Coming off a first-place finish at the 2023 Romania Muscle Fest Pro, the Nigerian Lion looked fantastic in yet another dominant performance from across the pond. After capturing top honors in the Men’s Open division in Romania on Nov. 12, 2023, Dauda stood atop the podium again at the 2023 EVLS Prague Pro, securing an IFBB Pro League show victory and a $10,000 check for the second straight weekend.

2023 EVLS Prague Pro Division-by-Division Results

The 2023 EVLS Prague Pro featured athletes from six divisions competing for a coveted championship, first-place prize money, and automatic qualification for the 2024 Olympia. Here are the final results based on the official scorecards made available by the IFBB Pro League.

• Men’s Open
• Men’s 212
• Classic Physique
• Men’s Physique
• Figure
• Bikini

Men’s Open

Between placing third at the 2023 Olympia and beating out defending Romania Muscle Fest Pro champion Behrooz Tabanai Abarghani for the 2023 title, Samson Dauda had all the momentum heading into the EVLS Prague Pro. However, he faced some stiff competition in the form of Michal “Krizo” Krizanek, who took home top honors at the 2022 show.

Ultimately, though, Dauda’s muscular frame and tighter look helped him fend off an impressive field that also included Rubiel Mosquera and Nathan De Asha, who finished third and fourth, respectively, behind the Columbian native.

1. Samson Dauda (United Kingdom)
2. Michal Krizanek (Slovakia)
3. Rubiel Mosquera (Columbia)
4. Nathan De Asha (United Kingdom)
5. Jan Turek (Czech Republic)
6. Liang Yan (China)
7. Roman Fritz (Germany)
8. Rob Cannon (United Kingdom)
9. Hameed Juma (Bahrain)
10. Pavel Beran (Czech Republic)

212 Bodybuilding

Just like Dauda, Ahmad Ali Ashkanani followed up a solid showing at the Olympia with a win in Romania. And just like the Nigerian Lion, the Kuwait native finished first in his division for the second consecutive weekend.

Once again, Ashkanani earned the nod over Italy’s Giuseppe Zagarella, who also settled for second at the 2023 Romania Muscle Fest Pro.

1. Ahmad Ali Ashkanani (Kuwait)
2. Giuseppe Zagarella (Italy)
3. Lucas Goncalez (Brazil)
4. Dawid Cnota (Poland)
5. Giorgi Adikashvili (Georgia)
6. Daniel Vasilica (Romania)
7. Damian Kryszpin (Poland)
8. Vincent Alliot (France)

[Related: Iain Valliere Believes the 212 Division Should No Longer Exist in Bodybuilding]

Classic Physique

The clash for the Classic Physique division title in Prague came down to two competitors who performed well at the 2023 Olympia. Urs Kalecinski, who finished third at the Olympia before winning the 2023 Texas State Pro on Nov. 11, 2023, went toe-to-toe with Michael Daboul, who placed sixth at the Olympia.

Despite a strong showing from Daboul, “The Miracle Bear” emerged victorious, further cementing his status as one of the best Classic Physique competitors in the world.

1. Urs Kalecinski (Germany)
2. Michael Daboul (United Kingdom)
3. Alexander Westermeier (Germany)
4. Sebastien Theurel (France)
5. Karol Rogaczewski (Poland)
6. Jordi Romero Marsal (Spain)
7. Ruben Lopez Reyes (Spain)
8. German Pastor (Spain)
9. George Acheampong (Denmark)
10. Matthias Hollweck (Germany)
11. Manuel Moisel (Germany)
12. Karar Aljalabi (Belgium)
13. Tunde Chris Taylor (Germany)
14. Sebastian Guncik (Czech Republic)
15. Ali Khan (Afghanistan)
16. Alberto Milani (Italy)
17. Fernando Gornals Margol (Spain)

[Related: Chris Bumstead Claims Fifth Consecutive Classic Physique Championship at 2023 Mr. Olympia]

Men’s Physique

In another example of why momentum matters, Miroslav Juricek joined Samson Dauda and Ahmad Ali Ashkanani in winning the Romania Muscle Fest Pro and the EVLS Prague Pro. Both he and fellow Czech Republic native Ondrej Kmostake represented their country well by claiming the top two spots in the Men’s Physique Division.

1. Miroslav Juricek (Czech Republic)
2. Ondrej Kmostak (Czech Republic)
3. Furkan Er (Turkey)
4. Adeyemi Awoyani (United Kingdom)
5. Andrea Amato (Italy)
6. Dawid Wachelka (Poland)
7. Dylan Crane (France)
8. Jeffrey Darko (United Kingdom)
9. Viachaslau Tarasevich (Belarus)
10. Mohammad Almutawah (Kuwait)
11. Alessandro Cavagnola (Italy)
12. Panek Alexandru (Romania)
13. Ramzi Boubaker (Germany)
14. Oskar Tchorzewski (Poland)
15. Aryan Ali (Germany)

[Related: The Ultimate Chest and Back Workout for Upper Body Muscle]

Figure

It was another rinse-and-repeat situation with the Figure division, as Romania Muscle Fest Pro winner Tereza Linhartova locked up her second title in as many weeks. While Spain’s Rejoice Godwin claimed third in her second straight show, Romania’s Stefana Sandu went from finishing in second to falling to fourth, as USA’s Maria Luisa Diaz earned the No. 2 spot in Prague.

1. Tereza Linhartova (Czech Republic)
2. Maria Luisa Diaz (USA)
3. Rejoice Godwin (Spain)
4. Stefana Sandu (Romania)
5. Behnaz Nasrollahi Azar (Germany)
6. Zulfya Bitiyeva (Kazakhstan)
7. Kamara Graham (United Kingdom)
8. Karine Hajjar (Qatar)
9. Tamires Silva (Brazil)
10. Sonja Ivanov (Germany)
11. Anna Kohckar (Ukraine)
12. Natalia Sharapova (Russia)
13. Gabriela Linhartova (Czech Republic)
14. Vanessa Happle (Germany)
15. Gabriela Hejna (Czech Republic)
16. Alina Yaman (UKR)

[Related: Superset-Style Upper Body Resistance Band Workout for Muscle Gains]

Bikini

The battle for the Bikini division title turned out differently in Prague than it did in Romania. After earning the title the weekend prior, Italy’s Alice Marchisio fell to third, as Romania Muscle Fest Pro runner-up Valerya Fedorenko stormed ahead to claim the win and a $10,000 prize.

Fellow Ukrainian Violeta Palamarchuk also enjoyed a successful showing, vaulting up from eighth at the Romania Muscle Fest Pro to second at the EVLS Prague Pro.

1. Valerya Fedorenko (Ukraine)
2. Violeta Palamarchuk (Ukraine)
3. Alice Marchisio (Italy)
4. Dorottya Zoe Toth (Hungary)
5. Renata Nowak (Poland)
6. Sara Punzetti (Italy)
7. Lisa Reith (Germany)
8. Sara Lujza Rogacsi (Hungary)
9. Olivia Pohankova Kovac (Slovakia)
10. Petra Voldanova (United Kingdom)
11. Andrina Scharli (Switzerland)
12. Mara Carro
13. Ka’Tai Luca (Hungary)
14. Johanna Durr (Germany)
15. Irene Iravedra Cunarro (Spain)

[Related: Everything You Need to Know About How to Burn Fat]

Overall, Samson Dauda deserves major credit for continuing to compete after putting everything on the line at the 2023 Mr. Olympia. While he could have easily rested on his laurels and been satisfied with a third-place finish at the biggest bodybuilding show of the year, he’s done the exact opposite.

So, even though the Nigerian Lion didn’t leave Orlando, FL, with a $400,000 prize and the most coveted title in the sport, he’s certainly made the most of his trip to Europe by taking home titles in back-to-back contests.

Featured Image: Samson Dauda / Instagram

The post 2023 EVLS Prague Pro Results: Samson Dauda Dominates Second Straight European Show  appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Just one week after sharing the podium with newly crowned champion Derek Lunsford and 2022 winner Hadi Choopan, Dauda delivered a decisive win at the 2023 Romania Muscle Fest Pro. Held over the weekend of Nov. 10-12, 2023, competitors from nine of the 11 IFBB Pro League divisions put their physiques on display in Bucharest, Romania, with Dauda taking home top honors in the Men’s Open category.

2023 Romania Muscle Fest Pro Division-by-Division Results

The 2023 Romania Muscle Fest Pro featured nine division battles — only one of which ended with a Romanian native emerging victorious. Here are the full results from the contest:

• Men’s Open
• 212 Bodybuilding
• Classic Physique
• Men’s Physique
• Women’s Bodybuilding
• Women’s Physique
• Figure
• Bikini
• Wellness

Men’s Open

Heading into the contest, most expected Samson Dauda to dominate the Men’s Open division — and the massive bodybuilder didn’t disappoint. The 2023 Arnold Classic winner secured his second victory of the year (and a $10,000 prize) by besting 2022 Romania Muscle Fest Pro champion Behrooz Tabani Abarghani, who could not compete in this year’s Olympia due to visa issues. Surprisingly, Nathan de Asha, who also missed the biggest bodybuilding show of the year after being denied entry into the United States, finished fourth.

1. Samson Dauda (United Kingdom)
2. Behrooz Tabani Abarghani (Iran)
3. Marcello de Angelis Rezende (Brazil)
4. Nathan De Asha (United Kingdom)
5. Mohamed Foda (Egypt)
6. Andrea Presti (Italy)
7. Alfred Chiriac (Romania)
8. Volodymyr Byruk (Ukraine)
9. Jan Turek (Czech Republic)
10. Kevin Brucher (Germany)
11. Gianluca Di Lorenzo (Italy)
12. Roberto Buonomo (Italy)
13. Pavel Cervinka (Czech Republic)
14. Hameed Juma (Bahrain)
15. Anton Bippus (Denmark)
16. Pavel Beran (Czech Republic)

212 Bodybuilding

Like Dauda, Ahmad Ali Ashkanani enjoyed a more successful outing in Romania than he did in Florida. Coming off a fifth-place finish in the Olympia 212 division, the Kuwait native secured his spot in the 2024 Olympia by finishing ahead of Giuseppe Zagarella and Radoslav Angelov, who took second and third, respectively.

1. Ahmad Ali Ashkanani (Kuwait)
2. Giuseppe Zagarella (Italy)
3. Radoslav Angelov (Bulgaria)
4. Alexandru Vasile Uta (Romania)
5. Lucas Garcia (Brazil)
6. Dawid Cnota (Poland)
7. Daniel Vasilica (Romania)
8. Vincent Alliot (France)
9. Junior Pagula (Brazil)
10. Morad Zahir (Morocco)
11. Victor Eric Lopez Garcia (Mexico)
12. Vincente Santamaria (Spain)

[Related: Chris Bumstead Claims Fifth Consecutive Classic Physique Championship at 2023 Mr. Olympia]

Classic Physique

Having already won the 2023 Europa Pro back in September, Wesley Vissers earned his second pro show win of the year. The Classic Physique competitor finished seventh at the 2023 Olympia and will look to improve upon that mark in Las Vegas, NV, on Oct. 10-13, 2024.

1. Wesley Vissers (Netherlands)
2. Ruben Lopez Reyes (Spain)
3. Alexander Westermeier (Germany)
4. Sebastien Theurel (France)
5. Ali Shams Ghamar (Iran)
6. George Achampong (Denmark)
7. Nicolas Alberto Concepcion (Philippines)
8. Mehmed Mehmedov (Bulgaria)
9. Chris Pistolas (Greece)
10. Pekka Kotipohja (Finland)
11. Milos Stojanovic (Serbia)
12. Francesco Della Vedova (Italy)
13. Karol Rogaczewski (Poland)
14. Luc Andre Steinker (Germany)
15. Fernando Gornals Margol (Spain)
16. Alberto Milani (Italy)

Men’s Physique

Stepping on stage for the first time since the 2022 Warsaw Pro, Miroslav Juricek made the most of his return with a clean sweep of first-place votes. As a result, the Czech Republic native will get to make his Olympia debut next year.

1. Miroslav Juricek (Czech Republic)
2. Caike DeOliveira (USA)
3. Furker Er (Turkey)
4. Mohammad Ali (Austria)
5. Jeffrey Darko (United Kingdom)
6. Alessandro Cavagnola (Italy)
7. Mauro Fialho (Spain)
8. Alexandru Panek (Romania)
9. Alessandro Colacchi (Italy)
10. Andrea Amato (Italy)
11. Andrea Antonelli (Italy)
12. Giuseppe Riserbato (Italy)
13. Jaime Maso Lopez (Spain)
14. Hamad Al-doseri (Bahrain)
15. Oskar Tchorzewski (Poland)
16. Mishal Alhassan (Saudi Arabia) — Tied for 16th
17. Aryan Ali (Germany) — Tied for 16th
18. Nasreddine Bouakouk (Algeria) — Tied for 16th
19. Nikolay Rashkov (Bulgaria) — Tied for 16th
20. Jose Luis Rivas (Spain) — Tied for 16th

Women’s Bodybuilding

Leyvina Rodrigues Barros cemented her case as one of the top female bodybuilders in the world by parlaying her well-balanced physique into a well-earned victory in the Women’s Bodybuilding division. After finishing well outside the top 10 in her Olympia debut in 2022, she will look to vault up the standings in the 2024 contest.

1. Leyvina Rodrigues Barros (Brazil)
2. Anastasia Korableva (Romania)
3. Tiana Flex (South Africa)
4. MayLa Ash (USA)
5. Barbara de Freitas Moojen (Brazil)
6. Hagit Seindlis (Israel)
7. Jacqueline Fuchs (Switzerland)
8. Viktoria Knysh (UAE)
9. Gemma Lancaster (United Kingdom)
10. Ivana Dvorakova (Czech Republic)
11. Simone Ellis (England)

[Related: Try This Beginner Bodybuilding Routine If You’re Looking To Build Mass]

Women’s Physique

Raluca Raducu represented Romania well by narrowly beating out runner-up Caroline Alves Dos Santos for the Women’s Physique division title. A one-point advantage allowed the IFBB Pro to stamp her ticket to the 2024 Olympia.

1. Raluca Raducu (Romania)
2. Caroline Alves Dos Santos (Brazil)
3. Sahar Rahmani (Iran)
4. Natalia Bystrova (Russia)
5. Silvia Cuartero Martinez (Spain)
6. Julia Glazycheva (Russia)
7. Jo Kelly (United Kingdom)
8. Modesta Halby (Denmark)
9. Marina Kassinopoullou (Cyprus)
10. Emilija Martic (Canada)
11. Tanya Chartrand (Canada)
12. Petra Osterwald (Switzerland)
13. Dany Jacot-Descombes (Switzerland)
14. Christina Kremser (Austria)
15. Sarah Crail (Australia)
16. Emilia Balkova (Bulgaria) — Tied for 16th
17. Tatiana Bulut (Turkey) — Tied for 16th
18. Cristina Chatti (Spain) — Tied for 16th
19. Diana Hristova (Bulgaria) — Tied for 16th
20. Lisa Kurzamann (Austria) — Tied for 16th
21. Laura Pyszora (United Kingdom) — Tied for 16th
22. Natalia Spierings (United Kingdom) — Tied for 16th

Figure

Two years removed from earning runner-up status at the Romania Muscle Fest Pro, Tereza Linhartova took home the title in the Figure division. Her ultra-sculpted physique and posing skills gave her the decisive edge over Romanian Stefana Sandu.

1. Tereza Linhartova (Czech Republic)
2. Stefana Sandu (Romania)
3. Rejoice Godwin (Spain)
4. Jennifer Reece (Canada)
5. Jennifer Zienert (Germany)
6. Sonja Ivanov (Germany)
7. Daiane Aparecida Freitas (Brazil)
8. Maria Ignacia Mas Delgado (Spain)
9. Veronica Gallego Garcia (Spain)
10. Anna Kohckar (Ukraine)
11. Behnaz Nasrollahi Azar (Germany)
12. Charlotte Goubet (France)
13. Helen Zavitsanou Pistolas (Greece)
14. Yadviga Zakurina (Russia)
15. Maria Ignacia Mas Delgado (Brazil)
16. Reem Albareeq (Bahrain) — Tied for 16th
17. Vanessa Happle (Germany) — Tied for 16th
18. Cristina Araujo Silva (Spain) — Tied for 16th
19. Lubomira Steftcheva (Bulgaria) — Tied for 16th

Bikini

After settling for second place at the 2023 Italian Olympus Pro back in October, Alice Marchisio achieved her goal of earning a gold medal. Her first pro win gives her a chance to compete in the Olympia.

1. Alice Marchisio (Italy)
2. Valerya Fedorenko (Ukraine)
3. Giuditta Taccani (Italy)
4. Dorottya Zoe Toth (Hungary)
5. Kerry Sexton (United Kingdom)
6. Rania Stamatiadou (Greece)
7. Irene Iravedra Cunarro (Spain)
8. Violeta Palamarchuk (Ukraine)
9. Lorena Blanco (Spain)
10. Andrina Scharli (Switzerland)
11. Luca Katai (Hungary)
12. Sara Lujza Rogacsi (Hungary)
13. Mara Carro (Germany)
14. Natalia Koursari (Greece)
15. Aleksandra Duba (Poland)
16. Johanna Durr (Germany) — Tied for 16th
17. Noemi Lavacca (Italy) — Tied for 16th
18. Anna Thaarup (Denmark) — Tied for 16th

[Related: Major Change to Mr. Olympia Qualification System Will Have Immediate Impact on 2023 Contest]

Wellness

Despite being one of the last competitors to enter the show, Gisele Machado proved she’s still a force to be reckoned with in the Wellness division. The Brazilian bodybuilder claimed her fourth pro show victory of 2023 in lopsided fashion, earning unanimous first-place votes. Although she did not compete in the 2023 Olympia, Machado should take the stage in Las Vegas in 2024.

1. Gisele Machado (Brazil)
2. Paula Dominguez (Spain)
3. Sandra Colorado Acal (Spain)
4. Klaudia Vanessza Csuri (Ukraine)
5. Dainora Dvarionaite (Lithuania)
6. Lexy Oliver (Italy)
7. Valentina Mabrouk (Italy)
8. Houda Hmini (Morocco)
9. Rosa Benadero Munoz (Spain)
10. Laleska Bruschi (Brazil)
11. Lisa Beck (Germany)
12. Carlotta Tonelli (Italy)
13. Marjelle De Cock (Belgium)
14. Lenia Fernandes (Portugal)
15. Laurene Gaudelier (France)
16. Celandine Holenweg (Switzerland) — Tied for 16th
17. Lidia Melero (Spain) — Tied for 16th

Featured Image: Samson Dauda / Instagram

The post Samson Dauda Wins 2023 Romania Muscle Fest Pro One Week After Finishing Third in Mr. Olympia  appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

With just over a month until he takes the stage, Dauda’s discipline needs to be at an all-time high if he wants to improve upon an impressive sixth-place finish in his Olympia debut. Based on the full day of eating vlog posted on his YouTube channel on Oct. 4, 2023, it certainly looks like the “Nigerian Lion” is poised to outperform his 2022 Olympia results.

Contest prep involves carefully manipulating your diet and training so you can be stage-ready. After sharing a full day of eating in early September that included six meals and plenty of carbohydrates, Dauda is clearly doing things differently as the Nov. 2-5 Olympia weekend inches closer.

Meal 1

• Three whole eggs
• Black coffee

Before he consumed a single calorie, Dauda started his day with 40 minutes of fasted cardio. That paved the way for 30 minutes of uninterrupted posing that he admitted was a lot more taxing than his treadmill session.

When it came time to eat, Dauda kept his first meal simple by cooking up three whole eggs. Paired with a cup of black coffee, this breakfast featured far fewer calories than the one he showed in his full day of eating vlog from 8 ½ weeks out.

“This prep so far has been really smooth,” Dauda explained. “Each week we’re getting better and everything’s working like clockwork.”

Meal 2

• 250 grams (one cup) sweet potato
• 200 grams (seven ounces) lean steak

For his second meal, Dauda went with the classic “meat and potatoes” method. The 31-year-old IFBB pro precisely measured out 250 grams of steamed sweet potatoes — a clean carbohydrate source that provides plenty of micronutrients like magnesium and iron. He ate that with seven ounces of a steak before heading to the park to walk his dog and deliver some wisdom about the contest prep process.

“Where you have your first meal, second meal, daily walk, cardio, training session — everything is scheduled,” Dauda explained. “Having that perfect schedule day in and day out is exactly why you make progress — not just doing your day as you feel. It’s more about keeping that discipline.”

Meal 3 – Pre-Workout Meal

• One and a half cups white rice
• 180 grams (6.3 ounces) 95% lean ground beef

With a demanding workout on the horizon, Dauda fueled up with both food and several pre-workout supplements. In addition to consuming lean ground beef and white rice, he mixed the following into a bottle:

• Hosstile CDX Cluster Dextrin – a fast-digesting source of carbs
• Hosstile Silo[9] EAAs – an amino acid supplement that also contains electrolytes
• Hosstile Creatine – a micronized creatine monohydrate supplement that supports strength, power, and recovery

Once he finished his pre-workout meal, Dauda headed to Factory Gym for a grueling leg day session.

Meal 4 – Post-Workout Meal

• One and a half cups white rice
• 250 grams (8.8 ounces) chicken breast
• Mixed vegetables

Dauda’s workout featured a number of muscle-building exercises, including seated and kneeling leg curls, leg extensions, pendulum squats, and hack squats. After pushing his lower body to the limit, he refueled with another simple, but nutritious meal consisting of white rice, chicken breast, and a mixed vegetable medley.

Though not exciting by any means, his post-workout meal provided the perfect mix of protein and carbs for growing and repairing lean muscle tissue.

Meal 5

• 250 grams (8.8 ounces) chicken breast
• Mixed vegetables

For his fifth and final meal of the day, Dauda didn’t deviate far from what he ate earlier. Proving that consistency is the biggest key to a successful prep, the 2023 Arnold Classic winner stuck with the straightforward approach of chicken breast and mixed veggies.

By eating his final meal about three hours before his 11 p.m. bedtime, Dauda already knew he would later face the familiar feeling of hunger.

“I go to bed starving just like I always do,” he explained. “I drink water and go back to sleep because there ain’t no food in the house.”

Making those sorts of sacrifices is what it takes to become a champion. However, whether Dauda can climb all the way from sixth to first in the span of a year remains to be seen. But with the way he’s continued to refine his physique, there’s little doubt he should perform well at the 2023 Mr. Olympia.

Featured Image: SAMSON DAUDA / YouTube

The post Samson Dauda Shares Full Day of Eating 4.5 Weeks Out From 2023 Mr. Olympia appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

As the biggest bodybuilding show of the year inches closer, Dauda and Daboul can’t afford to make any mistakes with their nutrition or training. Just six weeks away from getting to pose for the judges in Orlando, FL, the dynamic duo teamed up for a demanding chest and calves workout that left no doubt about their commitment to being stage-ready by Nov. 2.

Dauda shared highlights from an intense muscle-building session with Daboul in a training vlog posted on his YouTube channel on Sept. 25, 2023. The workout begins around the 1:15 mark.

No strangers to individual success — Dauda captured top honors at the 2023 Arnold Classic while Daboul won his division at the 2023 New York Pro — the two IFBB pros put in some serious work at the UK-based Factory Gym.

Don’t let the number of exercises fool you, either. Even though Dauda and Daboul didn’t perform a long list of movements, the intensity and structure of the workout provided more than a sufficient stimulus for maximum muscle growth.

Superset: Seated Calf Raise with Standing Calf Raise

Building bulging calves can be quite the challenge. However, Dauda’s method for increasing size and thickness clearly works. Instead of settling for one exercise at a time, the man known as “The Nigerian Lion” doubled-down on his calf-building efforts by utilizing a superset-style plan of attack.

Dauda and his training partners started the workout by alternating between seated calf raises and standing calf raises. The leg-oriented part of the session included grueling sets of 15 repetitions that focused on squeezing at the top of the movement to ensure adequate time under tension.

As if performing multiple versions of calf raises wasn’t challenging enough, Dauda raised the stakes with a blood-pumping finisher.

“We get to the point where we’re maxing out on our heavier set,” he explained. “Then we did a drop set on the seated calf where basically every five [reps] we took 10 kilos [22 pounds] off and worked our way down without stopping.”

Incline Chest Press Machine

After exhausting their calves, Dauda and Daboul showcased their upper-body strength and endurance on a plate-loaded incline chest press machine. Once again, this portion of the workout featured a high-volume, high-intensity approach.

Working in a pyramid-style, the bodybuilders began with a warm-up set of 15 repetitions with a pair of 20-kilogram (44-pound) plates per side. They progressed all the way up to a total of 10 plates before employing a drop-set finisher in which they performed multiple “mini-sets” of five reps, removing two plates at a time until only four plates remained.

Superset: Iso-Lateral Incline Chest Press with Standing Flye Machine

Next, Dauda took things to another level with yet another superset. This time, he and his training partner performed sets of 12 repetitions on the seated incline chest press to target the pecs and triceps. The “iso-lateral” design of the machine allowed each lever arm to operate independently, similar to dumbbells. They paired this compound movement with chest flyes on the Panatta Standing Multi-Flight machine — a unique device with adjustable handles that allow a variety of flyes and lateral raises.

Dauda specifically noted that the focus of the second exercise was “contracting and squeezing” to build the thickness of the muscle and bring out the striations of the chest.

Incline Hex Press

To finish, Dauda and Daboul used a distinct version of an incline dumbbell press — squeezing the weights together throughout the movement to create an incline hex press. The Nigerian Lion started with 20-kilogram (44-pound) dumbbells while Daboul, “The Saharan Eagle,” worked with 16-kilogram (35-pound) weights.

They focused on touching the dumbbells together, slowly lowering the weight to chest level before extending and locking out their triceps. By the time the workout concluded, Daboul had a new appreciation for his fellow Mr. Olympia contestant’s unique training style.

“I train intense but not in that high volume,” Daboul said. “The combination that he has of high intensity and high volume — not everyone can keep up. I tried to keep up in the first two exercises and then I was exhausted.”

Superset-Centric Chest and Calves Workout

Dauda’s idea of utilizing high-volume training (sets of 12-15 reps) with heavy loads will test your strength and your endurance. Here’s a breakdown of the exercises performed in what was clearly a taxing workout for everyone involved:

• Superset: Seated Calf Raise with Standing Calf Raise 
• Incline Chest Press Machine
• Superset: Iso-Lateral Incline Chest Press with Standing Flye Machine
• Incline Hex Press

Despite including just six exercises, this high-volume workout will surely deliver results. Utilizing principles like supersets and drop sets, along with working at such a high intensity, should bolster anyone’s efforts to grow muscle and overall size. And if Dauda and Daboul continue to build upon their impressive showings this year at the 2023 Olympia, they might have a chance to celebrate together.

Featured Image: Samson Dauda / YouTube

The post Samson Dauda Trains Chest and Calves with Classic Physique Olympia Competitor Michael Daboul  appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

The ’23 Olympia will be Dauda’s second appearance at the sport’s tentpole contest, having placed sixth in his 2022 debut. Based on a video Dauda posted to his YouTube channel on Sept. 6, 2023, he’s dialing in every detail to capitalize on the upcoming competition. Dauda took the time to explain a full day of his nutrition as the contest looms.

Dauda introduced the video, stating the he woke up shortly before filming and had already completed a 15-minute cardio workout. He was looking forward to a breakfast to boost his energy and mood.

Meal 1

• 100 grams (two-thirds cup) oats, one scoop whey protein powder, and water
• Five whole eggs

Dauda began his day drinking a hearty protein shake while eating a plate of scrambled eggs. He clarified that he eats similar foods during both his offseason and contest prep diets, but reduces the portion size as contests approach. This will naturally reduce his overall calorie intake. In the offseason, Dauda explained that he also has protein shakes between meals for additional calories.

Meal 2

• 250 grams (one cup) baked sweet potato
• 200 grams (seven ounces) steak

While getting the meal onto his plate, Dauda explained that he cooks multiple portions in advance and freezes them for convenience. That allows him to simply defrost and heat his necessary food with minimal prep time. This sweet potato and steak meal was one example of a “heat and eat” meal.

Meal 3 — Pre-Workout Meal

• 250 grams (one cup) spaghetti
• 180 grams (6.3 ounces) 95% lean ground beef

As he prepared for a leg workout, Dauda fueled up with a solid food meal while preparing two shakes to take to the gym — one intended to maximize the muscular pump during the session and another to replenish his exhausted muscles immediately afterward.

Dauda clarified that his personal preference was to eat his pre-training meal as close to the workout as possible, occasionally eating at the gym’s reception counter right before training. While other lifters more commonly leave time to digest before attacking an intense training session, the Arnold champ and Olympia contender has clearly found a formula that works for himself.

During Training

• One scoop pre-workout mix
• One scoop intra-workout mix (powdered carbohydrates and BCAAs)

Post-Workout Shake

• Two scoops whey protein powder, one scoop cyclic dextrin (powdered carbohydrates)
• One banana

The workout was shown in a montage without providing the exact sets and reps performed. Dauda was shown completing a variety of leg curls, supersets of hack squats and leg extensions, and Smith machine squats.

Meal 4

• Two cups white rice
• 250 grams (8.8 ounces) grilled chicken breast
• Vegetables

After returning from the gym, Dauda heated his next solid meal. Again, he relied on the convenience of reheating previously cooked foods — rice and chicken — this time adding an unmeasured but ample side of vegetables. Dauda said he was looking forward to eating this post-workout meal quickly so he could then take a nap, which he said was essential for muscle growth.

“That’s how you grow, baby. Train, eat, sleep, train again. Recovery means growth and, as we’ve all seen, I grow in prep. As long as you’re breaking down muscle and muscle’s recovering, it’s growing. Simple trick for you all. Don’t believe that, just because you’re prepping, it means you can’t grow muscle.”

Meal 5

• One and a half cups white rice
• 250 grams (8.8 ounces) grilled chicken breast

For his next feeding, Dauda repeated his previous meal with slight adjustments. He decreased the rice to reduce his carbohydrates, reasoning that they’re not as necessary since he’s further removed from the workout. He also omitted the vegetable because, as he frankly admitted, he ran out.

Meal 6

• 180 grams (6.4 ounces) salmon

Dauda ended his day with a simple meal of salmon. He took the opportunity to cook several pieces as once, prepping in bulk for the coming days, before eating one piece immediately.

Before Dauda can claim the title of Mr. Olympia, he’ll have to battle on stage against defending champion Hadi Choopan, 2022 runner-up Derek Lunsford, and a lineup of formidable competitors. If he continues improving on the size, shape, and symmetry he presented at the Arnold Classic, Dauda could make the contest a tight race.

Featured Image: SAMSON DAUDA / YouTube

The post Samson Dauda Details a Full Day of Eating 8 Weeks Before 2023 Mr. Olympia appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Calf Presses and Donkey Calf Raises

He performed this workout at CHF Gym in Braintree, UK, and he began with calves by performing calf raises on a leg press, followed by donkey calf raises in superset fashion — an intensity technique Dauda used throughout the training session. He commented about trying to keep a soft bend in his knees on the leg press to emphasize the soleus muscle of the calves. Dauda explained that the donkey calf raise, an Arnold Schwarzenegger favorite, targeted the gastrocnemius. The exact reps or weight weren’t shared, but he performed three supersets on camera before moving on.

How to Do the Calf Press: Sit on a leg press machine with the heels of your feet hanging slightly off the bottom of the sled. Your toes should be securely set on the sled plate. Once the weight is released from the safety pins, keep a soft bend in your knees. Use only your toes and flex your calves to move the weight. Once your calves are fully flexed, slowly lower the sled plate until you feel a stretch in your calves — your heels should be “forward” farther than your toes. Press again to perform the next rep and repeat.

How to Do the Donkey Calf Raise: Bend your upper body forward with your hips at a roughly 90-degree angle. Keep your back straight and set your calves hanging off of secure a platform. Have someone sitting on your lower back when you prepare to start the movement or you can hang weight from a dip belt attached to your waist. Flex your calves and lift your heels up so your hips drive toward the ceiling. Once your calves are fully flexed, slowly return to the starting position and repeat for desired reps.

Seated Machine Shoulder Press and Seated Lateral Raise

The opening superset of his shoulder training featured seated machine shoulder presses followed by seated lateral raises with dumbbells. The first movement focused on the anterior (front) deltoid head while the latter movement isolated the middle head of the shoulder area. Dauda said he wanted to focus on quality contractions, which is why performed each repetition relatively slowly and with calculated movement. Dauda was shown working up to 110 kilograms (242 pounds) for 12 repetitions on the press before concluding with 11 repetitions using an undisclosed weight for his final sets of lateral raises.

How to Do the Seated Machine Shoulder Press: Sit on the machine and grab the handles with your palms facing forward. Keep your feet flat on the floor and your back straight, supported against the pad. Press the handles up until your arms are straight overhead. Lower them back down slowly, but don’t let the handles reach the very bottom position. Your elbows should be slightly below shoulder-level at the bottom. Repeat for the desired reps.

How to Do the Seated Lateral Raise: Sit on the edge of a flat bench with a dumbbell in each hand — allow your arms to hang down at your sides with palms facing each other. Keep a slight bend at the elbow as you lift the dumbbells out to your sides until your elbows are at shoulder-height. Pause briefly before lowering the weights back to the starting position. Pause briefly at the bottom before performing the next rep.

Reverse Cable Flye

Following that superset, Dauda moved on to target his rear deltoids with rear delt cable flyes at a dual cable station. The cables allowed him to maintain tension throughout the entire range of motion. He extended that range of motion by holding onto the cables themselves instead of a handle attachment. 

How to Do the Reverse Cable Flye: Stand in between two cable pulleys set higher than eye-level. Grab one pulley on each side with the opposite hand so they can cross in front of your body — take the left cable in your right hand and the right cable in your left hand. Step back so your arms can be straight while the pinned weight doesn’t touch the rest of the stack. This is the starting position. Pull the cables back while keeping your arms straight to contract your rear delts. Once you’ve pulled back as far as you can, slowly release the tension and return to the starting position. Repeat for the desired reps.

Standing Machine Shoulder Press and Single Arm Cable Lateral Raise

“The Nigerian Lion” then performed a second overhead pressing movement but, unconventionally, he used a squat machine to provide resistance. Pressing it forward at an angle worked the front delts in a similar manner to a landmine press. This was paired up with another lateral raise variation — single-arm cable lateral raises, which provided one last source of focused stimulation for the side delts. On his final set of single-arm cable laterals, Dauda was shown using three weight plates for 11 repetitions, per arm, after pressing 150 kilograms (330 pounds) for 13 reps.

How to Do the Standing Machine Shoulder Press: Stand in front of a squat machine and place your hands on the pads that would rest on your shoulders. Lift the machine up to release the safety handle and take control of the weight. Using the force in your shoulders, press the machine up and forward as far as you can. Resist the urge to use leg drive to build momentum. Once your arms are straight, pause briefly before lowering the machine back to the starting position. Repeat for the desired reps. If you have a tall Smith machine or a specific standing shoulder press machine, you can perform a similar exercise by following the instructions as they are described on the machine.

How to Do the Single-Arm Cable Lateral Raise: Stand beside a cable station with a low pulley and a single handle attachment connected to the cable. Grab the cable attachment with your opposite hand — if the cable is to your right, grab it with your left hand and vice versa. Begin with the cable in front of your body with your arm in front of your hip. Using the strength in your shoulder, lift the handle up toward the working (farthest from the cable pulley). Once the handle is just above shoulder-height, pause briefly before lowering back to the starting position. Repeat for the desired reps, then switch sides to work the opposite shoulder in the same form.

Samson-Sized Shoulder and Calf Workout

If you want to try a workout like this for yourself, you can follow the sample routine below.

• Superset: Calf Press and Donkey Calf Raise — 3 x 15 per exercise
• Superset: Seated Machine Press and Seated Lateral Raise — 3 x 10-12 per exercise
• Reverse Cable Flye — 3 x 12
• Superset Standing Machine Press and Single-Arm Cable Lateral Raise — 3 x 15 per exercise

Dauda finished the 2022 Mr. Olympia contest in sixth place. The five men that placed ahead of him are defending titleholder Hadi Choopan, runner-up Derek Lunsford, Nick Walker (3rd), 2019 champion Brandon Curry (4th), and 2020-2021 winner Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay (5th). Dauda defeated both Walker and Elssbiay when they shared the stage at the 2023 Arnold Classic in Columbus, OH. All six of those men are among the elite bodybuilders qualified to compete in the Olympia in November.

Featured Image: SAMSON DAUDA on YouTube

The post Samson Dauda Trains Shoulders and Calves During 2023 Mr. Olympia Prep 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 May 12-13, 2023, while champions like Michael Daboul (Classic Physique) were crowned during the official Pittsburgh Pro, Derek Lunsford, Nick Walker, Samson Dauda, Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay, Hunter Labrada, and Shaun Clarida all guest-posed during the contest. The only notable absence, especially in the current Men’s Open pantheon, was defending Mr. Olympia champion Hadi Choopan. With nothing officially on the line for the slate of elite competitors, these six men still appeared on stage to tease how their sterling physiques are coming along for the 2023 Mr. Olympia in Orlando, FL, this early November.

Amongst the guest posers at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro, Lunsford might be the presumed biggest contender to Choopan’s title. Lunsford is in the midst of training to improve upon a runner-up result in his first-ever appearance in the Men’s Open division at the 2022 Mr. Olympia. One of Lunsford’s main rivals, Nick Walker, believes the former 212 champion (2021) should be favored to win the 2023 Mr. Olympia. Bodybuilding legend Ronnie Coleman has also expressed his faith in Lunsford, anointing him as one of the next big things in the sport after a recent collaborative training session.

Walker’s faith in Lunsford is notable, given his status as one of bodybuilding’s top modern stars. Walker finished in third place at the 2022 Mr. Olympia and followed that up with a runner-up result at the 2023 Arnold Classic (AC). If anyone finally seems poised to break through from this field, it might be Walker.

Meanwhile, the 2023 AC victor, Samson Dauda, has started to receive hype as a legitimate Olympia titan. Icons like Jay Cutler have expressed that Dauda could be one of bodybuilding’s next big stars. It’s a label of high expectations that Dauda has not taken lightly. There’s also Elssbiay, who is coming off a disappointing sixth-place result at the 2022 Mr. Olympia after vying for a historic three-peat. The former two-time defending Olympia champion (2021, 2022) had previously skipped guest-posing at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro and now appeared to be trying to build momentum toward another Olympia victory this November.

Labrada is in a similar position to Elssbiay, though he doesn’t have the resume of past Olympia victories to lean on. The athlete has expressed profound disappointment in his 2022 Olympia performance and vowed to have a more streamlined physique in 2023 in hopes of a huge rebound.

To round out this guest-posing group, Clarida, a two-time 212 champion (2020, 2022), will not be competing in the Men’s Open division at the 2023 Olympia. The athlete wishes to eventually break James “Flex” Lewis’s record of seven 212 Olympia titles (2012-2018) and will exclusively focus his efforts on that mission moving forward.

Discerning the precise favorites for the 2023 Mr. Olympia would likely be impossible off one guest-posing appearance. Nonetheless, some of the top contenders for the tentpole contest made it a point to appear in Pittsburgh and show off what they might bring to the table in November.

With that, one of the unofficial first significant steps en route to this year’s Olympia is now in the rearview mirror.

Featured image: dereklunsford_ on Instagram

The post Derek Lunsford and Other Olympia Contenders Display Their Off-Season Mass Guest-Posing at 2023 Pittsburgh Pro appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Apr. 8, 2023, during the 10X Ben Weider 2023 contest in Maidenhead, UK, Dauda appeared as a guest poser on stage. Even while the rising superstar didn’t formally compete, it’s still apparent his ongoing training is paying off with a hulking physique. A short clip of Dauda’s impressive posing was shared on Instagram via photographer Viktor Källberg (@vkallbergphoto).

Dauda’s guest posing appearance is probably more of a culmination than an outright shock to anyone who has paid attention to his recent exploits. His reflection speaks more to someone who has their eye on a bigger prize while hoping to leave the ladder behind for peers who could follow in his footsteps.

He’s no longer an “outsider,” so to speak.

“We had such an amazing time at [the 10X] Ben Weider Pro qualifier this past weekend,” Dauda wrote on Instagram. “It was motivating watching up and coming athletes battle it out showing us all how hard they’ve worked to take the stage and earn their pro cards. It was truly a great event and a fun day.”

After winning the 2023 AC, there’s a clear pattern to a meteoric rise for Dauda.

According to NPC News Online, Dauda’s first notable appearance on the scene might be his second-place finish at the 2020 Monsterzym Pro and a top-five result at the 2020 Europa Pro, respectively. Dauda would follow that competitive year by finishing in at least the top three in each of the 2021 Arnold Classic UK, the 2021 Yamamoto Pro, and the 2021 Romania Muscle Fest Pro.

Then, in 2022, after earning his first-ever berth to an Olympia contest, the bodybuilder finished in sixth place behind notable titans like eventual champion Hadi Choopan, runner-up Derek Lunsford, and third-place finisher Nick Walker.

All of that said, Dauda’s 2023 AC triumph appears to have acted as an early-career zenith. It’s no wonder some bodybuilding icons have begun to hype up his 2023 Olympia victory chances. It’s also no shock that Dauda is feeding into the hype, using the pressure of higher expectations as motivation to follow through on his recent momentum.

Until his 2023 AC win, Dauda would have had to earn a new roster berth for the 2023 Olympia. Instead, the AC victory not only gave him qualification for the 2023 flagship contest, it built his profile. It elevated the reputation he now possesses as an elite bodybuilder and gave him breathing room to focus on climbing the tallest summit in bodybuilding.

Something says this recent guest posing appearance won’t be the last jaw-dropping Olympia teaser Dauda shares with his contemporaries.

Featured image: @samson__dauda on Instagram

The post Samson Dauda Resembles a Massive Titan While Guest Posing at 10X Ben Weider 2023 appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Apr. 1, 2023, Dauda appeared in a video interview with RxMuscle. After discussing his mentality and what went into his 2023 AC victory performance, Dauda looked ahead to bodybuilding’s tentpole contest. This November in Orlando, FL, the athlete wants to win the 2023 Mr. Olympia and notch the legendary milestone.

A British native of Nigerian descent, Dauda seemed to beam with pride when reflecting on his AC win. Beforehand, the gravitas of the moment of being the first British man to win one of bodybuilding’s biggest competitions was not lost on him.

Dauda used it well as motivation.

“At one point [before the 2023 Arnold Classic], I was training with one of my friends, we stopped and talked, going, ‘What British guy has ever won the Arnold Classic before?’” Dauda said. “We ran through it and checked out names and stuff like that and actually no British bodybuilder has ever won it before. He says, ‘Damn, wouldn’t it be cool if you ended up being the first one?’ At that moment, it clicked on me, now that is a mantle to have. That will be amazing. It fired me up a bit.”

In the months ahead, Dauda understands he’s no longer underrated. Winning the AC put him on the map and put his career under an even larger microscope, as expectations will now be accordingly elevated.

The athlete seemed to relish in this new reality.

“Having now been the topic of conversation, it fired me up even more,” Dauda explained. “There’s this thing about pressure; they say pressure will either break pipes or make diamonds. I know for me, the more pressure I get, the more I push myself to live up to it. Now, we’re going into the [2023] Olympia with the biggest expectations and pressure we’ve ever had. I’m already hungry.”

When the dust settles, this might be one of the best Men’s Open divisions in bodybuilding history. It’ll be a tall order for any number of competitors like defending champion Hadi Choopan, Derek Lunsford, Nick Walker, or Dauda to come out on top.

Dauda understands the challenge ahead. He knows there’s only one task left on his plate.

To win.

“With every step up, every expectation we climb above, the more I expect,” Dauda said. “For me, this is like, okay, we just won the Arnold [Classic], there ain’t nothing else. We got to go for the Olympia. We want that win. We want that Sandow [Trophy]. For me, this is my own expectation. We are winning the Olympia this year.” 

Featured image: @samson_dauda on Instagram

The post Samson Dauda is Ready to Climb the 2023 Olympia Mountain appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Mar. 26. 2023, during a YouTube episode of the Cutler Cast, Cutler discussed the state of the Men’s Open with his talent manager Matthew M. Daniels. The discussion saw the four-time Mr. Olympia (2006-2007, 2009-2010) express that he believes the current cadre of Men’s Open competitors is the best shape it’s been in since the 1990s.

Cutler’s thoughts about the 2020s Men’s Open compared to the 1990s are high praise. Some would find it challenging to see similarities to an era that featured eight-time Mr. Olympia (1998-2005) Ronnie Coleman, six-time Olympia winner (1992-1997) Dorian Yates and four-time Arnold Classic (AC) Champion (1993, 1997, 1998, 2000) Ken “Flex” Wheeler.

Cutler doesn’t have such qualms.

He thinks a group led by defending Olympia champion Hadi Choopan, runner-up Derek Lunsford, third-place finisher Nick Walker, and rising star (2023 Arnold Classic winner) Samson Dauda is bound to have more than a few close battles. Especially at the 2023 Mr. Olympia.

“Hadi [Choopan] is going to be very difficult to beat [at the 2023 Olympia],” Cutler said. “People forget quick, man. You guys got to remember, he’s knocked at that door and he kicked that thing in. Not even, you know, a better overall look, but what he is capable of … I think Derek [Lunsford] is going to be tremendously better and Samson [Dauda] peaked once already this year … it’s tough. And Nick Walker is even more hungry now.” 

Choopan, Lunsford, Dauda, and Walker aren’t the only potential top contenders. There’s still former two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay to consider, along with 2019 Mr. Olympia and 2022 Arnold Classic winner Brandon Curry. The list of stars capable of winning the sport’s biggest title seemingly never ends.

It’s why Cutler thinks these men are right on par with the time of athletes like Coleman, Yates, and Wheeler.

“We’re falling back into that ’90s era of competitive [bodybuilding],” Cutler said. “We’re still not talking about Hunter Labrada, who I feel could be in the mix … There’s a lot of excluded people that we’re still excited about … We’re excited about an Open class, which I think fell off for a minute because the old guard was going out, and now the new guard has come in and a lot of new guys are solidifying positions now. It’s making it exciting again.” 

The margins of victory can be so slim in a sport like bodybuilding. Every competitor in the Men’s Open division certainly understands that fact. Cutler’s analysis of the state of this class might only be the tip of the iceberg for the coming shows it’ll put on.

Featured image: @hadi_choopan on Instagram

The post Jay Cutler Believes Bodybuilding’s Men’s Open is Returning to Its Greatest Era appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Mar. 23, 2023, the National Physique Committee (NPC) organizers of the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro revealed who will be guest posing during this year’s competition the weekend of May 12-13. Here is an overview of big names who are expected to show off an early spring look at their physique with nothing tangible on the line:

2023 Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing Athletes

• Derek Lunsford — 2022 Mr. Olympia runner-up
• Nick Walker — 2022 Olympia third-place finisher
• Samson Dauda — 2023 Arnold Classic (AC) winner
• Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay — Two-time Mr. Olympia (2020-2021)
• Shaun Clarida — Two-time 212 Olympia winner (2020, 2022)
• Hunter Labrada
• Rafael Brandao

Reigning four-time Classic Physique Olympia champion (2019-2022) Chris Bumstead has also been announced to make a special appearance, but he is not expected to guest pose.

Save for the defending Mr. Olympia, Hadi Choopan, this list of guest posers at the latest Pittsburgh Pro is arguably a laundry list of potential contenders for the next Mr. Olympia title. There could always be an unexpected dark horse making a run out of the blue, but one of these names (with Choopan included) will likely be the 2023 Olympia victor.

Assuredly, there is no shortage of storylines leading into this first look at most of the main 2023 Mr. Olympia slate.

For Lunsford, after successfully transitioning from the 212 division, the athlete will now likely be pulling out all the stops to win his first Mr. Olympia title. Taking home a runner-up in his first Men’s Open try might have only been the start of a fruitful career in the top bodybuilding class. When it comes to Walker, “The Mutant” has submitted relatively disappointing performances of late. Two consecutive podium results at the 2022 Olympia and 2023 AC are nothing to sneeze at, but Walker expected to win. That makes what he brings to the stage in Orlando potentially even more exciting.

Elssbiay returns to guest pose at the Pittsburgh Pro after skipping the 2022 iteration. The former two-time Olympia champion has recently dipped a bit, performance-wise, and could be using the Pittsburgh Pro as a way to build some momentum heading into another Olympia appearance in the fall. Dauda surprised the bodybuilding world with his new AC title, but some established icons don’t think any coming victories will be much of a shock anymore. He’s undoubtedly seemed to establish himself as a household name.

Finally, amongst the main pantheon featured at the Pittsburgh Pro, Clarida will likely just be moonlighting guest posing among Men’s Open contenders as he pushes for a 212 Olympia title record. It doesn’t appear “The Giant Killer” will be slaying any of the athletes on stage in a primary competition any time soon. As for Labrada, after finishing in seventh place at the 2022 Olympia, he didn’t seem to be contending well with the outside noise. The athlete has been planning a streamlined physique in 2023, which he might show a glimpse of in the early stages in May.

At the time of this article’s publication, it is unclear what role Bumstead plans to play at the Pittsburgh Pro given that he isn’t guest posing. However, having another superstar on hand is always welcome by fans.

From a competitive perspective, nothing meaningful is on the line for any of these dynamos at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro. They are merely there to partly provide a public update on their training progress while fulfilling IFBB appearance “obligations” of sorts. That said, seeing the current elite mix of Men’s Open bodybuilders is one rousing way to stir up debate and draw attention before they actually duke it out on stage later this year.

Featured image: @npcifbbpropittsburgh on Instagram

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