On July 6, 2023, during a conversation with Jay Cutler on Cutler’s YouTube channel, Šarčev maintained that he thinks defending Mr. Olympia champion Hadi Choopan and the 2022 runner-up, Derek Lunsford, are the two favorites for the 2023 edition of the contest. The discussion picks up toward the end of the video below around 1:26:30.

After waiting for years but never quite breaking through, the seasoned Choopan might be on the brink of an Olympia dynasty. That is unless, per Šarčev, Lunsford, or even 2023 Arnold Classic (AC) winner Samson Dauda (as a dark horse) have something to say about it.

“Derek [Lunsford] and Hadi [Choopan] are frontrunners,” Šarčev said. “Samson [Dauda] is going to the [2023 Mr. Olympia] show to win and will do everything possible for him to win.”

If Choopan does indeed repeat as Mr. Olympia champion in November in Orlando, FL, he will put himself within striking distance of a legendary “three-peat.” According to Šarčev, Choopan may very well become the first Men’s Open athlete since Phil Heath (2011-2017) to win the Mr. Olympia on at least three consecutive occasions.

“I have all the respect for Hadi [Choopan],” Šarčev said. “Hadi [Choopan] could be three times the Mr. Olympia.”

What was interesting about Šarčev’s analysis concerned Lunsford. Per the trainer, Lunsford is already in championship condition with a world-class back. It’s the other poses — particularly any featuring the sides — that may determine whether the star athlete can unseat Choopan from his fitness throne.

“Derek [Lunsford] would be already the Mr. Olympia if it was judged from the back,” Šarčev explained. “He [Lunsford] lost from the side a little bit. And when you think front, front double biceps, front lat spread, he’s super dangerous because then you can really see the definition and hardness on the chest on those two poses and he had a crazy v-taper so you gotta give him. He has front double biceps, the front lat spread, he looks crazy in all these poses. He’s super dangerous. From the back, he’s phenomenal. The other poses, he can be beaten. Can he be beaten in other poses convincingly enough? That remains to be seen. I still think Hadi Choopan is going to [win].”

At the time of this writing, the 2023 Mr. Olympia is just under four months away. A lot can change in that amount of time. Yet, if a keen and experienced eye like Šarčev is already seeing the forest for the trees, the latest Olympia really might come down to another epic battle between Choopan and Lunsford.

Featured image: @hadi_choopan on Instagram

The post Miloš Šarčev Thinks 2023 Mr. Olympia Is Between Hadi Choopan, Derek Lunsford appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Mar. 7, 2023, famed bodybuilding trainer Miloš Šarčev appeared on the Cutler Cast with Mr. Olympia icon Jay Cutler. The pair recapped the events of the AC which occurred just days earlier, and, naturally, they discussed Dauda’s standout performance. Šarčev and Cutler would eventually conclude that Dauda should be considered one of the top contenders for the 2023 Mr. Olympia title in early November.

Šarčev and Cutler could have chosen their words carefully. They could’ve treaded lightly around the potential Dauda presents. Instead, they gave the first-time AC winner a ringing Olympia endorsement. (Note: Dauda finished in sixth place at the 2022 iteration of the contest.)

Why? They view Dauda as a well-rounded, elite competitor who can topple anyone, including reigning Olympia champion Hadi Choopan and runner-up Derek Lunsford.

He’s [Dauda] the best combination of everything,” Šarčev said. “Can he beat Hadi [Choopan] and Derek [Lunsford]? Yes. Would his conditioning and size beat them at the [2023] Olympia? We’d have to see them lined up next to each other.“

Cutler would echo this sentiment from Šarčev, explaining that he thinks Dauda is starting to piece together how to prepare for an elite performance on stage. The four-time Mr. Olympia (2006-2007, 2009-2010) related it to his own career experience and put it plainly.

Dauda just has to refine small details moving forward.

“I think now you’ve figured the formula and it’s just working to get the skin a little thinner as you progress,” Cutler said. “It’s just routine now … you’re in that ‘click’ period and there’s a certain click period that people go through. I experienced this in my late 20s … I feel that his [Dauda] peak is a little delayed because of the experience and you’ve seen this crazy growth over the last year. But now, it’s just refinement of the skin thinning down a little bit better. Nothing else. Everything will improve. It’s all about just routine and training.”

After winning the 2023 AC, Dauda would write in an Instagram post that “it’s a dream come true.” There’s no telling what sorts of emotions would run through the competitor were he to win his first Olympia title in the same year. Though, if Cutler and Šarčev are correct in their evaluation, a second bigger dream might be fulfilled for Dauda on November 3-5, 2023, in Orlando, FL.

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• 7-Time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath Looks Jacked in New Training Video

Featured image: @samson__dauda on Instagram

The post Jay Cutler, Miloš Šarčev Paint Samson Dauda as a Top 2023 Mr. Olympia Contender appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Jan. 29, 2023, Elssbiay’s coach Dennis James discussed the bodybuilder’s chances of winning the 2023 AC in Columbus, OH. In a contest that will likely require Elssbiay to topple former AC champions like Nick Walker (2021) and William Bonac (2018, 2020), James maintained if Elssbiay shows up in top form, he’ll capture his first-ever AC title.

While breaking down the 2023 AC contenders, James spoke with fellow trainer Miloš Šarčev. Per the latter, overlooking Elssbiay at the Mar. 2-5, 2023 competition would be a mistake.

“Big Ramy [Elssbiay] slipped from first from fifth [at the 2022 Mr. Olympia] and Nick Walker was in third, his highest placing,” Šarčev said. “Obviously going into the Arnold [Classic], you would assume the highest-placing Olympian would be the favorite. But how do you ignore Big Ramy, who was a two-time [Olympia] champion? Okay, he slipped a little bit, but assume he’s going to be in better condition.”

Meanwhile, James believed Elssbiay should’ve won the 2022 Olympia, despite the eventual judging going against him. According to the coach, if Elssbiay looks roughly the same as then, he can expect to put an AC trophy on his mantel.

“All I’m saying if he’s [Elssbiay] going to look like he looked leading up to the [2022] Olympia five days out, I don’t see why he shouldn’t win the Arnold [Classic],” James said. ” … If he can put that weight back on and he fills out like he was and the conditioning is right.”

James and Šarčev are not the first prominent members of the bodybuilding community to tout Elssbiay as one of the 2023 AC favorites. Former four-time Mr. Olympia champion (2006-2007, 2009-2010) Jay Cutler believes Walker should have the pole position but that a “100 percent” Elssbiay is capable of anything.

Elssbiay uncharacteristically entering the 2023 AC might not only be related to the athlete seeking a quick rebound from his disappointing output at the 2022 Olympia. In mid-January 2023, the Arnold Sports Festival revealed the first-place prize for the competition would be $300,000 — a $100,000 increase from the previous year. Someone who likely also would’ve centered only on Olympia preparation, Nick Walker, admitted the lucrative money was a deciding factor for him to participate in the 2023 AC. It’s not hard to imagine a comparable Olympia-level bodybuilder like Elssbiay being similarly incentivized.

That said, being able to beat his elite peers again probably comes first and foremost for Elssbiay. He has noted professional bodybuilding is his passion, and the implication of first-place achievement is arguably baked-in for a former champion.

Featured image: @big_ramy on Instagram

The post Dennis James, Miloš Šarčev Believe Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay Can Win 2023 Arnold Classic appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Jan. 26, 2023, during a podcast episode of The Cutler Cast, four-time Mr. Olympia champion (2006-2007, 2009-2010) Jay Cutler and esteemed trainer Miloš Šarčev discussed storylines and potential comparisons for the upcoming AC. One of the Cutler’s main points was that he believes Walker has a pole position for the Columbus, OH, contest on Mar. 2-5, 2023. It’s quite the endorsement for Walker from a respected competitor who, himself, is one of only four athletes to win the AC three times — Cutler captured the title in 2002-2004.

While the final complete roster for the 2023 AC hasn’t been confirmed at the time of this writing, Cutler expressed to Šarčev that he thinks the other athletes aren’t on par with Walker’s overall build. Notably, some of the early confirmed competitors include former two-time winner William Bonac (2018, 2020), Samson Dauda, Kamal Elgargni, and Akim Williams.

“Are the big dudes going to have enough combination to push Nick [Walker] to the side?” Cutler said rhetorically. “I have a hard time believing that.”

The only peer Cutler seems to believe can truly push Walker is former two-time Mr. Olympia (2020-2021), Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay. The Egyptian athlete had previously revealed he would compete at the 2023 AC in his second career appearance at the contest, having placed third in 2020. To Cutler, even with a disappointing fifth-place finish at the 2022 Mr. Olympia, if Elssbiay shows up in top form, it could morph into quite a battle.

“Ramy [Elssbiay] wasn’t full [at the 2022 Mr. Olympia],” Cutler said. “Ramy needed to be Ramy. His skin would have been tighter. His appearance, there would have been more roundness to everything. Listen, Ramy, we talked about it. If Ramy is 100 percent, he beats everybody. He’s still Big Ramy.”

That said, Cutler seems to sense something special and innate in Walker’s competitive mindset. He alluded to the point that Walker won’t let himself fall short so easily now that he’s established superstar in bodybuilding. As a result, for Cutler, a second AC title is clearly in the works for Walker.

“ … I just know Nick’s [Walker] mindset,” Cutler explained. “I know his vision. I know every night before he goes to bed, he’s visualizing winning this competition. And sometimes, you can’t overtake someone’s willpower. He believes more than anyone else on this planet. We can talk about the confidence of these people leading into these shows … I just don’t think there’s anyone more dedicated than Nick Walker. I think in the end, he’ll be a two-time champ.”

From the time of Cutler’s prediction, the 2023 AC is still a ways off. A lot can change in the coming weeks before Walker and the other respective athletes take the stage in Columbus. It’s possible that another top-tier challenger who can duke it out with Walker on stage might emerge. Until then, Walker seems to have Cutler’s wholehearted seal of approval, and that is no small thing.

Featured image: @nick_walker39 on Instagram

The post Jay Cutler Pegs Nick Walker as His 2023 Arnold Classic Favorite appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay is seeking to join an exclusive, all-time company with a third straight Mr. Olympia championship. Nick Walker, the athlete some consider to be the No. 1 contender to Elssbiay’s throne, is seemingly coming on with a full head of steam. In a Nov. 14, 2022, video on James “Flex” Lewis’ YouTube channel, legendary coach and 1989 Mr. Universe Miloš Šarčev maintained he thinks Elssbiay and Walker will present the main attraction at the 2022 Olympia.

At the moment, few people might be as plugged into what could happen at the 2022 Olympia as Šarčev. The coach is currently working with two separate rising athletes who have qualified for the contest — Samson Dauda and Behrooz Tabani Abar Ghani — and could add Joe Mackey to that catalog soon enough.

As he told Lewis, Šarčev has the informed opinion Elssbiay will once again stand on top of the Olympia podium.

“I see how the judges would favor Ramy [Elssbiay] because he’s just too overwhelming,” Šarčev said. “So, I still think Ramy, it’s his show to lose, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

Of course, the competitor Šarčev saw fit to mention as someone who could topple Elssbiay was Walker. The coach reflected on what Walker brought to the table performance-wise in a stellar fifth-place debut at the 2021 Olympia. He considered that the young athlete might return for his second go-round with an impeccable flourish against the sport’s current king. In fact, Šarčev believes a battle between Elssbiay and Walker is what everyone in the bodybuilding sphere is waiting for with bated breath.

“He [Nick Walker] was overwhelming,” Šarčev noted. “That front double biceps. Jesus Christ, those arms are [expletive] phenomenal. How could you not compare them? The world wants to see him [Nick Walker] next to Big Ramy, right? They are going to compare them, and let’s see which direction they go.” 

Šarčev probably isn’t wrong. Elssbiay indeed might be the headliner in a stacked respective field of athletes and stories. However, a promising competitor like Walker, who is looking to make a name for himself in one of the best possible ways, sets up a potential bodybuilding battle the world won’t soon forget.

Featured image: nick_walker39 on Instagram

The post Miloš Šarčev Thinks Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay and Nick Walker are on an Olympia Collision Course appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

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Grimes made the appearance on Cutler’s podcast alongside his coach Miloš Šarčev. The pair outlined Grimes’ upcoming strength training plans, maintaining that Grimes’ new goal is to add 15 pounds of muscle mass before returning to compete at the 2023 Olympia. Grimes finished in 15th place in each of the last two Mr. Olympia contests and would like to improve his results the next time he steps onto the Olympia stage. (Note: Šarčev also coaches Grimes’ fellow Men’s Open competitors Samson Dauda and Joe Mackey.)

“I want to really get in the top five, and I don’t think, right now, I’m just not there yet,” Grimes says. “So this year, we’ve decided to take it off and continue this rhythm of putting the tissue on, and we’ll hit a show next year and go to Olympia.”

Grimes says he weighs 295 pounds in the clip, but after consultation with Šarčev with the contest roughly four months away — the two agreed that Grimes’ progress wasn’t where they wanted at this point in the lead-up process. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by REGAN GRIMES (@regangrimes)

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Over the past few years, Grimes has been a consistent fixture in the competitive bodybuilding scene.

According to NPC News Online, among other notable appearances aside from the last two Olympias, Grimes won the 2018 New York Pro as a Classic Physique competitor. He also took first place in the Men’s Open division at the 2020 Romania Muscle Fest Pro. With more time on his plate instead of focusing on any pending contests, Grimes says stepping away from the Olympia will allow him more flexibility to improve his physique for the future. 

Meanwhile, Šarčev was candid, saying he doesn’t believe Grimes had the appropriate size to overcome established Men’s Open stars like Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Ellsbiay, Brandon Curry, Nick Walker, Hunter Labrada, and Hadi Choopan. 

“It’s still a muscle contest — it doesn’t matter what we say,” Sarcev says. “When you stand next to ‘Big Ramy,’ you have to have size. And if he doesn’t have it, he would be outclassed.”

Cutler echoed a similar sentiment about Big Ramy and any potential challengers. 

“A month ago, I said okay, people may challenge [Big Ramy]. But now, I can’t see him losing being in the shape he is in.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Related: How to Do the Triceps Kickback for Arm Size]

The post Bodybuilder Regan Grimes Withdraws from the 2022 Mr. Olympia appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Christian posted a video of his YouTube channel, filmed on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, that featured his “refeed day” as part of his prep for the upcoming contest. He is working under the guidance of retired competitor and current coach Milos Sarcev.

In the beginning of the video, Christian explained that after being in a calorie deficit for nearly 15 weeks, this particular day of eating couldn’t have come at a better time.

[Related: How to Build Muscle: The Training and Diet Guide for Beginners and Advanced Lifters]

“(The body) needs it,” he said to the camera. He went on to say that, in order to eat all those calories, it would take eight total meals throughout the day, as well as a workout shake that would have 150 grams of carbohydrates on its own.

Christian would later say that, with less than two weeks to go before the contest, he is still over 300 pounds and felt he was in the best shape of his life. He documented the entire day’s worth of food in the video. The individual meals, amounts (when explained), and approximate times (when given) were as follows.

• Meal One (4:00a.m.): 150 grams of oats, 150 grams of banana, 65 grams of whey protein, 30 grams of peanut butter
• Meal Two (6:30 a.m.): 100 grams of rice, 150 grams of turkey, 100 grams of banana, courgette (zucchini)
• Meal Three, Pre-Workout: (Amounts of food not specified) Cream of rice, banana, blueberries, whey isolate, two Rice Krispies Treats, one cup of coffee
• Workout: Pre-workout drink (75 grams of carbs), BCAA and essential amino acid shake
• Meal Four, Post-Workout (3:00p.m.): (Not all amounts specified) Lucky Charms cereal, 50 grams of whey isolate
• Meal Five (4:00p.m.): (Not all amounts specified) Rice cakes, turkey, rice, banana, courgette (zucchini)
• Meal Six: 150 grams of oats, blueberries, one rice cake, whey protein
• Meal Seven: (Not shown on video) 100 grams of rice, 150 grams of turkey, 100 grams of banana
• Meal Eight (9:00p.m.): 100 grams of rice, 150 grams of turkey, 100 grams of banana
• Meal Nine: 200 grams of ground beef, 20 grams of almond butter, 150 grams of oats, 100 grams of banana
• Approximate Total: 7,000 calories, 360 grams of protein, 1,250 grams of carbs, 35 grams of fat

At the end of the video, Christian pulled up his shirt and showed the camera his abs. He discussed that his stomach was still flat and defined because the food he ate didn’t cause bloating or indigestion, in part because fat intake was kept low in every meal except the last.

I don’t even feel like I’ve eaten anything today.

Earlier in the video, he also theorized that keeping protein relatively low and walking for 10-minutes multiple times throughout the day improved his overall digestion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by IFBB PRO JAMIE CHRISTIAN (@akathegiant)

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When he competes in Italy, Christian will be looking for his first professional win as well as his first qualification to the Mr. Olympia contest, which is scheduled to take place the weekend of Dec. 16-18, 2022 in Las Vegas, NV.

Featured Image: @akathegiant on Instagram

The post Bodybuilder Jamie Christian Details His 7,000-Calorie Carb-Up Before Contest appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

“The Nigerian Lion” regularly shares updates leading up to the upcoming 2022 Mr. Olympia, noting it’s his goal to have a strong performance at the contest. His latest freakish physique appears to be a step in the right direction. 

On August 24, 2022, Dauda shared a video on his Instagram where his upper-body and lower-body mass look colossal as he works through different poses. According to the bodybuilder, he weighs 330 pounds at the time of the clip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Samson Dauda (@samson__dauda)

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Per the caption of his Instagram post, 1989 Mr. Universe Milos Šarčev is Dauda’s coach. (Note: Šarčev also coaches Joe Mackey, another Men’s Open athlete, and Men’s Open Olympia contender Regan Grimes.) Dauda partly credited Šarčev for helping him reach his off-season training goal. 

“Finally ending this off-season at 330 pounds, the exact number we hoped to hit but not for one minute did I really think I was really going to achieve it,” Dauda wrote. “But [Milos Šarčev] had no doubt.”

Dauda’s Rise

Dauda earned his International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Pro League card in 2018. Ever since that point, the athlete has steadily improved performance-wise. According to NPC News Online, he came in 11th place at the 2018 Romania Muscle Fest Pro in his Pro League debut. The following year saw Dauda notch two top-10 performances in the 2019 Wings of Strength Pro (seventh) and the 2019 Vancouver Pro (eighth). (Note: Dauda has only ever competed in the Men’s Open category)

In 2022, Dauda is enjoying some of the best results of his career to date. The Nigerian athlete came in fourth place at the 2022 Arnold Classic and followed up with another fourth-place finish at the 2022 Boston Pro. Per the IFBB’s qualification standards for the 2022 Mr. Olympia, Dauda’s performance in the recent Arnold Classic earned him a whopping eight points in the standings. Dauda’s result in the Boston Pro garnered the athlete two points. Those results appeared to earn Dauda a berth in the 2022 Olympia — his debut at the contest. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Samson Dauda (@samson__dauda)

[Related: The Best Landmine Workouts for More Muscle and Better Conditioning]

Road to the Olympia

At the time of this article’s publication, Dauda appears to be deadset on making his debut at the Olympia this December a memorable one. After reaching his offseason goal weight-wise, the Nigerian competitor appears to be pushing himself and his strength to the limit with his appearance on bodybuilding’s grandest stage on the horizon. 

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

Featured image: @samson__dauda on Instagram

The post Bodybuilder Samson Dauda Weighs a Mind-Blowing 330 Pounds in Prep for 2022 Mr. Olympia appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On July 24, 2022, Mackey’s coach Miloš Šarčev shared an update on Mackey’s physique where largely every aspect of the athlete’s body — like his arms, legs, shoulders, and abs — looks positively ripped. Check out the physique update below:

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Milos Sarcev (@milossarcev)

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The 58-year-old Šarčev is a former IFBB competitor who notably won the 1989 Mr. Universe contest. Mackey expressed appreciation for Šarčev’s continued tutelage over his own Instagram profile. He also complimented the Dragon’s Lair Gym in Las Vegas, NV — owned by seven-time 212 Olympia winner Flex Lewis — while hinting at more regular appearances in Sin City.  

“Great workout and posing with my coach [Miloš Šarčev],” Mackey writes. Huge thanks to the Dragon’s Lair Gym. Top-notch facility with a great environment and equipment. Definitely will be my go-to place when I’m in Vegas.”

At the time of this article’s publication, Mackey hasn’t confirmed his plans to try and qualify for the 2022 Mr. Olympia — taking place on Dec. 16-18. 

Mackey’s Road Ahead

In late April 2022, Mackey joined the 900-pound deadlift club. He followed that personal record (PR) by deadlifting 385.5-kilograms (850 pounds) during the 2022 Iron Wars VI. While those achievements are noteworthy, winning the 2022 Texas Pro could open a lot of bodybuilding doors for Mackey.

For one, per the IFBB Pro League’s standards, a victory would garner Mackey an automatic qualification to the 2022 Olympia. Should Mackey fall short of the top spot on the podium in Texas, a top-five result in the Tier 4 contest would at least give him some points (one through four from fifth to second place, respectively) in the overall qualification process. Provided Mackey finishes in the top three amongst Men’s Open competitors at the end of the Olympia qualification period on November 20, 2022 — he would capture a spot in the prestigious contest. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Joe Mackey IFBB Pro (@jmackey33_ifbbpro)

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According to NPC News Online, Mackey’s best result in five IFBB Pro League competitions since 2016 is an eighth-place finish at the 2020 Tampa Pro. In his most recent appearance on an official stage during the 2021 Chicago Pro, Mackey finished in 12th place. The bodybuilder competed in the Men’s Open division during both contests.

Given his recent training progress, the steady hand of a bodybuilding legend helping him, and overall versatility, it might be foolish to overlook Mackey’s coming chances. In due time, a berth for Mackey in the 2022 Mr. Olympia could seem inevitable. 

Featured image: @milossarcev on Instagram

The post Bodybuilder Joe Mackey Looks Chiseled Ahead of the 2022 Texas Pro appeared first on Breaking Muscle.