While Ruffin faces an uphill battle to beat out four-time champion Chris Bumstead, he took a step in the right direction by teaming up with someone who’s reached the top of the mountain before: Brandon Curry. Ruffin shared highlights of his delt-focused training session with the 2019 Mr. Olympia Men’s Open champion in a vlog posted on his YouTube channel on Oct. 4, 2023.

With both bodybuilders looking to bounce back from disappointing showings at the 2022 Mr. Olympia contest (Curry finished fourth in the Men’s Open while Ruffin finished sixth in Classic Physique), the session included both muscle-building exercises and insightful discussions that show the physical and mental toughness it takes to compete at the highest level.

After a quick greeting, their workout begins at the :20 mark of the video.

Single-Arm Bent-Over Cable Lateral Raise

Curry started the shoulder-based session with bent-over cable lateral raises. Maintaining a neutral spine and a slight bend in his knees, he emphasized staying as long as possible with his arm during the movement. After performing several warm-up sets on each side, Ruffin and his workout partner ramped up the intensity.

Trainer Amer Kamra pushed both bodybuilders to complete sets of 15 reps, providing some assistance to maintain a full sweeping motion. During this first exercise, Curry highlighted how most delt movements don’t put a full stretch on the muscle, which limits muscle growth potential. At one point, Kamra had Ruffin go with a lighter load — a programming decision he expounded upon later in the workout.

“We start with rear delts: two warm-up sets, then we go two top sets,” Kamra explained. “If he didn’t get the first top set, we reduce the weight and we go back-off sets.”

Single-Arm Rear Delt Machine

After using cables for their first exercise, Curry and Ruffin moved on to the rear delt machine. Rather than sitting with their chest against the pad, the bodybuilders sat sideways, which provided more range of motion to build what Kamra described as “3D” shoulders.

Ruffin’s muscular endurance was put to the test during this time. He completed sets ranging between 12-15 reps that pushed him to stretch and contract his rear delts until the point of near-failure.

Lateral Raise Machine

Next, the Olympia-bound duo targeted their side delts on the lateral raise machine. Curry’s sculptured shoulders particularly popped during this exercise.

However, even the former Mr. Olympia winner faced the painful reality of repeatedly performing lateral raises when he finished one of his sets and quickly leaned on a nearby machine to catch his breath. Ruffin wrapped up with a final set that clearly taxed his side delts and traps.

Seated Shoulder Press

As the group transitioned to the plate-loaded shoulder press machine, Kamra let Curry and Ruffin know they would have to perform three “normal” sets, followed by a drop set. Starting with a 20-kilogram plate on each side, the IFBB pros progressed through several sets of this prime shoulder-building exercise.

Ruffin got a bit of a rude awakening from this part of the workout. After completing 12 reps with 35 kilos loaded on each side, he followed up with a drop set that left him humbled, to say the least.

“First day back and they’re whipping my ass,” Ruffin said.

Curry showcased his impressive combination of strength and stamina by working with a significantly heavier load to wrap up this part of the session. Kamra pushed the Nashville native to complete 15 reps with what appeared to be 90 kilograms loaded on each side, followed by a drop set of 12 reps with 40 kilograms.

Cable Rope Front Raise

Going back to the cables for rope front raises gave Curry and Ruffin another chance to round out their shoulders. In addition, it provided them an opportunity to talk about life away from bodybuilding. Working at a more relaxed pace, they completed rounds of this front delt-focused movement while discussing the how to achieve a balance between bodybuilding and being present for family and other obligations.

“The more you can keep an understanding that these struggle times are going to come, we live in reality, let’s try to plan appropriately,” the 40-year-old Curry explained. “If you have these false expectations or this perfect reality that ain’t going to come, then that’s where you run into roadblocks.”

Kramer brought things back into focus by challenging the bodybuilders to work through five sets at a lighter weight before moving on to the last exercise.

Dumbbell Lateral Raise

The workout ended with a classic bodybuilding move: dumbbell lateral raises. Both Curry and Ruffin initially used lighter weights to achieve a huge upper-body pump. Kramer then had each man complete three straight sets of 10 reps with progressively heavier dumbbells.

Olympia-Level Shoulder Workout

If you’re aiming for that “boulder for shoulders” look, this workout will provide an excellent stimulus. Working in the 12-15 rep range and utilizing drop sets has the ability to deliver effective results, especially if you pair this type of training protocol with a muscle-building diet.

• Single-Arm Bent-Over Cable Lateral Raise
• Single-Arm Rear Delt Machine
• Lateral Raise Machine
• Seated Shoulder Press
• Cable Rope Front Raise
• Dumbbell Lateral Raise

Although their 2022 Olympia experience didn’t go as planned, Ruffin and Curry look poised to perform better when they step on stage at the Orange County Convention Center. After all, based on their post-workout posing session, both men boast impressive physiques that make them worthy contenders in their respective categories for the 2023 Mr. Olympia show.

Featured Image: Ruff Diesel / YouTube

The post Classic Physique Competitor Terrence Ruffin Trains Delts With Former Mr. Olympia Brandon Curry  appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On June 23, 2023, in one of the latest episodes of his podcast, Cutler broke down where he believes the current Men’s Open division stands before the onset of the 2023 Olympia this early November. To say the least, in a conversation with his manager Matthew M. Daniels, the icon maintained he has his eyes on a few familiar names and didn’t mince words about potential upstarts.

While Cutler didn’t offer specific thoughts on every prime Mr. Olympia competitor  — Nick Walker was mentioned in passing but not expanded upon — he did mostly touch every corner of the elite bodybuilders of the Men’s Open class. Here are some of Cutler’s thoughts on what’s sure to be a loaded Mr. Olympia stage in Orlando, FL:

Michal “Križo” Križánek

Cutler was impressed by Michal Križánek’s recent progress but still felt he hadn’t closed the gap enough on the other athletes.

“He [Križánek] was looking so paper thin, especially in the upper body,” Cutler said. “The arms are some of the best in the business, and it’s 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. I still feel like he’s still going to have trouble pushing the top spots at the [2023] Olympia.”

Derek Lunsford and Samson Dauda

To some, after his runner-up Mr. Olympia finish in 2022, Derek Lunsford is the next heir-apparent superstar in bodybuilding. Cutler seems to be one of those people. However, after a recent mutual training session, Cutler ensured he talked up 2023 Arnold Classic (AC) winner Samson Dauda as a possible Olympia champion in his own right.

“We just saw Derek [Lunsford] and Samson [Dauda], too,” Cutler said. “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, he’s the Arnold [Classic] winner. The question is if Derek would’ve done the Arnold [Classic], and we could keep talking about that.”

Hadi Choopan and Brandon Curry

Cutler believes that two established titans, Hadi Choopan and Brandon Curry, have somewhat been overlooked in the popular conversation. That might be a mistake for the defending Olympia champion (Choopan) and the 2019 victor (Curry).

“Contention-wise, Hadi’s [Choopan] been kind of shouting out ‘don’t forget about me,'” Cutler explained. “We’re also forgetting Brandon Curry.”

Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay

After falling short of a “three-peat” in his Olympia title defense, there have been rumblings that Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay could take a break from bodybuilding to recharge. The Egyptian dynamo has quelled these conversations, maintaining that he’s training “angry” for Olympia redemption in the fall. Cutler believes this is the right mentality to have because:

1. Elssbiay doesn’t have time to waste as he nears the age of 40 and
2. Cutler thinks that Elssbiay, at his best, can still win the Olympia.

“Ramy [Elssbiay] sounds like he’s going to come back and compete, which I’m all for,” Cutler said ” … The point is he [Elssbiay] 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. I hear 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 [2023] Arnold [Classic].”

Chinedu Obiekea aka “Andrew Jacked” and Hunter Labrada

Andrew Jacked finished on the podium at the 2023 AC and has already mapped out ambitious summer competitive plans as a way to qualify for the 2023 Olympia. Meanwhile, Hunter Labrada is in hot pursuit of his own Olympia redemption with a streamlined training plan.

Cutler said he liked the duo’s talent but colored his commentary as if he still needed to see more from both athletes.

“I hear great things about Andrew [Jacked], too,” Cutler stated. “The big showdown is going to be Texas [the 2023 Texas Pro]. There’s going to be other guys, too. I know there’s a lot of international shows, but that’s going to be, like, who’s not going to qualify there [in Texas]. Those two guys [Andrew Jacked and Hunter Labrada] need to be in the [Olympia] lineup because they’re people we’re talking about. The question is, can Andrew come and win the [2023] Olympia and shock the world?”

More than most years, the 2023 Mr. Olympia is starting to resemble a relentless gauntlet from which only a true champion of champions will come out victorious. If an icon like Cutler professes so, such a competitive reality feels inevitable.

Featured image: @hadi_choopan on Instagram

The post Jay Cutler Names 8 of His Favorite 2023 Mr. Olympia Contenders appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Jan. 12, 2023, the Arnold Sports Festival revealed that Walker would compete at the 2023 edition of the Arnold Classic. The contest is currently scheduled for Mar. 2-5, 2023, in Columbus, OH, where, unsurprisingly, several other established superstars already plan to gather. A stacked field likely won’t intimidate Walker, who seems to be on a determined mission to make it two vaunted AC titles in three years.

Walker’s AC return announcement came shortly after the Arnold Sports Festival announced that this year’s first-place prize money would be upped to $300,000 for the Men’s Open winner. That compensation is almost three times Walker’s victory winnings of $130,000 in 2021, partly signifying the tremendous rapid growth of the competition and its significance.

In a quick post on his Instagram, Walker tersely but efficiently elaborated on the news of his return to the AC. He shared a picture from his winning performance at the 2021 iteration with a caption of “run it back,” with obvious intentions of overcoming his elite peers on the Columbus, OH, stage again.

Walker will face no shortage of worthy challengers to etch his name as the Arnold Classic winner for the second time in three years.

For example, two-time winner William Bonac will seek his third career AC crown (2018, 2020), a feat only four other bodybuilders have accomplished in the contest’s 33-year history. At the same time, a newer ascending star like Samson Dauda will also be vying for the momentous championship. Other notable confirmed names so far include Kamal Elgargni and Akim Williams.

Notably, a group of relative newcomers in Derek Lunsford, Blessing Awodibu, and Michal “Križo” Križánek announced plans to skip the tentpole contest. Each of the three athletes made a distinction that they’d prefer to get some rest before focusing most of their efforts on an improved performance at the 2023 Olympia in November. Lunsford, in particular, as the 2022 runner-up in his Men’s Open debut, might have the most realistic chance of reaching those lofty goals.

At the time of this article’s publication, it is unclear if another two-time AC victor (2019, 2022) and the reigning champion, Brandon Curry, will come back to defend his title.

The 2023 Arnold Classic is already shaping up to be a battlefield if announcements like Walker’s expected appearance mean anything. With the new year up and rolling, March’s competition will likely be a memorable addition to bodybuilding lore.

Featured image: @nick_walker39 on Instagram

The post Nick Walker Will Return to 2023 Arnold Classic appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Jan. 12, 2023, the Arnold Sports Festival organizing body put out a press release on their website and posted to Instagram announcing the prize for winning the Men’s Open division at the 2023 AC will be $300,000. That is a $100,000 increase from the $200,000 reigning AC winner Brandon Curry took home in 2022. It builds on a significant increase from previous years when former champion Nick Walker won $130,000 after the 2021 iteration, and inches closer to the $400,000 top prize earned by Hadi Choopan after winning the 2022 Mr. Olympia.

In the press release, Arnold Schwarzenegger elaborated on the significance of the growth of the Arnold Classic.

“From the first time we hosted a bodybuilding championship in Columbus in 1976, my goal has been increasing the prize money to reward these fantastic athletes,” Schwarzenegger said. “I am excited to announce that this year’s winner of the Arnold Classic will win a record $300,000.”

As for who will travel to Ohio to vie for the newest AC title, a few past champions, big names, and up-and-comers highlight the Men’s Open. On Jan. 12, 2023, the organization revealed that Nick Walker would return to the 2023 AC and the contest that arguably first helped him build his sterling reputation in professional bodybuilding. Past winner (2018, 2020) William Bonac will also return to the Columbus stage. Meanwhile, two-time 212 Olympia winner Shaun Clarida (2020, 2022) will try to challenge both men. Other confirmed Men’s Open competitors include Samson Dauda, Kamal Elgargni, Justin Rodriguez, and Akim Williams.

Notably, a recent cadre of elite bodybuilders revealed they had either withdrawn or declined their invitations to the 2023 Arnold Classic. At the time of this writing, that group features the second-place finisher at the 2022 Mr. Olympia in Derek Lunsford, Blessing Awodibu, and Michal “Križo” Križánek.

As the 2023 competitive bodybuilding season develops, the 2023 Arnold Classic will undoubtedly be one of the first significant steps toward making it a year to remember. Eventually, one focused athlete with incredible mass and a ripped physique will have the great fortune of leaving Columbus, OH, $300,000 richer for their diligent efforts.

Featured Image: @nick_walker39 / Instagram

The post The 2023 Arnold Classic Increases Prize Money, Men’s Open Winner Receives $300,000 appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

The main event of bodybuilding’s flagship competition started with pre-judging on Friday, Dec. 17, 2022, and left the door open for quite the battle on the ensuing Saturday. Any number of other contenders like Nick Walker, Derek Lunsford, Hadi Choopan, and Hunter Labrada could make a name for themselves after initial results, and as they try to topple Elssbiay and Curry.

Here is how pre-judging went for the Men’s Open division at the 2022 Mr. Olympia:

Comparison 1

• Hadi Choopan
• Andrew Jacked
• Tonio Burton
• James Hollingshead
• Vladyslav Sukhoruchko
• Antoine Vaillant

Comparison 2

• Derek Lunsford
• William Bonac
• Vitor Boff
• Patrick Johnson
• Andrea Presti
• Charles Griffen

Comparison  3

• Iain Valliere
• Nick Walker
• Michael Krizanek
• Justin Rodriguez
• Mohamed Shaaban
• Akim Williams

Comparison 4

• Theo Leguerrier
• Brandon Curry
• Hunter Labrada
• Rafael Brandao
• Joel Thomas
• Mohammad Alnsoor

Comparison 5

• Blessing Awodibu
• Andrea Muzi
• Samson Dauda
• Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay

Eventually, the callouts over these respective comparisons shook out like this:

Callout 1

• Samson Dauda
• Brandon Curry
• Hadi Choopan
• Derek Lunsford
• Nick Walker
• Mamdouh Elssbiay

Callout 2

• Iain Valliere
• William Bonac
• Chinedu “Andrew Jacked” Obiekea
• Hunter Labrada
• Rafael Brandao
• Michael Krizanek

Callout 3 

• Antoine Vaillant
• James Hollingshead
• Patrick Johnson
• Charles Griffen
• Justin Rodriguez
• Akim Williams

Callout 4

• Tonio Burton
• Vladyslav Sukhoruchko
• Blessing Awodibu
• Joel Thomas
• Mohamed Shaaban
• Mohammad Alnsoor

Callout 5 

• Andrea Presti
• Vitor Boff
• Theo Leguerrier
• Andrea Muzi

Callout 6

• William Bonac
• Samson Dauda
• Hunter Labrada
• Chinedu “Andrew Jacked” Obiekea

Callout 7

• Samson Dauda
• Hadi Choopan
• Brandon Curry
• Nick Walker
• Derek Lunsford
• Mamdouh Elssbiay

Curry and Walker had the pleasure of coveted center position during their final callout. Meanwhile, Elssbiay never stood in the center on his first callout, which also included Curry, Choopan, Derek Lunsford, Samson Dauda, and Nick Walker. Ultimately, it is this group of six competitors sitting in a solid contending position for Saturday’s Finals.

Here is the entire schedule for the 2022 Olympia weekend. (Note: All listed times are in Pacific Standard time.) Here is how to watch and keep up with the action.

Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

9:00 a.m. — Pre-Judging

• Fitness Olympia
• 212 Olympia
• Figure Olympia
• Women’s Physique Olympia
• Ms. Olympia
• Wellness Olympia

6:00 p.m. — Finals

• 212 Olympia
• Fitness Olympia
• Figure Olympia
• Women’s Physique Olympia
• Ms. Olympia
• Wellness Olympia

6:00 p.m. — Mr. Olympia Pre-Judging

Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

9:00 a.m. — Pre-Judging

• Classic Physique Olympia
• Men’s Physique Olympia
• Bikini Olympia
• Wheelchair Olympia — Pre-Judging and Finals

7:00 p.m. — Finals

• Mr. Olympia
• Men’s Physique Olympia
• Bikini Olympia
• Classic Physique Olympia

Saturday night will officially sort out whether Elssbiay can join some all-time legendary company, whether Curry can put himself in the conversation of more esteemed icons, or whether an ascending Men’s Open star can capture their first Mr. Olympia title.

Featured image: @mrolympiallc/Instagram

The post 2022 Mr. Olympia Pre-Judging Report appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Nov. 28, 2022, during an appearance on a podcast with Fouad Abiad Media, Curry discussed expectations for the 2022 Olympia. In the process, while he wasn’t specific because he wanted to “keep things quiet,” the athlete noted that he weighed “above 260 pounds” at the time of the interview. Then, he broke down his outlook for the massive December contest.

For the most part, Curry has kept his nose to the grindstone in recent months. After winning the 2022 Arnold Classic in March, it seems apparent the star bodybuilder kept his head down, honing his physique through strength-building and nutrition.

After revealing his approximate body weight, Curry outlined who he thinks will finish in the top 10. Unsurprisingly, the athlete has himself winning for the second time in four years in Las Vegas.

Brandon Curry | 2022 Mr. Olympia Top 10 Prediction

1. Brandon Curry
2. Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay
3. William Bonac
4. Hadi Choopan
5. Rafael Brandao
6. Michal Križánek
7. Chinedu Andrew “Jacked” Obiekea
8. Samson Dauda
9. Hunter Labrada
10. Nick Walker

While he has questions about his overall conditioning, Curry appears to be a fan of debuting Olympia competitor Križánek, in particular. The seasoned Olympia athlete believes Križánek brings enough to the table with other aspects of his body to shine.

“He’s [Križánek] so new, he’s a big guy,” Curry explained. “I think he’s got to get his conditioning better for this show, and he’s going to make an impact this year …  I think his conditioning is going to be better by the Olympia. I mean, he’s been dieting for how long? I think the separation in his legs and the shape is going to carry him enough.”

As for his honesty about athletes like Walker — who enters the 2022 Olympia riding a wave of hype — Curry thinks “The Mutant” hasn’t improved enough from his fifth-place debut at the 2021 iteration.

“To me, he [Walker] looks similar to last year’s pre-tanner,” Curry said. “[When] you put the tanner on him, I think he’ll look similar to last year. I don’t think there’s a dramatic difference. I know he’s going to be hard and conditioned.”

Ultimately, Curry thinks comparisons to Walker’s on-stage competitors will be a significant challenge to his Olympia chances.

“His [Walker] thing is, how many comparisons are they going to put him through?” Curry maintained. “That’s going to be the Achilles heel for him. I think the more comparisons he [Walker] has to go through, the more he’ll start to fade.”

With roughly only two weeks to go before the 2022 Olympia at the time of this writing, Curry will soon unveil the physique he’s been keeping under wraps. Whether he makes good on his predictions — especially in capturing a second career Olympia title — is something the bodybuilding world will only know when this former champion returns to the stage.

Featured image: @brandon__curry on Instagram

The post Brandon Curry Weighs Over 260 Pounds, Predicts Another Olympia Victory appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

In an Oct. 19, 2022, episode of “The Ronline Report” with Muscular Development, eight-time Mr. Olympia (1984-1991) Lee Haney discussed the upcoming Olympia contest, being held on Dec. 16-18, 2022, in Las Vegas, NV. One the more notable tidbits concerned how Haney sees Elssbiay as a massive (no pun intended) favorite for the prestigious event.

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One of the main reasons that Haney sees Elssbiay performing better than ever on the 2022 Olympia stage is his training. Haney thinks Elssbiay is accumulating mass at a higher level and credits a dedicated coaching staff for pushing the champion. Among that staff is 1989 Mr. Universe Miloš Šarčev, who notably takes a lot of his time coaching many rising bodybuilders.

“I’ve been checking him [Elssbiay] out on Instagram,” Haney said.  “And man, he’s got Dennis James working with him now. Listen, when it comes to training and know-how, it’s hard to get better than Dennis. You got Dennis, [Chris] Cormier, Miloš [Šarčev], and of course, Charles Glass. It’s hard to get beyond them.”

For Haney, Elssbiay’s team of proficient experts is a major potential boon to continued success, even with his past standard of excellence.

“When you got somebody like that working in your corner that’s been there done that, you can’t get around that,” Haney explained. “These are not just coaches. These are seasoned legendary Olympians. When they put a routine to you, put a meal plan to you, it’s right on spot. So, I think Ramy [Elssbiay] will come in better than he was last year.”

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To Haney, Elssbiay’s prospects for another Olympia title appear to be a cut above the rest of his peers. When the legendary bodybuilder discussed other athletes who could potentially dethrone Elssbiay — like 2019 Olympia winner Brandon Curry, for example — he made a lofty comparison to the past exploits of Coleman.

“Well, the one that I see that’s got the shape and mass combination, but he’s got to come in there sliced and diced is Brandon Curry. You gotta be sliced and diced,” Haney clarified. “Nobody out there that is like that. Ramy [Elssbiay] is cut from a different cloth, just like Ronnie [Coleman] was. What you gotta do is out-pretty Ramy.”

For Haney to compare Elssbiay to Coleman, who won eight consecutive Mr. Olympia titles from 1998-2005, is significant. Though, with two Olympia titles and (potentially) counting, Elssbiay very well might live up to such a high standard. If two bodybuilding all-timers like Haney and Coleman think that Elssbiay is at that rare level of performance, then it might only be a matter of time before he’s reaffirming their keen experience on stage.

Featured image: @big_ramy on Instagram

The post Bodybuilding Icon Lee Haney Compares Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay to Ronnie Coleman at Peak of His Powers appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

In an Oct. 17, 2022, episode of the Real Talk With Ares podcast on YouTube, Walker hopped on the show to discuss his future and goals as a bodybuilder. In the process, Walker maintained that he plans to rise to the top of the sport as an all-time great. At the same time, he knows that he has some worthy battles ahead.

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Before he discussed what might lie ahead in the years to come, Walker described what he feels is a loaded field at the 2022 Mr. Olympia. To the athlete, it’s not just two-time reigning champion Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay that the bodybuilding sphere should keep an eye on in Las Vegas, NV, on Dec. 16-18, 2022.

In fact, he thinks the entire placing of the 2021 edition of the Olympia might be due for a shake-up.

“This is the Olympia of all Olympias right now,” Walker explained.  “I’ll tell you this, as confident as I am, I’ll always be confident, but this is not going to be easy for anyone. That’s just reality here. I don’t think anyone’s placing from last year is safe for this year. Of course, we have the heavy hitters, but you also have some dark knights that can rise and shock the world.”

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Naturally, Walker outlined, in detail, who he thinks can be “dark knights” in Las Vegas this December. One of them is the 212 Olympia champion from 2021 in Derek Lunsford — who recently made the official transition to the Men’s Open division. Though, Walker also seems to appreciate the talents of Samson Dauda, Hunter Labrada, and Hadi Choopan.

“Now, I see Derek [Lunsford] every day pretty much,” Walker started. “Let me tell you something. If that dude nails it, no one is safe. You have Samson [Dauda], he nails it, and no one is safe. You got Hunter [Labrada], who’s looking mighty large. You got Hadi [Choopan], of course.

Walker would save his final praise for the top-two finishers from 2021, two titans/champions of bodybuilding — Elssbiay and Brandon Curry.

“[There’s] Brandon [Curry]; we don’t know what to expect from him, but Brandon is always Brandon, right?” Walker exclaims. “Then Ramy [Elssbiay], who looks like he’s already got the cheekbones popping. He’s ready to go. This is going to be one of those Olympias where you have to be [expletive] peeled and ready and full. This is that show where they say, ‘You’re not going to nail your peak every show.’ Well, this is one you got to nail. This is the one.”

[Related: How to Do the Inverted Row — Benefits, Variations, and More]

As for his personal future, Walker is aiming high. Few bodybuilders have enjoyed such stellar debut seasons as Walker. After forgoing a defense of his title at the 2022 Arnold Classic to focus exclusively on December’s Olympia, it seems Walker is treating that initial flourish like a first step.

Depending on how he fares at the 2022 Olympia, the athlete even alludes to a reality where he could try to stack more Arnold Classic titles again.

“I didn’t compete all year last year … that did take a large toll,” Walker said. “But now that I’m only doing one show, like I said, I’ll see how I feel. If I do really well at the [2022] Olympia, and I’m running off a high, I’ll go do the Arnold [in 2023]. If things don’t go the way I planned and I’m just not in it, I’m going to take a break. It’s all going to depend on how I feel.”

Walker seems to understand a rare position he’s in. He’s limiting his number of competitions per year for one good reason — he’s trying to build a lasting legacy on the back of bodybuilding’s most prestigious events.

“… I want to win as many Arnolds and Olympias as I can. At this point in my career, I don’t want to compete all year long. I want to do the top two big shows … Then, when I’m ready to call it for my career, I’m ready. But I want to do it on my terms. If I win one Olympia and two Arnolds, that’s going to be remembered forever.”

Featured image: @nick_walker39 on Instagram

The post Nick Walker Thinks 2022 Mr. Olympia Will Be a Gauntlet, Wants to Be “Remembered Forever” appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Oct. 13, 2022, Lunsford uploaded a video to his YouTube where he candidly discusses what it feels like before he steps onto a major bodybuilding stage. For an athlete judged by the minute details of his mass and physique, it’s a valuable perspective and, on a human level — it’s a relatable one.

[Related: 4 Workouts with a Single Dumbbell for Muscle, Fat Loss, and More]

Lunsford’s discussion about his feelings on competition happened amidst a Q&A during one of his usual training sessions. When a question about his potential nervousness came up, the bodybuilder said it was not so black and white. Rather than be wholly frozen with anxiety, the athlete maintained that any stress he feels comes mixed with healthy excitement.

Any nerves Lunsford does feel also aren’t necessarily prevalent once he steps on stage. The pomp and frill around the general moment seem to be what conjure any butterflies in his stomach.

“It’s more the build-up, the anticipation backstage,” Lunsford clarifies. “They call your name, division. [You] start getting pumped up, touch up tans, and then wait for 30-45 minutes.”

In that waiting time, before the lights come on and before he’s judged closely, Lunsford said it might be easy to overthink matters and get in his own head. Still, he knows some things are just out of his control. With that knowledge in hand, he tries to stay even-keeled and in a calm mindset about his prospects.

“It’s going to be what it’s going to be,” Lunsford explained. “I don’t get nervous about people watching. I just want to know … when I’m on stage, I’m giving my best.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Derek Lunsford (@dereklunsford_)

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What Lunsford appears to actually struggle with is public speaking. The bodybuilder said he’s better at it now than he used to be, but it’s still not necessarily a duty he relishes as a public-facing figure and one of the biggest names in his sport.

“I was so nervous talking in front of people,” Lunsford said of his early competitive days. “My palms would get sweaty, I was just really nervous … You’re pretty much obligated because you’re a public figure. You need to be able to talk in front of people.”

“I just kept doing it and kept doing it and kept doing it. I kept making myself [speak on stage] even when I didn’t have to do it and I didn’t want to do it. […] I still am not super comfortable with it, but I’ve gotten better. I’m not saying I’m getting better at giving speeches, I’m saying I’m better at not being so nervous about it.”

Lunsford might have another significant public-speaking task ahead of him. The athlete is transitioning to the Men’s Open division at the 2022 Mr. Olympia, where he’ll try to topple respective titans like two-time reigning champion Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay, Brandon Curry, and Nick Walker. Should he succeed, the bodybuilding world will see Lunsford’s growth in front of a microphone and an audience firsthand.

Featured image: @dereklunsford_ on Instagram

The post Derek Lunsford Shares the Emotions Behind Competing at the Mr. Olympia appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Oct. 10, 2022, Coleman uploaded a video to his YouTube channel where he breaks down who he feels are the top contenders for this year’s Olympia title. In a stacked field, Coleman centers on two-time reigning champ Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay as his overall winner. Still, he offers thoughtful insights on everyone trying to topple the massive Egyptian athlete.

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Using accompanying photos while he spoke, Coleman shared his thoughts on some of the more prominent contenders for the 2022 Mr. Olympia title.

Nick Walker

To Coleman, Walker has the necessary physique to win the Olympia but has to slightly refine aspects of his physical conditioning first.

“He’s [Walker] got great shoulders and great arms,” Coleman said. “As far as his chest, he’s got a decent-sized chest, it just needs to be a little bit wider. For the most part, he needs to work on his conditioning, and he’s going to do pretty good against these current competitors.”

Hunter Labrada

Coleman appreciates Labrada’s overall build but thinks his current v-taper and back muscles need work for the athlete to be a serious contender.

“I think once he [Labrada] gets his separation going, once he works on his hamstrings, he’ll have some nice hamstrings,” Coleman said. “But for the most part, he got a pretty good wide back, but he probably needs to be just a little bit wider because his v-taper isn’t all that good right now.”

Blessing Awodibu

For Coleman, Awodibu has the necessary aesthetic to stand out, but he needs more polish on his arms and legs.

“He’s [Awodibu] got great ab shots and a great side serratus shot,” Coleman clarified. “He probably needs more separation in his legs from the front there. A lot of trap work. His traps aren’t too good right here, but I think if he can get his traps up, get some roundness on his arms, and a little bit more separation on his legs, then he’d be pretty good.”

 

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Michal Križánek

Križánek might have recently earned his International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Pro Card, but Coleman still thinks the ascending athlete has a lot of ground to make up.

“Križánek’s got some freaky arms,” Coleman said. “A nice and big chest, but he needs some width on it, I’d say. I don’t see a lot of width on his back. That’s not a good backshot. He doesn’t have a v-taper going. Now, I see, he has great arms, though. But they are kind of throwing off his physique.”

Hadi Choopan

After years of finishing near the top, Coleman thinks Choopan is potentially on the brink of Olympia greatness.

“Hadi [Choopan], I see great things ahead for him,” Coleman maintained. “This guy can probably win the Olympia once he puts it all together. He’s not that far off at all. Hadi .. keep it up, my man.”

Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay

Coleman did not mince his words in praise of Elssbiay. He already considered the superstar an Olympia fixture in the years to come and continued down that same path here.

“With all this size, and the great v-taper he’s [Elssbiay] got, and the biggest shoulders you’ve ever wanted to see, I don’t see nobody taking him out, nobody at all,” Coleman noted. “So, Big Ramy, congrats on your third Olympia, my friend. I think you’re going to take it again.”

 

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William Bonac

To Coleman, Bonac is one of the true dark horses at the 2022 Mr. Olympia. He believes that with a little polish here and there, Bonac could make noise on stage.

“This guy [Bonac] could be unstoppable,” Coleman said. “He’s got nice peaks from the backs on his arms, he’s got a good Christmas tree, and he’s got a nice wide back. Yeah, I think he can do some real damage.”

Chinedu Andrew Obieaka, aka “Andrew Jacked”

While Coleman thinks Jacked can be a force in bodybuilding, the legend made it seem as if the young phenom needs a little more time before he’s at the top of the Olympia mountain.

“Andrew [Jacked] has a nice physique going,” Coleman said. “He’s got nice arms on him. The only thing I can tell he needs to work on is his back. That comes in time. As you can see, he’s got a nice backshot. You get that bad boy separated and a little bit thicker in his upper back, and he will be hard to beat. He’d probably kill these guys in these Open shows they got.”

To close the video, Coleman made his official prediction for the top 10 at the Mr. Olympia, with Elssbiay sitting on top:

Ronnie Coleman | 2022 Mr. Olympia Top 10 Prediction

1. Mamdouh Elssbiay
2. Brandon Curry
3. Hadi Choopan
4. William Bonac
5. Nick Walker
6. Michal Križánek
7. Chinedu Andrew Obieaka
8. Hunter Labrada
9. Blessing Awodibu
10. *Shaun Clarida

*Note: Clarida, winner of the 212 Olympia in 2020 and consistent top-placing competitor in the 212 division, has not confirmed if he would compete in the Open division at the time of this writing.

 

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Whether anyone can beat Elssbiay and prevent his potential three-peat remains to be seen. Even if Coleman doesn’t see it happening, the Mr. Olympia should be a fascinating competition this late fall.

The 2022 Mr. Olympia will take place on Dec. 16-18, 2022, in Las Vegas, NV.

Featured image: @big_ramy on Instagram

The post Ronnie Coleman Breaks Down 2022 Mr. Olympia Contenders, Predicts “Big Ramy” Win appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Sept. 22, 2022, Elssbiay shared an Instagram post where he weighs is 337.7 pounds. According to his post’s caption, they are the “last pictures” before he starts his “contest diet” for the 2022 Mr. Olympia. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Since 2016, Elssbiay has centered his focus on the Mr. Olympia. According to NPC News Online, he’s competed mainly in the Olympia — occasionally guest-posing appearing at the 2020 Arnold Sports Festival, where he placed third.

Should Elssbiay, who won the Olympia in 2020 and 2021, win his third straight Mr. Olympia title, he will enter exclusive club in the sport of bodybuilding. The only competitors to ever win the Mr. Olympia on at least three consecutive occasions are Arnold Schwarzenegger (1970-1973), Frank Zane (1977-1979), Lee Haney (1984-1991), Dorian Yates (1992-1997), Ronnie Coleman (1998-2005), and Phil Heath (2011-2017).

Elssbiay’s final physique update for the 2022 competitive season is only a small change weight-wise from when he weighed in at 336 pounds in early August 2022. That weight update drew reactions from around the bodybuilding world. One of the more memorable impressions was from fifth-place finisher in 2021 Nick Walker, who will attempt to challenge Elssbiay’s title in December. 

In an August 13, 2022, appearance on the Fouad Abiad Media YouTube channel, Walker noted that “if he [Elssbiay] comes in shredded, he’s probably going to win again.” At the same time, Walker maintained that he thinks it could be a “good battle” between himself and Elssbiay. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Walker isn’t the only one Elssbiay will have to topple to make Olympia history. 

A who’s who group of elite competitors in the Men’s Open division features former winner Brandon Curry (2019), perennial contender Hadi Choopan, and ascending star Hunter Labrada. Reigning 212 champion Derek Lunsford will also join the Men’s Open division, potentially further adding to an already stacked field of top-notch athletes. (Note: Elssbiay, Curry, Choopan, Labrada, and Walker comprised the respective top-five at the 2021 edition of the Olympia.)

It won’t be an easy task for Elssbiay to take his ripped physique and enter a special pantheon of all-time greats with a third consecutive Olympia win. Though, those who make history rarely do so without overcoming challenging obstacles. 

Featured image: @big_ramy on Instagram

The post Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay Weighs 337 Pounds in Final Update of Off-Season appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Sept. 19, 2022, a video of their discussion was posted to Rambod’s YouTube channel. 

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According to Lunsford and Rambod, the pair initially thought of shifting the bodybuilder to the Men’s Open division in May 2022. After the athlete had guest-posed — and held his own — at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro alongside names like two-time reigning Mr. Olympia Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay, Nick Walker, Brandon Curry, and Hunter Labrada, Lunsford and Rambod began to consider the possibility. 

Notably, Rambod had concerns that Lunsford wouldn’t be able to make weight for the 212 category again. When Chief Olympia Officer Dan Solomon suggested that Lunsford was “nowhere near 212 pounds” in a July episode of Olympia TV on YouTube, the writing might have been on the wall for Lunsford’s eventual special invitation.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

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To explain his rationale behind moving to the Men’s Open, Lunsford maintains that he had a desire to keep building mass.

“I could just feel my body wanting to grow,” said Lunsford. “After earning the 212 Mr. Olympia title last year [2021], I took a break for a little bit, but I just wanted to keep getting better every single day. For me, it was like we achieved something, and now I want to see how much better I can be. So, I just didn’t want to stop.”

In the aftermath of his 212 Olympia victory, Lunsford noted that he kept training hard and gaining weight no matter what he did to mitigate the growth.

“After the Olympia, I kept training, eating clean, doing cardio, and feeling good, but I started to gain weight,” Lunsford said. “I tried to keep my weight under 240 pounds, and if we could max out at 240, we’d be good.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Lunsford and Rambod know they’ll face tough sledding in a competitive division with Elssbiay, Walker, Labrada, and Curry. To prepare for the slate of elite peers, Rambod clarified the bodybuilder’s next steps, which will focus a lot on preparing his upper body. 

“For him [Lunsford], it’s going to be about his back, his chest, his shoulders, his arms, and continuing to grow his outer sweep,” Rambod said. “His legs are going to look stronger now.”

As for why Lunsford ultimately wanted to move up to the Men’s Open, weight fluctuation wasn’t the only reason per Rambod. The answer is simple — Lunsford wants to be in the company of all-time greats.

“Derek [Lunsford] wanted to win the Sandow Trophy [in the Open division] and be like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lee Haney, Jay Cutler, Phil Heath — all of them,” Rambod said. “It’s about what your end goal is and what your dream of winning is.”

If Lunsford were to win the Mr. Olympia, he’d be the first man to win two Sandows in two Olympia divisions. The 2022 Mr. Olympia is set to occur in Las Vegas, NV, from December 16-18, 2022. 

Featured image: @dereklunsford on Instagram

The post Derek Lunsford, Hany Rambod Break Down His Transition to Men’s Open at 2022 Mr. Olympia appeared first on Breaking Muscle.