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2023 Northern California Pro Results and Scorecard
Competitors from the Figure category met in Sacramento, California for the 2023 Northern California Pro over the weekend on June 10. This show served as an Olympia qualifier, as athletes have until October 9 to secure their respective invites.
The 2023 Mr. Olympia competition takes place November 2-5 and has moved from Las Vegas, Nevada to Orlando, Florida, inside the Orange County Convention Center. Over the last few weeks, competitors have taken it to each other for an Olympia invite.
Whoever should emerge victorious this weekend will have not only a pro win under their belt but a chance to face the champion of the Figure division – the super dominant six-time winner Cydney Gillon. She’s held the title since 2017.
A few threats stood out as names to watch this weekend, like Jossie Becerra who served as a shocker at the 2022 Figure Olympia, where she took fourth place. However, if she wants a shot at gold, she’ll have to get through two-time Figure Olympia runner-up Natalia Soltero. Soltero also took second at the Pittsburgh Pro and New York Pro, so she’s eager to finally lay claim to a gold trophy. Lastly, Wendy Fortino is another top name who aimed to cement herself as a title contender.
2023 Northern California Pro Figure Results
Winner — Natalia Soltero
Second Place — Jossie Nathali Alarcon Becerra
Third Place — Ericka Morales Morgan
Fourth Place — Ashley Radiance Fuller
Fifth Place — Gina Palma
Sixth Place – Wendy Fortino
Seventh Place — Desiree Alferes
Eighth Place — Ashley Garcia
Ninth Place — Aksana Yukhno
Tenth Place — Jessica Baltazar
2023 Northern California Pro Scorecard
2023 Northern California Pro Scorecard
Fitness Volt congratulates the winner!
Published: 11 June, 2023 | 2:17 PM EDT
Arnold Classic UK Set for Relaunch Under US-Based Management of Arnold Schwarzenegger
The Arnold Classic UK was founded by the organizers of the Arnold Sports Festival in 2021 after the Columbus, Ohio event got pushed back due to COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions. In a recent post made on Instagram, the organizers of ASF announced the relaunch of Arnold Classic UK with the management of the US-based team under the ownership of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Legendary bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger dominated the IFBB Pro League Men’s Open division with his insane muscle mass, size, and symmetry in the 1970s. He triumphed at the Mr. Olympia contest in 1970 to secure his first Sandow trophy and went on to become a seven-time champion. He reached new heights in the sport and was the first competitor to break into the mainstream with his leading role in the bodybuilding docudrama Pumping Iron (1977) alongside fellow icon Franco Columbu.
Following a decorated career at the highest level, Schwarzenegger turned into a revered figure in the community. He teamed up with the late Jim Lorimer to found the Arnold Sports Festival, widely regarded as the second most prestigious fitness showcase in the world next to only the Mr. Olympia competition. Since the show’s inception in 1989, it has provided a platform for budding talent across bodybuilding, strongman, powerlifting, and more.
Bodybuilding veteran Rich Gaspari created history by winning the inaugural edition. The show often features athletes who go on to contend for the Mr. Olympia title. Legendary bodybuilder Jay Cutler and Dexter Jackson made a name for themselves with wins at the Arnold Classic before finding glory at Mr. Olympia.
Arnold Classic UK was held for the first time after the original event got delayed in the US in Oct. 2021. Men’s Open standout Nathan De Asha emerged as the first champion of the event and punched his ticket to the Mr. Olympia contest ahead of Samson Dauda.
For the second edition of the show, the organizers disclosed that Arnold Schwarzenegger would not be in attendance to crown the champion due to financial challenges related to prize money and his attendance fee in Sep. 2022. Without the man himself, the event was rebranded to Experience With Sports Festival UK.
ASF’s Brian Powers vocalized Schwarzenegger’s disappointment in the change of plans and pinned the blame on promoters failing to meet their financial commitments. Eventually, the IFBB Pro League and organization president Jim Manion stepped in to guarantee the prize money for the winners. Andrew Jacked came out on top of the 2022 Arnold Classic UK with Patrick Johnson taking silver and James Hollingshead rounding up the top three.
Arnold Classic UK set for a relaunch under US-based management of Arnold Schwarzenegger
In a recent Instagram post, the organizers of the Arnold Sports Festival announced the Arnold Classic UK is set to relaunch next year under the US-based management team of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The 2024 Arnold Sports Festival UK is scheduled for Mar. 15-17 in Birmingham, England.
“The US-based management team is happy to announce the relaunch of the 2024 Arnold Sports Festival UK,” wrote the organizers. “Join us in Birmingham, England, March 15-17, 2024 as next years Arnold will boast the biggest names, brands and prize money in Europe — EVER.
“Having now said ‘hasta la vista’ to the event’s former ownership, brands can now expect reliable and responsible leadership from the US management team under the ownership of the man himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Act swiftly to secure your spot now. It’s a chance to elevate your brand to new heights and leave an indelible impression on the fitness world.”
The 2023 Arnold Classic wrapped up with Samson Dauda taking home the top prize in Columbus three months ago.
With the Arnold Classic UK set to head in a new direction under the original team, regional fans will be excited to witness some of their favorite bodybuilders battle it out on stage in hopes of securing qualification for the Mr. Olympia show. Meanwhile, competitors might be better placed and not have to worry about the issues that plagued the previous edition.
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: 11 June, 2023 | 12:15 PM EDT
4x Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler Shares Arm-Building Hypertrophy Workout
Jay Cutler’s workout intensity has seemingly ramped up judging from his latest training session. In a JayCutler TV YouTube video, Cutler smashed an eight-exercise arms workout focused on hypertrophy as he continues making strides toward a better physique.
During his respective tenure, Cutler set himself apart from his peers with massive arms, a full chest, and some of the most defined quads in the sport’s history. His consistency and grit guided him to an Olympia title in 2006 after he dethroned the eight-time champion Ronnie Coleman. Despite their rivalry, Cutler admits some of his workouts were inspired by Coleman’s high-volume heavy weight strategy.
Having sailed off into the sunset with four Mr. Olympia victories, Cutler remains one of the best to ever throw on a pair of posing trunks. Even though he hasn’t appeared on stage in 10 years, fans continue to call for his return. While he won’t compete on stage, Cutler has made it clear he’s transforming his physique before his 50th birthday.
Fortunately for fans, he’s documented the process. In addition to sharing training sessions, Cutler underlined why nutritional demands have been so crucial to his goal. And now with August approaching, Cutler shared an exhausting arm workout.
Jay Cutler Shares Arm Workout for Hypertrophy
1- Triceps Press Down – 2 or 3 warm-up sets, 3-4 working sets2- Triceps Extension Machine – 3 sets as many reps as possible3- Seated Overhead Dumbbell Extension – 3 working sets of 12 reps4- Rope Press Down – 3 sets 12 reps5- Machine Biceps Curl – 3 working sets 12 reps 6- Standing Dumbbell Curl (alternating) – 3 sets 12 reps7- Preacher Machine Curls – 3 sets8- Cambered Bar Curl (wider grip) – 4 sets
Following the arms training session, Jay Cutler discussed some of his workout habits and goals. He aims to weigh 250 pounds in eight weeks.
“That was my arm workout. I’m not trying to overdo it a lot, I’m really just trying to get the benefit of each workout, not trying to change the game. Anything I do now and moving the tissue around, moving the food through, I’m going to grow. And that is the goal. I would love to hit 250 by the time we get to eight weeks. And we’ll see where we’re going to end up. I’m about four meals deep today. I’m eating about six meals a day right now.”
And then at eight weeks out, I’ll evaluate and maybe I’ll start throwing in a little cardio exercise but I’ll tell you the cardio is going to be a lot different from the past because I’m going to stick to less intense cardio. I’m going to do more bike work, I don’t know if I’ll get on a step mill because I’m not necessarily trying to get striated glutes with this kind of come down with my body weight. But I’m kind of touch and see. Remember, I’m going for the best shape I’ve been in 10 years.”
Cutler clarified that his physique goal doesn’t involve being shredded. Instead, he plans to showcase a balance of fullness, hardness, and roundness.
“Now that means I’m going to be full, hard, and round. I’m not trying to get super shredded. Okay, on my birthday I’m actually going to be dried out, diuretics and everything else, I’m just going to be in a walk-around best shape. So, that means if I take my shirt off at a show which possibly could happen by the way, I’m going to look a lot better than I did on the original video.”
“What I’m trying to do is get the workouts in later so I can get the fullness and really, like I did in 2010 and 2011 when Hany kind of trained me and put me on this whole different mindset that you should train after if you want to come in bigger, you need to train later and have at least four meals. Your body performs better guys. If you’re trying to get bigger, you’ll stay home and focus on eating those meals and your output will be a little less so when you go to the gym you’re utilizing all those calories,” Cutler said.
This is far from Cutler’s first progress update regarding his ‘fit-for-50’ physique transformation. In a previous JayCutlerTV episode, Cutler argued against bulking up. He shared that his goal was to keep his metabolism guessing while becoming ‘bigger and leaner’ at the same time.
Cutler’s latest physique challenge is a testament to his determination and willpower. In the months to come, bodybuilding fans around the world hope to see him guest pose at the upcoming 2023 Masters Olympia contest, taking place in Cluj Napoca, Romania.
Watch the full video on the CutlerCast TV YouTube channel below:
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Published: 11 June, 2023 | 10:45 AM EDT
2023 DC Pro Results and Scorecards
With five different shows taking place around the world this weekend, it’s a busy time for the IFBB Pro League. The 2023 DC Pro show, which took place June 10 in Alexandria, Virginia, featured athletes from the Bikini and Men’s Physique categories.
All roads lead to this year’s 2023 Mr. Olympia contest. Unlike last year, the venue has moved from Las Vegas and will now take place in Orlando, Florida inside the Orange County Convention Center. There are some notable differences with the IFBB Pro League schedule this year. The point system has been removed. With that in mind, athletes must earn their way to Olympia by winning a pro show.
The winner of this weekend’s Men’s Physique contest will have a shot at standing against Erin Banks on the 2023 Olympia stage, who recently claimed gold in a hard-fought battle against Brandon Hendrickson. As for the Bikini division, the winner this weekend will face off with the current reigning Bikini Olympia Maureen Blanquisco.
With plenty on the line, fans were eager to name their picks. Charjo Grant stands out as a clear-cut favorite given that he won this competition in 2021. Meanwhile, he’ll be met with resistance from Vitor Chaves, who picked up recent runner-up placings at the 2023 New York Pro and Miami Muscle Beach Pro show. This will also be Steven Cao‘s first time on stage this year after winning the Mile High Pro in 2022.
2023 DC Pro Winners
Men’s Physique: Vitor Chaves
Bikini: Jessica Wilson
2023 DC Pro Results
Men’s Physique
Winner — Vitor Chaves
Second Place — Steven Cao
Third Place — Juan Manuel Gochez
Fourth Place — John Stanley Sarmiento
Fifth Place — Victor Manuel Ramirez Chavez
Sixth Place — Charjo Grant
Seventh Place — Stevelon Dennis
Eighth Place — Micah A. Thomas Jr.
Ninth Place — Roy Williams
Tenth Place — Raymond Akinlosotu
Bikini
Winner — Jessica Wilson
Second Place — Maria Acosta
Third Place — Tara Grier
Fourth Place — Adair Libbrecht
Fifth Place — Racquel Hutchinson
Sixth Place — Marisa Woo
Seventh Place — Gavi Soni
Eighth Place — Lesley Billups
Ninth Place — Jessica Miller
Tenth Place — Kendall Call
2023 DC Pro Scorecards
2023 Dc Pro Men Physique Scorecard
2023 Dc Pro Bikini Scorecard
Fitness Volt congratulates the winners!
Published: 10 June, 2023 | 11:33 PM EDT
2023 Mile High Pro Results and Scorecards
The 2023 Mile High Pro went down on June 10 in Denver, Colorado, featuring competitors from the Men’s Physique and Bikini categories. This show was an Olympia qualifier for the biggest event of the year taking place in November.
Bodybuilding’s ultimate destination: Mr. Olympia, takes place November 2-5 in Orlando, Florida. Athletes who wish to compete in this event must earn a qualification. The Olympia Qualification System has undergone dramatic changes since 2022. The point system is no longer in effect so athletes must win a pro show to guarantee entry.
In addition, the deadline to qualify for the 2023 Mr. Olympia show expires on October 9. With time running out to earn an invite, the pressure is building with each passing weekend. Whoever takes home the Men’s Physique crown will have a shot at Erin Banks later this year. Meanwhile, the Bikini winner will also have an opportunity to square off against the current Bikini Olympia Maureen Blanquisco.
With such a stellar roster of talent, determining favorites was a difficult task, but there were some names to watch. Riccardo Croci who is already qualified off his Tropicarium Budapest Pro win, plans to do some damage. Additionally, the 2023 Miami Muscle Beach winner Ramses Rams will aim to earn another title this year. Diogo Basaglia is a hot name to keep an eye on given the strides he’s made as of late too.
2023 Mile High Pro Winners
2023 Mile High Pro Results
Men’s Physique
Winner — Riccardo Croci
Second Place — Ramses Rams
Third Place — Drew Cullen
Fourth Place — Diogo Basaglia
Fifth Place — Jason Huynh
Sixth Place — Mark Robinson
Seventh Place — Renato Menezes
Eighth Place — Reynel Chavez Pulido
Ninth Place — Zach Savoie
Tenth Place — Andrew J. David
Bikini
Winner — Ashley Kaltwasser
Second Place — Maya Soleil Astabie
Third Place — Elisabet Vang
Fourth Place — Alina Bogacheva
Fifth Place — Priscila Rodrigues
Sixth Place — Nikki Kiani
Seventh Place — Laura Martinez Manrique
Eighth Place — Ruth Montes
Ninth Place — Langsha He
Tenth Place — Norma Jeane Watkins
2023 Mile High Pro Scorecards
2023 Mile High Pro Men Physique Scorecard
2023 Mile High Pro Bikini Scorecard
Fitness Volt congratulates the winners!
Published: 10 June, 2023 | 11:19 PM EDT
2023 Southern California Pro Results and Scorecards
The Golden State will welcome competitors from the Wellness division at the 2023 Musclecontest Southern California Pro on June 10. This show serves as a qualifying event for the Mr. Olympia competition.
This year, athletes have fewer months to qualify for the biggest event of the year: 2023 Mr. Olympia, taking place November 2-5 in Orlando, Florida inside the Orange County Convention Center. Whoever emerges victorious at this contest will go on to face the newly crowned reigning Wellness Olympia, Francielle Mattos.
In addition, the point system has been removed, so athletes are no longer able to grant their passage by accumulating top placements at shows throughout the season. The only way to stand atop the Olympia stage is to earn first place at a pro show.
As with any show, there were a number of frontrunners such as Lili Dong, who claimed bronze at the recent Pittsburgh Pro and New York Pro. She was also runner-up at the 2023 Miami Beach Muscle Pro. Meanwhile, Anne-Marie Gobeil was on a mission to win gold. Though, to accomplish that, she’ll also have to get past fan-favorite Simara Walter.
2023 Southern California Pro Wellness Results
Winner — Lili Dong
Second Place — Cassandra Pennington
Third Place — Lovely Lindo
Fourth Place — Simara Walter
Fifth Place — Frida Paulsen Stern
Sixth Place — Joanna Jean
Seventh Place — Nuannaree Sriwaralak
Eighth Place — Anne-Marie Gobeil
Ninth Place — Rayanne Collins
Tenth Place — Alexis R. Figueroa Quesada
2023 Southern California Pro Scorecard
2023 Southern California Pro Scorecard
Fitness Volt congratulates the winner!
Published: 10 June, 2023 | 10:59 PM EDT
76-YO Sylvester Stallone Launches Eddie Hall Over Bar in ‘Expendables 4’ Trailer
American filmmaking icon Sylvester Stallone is easily one of the most prolific action stars with an influence that spans generations. Despite being in his later years, he continues to deliver exciting films in the same vein. In the first trailer for the upcoming movie Expendables 4, Stallone launched former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall over a bar.
Sylvester Stallone first showed his caliber in the entertainment world in the 1970s. He gained attention for his insanely shredded physique as well as refined writing and acting abilities with a starring role in the first installment of the massively popular Rocky film franchise. He portrayed a boxer on the path to winning the world championship against all odds, much like his inspirational real-life journey to finding worldwide acclaim from humble beginnings.
Stallone’s impact on the sporting world is undeniable. Legendary Strongman Eddie Hall paid tribute to Stallone while training in boxing in preparation for his bout with fellow strongman Hafthor Bjornsson in Jun. 2020.
In Mar. 2021, Stallone reflected on his time playing Rocky with a throwback photo of his leanest look ever. He revealed he got down to a crazy 2.8% body fat to get ready for the final fight scene of Rocky III (1982).
Although Stallone doesn’t have the same physique anymore, he has not lost his passion for fitness and continues to train regularly. He left the fans stunned with a workout update showing off his gigantic arm muscle development in Jun. 2021. Then, he reinvoked the spirit of Rocky to throw fast hands in a heavy bag workout.
While Rocky may be his most well-known role, Stallone also led several other blockbuster film series such as Rambo. In 2010, he formed a star-studded team of top talent across the film industry and combat sports to launch The Expendables franchise, featuring the likes of renowned action star Jason Statham, martial artist Jet Li, Scott Adkins, UFC legend Randy Couture, and more.
Sylvester Stallone announced Hall would be added to the cast for the fourth Expendables film in an antagonistic role in Oct. 2021. Ever since the announcement, fans have been excited to check out how the enormous strength athlete would look in the movie.
Stallone took a trip down memory lane and issued a motivational message on persevering through the challenges in pursuit of your dreams in Apr. 2022. Then, he inspired fans with another message boasting his enormous biceps a few months later.
Sylvester Stallone launches Eddie Hall over the bar in ‘Expendables 4’ trailer
In the trailer for Expendables 4, Sylvester Stallone threw Eddie Hall over the bar in an action-packed scene that lasted about half a second in the promo.
Sylvester Stallone cautioned fitness enthusiasts against working out too hard two months ago. He referenced Bruce Lee in his warning while educating his fans on the long-term effects of strenuous movements.
Meanwhile, Eddie Hall is gearing up to make a splash in bodybuilding after taking inspiration from former two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay and reigning four-time Classic Physique Olympia winner Chris Bumstead.
Watch EXPEND4BLES (2023) Official Trailer:
As per IMDb, Expend4bles, or The Expendables 4, is directed by Scott Waugh with Kurt Wimmer, Tad Daggerhart, and Max Adams as writers. It stars Jason Statham, 50 Cent, and Megan Fox and is expected to release on Sep. 2023.
Published: 10 June, 2023 | 3:28 PM EDT
Kali Muscle Reveals the Steroids He Used & How He Had a Heart Attack
Fitness influencer Kali Muscle, real name Chuck Kirkendall, is leading the charge against the high consumption of steroids in bodybuilding. As someone who faced serious health consequences from using gear, he keeps an open attitude about the cost of pursuing a career in bodybuilding. In a recent interview with Escape Fitness, Kali revealed the steroids he took as a competitor and what happened the day he had a heart attack.
Kali Muscle found his passion for working out and fitness in his teenage years. He grew up playing many sports and earned a college scholarship. However, he found himself on the wrong track after the death of his brother and got sentenced to 11 years in prison where he found solace in lifting heavy weights. He managed to gain significant muscle mass inside the prison on a diet made up of foods like Top Ramen, honey bars, and more.
After getting released in 2010, Kirkendall decided to fulfill his potential in bodybuilding and the world of entertainment. He dominated the Mr. California contest in 2012 and took home the top prize. He quickly found success as an actor as well, where he was featured in a range of commercials, music videos, and films. His story of turning his life around has inspired many.
Kirkendall has battled with a string of major health issues over the last few years. He suffered a heart attack due to the left artery being completely clogged in Nov. 2021. Fortunately, he survived and managed to recover from the incident. He followed up with an update on how his life changed after the heart attack and issued a stark warning to bodybuilders about not ignoring warning signs that their bodies present.
Kali Muscle / Instagram
In April 2022, Kirkendall opened up on his experience using PEDs (performance-enhancing drugs) in his days of competition. He argued against pursuing bodybuilding as a career due to the health risks that come along with it. He went as far as to label bodybuilding the ‘most unhealthy’ sport of all. Then, he doubled down on his stance by offering his take on the dangers of abusing steroids for sport.
Kali Muscle recommended fitness enthusiasts stay away from competing in bodybuilding last August. He argued against idolizing the unnatural look presented by Open competitors. He confessed to having regrets about competing and warned others not to become like Walker and Jacked to preserve their health.
Kirkendall believes bodybuilders are so focused on using drugs to improve their chances of winning a show that they don’t mind sacrificing their health in the long run. He doesn’t find the rewards to be worth the risk anymore and expressed contentment with moving on from the sport.
Kali Muscle reveals what happened the day he had a heart attack
In a recent YouTube video, Kali Muscle shared what happened the day he suffered the heart attack.
Muscle highlighted the change in his diet on the day. Initially, he thought it was heartburn and only found out later that he had a heart attack after visiting the hospital.
“That day I had a heart attack, day was going good. I got some dental work done the day before and they gave me some Vicodin and the next day I took one,” said Kali Muscle. “Day was going good. At night I ate something I never eat. I had some beef, I think it was one of those Stan efferding meals, beef and rice. I was on his meals, the vertical diet at the time. I was eating a lot of beef at the time. I never eat ice cream but that night I had an ice cream sandwich and I’d already ate two of those beef meals. I ate that, went to bed, at midnight I just [got up] feeling like I got heartburn. I was panicky so I was like hey Helena get me some anti-acid to kill heartburn. She’s scrambling around, gave me some Pepto-Bismol, still was burning.
“We looking up remedies on Google. I crouched down on the couch and it was relieving the feeling so I just stayed down like that and was just off. Then finally after about 30 minutes, I had vomited and she took me to the hospital. I technically think I might’ve died during that drive there because I’d blacked out on the drive there. When we got to the hospital, I’m up energetic again, we go in there, they hook me up, they’re like, ‘oh we got to take you in.’ I was like why? I don’t feel bad it’s just heartburn isn’t it? And they were like nah, you have a heart attack. I was thinking conspiracy theory at this point.”
He opened up on the experience of getting surgery and the fear he continues to feel.
“In 10 minutes in that hospital I was in surgery. They went through my groin, said I needed a stent and I was woke all this time while they doing surgery it’s like you loaded on I don’t know what. As they giving me surgery, I’m vomiting like the movie The Exorcist all on the walls while they doing it. At the hospital, it all just seemed like a dream. I didn’t believe it. To this day, my body reminds me now because it’s just fear and thoughts. It’s a messed up position to be in because now everyday all day I’m thinking about dying.”
Kali reveals the steroids he took in his bodybuilding days
Kali Muscle laid out the steroids he utilized while competing in bodybuilding shows. He believes his poor diet combined with gear contributed to his artery getting clogged.
“11 years in prison, Top Ramen, four or five a day, I used to have headaches all the time. I didn’t know about sodium. I was eating that, honey bun, snickers, all this high-cholesterol food not to mention I used to get migraines when I was a kid from age of 15 to 31. So, it was some health going on there.
“Just eating all that bad food and then to top it off with bodybuilding with steroids; HGH, IGF, insulin, that’s clogging everything up. You clogging everything up. Then I was getting warnings and doctors would be telling me my blood pressure elevated for years. I thought I was fine. I keep on just putting it off. When I moved from Burbank to Las Vegas, my feet and ankles swelled up and would just stay swole. I’m talking abnormal.”
He revealed he would cycle off steroids and only stopped using them completely after the heart attack.
“I was 34 when I started. 34 to I really didn’t stop until the heart attack. But all those years, I would get off three to four months so I called my side cycling off. I’m thinking I’m not doing what these other guys are doing, this amount because I was genetically gifted. That HGH, IGF, insulin, that’s clogging you up and it hardens your arteries. I would try to do like the old school bodybuilders, six seven months out a year then get off clean.”
“Tren is the worst. Tren, deca, anadrol, D-bol, they’re the worst. They’ll clog you up so fast. Insulin will kill you.”
He continues to take a small dose of testosterone to sustain his muscle mass.
“A small dosage, I do like half a CC every other week. I do like 250mgs a month and that’s just to sustain… just some testosterone.”
The last time fans heard from the influencer, Kali Muscle reflected on his 13-year-long use of PEDs. He claimed he consumes only one meal a day and pushed back on eating tons of food to bulk up.
RELATED: Kali Muscle: Bodybuilders Are ‘So Caught Up’ In Drugs, They Don’t Think About the late Cedric McMillan and Shawn Rhoden
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 10 June, 2023 | 1:18 PM EDT
Breon Ansley Says to Expect ’10 More Lbs of Muscle Mass’ on His Frame in 212 Debut
Breon Ansley enjoyed an illustrious career as a Classic Physique competitor with two Mr. Olympia wins. He’s currently gearing up to make a splash in the Men’s 212 division. In a recent interview with OlympiaTV, Ansley shared his thoughts on the target weight and strategy he plans to use for a successful debut in the 212 category.
Breon Ansley first gained attention for his impressive muscle mass, detail, and conditioning in the IFBB Pro League Classic Physique division. Although he dabbled in the 212 class early in his career, he ultimately chose to compete in the Classic Physique division. He dominated the competition at the 2017 Mr. Olympia to win his first Sandow trophy and added a successful title defense the next year along with an Arnold Classic title. In 2019, he got dethroned by reigning four-time Olympia champ Chris Bumstead who has firmly held onto the crown since.
Following a fourth-place finish at the 2022 Arnold Classic, Ansley announced his plans to move on from the Classic Physique division. He was working on bringing a revamped package for his final Classic appearance and indicated a potential move to the 212 group.
Ansley teamed up with popular fitness personality Mike O’Hearn for a fierce arms workout in preparation for the 2022 Mr. Olympia last October. Then, he demolished a heavy upper-body training session utilizing a rest-pause technique and followed up with a brutal leg workout in the final stages of his prep.
Breon Ansley / Instagram
Being the only competitor to defeat ‘CBum’ on the Olympia stage, Breon Ansley was determined to repeat history and reclaim the title. He revealed his desire to change divisions was based on the weight cap restriction he was forced to follow in Classic Physique.
In the end, Bumstead retained his title and Ansley dropped to fourth place. Following the event, the pair buried the hatchet after sharing a six-year-long rivalry on stage in a candid exchange.
Breon Ansley shares the target weight for a move to the 212 division
In a recent YouTube video, Breon Ansley shared the weight he’s aiming for in his 212 class debut.
He believes adding roughly 10 pounds to his frame could help him present a new look.
“I don’t need to be a lot bigger,” said Ansley. “If I’m doing the calculations of where I’m at now and where I’d need to be to be as sharp as a tack when it comes stage time, I’d probably say that’s going to be around 200 pounds. That’s quite a bit of more pounds when you’re talking about around 10 more pounds of muscle mass when it’s able to formulate properly and not have to suffer the loss of muscle like it was with Classic. I think it’s going to be around 200, maybe even 205. I think it’s going to be quite a different look.”
Ansley reveals the strategy for the switch to 212
Without the restriction of his previous weight cap, Ansley is confident he will look his best as he won’t need to sacrifice any muscle mass.
“Now that I’m really going to be able to see my true potential, my true density that I have been lacking over the past two years in Classics so as far as density that they might outmatch me on, I’m going to have to disagree because I think once I’m able to not lose muscle, not lose a single solitary pound of muscle and hold onto all my muscle from all these hard ass Chris Cormier years of training then the density factor… remember I’m just as old or even older than some of these guys so my maturity is right there with them and I think that I can outmatch theirs. I can definitely beat theirs and dominate as far as maturity and density.
“I’m going to be a lot sharper now that I’m not going to have to lose muscle. I’m going to be able to get sharp, refined by holding onto muscle instead of losing it. You thought I was sharp and in fairly great conditioning in Classic, just wait till you see now the sharpness and the lines that I’m going to be able to display in the 212 division now that I can hold onto muscle and not kill myself with hours and hours of cardio.”
He declared his ambitions to score gold at the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia.
“Yes, I am winning it in 2023.”
Breon Ansley gave fans a look into his full day of eating in the 2023 off-season last month. He added that he consumes one meal of his choice per day and laid out the diet he was utilizing to pack on the pounds before entering prep for his next show.
It remains to be seen whether Ansley receives a special invite, otherwise, he would need to qualify for the next Mr. Olympia by winning a 212 show. Either way, fans will be excited to see how he stacks up in the new division.
RELATED: Breon Ansley Shares Mass Building High Volume Leg Workout
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 10 June, 2023 | 11:51 AM EDT
Greatest Arms Ever? Chris Cormier Picks Robby Robinson & Olympia Judge Says Phil Heath
Figuring out who has the best arms ever in a sport like bodybuilding is a difficult task. In a recent episode of Prime Time Muscle, Chris Cormier and Terrick El Guindy tackled the challenge and named which bodybuilders they believe possessed the best arms of any competitor regardless of era.
Chris Cormier is uniquely qualified to speak on the matter given his decorated résumé filled with accomplishments. His eye-catching balance of chest fullness, biceps, and deeply separated quads made him a perennial Mr. Olympia threat despite never taking home the prestigious honor. As with most of his contemporaries from the 1990s, Comier competed often and shared the stage with heavy hitters like Dorian Yates, Ronnie Coleman, and Flex Wheeler.
On the other hand, El Guindy is a bodybuilding promoter and judge. He routinely officiates contests and through the years has developed a keen eye for physiques irrespective of category. With regular appearances on the Prime Time Muscle Olympia TV program, El Guindy’s gift of gab makes him a fantastic ambassador for the sport.
In their latest endeavor, El Guindy and Cormier teamed up for a gun show judging contest. They both proposed their picks in the arms race. In addition, they disclosed honorable mentions and named who currently holds the biggest arms in the sport.
Chris Cormier: ‘Robby Robinson Has The Greatest Arms Ever, No One Will Outshine Those Peaks’
Without taking size into account, Cormier credited Robinson’s arms as the best ever given his pronounced biceps peak, which he still displays today well into his 70s.
Robby Robinson / Instagram
“Robby Robinson! The Black Prince is my go-to when it comes to arms. I’ve watched as a kid and training with him personally and I would saw, when he would do a preacher curl, his biceps would come up, over, then, back, and down. Up, over, back, and down, double scoop ice cream scoop on top of an arm [impressive peaks]. That’s what I would see every time on Robby Robinson. He had the brachialis, the triceps, I don’t think anyone outshined those peaks, ever,” said Chris Cormier.
Terrick El Guindy: “Phil Heath, Freakiest Arms I’ve Ever Seen”
Guindy said he was most blown away by the full muscle bellies in Heath’s arms.
“In my opinion to have the best arms in the history of bodybuilding – a lot of us focus on biceps but it’s got to be biceps and triceps… I’m going to tell you that Phil Heath had amazing freaking arms, okay. It was the triceps, the biceps, and it was the muscle bellies on the arms.”
“I could choose one arm to just borrow and go down Santa Monica with a sleeveless shirt, it would be Phil Heath,” argued El Guindy. “Freakiest arms I’ve ever seen. Lee Priest had freaky arms too but they were a little bit too compact. They were impressive but they didn’t stretch so much.”
Phil Heath / Instagram
As for honorable mentions for greatest arms, Cormier and Guindy agree on Roelly Winklaar and Ramon Queiroz. However, in terms of pure size, Nick Walker has the biggest and most impressive arms of any competitor in the IFBB Pro League right now.
“Let me tell you, I saw Roelly Winklaar’s arms, man!” added Guindy.
“Those arms bro… you can’t even – I mean his forearms are about as big as most people’s biceps peaks, alone just the forearms. You can’t go wrong with those guys mentioned already,” The Real Deal shared.
“It was a few months back and shits crazy my man. He [Ramon Dino] had those crazy forearms laying down on the table. They looked like somebody’s legs. I was looking at this guy and going, why do you have such big forearms. And the reality is he did a lot of bars in Ekiti where he’s from. Incredible arm development. Nowadays, the competitor in the Open that has the biggest most impressive arms in my opinion is Nick Walker,” replied El Guindy.
This isn’t the first time competitors from past eras took a closer look at arm development. Months ago, former four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler shared a throwback video of when he and Ronnie Coleman had their biceps measured. While the race was close, Coleman’s were bigger, topping out at a massive 23.5 inches. Meanwhile, Cutler’s were 22.5 inches at the time.
Comparisons of Walker’s arm size and Coleman’s surfaced recently as well. The eight-time Mr. Olympia titleholder found the online discussion funny. After being critical of the Bro Chat Podcast for the comparison, Coleman specified that muscle separation must also be taken into account when measuring arms.
Interestingly, Cormier and Terrick El Guindy left ‘The King’ out of the discussion, despite being known for some of the biggest arms of any competitor. Given the sport’s subjective nature, fans will never agree as a whole on which athlete had the best arms of all time.
Watch the full video from the Olympia TV YouTube channel below:
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Published: 10 June, 2023 | 12:11 AM EDT
