All Posts By Muscle Insider
Board Certified PHD
Jay Cutler Shares Keys for Building a Full Chest & Top 3 Movements for Monster Delts
Legendary bodybuilder Jay Cutler ruled the roost during his Men’s Open pro career. Although he hung up his posing trunks years ago, he still stays connected with the bodybuilding community. In recent videos uploaded on YouTube, Cutler shared the keys to building a full chest. In addition, he offered his three favorite movements for developing monster delts.
Jay Cutler dominated the Men’s Open class with freakish muscle mass, size, and conditioning. He enjoyed a successful career that saw him win three Arnold Classic titles and four Mr. Olympias. He’s credited for sharing one of the fiercest rivalries in the sport against fellow bodybuilding icon Ronnie Coleman, whom he dethroned for his maiden Sandow trophy in 2006. He decided to move on from competition after a final sixth-place finish at the 2013 Mr. Olympia.
Cutler lends his voice to the trending topics of bodybuilding. In March 2023, Cutler weighed in on the results of the 2023 Arnold Classic, where Samson Dauda won the title in a close-fought contest. Cutler believes the competition was razor-thin and any of the top four could have got the nod. With the rise of more aesthetic contenders in the Open, Cutler sees a bright future ahead for the division.
Cutler has not lost his passion for working out. He continues to train regularly and is working on improving his physique for the ‘Fit for 50’ body transformation challenge. He gave fans a look into his preparations with an insanely shredded physique update weeks ago. Then, he laid out his training/diet philosophy post-retirement and disclosed his plan to stick to TRT (testosterone replacement therapy).
Jay Cutler pushed back on the misrepresentation of steroid users in mainstream media recently. He also gave his take on whether Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson was natural. Looking closely, Jay theorized The Rock was likely using TRT to maintain his insane muscularity.
Earlier this month, Cutler offered the high-protein diet he was using for the transformation challenge. He also opened up about his ambitions to improve certain parts of his body, such as his legs, biceps, and lats.
Jay Cutler shares keys for building a full chest
In a recent YouTube clip, Jay Cutler shared some crucial tips for filling out a stubborn chest. He highlighted the importance of isolation movements and concentrating during reps to get the best results.
“My most stubborn muscle to overcome was my chest,” said Cutler. “Now, I had really wide shoulders so my shoulders took the place of a lot of my pressing moment so I had a chest that started from the bottom and ended halfway up. I had to focus really on a lot of dumbbell work, really concentration. I mean pushups can be a great exercise to stimulate your pecs.
“But at the same time remember focus on your repetitions, stick to your incline movements and sometimes those isolateral movements where you’re doing one side at a time can be very beneficial to developing the full chest look.”
Cutler shares 3 exercises for monster delts
The 49-year-old offered three of his favorite exercises that helped him build some of the biggest shoulders in bodybuilding.
“Top three delt movements,” said Cutler. “I had some of the biggest delts in bodybuilding when I was at my reign for Mr. Olympia. So I always was focused on number one, my rear delts movement. So my rear cables, crossovers was my go-to exercise. I also did the bent-over lateral dumbbell movement which was very great for developing the shoulders.
“But we can’t get away from the most important, which is the seated side lateral raise, which will give you that huge cap in the delts. You guys want to walk around and go sideways through the door, make sure you do these three movements.”
Jay Cutler provided a quad-stomp-inspired lower-body training routine a week ago. He plans to cut down his body fat to the 6-8% range by the end of the year. He followed that up with an unreal physique update showing off his latest progress.
You can watch the full videos below.
RELATED: Jay Cutler: “Since Ronnie Coleman Stepped Away, I Don’t Know If Anyone Has Come Close to His Physique”
Published: 18 May, 2023 | 12:03 AM EDT
2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic Events Revealed
The 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic is the next major Strongman competition, as it will take place on July 8th, 2023, at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England. The one day competition is set to be one of the most entertaining shows of the year as the competitors are preparing to battle in front of the sold out arena. It was already revealed that this year will feature the greatest roster of athletes so far, but now the five events for the competition have been announced on Giants Live’s Instagram.
The 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic will only last one day, so having to perform five events in a row will be brutal for the competitors. Nonetheless, one-day competitions are known to be the most exciting, as athletes do not approach the competition with too much calculation. Instead, they may go all out and give everything they have from the beginning to the end.
The Strongman Classic’s five events have now been revealed. Athletes can begin preparing to give it all they’ve got.
2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic Events
Nicol Stone Carry
Super Yoke
Axle Deadlift
Viking Press
Castle Stones
Related: Eddie Hall & Martins Licis Revealed as Captains for 2023 World’s Strongest Nation
Event One — Nicol Stone Carry
The 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic will open up with one of the most painstaking events in the sport, the Nicol Stone Carry. The athletes will be tasked with picking up and carrying two stones for the maximum distance possible. The heavier stone will weigh 138 kilograms (304 pounds), and the lighter stone will weigh 114 kilograms (251 pounds). So, the total will come out to 252 kilograms (555.5 pounds).
Kevin Faires is without a doubt the main favorite for this event, as he holds the World Record of 24 meters. However, Mitchell Hooper has also proved quite good in events similar to this one. So, surprises may happen.
Event Two — Super Yoke
Moving onto the second event, the athletes will find themselves under the Super Yoke, which will most likely weigh in excess of 400 kilograms (881 pounds). They will pick up the Super Yoke and once again carry it for distance. This will be especially hard after the Nicol Stone Carry, since both are based on endurance.
There is a plethora of quick athletes in the lineup, but the most notable ones are Mitchell Hooper, Oleksii Novikov, and Evan Singleton. However, it wouldn’t be a surprise if someone else takes the win.
Event Three — Axle Deadlift
Marking the midway point of the 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic will be the Axle Deadlift. Although the weight for the deadlift has not been specified, it is likely that Giants Live will load it with a certain weight and task the athletes with performing as many repetitions as possible.
This is another event where there is no clear favorite, as many of the participants are incredible deadlifters.
Event Four — Viking Press
The penultimate event will shift the focus on the upper body strength, as the Viking Press will task the athletes with completing as many reps of an overhead press on a custom built machine. The weight for this event has not been revealed.
There is one clear favorite for this event and it is the Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou. His shoulder strength is unparalleled, as he holds multiple World Records. The next greatest overhead presser in the lineup seems to be Luke Stoltman.
Atlas Stones
As is the case in the majority of Giants Live competitions, the Atlas Stones will be the final event of the 2023 Strongman Classic. It is arguably the most iconic Strongman event in history, featuring a series of progressively heavier stones which have to be lifted onto their platforms as quickly as possible.
Again, Tom Stoltman is the obvious favorite in this event, as it is difficult to imagine him not winning. The rest of the field, however, is similarly strong for this event, which makes it possible for any athlete to claim second place.
Related: Ronnie Coleman Reacts to Brian Shaw’s Most Insane Strongman Lifts: ‘Holy Sh*t’
2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic Roster
Oleksii Novikov (Ukraine)
Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou (Burkina Faso)
Pavlo Kordiyaka (Ukraine)
Luke Stoltman (Scotland)
Eddie Williams (Australia)
Pavlo Nakonechnyy (Ukraine)
Mitchell Hooper (Canada)
Tom Stoltman (Scotland)
Evan Singleton (USA)
Rongo Keene (Australia)
Spenser Remick (USA)
Kevin Faires (USA)
Oleksii Novikov was the champion at the 2022 Strongman Classic, but he will have an extremely difficult task defending his title. He is now accompanied by two more WSM champions, Tom Stoltman and Mitchell Hooper, with a bunch of other pumped up Strongmen. The athletes now know what the events will be. So, it remains to be seen who prepares the best.
Published: 17 May, 2023 | 6:41 PM EDT
Arnold Schwarzenegger ‘Plans to Live Forever,’ Reflects on Aging, Retirement: ‘I Used to Be the Best Built Man’
Bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger will go down in the history books as one of the greatest competitors of all time. He was the first true superstar to break out of bodybuilding into the mainstream with a stellar physique. In a recent The Hollywood Reporter interview, Schwarzenegger shared his thoughts on the evolution of his physique with age and his ‘plans to live forever.’
Arnold Schwarzenegger first made a name for himself in bodybuilding with an aesthetic blend of muscle, shape, and symmetry in the 1970s. He came out on top of the 1970 Mr. Olympia and enjoyed a commanding reign that saw him ultimately become a seven-time champ.
He hung up his posing trunks after securing his seventh Sandow trophy in 1980. Besides competition, Schwarzenegger was known for his charismatic and brash personality, which was put on full display in the 1977 bodybuilding docudrama Pumping Iron. The film boosted his star power and the sport’s notoriety.
Following a decorated career, Schwarzenegger made his way to Hollywood and found success with starring roles in numerous box-office hits, including Conan the Barbarian (1982), The Terminator (1984), and Commando (1985).
Schwarzenegger often encourages his massive fanbase to stay healthy. He educated them on the benefits of using caffeine to boost workout performance. He encouraged using it as a pre-workout and cautioned against consuming it too close to bedtime.
In March 2023, Schwarzenegger suggested switching out whole food meals with meal replacement drinks to aid in losing weight. He highlighted the importance of counting calories appropriately, which is easier with shakes that provide accurate nutritional information as opposed to cooked food.
Arnold Schwarzenegger laid out a challenging nine-minute abs workout made up entirely of bodyweight exercises two months ago. He also discussed the advantages of using bodyweight movements to improve heart health and lower body strength. Then, he offered a brutal training routine for building muscle using self-limiting movements with no weights. Additionally, he gave fans a detailed and quick five-minute workout designed to be used in the mornings or as a warm-up.
Arnold Schwarzenegger opens up on dislike for aging & his physique at age 75
In a recent interview, Arnold Schwarzenegger shared his thoughts on the evolution of his physique at 75. He explained that it’s been difficult to accept his body considering his status as a former bodybuilding great.
When asked what he likes about his 75-year-old body, he responded, “Nothing!”
“My whole life I look at the mirror and see the best-built man, and all of a sudden I see a bunch of crap,” said Schwarzenegger. “It’s terrible! You get these wrinkles under your eyes. You get wrinkles under your pecs. You see the fucking poodle! Budle. It’s Austrian for your stomach sticking out. Where the fuck did that come from? It’s not pleasurable. But you cope with it.”
Schwarzenegger ‘plans to live forever’
‘The Austrian Oak’ revealed he continues to train regularly and enjoys entertaining people. He wants to keep going strong and has no plans to retire anytime soon, if ever.
“I still work out every day, I ride my bike every day, and I make movies — show business is another part of my life,” said Schwarzenegger. “I add in my life, I never subtract. I don’t need money. I get money because you have to have a certain value and the agents negotiate. But I have a great time doing it. I love everything that I do. There’s no retiring. I’m still on this side of the grass, so I’m happy. My plan is to live forever — and so far, so good!”
Arnold Schwarzenegger gave his take on optimizing sleep for weight loss three weeks ago. He encouraged sleeping longer than six hours and ideally, about eight hours, to ensure a lower weight based on research conducted by Harvard scientists.
RELATED: Arnold Schwarzenegger Apologizes For The ‘Screw Your Freedom’ Remark: ‘I’m Sorry For Saying Those Words’
Schwarzenegger teamed up with comedians Bert Kreischer and Fortune Feimster for a back and chest training session earlier this week.
Published: 17 May, 2023 | 6:15 PM EDT
Mike O’Hearn & Injured Hafthor Bjornsson Use Tom Platz-Inspired Workout for Ligament Strength
Mike O’Hearn and Hafthor Bjornsson, two titans of strength, met up for a special collaboration on leg day. In a recent YouTube video, O’Hearn guided Bjornsson through a brutal hack squat variation as the former strongman recovers from a pec tear injury.
At 53 years old, Mike O’Hearn has become somewhat of a legend in the fitness industry for his maintenance of mass, power, and strength. In addition, he’s kept up with a remarkably ripped physique for over three decades.
With experience in bodybuilding and strongman, O’Hearn doesn’t shy away from fitness challenges. He has trained with plenty of notable figures in bodybuilding and strongman, including four-time WSM legend Brian Shaw, who recently announced his retirement from the sport.
In April, former strongman star Hafthor Bjornsson suffered a painful pec tear on his third attempt at trying to bench press 556.7 pounds. While Hafthor revealed his upper chest was torn off the bone, he’s not letting the setback stop him from working out completely.
Mike O’Hearn Guides Injured Hafthor Bjornsson Through Longevity Leg Workout Created by Tom Platz
O’Hearn used the hack squat machine to demonstrate a technique he learned from Tom Platz. Platz, known as the ‘The Quadfather,’ possessed some of the best legs in bodybuilding history.
“That is a quad, that’s a teardrop at the knee, keep it healthy, they’re going to freak out, ‘What? How is that healthy?’ Because we’re stressing. Remember what we talked about, load the joints. The muscle is only so strong. The joints is God’s gift. I’m trying to force it, the joints and ligaments around the knee to be so strong. I learned this in 1989, Tom Platz, training with him from 89 to the early 90s, this is something he lived with.”
“I could see at that stage how strong his connective tissue [was], his legs were enormous, Tom Platz, great legs, but his knees were so healthy. That’s again, another fun exercise that somebody your size that’s a rarity to see that kind of movement. So we’ll do a moderate and see where we can find stress in the knee in a safe position.”
Hafthor was impressed with O’Hearn’s variation of the hack squat, where he utilized a wedge to place his feet at an angle.
“He’s just so focused each and every rep every set, he manages in the moment, everything with his muscles, the tightness of the squeeze,” Hafthor said about O’Hearn.
O’Hearn highlighted why the technique is so effective for quad training.
“I don’t know if you guys can see it at home, the difference between, you’re still leading with the quads compared to leading with the hip,” O’Hearn said. “So the way he was doing it first of all, he was great for the first time doing it but it was still a hack squat because it wasn’t leading with the ass. The last couple of reps were beautiful because he was rotating the ass up, stretching the quads, and getting more isolation. It’s such an odd position.”
Even though they were lifting light weights, Bjornsson was surprised by the work rate.
“You feel like you’re working so hard but at the same time, it’s light weight. It’s a very interesting movement for sure, different, like I said, like I’ve never done before,” shared Hafthor.
Bjornsson asked if O’Hearn adds extra weight or keeps the workout light when on his own.
“I do add more and more but I want to try to get a better range of motion. On this one… this would be like a finisher for me, I’d hit my squats, I’d do like a leg press or a similarity squat, some kind of moderation – we have a like I said, kind of hack squat and then I’d do something like this at the end to kind of finish that leg out.”
“Stress done right will strengthen your body,” said O’Hearn. “The possibility of you being like this in 30 years… is a possibility, it really is. Where most people will go, I hit 30, I hit 35, I’m done, I’m only going to get older and weaker but that’s not the mentality you have.”
Before wrapping up the video, Hafthor explained how training has changed from his 20s to his 30s.
“In your 30s, you got to be more detailed, more prepared, and have everything lined up: nutrition, sleep, training, recovery, rest, everything has to be dialed in and I can’t even imagine, I know that every single day you’re doing whatever you can to even get 1% better,” Hafthor Bjornsson said.
This isn’t the first time Mike O’Hearn has led a longevity-inspired training session. He joined Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son, Joseph Baena recently, where they teamed up to attack a back training session. During the workout, O’Hearn shared that some of the movements they practiced could help Baena’s joints when he’s around his father’s age (75).
While the technique may differ from the norm, Mike O’Hearn is living evidence of his training practices and has employed these exercises for more than three decades.
RELATED: Hafthor Bjornsson Shares Intense Pre-Surgery Recovery Techniques for Gruesome Pec Tear
Watch the full video below from Mike O’Hearn’s YouTube channel:
Published: 17 May, 2023 | 4:09 PM EDT
An Ultimate Guide to Watching the 2023 CrossFit Semifinals
The 2023 CrossFit Semifinals are just around the corner, since the first out of the three consecutive competition weeks begins on May 18th. This serves as the final obstacle for everyone who got through the 2023 CrossFit Open & Quarterfinals, as the next stage is the 2023 CrossFit Games. So, some great battles will take place in the Semifinals and there is a way for you to watch them from the comfort of your home.
This year’s CrossFit Semifinals are divided into on-site competitions in seven regions. So, each region will feature their own competition and they will take place on varying dates. It is important to note that although there are seven Semifinal competitions, each of them will consist of the same tests (workouts) issued by CrossFit.
Related: Haley Adams Takes a Break From 2023 CrossFit Games For Mental And Physical Wellness
How To Watch The 2023 CrossFit Semifinals?
CrossFit is taking it upon themselves to organize livestreams for four out of the seven competitions. The competitions broadcasted by CrossFit will be: North America East, North America West, Europe, and Oceania Semifinals. These four competitions will be streamed on the official CrossFit Games website and the CrossFit Games App.
On the other hand, the Africa, Asia, and South America Semifinal livestreams will be put together by the organizers of the aforementioned events. The links for these three livestreams are not available yet, but we will add them here once they are.
However, only two out of the four days will see all events live streamed, as per the statement of CrossFit. They revealed that all workouts will be broadcasted on Thursdays and Sundays, while workouts One and Three from Friday and Saturday will not be live streamed.
“For the CrossFit-produced broadcast, you can watch all events for the team and individual divisions on Thursdays and Sundays. Coverage on Fridays and Saturdays will begin on the main field of play (11:45 a.m. local Friday and 11:30 a.m. local Saturday).
The events on the second field (Individual Tests 1 and 3, Team Test 3) won’t be streamed. Highlights of those events will be shared at the start of the livestreams each day.”
2023 CrossFit Semifinals Schedule
The 2023 CrossFit Semifinals will be taking place on weekends for three weeks in a row. Here are the dates for each Semifinal.
Week One
North America East Semifinal — May 18-21 (Orlando, FL, USA)
Africa Semifinal — May 19-21 (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Week Two
North America West Semifinal — May 25-28 (Pasadena, CA, USA)
Oceania Semifinal — May 26-28 (Tennyson, QLD, Australia)
South America Semifinal — May 26-28 (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Week Three
Europe Semifinal — June 1-4 (Berlin, Germany)
Asia Semifinal — June 2-4 (Busan, South Korea)
2023 CrossFit Semifinals Starting Times
Note: All of the starting times expressed below reflect the times of Semifinals in their region.
Thursday: 12:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Friday: 1:45 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday: 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sunday: 8:45 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Check Out The Rosters For Each Semifinal Here:
Related: A Look Into the Incredible New Mat Fraser’s HWPO CrossFit Gym
Only 40 men and 40 women will advance to the 2023 CrossFit Games from these Semifinals. So, each competition will see only a few athletes go through. Here is the distribution of qualifying spots for each Semifinal:
North America East Semifinal: 11 Women / 12 Men
Africa Semifinal: 1 Woman / 1 Man
North America West Semifinal: 10 Women / 9 Men
Oceania Semifinal: 3 Women / 3 Men
South America Semifinal: 2 Women / 2 Men
Europe Semifinal: 11 Women / 11 Men
Asia Semifinal: 2 Women / 2 Men
The 2023 CrossFit Games are set to take place from August 1-6, in Madison, Wisconsin once again. It’s hard to predict the outcome of the competition or who the favorites will be, as several of the top athletes have had to withdraw for various reasons.
The biggest upset is Tia-Clair Toomey who will not be appearing in the 2022 CrossFit games due to pregnancy. She recently gave birth to her daughter and will miss out on the biggest CrossFit competition after six years of sitting on the throne. However, Mal O’Brien, Ricky Garard, and some others have also withdrawn from this season already.
Published: 17 May, 2023 | 3:24 PM EDT
List of All-Time Powerlifting World Records In Raw & Equipped Divisions
Throughout history, there has always been a fascination and sense of satisfaction in witnessing people demonstrate their incredible strength. However, it was during the 1950s that the sport of powerlifting truly took off and captured the attention of enthusiasts worldwide. Since then, powerlifting has become increasingly popular and is currently enjoying its highest level of recognition and interest. So, we decided to make a list of every All-Time World Record in raw and equipped divisions.
Powerlifting consists of dozens of federations who host their own competitions and have their own records. On the other hand, the phrase “All-Time World Record” has a specific meaning when it comes to powerlifting records. It stands for the most weight that has ever been lifted successfully in a competition that was sanctioned by any international federation. This indicates that the record is acknowledged on a global scale and is not restricted to a particular organization or area.
There are four events in which an athlete can set an All-Time World Record, and those are the Squat, Bench Press, Deadlift, and Total. In addition, there are raw and equipped divisions, as well as multiple weight classes.
“Raw” powerlifting competitions typically allow athletes to wear lifting belts, singlets, wrist wraps, knee sleeves, and chalk. On the other hand, equipped powerlifting allows the use of pieces of equipment which have a much more significant impact on the weight of the lifts. Examples of “equipped” powerlifting are bench press shirts, squat suits, knee wraps, and more.
Raw Squat — Men
Ray Williams is the man who set the mark to beat on the raw squats, as he holds the All-Time World Record of 490 kilograms (1,080 pounds). He set this record at the 2019 USAPL Arnold SBD Pro American. While Ray set the record for his +140-kilogram weight class, it is also the heaviest raw squat across all 12 weight classes.
Top Five Across All Weight Classes
Ray Williams: 490 kilogram (1,080 pounds) — 2019
Jezza Uepa: 470 kilograms (1,036 pounds) — 2017
Jesus Olivares: 470 kilograms (1,036 pounds) — 2023
Craig Foster: 465 kilograms (1,025 pounds) — 2022
Daniel Bell: 455 kilograms (1,003 pounds) — 2020
Men’s Raw Squat — Weight Class ATWR
U52KG: Andrzej Stanaszek (290 kilograms / 639 pounds)
U56KG: Andrzej Stanaszek (292.5 kilograms / 644 pounds)
U60KG: Aleksey Nikulin (270 kilograms / 595 pounds)d
U67.5KG: Jonathan Garcia (271 kilograms / 597 pounds)
U75KG: Taylor Atwood (303 kilograms / 668 pounds)
U82.5KG: Jawon Garrison (345.5 kilograms / 761 pounds)
U90KG: Amit Sapir (365 kilograms / 804 pounds)
U100KG: Joe Sullivan (386 kilograms / 850 pounds)
U110KG: Phillip Herndon (395 kilograms / 870 pounds)
U125KG: Reece Fullwood (412.5 kilograms / 909 pounds)
U140KG: Shane Haller (420 kilograms / 929 pounds)
+140KG: Ray Williams (490 kilograms / 1,080 pounds)
Raw Squat — Women
Although April Mathis has held the World Record for over a decade, Bonica Brown managed to break it very recently. She did so by raw squatting 280 kilograms (617 pounds) at the 2023 IPF Sheffield Powerlifting Championships.
Top Five Across All Weight Classes
Bonica Brown: 280 kilogram (617 pounds) — 2023
April Mathis: 278.9 kilograms (615 pounds) — 2011
Amanda Martin: 275.5 kilograms (607 pounds) — 2021
Tamara Walcott: 272.5 kilograms (600 pounds) — 2022
Alexis Jones: 272.5 kilograms (600 pounds) — 2023
Women’s Raw Squat — Weight Class ATWR
U44KG: Stacia Cambra (122.5 kilograms / 270 pounds)
U48KG: Tiffany Chapon (161 kilograms / 254 pounds)
U52KG: Noémie Allabert (171.5 kilograms / 378 pounds)
U56KG: Marianna Gasparyan (220 kilograms / 485 pounds)
U60KG: Marianna Gasparyan (230 kilograms / 507 pounds)
U67.5KG: Marianna Gasparyan (225 kilograms / 496 pounds)
U75KG: Kristy Hawkins (265 kilograms / 584 pounds)
U82.5KG: Hunter Henderson (267.5 kilograms / 589 pounds)
U90KG: Samantha Rice (267.5 kilograms / 589 pounds)
+90KG: Bonica Brown (280 kilograms / 617 pounds)
Raw Bench Press — Men
Julius Maddox is unprecedented in the bench press event, as no one has even gotten close to him. There have been some unofficial lifts by athletes such as Danal Zamani, but when it comes to performing in a competition, Maddox is the greatest. So, he holds the raw bench press World Record of 355 kilograms (782 pounds), which he set at the 2021 WRPF Hybrid Showdown III.
Top Five Across All Weight Classes
Julius Maddox: 355 kilograms (782 pounds) — 2021
Kirill Sarychev: 335 kilograms (738 pounds) — 2015
Eric Spoto: 327.5 kilograms (722 pounds) — 2013
Thomas Davis: 325 kilograms (716 pounds) — 2021
Scot Mendelson: 324.3 kilograms (715 pounds) — 2005
Men’s Raw Bench Press — Weight Class ATWR
U52KG: Roland Ezuruike (200 kilograms / 440 pounds)
U56KG: Sherif Osman (207.5 kilograms / 457 pounds)
U60KG: Sherif Osman (211 kilograms / 465 pounds)
U67.5KG: Roman Eremashvili (228 kilograms / 502 pounds)
U75KG: Roman Eremashvili (245 kilograms / 540 pounds)
U82.5KG: Stanislav Milostnoy (250 kilograms / 551 pounds)
U90KG: Andrey Sapozhonkov (280 kilograms / 617 pounds)
U100KG: Oleg Perepechenov (290 kilograms / 639 pounds)
U110KG: Jeremy Hoornstra (305 kilograms / 672 pounds)
U125KG: Jeremy Hoornstra (306.1 kilograms / 675 pounds)
U140KG: Johnnie Harris (320 kilograms / 705 pounds)
+140KG: Julius Maddox (355 kilograms / 782 pounds)
Raw Bench Press — Women
Although she lost her squat World Record, April Mathis is still in possession of her 207.5-kilogram (457-pound) bench press world record. She set this at the 2016 SPF Gritmas Classic, meaning it has remained unchanged for the past seven years.
Top Five Across All Weight Classes
April Mathis: 207.5 kilograms (457 pounds) — 2016
Samanth DiBois: 181.4 kilograms (400 pounds) — 2016
Carina Davis: 180 kilograms (396 pounds) — 2021
Roberta Collins: 177.5 kilograms (391 pounds) — 2003
Jessica Springer: 177.5 kilograms (391 pounds) — 2020
Women’s Raw Bench Press — Weight Class ATWR
U44KG: Lucy Ogechukwu Ejike (127.5 kilograms / 281 pounds)
U48KG: Esther Osa Oyema (310 kilograms / 218 pounds)
U52KG: Esther Osa Oyema (133 kilograms / 293 pounds)
U56KG: Fatma Omar (143 kilograms / 315 pounds)
U60KG: Małgorzata Hałas-Koralewska (145 kilograms / 319 pounds)
U67.5KG: Natalya Samarina (153 kilograms / 337 pounds)
U75KG: Allison Hind (163.2 kilograms / 360 pounds)
U82.5KG: Shannon Nash (172.5 kilograms / 380 pounds)
U90KG: Małgorzata Kopiec (177.5 kilograms / 391 pounds)
+90KG: April Mathis (207.5 kilograms / 457 pounds)
Raw Deadlift — Men
Arguably the most impressive lift in powerlifting belongs to Danny Grigsby. He managed to deadlift 487.5 kilograms (1,074 pounds) at the 2022 WRPF American Pro, making him the closest man to break the half a ton barrier.
Top Five Across All Weight Classes
Danny Grigsby: 487.5 kilograms (1,074 pounds) — 2022
Benedikt Magnússon: 460.4 kilograms (1,015 pounds) — 2011
Jamal Browner: 455 kilograms (1,003 pounds) — 2022
Krzysztof Wierzbicki: 447.5 kilograms (986 pounds) — 2021
Yury Belkin: 445 kilograms (981 pounds) — 2022
Men’s Raw Deadlift — Weight Class ATWR
U52KG: Luis Sotelo (230 kilograms / 507 pounds)
U56KG: Dalton LaCoe (271.5 kilograms / 598 pounds)
U60KG: Maksim Chursanov (291 kilograms / 641 pounds)
U67.5KG: Nabil Lahlou (322.5 kilograms / 711 pounds)
U75KG: Chris Yip (350 kilograms / 771 pounds)
U82.5KG: Dmitry Nasonov (405 kilograms / 892 pounds)
U90KG: John Haack (410 kilograms / 903 pounds)
U100KG: Krzysztof Wierzbicki (433.5 kilograms / 955 pounds)
U110KG: Danny Grigsby (467.5 kilograms / 1,030 pounds)
U125KG: Danny Grigsby (487.5 kilograms / 1,074 pounds)
U140KG: Danny Grigsby (465 kilograms / 1,025 pounds)
+140KG: Benedikt Magnússon (460.4 kilograms / 1,015 pounds)
Raw Deadlift — Women
Tamara Walcott is the queen of raw deadlifts, as she has the heaviest pull in the history of women’s powerlifting. Her greatest deadlift came at the 2022 WRPF American Pro and weighed 290 kilograms (639 pounds). In addition, Tamara has ventured into the Strongman world and set deadlift records there as well.
Top Five Across All Weight Classes
Tamara Walcott: 290 kilograms (639 pounds) — 2022
Chakera Ingram: 282.5 kilograms (622 pounds) — 2018
Samantha Rice: 280 kilograms (617 pounds) — 2023
Kristy Hawkins: 275 kilograms (606 pounds) — 2021
Brianny Terry: 275 kilograms (606 pounds) — 2022
Women’s Raw Deadlift — Weight Class ATWR
U44KG: Payal Ghosh (170 kilograms / 374 pounds)
U48KG: Heather Connor (192.5 kilograms / 424 pounds)
U52KG: Jenn Rotsinger (202.5 kilograms / 446 pounds)
U56KG: Stefanie Cohen (230 kilograms / 507 pounds)
U60KG: Whitney Baxley (236 kilograms / 520 pounds)
U67.5KG: Galina Abramova (250 kilograms / 551 pounds)
U75KG: Kristy Hawkins (275 kilograms / 606 pounds)
U82.5KG: Chakera Ingram (282.5 kilograms / 622 pounds)
U90KG: Samantha Rice (280 kilograms / 617 pounds)
+90KG: Tamara Walcott (290 kilograms / 639 pounds)
Raw Total — Men
Jesus Olivares is the newest record holder in the Raw Total event. He set the record just a few months ago at the 2023 IPF Sheffield Powerlifting Championships by totaling 1,152.5 kilograms (2,540 pounds). In addition, he set the record at a drug-tested meet, which adds to its value.
Top Five Across All Weight Classes
Jesus Olivares: 1,152.5 kilograms (2,540 pounds) — 2023
Daniel Bell: 1,127.5 kilograms (2,485 pounds) — 2020
Ray Williams: 1,112.5 kilograms (2,452 pounds) — 2019
Josh Morris: 1,077.5 kilograms (2,375 pounds) — 2017
Thomas Davis: 1,077.5 kilograms (2,375 pounds) — 2021
Men’s Raw Total — Weight Class ATWR
U52KG: Andrzej Stanaszek (600 kilograms / 1,322 pounds)
U56KG: Precious McKenzie (610 kilograms / 1,344 pounds)
U60KG: Sergey Fedosienko (670.5 kilograms / 1,478 pounds)
U67.5KG: Michael Estrella (738 kilograms / 1,627 pounds)
U75KG: Taylor Atwood (838.5 kilograms / 1,848 pounds)
U82.5KG: Blake Lehew (915 kilograms / 2,017 pounds)
U90KG: John Haack (1,022.5 kilograms /2,254 pounds)
U100KG: John Haack (1,030 kilograms / 2,270 pounds)
U110KG: Jamal Browner (1,052.5 kilograms / 2,320 pounds)
U125KG: Zac Meyers (1,055 kilograms / 2,325 pounds)
U140KG: Larry Williams (1,075 kilograms / 2,275 pounds)
+140KG: Jesus Olivares (1,152.5 kilograms / 2,540 pounds)
Raw Total — Women
Tamara Walcott appears once more on the list of All-Time World Records for the Raw Total event. She accumulated 735 kilograms (1,620 pounds) across three events at the 2022 WRPF American Pro, which is more than anyone has done before her.
Top Five Across All Weight Classes
Tamara Walcott: 735 kilograms (1,620 pounds) — 2022
April Mathis: 730.2 kilograms (1,610 pounds) — 2011
Samantha Rice: 702.5 kilograms (1,548 pounds) — 2023
Alexis Jones: 701 kilograms (1,154 pounds)— 2023
Chakera Ingram: 692.5 kilograms (1,521 pounds) — 2018
Women’s Raw Total — Weight Class ATWR
U44KG: Stacia Cambra (355 kilograms / 782 pounds)
U48KG: Tiffany Chapon (428.5 kilograms / 944 pounds)
U52KG: Jenn Rotsinger (465 kilograms / 1,025 pounds)
U56KG: Marianna Gasparyan (552.5 kilograms / 1,218 pounds)
U60KG: Marianna Gasparyan (580 kilograms / 1,278 pounds)
U67.5KG: Marianna Gasparyan (570 kilograms / 1,256 pounds)
U75KG: Kristy Hawkins (687.5 kilograms / 1,151 pounds)
U82.5KG: Chakera Ingram (692.5 kilograms / 1,526 pounds)
U90KG: Samantha Rice (702.5 kilograms / 1,548 pounds)
+90KG: Tamara Walcott (735 kilograms / 1,620 pounds)
Equipped Squat — Men
The equipped squat of Nathan Baptist was truly a unique sight to see, as his 595-kilogram (1,311-pound) squat is the heaviest in this division. He landed it at the 2021 UPA Utah Kick Off Meet no one came close to it for three years now.
Top Five Across All Weight Classes
Nathan Baptist: 595 kilograms (1,311 pounds) — 2021
Brian Carroll: 592.5 kilograms (1,306 pounds) — 2020
Dave Hoff: 577.5 kilograms (1,273 pounds) — 2019
Jonas Rantanen: 575 kilograms (1,267 pounds) — 2011
Donnie Thompson: 573.7 kilograms (1,265 pounds) — 2011
Men’s Equipped Squat — Weight Class ATWR
U52KG: Andrzej Stanaszek (300.5 kilograms / 662 pounds)
U56KG: Jeremy Smith (317.5 kilograms / 700 pounds)
U60KG: Gerard McNamara (342.5 kilograms / 755 pounds)
U67.5KG: Alex Kovatch (378.7 kilograms / 835 pounds)
U75KG: Wes McCormick (412.5 kilograms / 909 pounds)
U82.5KG: Kalle Räsänen (450 kilograms / 992 pounds)
U90KG: Kalle Räsänen (486 kilograms / 1,071 pounds)
U100KG: Sam Byrd (498.9 kilograms / 1,100 pounds)
U110KG: Chris Della Fave (526.1 kilograms / 1,160 pounds)
U125KG: Dave Hoff (548.8 kilograms / 1,210 pounds)
U140KG: Brian Carroll (592.3 kilograms / 1,306 pounds)
+140KG: Nathan Baptist (595 kilograms / 1,311.7 pounds)
Equipped Squat — Women
Leah Reichman stands alone at the top of the women’s division for the equipped squat, as she has lifted almost 50 kilograms (110 pounds) more than anyone else. Thus, she holds the World Record of 432.5 kilograms (953 pounds), having set it at the 2023 APF Womens Pro/Am.
Top Five Across All Weight Classes
Leah Reichman: 432.5 kilograms (953 pounds) — 2023
Becca Swanson: 387.5 kilograms (854 pounds) — 2005
Crystal Tate: 369.6 kilograms (815 pounds) — 2019
Amber Hansen: 367.5 kilograms (810 pounds) — 2023
Jordan Buchla: 353.8 kilograms (780 pounds) — 2022
Women’s Equipped Squat — Weight Class ATWR
U44KG: Reema Kumari (182.5 kilograms / 402 pounds)
U48KG: Marianne Kosonen (222.5 kilograms / 490 pounds)
U52KG: Marianne Kosonen (255 kilograms / 562 pounds)
U56KG: Jenna Odziana (272.5 kilograms / 600 pounds)
U60KG: Brianda Romero (285 kilograms / 628 pounds)
U67.5KG: Heidi Howar (310.7 kilograms / 685 pounds)
U75KG: Laura Phelps-Stackhouse (351.5 kilograms / 775 pounds)
U82.5KG: Anna McCloskey (351.5 kilograms / 775 pounds)
U90KG: Amber Hansen (367.5 kilograms / 810 pounds)
+90KG: Leah Reichman (432.5 kilograms / 953 pounds)
Equipped Bench Press — Men
The award for the most dominant World Record goes to Jimmy Kolb, who has managed to surpass his closest rival by almost 100 kilograms (220 pounds). Jimmy has done this in the equipped bench press event with his 612.5-kilogram (1,350-pound) World Record. He set this record at the 2023 IPA Hillbilly Havoc.
Top Five Across All Weight Classes
Jimmy Kolb: 612.5 kilograms (1,350 pounds) — 2023
Will Barotti: 521.6 kilograms (1,150 pounds) — 2022
Rich Putnam: 514.8 kilograms (1,135 pounds) — 2022
Mike Womack: 513.5 kilograms (1,132 pounds) — 2022
Bill Gillespie: 512.5 kilograms (1,129 pounds) — 2022
Men’s Equipped Bench Press — Weight Class ATWR
U52KG: Vladimir Balynets (190 kilograms / 418 pounds)
U56KG: Jeremy Smith (226.8 kilograms / 500 pounds)
U60KG: Eric Head (227.5 kilograms / 501 pounds)
U67.5KG: Kevin Harmon (276.6 kilograms / 610 pounds)
U75KG: Harley Sanders (322.5 kilograms / 711 pounds)
U82.5KG: Rob Forell (412.7 kilograms / 910 pounds)
U90KG: Rob Forell (453.5 kilograms / 1,000 pounds)
U100KG: Rob Forell (455.8 kilograms / 1,005 pounds)
U110KG: Greg Powell (500 kilograms / 1,102 pounds)
U125KG: Doug Smithey (499 kilograms / 1,100 pounds)
U140KG: Rich Putnam (514.8 kilograms / 1,135 pounds)
+140KG: Jimmy Kolb (612.5 kilograms / 1,350 pounds)
Equipped Bench Press — Women
The contention for the women’s equipped bench press World record has always been stacked, but Rea-Ann Miller has recently made a giant leap forward. She bench pressed 294.8 kilograms (650 pounds) at the 2023 MM Bench for Wolfe II and claimed the World Record.
Top Five Across All Weight Classes
Rae-Ann Miller: 294.8 kilograms (650 pounds) — 2023
Amber Hansen: 278.9 kilograms (615 pounds) — 2021
Katrina Bielomyza: 277.5 kilograms (611 pounds) — 2021
Emma Yitalo-James: 275 kilograms (606 pounds) — 2023
Becca Swanson: 272.5 kilograms (600 pounds) — 2008
Women’s Equipped Bench Press — Weight Class ATWR
U44KG: Cosette Neely (142.8 kilograms / 315 pounds)
U48KG: Cosette Neely (155 kilograms / 341 pounds)
U52KG: Tiffany Biancardi (208.6 kilograms / 460 pounds)
U56KG: Tiffany Biancardi (197.5 kilograms / 435 pounds)
U60KG: Tiffany Biancardi (204.1 kilograms / 450 pounds)
U67.5KG: Kathleen James (208.6 kilograms / 460 pounds)
U75KG: Allison Hind (242.6 kilograms / 535 pounds)
U82.5KG: Shawna Mendelson (256.2 kilograms / 565 pounds)
U90KG: Emma Ylitalo-James (275 kilograms / 606 pounds)
+90KG: Rae-Ann Miller (294.8 kilograms / 650 pounds)
Equipped Deadlift — Men
The equipped deadlift World Record is held by Andy Bolton who locked out 457.5 kilograms (1,008 pounds) at the 2009 BPC South East Qualifier and Novice Bash. Interestingly, this is the only event in powerlifting where the equipped record is lighter than the raw record.
Top Five Across All Weight Classes
Andy Bolton: 457.5 kilograms (1,008 pounds) — 2009
Konstantīns Konstantinovs: 430 kilograms (948 pounds) — 2006
Garry Frank: 422.5 kilograms (931 pounds) — 2002
Tibor Mészáros: 420.5 kilograms (927 pounds) — 2004
Krzysztof Wierzbicki: 420 kilograms (925 pounds) — 2017
Men’s Equipped Deadlift — Weight Class ATWR
U52KG: Sergey Fedosienko (257.5 kilograms / 567 pounds)
U56KG: Lamar Gant (290 kilograms / 639 pounds)
U60KG: Lamar Gant (310 kilograms / 683 pounds)
U67.5KG: Daniel Austin (320 kilograms / 705 pounds)
U75KG: Alexis Maher (365 kilograms / 804 pounds)
U82.5KG: Micah Marino (360.6 kilograms / 795 pounds)
U90KG: Ed Coan (390 kilograms / 859 pounds)
U100KG: Krzysztof Wierzbicki (410 kilograms / 903 pounds)
U110KG: Krzysztof Wierzbicki (420 kilograms / 925 pounds)
U125KG: Konstantīn Konstantīnovs (430 kilograms / 948 pounds)
U140KG: Andy Bolton (420 kilograms / 925 pounds)
+140KG: Andy Bolton (457.5 kilograms / 1,008 pounds)
Equipped Deadlift — Women
Only two women have ever crossed the 300-kilogram (661-pound) milestone in the equipped deadlift event, and Becca Swanson is the more prominent of the two. She holds the World Record of 315 kilograms (694 pounds), which she set at the 2005 WPC WPO European Semi Finals.
Top Five Across All Weight Classes
Becca Swanson: 315 kilograms (694 pounds) — 2005
Crystal Tate: 300 kilograms (661 pounds) — 2018
Leah Reichman: 288 kilograms (635 pounds) — 2021
Deana D’Andrea: 275 kilograms (606 pounds) — 2023
Andrea Corder: 274.4 kilograms (605 pounds) — 2019
Women’s Equipped Deadlift — Weight Class ATWR
U44KG: Wei-Ling Chen (175 kilograms / 385 pounds)
U48KG: Wei-Ling Chen (195 kilograms / 429 pounds)
U52KG: Marianne Kosonen (210 kilograms / 462 pounds)
U56KG: Jamie Field (232.5 kilograms / 512 pounds)
U60KG: Anna Mezhova (245 kilograms / 540 pounds)
U67.5KG: Krista Ford (260 kilograms / 573 pounds)
U75KG: Andrea Corder (274.4 kilograms / 605 pounds)
U82.5KG: Deana D’Andrea (273 kilograms / 601 pounds)
U90KG: Crystal Tate (297.5 kilograms / 655 pounds)
+90KG: Becca Swanson (315 kilograms / 694 pounds)
Equipped Total — Men
Overall, Dave Hoff wrote his name in the history books as the equipped Total World Record holder. His record stands at 1,407.5 kilograms (3,103 pounds) from the 2019 WPC WPO Super Finals.
Top Five Across All Weight Classes
Dave Hoff: 1,407.5 kilograms (3,103 pounds) — 2019
Donnie Thompson: 1360.7 kilograms (3,000 pounds) — 2011
Jonas Rantanen: 1,340 kilograms (2,954 pounds) — 2011
Bob Merkh: 1,317.6 kilograms (2,905 pounds) — 2022
Chris Della Fave: 1,301.8 kilograms (2,870 pounds) — 2022
Men’s Equipped Total — Weight Class ATWR
U52KG: Sergey Fedosienko ( 687.5 kilograms / 1,151 pounds)
U56KG: Sergey Fedosienko (742.5 kilograms / 1,636 pounds)
U60KG: Sergey Fedosienko (765 kilograms / 1,685 pounds)
U67.5KG: Brian Schwab (875.4 kilograms / 1,930 pounds)
U75KG: Oleksandr Kutcher (985 kilograms / 2,171 pounds)
U82.5KG: Kalle Räsänen (1,100 kilograms / 2,425 pounds)
U90KG: Shawn Frankl (1,192.9 kilograms / 2,630 pounds)
U100KG: Shawn Frankl (1,231.5 kilograms / 2,715 pounds)
U110KG: Chris Della Fave (1,301.8 kilograms / 2,870 pounds)
U125KG: Dave Hoff (1,363 kilograms / 3,005 pounds)
U140KG: Dave Hoff (1,407.5 kilograms / 3,103 pounds)
+140KG: Donnie Thompson (1,360.7 kilograms / 3,000 pounds)
Equipped Total — Women
Speaking of the women’s equipped Total World Record, Leah Reichman has just recently broken a record which has been in Becca Swanson’s possession for 18 years. She did so by totaling 932.5 kilograms (2,055 pounds) at the 2023 APF Womens Pro/Am.
Top Five Across All Weight Classes
Leah Reichman: 932.5 kilograms (2,055 pounds) — 2023
Becca Swanson: 930 kilograms (2,050 pounds) — 2005
Crystal Tate: 852.7 kilograms (1,880 pounds) — 2019
Deana D’Andrea: 845 kilograms (1,862 pounds) — 2023
Amber Hansen: 818.7 kilograms (1,805 pounds) — 2022
Women’s Equipped Total — Weight Class ATWR
U44KG: Cosette Neely (494.4 kilograms / 1,090 pounds)
U48KG: Cosette Neely (530 kilograms / 1,168 pounds)
U52KG: Marianne Kosonen (613 kilograms / 1,351 pounds)
U56KG: Tiffany Biancardi (617.5 kilograms / 1,361 pounds)
U60KG: Heidi Howar (682.5 kilograms / 1,504 pounds)
U67.5KG: Heidi Howar (746.1 kilograms / 1,645 pounds)
U75KG: Laura Phelps-Stackhouse (816.4 kilograms / 1,800 pounds)
U82.5KG: Deana D’Andrea (840.5 kilograms / 1,853 pounds)
U90KG: Becca Swanson (855 kilograms / 1,884 pounds)
+90KG: Leah Reichman (932.5 kilograms / 2,055 pounds)
Most of the records listed above were set within the last few years, while only a few historic records remain unbroken. This proves that we are currently living through a golden age of powerlifting and are lucky to witness the likes of Jesus Olivares, Danny Grigsby, Tamara Walcott, Kristy Hawkins, and many other amazing athletes.
Published: 17 May, 2023 | 3:16 PM EDT
Derek MPMD on Andrew Tate’s Steroid Rumors: ‘Evidence Leans Toward Natural’
Controversial influencer Andrew Tate’s physique is making the rounds online as questions surrounding his alleged steroid use continue. In a recent YouTube video, PED expert Derek of More Plates More Dates dispelled a rumor spread by former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen and laid out why he believes Tate has a natural body.
Tate, known for his boisterous attitude, has quickly become one of the most influential figures on social media. ‘Cobra’ speaks his mind regardless of the repercussions which has seemingly boosted his popularity.
Romanian authorities arrested Andrew and his brother, Tristan Tate in Bucharest last December for suspected involvement in human sex trafficking. Following a number of attempts to be released from custody, the Tate brothers were freed and placed on house arrest on March 31, 2023. They claim to be innocent of all charges.
I am on precisely zero steroids or TRT of ANY KIND. NEVER HAVE BEEN. Never taken them in my life, ever.
I am a man who eats once a day and trains. THAT IS ALL. I swear this before GOD.
I will take and pass ANY TEST, try me.
Accept i am a genetic specimen of absolute…
— Andrew Tate (@Cobratate) April 19, 2023
With over 6.2 million followers on Twitter, Tate documented his time in jail and described the conditions as very poor. And while he admits he only ate one meal a day in accordance with Ramadan, the influencer exited his cell looking more ripped than when he entered the facility. In a public statement, Tate recently underlined that his physique was created naturally and said he’s never touched steroids or testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in his life.
As discussions surrounding Tate’s physique heat up, PED expert Derek took a closer look at the 36-year-old’s natty or not status. He also addressed rumors made by Chael Sonnen and argued why he believes Tate is currently natural.
Derek More Plates More Dates Calls Out Chael Sonnen for Innacurate Andrew Tate Steroid Rumors
During Derek’s reaction video, he played a clip of Chael Sonnen, who suggested he can tell whether a physique is natural not just by looking at someone.
“We find ourselves in the midst of a controversy it seems. Andrew Tate versus More Plates More Dates, I was not expecting to see this title or this video or this thumbnail when I’m logging into my YouTube, it’s me laughing my ass off and Tate with Chael… apparently throwing me under the bus in another video on the same day where he absolutely shits on Andrew Huberman. This video is a hectic one dude.”
“Let’s stick to the one that has me in the title, me versus Andrew Tate,” added Derek.
Derek then advised Sonnen to come out with natty or not videos on The Rock, Chris Hemsworth, and Kumail Ali Nanjiani.
“Let’s see Chael, you can do [natty or not] on The Rock, Chris Hemsworth, and you can do… let’s pick hard one, and Kumail Ali Nanjiani – these guys are all arguably a little bit saucy saucy. You tell me, bro, exactly what are they doing, dosage, compound selection, would fuc**ng love to see that video, I’d watch it.”
Orthodox southpaw orthodox.
5 years retired and I still miss fighting.
Gona miss it forever.
Guess I’ll just have to crack the matrix have 20 sons and be a billionaire instead. ? pic.twitter.com/Gfv6j2CRV9
— Andrew Tate (@Cobratate) May 5, 2023
What Chael Sonnen had to say:
“It does amaze me when Derek says, ‘I don’t know.’ Now, if you wanted to say I don’t know what it was, I don’t know if that was growth, I don’t know if that was anabolic, I don’t know if that was some peptides or if that was some SARMs. I do know, but I can understand if he does. But to just not know in general? It really does blow my mind,” Chael Sonnen shared.
“I did see Andrew’s response, where Andrew said, ‘Hey Derek, I appreciate you I know you’re an expert, and thanks for talking about me, I’m not an expert in that field but I am an expert in myself, and I know I didn’t take anything ever! That’s true. I’m not telling you what Derek said isn’t true because I didn’t hear it, but I will tell you with Tate, it’s true.”
According to Derek, Chael was trying to get a response from him.
“What a wild way to get — is this like the ultimate get a response video video? Because it’s like, you didn’t hear what I said, but are sort of implying that you know exactly what I said at the same time.”
Derek explained that he published a ‘natty or not’ video on Andrew Tate last year. Even though Tate provided two biomarkers, Derek shared that it wasn’t enough information to reliably say whether or not Tate uses PEDs.
GM. pic.twitter.com/Qmbp9FCCrT
— Andrew Tate (@Cobratate) May 6, 2023
“He provided two biomarkers, one of which was free testosterone [during Derek’s video on Andrew Tate] and there were no gonadotropins and he had a disproportionately high free testosterone and that kind of didn’t really help him. And the actual age and stuff on the thing, it looked weird. It was kind of an odd thing to publish as proof, which is kind of what I went over in the video.”
“I was basically saying there’s no way to prove you’re natural with this blood work, but my conclusion in the video, I did make a pretty conclusive one,” said Derek.
“I know he does eat kind of what he wants, he has like one meal a day, a shit ton of coffee, and great genetics, but how does that the first thing that comes to your mind when you see this [Chael], is he eats donuts sometimes [therefore he’s natural].”
GM. pic.twitter.com/2ImIM0Y8FA
— Andrew Tate (@Cobratate) May 4, 2023
Considering that Tate’s physique looked arguably better after prison than before, Derek can understand why fans are accusing him of potential steroid/TRT use.
“The reason people are bringing this up I think is because his physique now is arguably in some pictures looks as good or better than before he went to jail. This is a before and after,” added Derek. “He’s looking housey as fu** just standing there.”
“Looking beefy dude, looking lean, looking bigger than even when he was younger. The guy is in top shape seemingly. And how? Was he slipped some gear in jail or what happened? That’s what people want to know.”
Having followed the Tate brothers for years, Derek said he ‘never saw anything that was indicative of hormone use.’ With that in mind, Derek doesn’t believe Tate is taking gear.
“I’ve seen their progress over time. I haven’t seen any sort of fluctuations [with their physiques] really, I never saw anything that was indicative of hormone use, and my best guess at the time of this video and still is, is that the guy is indeed natural. For Chael to be like, ‘It’s kind of wild for Derek to say he doesn’t know,’ I feel like it would have taken you two fuc**ng seconds to watch the video dude.”
“There’s some level of scrutiny whereby the evidence is leaning more toward natural than not, take from that what you will I guess,” said Derek. “Would it be possible to prove with absolute certainty that anyone is natural versus enhanced? No, not really. But you can get some pretty fuc**ng substantial evidence almost to the point it’s essentially irrefutable.”
PED expert Derek has become famous in the fitness sector for busting natty or not myths. Last year, he leaked private emails detailing a steroid cycle sent from Liver King (real name Brian Johnson). Following Derek’s revelation, Liver King later apologized for lying about his gear use and now claims to be steroid-free.
In one of his latest endeavors, Andrew Tate took aim at bodybuilders by suggesting they are all ‘pussys afraid of combat sports,’ which garnered reaction videos from Kenny KO and Greg Doucette.
RELATED: Joe Rogan & Derek from MPMD Examine Mike O’Hearn’s Insanely Jacked Physique: ‘Is It Possible He’s Natty?’
You can watch the full video from Derek More Plates More Dates below:
Published: 17 May, 2023 | 12:24 PM EDT
Powerlifter Pablo Olivares Sets 400-kg (881.8 lb) Raw Squat PR In Training
One of the most popular athletes in powerlifting currently is Jesus Olivares, but what many don’t know is that he has a younger, but almost equally impressive brother, Pablo Olivares. Pablo is 23-years-old and resembles his brother quite a bit. Like Jesus, Pablo possesses incredible squat strength and he has just reached a massive milestone. During his recent training session, Pablo worked up to a 400-kilogram (881.8-pound) squat, which is a new personal record (PR) for him. He caught the achievement on camera and shared it on his Instagram.
Pablo Olivares only used a lifting belt, knee sleeves, and wrist wraps. All of these are utilized to prevent injuries without affecting the lifting abilities in any significant way. So, Pablo’s new 400-kilogram (881.8-pound) PR is also raw.
Pablo Olivares exhibited no signs of struggle during the lift, making the new PR appear effortless. Moreover, he was very proud of his achievement, so he couldn’t contain his excitement. He let out a few loud screams and spat out his mouth guard.
Watch the lift here:
Related: Powerlifter Reece Fullwood (125KG) Sets 412.5-kg (909.4-lb) Raw Squat All-Time World Record
Pablo Olivares impressed quite a few people with his new 400-kilogram (881.8-pound) squat PR, including two powerlifting World Record holders. First of the two was his brother, Jesus Olivares, who stood behind Pablo as a spotter. Despite his adoration for his brother, his reaction shows he was awed by his strength as well.
The other World Record holder who was impressed by Pablo Olivares was Ashton Rouska. Ashton is particularly known for his squat prowess, so a compliment from him goes a long way. He left a comment under Pablo’s post, saying:
“Too damn easy!!”
Pablo Olivares replied to Ashton explaining how his next goal is squatting 410 kilograms (903 pounds).
Pablo Olivares’ Powerlifting Career
Pablo Olivares has been competing in powerlifting since 2015 when he was just 15-years-old. In addition, during these eight years of competing, Pablo has consistently improved. If this trend continues in the next one or two years, then he will become a Squat World Record contender.
Overall, Pablo Olivares has taken part in 12 sanctioned competitions and won just four of them. However, all of his wins have come in the past two years, which proves that he is just now fulfilling his potential.
Pablo Olivares’ Competition PRs
Squat: 380 kilograms (837.7 pounds) — (2023 USAPL Texas Strength Classic)
Bench Press: 215 kilograms (474 pounds) — (2023 USAPL Texas Strength Classic)
Deadlift: 340 kilograms (749.5 pounds) — (2022 AMP Classic Open Nationals Presented by SBD)
Total: 925 kilograms (2,039.3 pounds) — (2023 USAPL Texas Strength Classic)
Related: Powerlifter Bradon Gulch Attempts 525-lb Tom Platz Squat Challenge, Impresses with 21 Reps
Pablo Olivares Competition History
Personal Bests
Equip
Squat
Bench
Deadlift
Total
Dots
Raw
837.8
474
837.8
2039.3
470.5
Single-ply
550
250
550
1260
315.93
Competition Results
Place
Fed
Date
Competition
Division
Total
Dots
1
USAPL
2023-02-25
Texas Strength Classic
MR-O
2039.3
470.5
Location
USA-TX
Competition
Texas Strength Classic
Division
MR-O
Age
23
Equipment
Raw
Class
308.6
Weight
410.3
Squat
782.6
837.8
-870.8
837.8
Bench
440.9
474
-485
474
Deadlift
672.4
727.5
-755.1
727.5
GLP
91.13
1
AMP
2022-06-18
Nationals
MR-Jr
2000.7
467.55
Location
USA-FL
Competition
Nationals
Division
MR-Jr
Age
22
Equipment
Raw
Class
264.6
Weight
389.8
Squat
766.1
810.2
832.2
832.2
Bench
424.4
440.9
451.9
451.9
Deadlift
716.5
-755.1
-755.1
716.5
GLP
90.88
2
AMP
2022-04-01
Classic Open Nationals Presented by SBD
MR-O
1984.2
469.21
Location
USA-TX
Competition
Classic Open Nationals Presented by SBD
Division
MR-O
Age
22
Equipment
Raw
Class
264.6
Weight
372.2
Squat
-733
733
788.2
788.2
Bench
418.9
-446.4
446.4
446.4
Deadlift
705.5
-749.6
749.6
749.6
GLP
91.54
1
USAPL
2021-12-11
Texas Open
MR-O
1962.1
464.28
Location
USA-TX
Competition
Texas Open
Division
MR-O
Age
~21.5
Equipment
Raw
Class
264.6
Weight
371.3
Squat
716.5
760.6
804.7
804.7
Bench
402.3
435.4
-446.4
435.4
Deadlift
683.4
722
-766.1
722
GLP
90.6
1
USAPL
2021-09-11
Iron Wars
MR-Jr
1885
444.07
Location
USA-TX
Competition
Iron Wars
Division
MR-Jr
Age
~21.5
Equipment
Raw
Class
264.6
Weight
377.7
Squat
672.4
716.5
755.1
755.1
Bench
385.8
407.9
424.4
424.4
Deadlift
661.4
705.5
-738.5
705.5
GLP
86.53
3
USAPL
2020-12-12
Collegiate Cup and Texas Open
MR-O
1714.1
410.96
Location
USA-TX
Competition
Collegiate Cup and Texas Open
Division
MR-O
Age
~20.5
Equipment
Raw
Class
264.6
Weight
353
Squat
650.4
-700
-700
650.4
Bench
352.7
374.8
-396.8
374.8
Deadlift
650.4
672.4
688.9
688.9
GLP
80.56
2
USAPL
2020-12-12
Collegiate Cup and Texas Open
MR-Jr
1714.1
410.96
Location
USA-TX
Competition
Collegiate Cup and Texas Open
Division
MR-Jr
Age
~20.5
Equipment
Raw
Class
264.6
Weight
353
Squat
650.4
-700
-700
650.4
Bench
352.7
374.8
-396.8
374.8
Deadlift
650.4
672.4
688.9
688.9
GLP
80.56
4
THSPA
2017-01-11
Snyder Tiger Invitational
Boys
1260
315.93
Location
USA-TX
Competition
Snyder Tiger Invitational
Division
Boys
Age
17
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
274.9
Weight
299.4
Squat
550
Bench
250
Deadlift
460
GLP
52.88
NS
THSPA
2016-03-12
Boys Region 1 Division 1 Championship
Boys
Location
USA-TX
Competition
Boys Region 1 Division 1 Championship
Division
Boys
Age
16
Equipment
Single-ply
5
THSPA
2016-02-27
Midland High Power Invitational
Boys
1205
306.12
Location
USA-TX
Competition
Midland High Power Invitational
Division
Boys
Age
16
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
274.9
Weight
286.4
Squat
515
Bench
240
Deadlift
450
GLP
51.32
DQ
THSPA
2016-01-30
Seminole Invitational
Boys
Location
USA-TX
Competition
Seminole Invitational
Division
Boys
Age
16
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
274.9
Weight
289
Squat
500
8
THSPA
2015-01-31
Seminole Invitational
Boys
815
212.4
Location
USA-TX
Competition
Seminole Invitational
Division
Boys
Age
15
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
274.9
Weight
264.2
Squat
315
Bench
165
Deadlift
335
GLP
35.75
Data Source: Open Powerlifting. Last Updated: April 12, 2023
Analyze Lifts
Pablo Olivares has already set his sights on some heavier weights, as he hopes to eventually lift over 422 kilograms (930 pounds) by the end of the year. Pablo is making great progress, so he may be able to lock out even more weight within a few months. So, it remains to be seen what Pablo’s limits are.
Published: 17 May, 2023 | 11:38 AM EDT
Dexter Jackson Maintains Herculean Chest With This Training Routine
Veteran bodybuilder Dexter Jackson has transformed his physique into a lean and athletic one from the heavily muscled Mr. Olympia body in recent years. He is now sharing the training regimen that helps him stay in shape at 54. Recently, Blade posted a video of his chest training session on YouTube.
Jackson is a retired IFBB Pro bodybuilder from the USA that competed in the Men’s Open division of the IFBB Pro League. In a career spanning over two and a half decades, he has won several Pro shows including the prestigious Mr. Olympia competition. Jackson hovered around the top three space for a long stretch of his bodybuilding career and gave dominant Mr. Olympia champions like Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler a run for their money.
Dexter’s sole Mr. Olympia win came in 2008 when he dethroned 4-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler. Apart from that, he has secured the Arnold Classic title a whopping five times in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2013, and 2015.
Since retiring from the sport after a ninth place finish at the 2020 Olympia, Blade has been prioritizing health and shed a significant amount of muscle mass in favor of long term health. Arthritis of the back was keeping him from going hard in the gym for a while. However, the Jacksonville native is now able to lift heavy after receiving stem cell therapy in Columbia a few weeks ago.
The former Mr. Olympia is active on social media and gives insights into his training routine through workout videos. Recently, he familiarized the followers with his chest training routine. So let’s check out which exercises help Dexter Jackson look lean and mean at 54.
Dexter Jackson’s Chest Training Circuit
Jackson is slowly increasing the amount of weight in his exercises after the stem cell therapy. Additionally, he has inclined more towards machine exercises off late to take the stress off the joints. The 54-year-old’s chest workout is an efficient combination of pressing and flying movements for complete development. He likes to keep the rep range between eight to twelve but ends up doing ten reps on most of the exercises.
Hammer Strength Iso Flat Bench Press
Jackson’s chest training circuit starts with this compound exercise on the plate-loaded machine. The exercise primarily targets the pectoralis major, anterior deltoids, and triceps muscles. Both arms and weight stacks of an iso-lateral machine move independently, which helps eliminate strength imbalances.
Machine chest press activates only about 79 percent of muscles compared to the bench press, which is ranks at the absolute top. However, chest press machines provide a much more stable environment. Also, they reduce overall workout time as the setup does not require elaborate preparation.
Additionally, studies have found that machine and free-weight exercises are equally effective in increasing muscle thickness and strength over long periods of time.
Jackson performs 4 sets of iso flat bench press with incrementally heavier weights and takes up the second and final pressing exercise of the day.
Machine Incline Chest Press
Incline chest press targets the clavicular head of the pectoralis major muscles, commonly known as the upper pecs. As per popular belief, an incline in the bench angle helps emphasize the upper pecs more than the other parts of the pectoralis major muscles. However, there is conclusive evidence which shows that the upper pecs experience higher muscle activity when the bench is inclined at an angle of 30 degrees. Additionally, incline press also increases anterior deltoid engagement.
Dexter Jackson performs four sets of incline chest press maintaining a ten rep range. After finishing with the exercise for filming the video, he spoke about the effects of competitive bodybuilding training on his joint health and what he did to prevent further deterioration. Jackson said:
“All the free weight stuff with heavy weights that I used to do, really really tore my joints up. So if you guys got joint pain and you’re looking to ease the pain, make sure you try and do some more Machine work. That’ll take a lot of stress off the joints versus free weight.”
Following this, he took to flyes and performed two variations of machine flyes.
Arsenal Strength Incline Flyes
While chest press improves the pushing strength of the upper body muscles, flyes contribute significantly towards developing the adduction ability of the upper body. Although flyes come nowhere close to the chest press in terms of pectoral, triceps, and anterior deltoid muscle activation, they stimulate biceps brachii to a far greater degree. Jackson performs the arsenal strength incline flyes maintaining a similar rep range of ten for four reps and moves on to the final exercise of the day.
Decline Cable Flyes
The 54-year-old performs four more sets of standing decline cable flyes. This exercise adds the final bit of stimulus to the chest muscles. It is an isolation movement that distributes the load evenly throughout the range of motion. Decline cable flyes serve as the fisher to Dexter Jackson’s training routine. He wraps up the training session after pushing through this exercise.
The chest training circuit follows this exercises sequence and rep range:
Hammer strength Iso Flat Bench Press (4 sets of 10 reps)
Machine Incline Chest Press (4 sets of 10 reps)
Arsenal Strength Incline Flyes (4 sets of 10 reps)
Decline Cable Flyes (4 sets of 10 reps)
Dexter Jackson has set a positive example for the young bodybuilders to follow when they eventually walk away from the sport. His admission about transitioning to machines to preserve joints, downsizing to a more normal human size and revelations about PED use will certainly help others realize the need to make changes in time.
You can watch the full workout video here, courtesy of Dexter Jackson’s personal YouTube channel:
References
Rodríguez-Ridao D, Antequera-Vique JA, Martín-Fuentes I, Muyor JM. Effect of Five Bench Inclinations on the Electromyographic Activity of the Pectoralis Major, Anterior Deltoid, and Triceps Brachii during the Bench Press Exercise. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Oct 8;17(19):7339. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17197339. PMID: 33049982; PMCID: PMC7579505.
Schwanbeck, Shane R.1; Cornish, Stephen M.2; Barss, Trevor3,4,5; Chilibeck, Philip D.1. Effects of Training With Free Weights Versus Machines on Muscle Mass, Strength, Free Testosterone, and Free Cortisol Levels. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 34(7):p 1851-1859, July 2020. | DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003349
Top 3 Most Effective Chest Exercises (Solely funded by a grant from American Council of Exercise) (Authors – Whitnee Schankee, John P. Porcari, Emmanuel Felix, Charles Hendrix and Carl Foster)
Published: 17 May, 2023 | 10:48 AM EDT
Mal O’Brien Announces Her Withdrawal From The 2023 CrossFit Season
Mal O’Brien has been on the top of the women’s leaderboards in CrossFit for the entire 2023 Season so far, but her streak will now come to an end. O’Brien shared some unexpected news to her Instagram on May 16th where she revealed that she will not take part in this week’s 2023 CrossFit Semifinals. Obviously, the Semifinals are the only way of qualifying for the 2023 CrossFit Games. So, there will be no way for Mal to earn her qualification for the most prestigious CrossFit competition in the world.
Mal O’Brien did not reveal any exact reasons for her withdrawal from the 2023 CrossFit Season. She did, however, issue a statement revealing that she is dedicating her time to some personal challenges.
“With a heavy heart, I’d like to share that I won’t be competing at Semifinals this weekend.
Sometimes, we face personal challenges that demand our attention and care. It’s important to prioritize our well-being and embrace the support of loved ones.”
O’Brien knows that she still has many years of competition ahead of her, but something unspecified has happened and it is evidently more important than CrossFit. So, she has come to a conclusion for what her priorities are.
“Remember, life isn’t just about winning trophies or achieving goals—it’s about finding balance, taking care of ourselves, and cherishing the moments that truly matter.”
Related: A Look Into the Incredible New Mat Fraser’s HWPO CrossFit Gym
Mal O’Brien At a Glance
Mal O’Brien has been unparalleled this season, having emerged victorious in both the 2023 CrossFit Open and 2023 CrossFit Quarterfinals. So, it was evident that Mal was in the shape of her life and that she was the main favorite for the title of Fittest Woman On Earth this year.
Born in 2004, Mal O’Brien is just 19-years-old. So, she still has a lot more time to claim the most coveted title in the sport. However, she has achieved a lot in the sport already. After spending some time in the Girls division, Mal O’Brien tried her luck in the Individual Women’s division in 2021. She immediately found success with a seventh place finish at the 2021 CrossFit Games and earned a “Rookie Of The Season” title that same year as well.
In addition, Mal O’Brien returned to the CrossFit Games in 2022 as well and put up an even better result. She took an early lead but was unable to fend off Tia-Clair Toomey. So, Mal settled for a second-place finish.
Mal O’Brien’s 2023 CrossFit Season Performances
2023 CrossFit Open — First Place (116 points)
2023 CrossFit Quarterfinals — First Place (53 points)
2023 CrossFit Season Withdrawals
It seems that the 2023 CrossFit Season has seen more major athlete withdrawals than ever before. Most notably, Tia-Clair Toomey announced at the start of the season that she won’t be competing due to pregnancy. Some months later, Tia-Clair gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. So, with the 6x CrossFit Games champion out, everyone was eager to battle.
One of the biggest favorites for the women’s title this year was Kara Saunders. However, Kara also got pregnant and withdrew.
One more major name in the women’s division decided to take some time to rest and it was Haley Adams. Haley had battled with an eating disorder and experienced mental health struggles which forced her to focus on what matters the most.
On the other hand, the men’s division also experienced a major loss, as Ricky Garard injured his shoulder in a mountain bike accident and had to conclude his season way too early.
Related: Tia-Clair Toomey Unveils Full Day of Eating During Pregnancy
Now Mal O’Brien is added to this list of athletes who withdrew as the biggest upset so far. She was without a doubt the biggest favorite for the title this year, but there is a high probability that she will come back stronger and win it in the years to come.
Published: 17 May, 2023 | 9:29 AM EDT