Tag: Mr. Olympia
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
William Bonac: ‘If Give It My All, Then I Have the Possibility to Win Mr. Olympia’
William Bonac hasn’t given up hope on securing a Mr. Olympia title before calling it a career. In a recent interview with Desktop Bodybuilding, Bonac brushed off retirement rumors and said he’s taking the year to come back better than ever in 2024.
As a Men’s Open pro, William Bonac has participated at the highest level for over a decade. His thick compact muscle density and work ethic were vital components to his rise as a pro. Bonac is a two-time winner of the prestigious Arnold Classic, winning gold in 2018 and 2020. While proving himself as an elite talent, Bonac narrowly missed out on winning Mr. Olympia to Brandon Curry in 2019.
Last year (2022), ‘The Conqueror’ was unable to exact revenge against Curry at the Arnold Classic and finished second. The outcome was controversial and many pros like Lee Priest thought Bonac brought the winning package. Despite the setback, Bonac returned a week later to win gold at the Boston Pro, guaranteeing his passage to the Mr. Olympia show.
He went into Las Vegas’ 2022 Olympia as a notable favorite but failed to make the first call-out. Bonac finished ninth and his teammate, Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay, also came up short in fifth, which served as one of the biggest shocks of the night. Bonac attempted the latest Arnold Classic as well but finished seventh.
William Bonac Says He Can Still Win Arnold Classics and Mr. Olympias
During the video, Bonac said he was still in the running to win Arnold Classics and Mr. Olympias as long as he takes a year off to let his body recover.
“I do for sure [think] I can win the Arnold Classic; the possibility is still there. To win the Olympia… I don’t know man, where the judges are going with the kind of physiques that they want for that. But I think if I give it my all, like the next two years, then I might have the possibility to win the Olympia. Right now, it’s just taking time off, you know, let my body recover.”
“When you compete and compete and compete, your body adjusts to the system to your supplementation and diet, so it won’t react as it normally would be. Your receptors – everything would be sensitive. So I need to get rid of that. Once I have that and that’s what I’m doing now, so I’ll need a whole year off. Once I have that, then I can come back again and everything will feel fresh, my body will feel fresh because that’s what I did in 2022 as well at the Arnold Classic.”
According to Bonac, his ninth and seventh-place finishes at the Olympia and Arnold Classic were justified. He added that the judges made the correct decision and said the outcome could have been worse.
“It was the right decision. When I look back at the pictures, I was like I look shit. You know, so yeah, you can even say you have to be happy with your placing and what you got – it could have been worse. I looked like shit. At the Arnold, I looked better. Did I deserve my placings? Yeah. The judges put me there for a reason. I’m not a guy to complain about his placings. Of course, in the past, I had some issues.”
“I’ve grown, I understand the game. So, I don’t complain when I win, I’m happy when I win, so why should I complain when I lose some? It’s a big pie, everyone can have some of it,” added Bonac. “I know what I saw, and I was like [no], people told me I should have placed higher but I’m lucky that I got that place, believe me. It’s not the physique I wanted to represent at the Olympia.”
Bonac on Big Ramy: ‘Its Tough to Be 2x Mr. Olympia & Lose Your Title All in 6 Months’
Bonac sympathizes with Big Ramy since the Egyptian native lost his title after holding the honor for two years.
“To be honest with you, if I did qualify for the Olympia, I would have probably gone to the Olympia as well. For him [Big Ramy] to go, is a good thing as well. I wouldn’t be demotivated because of his placings that he didn’t maybe expect it at the Olympia and then maybe the Arnold. It’s tough you know, to be two-time Mr. Olympia, losing your title and all just in sixth months’ time. Losing your title and placing fifth and then going to the Arnold and not even placing in the top three, it’s kind of tough to be the king and then… you know,” said William Bonac.
“I thought he looked better at the Arnold and I think at the Olympia he didn’t look that bad. We all looked — we all didn’t look perfect. None of use except maybe three guys and those three guys were in the top three, simple as that. I think Big Ramy should maybe have a rest for this time now and start his prep for Olympia and then maybe after Olympia take a rest and go forward again. We are not as young as these guys anymore.”
The last time fans heard from Bonac he discussed his future in the sport. Given the strain his body has been under, he decided to take a year off for the sake of longevity. He believes the time off is exactly what his physique needs following a busy season. Considering how illusive the Olympia title has been for him, Bonac set his sights on another Arnold Classic victory next year.
Watch the full video below:
RELATED: William Bonac Completed Blood Work Before 2023 Arnold Classic, Says ‘There’s Nothing Wrong’ With Kidneys
While his time in the sport is limited, William Bonac hopes to come back stronger and more competitive in 2024.
Published: 13 April, 2023 | 6:38 PM EDT
Chris Bumstead Builds A Thick And Huge Back In The Gym
Chris Bumstead is keeping himself busy in the gym this off-season. The 28-year-old phenom recently went through an intense back workout and shared glimpses of his commitments outside of training and winning trophies.
The Classic Physique division of the IFBB Pro League is home to one of the biggest superstars and a dominant champion in Chris Bumstead. Since winning the Classic Physique Olympia title at the 2019 Olympia, CBum has held it with a firm grip and defended it at the 2020, 2021 and the 2022 Olympia. Heading into his most recent title defence, Bumstead had to face quite a lot of adversity. Apart from pushing through knee, back and quad injuries during the prep, the Canadian bodybuilder had to deal with coaching changes.
Bumstead and his longtime friend and coach Iain Valliere decided to end the coach-client relationship for the latter to focus on his own bodybuilding career. Under the tutelage of famed bodybuilding coach Hany Rambod, CBum entered the 2022 Olympia and brought the Classic Physique Olympia title back home to Canada. The 28-year-old later revealed that he entered the competition with a torn bicep but still managed to stay head and shoulders above the rest of the division.
With the bicep now completely healed, Bumstead is now fueling his off-season training with a 3500-calorie diet to improve his physique for the 2023 Olympia. In the recent video posted on his personal YouTube channel, CBum can be seen performing a hellacious back workout. So let’s go over the training session and the tips CBum shared as he went through it.
Chris Bumstead’s Back Workout
Wide Neutral Grip Lat Pulldown
CBum warmed up the back muscles with lat pulldowns. This movement primarily targets the latissimus dorsi muscles in the back but also activates major pulling muscles like trapezius, teres major and teres minor, infraspinatus, posterior deltoids as well as biceps. He performed the exercise with a shovel handle that enables a neutral grip. After doing four to five warm-up sets, CBum got a few working sets under the belt and did a drop set to complete the warm-up drill.
Incline Dumbbell Rows
The horizontal rowing movement followed the lat pulldowns as the reigning Classic Physique Olympia champion performed a few good sets of this to work the pulling muscles as well as the sternal head of pectoralis major muscles. Horizontal pulls or rowing movements are essential in building a thick back and therefore they should be an integral part of the back training routine for complete development. CBum said that the incline rows help him practice breathing and get better at it. He explained:
“It’s one of the things where it’s hard to breathe with your chest on the pad but forcing you to practice proper breathing techniques. You should do this every exercise but you are forced to do it here… Something I am trying to get better at with every rep breathing the same consistency.”
Bumstead pushed through a few good sets of incline dumbbell rows. He pulled the breath in before initiating the lift for each rep and exhaled slowly while lowering the dumbbells. After holding the dumbbells for a couple of seconds at the bottom, he initiated the rep with the same breathing technique. The 28-year-old performed all the sets to practice breathing and build the back before jumping into the next exercise.
One Arm Chest Supported Rows
Bumstead next took to the chest supported rows on the plate loaded machine to stimulate the back further. He did the exercise unilaterally to really focus on the movement and build the mind-muscle connection.
“With the one arm rows where you can actually get the full stretch are beautiful or way better than a dumbbell row from the floor. You just get a much better stretch and contraction,” Bumstead explained.
CBum also explained the correct technique to do the one arm rows for maintaining maximum focus on the back muscles. He added:
“The same arm that we are doing, keep that (same side) foot planted forward. A lot of people would put that foot back and the (working) arm forward. This way you’re opening up your hips and then you’re rotating your body. Your core is moving away. But if you keep your foot forward, your hips are forced to stay forward and you have to pull from your lats rather than your core. So keep it on your back.”
Bumstead got some solid sets of this movement under his belt and took to the next exercise.
Seated Rows
Chris Bumstead jumped into the seated rows next and cranked out some heavy sets of seated rows on the Prime Fitness Seated Rows machine. The machine has three plate horns and different levels. Bumstead noted that keeping the weight on the highest horn makes it difficult to lock the movement on contraction. Therefore adding the weight on the lower and middle plate horn suits him better where he can get a good contraction while still lifting heavy.
Reverse Grip Lat Pulldowns
After putting in a good amount of work with horizontal rows, the Canadian bodybuilder went back to working with the vertical pulling movement and performed the reverse grip lat pulldowns. The reverse grip targets the lower lats more as the upper arms are closer to the body. Additionally, you use more of the biceps for pulling the weights. This enables training with heavier weights. After cranking out a few sets of this exercise, CBum performed the final exercise of the day.
Banded Bent Over Straight Arm Pulldowns
Bumstead wrapped up the training session with this exercise. It targets the latissimus dorsi, teres minor, posterior deltoids, triceps brachii and levator scapulae muscles. CBum performed four sets using moderate weights. He maintained short 20-second rest periods between the sets and performed every set to failure without changing the weights. As a result, the rep range went on reducing as the sets progressed.
Overall, the workout included:
Chris Bumstead is still the most dominant competitor in the Classic Physique division. Although he has retirement in sight, the reigning champion is looking to defend the title a few more times before hanging up the posing trunks. It will be interesting to see how he maintains the lead at the 2023 Olympia.
You can watch the full workout video here, courtesy of Chris Bumstead’s personal YouTube channel:
Published: 13 April, 2023 | 8:57 AM EDT
Nick Walker: ‘I Should Have Won The Arnold Classic; The 2023 Olympia Will Be Mine’
Nick Walker is forging ahead with his bodybuilding season after finishing second to Samson Dauda at the 2023 Arnold Classic. In a recent Think Big Bodybuilding podcast, Walker reasoned why he should have won the Arnold Classic and teased the package he’s bringing to win the Mr. Olympia contest in November.
“Listen, it’s a very close call. I’m not like mad by any means. They went with who they thought was better and that’s fine. But what they don’t understand is, when I lose, you just lit another fire under my ass,” Walker said.
At the annual Arnold Sports Festival in Ohio, Samson Dauda, Nick Walker, and Andrew Jacked finished on the podium. However, fans and bodybuilding veterans were quick to take issue with ‘The Nigerian Lion’s’ victory. Former Mr. Olympia Samir Bannout was perplexed by Dauda’s perfect scorecard and guru Chris Aceto questioned the outcome as well.
Fans complained about the judging online until Walker urged them to keep conversations respectful. While Nick Walker and veteran bodybuilder Jay Cutler thought he could have won, some thought he deserved third, like athletes rep Bob Cicherillo.
Bob Cicherillo believes Dauda’s demonstration of shape and beauty outweighed the freaky muscle density of Walker on stage. He’s since provided a guide on judging physiques at contests and predicted Dauda and Derek Lunsford to be Hadi Choopan’s biggest threats in November. With Walker’s off-season underway, he is aiming to craft an Olympia-winning physique in the coming months.
Nick Walker ‘Not Bitter By Any Means,’ Thinks He ‘Should Have Won’ 2023 Arnold Classic
Considering all aspects of a bodybuilding contest, Walker believes he should have won first at the recent Arnold Classic.
“Listen, I am not bitter by any means so let me just start off with that, but I understand why Samson won, I will say that, I get it. But, I do think I should have won. Simply because there’s many reasons and I think the main one is, I personally believed I improved tremendously on my Olympia package. Yes, I was a lot fuller at the Olympia, sure, but I was harder; I think I was dryer, way leaner and I was still full at the Arnold. Sure, not as full as the Olympia but I was still pretty full.
And I – I don’t want to disrespect Samson but I think Samson improved but I don’t think it was a dramatic improvement for him to beat me. In my opinion, I’m happy for him, I’m happy for him, I love Samson. If anyone did deserve the win other than me, it was him, 100%. One of the nicest guys I ever met, very supportive and everything but this is a competition, you understand? At the end of the day, I think looking at all the aspects, I think I should have won.”
Walker’s Goal for 2023 Season: “I Just Feel Like The Olympia Will Be Mine”
Moving forward, Walker plans to improve his conditioning while matching the fullness of his 2022 Olympia physique.
“I know what needs to be done at this point and my goal for the Olympia is to have that same conditioning as the Arnold if not a little more crispier and try and match the fullness of the Olympia. If I’m able to accomplish that…no one can beat me. I don’t think anyone can beat me. Because now it’s like enough growth period right.”
The 28-year-old remains confident that he will claim the Olympia title. He said he’s motivated and built a great game plan with his coach Matt Jansen.
“I’m going to have more muscle maturity, I’m only going to get more dense, and as we all know, the older you get the — I just feel like the Olympia will be mine,” said Walker. “Yeah, now that I’ve gotten out of my little depression phase of losing which is normal, don’t judge me, it happens. And now that I have a new training that’s going really well. Me and Matt have a really good game plan that we’re ready to do. I’m back to who I am and I’m motivated for sure.”
Walker has made it clear his off-season training has changed the Arnold Classic. He implemented a new push, pull, and legs training split in preparation for his next Olympia appearance. Walker also mentioned that he’s training high-volume but not to near failure.
RELATED: Nick Walker, Quinton Eriya Guest Pose at Inaugural 2023 Pure Muscle Championships
Walker is not letting the second-place finish at the Arnold Classic stall his momentum for Olympia. He hopes to knock Hadi Choopan off the throne when they meet in Orlando, Florida later this year.
Watch the full video below:
Catch full coverage of the 2023 Arnold Classic, including pre-judging, event recaps, analysis, and final and full results at our Arnold Classic coverage hub: FitnessVolt.com/arnold-classic
Published: 12 April, 2023 | 2:04 PM EDT
Derek Lunsford Shows Off Sculpted Physique After Killer Shoulders Workout in The 2023 Off-Season
Derek Lunsford is leaving no stone unturned to maximize his gains in this off-season and bring a complete package to the 2023 Olympia. His off-season training is picking up pace, and Lunsford recently went through a shoulder workout and included a few chest exercises in the session as well. America’s own Lunsford has cemented his position…
Jay Cutler vs. Nick Walker: A Fantasy Bodybuilding Showdown
If you want to determine the most successful bodybuilder of a certain era, then you simply look at the number of championships they won during their careers. Determining the most popular competitors is a little different. Social media can help provide some information, but it isn’t all about followers online. Crowd support at shows, lines at expos, and merchandise sales could tell more of the story.
Regardless of what metrics you use, Jay Cutler and Nick Walker hold their own in both onstage success and fan support.
Cutler, a four-time Mr. Olympia, competed as a pro from 1998 to 2013, and he’s still one of the most admired athletes in the sport 10 years after his retirement.
Meanwhile, Walker was one of Cutler’s fans growing up, but he’s now forging his own legacy and building his own fanbase — and trophy case — that could potentially rival Cutler’s someday.
Could Walker actually match Culter’s accomplishments? We’ll have to wait a while before we get an answer. But in the meantime, we here at BarBend are breaking down their physiques and accomplishments to see how both men stack up.
Credit: @JayCutler on Instagram (Cutler) // T.J. Darr (Walker)
[Related: Arnold Schwarzenegger vs. Chris Bumstead: Breaking Down a Fantasy Bodybuilding Matchup]
Bodybuilding Accomplishments
Comparing the duo’s accomplishments in 2023 wouldn’t exactly be fair to Walker. He’s only in his third full season as a pro, while Cutler had a career that lasted well over a decade. Even though we will mention all of Cutler’s major career highlights, we’ll emphasize his success up to the age of 28, which is Walker’s age as of March 2023. In a striking coincidence, the two even share a birthday — August 3 — meaning Cutler is exactly 21 years older than Walker.
Jay Cutler’s Accomplishments
Cutler won 15 pro shows during his career, including four Mr. Olympia titles and three Arnold Classics. However, he didn’t score any of those Olympias before the age of 33. If we were to keep his career analysis to the age of 28, then that leads up to his 2002 season.
According to Muscle Memory, Cutler turned pro in 1996 by winning the NPC Nationals heavyweight title. His first pro show was the 1998 Night of Champions, where he placed 12th. He then qualified for the 1999 Mr. Olympia by placing in the top three at that year’s Iron Man Invitational, but he finished 15th out of 16 competitors at the O itself.
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[Related: 9 Bodybuilders Under 200 Pounds Who Were Absolute Giant Killers]
Cutler’s first pro win came at the 2000 Night of Champions, which became the New York Pro years later. He then finished eighth at that year’s Mr. Olympia. He really hit his stride after placing second to champion Ronnie Coleman at the 2001 Mr. Olympia. Many feel Cutler was actually the better competitor that night, and it’s a decision that is still considered one of the most controversial in the show’s history.
The 2002 season kicked off with 28-year-old Cutler winning his first Arnold Classic title. He then opted to skip the Olympia that year, making his career highlights up to age 28 as follows:
1996 NPC Nationals Heavyweight Winner
2000 Night of Champions Winner
2001 Mr. Olympia, 2nd Place
2002 Arnold Classic Champion
Nick Walker’s Accomplishments
Walker turned pro at the 2020 North American Championships, and he immediately made his pro debut at the Chicago Pro that same season, finishing in fourth.
He already had a following going into the 2021 season, but his popularity skyrocketed after winning the New York Pro. In another coincidence, Walker’s first pro win came at the same contest as Cutler’s, albeit with a different name.
The 2021 Arnold Classic came after the New York Pro due to scheduling changes around the COVID-19 pandemic. Walker shocked the world and won that contest as well, marking his first major title in only his third pro show.
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[Related: Ronnie Coleman vs. Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay: A Fantasy Battle Between Bodybuilding Heavyweights]
His Olympia debut came two weeks later with a fifth-place finish — 10 spots higher than Cutler’s first Mr. O outing. Walker returned to the Olympia in 2022 and placed third behind champion Hadi Choopan and runner-up Derek Lunsford. He then kicked off the 2023 season by returning to the Arnold Classic, where he finished second behind champion Samson Dauda.
Walker isn’t expected to compete again until the 2023 Olympia Weekend on Nov. 2-5 in Orlando, FL, and he be turn 29 by that point. Here are his career highlights as of March 2023:
2020 North Americans Champion
2021 New York Pro Winner
2021 Arnold Classic Champion
2022 Mr. Olympia, 3rd Place
Training Style
Both men are known for their freakish muscle mass — but how did they build it? Cutler is reported to be 5’9” while Walker stands 5’7”, and both weighed around 250 pounds on stage. With Walker being such a fan of Cutler growing up, you can imagine that he took some training cues from the four-time Mr. Olympia over the years.
Jay Cutler’s Training Style
Cutler credits foundational free weight movements such as the bench press, squat, and deadlift for building his mass.
“While machines are still beneficial — when you get to a certain point, you can’t get to that [Mr. Olympia] level without doing free weight movements,” Cutler said on his YouTube channel in September 2021. He did (and still does), however, work more with machines and dumbbells to refine his physique as his career progressed.
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[Related: 10 Memorable Performances From the Arnold Classic Bodybuilding Contest]
During his prime, Cutler implemented a high-volume training approach and rarely used supersets or other intensity-boosting methods. He hit upwards of 20 to 25 sets per body part, with sets being in the eight to 12 rep range. He still follows this approach as he nears his 50th birthday.
In November 2022, Cutler shared an 11-exercise shoulders and triceps workout that is similar to how he trained during his days of dominating the stage. He didn’t detail the reps and sets, but these are the moves he performed:
Seated Dumbbell Shoulder Press
Chest-Supported Seated Lateral Raise Machine
Rear Delt Cable Crossover Flye
Incline Fixed Barbell Front Raise
Incline Dumbbell Rear Delt Flye
Seated Triceps Extension Machine
Cable Triceps Pushdown
Kneeling Rope Pushdown
Seated Cable Triceps Extension
Machine Calf Raise
Leg Press Calf Raise
Nick Walker’s Training Style
Though Walker performs many of the same movements as Cutler, he’s far more notable for his freakish displays of strength on social media. During his 2022 Mr. Olympia prep, Walker posted a video of himself hitting incline bench press reps with 180-pound dumbbells and deadlifts with five 45-pound weight plates on each side (which totals 495 pounds, assuming Walker was lifting with a standard 45-pound barbell).
Like Cutler, Walker has since started incorporating more machine movements into his programming because they allow him to isolate muscle groups and refine his mass.
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[Related: The Story Behind the Chaotic Drug-Tested 1990 Mr. Olympia]
That said, he still uses free-weight exercises regularly and keeps his rep ranges around 12 to 15. One example of Walker’s shoulder training is this session he completed with 2019 Mr. Olympia Brandon Curry in the summer of 2022.
Popularity
It’s always difficult to compare the popularity of bodybuilders from different eras because of the lack of social media during Cutler’s career and the different ways of promotion between then and now. There are significantly fewer magazines around now, and merchandise sales have changed as well. Nonetheless, you can see why these two men are where they are in the bodybuilding world.
Jay Cutler’s Popularity
Cutler’s popularity during the 2000s was matched only by eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman. That’s because, throughout their careers, they were usually the last two men standing on the Olympia stage, and their physiques helped define the “mass monster” era. They were the most high-profile athletes in the sport, with each selling workout DVDs and appearing in magazines. If anything, their rivalry helped both men achieve even greater heights in terms of popularity.
[Related: How Strong Was Arnold Schwarzenegger? We Look Back at the Oak’s Short-Lived Powerlifting Career]
Cutler was — and still is — savvy when it comes to the business of bodybuilding. He was the top athlete for the supplement company MuscleTech for most of his career, started his own merch line, and was a fixture at trade shows. His pursuit of Coleman, combined with his commitment to support his fans, made him a legend long before he won an Olympia title.
Since his retirement, Cutler stays relevant with newer fans thanks to his podcast, social media pages, and his YouTube channel. On Instagram alone, he has more than 4.8 million followers as of March 2023, ranking alongside current competitors like Big Ramy.
Nick Walker’s Popularity
Walker’s fanbase can be seen in part on both his Instagram (1.3 million followers) and YouTube channels (231,000 subscribers). Outside of social media, he has his own clothing line and is sponsored by supplement brand HD Muscle. Like Cutler, Walker also makes appearances at trade shows, gyms, and nutrition stores.
[Related: How Strong Was Arnold Schwarzenegger? We Look Back at the Oak’s Short-Lived Powerlifting Career]
The attention of bodybuilding fans is now more spread thanks to the addition of other divisions such as Classic Physique and Men’s Physique, but Walker remains a popular figure in the industry and could remain so for several years to come.
Coaching
Both Walker and Cutler employed some of the most respected trainers and coaches in the industry to help them build their championship physiques. Here’s who helped them get to the top:
Jay Cutler — Chris Aceto and Hany Rambod
Cutler began his career with “The Technician” Chris Aceto and stayed with him throughout most of his career. Aceto helped Cutler win all of his pro shows up until the 2008 Olympia when he lost to Dexter Jackson.
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Cutler then changed over to Hany Rambod, who guided him to his final two Olympia victories in 2009 and 2010. After initially agreeing to work with Chad Nicholls for his 2013 return to the stage, Cutler eventually reunited with Aceto and finished his final Mr. Olympia contest in sixth place.
Nick Walker — Matt Jansen
Walker has mainly used one coach throughout his competition preps so far: Matt Jansen. The duo worked together from Walker’s amateur days until the 2021 Olympia, where he finished in fifth.
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After a brief falling out, Walker switched to working with Dominick Mutascio in early 2022. However, Walker and Jansen reunited later that year and returned to the 2022 Olympia as a duo. Walker finished that contest in third place, and they followed that up with a second-place finish at the 2023 Arnold Classic.
Conclusion
From birthdays to first victories and major titles, the comparisons between Cutler and Walker appear to be valid to this point. They also happen to be among the most popular bodybuilders of the respective generations. In the end, though, it all comes down to Olympia hardware. “The Mutant” certainly has the potential to rival Cutler when it comes to Sandow trophies, but only time will tell if he gets it done.
Featured Images: @jaycutler on Instagram (Cutler), T.J. Darr (Walker)
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 Terrence Ruffin Shares 3,000-Calorie Shredding Diet for 2022 Mr. Olympia
IFBB Pro bodybuilder Terrence Ruffin is gearing up for the upcoming 2022 Olympia, scheduled for Dec. 15-18 at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. In a recent video posted to his YouTube, Ruffin shared his full day of eating while in prep for the biggest show in bodybuilding.Ruffin first gained attention for his insane conditioning and muscle separation in the IFBB Pro League as a Classic Physique standout. He brought a stellar package at the 2020 Arnold Classic and was runner-up to champion Alex Cambronero. Ruffin would place second again just a few months later at the 2020 Olympia.‘Ruff Diesel’ exacted his revenge by defeating former champion Cambroner to win his maiden Arnold Classic trophy in 2021. He established himself as one of the most consistent performers in the category with another runner-up finish at the 2021 Olympia.The biggest obstacle in Ruffin’s way at Olympia this year is the reigning three-time Classic Physique O champion, Chris Bumstead. After winning his first Classic Physique Olympia title in 2019, Bumstead has managed to retain the title since, and will look to create history by getting his fourth Olympia win next month.Ruffin is determined to dethrone Bumstead at the 2022 Olympia. He successfully defended his throne at the 2022 Arnold Classic in March and will enter the contest with legitimate momentum. Terrence Ruffin shares near-3,000-calorie diet while in prep for the 2022 OlympiaIn a recent video posted on his YouTube channel, Terrence Ruffin shared his full day of eating while in preparation for the nearing 2022 Olympia.Meal 1: 50g cream of rice, protein shake, and 100g pineapples. 60g protein, 59g carbs, and 8g fat. Calories: 548.Meal 2: 100g cream of rice, protein shake, and 100g pineapples. 60g protein, 90g carbs, and 0g fat. Calories: 600.Meal 3: 200g rice, 200g chicken, and 2 whole eggs. 60g protein, 54g carbs, and 12g fat. Calories: 564. He used about 2 tbsp of sugar-free sweet chili sauce on top (~5 cal).Meal 4: 200g rice and 200g chicken. 50g protein, 25g carbs, and 3g fat. Calories: 327.Intra-workout shake: 0g protein, 30g carbs, 0g fat. Calories: 120.Post-workout shake/snack: 40g Rice Krispies & 2 scoops of protein. 50g protein, 35g carbs, 0g fat. Calories: 340.Meal 5: Salmon and zucchini. 37g protein, 0g carbs, and 21g fat. Calories: 337.Daily Total: 317g protein, 293g carbs, and 44g fat. Calories: 2,836.RELATED: Try our daily protein intake calculator Terrence Ruffin also showed off his impeccable posing routine in the video. In August, Ruffin opened up about his timeline for retirement. While he said he’ll return next year, Ruffin added that he might step away after winning his third Arnold title. ‘Ruff Diesel’ previously gave fans a sneak peek at the massive 4,800-calorie diet he utilized to pack on the pounds in the off-season. He has cut down on his caloric intake by about 2,000 calories and will tweak his water and macronutrient intake further as the contest gets closer.You can watch the full video below:RELATED: Bodybuilder Terrence Ruffin Shares Intense Off-Season Upper Body Workout
Bodybuilder Terrence Ruffin Shares 3,000-Calorie Shredding Diet for 2022 Mr. Olympia
IFBB Pro bodybuilder Terrence Ruffin is gearing up for the upcoming 2022 Olympia, scheduled for Dec. 15-18 at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. In a recent video posted to his YouTube, Ruffin shared his full day of eating while in prep for the biggest show in bodybuilding.Ruffin first gained attention for his insane conditioning and muscle separation in the IFBB Pro League as a Classic Physique standout. He brought a stellar package at the 2020 Arnold Classic and was runner-up to champion Alex Cambronero. Ruffin would place second again just a few months later at the 2020 Olympia.‘Ruff Diesel’ exacted his revenge by defeating former champion Cambroner to win his maiden Arnold Classic trophy in 2021. He established himself as one of the most consistent performers in the category with another runner-up finish at the 2021 Olympia.The biggest obstacle in Ruffin’s way at Olympia this year is the reigning three-time Classic Physique O champion, Chris Bumstead. After winning his first Classic Physique Olympia title in 2019, Bumstead has managed to retain the title since, and will look to create history by getting his fourth Olympia win next month.Ruffin is determined to dethrone Bumstead at the 2022 Olympia. He successfully defended his throne at the 2022 Arnold Classic in March and will enter the contest with legitimate momentum. Terrence Ruffin shares near-3,000-calorie diet while in prep for the 2022 OlympiaIn a recent video posted on his YouTube channel, Terrence Ruffin shared his full day of eating while in preparation for the nearing 2022 Olympia.Meal 1: 50g cream of rice, protein shake, and 100g pineapples. 60g protein, 59g carbs, and 8g fat. Calories: 548.Meal 2: 100g cream of rice, protein shake, and 100g pineapples. 60g protein, 90g carbs, and 0g fat. Calories: 600.Meal 3: 200g rice, 200g chicken, and 2 whole eggs. 60g protein, 54g carbs, and 12g fat. Calories: 564. He used about 2 tbsp of sugar-free sweet chili sauce on top (~5 cal).Meal 4: 200g rice and 200g chicken. 50g protein, 25g carbs, and 3g fat. Calories: 327.Intra-workout shake: 0g protein, 30g carbs, 0g fat. Calories: 120.Post-workout shake/snack: 40g Rice Krispies & 2 scoops of protein. 50g protein, 35g carbs, 0g fat. Calories: 340.Meal 5: Salmon and zucchini. 37g protein, 0g carbs, and 21g fat. Calories: 337.Daily Total: 317g protein, 293g carbs, and 44g fat. Calories: 2,836.RELATED: Try our daily protein intake calculator Terrence Ruffin also showed off his impeccable posing routine in the video. In August, Ruffin opened up about his timeline for retirement. While he said he’ll return next year, Ruffin added that he might step away after winning his third Arnold title. ‘Ruff Diesel’ previously gave fans a sneak peek at the massive 4,800-calorie diet he utilized to pack on the pounds in the off-season. He has cut down on his caloric intake by about 2,000 calories and will tweak his water and macronutrient intake further as the contest gets closer.You can watch the full video below:RELATED: Bodybuilder Terrence Ruffin Shares Intense Off-Season Upper Body Workout
Hunter Labrada Smashes A Massive Leg Day Workout En Route To The 2022 Olympia
Hunter Labrada is switching things up in the last stretch of the 2022 Olympia prep to bring a fully conditioned physique to the stage. American professional bodybuilder Hunter Labrada is one of the top contenders of the IFBB Pro League’s Men’s Open division. He is the son of legendary bodybuilder Lee Labrada and has inherited his love for bodybuilding from his parents. The 30-year-old rose to prominence with wins at the 2020 Tampa Pro and the 2021 Chicago Pro. He last competed at the 2021 Olympia and achieved a fourth-place finish. Labrada will attempt to improve his standing at the 2022 Olympia where he is set to go up against a stacked roster.The efforts poured into the competition prep are bearing fruits as he looks to be in amazing shape in his recent physique updates. The 2020 Tampa Pro winner recently went through a full leg day workout. The video of this session was uploaded on Hunter Labrada’s personal YouTube channel. Let’s look at how he trained his legs now.Hunter Labrada goes through a demanding leg workoutLabrada is entering the final stage of his prep five weeks out of the 2022 Olympia.“Things have changed a little bit. We’re at a point where I am fragile enough that I am not fullsending sets into oblivion, especially on legs,” Labrada said about his present training regimen.The 30-year-old has added volume and intensity to his training with rest-pause methods and drop sets. The goal is to keep the output high and bring a fully conditioned physique to the stage. Labrada’s current training split includes:Push DayPull DayArms DayLegs DayRest DayPreviously, the 2020 Tampa Pro winner was training the legs once every nine days. However, he feels comfortable to train every muscle group once every five days as he is not going too heavy in the workouts.“We’re at a point right now where every time I touch (the legs) and they improve. So the increased frequency with a decreased amount of weight to lead to failure in ten sets… I think that’s good for my legs. So looking forward to pushing hard and finishing this out strong…”Seated Leg CurlsLabrada started the training session with this hamstring isolation movement. The seated leg curls are one of the most recognized lower body movements around the world. This exercise helps tremendously with warming up the knees. Therefore they make for an excellent first exercise in a lower body workout. The Labrada Scion did a few sets of this exercise and took to the next exercise.Leg ExtensionsAfter filling the hamstrings with blood, Labrada targeted the quadriceps with leg extensions next. Leg extensions are undoubtedly effective in developing quadriceps, but they can be detrimental to knee health if not performed correctly. Hunter Labrada cranked out a few solid sets of this exercise before taking up the first compound movement of the day.Pendulum SquatsThe pendulum squat is a compound movement that primarily focuses on developing quads and glutes. However, they can be made more hamstrings focused by modifying foot placement.Labrada got a few sets of this exercise under the belt to fire up the legs.Walking LungesThe 2021 Chicago Pro winner next took to the walking lunges. This compound movement strengthens the legs as well as the core, glutes, and hips. Labrada pushed through a few sets of walking lunges and jumped into the next one.Hip Adduction MachineThe adductors are a group of muscles in the inner thigh. They are responsible to adduct (bring together) the thighs and stabilizing the pelvis trunk when you stand on one leg.Hunter Labrada got a few good sets of this exercise under his belt and took to the final exercise of the day.Standing Calf RaisesLabrada wrapped up the training session by adding stimulus to the calves. The standing calf raise works the gastrocnemius muscles as seated calf raises that work the soleus muscle that lies underneath it. Labrada trained his gastrocnemius muscles with standing calf raises and wrapped up the training session.Overall, the workout included:Hunter Labrada’s father Lee Labrada recently stated that Hunter will retire from competitive bodybuilding once he wins the Mr. Olympia title and focus on his life after bodybuilding. However, winning the title this year is a Goliathan task for every competitor. The roster is filled to the brim with high-level talent working towards a common goal. Veteran bodybuilder Samir Bannout recently predicted the top five bodybuilders at the 2022 Olympia and Labrada’s name does not appear in that list. However, the 30-year-old is training hard to beat the competition. It will be interesting to see what the scorecards show on Dec. 18.You can watch the full workout video here, courtesy of Hunter Labrada’s personal YouTube channel: