it’s clear Dauda plans on bringing his absolute best in Nov.
RELATED: Samson Dauda, Milos Sarcev Say Back Thickness Key to Defeating Hadi Choopan: ‘No Breaks from Training’
Watch the full video on the Samson Dauda YouTube channel below:
Published: 28 June, 2023 | 11:23 AM EDT
Jay Cutler Breaks Down 2023 Mr. Olympia Top Contenders: ‘Can Andrew Jacked Shock the World?’
Legendary bodybuilder Jay Cutler led a highly decorated career that saw him become a four-time Mr. Olympia. Since moving on from professional competition, he’s turned into a revered figure known for his sharp eye for talent. In a recent episode of Cutler Cast, Cutler shared his breakdown of the top contenders for the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia competition.
Jay Cutler first made headlines for his monstrous muscle mass, size, and conditioning in the IFBB Pro League Men’s Open division in the 2000s. He dominated the competition at the 2002 Arnold Classic and racked up two more AC titles in the following years. He developed an intense rivalry with eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman, who kept him at bay from the top prize. After four runner-up finishes, Cutler finally dethroned his longtime foe and secured his maiden Sandow trophy. He hung up his posing trunks with four Mr. Olympia wins under his belt.
The Men’s Open division hosts some of the freakiest mass monsters in the world and serves as the marquee category at any bodybuilding event. The division’s landscape continues to evolve with a rise in talent joining the division from around the world.
Former two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay got knocked off the top at the 2022 Mr. Olympia last season. Hadi Choopan reigned supreme as the new champion whereas former 212 Olympia king Derek Lunsford stunned the world with a silver in his Open debut. Nick Walker moved up the ranks and rounded out the top three. Meanwhile, Hunter Labrada missed the mark and fell out of the top six, meaning he would need to earn an invite to the competition this year.
Andrew Jacked / Instagram
Rising sensation Andrew Jacked is another contender who presented a major threat to the more experienced veterans. Samson Dauda emerged as a budding contender after placing sixth at the previous Olympia event. He further asserted his place in the mix by coming out on top of the 2023 Arnold Classic three months ago.
Slovakian bodybuilder Michal Krizo entered the group with a lot of hype behind him last year. He presented insane arm development along with freakish overall muscularity. He’s coming off a commanding performance in his last outing at the 2023 Empro Classic Pro that saw him score gold last week.
Jay Cutler breaks down top contenders of 2023 Mr. Olympia
In a recent YouTube video, Jay Cutler shared his analysis of the top contenders for the 2023 Mr. Olympia.
Cutler started by praising Krizo’s latest win and identified areas he would like to see improved.
“He was looking so paper thin, especially in the upper body, the arms are some of the best in the business and it looked like he made improvements, which I think he did improve from his prior showings. But I don’t know if he came down in size a little bit to gather the condition,” said Cutler. “I still feel like he’s still going to have trouble pushing the top spots at the Olympia.
“He still needs to get more density in the side of the leg, the hamstring, glutes, and the back’s improved but he still… arms are so big. When you have arms that big it kinda takes from the lats unless you’re like a Nick Walker.”
Cutler believes Dauda and Lunsford are the frontrunners for the contest. He also highlighted the danger Choopan and former champ Brandon Curry may present.
“I didn’t want to start counting places because I hated when people did that to me but there’s a lot of good guys. That six to ten is going to be… We just saw Derek and Samson too. They trained together a couple days ago and Derek looks tremendous which he always has and Samson looks tremendous which he has for the past few years. Obviously, the Arnold winner. Question is if Derek would’ve done the Arnold, we could keep talking about that.”
“Contention wise, Hadi’s been kind of shouting out ‘don’t forget about me.’ We’re also forgetting Brandon Curry.”
Derek Lunsford / Instagram
Cutler supports Big Ramy competing at the event
Jay Cutler extended his support for Big Ramy to return and compete at the 2023 Mr. Olympia. He believes Ramy doesn’t have enough time to sit out a year and could perform well if he came in his best form.
“Ramy sounds like he’s going to come back and compete, which I’m all for. He needs to possibly take a step away and I think it’s got a little misconstrued. I hate the fact that Steve Weinberger has kinda been put on the spot because he said basically go back to what you’re doing. I don’t think he ever said like he needs to take the whole year off. I don’t even know how it was said but there’s a lot of controversy right now.
“The point is he just needs to regroup and do what he does best and come in the best of his ability. There’s no real timeline on that. He’s 38, he can’t take a few years off, his health is really great. I hear his training is really great. He’s had some atrophy compared to years prior on the arms, triceps, I think he’s admitted to having some downsizing there. But he looked great at the Arnold. He could’ve probably placed a little better but I don’t want to discredit the people that did.”
‘Can Andrew Jacked win & shock the world?’ asks Cutler
The 49-year-old praised Andrew Jacked for his immense potential in the sport. He expressed his excitement about watching Andrew go up against Hunter Labrada and others at the nearing 2023 Texas Pro. For Cutler, the biggest question is if Jacked could do enough later this year to win the coveted Sandow trophy.
“I hear great things about Andrew too. The big showdown is going to be Texas. There’s going to be other guys too. I know there’s a lot of international shows but that’s going to be like what, who’s not going to qualify there. Those two guys [Andrew and Hunter] need to be in the lineup because they’re people we’re talking about and the question is, can Andrew come and win the Olympia and shock the world?”
Jay Cutler is currently on a mission to take his physique to the next level as part of the ‘Fit for 50’ body transformation challenge for his 50th birthday. He revealed he’s gained 15 pounds in preparation for the challenge earlier this week.
This year’s competition in the Men’s Open division is shaping up to be one of the most exciting and competitive. Fans will be waiting in anticipation to see which competitors qualify and who ultimately takes the crown of Mr. Olympia.
RELATED: Jay Cutler Offers Tips for Sculpting Abs: ‘Remember You’re Trying to Condition Them, Not Build Muscle’
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 24 June, 2023 | 10:24 AM EDT
Derek Lunsford, Samson Dauda Look Huge in Update During 2023 Mr. Olympia Battle Workout
Preparations for the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest are ramping up for Open class talent. In a special Olympia TV production, Derek Lunsford and Samson Dauda gave physique updates and pushed each other with a back workout battle/posedown.
“We’re going to have – we need some intensity guys. This is not going to be a show for powderpuff training. It’s going to be hardcore, I want to see everybody going all-out. I mean this – we got to bring it today. You guys ready?” Cormier said.
Many fans believe the Men’s Open division has never been more exciting. There have also been major shake-ups in the category over the last several months. At the 2022 Mr. Olympia contest, a new hierarchy was established after Hadi Choopan claimed gold. After receiving a special invite for the Open class, former 212 Olympia Derek Lunsford proved himself with a second-place finish. This event also served as Samson Dauda‘s Mr. Olympia debut where he placed sixth.
While Lunsford decided to sit out the 2023 Arnold Classic, Dauda had other plans. With momentum from Las Vegas, Dauda brought his best to Columbus, Ohio, and ultimately defeated finalists Nick Walker and Andrew Jacked to claim gold. Veterans and figureheads of the sport took notice of his Mr. Olympia-winning potential. Athletes rep Bob Cicherillo has gone on record saying that Choopan’s biggest threats are Lunsford and Dauda.
Ronnie Coleman, a name that carries a lot of weight in the IFBB Pro League, has suggested that Lunsford will become the next Mr. Olympia champion. He specified that the former 212 winner will likely dethrone Choopan later this year. When tasked with choosing his favorite bodybuilder of this generation, Coleman said it was a tie between Lunsford and Dauda.
Meanwhile, Nick Walker, who also aims to win Mr. Olympia, doesn’t see Dauda as a concern despite losing to him in March. In ‘The Mutant’s’ opinion, the next Sandow trophy will be awarded to himself or Lunsford, depending on who brings better improvements in November. Though, for Samson Dauda, he has never been more confident, and believes with a bigger back, he can become the number one bodybuilder in the world.
Derek Lunsford, Samson Dauda Give Physique Updates & Test Limits with Back Workout Battle
Led by Chris Cormier, Lunsford, and Dauda pushed each other through a series of back workouts. Lunsford believes his back is currently better than Dauda’s. Samson, on the other hand, said he would have won the 2023 Arnold Classic even if Lunsford entered the contest.
“Yeah man, I mean back has always been my strong point. So, I figured we’d get in here today and have some fun,” said Lunsford. “Like I said, I think my back shots are my strong points, so as of right now, I would say yes [my back shots will beat Samson Dauda at 2023 Olympia] and I’m prepared to improve it for this year.”
“Bodybuilding is judged on more than just a back shot right, it’s about who is the most complete and that’s what I bring. At the same time, I know I can learn a thing or two like I’ve always done in the past, I’ve taken my opponent’s strengths and made them my own, and use the same strengths to beat them,” said Dauda. “Oh yeah [if Derek Lunsford was at the 2023 Arnold I would have beat him] damn right. I don’t back down for no one.”
Cormier predicted that there would be palpable tension during the training session since they share the same goal of wanting to become Mr. Olympia.
“I think they’re going to have to show each other who is going to be the more dominant competitor on stage. And I think it’s all going to start right here with Olympia Battle 3. I think my man [Samson Dauda] is large and in charge and I think being second at the Olympia [for Derek Lunsford] there’s going to be some tension today,” Chris Cormier said.
Find their full back workout list below:
Lat Pulldown Machine – 4 sets
Barbell Rows – 5 sets
Seated Cable Row Machine – 4 sets
Stiff Arms Pulldown Aka Straight Arms – 4 sets
Chest Supported Low Row Machine – 4 sets
“That’s the bodybuilding mentality,” Lunsford shared. “This is fun for me to come out here, train with the Arnold Classic champion Samson. It’s a big back day.”
“This is the off-season. This is bodybuilding. This is a big man’s game,” said Dauda.
Following the workout, Lunsford and Dauda removed their pump covers for a posedown. They both hit mandatory poses on command before ending the battle.
Even though Choopan hasn’t been competing in the U.S. or guest posing doesn’t mean he’s not attacking his off-season with a chip on his shoulder. Last week, ‘The Persian Wolf’ gave fans a sneak peek into the off-season physique he’s been building. In addition, Choopan continues to push himself with heavy workouts posted on Instagram.
As for Derek Lunsford, he joined his coach Hany Rambod for The Truth Podcast recently. They sat down to discuss anxiety, depression, and obstacles in the way of his 2023 Mr. Olympia prep. Despite some setbacks during the off-season, Lunsford assured his fans that ‘everything is good’ as he eyes the next stage of his preparations.
Many believe Lunsford and Dauda cemented themselves as Mr. Olympia favorites during the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro guest-posing event. Given their dedication and work ethic, fans look forward to seeing how they fare in Orlando, Florida this November.
RELATED: Samson Dauda, Milos Sarcev Say Back Thickness Key to Defeating Hadi Choopan: ‘No Breaks from Training’
You can watch the full video from the Olympia TV YouTube channel below:
Published: 21 June, 2023 | 11:28 AM EDT
Samson Dauda Shows Off Monstrous 327-Lb Physique Guest Posing at 2023 USA Fit Games
Samson Dauda continues to gain momentum in the viciously competitive IFBB Pro League Men’s Open division. Over last weekend, Dauda shocked his fans while guest posing at the 2023 USA Fit Games and revealed he’s weighing 327 pounds.
The potential of Dauda was evident from the start of his bodybuilding career. Though, in 2022, he gained considerable momentum. Fans saw him claim a pair of fourth-place finishes at the Arnold Classic and Boston Pro. Making his way to the Olympia for the first time, Dauda exceeded expectations and finished sixth. During the event, he proved himself standing against the former two-time champion Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay, who ultimately slid to fifth.
Without an invite to this year’s Olympia event, Dauda returned to the 2023 Arnold Classic. He faced stiff competition from fellow frontrunners Nick Walker and Andrew Jacked. While some in the sport found the results controversial, Dauda won and earned his way to this year’s prestigious show.
Dauda understands getting past Olympia runner-up Derek Lunsford, and champ, Hadi Choopan will be no easy task. In a Muscular Development interview, Dauda explained that the only way he could win 2023 Mr. Olympia gold was by thickening his back. And if his latest guest posing appearance is a sign of his progress, it appears Dauda is in a favorable position to do well at this year’s Olympia.
Samson Dauda Staying Active With Guest Posing in 2023 Off-Season, Shows Off Physique at 327 Lbs
‘Everything is bigger in Texas,’ as was the case with Samson Dauda’s latest guest posing appearance at 327 pounds.
“Guest posing today at @usafitgamesIn Dallas Texas327lbs” Dauda wrote.
In May, he joined a star-studded lineup of Men’s Open guest posers at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro. Samson shared the stage with Walker, Hunter Labrada, Big Ramy, Shaun Clarida, and Derek Lunsford. In the aftermath, most fans agreed that Dauda and Lunsford stood out as favorites ahead of the next Mr. Olympia.
A month later in April, Dauda took over the stage at the 10x Ben Weider 2023 to guest pose. He looked incredible and still conditioned despite enjoying a rebound period. Given the artistic nature and detail of his posing routines, it’s safe to say his busy schedule is paying off.
Even though he defeated ‘The Mutant’ in Columbus, Ohio, Nick Walker doesn’t seem to be concerned with Samson Dauda ahead of Olympia this year. He has no crystal ball but Walker predicted that 2023 Mr. Olympia will see either himself or Derek Lunsford win gold. It should be noted that eight-time winner Ronnie Coleman believes Lunsford will end Choopan’s reign when they rematch.
Steve Weinberger, who often serves as the head judge for Arnold Classics and Mr. Olympias, said that Dauda could push into the top three this year with added back improvements. He specified that Dauda will also need to keep a similar level of size that he presented last December.
RELATED: Samson Dauda ‘Fired Up’ to Bring Shock Factor at 2023 Mr. Olympia: ‘There’s Only 1 Result Left to Get’
Meanwhile, other competitors in the Open, such as William Bonac, believe Choopan is likely to defend successfully in November. Nevertheless, should Dauda thicken his back and add more detail, he and his coach Milos Sarcev are confident they could disrupt the lineup and win the 2023 Mr. Olympia show.
Published: 19 June, 2023 | 3:40 PM EDT
Steve Weinberger Lays Out 2023 Mr. Olympia-Winning Advice for Big Ramy, Samson Dauda & Andrew Jacked
The 2023 Mr. Olympia contest is approaching in less than six months, prompting IFBB head judge Steve Weinberger to discuss the possible lineup. In a recent The Menace Podcast with Dennis James, Weinberger assessed Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay‘s future and laid out paths to victory for Andrew Jacked and Samson Dauda.
Last year, the Mr. Olympia competition turned the Men’s Open division on its head. Elssbiay was unable to defend successfully despite his status as an overwhelming favorite. The finals were determined following a three-man battle between Hadi Choopan, Derek Lunsford, and Nick Walker. In the end, the completeness of Choopan’s physique stole the show. His victory ignited discussions online about which direction the Men’s Open division was headed, given that a mass monster no longer held the crown.
Since Ramy’s fall from the top, Steve Weinberger has been open with the public about what went wrong for the former champ. According to Weinberger, Ramy appeared to be suffering from injuries on stage as his lats, back, and arms looked to have lost detail.
In March, competitors gathered in Columbus, Ohio for the 2023 Arnold Classic. After finishing fifth at the Olympia contest last December, Big Ramy was eager for redemption. While many in the sport thought he delivered a refined package, the judges once again saw Ramy outside of the podium in fourth. Meanwhile, Samson Dauda won the 35th Arnold Classic title.
With shake-up after shake-up, fans expect another unpredictable Mr. Olympia contest. Athletes are either eying their tickets to the show or already amid preparations. Weinberger, who serves as one of the busiest judges in the league, took a breather to offer insight on many of the top contenders targeting gold in November.
Steve Weinberger Breaks Down Physiques of Hadi Choopan, Big Ramy, Samson Dauda, Andrew Jacked: “Previous Doesn’t Mean Anything”
Weinberger first clarified that athletes aren’t judged based on the physiques they brought to previous contests.
“Absolutely not, they can look great a year ago, it matters what you look like on that date at that moment. Previous doesn’t mean anything. Look at Big Ramy, look at what happened there at the Olympia, it does not matter. You can look like shit next week or that week but on that day if you look good, you’re good to go,” Steve Weinberger said.
He explained that Choopan had a ‘few problems’ with his physique in 2021 compared to last year when he presented his most complete package to date.
“In 2021, he [Hadi Choopan] had a few problems with his physique. He was harder in 2021, but he was a more complete package in 2022. He had a couple of problems in 2021, you know what they were.”
Given Ramy’s last two performances, Steve Weinberger says it would be best if the Egyptian native took some time off. While he doesn’t believe Ramy is finished, he shared that the former champ’s shoulders, arms, and back need improvements. In addition, he underlined that Ramy’s oversized legs are disproportionate to the rest of his body.
“He was here all week training. We had a talk right after the Olympia, we had a talk even during this last previous week. I think he might need a break honestly and he needs to leave his legs alone. His legs are way out of proportion. His back still has to come up and his shoulders and arms… look like they deflated a little bit. He really did not look good in Pittsburgh. I think he might need some time honestly. Maybe a year to step away. I don’t think he’s done. I think he needs a break, I really do,” Weinberger said.
Dennis James said Ramy took a break from training recently following a stem cell treatment. Weinberger suggested Ramy take a break from dieting and ‘hardcore’ training in the meantime. A few weeks ago, Ramy shared that he was training ‘angry’ and focused on winning back his title.
“I asked him and said ‘Are you going to do the Olympia this year?’ He said, ‘I don’t know, I have to stop training, I start training again in two weeks’ when they allow him to start training and he’ll see how his body responds” Dennis James said.
“He might need a break honestly,” suggested Weinberger. “Like I mean, not dieting, hardcore training, put that mask back on and then bring it back down. More than two months I mean. Because if he’s getting ready for the Olympia now, what’s he got, three months to really train, and then he has to start his diet.”
“He can’t take it easy. He’s got to train his ass off for a year. I don’t mean sit by the pool and have a margarita, I mean get in the gym and bust ass,” added Weinberger.
Even though many in the community thought Ramy improved at the 2023 Arnold Classic, Steve said Ramy looked the same or worse. Similar to Mr. Olympia, Steve thought Ramy’s size ‘was gone’ in Ohio.
“He didn’t really look any better at the Arnold to tell you the truth. I don’t think so, no. It was also different guys too but I don’t think he looked better,” said Weinberger. “His size was gone too. I didn’t think he was [bigger] at the Arnold. The legs are always big. The legs are never a problem for Ramy. He doesn’t even have to train Ramy. I’m talking about his upper body.”
Steve Weinberger is convinced the sport won’t see another highly-dominant Mr. Olympia again like Ronnie Coleman.
“Those days are over. I don’t think we’re ever going to see an eight-time Mr. Olympia again or a seven-time or even a six-time, I could be wrong but I don’t see it. There’s no one I see that’s dominating that’s going to dominate like that.”
Lastly, Weinberger laid out paths to Mr. Olympia victories for Samson Dauda and Andrew Jacked. He predicted Dauda will break into the top three in November with back improvements.
“He has to really keep this same size, improve the back and dial it in just a little bit harder. He has Mr. Olympia potential. I would be surprised if he wasn’t a runner for the top three, including one, second and third. He really just needs to pick [up] that back.”
“He [Samson Dauda] needs conditioning and more back,” added Weinberger. “Great hamstrings. Great shape. At Pittsburgh he wasn’t sloppy, he was pretty good. Absolutely, he’s got a beautiful body and a lot of muscle.”
As for Jacked, Weinberger said he’ll be in the running for gold once he brings up his lower body.
“Andrew Jacked’s got to build those legs up. He’s got the frame to do it but that lower half has to get built. If he had legs like Ramy, I don’t know what would happen. The Arnold he was flat”
Despite his success in the IFBB Pro League recently, Andrew Jacked has yet to earn an invite to the Mr. Olympia contest taking place Nov. 2-5 in Orlando, Florida. Jacked is currently preparing for his first title defense at the 2023 Texas Pro, which is coming up in August.
The Mr. Olympia contest is always a thrilling spectacle for fans, who are eager to see if Choopan can defend his title. As Steve Weinberger points out, becoming a dominant reigning Mr. Olympia champion is no easy feat.
RELATED: Big Ramy Says He’s Training ‘Angry,’ & Working Harder Than Anybody for 2023 Mr. Olympia
You can watch the full YouTube video from the Muscle and Fitness channel below:
Published: 29 May, 2023 | 12:10 PM EDT
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