Tag: nEWS
Terrence Ruffin Shares Retirement Plans, Wants To Win Arnold Classic Three Times
Terrence Ruffin plans to defend his Arnold Classic title and win once again before taking a break from competition.
Terrence Ruffin has emerged as one of the top competitors in the Classic Physique division. At 29 years old, he is a two-time Arnold Classic champion and has finished as the runner-up at the Olympia. Recently, Ruffin did a Q&A on his Instagram story, answering some hard-hitting questions like when he plans to retire.
Ruffin was able to reach the pinnacle at the Arnold Classic in 2021, after finishing second to Alex Cambronero the year before. He has now won back-to-back titles in Columbus but has yet to lift the Sandow Trophy. Classic Physique star Chris Bumstead has completed the three-peat and will be looking for his fourth consecutive title.
Ruffin has defended his Arnold Classic title successfully on one occasion and plans to do it again. He recently shared that he wants to win the competition three times before taking a break from competition.
Terrence Ruffin Gives Timeline On Retirement
The Classic Physique division continues to grow in popularity, led by Bumstead and Ruffin, among others. This is not something that Ruffin is shying away from as he plans to compete at the biggest shows of the year once again.
During a session of answering questions on Instagram, Ruffin was asked if he plans on defending his title during the 2023 Arnold Classic.
“I want to win 3. So that’s the plan. That would be my last one though. Then I would love to commentate it.”
Of course, a common question around bodybuilders is when they plan to retire. The recent string of deaths in the sport have made competitors think about their status and monitor their health carefully. Terrence Ruffin is still a young athlete but that does not mean he is not thinking about the future.
Ruffin was asked how many years he has left to compete and he gave some insight on his plan.
“2-3 years then. Idk if I’ll be retired for good but I’ll definitely take some time off from competing.”
This means that Ruffin would be in his early 30s when he decides to step away from bodybuilding. It is unknown if he will follow through with this plan or if he will retire for good.
What we do know is that we can plan to see Terrence Ruffin on the Arnold Classic stage next year as he looks to win his third consecutive title.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Jay Cutler And Milos Sarcev Discuss Michal Krizo, Draw Comparisons To Phil Heath
Jay Cutler and Milos Sarcev believe Michal Krizo has a chance to be something special.
Jay Cutler knows a thing or two about building an elite physique in bodybuilding. He continues to share different opinions about the current state of the sport. Recently, he ran into Michal Krizo in the gym and raved about his physique. Cutler and Milos Sarcev share the opinion of Krizo and drew some big-time comparisons during an interview.
Krizo made the jump from the IFBB Elite Pro League to the NPC in July. He was one of the biggest stars in the league and will now be able to compete to earn his Pro Card. Both Cutler and Sarcev have seen Krizo in-person since he made the switch and believe that he could make an immediate impact as a pro.
During an episode of Cutler Cast on YouTube, both Cutler and Sarcev had some incredible things to say about the future of Krizo.
Jay Cutler Compares Michal Krizo To Phil Heath
Between Jay Cutler and Phil Heath, there is a lot of experience and success on the Olympia stage. Cutler is a four-time champion and has an eye for talent. With Krizo, he drew some comparisons to the seven-time champion.
“When I told his trainer, I said, you don’t see the fibers like this anymore. When he did his side triceps, you’re going to see the shoulder fibers and all that. We haven’t seen a lot of that, but I compare Phil Heath when I say that because Phil just had the tie ins and the thinner skin,” Cutler said.
Jay Cutler saw Michal Krizo in-person at Gold’s Gym when he was making a video of a workout. He led the NPC bodybuilder through some bodybuilding poses and had plenty to say about his look. He believes he could upset some people if he was to make it to the Olympia stage.
Milos Sarcev was the first to make these claims. There is plenty of hype around Krizo and the renowned coach believes that there is a good reason.
“Krizo has some of the craziest arms you’ve ever seen in your life. The front double bicep is almost impossible to achieve. Round shoulders, round arms, very good legs, decent chest, good chest, we talked about it when he looked pumped, the chest looked good. I still think he can still build up a little bit more size,” Sarcev said.
The 2022 Olympia is already full of some elite talent and it will be interesting to see who could compete with two-time champion Big Ramy. This is not to say that Michal Krizo will immediately win the Olympia but he has a chance to jump into the top 10.
“We just saw two guys that have not hit the Olympia stage yet but can 100% be in the top ten if they show up in condition. Now that’s the big question mark. Can they show up looking like this. How many times have we seen guys that are Mr. Olympia in the gym and then they just don’t show up,” Cutler said.
[embedded content]
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Is 165lb PNBA Brandon Lirio the Lightest Man to Lift the Legendary Húsafell Stone?
Image via Instagram @bgf_lirio
3x Natural Olympia champ Brandon Lirio may be the lightest natural athlete to lift the Húsafell Stone.
The Húsafell Stone is a stone weighing 186kg (410lb). And this behemoth weighing nearly half a ton is no easy feat to lift as you’d imagine. Especially for a natural athlete, not to mention one that stands 5’5″ and weighs 165 pounds. Well, the natural bodybuilder who fits these criteria and may be the lightest to lift this monumental stone is Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (PNBA) athlete Brandon Lirio.
Brandon Lirio is a 3x Natural Olympia champion in the Classic Physique category. And he also has a multi-media contract with Generation Iron, Iron Man Magazine, and the INBA PNBA.
Is This 165lb Natural Bodybuilder the Lightest Man to Ever Lift the Húsafell Stone?
The Húsafell Stone is located in a sheep and goat pen in Húsafell, Iceland. This stone has felt the grips of many strongmen worldwide trying to lift it for over a century. Unfortunately, this rock is separated from a standard 400-pound barbell because it’s unbalanced, uneven, and compact, making it much more challenging to lift.
Lirio recently went on a quest with Iceland’s Strongest Man (Stefan Torfason) and Solvi Fannar (retired strongman and agent of Icelandic Strongmen, including Hapthór Björnsson) to attempt to lift the legendary Húsafell Stone. According to Liro, the men there to witness the lift said they’d never seen anyone Lirio’s size do it before. Brandon Liro stated:
“All of the people who witnessed the lift and the training for it in Iceland said I was the shortest and lightest person they have ever seen lift the stone at 165lbs.”
Whether Brandon Lirio was the lightest ever to lift the stone or not doesn’t take away the fact that it’s an awe-inspiring feat for someone of his stature. Lirio expressed:
“Traveling to Iceland to lift the Húsafell was an absolute dream of mine.”
Below are videos of Brandon Lirio’s entire weightlifting experience with Iceland’s Strongest Man at Thor’s Gym. Iceland is known for its bread of strong, gigantic men, and the training Brandon Lirio endured with Stefan Torfason was what you’d expect in the land of the Vikings. Lirio did a mix of the bag over the bar, log press, and circus dumbbell press movements.
[embedded content]
[embedded content]
The video below is a complete in-depth capture of Brandon Lirio’s experience lifting the Húsafell Stone.
[embedded content]
What’s Next for Brandon Lirio?
Next, Brandon Lirio plans to film a food challenge of him eating triple the calories of “The Rock’s” cheat meal he posted recently. So stay tuned to Lirio’s YouTube channel. He plans to undertake this challenge soon. He also plans to upload his leg training to prepare for Natural Olympia in a couple of weeks.
And, of course, Brandon Lirio is eager to take back his thrown of the Natual Olympia Classic Physique division after Derek Joe won at 2021 Natural Olympia, leaving Lirio with a silver medal. Reclaiming the title won’t be an easy task, though. Derek Joe recently spoke with us about his recent physique update in preparation for Natural Universe held in Tampa, Florida, on September 3, 2022.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to stay tuned to Brandon Lirio’s next adventures!
INBA/PNBA World Championships 2022 Inside Look | Posing Routines & Awards
[embedded content]
A visual recap of the INBA/PNBA World Championships competition – part of the Road To Natural Olympia.
This summer held one of the biggest natural bodybuilding events of the year – the INBA/PNBA World Championships in Florence, Italy on June 25, 2022. The competition is a truly vital one for the league – part of the Road To Natural Olympia series – competitors have a chance to qualify for the Natural Olympia competition later this year. It’s also a major opportunity for amateur athletes to earn their pro cards.
The World Championships is also notable for bringing together a truly diverse and powerful line up of competitors from across the globe. Each athlete representing their nation to further place it on the map in the sport of bodybuilding.
Denny Kakos, INBA PNBA’s founder, has high hopes for natural bodybuilding. Bringing bodybuilding to the Olympics is his ultimate goal. The Olympics also abides by WADA regulations and prohibit drugs.
Generation Iron was behind the scenes at the event capturing the full house event in and the epic battles that ensued on stage. You can watch our full recap sizzle reel from the INBA/PNBA World Championships 2022 above.
2022 World Championships Athlete Highlights
Generation Iron (GI) interviewed a few key contenders participating in the weekend show. Below are the competitors we talked to, and they gave us some insight into what they look to achieve.
Kayla Rowling
3x Bikini Divas Natural Olympia champ and multi-media athlete Kayla Rowling is one of the most prominent INBA PNBA competitors competing at the 2022 INBA PNBA World Championships. Rowling’s excited about this competition exceptionally because it will be her first international bikini competition of the year. To prepare for the show, Rowling shared her pre-contest breakfast nutrition plan. Rowling has been eating five egg whites, asparagus, and mushrooms for breakfast to prep for the event.
Veronica Malloy
2x Natural Olympia champ and Hall of Fame Inductee Veronica Malloy placed well at 2021 Natural Olympia, receiving third place in Bikini Angels and a top-five placement in the Figure class. GI recently spoke with Malloy about strategies to find WADA-compliant supplements. According to Malloy, WADA doesn’t have a compliant supplement list, so INBA PNBA athletes must do their due diligence to learn what supplements will pass screenings. Malloy agrees that although Florence, Italy, is beautiful, she’s there for work–she does admit to probably indulging in pizza and other Italian cuisines after the show, though.
Tommi Thompson
Tommi Thompson’s been competing with the INBA PNBA since 2017 in the Men’s Bodybuilding Open category. He’s also been serving in the military for over 20 years. Thompson gave GI a dive into his contest prep for the show in Florence, Italy, and ways Thompon’s conditioning his body to burn fat without losing muscle. Plus, he’s being trained by Natural Olympia champ Philip Ricardo Jr. Thompon’s been keeping his weights heavy during the cutting process to show up on stage in Florence at his best conditioning.
“Toughest Fitness Test On Earth”: Fitness Stars The Buff Dudes Attempt The Hotshot 500
The Buff Dudes take on one of the toughest fitness challenges that they have faced.
Fitness superstars The Buff Dudes have become extremely popular thanks to their YouTube channel showcasing different athletic challenges. From insane workouts to long-term projects, brothers Hudson and Brandon White have pushed themselves to the limit many times. They might have found a new level after taking on a workout they have deemed “the toughest fitness test on Earth.”
In their recent video, The Buff Dudes take on The Hotshot 500.
What Is The Hotshot 500?
We have seen some intense workouts that challenge the body in everyday possible. Liver King has introduced his Barbarian workout where you wear a 70-pound backpack and 20-pound ankle weights, hold 70-pound kettlebells, and pull a 120 pound sled for one mile.
The Hotshot 500 was created by the Interagency Hotshot Crew, which is a group of woodland firefighters who work in some of the most remote parts of the nation.
The workout is a six-mile hillside hike that features 100 push-ups, 100 squats, 100 flutter kicks, 100 shoulder presses, 50 rows, 50 curls, and 50 burpees. If this is not enough, you must complete all of this while wearing a 50-pound backpack.
“You can take the Buff Dudes out of the gym but you can’t take the gym out of the Buff Dudes,” Brandon White said.
The Buff Dudes Take On The Hotshot 500
The Buff Dudes begin their journey with a half-mile hike before hitting 50 push-ups. After another half mile, they bang out the 100 squats and continue on. The White brothers went into this mission with strategy as they know it is going to be one of the most difficult things they have done while exercising.
“I’ve done heights. I’ve done elevation. Of course, I’ve done squats but I’ve never done both at the same time,” Hudson White said.
The hike continues as the brothers take down the final 50 push-ups, along with the flutter kicks and shoulder presses. Once they reach the peak, The Buff Dudes take a short break to look out at the view before knocking out the 50 burpees. Finally, they begin heading back down to the bottom.
“This is taxing, man. I am hitting muscle fatigue. My muscles are burning, they’re failing. It really pushes you to the limit. My chest feels like it is tearing in half,” Hudson White said.
The Buff Dudes have built impressive physiques and endurance thanks to a lot of training in unique ways. After watching them take down the Hotshot 500, it is clear that this is no ordinary workout.
[embedded content]
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
VIDEO: Daniel Ryjov Completes Eye-Opening 90 Reps Of 225 Pounds On Bench Press
Daniel Ryjov looks as strong as ever following a tricep tear.
Daniel Ryjov has made a career putting together some insane accomplishments in the gym. The fitness star has made a name for himself using his ability to press an insane amount of weight — whether it be on the bench or shoulder press. Recently, Ryjov did it again completing 90 continuous reps on bench press using 225 pounds.
Ryjov wore elbow wraps during this set to avoid injury. This is something that is common when lifting heavy weight and something that Ryjov knows about. The amazing aspect of this feat of strength is that Ryjov is still recovering from a torn tricep, which he suffered four months ago.
Despite rehabbing an injury, it is clear that Ryjov is as strong as ever and will only go up from here.
Daniel Ryjov Approaches 100 Reps
The video began with Daniel Ryjov pumping out reps at a fast-pace. Once he hit 75, give or take, Ryjov began slowing down but still exploded through each rep. Once he hit 90, Ryjov racked the weight but it is clear that he had plenty in the tank.
Ryjov admitted in the caption that he was going for 100 reps but miscounted over the course of the exercise.
“225×90 for a new World Record… thought I did 100 ?? mis counted”
The bench press for reps has become extremely popular and 225 pounds seems to be the mark that is used. The NFL Combine has made this famous but no athlete has ever come close to 90 reps. Justin Ernest of Eastern Kentucky holds the record of 51 reps, which was set in 1999. Only Stephen Paea of Oregon State in 2011 has come within range with 49 reps.
Daniel Ryjov will return to his quest of 700 pounds on the bench. This was his goal before he suffered his injury, hindering some progress when it comes to lifting heavy. Now that he is loosening up a bit, it is likely that Ryjov hits the ground running.
Ryjov connotes to be one of the most popular fitness stars out there because of his feats of strength. He is able to accomplish eye-popping lifts in the gym and it happened once again with 90 reps on the bench.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
PNBA Natural Olympia Classic Physique Champ Derek Joe Looks Flawless as Natural Universe Approaches
Image via Instagram @djoe.hype
PNBA Natural Olympia Classic Physique champ Derek Joe looks striking while guest posing three weeks from Natural Universe.
Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (PNBA) Classic Physique champ Derek Joe updated Generation Iron on his physique and training as he prepares for Natural Universe on September 3, 2022, in Tampa, Florida. Derek Joe won the Classic Physique division at 2021 Natural Olympia. And he has a multi-media contract with Generation Iron, Iron Man Magazine, and the INBA PNBA.
This past weekend, August 13, 2022, at the INBA Colorado State show, Derek Joe had a guest posing seminar. To prepare for this, he tested a new protocol, aiming for 100 reps per muscle group daily. Joe stated:
“This week specifically, I am doing a mock peak week with full body workout, 100 reps per muscle group each day, to test out a new protocol leading into guest posing on Saturday August 13 at the INBA Colorado State show.”
Besides the workout strategy Joe is testing, Joe did mention that he’s changed up his workout plan. Joe said, “I did recently switch up my workout routine from training from three days/on one day off, doing legs once every eight days to a modified German volume training.”
He weighed in at 177.5 lbs the week before the INBA Colorado State show Joe was guest posing for. And he said he’d like to cut to 174 lbs by the end of the week.
Below is an Instagram clip and description of Derek Joe’s guest posing session.
Next Up for Classic Physique Champ Derek Joe
Ahead of Joe, he has Natural Universe, Teams USA (September 23), and will close out the year at The Pinnacle of Natural Bodybuilding, Natural Olympia, on November 10-13, 2022, in Las Vegas, NV.
Derek Joe said:
“My mindset is very much dialed in and I’m staying focused on the details leading into the upcoming show in Florida, not worrying about anybody else.”
The Pinnacle of Natural Bodybuilding
Natural Olympia is the most prominent event in the sport of natural bodybuilding hosted by the INBA PNBA. Its significance in natural bodybuilding is equivalent to Mr. Olympia in the IFBB Pro league. There’s one distinct difference, though–Natural Olympia athletes are drug tested by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) compliant laboratories. WADA is the same drug test metric the Olympics use.
Originally, the INBA PNBA was co-founded by Denny Kakos under American Bodybuilding Association (ABA) in 1988. He wanted to create a bodybuilding environment for natural athletes and qualify them for awards. Denny Kakos founded the PNBA in 1990 after wanting to allow natural athletes to compete at the pro level, which qualified to turn pro. Later, he discovered the INBA in 1994 to make natural bodybuilding global.
Competitors from over 60 countries train to earn a spot at Natural Olympia and place well. Last year’s Natural Olympia had winners from multiple countries. Natural Olympia also gives the most significant cash and prizes to natural athletes. They gave away a Harley-Davidson at 2021 Natural Olympia.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for more updates on Natural Olympia champs!
Michal Krizo Ready To Dominate Bodybuilding, Shares Massive Physique Update At 293 Pounds
Michal Krizo is preparing to earn his Pro Card and potentially appear at the Olympia.
Michal Krizo is pegged as the next big thing in bodybuilding. He has officially made the move to NPC hoping to earn his Pro Card while continuing to post physique updates to social media. In his most recent one, Krizo weighed in at 293 pounds while looking shredded.
It has been one month since Krizo announced his move to NPC from the IFBB Elite Pro League, where he was one of the biggest stars. Krizo burst onto the scene because of his monstrous size and conditioning. Now, the Slovakian bodybuilder will compete in a show to earn his Pro Card with the goal of eventually making his way to the Olympia stage.
Along with many hashtags about bodybuilding, Krizo captioned his picture “Actual shape 133kg.”
The hype around Michal Krizo continues to grow as he gets closer to IFBB competition. According to many credible sources, this hype is real.
Michal Krizo Continues To Turn Heads
Since making the jump in league, Krizo has been seen by some of the best minds in bodybuilding. This includes Milos Sarcev, who Krizo saw at the Dragon’s Lair in July.
RELATED: How Will Michal Krizo Stack Up to Top Athletes in the IFBB Pro League?
Sarcev spoke on the build of Krizo and stated that he is a legitimate threat. Also, Jay Cutler ran into Krizo during a workout and spoke about him in a YouTube video. Cutler would like to see Krizo make his way to the Olympia stage in 2022 and believes he would upset some people.
There is still a few months for Krizo to earn qualification to the Olympia. The qualification period ends in November.
Michal Krizo shares his physique update just one day after Vitaliy Ugolnikov, down as Good Vito, did the same. At 275 pounds, Ugolnikov is looking shredded and ready to make an impact in NPC. He is another up-and-coming talent that made the switch from the IFBB Elite Pro League. These are two competitors that have a chance to make waves once they earn their Pro Card.
Michal Krizo continues to put on size and improve his physique. This is a scary thought for competitors given the fact that he is already looking like the real deal.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Fitness Star Fernando Torraca, “The King Of Diet” Shares Insight On Eating 100 Egg Whites Per Day
Fernando Torraca eats this many egg whites to avoid bloating.
They say that too much of anything can be a bad thing. Whether it is food, exercise, or anything else you can think of, humans are taught to be aware of moderation. According to Fernando Torraca, better known as The King Of Diet, there is no such thing as too many eggs.
Torraca has become a social media sensation for his understanding and ability to put together a diet plan. He has built an impressive physique and shows it off, along with meals that he puts together. Recently on TikTok, The King Of Diet shared a video getting a massive amount of eggs from the market. He explained why he likes to eat 100 egg whites per day.
“I eat egg whites, no whole eggs…only the egg whites. If I eat the whole egg with all the yolks, I’m going to get deep diarrhea alright? I eat eggs because when I eat chicken I feel bloated.”
Fernando Torraca Explains Method To This Diet
Eggs, specifically egg whites, have been part of diet plans in bodybuilding and other sports for decades now. This is just one element of diets that have helped athlete keep weight off and build muscle.
For Fernando Torraca, it is all about the nutrients that are being brought in. He is not an advocate for steroids or different performance enhancers.
“They say Roids but they don’t see my struggles. It’s not easy eat 100 eggs daily,” Torraca wrote in his video.
Out of 100 eggs, Fernando Torraca limits himself to just two yolks. This is to ease his stomach. Protein has always been popular in diet plans when building muscle but Torraca only eats eggs and not other foods like dairy or chicken.
“I don’t eat red meat everyday because I notice I get bloated. The next day, I’m so bloated. The eggs take me like a 30, 40 minutes, 1 hour to digest good, it’s gone. Fish takes me like three hours, three hours and a half to feel the good digest to move onto the next meal. The red meat takes me like 24 hours to feel good.”
There have been many social media sensations going viral for their straight diets. Of course, it begins with Liver King, who prides himself on living the nine ancestral traits. On TikTok, many have shown off different diets, including raw organs and brain. As for eggs, Jay Cutler once reminisced on a time where he would eat 140 eggs per day.
The King Of Diet continues to show off his lifestyle while remaining all natural. As we have seen, eggs are a big part of his daily routine.
[embedded content]
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Phil Heath: “I Ain’t Done Yet. I’m Only Getting Started.”
Phil Heath declares that he’s far from done and is just getting started!
It appears that seven-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath isn’t quite done with competing yet. The bodybuilding veteran hinted that he has plenty left in the tank and from the sounds of things he could be making a return in the near future.
After taking third at the 2020 Olympia, Phil Heath has yet to step onto a competitive bodybuilding stage. Once the king of the Men’s Open division, Heath saw his long-time reign come to an end at the hands of the late Shawn Rhoden back in 2018. Since then Heath has been only appeared on the competitive stage once. While he still looked impressive it was clear that his best days were behind him.
At least that was what the bodybuilding world thought.
Since that time, Phil Heath has still been putting in quality work at the gym. The former Olympia king has looked stage ready recently and many have speculated that he isn’t done competing yet. Now it appears that we have some definitive proof to back up that notion.
In a recent post to social media Phil Heath declared that he isn’t done yet. In fact he made is clear that he’s just getting started. The video in question shows Phil Heath training biceps while spending time in Mexico. From the looks of things he’s still in top form and is looking as impressive as ever.
Plenty Left in The Tank
Just a Man who believed in his dreams and took himself through hell to get to his promise land and still wants more out of this life.
When you want success more than anyone you will go through absolute madness to get it. Most common folks have limiting belief systems and it keeps them from making their dreams a reality. You must TRUST in yourself and put your faith first. God gave you a gift unlike any other person! You are One of One! When you face your fears daily and do it with a strong and rooted spirit- You will accomplish your goals and dreams!
Last workout here in Mexico and I loved every second. The sweat I poured into each rep, each set was fueled by the energy from above along with my amazing fans.
I ain’t done yet. I’m only getting started.
Let’s Ride!!!!
Who knows, we could see Phil Heath surprise the bodybuilding world and step on stage at this year’s Olympia. While nothing has been confirmed, it’s fair to say that stranger things have happened.
What do you think of Phil Heath and his current physique?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
News and Editorial Writer at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.