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.

However, every Olympia can present a surprise, such as a new contender making the most of their first contest berth. Even if they don’t win the whole thing, a result near the top while toppling some usual mainstays still more than qualifies as a sterling performance. Here are five dark horses who might thrive at the 2022 Mr. Olympia and shock the bodybuilding world on Dec. 16-18, 2022.

This 2022 Olympia dark horse list is not short on diversity, especially in competitive backgrounds. It has a former champion, albeit in a different division. It has respective young, ascending stars looking to make their mark. It even has an athlete who made a late push to qualify but seems more than ready to maximize his golden opportunity. It is in no particular order as a highlight of those potentially overlooked at the contest but who probably shouldn’t be.

Blessing Awodibu

Per NPC News Online, Awodibu is relatively new to the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Pro League competitive circuit. In his debut year in 2021, he took home third place at the Indy Pro and finished sixth at the New York Pro. He improved upon those results by winning the 2022 iteration of the Indy Pro outright to qualify for his first-ever Olympia.

Awodibu himself certainly hasn’t shied away from taking cues from those who have been there and done that. The most notable example might be when he trained with seven-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath (2011-2017), putting his arms through the wringer. Meanwhile, Coleman has cited Awodibu as someone with the necessary aesthetic to shine in a debut performance.

It’ll be a potentially tall order to actually capture the Olympia title, but a stellar top-five placing isn’t out of the question for the Irish athlete.

Michal “Krizo” Križánek

Another newcomer, Krizo made headlines during the 2022 calendar year for his summer transition from the IFBB Elite Pro League to the IFBB Pro League division. He had set his ambitions on a quick turnaround to qualifying for the 2022 Olympia and didn’t fall short. The Slovakian competitor succeeded with his goals when he earned his Pro Card at the 2022 Amateur Olympia Italy and then got a place in the Olympia by winning the 2022 EVLS Prague Pro.

Unlike Awodibu, Coleman previously asserted that Krizo still has a lot of ground to make up with his physique despite some “great arms.” Though, from a glance, his ripped body still resembles someone who could make some noise in a first appearance.

Samson Dauda

As someone with a little more IFBB Pro League seasoning, Dauda has been knocking on the Olympia doorstep for some time. The 2022 edition of the contest will mark his debut after roughly five years in this competitive bodybuilding circuit. Dauda can boast a recent host of podium finishes like a second-place result in the 2021 Romania Muscle Fest Pro and the 2021 Yamamoto Cup Pro.

Dauda may have really burst onto the scene when he took home fourth place at the 2022 Arnold Classic. Given that established powerhouses like 2019 Olympia champion Brandon Curry and perennial Olympia contender William Bonac were some names who finished above Dauda, the result undoubtedly furled some eyebrows.

The British athlete will look to turn even more heads at the Olympia.

Andrew Jacked

Some view Chinedu Andrew Obiekea, a.k.a. “Andrew Jacked,” as the latest phenom in bodybuilding, and they might not be wrong. The Nigerian athlete exploded onto the scene in 2022, winning both the 2022 Texas Pro and the 2022 Arnold Classic UK. Such performances drew rave reviews from four-time Arnold Classic champion (1993, 1997, 1998, 2000) Ken “Flex” Wheeler, who previously noted that Jacked’s general lack of “mileage” puts him in an advantageous position compared to his peers.

Entering the 2022 Olympia, Jacked will likely be riding a wave of hype. He may even live up to that simmering reputation underneath.

Derek Lunsford

Amidst all the newcomers and Olympia rookies, Lunsford seems to be sitting pretty as his first-ever Men’s Open appearance unfolds. After gaining more weight and muscle than he expected, the former 212 Olympia champion (2021) formally transitioned to the division in September 2022 and seemingly hasn’t looked back.

Coming from the 212 division, Lunsford will have to contend with a host of competitors who weigh 260 pounds and above. As the Olympia M.C. Bob Chicarello stated at the Dec. 15, 2022, Olympia press conference, Elssbiay will likely weigh 300 pounds on stage. That’s a lot of mass to contend with. However, if anyone has the pedigree and experience to not only get a top-five result but potentially win it all, it’s Lunsford.

The athlete has previously discussed the raw emotions behind competing on stage at the Olympia. Aside from the expected butterflies of any professional athlete, it doesn’t sound like this dynamo will be intimidated by the new obstacle on his plate in the least.

Anything is Possible

While heavy favorites like Elssbiay will likely shine, the 2022 Olympia is bound to surprise with a few up-and-comers. Any number of these dark horses could soon become household names in a stacked field. Fans can keep up with all the action by purchasing a pay-per-view premium package for $69.99 at the Olympia website — www.olympiaproductions.com.

Featured image: @dereklunsford_ on Instagram

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