Tag: Hadi Choopan
Samson Dauda Says Hadi Choopan & Derek Lunsford Will Lose 2023 Mr. Olympia If He Improves His Back
Bodybuilder Samson Dauda‘s confidence is rising ahead of his next competition in November. In a recent Muscular Development interview, Dauda explained that a bigger and more detailed back is the ticket to his first Mr. Olympia title against Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford.
“That’s going to be one area where they’re holding their strengths on, we need to take that away,” said Samson Dauda.
Dauda caught the attention of the bodybuilding world last year when he turned in a sixth-place finish at the 2022 Mr. Olympia contest. At the event, he managed to push the former two-time champion, Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay who claimed fifth. Meanwhile, Hadi Choopan won with Derek Lunsford and Nick Walker taking second and third, respectively.
Dauda immediately jumped back into a show at the 2023 Arnold Classic in March. After the prize money swelled to $300,000, a few high-profile athletes joined the show, such as Elssbiay, Nick Walker, and Andrew Jacked. At his second Arnold Classic competition, Dauda earned gold in a close battle against ‘The Mutant’ and Jacked. While some in the sport found the results controversial, Dauda succeeded in earning his invite to the Olympia stage in 2023.
Bob Cicherillo, a notable voice in the bodybuilding community, has taken to a handful of podcasts to discuss the Men’s Open landscape. According to Cicherillo, Dauda and Lunsford are now equal threats to Choopan’s title after the Nigerian’s latest performance. Now taking a closer look at the potential showdown is Dauda, who joined Giles Thomas for a candid talk.
Samson Dauda on Hadi Choopan/Derek Lunsford: ‘Once I Improve My Back Shots, Where Else Can They Beat Me?’
Dauda said he’s already eying gold at the Olympia show scheduled for November 2-5 in Orlando, Florida.
“I mean, this one, I’m already thinking, okay, fu** we gotta go win the Olympia now,” said Samson Dauda. “A few weeks later off the Arnold stage yeah, I’m like let’s go. I mean, I’m still sort of taking it all in. Enjoying the idea, it’s the Arnold man, it just changes your life.
You sort of taking it in and enjoying the prospect of that but at no point in the back of your mind, every training session – I mean, you go to that gym, one thing is on the mind, you know what you’re training for now. I’m no longer training to be top 10, I’m not training to qualify for the Olympia, I’m not training to be in the top five, now you go into the gym training to be the Mr. Olympia, to be the greatest bodybuilder in the world. This is your moment, this is it,” says Dauda.
“This is the moment, that’s why you got to be prepared, first, you have to fight to be in that call out, then you have to fight to win that call out. Now, this is what you train for. This is what you’re in the gym for. This is what every session, every grueling pain, everything you put your body through, okay, you have to be ready for that one moment.”
Samson believes his back shots are the only obstacle preventing him from winning the Olympia.
“One thing, obviously, I want to make sure that — because I know the one point that those two guys [Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford] will have over me will be the back shots. So that one, okay, I got to close that door. Close that gap. I probably won’t be able to pass it but I will close it enough to where it no longer is a night and day sort of thing. Once I do that, the rest of it… where else can they touch me on?
Bring your weaknesses to match up with theirs so then you can show your glaring strengths and make those parts shine out,” added Dauda. “For us, break down our faults… break down what we know we’re weak at. Break down what anybody has an advantage over us; we say, ‘Right, let’s take it away, let’s fix that.’ So they don’t have that advantage.”
Even if he is unable to match the back density of Choopan or Lunsford, Dauda said the improvements would be enough to sway the judges.
“At least if we do that, it will be significantly enough to be like, ‘Okay, he might not beat them in that shot,’ but it’s enough to make them turn around and go, ‘Eh, but,’ and that’s all it needs to be.”
“We make sure we tick so much boxes that you might beat us in this shot or that shot, but guess what, when you overall tally the score, we get a lot more points than you do and this is how a physique works, being so balanced and so symmetrical that you can’t pick out a bad pose.”
Whether or not Choopan defends his title this year has become a topic of debate. Nick Walker is confident that the next Olympia will be decided following a battle between himself and Lunsford. He emphasized that Choopan won’t repeat as Mr. Olympia. However, William Bonac disagrees and recently stated that Choopan will definitely win at least one more Sandow, likely this year.
RELATED: Seth Feroce Says Nick Walker ‘Allowed to Be Fuc**ng Pissed’ After Samson Dauda Loss at 2023 Arnold Classic
While Mr. Olympia is still several months away, fans will get a sneak peek of the top contenders’ physiques at Jim Manion’s 2023 Pittsburgh Pro next weekend. Hunter Labrada, Derek Lunsford, Nick Walker, Samson Dauda, and Shaun Clarida will all make special guest posing appearances.
You can watch the full video below from the Muscular Development YouTube channel:
Published: 3 May, 2023 | 1:54 PM EDT
Hadi Choopan Looks Massive in 2023 Off-Season, Shares Brutal Row & Leg Press Workouts
Hadi Choopan is determined to repeat the success he enjoyed last year. In two posts published on Instagram, Choopan showed off his strength with leg presses and t-bar rows in preparation for the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest.
Choopan made history last year at 2022 Mr. Olympia and became the first man from Iran to win the prestigious title. The show was filled with surprises as Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay surrendered his throne in fifth whereas Derek Lunsford, a former 212 Olympia winner, cashed in his special invite for the Open with a second-place finish. Meanwhile, Nick Walker secured third in addition to earning the Olympia People’s Champ Award.
After Samson Dauda defeated Walker at the 2023 Arnold Classic in March, fans refocused their attention to the Olympia contest set for November 2-5 in Orlando, Florida. Veterans and active competitors have taken to social media to back their respective favorites. Bodybuilding legend Ronnie Coleman has stated Derek Lunsford will defeat Choopan in their next outing.
Nick Walker also said Choopan won’t repeat as champion this year. He believes the show will be determined after a showdown between himself and Derek Lunsford. Other notable voices in the community, such as Bob Cicherillo, believe Choopan at ‘100%’ beats everyone in the show. William Bonac shared a similar prediction recently and suspects Choopan will win another Sandow.
Hadi Choopan Sends Warning Shot to Open Class with Heavy Training Sessions
Check out Choopan’s t-bar row workout below:
“My ears are damaged and I love this blessing of God because it helps me to think only about my goal and not on the idle words of others. A warrior’s place is on the battlefield, not among weaklings.” Hadi Choopan wrote.
Then, Choopan powered through a set of heavy leg presses.
“We are together, move but don’t cheat, I’ll see you”
In a rare off-season update, Choopan gave fans a glimpse into his latest progress. Fans were taken aback by his striated chest and overall conditioning levels so far out from his next show. Choopan’s opponent, Lunsford, is guided by the same trainer Hany Rambod. They made it clear that Derek’s current focus is to bring more detail to his chest, arms, and legs moving forward.
Looking at the potential 2023 Olympia lineup, Bob Cicherillo laid out who believes could feasibly take out Choopan. Given Dauda’s improvements at the Arnold Classic, he named him and Derek Lunsford as equal threats to the reigning champ’s title.
RELATED: Chris Cormier, Terrick El Guindy on Hadi Choopan: ‘This Guy’s Stakes Are Higher Than Just Winning a Title’
Fans expect another unpredictable Mr. Olympia contest this fall as competitors have until October 9 to secure their invites. Considering his consistent nature, defeating Choopan will take a massive and calculated effort.
Published: 2 May, 2023 | 11:02 AM EDT
William Bonac: ‘Hadi Choopan Will Repeat as 2023 Mr. Olympia, He’s Going to Take Another Title’
William Bonac continues to deliver as a Men’s Open bodybuilder, competing twice in four months. In a recent The Menace Podcast, Bonac predicted Hadi Choopan would win 2023 Mr. Olympia and discussed what measures Nick Walker needs to take to become champion.
The Men’s Open division has endured major changes since 2022 Mr. Olympia. Hadi Choopan won his first title after outlasting a slew of threats in prejudging and the finals. Shockingly, Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay was unable to retain his throne in fifth whereas Derek Lunsford and Walker found themselves in second and third. Bonac, however, finished ninth, respectively.
At the 2023 Arnold Classic, Bonac redeemed himself with an impressive package, showcasing a blend of fullness and conditioning. While Bonac hoped to secure his third title in Columbus, Ohio, the veteran settled for seventh, proving himself against a lineup that saw Samson Dauda come out on top.
In light of his last two performances, Bonac suspended his current season. He set his sights on 2024 and plans to focus on rest and recovery. Looking ahead, ‘The Conquorer’ said his next show would likely be the Arnold Classic. Refusing to dismiss his Olympia ambitions, Bonac stated if he ‘brings his all,’ he could still retire with a Sandow trophy in the next two years.
In his latest endeavor, Bonac laid out who he believes might win the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest, scheduled for November 2-5, in Orlando Florida. Additionally, Bonac touched on what improvements Walker needs to make to reach the next level in his career.
William Bonac Says League ‘Going Away from Mass Monsters,’ Expects Hadi Choopan to ‘Repeat’ as 2023 Mr. Olympia
According to William Bonac, he’s ‘sure’ Hadi Choopan will win another title and believes he can definitely repeat at 2023 Mr. Olympia.
“I think definitely Hadi can repeat it, definitely. I think as you see… a lot of 212 guys are doing very good in the Open class. That’s something that I’ve noticed. They’re extremely good, maybe because they don’t look as big as Big Ramy, those mass monsters. I think they’re trying to go away from that. Not to say they are little guys, you understand. I also see that they are rewarding the taller guys. The few taller guys we have with beautiful aesthetics. That’s a good thing as well. No bloated guts you know, that’s what I see,” said William Bonac.
“We’ve seen him [Hadi Choopan] on the stage and he’s ripped to pieces. How are you guys backstage, you see more than we do. When you see Hadi, he is next level right?” asks Sarcev.
“He’s next level. Even with the pump up, when you stop pumping up, then he will come alive. The more he pumps up the freakier he gets. So, you know, I think honestly… last year or the year before the Olympia that he didn’t win — he looked way better. If he came even with that shape even now, that wasn’t even his best shape and he won it. So, I’m sure he’s going to take another title. If he brings the condition that he brought the year before, yeah,” Bonac shared.
Can Brandon Curry Regain the Mr. Olympia Title? Bonac Says ‘I Don’t Think So.’
Bonac believes his rival Brandon Curry will struggle to regain his Mr. Olympia title because he loses size in his legs when he shreds down before a contest.
“Brandon [Curry] is my dude man. I hope so [he takes another title]. I hope he can fight for the title like the direction that they are going — I think – I don’t think so,” Bonac added. “No because if he does that, he will lose the size then he doesn’t look so impressive. They have to play the size game a little bit because when he dials in too much, he will lose the size of his legs again.”
Bonac Says Nick Walker Needs Improved Quad Sweeps to Contend for 2023 Mr. Olympia Title
Milos Sarcev, Dennis James, and William Bonac agree that Walker needs more outer quad sweep for 2023 Olympia.
“Bigger legs, bigger chest, and I think his chest improved dramatically already,” said Sarcev.
“It’s just the legs, the sweep of the legs,” clarified Bonac.
“That quad sweep, that could be a genetic thing. I’m sure it’s not because he’s not working hard enough or he’s not doing what he’s supposed to,” Dennis James said.
Chris Cormier and Bonac also shared that Walker would benefit from some posing adjustments.
“From the side, he looks good, from the back he looks good, it’s just from the front or maybe maybe the way he stands on his legs, maybe he should turn it more like Brandon does, so you get more of the inner thighs [in the abdominals and thighs pose].”
“I would try to utilize my legs differently in those poses. The way he’s doing them is not helping him right now,” Chris Cormier explained.
Before confirming his one-year hiatus from the sport, questions about Bonac’s retirement circulated online. Bob Cicherillo, who serves as the announcer of the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia shows, said he would like to see Bonac receive a special invite for 2024 Mr. Olympia so he could retire on top.
As for Nick Walker, he recently argued that Choopan wouldn’t be able to successfully defend his title later this year. He believes the 2023 Olympia winner will be determined following a battle between himself and former 212 Olympia Derek Lunsford.
RELATED: William Bonac ‘Taking Measures’ for Inflamed Kidneys, Stops Oral Steroids In Prep for 2023 Arnold Classic
The 2023 Pittsburgh Pro takes place May 12-13 and serves as a teaser for bodybuilding’s ultimate destination. Given how unpredictable 2022 Olympia was, fans are looking forward to seeing their favorite competitors make a play for Hadi Choopan’s title.
You can watch the full video below from the Muscle and Fitness YouTube channel:
Published: 1 May, 2023 | 7:32 PM EDT
Samir Bannout Tells Nick Walker to Hire Frank Zane as Posing Coach for 2023 Mr. Olympia Win: ‘Fix Front Lat Spread’
Nick Walker has become one of the most exciting names in the Men’s Open division. In a recent Muscle Maturity Podcast, Samir Bannout explained why posing is the key to Walker winning his first Sandow in November.
Fans expect another exciting contest appearance from Walker later this year judging from his last two shows. He proved himself against a fierce lineup of talent in Las Vegas at the 2022 Mr. Olympia contest. Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay, the two-time defending champion, failed to bring his best and was thrown off the podium. Instead, 212-turned-Open competitor Derek Lunsford finished runner-up and Walker placed third in addition to snagging the Olympia Peple’s Champ Award.
As the highest-ranking Olympian heading into the 2023 Arnold Classic, Walker was considered the on-paper favorite in Columbus, Ohio. Despite the momentum, Samson Dauda defeated Walker. Fans and bodybuilding veterans found the results surprising, such as Samir Bannout, who questioned Dauda winning with perfect scores.
Athletes rep Bob Cicherillo named Dauda and Lunsford as Hadi Choopan’s biggest threats, but Bannout believes Walker could also make a push for the title in a few months. Bannout specified that Walker would need to make some drastic changes to his posing routines to contend for gold, however.
Samir Bannout Says Fixing Front Lat Spread and Posing Key to Nick Walker Winning 2023 Mr. Olympia
According to Bannout, if Nick Walker wants to win an Olympia title, he needs to master the front lat spread pose.
“Yeah, he needs help. Nick Walker can do it all, believe me, believe me, I know exactly what he needs. Nick Walker could be much better yet if he posed properly but Phil Heath that that ability to do an incredible lat spread, Phil Heath has it.”
“I don’t think he [Nick Walker] is hitting it the right way. When I do my lat spread I release the pressure from my chest I don’t pull, I like – I don’t flex everything, sometimes you have to sometimes unflex the area to let it look better.”
“Yeah Nick needs to work mostly on – he needs to make it flow. Nick, he bends his legs a little bit and he makes himself look shorter because his lower body, the more you bent the knee slightly and hunch a little bit, it’s going to take away – it’s going to make your upper body and your torso look a lot bigger and a lot longer.”
As far as body mechanics are concerned, Bannout suggested that Walker learn how to flex his legs when they are pushed together. In addition. he said curving the toes and twisting the torso could result in better muscle separation in side poses.
“Much more than that, he needs to know how to flex his legs when they are together. This is going to be difficult for him. You have to understand that when your legs are close together like this and you don’t understand how to flex them, you’re going to lose the separation if you don’t find the way to pose them when they’re straight. This is another thing. So, he might need to put his toes like that and flex from his hips and bring in the separation in his side and let it happen and oblique and waist, wow… he’s going to look way better if he can do it. It’s doable.”
Similar to the late Mohamed Makkawy, Bannout urged Walker to get a ‘psycho’ coach who can elevate his posing to the next level. He believes he or bodybuilding legend Frank Zane would be suitable posing coaches for the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest.
“You have to have the eyes. If he was with Vince Gironda two days, he’ll fix that problem for him. But we can’t bring Vince Gironda from his grave. Those guys are psychos. They will go crazy on you, ‘What are you doing!?’ I mean, that’s how Mohamed Makkawy got better you know. You noticed Makkaway with his hands, every little thing flowed. Now, these guys do the shit, the – so many jungles out there [on stage]. It is [painful to watch].”
Boasting over 40 years of training experience, Samir underlined the importance of teaming up with someone with a proven track record.
“I don’t want to be biased but if Nick Walker wants to be Mr. Olympia; I’m going to tell you what’s his medicine, if he listens to this, he’ll go, I don’t care how much Frank Zane is going to charge him, but Frank may not charge him. But you need to take someone who is fully aware of the flows and how to flex certain things and make it flow. It would be worthwhile for Nick Walker to do.
Or Maybe he’s not going to go to Lee Labrada because Labrada is helping Hunter, he’d show him how to do it the wrong way maybe or he could come to me, I’ll make sure that I feed it to him by the spoon within 48 hours,” Bannout explained.
“Remember, he hasn’t been around for too long. So, he’s improving every year. He’s getting better and better. So, when you know, when you talk to someone that’s been there done that, I only have over 35 years of training, maybe 40 [over Nick Walker] and posing experience and all this. So, it would pay off for him to do that.
Given the artistic nature of posing, Samir Bannout says Walker will only improve if he sees a specialist who understands how the body flows.
“You cannot dwell on ‘My nutritional coach is going to help me do it.’ No. That’s wrong. You have to go to specialists to treat certain areas. If you have health issues you go to a specialist. If you have a hormonal problem you go to endocrinology, not the dentist. This is what Nick needs to do. He needs to go to a specialist in this area [posing and presentation].”
Reflecting on his last two competitions, Walker is carrying resentment as he felt he should have won the 2023 Arnold Classic. He’s made it clear that he plans to use the off-season to bring a package that matches the fullness of his Olympia look while retaining the conditioning that saw him reach second last month.
You can watch the full video below, courtesy of the Old School Labs YouTube channel:
RELATED: Samir Bannout Recalls 1990 Olympia Drug Testing: ‘I Failed the Test’
Given the experience and posing expertise of Frank Zane, Bannout believes the collaboration could be the difference-maker for Walker heading into 2023 Olympia, where he will look to knock off the newly minted winner Hadi Choopan.
Published: 21 April, 2023 | 9:01 AM EDT
Bob Cicherillo Says Big Ramy Not Taking 2023 Off, Talks Nick Walker vs Hadi Choopan: ‘Hadi at 100% Wins’
Despite initial speculation, athletes rep Bob Cicherillo believes fans will see Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay back on a contest stage in 2023. In a recent interview with Desktop Bodybuilding, Cicherillo said Big Ramy would likely compete at this year’s Olympia and discussed a possible showdown between Nick Walker and Hadi Choopan.
As a two-time Mr. Olympia, fans and bodybuilding veterans expected Ramy to retain his title for the next few years. However, the 2022 Olympia contest was highly competitive and he was unable to defend successfully. Instead, Hadi Choopan secured his first title with Derek Lunsford and Nick Walker taking second and third, respectively. In a shocking turn of events, Ramy dropped to fifth place.
With redemption fueling his next appearance, Big Ramy made a surprise entrance into the 2023 Arnold Classic. Before the event, he received intravenous stem cell injections in hopes of rectifying some of the issues that held him back from success, like his lats, triceps, and lower back. Dr. Khan, who oversaw Ramy’s therapy, believed it would make a difference in the months to come.
And while Elssbiay brought an improved package to Columbus, Ohio, it wasn’t complete enough to stop Samson Dauda from claiming gold. Ramy battled with Shaun Clarida en route to securing fourth. In light of his last two contests, Bob Cicherillo suspected that Ramy’s time on top had come to an abrupt end.
Cicherillo upset fans after admitting Ramy had little-to-no chance of regaining his Mr. Olympia title. He joined Ramy in a one-on-one interview recently, where they discussed the Egyptian native’s future in the sport. During the conversation, Ramy mentioned that he might not return until next year’s Olympia (2024). However, it now appears Cicherillo expects Ramy to make a play for Choopan’s title this November.
Bob Cicherillo Talks Big Ramy 2023 Plans: ‘I Don’t Think He’s Taking the Entire Year Off’
Bob said he misspoke during his recent interview with Big Ramy. He believes Elssbiay will likely compete at the 2023 Mr. Olympia.
“You just hit it. What I meant to say was the next Olympia, not really – I consider next year, we all talk in those same terms, it was really just me misspeaking in the way I was putting it. What I meant to say is we’re probably not going to see you until the next Olympia. Now, I think he was thinking the same thing. I don’t think he’s taking the entire year off.
But, you know, he was pretty candid in that interview as you heard. He’s pretty good. You can see there’s a sense of – he doesn’t really know. He’s in some uncharted waters right now which he was pretty much telling everybody, which is he’s going to have to see how his body responds. There has been some notable changes I think we can all see that.”
“We’ve heard he’s done some stem cells and this and that. Listen, there’s no guarantee with those types of things. If it involves nerves, which I think it does, we’ve seen it with bodybuilders over the year, body parts just start to shrink up. It’s a nerve impingement or whatever. Sometimes that don’t come back. If it don’t come back, he’s going to have a very difficult time.”
Cicherillo suspects Ramy will call it a career if he’s not able to ‘get back to where he was.’
“He may not be able to return to form as he said, which is interesting because everyone got on my ass for saying he can’t return to what he looked like basically, so why would he bother. He said the same thing. If he can’t get back to where he was then he’ll hang them up. What champion wouldn’t? Why would you want to come back at 50%? I don’t want to see that not just with Ramy, but I dont’ want to see that with any champion.”
Can Nick Walker Defeat Hadi Choopan at 2023 Mr. Olympia If Both Are 100%? Cicherillo Says ‘No.’
Despite Choopan’s latest performance, Cicherillo isn’t convinced he’ll remain champion after the next Olympia show.
“Yeah he just did [beat Nick Walker] it was called last year’s Olympia. Well, listen, Hadi can improve too right? So, I mean listen, Nick – anybody can improve okay, but what you can’t improve is your structure or proportions and that’s where Nick is going to have a tough time against a Hadi and not just Hadi because I believe Hadi is going to have a difficult time repeating this year, if I’m making an early prediction.”
With both men at 100%, Cicherillo says Choopan defeats Walker but reserved Samson Dauda as one of his frontrunners to win 2023 Olympia.
“I already put out there that I think Samson is literally the man to beat. I think it will come down to him and Derek Lunsford and you have some other new guys coming on. So, Nick’s got his work cut out but you can never count Nick out because he’s a workhorse and he’ll work himself to death and all he’s done is improved so you don’t ever count him out but by the same token, we got to keep things real and I got to look at what I see when it comes to structure, shape, symmetry, proportions, muscularity, and display of the muscles — all those factors come into play. Is Nick a contender? Absolutely. Do I think he can beat Hadi? If they are both 100%, No,” Bob Cicherillo explained.
Cicherillo compared Walker to bodybuilding veteran Branch Warren due to their conditioning and freak factor.
“You know what, that’s why we play the game and you’re exactly right. Listen, a guy named Branch Warren who I’m pretty good friends with did pretty good in his career I’d say taking runner-up in Olympia; almost won that, and you know, Arnold Classics and every other title you could possibly get. Branch admittedly over the years, he’s very candid, very blue-collar type of a guy. He just simply outworked everybody.”
In Bob Cicherillo’s recent Voice of Bodybuilding podcast, he took aim at biased coaches and trainers. Some fans argued that Cicherillo has never won an Olympia title therefore he’s not qualified to critique the sport. Cicherillo disagreed and stressed that contests can only be accurately judged live, not by looking at a computer screen.
RELATED: Big Ramy Training Partner Dennis James Calls Out Bob Cicherillo for ‘Misleading’ Comparison
The bodybuilding community is excited to see Ramy’s comeback story, and whether or not Nick Walker can take the throne from Hadi Choopan. Derek Lunsford will also be in the hunt to secure gold and was recently backed by Ronnie Coleman as the next Mr. Olympia.
Check out the full video below, courtesy of the Desktop Bodybuilding YouTube channel:
Published: 20 April, 2023 | 7:48 PM EDT
Nick Walker Eyes Derek Lunsford Battle at 2023 Olympia: ‘I Don’t See Hadi Choopan Repeating’
Bodybuilder Nick Walker has ambitious plans for the rest of his current season. In a recent Mutant and the Mouth Podcast, Walker addressed whether or not legs are a weak point and envisioned a showdown against Derek Lunsford at the 2023 Olympia contest.
“The goal for me into this Olympia is to have the Olympia fullness to match the Arnold condition. If I can do that, I think I win hands down,” said Nick Walker.
At last year’s Mr. Olympia, Hadi Choopan claimed gold after his fourth attempt at the event. He dethroned two-time winner Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay, who finished fifth and defeated Derek Lunsford and Nick Walker en route to securing the sport’s most notable achievement.
Walker made a quick turnaround in Columbus, Ohio at the 2023 Arnold Classic, however, was unsuccessful in his quest for a second title. While the outcome was deemed controversial in the eyes of many professionals, Samson Dauda pulled off the victory nonetheless and earned his invitation to the next Olympia. Meanwhile, Walker still believes he should have gotten his hand raised.
Having placed runner-up to Dauda, Walker opened up on results. Even though he thought he brought a winning package, the 28-year-old plans to use the judges’ criticism as fuel for his next competition. With this year’s Olympia taking place November 2-5, Walker set his sights on another battle with Lunsford as he doesn’t believe Hadi Choopan will repeat as champion.
Nick Walker Says He Has Solid Shot of Defeating ‘Comparable’ Hadi Choopan, Derek Lunsford at 2023 Olympia
According to Walker, Choopan won’t be champion by the end of the next Olympia competition. He insisted that the show will be determined following a battle with Lunsford.
“Yeah. I mean look, I think I have a shot of winning any show that I do, for the Olympia, yeah, I mean the two people that were in front of me were Hadi and Derek, and I think they are very comparable; I think that’s why they were one and two.
Listen, I love Hadi but I don’t see him repeating in my opinion and Derek, you know… he could continue to beat me now that he has a full off-season actually to put the work in and put size on now, so we’ll see. But everyone knows I improve drastically show to show. So, it’s just going to really come down to what me and him look like and who is in better shape, honestly,” shared Walker.
“People don’t understand, Derek is not small by any means. Like, he’s a big guy and he’s got great shape right? You know, so, what I was trying to do even for the Olympia and for the Arnold was improve the shape. That’s what I was trying to do. And I think it worked in my favor for the Olympia because I was still very very full, but I think when I came into the Arnold, I wasn’t as full, a lot more conditioned, and the waist was definitely more streamlined but I just didn’t have the pop that everyone likes, I guess.”
Walker Reveals If Legs Are a ‘Weak Point,’ Talks Training Tactics and Useful PEDs in Prep
Reflecting on his last show, Walker said his legs lost volume, which he believes might have been a by-product of over-training.
“Everyone says that my legs are my weak point right? I connect probably the best with my legs. So, I never have to do a ton of volume. I did legs yesterday. I did one set with four different exercises, four sets total, my legs are trashed, like fuc**ng trashed. I’m sore as fu** bro. I just know how to – in my mind, when people say, ‘Oh your legs are small.’ Well, maybe I’m just doing too much. Everyone was like, ‘Oh you need to do legs twice a week.’ It’s like, if I’m getting that sore and connecting so well with just that, I don’t need it; I don’t think I need another [session].”
He explained going ‘too hard’ during cardio could have resulted in his legs being downsized in Ohio.
“I think what happens for me, is when I do cardio, I think I go too hard as well. We’re the same. We go that’s it, we’re cranking. I think when you get in a calorie deficit for so long, you’re cranking the cardio hard – the legs are going to go. It’s the only body part that’s going to go. I think that with training legs and connecting as well as I do on a frequent basis, on top of the hard cardio. The legs are going to go if you’re in a calorie deficit.”
While making improvements in the off-season, Walker credited Romanian deadlifts for being more beneficial than conventional deadlifting. He added that pull-ups are an underrated exercise for building a world-class back.
“I think what’s more beneficial than a deadlift in my opinion… is RDLs [Romanian deadlifts],” said Walker. “You know what I think is the most underrated back exercise, pull-ups. I think in my opinion, pull-ups can build one of the best backs in the world.”
Before calling it a day, Walker revealed he uses T3 as necessary when he encounters a stall point in prep progress. He shared that he’s now taking MPP (nandrolone phenylpropionate) and routinely changes around his stack.
“Needed [T3 use] if necessary. It’s [for] the end of a prep or maybe you hit a stall point – you kind of just – a little dose and it’ll go a long way,” Walker shared. “No, not really [I don’t use peptides].”
“Over the years, you try different shit, you use different – you know. What I use throughout my past four or five years, I don’t really have [acne] breakouts,” Walker said. “I’m pretty good with my joints so knock on wood. I think it [MPP] helps, I do.”
With the next Olympia on the horizon, eight-time winner Ronnie Coleman has kept an eye on the show’s contenders. Earlier today, Coleman backed Lunsford to defeat Hadi Choopan at the 2023 Olympia, stressing that it’s only a matter of time before the former 212 Olympia takes the number one spot.
Since winning his first Sandow, Choopan has been quietly training in Iran. Walker is confident that a balance of fullness and conditioning will be the key to taking out Choopan and Lunsford at his next Mr. Olympia show.
You can watch the full video below:
Published: 17 April, 2023 | 7:00 PM EDT
Chris Bumstead And Hadi Choopan Annihilate A Quads Workout As 2022 Olympia Prep Continues
Chris Bumstead recently trained with Hadi Choopan to be stronger and ‘not be a skinny b**ch’. Bumstead is one of the most successful competitors in the Classic Physique division of the IFBB Pro League. The Canadian phenom won the Classic Physique Olympia title by dethroning former champion Breon Ansley at the 2019 Olympia. He then went on to defend it at the 2020 and 2021 Olympia. CBum has dealt with a number of challenging situations in his preparation for the 2022 Olympia, and he is one of the favorites heading into the competition. Iain Valliere, an open-division bodybuilder, and close friend has been coaching Bumstead so far. However, the duo announced the end of their ‘coach-client relationship’ a few weeks back. Although difficult, both men understood it was a wise decision for Valliere’s career.Bumstead is now training under famed bodybuilding coach Hany Rambod and recently partnered with Hadi Choopan, who is also training under Rambod. Choopan is a top contender in the Men’s Open division. He last competed at the 2021 Olympia and finished third behind champion Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay and runner-up Brandon Curry. ‘The Persian Wolf’ has managed to pull off excellent performances in spite of travel restrictions and language barriers. Choopan arrived in the USA seven weeks out of the 2022 Olympia to train with Rambod. He will attempt to dethrone the reigning champ and stake claim at the Mr. Olympia title in 2022.Chris Bumstead and Hadi Choopan went through the legs workout in Southlake, Texas on November 19th under Hany Rambod’s guidance. The video of this session was posted on Bumstead’s personal YouTube channel. Let’s check out how the duo nailed leg day.Chris Bumstead and Hadi Choopan crush a leg workoutLeg ExtensionsCBum and Choopan started the workout with leg extensions to isolate the quads and warm up the knee joints. While it is one of the most common quad isolation movements, leg extension can be harsh on the knees if not done properly. It is advisable to avoid locking out the knees completely during this movement. The duo got a few sets of this exercise under the belt and took to the first heavy compound movement of the day.Smith Machine SquatsThe quad-focused workout continued with Smith Machine squats. Weights on the Smith machine move along a fixed trajectory and this reduces the need to control the weights significantly. Coach Rambod instructed Hadi to do the front squats while CBum did the back squats.“Because I want you to work on your hips a little bit and we’re going to do back squats… Because that’s going to be easier for you and that’s how your biomechanics are dialed in,” Rambod told Bumstead.The duo performed all the sets under Coach’s watchful eye with slow and controlled movement and jumped into the next one.Hack SquatsCBum and his Persian friend worked the quads further on the hack squats machine. Hack squats are a compound movement that works all the major muscles in the lower body. However, quadriceps are the primary focus while hamstrings and glutes take up a more supporting role. After doing a few warm-up sets, they increased the load on the machine and cranked out heavy working sets of hack squats to fire up the quads.“This is the point in my prep where I’m still moving heavy weights but I’m trying not to kill myself. Hany is really trying to stress not to kill myself here. It’s trying to control the reps and not go super heavy. I’m going like a plate or two lighter than I normally would…” Bumstead said.While speaking about how training with Hadi Choopan feels, CBum said:“I trained my whole life with Iain (Valliere). So I always train like an Open bodybuilder. I’m training for the Open as always. But training with Hadi reminds of training with Iain who’s stronger than me. So they’re actually doing the same weight on front squat as I do on the back squat. So it really pushed me to actually be stronger and not just be a skinny b**ch!”Leg PressCoach Rambod then took his pupils to the leg press machine and instructed to perform a few heavy sets to stimulate the quads. Hany explained the mechanics of the machine used here and said:“This is an older leg press machine and it has a very steep angle. So it’s naturally much heavier than a regular leg press machine that does not have such a steep angle. Therefore when you start to fatigue, it just ends up becoming absolutely much much heavier than the normal because you have a very steep angle…”Walking LungesCBum and Choopan worked their quads with the walking lunges. Being the bigger and stronger of the two, Choopan did lunges with barbell while Bumstead did lunges with dumbbells. After doing a few sets of this exercise, the duo did some hamstrings, quads, and adductor muscles work.Seated Leg CurlsThe Persian Wolf and Bumstead took to the seated leg curls to work the hamstrings next. Seated leg curls offer a better range of motion and are thus more effective for inducing hypertrophy compared to lying leg curls. The duo did a few sets of this movement and took to another movement.Standing Calf RaisesChoopan and Bumstead sprinkled a little bit of calf work in the mix and did the standing calf raises. This exercise works the gastrocnemius muscle in the calves. After performing some quick sets, the duo took to the final exercise of the day.Hip Adduction MachineThe adductor muscles are a group of muscles that adduct (bring together) the thighs. Some of the adductor muscles also extend or flex the hips and stabilize the pelvis and trunk while standing on one leg. The duo did a few sets of this movement and wrapped up the training session.Overall, the workout included:Chris Bumstead and Hadi Choopan have a similar goal at the 2022 Olympia but their path to victory and the stakes are completely different. CBum will attempt to create history by winning the fourth consecutive Mr. Olympia Classic Physique title. He has to defeat formidable opponents like Terrence Ruffin, Urs Kalecinski, and Ramon Rocha Queiroz to achieve this. However, Bumstead is looking absolutely jacked in his recent physique updates and experts believe he will be the biggest guy in the division at the 2022 Olympia.On the other hand, Choopan has to beat veteran bodybuilders and hungry up-and-comers to wear the 2022 Olympia crown. Irrespective of how the results turn out, it is going to be fierce competition to reach the top spot.You can watch the full workout video here, courtesy of Chris Bumstead’s personal YouTube channel:
Bodybuilder Hadi Choopan Shows Strength With Massive Smith Machine Squats For 15 Reps
Hadi Choopan is preparing to be one of the top bodybuilders during the 2022 Olympia.
Hadi Choopan is one of the top bodybuilders over the last several years and is looking to keep up that reputation in 2022. Aside from having a shredded physique that is balanced in many ways, Choopan possesses great strength and recently showed it off. He completed 15 reps of massive Smith Machine squats as prep for the Olympia continues.
The biggest show of the year is quickly approaching. Athletes have under 15 weeks until they step on stage and try to dethrone Big Ramy. This is a feat that many believes Choopan should have accomplished last year. Bodybuilding veterans believed that Choopan was in the best shape on stage during the competition. Nonetheless, Ramy won his second consecutive title.
Choopan also finished behind reigning Arnold Classic champion Brandon Curry. He earned the 2021 Olympia People’s Choice Award for his performance. The Men’s Open division continues to impress and is only getting deeper. Choopan is still expected to finish near the top and is making sure that all body parts are covered.
Hadi Choopan Showing Insane Strength In The Gym
Many bodybuilders share different workouts and exercises for fans to try. Choopan recently shared a feat of strength when he loaded up the Smith Machine with many 45-pound plates and completed 15 reps of squats.
“Put your foot on the brake gas, so press the gas with full power, it’s over ?”
Hadi Choopan was in the news earlier in the summer when former managers claimed that he was being injected with synthol. This was to make his muscles look bigger. The claim came from Hadi and Mahdi Parsafar, who were allegedly selling products without the consent of Choopan.
Despite the claims, Choopan remains an elite competitor and one athlete who could win the Olympia. Nick Walker went on the record saying that Choopan is a huge threat in the Men’s Open division. Walker finished fifth during the 2021 competition.
Hadi Choopan always brings great conditioning to the stage, which compliments his overall size. With just under four months remaining until the show, there is no doubt that Choopan will continue to add size and get in the best shape possible for the show.
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Phil Heath’s 2022 Mr. Olympia Predictions: Hadi Choopan & Brandon Curry Can Beat Big Ramy
7x Mr. Olympia bodybuilding champ Phil Heath believes Hadi Choopan has the slight edge over Brandon Curry to possibly beat Big Ramy at The 2022 Mr. Olympia.
7x Mr. Olympia Phil Heath has revealed his initial predictions for the 2022 Mr. Olympia. In a recent video interview, Heath goes into detail about the current Olympia lineup and predicts that both Hadi Choopan and Brandon Curry have potential to defeate Big Ramy “if he leaves the door open.” Heath ultimately gives a slight edge to Choopan based on what he’s seen recently.
While it still might be a bit early to be making predictions for the 2022 Mr. Olympia, when a 7x Mr. Olympia legend speaks – you start to listen. In prep for his upcoming commentary duties this year, Phil Heath took part in an extensive interview discussing the current Olympia lineup and who has the most potential to win the trophy. He gives a deep analysis of Big Ramy and also his thoughts on the few who could possibly disrupt his reign.
There has been much talk about the rising tide of young bodybuilders finally coming into their own. Nick Walker has been the most hyped rising star – with some even believing the can take the entire Olympia title this year. Other notable mentions are Hunter Labrada, Andrew Jacked, and newcomer Michal Krizo – who has yet to earn his IFBB Pro card but is hyped by many including Jay Cutler.
However, at this moment, Phil Heath still believes that the old guard will hold onto their positions this year. Heath acknowledges the strong and deep talent of the young rising stars – but believes that last year’s top three will still be the ones to bring the most heat. Specifically, he believes that Hadi Choopan and Brandon Curry are the two best bets to win the 2022 Mr. Olympia – that is if Big Ramy slips up.
You can check out the full video below:
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Phil Heath’s predictions on who can defeat Big Ramy at the 2022 Mr. Olympia
Phil Heath starts off discussing Big Ramy himself – who he still believes is the top contender to win the Mr. Olympia this year. He only believes that Ramy will fall behind if he “leaves the door open.” What does he mean by that? Not making enough improvements. Heath – like many other bodybuilders – acknowledges that the judges expect a returning Olympia champion to not only look the same but look even better than the previous year. If Ramy can’t pull that off, he leaves the door open for others to slip in.
This led to Phil Heath being asked who could possibly take down Big Ramy if he left that door open. Heath sticks with consistency and looks towards the top placings last year – Hadi Choopan and Brandon Curry.
“You gotta go with the top three. You got to go with Brandon and Hadi. That was who was in the mix last year. I would say based on what I saw recently, Hadi. I’m not biased because I’ve worked with Hany. That dude has some serious muscle. All it takes is for Ramy to slip. We saw that happen last year. He wasn’t better than when he won his first one.”
However, Phil Heath also points out that there is a world of difference between seeing a physique in person versus in photos or video. Heath hasn’t seen every single of the top contenders in person – which he admits creates a wild card in his predictions.
“Usually, if you leave the door open for two years, things can happen right. This is what sucks by not being there live and just seeing pictures and some video. I haven’t seen Nick Walker in person. I’ve not seen him compete in person. Of course, you’re going to lean towards him being a disruptor. No question about it. I believe he is the youngest disruptor out of anyone in the world.”
Phil Heath points out Nick Walker as having real potential to disrupt this year’s Mr. Olympia. But he falls short of saying he could win – in part because he has not seen Walker in person himself.
Phil Heath shares his opinion of Michal Krizo’s physique
Phil Heath also touches base on the latest hyped athlete of the season – Michal Krizo. Originally an IFBB Elite Pro competitor, Krizo recently announced he would be moving to the IFBB Pro league. He has yet to earn his pro card but the hype is so strong with him that some believe he will become pro and qualify for Mr. Olympia in time to compete in 2022.
While Heath sees why Krizo has earned the hype, he also thinks that it’s too soon to really expect him to do any major damage this year. Phil Heath believes that Michal Krizo still has some holes in his physique.
“What I saw, he [Michal Krizo] looked great. When he was at Gold’s Venice and Jay was with him and stuff, I thought he looked really good, but I do see holes in the physique. I see holes in everything right. I think he definitely needs to work on his presentation. Even when you research his contest videos, he can’t hold poses very long. Just look at the tape.”
It’s fantastic to see Phil Heath really take on the role of a bodybuilding analyst (and future commentator) for the sport of bodybuilding. His thoughtful analysis of the current lineup of competitors is exactly the kind of conversation that helps raise the stakes for the upcoming Mr. Olympia.
That being said, Phil Heath may be commentating this year – but that doesn’t mean he won’t be returning to compete again. He has been silent about any plans but a recent post claiming, “I ain’t done yet. I’m just getting started,” gives fans hope that he will hit the stage again in the future.
Stay tuned to the Generation Iron Fitness Network for more news and updates on all things bodybuilding as we get closer to the 2022 Mr. Olympia.
Iain Valliere Defends Hadi Choopan On Synthol News, Alleged Hany Rambod Texts Emerge: “Don’t Inject The Shoulders”
Iain Valliere commented on a recent Instagram post to defend fellow bodybuilder Hadi Choopan.
On Friday, pro bodybuilder Hadi Choopan’s former manager, Hadi Parsafar, claimed that Choopan has injected his muscles with synthol over the course of his career. Parsafar described Choopan as the “Synthol People’s Champion.” Now it seems like fellow pro bodybuilders are reacting to the claims. In a recent comment, Iain Valliere seems to be defending Choopan amid the synthol rumors.
Parsafar, and his brother Mahdi, made statements on Friday regarding this topic. Choopan and the Parsafar brothers parted ways when they were fired by the bodybuilder. Bi’s and Tri’s Instagram shared a post explaining the incident and a comment from Valliere can be found defending Choopan.
“Lol like all everyone’s favourite 90’s bodybuilders weren’t filled to the absolute gills with esisclene, nolitol and SEO’s. This is bodybuilding, literally nothing about it is natural, and even lots of guys who aren’t obviously using it, still likely are.”
Iain Valliere has not earned his qualification to the 2022 Olympia just yet but is preparing to take the stage at the Vancouver Pro on July 17. He finished seventh in October at the biggest competition of the year. Valliere continues to explain in his comment how bodybuilding is a visual sport and Hadi Choopan is one of the best there is.
“This is a visual sport, there’s no bonus points for how hard you work or how you attain the look. Hadi is clearly one of the top bodybuilders on the planet, and one of the most popular. An ex manager trying to ruin his good name with this nonsense is petty and pathetic.”
Hadi Choopan has been a threat to the Olympia title since 2019, when he earned third place. He finished with the bronze once again last year, despite some believing he arrived with the best conditioning. There were many who believed that Choopan should have been crowned champion and he will work for that goal once again this year.
Hany Rambod Allegedly Tried To Stop Synthol Use
Hadi Parsafar also shared alleged messages between Choopan and Hany Rambod showing the coach asking to stop injecting the bodybuilder with this substance. Rambod has been quite instrumental in Choopan’s career as of late as his training coach – which coincide with his latest string of high placing Mr. Olympia showings.
“Team, Please tell Hadi to stop injecting his shoulders!
His right shoulder looks very swollen and bad.
The judges will mark him down!,” Hany Rambod wrote.
Rambod continues to ask to stop injections because the look will force the judges to deduct points. This comes after a response, which looks like an audio message.
“I have said this so many times. Don’t inject the shoulders.”
This story is still developing and will be updated as more information becomes available. For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.