Tag: nEWS

Nick Walker Discusses Being Molested As A Child: ‘Training Was A Scapegoat For Me To Take My Anger Out’

Nick Walker Discusses Being Molested As A Child: ‘Training Was A Scapegoat For Me To Take My Anger Out’

Nick Walker opened up about this experience from his childhood with Hany Rambod.
Nick Walker is one of the top bodybuilders in the world today and has reached this level at a young age. Last season, Walker won the New York Pro and Arnold Classic before finishing fifth at the Olympia. This year, he is putting all of his focus into improving on the biggest stage in the sport.
Walker recently joined Hany Rambod on his podcast, The Truth with Hany Rambod. The two discussed many topics within the sport of bodybuilding including his rivalry with Blessing Awodibu.
Rambod got into how Walker began training and the reigning Arnold Classic champion disclosed information about being molested as a child. This is something that Walker has discussed in the past but shared more about the story with Rambod.
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Nick Walker: ‘I Tended To Isolate Myself Quite Often’
Nick Walker shared that he used to play many sports such as football, baseball, and soccer. Naturally, he spent time in the gym training for athletics but bodybuilding training is a whole new animal. Walker explained how he was a sore loser and this led him away from team sports. Nonetheless, he began training alone.
“When I was a child, I was molested. So, growing up, I tended to isolate myself quite often, and training was more of the scapegoat for me to take my anger out and be alone.”
Walker was molested by an art teacher at his school when he was 12 years old. He did not share it with anyone until he was 16. This is when he decided to tell his parents. The story went public when another student complained about the same teacher. When Nick Walker told his mother, it was a difficult time.
“I couldn’t even look at her because I don’t think she was expecting me to say what I said. I think she was expecting me to say things that he would say and not the fact that I was actually molested.”
The art teacher was arrested following investigations. He was sent to jail on the day where Nick Walker competed in the Teen’s Nationals in 2014. Walker admits that he hit rock bottom at 15 years old and began training to get on the bodybuilding stage.
“The reason why I’m more open about it now is that I did take dark paths at a very young age. I got very deep into hard drugs when I was younger, a lot of fights, and partying.”
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WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes Went Through Hell In A Cell Match With A Torn Pec

WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes Went Through Hell In A Cell Match With A Torn Pec

Cody Rhodes sustained the injury just hours before the match occurred.
The Hell in a Cell match is one of the most exciting in WWE history. Cody Rhodes made sure that he would not disappoint when he was scheduled to appear. Rhodes, performing under the name “Stardust,” suffered a torn pec just hours before he was going to take on Seth Rollins in Hell in a Cell. Rhodes ended up going through with the match and put on a memorable performance.
The Hell in a Cell match debuted on October 5, 1997 when Shawn Michaels defeated The Undertaker thanks to an assist by Kane. Over the year, there have been many legendary matches inside this cage that covers the ring. The match between Undertaker and Mankind will always be near the top of the list as it gave us one of the best moments ever. With both athletes on top of the cage, Undertaker sent Mankind flying off through the announcers table.
Needless to say, there are big shoes to fill and Rhodes did not disappoint. He burst onto the scene in the WWE in 2006 and enjoyed a career that lasted a decade. He then moved to All Elite Wrestling and won the AEW-TNT Championship three times.

Cody Rhodes Is The Latest Wrestler To Suffer This Injury
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Despite being able to get through the match, it is clear that Cody Rhodes was in a great deal of pain. He entered the cage with a massive bruise on his chest, shoulder, and bicep. Following the match, Rhodes was able to walk off under his own power but needed immediate medical assistance.

Moments after @WWERollins unspeakable attack on @CodyRhodes, The American Nightmare’s fights to get back to his feet and walk out on his own power.#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/dDswGgWaHO
— WWE (@WWE) June 8, 2022
Rhodes joins a long list of wrestlers who have suffered this injury. Most notably, John Cena ripped his pec off the bone in 2007, right in the prime of his career. Triple H also suffered this injury in 2018 during his match on the Crown Jewel pay-per-view.
This is an injury that is quite common for those who perform in a contact sport with plenty of awkward movements. In the WWE, these are quite unpredictable. It is also common during weightlifting if there is a huge amount of weight on the bar. Cody Rhodes will have to go through a long recovery to get back into the ring.
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How Adding 1500 Calories to PNBA Bodybuilder Michaela Peramaki’s Diet Transformed Her Physique

How Adding 1500 Calories to PNBA Bodybuilder Michaela Peramaki’s Diet Transformed Her Physique

Images via Instagram @michaela_physiquepro
PNBA bodybuilder Michaela Peramaki added 30 pounds of healthy weight to her physique without changing a thing about her training. 
Often when people are trying to reach a fitness goal, they’re afraid to eat. Many gym-goers trying to improve their physique will undereat with the hopes of warding off fat and building a better body. The problem with this is that you need to eat enough for your body to function correctly and build muscle–which is imperative for a fantastic physique. Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (PNBA) Michaela Peramaki showcased the progress you can make with your body after eating more. 
Michaela Peramaki received a bronze medal in the Pro Women’s Physique Open division at 2020 Natural Olympia. In addition, she displayed a stunning physique transformation on Instagram (IG). Peramaki was able to gain a healthy 30 pounds in two years after adding 1500 calories to her diet. But her training routine didn’t change. Peramaki said:
“Yesterday (155lbs) 1 year ago (140lbs) 2 years ago (125lbs)
This is the heaviest I have ever been, the strongest I have ever been, and the most confident I have ever been. I can’t believe it took this long to decide to allow myself to eat and nourish my muscles the way they should be! 
What is really cool about these pictures, is I didn’t change a thing about the way I’ve trained. The only difference is i’m eating about 1,500 more calories in the first picture than in the last. Food is a tool to get you the results you want. Don’t ever be scared to eat.”
You can see her two-year progress photos from 125 lbs to 155 lbs below. 

The Importance of Eating More 
A lot of people who are trying to make progress with their physiques won’t eat enough calories since they’re in fear of getting fat. Of course, you don’t want to overeat. But eating enough calories is imperative to anyone’s bodybuilding journey. There’s a time and place for cutting, but there’s also a time and place for bulking. Unfortunately, too many people spend too much time cutting–not to mention cutting their calories too far below their maintenance calories–instead of focusing on building muscle. 
Natural bodybuilders such as Michaela Peramaki know the importance of eating enough for muscle growth. And so does other PNBA professionals such as Natural Olympia champion Brandon Lirio and the first-ever Natural Olympia champion John Hansen. Lirio expressed that allowing yourself to go through a period of higher calories is essential to balancing your hormones and improving your physique each year. And John Hansen stated, “I had to increase my food intake. I had to take in a lot of food. And that’s how I got big. you got to eat a lot of food and not be afraid to bulk up.”
Recap
Cutting your calories back is integral to anyone’s fat loss journey. However, to progress with your physique each year, it’s critical to eat more calories and focus on building muscle. 
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How Does Hunter Labrada Maintain His Narrow Waist During Offseason?

How Does Hunter Labrada Maintain His Narrow Waist During Offseason?

Hunter Labrada recently followed up on his video of his daily meals.
Hunter Labrada has been able to keep an incredibly slim waist during his offseason prep. In May, he released a video showing off his daily meals and four of six were consisted of shakes. This caused some questions on how a diet that includes just two daily meals of solid foods can work for an elite bodybuilder. On Monday, Labrada shared another video with his insights.
Primarily, this video was so Labrada could explain how he prefers to drink his calories rather than eat some. This helps improve his digestion and keep his narrow waist while adding offseason muscle to his physique.
Hunter Labrada has focused n improving his digestion. To accomplish this goal, Labrada has limited his meals of animal protein to just two a day. Also, he has cut out egg whites from his diet plan. After making these changes, Labrada consumes over 900 grams of carbs per day with 350 grams of protein. This gives him plenty of energy when training.

Does Hunter Labrada Omit Micronutrients?
This conversation topic came up quite frequently after the original video released by Labrada. While the bodybuilder agreed in a way, he shared his supplements that he takes along with his diet plan.
Labrada showed off his daily schedule of supplements including vitamins, organ supplements, and multi-minerals.
“I’m doing a better job of getting the phytonutrients and micronutrients you’d be getting from vegetables and fruit my diet is missing.
I’m trying to minimize my food volume as much as possible while maximizing my nutrition.”
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What Is In Hunter Labrada’s Shakes?
When drinking four shakes a day, it can be assumed that Labrada makes sure to mix it up and add different elements into each. In two of his shakes, Labrada adds puffed rice cereal and a tablespoon of fish oil. This gives 14 grams of healthy fats that is needed.
The puffed rice cereal that is used by Labrada was confused for Rice Krispy Treats. He admits that he is a fan of the snack but does not include them into his shakes. The rice cereal that is used adds plenty of carbs to fuel his workouts.
Hunter Labrada finished fourth at the 2021 Olympia and will enter this year’s competition as one of the favorites to take home the title. He has turned into one of the best in the world and it is because of his incredible muscle mass and slim waist combination.

Nick Walker Looks Massive, Thrashes Hamstrings with Kamal Elgargni

Nick Walker Looks Massive, Thrashes Hamstrings with Kamal Elgargni

Nick Walker and Kamal Elgargni joined forces to thrash hamstrings.
Men’s Open contender Nick Walker recently teamed up with 2019 212 Olympia champion Kamal Elgargni for some intense hamstring training. Both Walker and Elgargni are looking in top form as they prepare for the 2022 Olympia.
Nick Walker teamed up with Kamal Elgargni for an intense hamstring training session. Both bodybuilders are looking to impress at the 2022 Olympia and the team up is only making their prospects stronger. Walker is looking absolutely at 290lbs but still has defined lines. Elgargni is looking equally impressive and is looking to stake a claim to once again be crowned 212 Olympia champion.
As for the training details Nick Walker and Kamal Elgargni both went through a series of exercises targeted the legs. Specifically the two thrashed their hamstrings. They utilized high reps throughout the workout.

“Nothing but high reps,” said Nick Walker. “20 reps was the magic number today. Overall, good workout. I enjoyed it. Worked hard, pushed each other and just getting better each and every workout.”
Full Hamstring Workout

Lying Hamstring Leg Curl Machine — 3 sets for 11 reps
Standing Leg Curl Machine — 4 sets for 15 -20 reps
Seated Leg Curl Machine — 3 sets for 10 reps
Stiff Leg Barbell Deadlift — 4 sets 5-7 reps
Machine Seated Hip Abduction — 4 sets for 12 reps, *supersetted with weighted sumo squats

Weighted Sumo Squat — 4 sets for 12 reps

Machine Seated Hip Adduction — 1 set for 10 reps
Standing Calf Raise — 3 sets for 12 reps
Seated Calf Raise on Machine — 2 sets for 10 reps

Perhaps the most remarkable development is the fact that Nick Walker is 290lbs. Despite that massive size he’s looking pretty shredded and well defined, showing lines during his bulk. Usually you’d expect that when he’s on his cut, but clearly all the hard work he’s been doing is showing dividends.
To see the full workout click here.
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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.

Martyn Ford Continues Bodybuilding Workouts, Looks Monstrous In Recent Physique Update

Martyn Ford Continues Bodybuilding Workouts, Looks Monstrous In Recent Physique Update

Martyn Ford has continued to put on size while waiting for an opponent in the ring.
Martyn Ford has taken his training up a notch in recent weeks it seems. Since his fight with Iranian Hulk fell through, Ford has continued to put on some muscle while maintaining his new build. He continues to go through different bodybuilding workouts and recently shared another update on social media.
Ford took on a workout while in Italy. He praises the old-school gym with machines that have been used for decades. While in the gym, he took on a back and bicep workout and posted the videos for his followers to see.
“Morning work done ….. no excuses, finally getting to try out these @boohoomanactivevests, loving training in this incredible gym, surrounded by such inspirational people, a true Old School setting. A must visit for any bodybuilding fan.”

The workout for Martyn Ford consisted of T-bar rows, lat pulldowns, and different variations of bicep curls. This comes after Ford shared that he gained six pounds in one hour during a bodybuilding workout that he used to do. Since training for boxing, Ford has been able to cut weight and build a slim, shredded physique.

Will Martyn Ford Find An Opponent?
The drama surrounding the battle between Martyn Ford and Iranian Hulk is well in the rearview. The fight was scheduled for April 30 but fell through after Ford and his team were not comfortable with Gharibi’s mental health. This came after an interview showed Iranian Hulk get emotional following his family’s response to the stare down.
Ford has remained active in the boxing scene and has followed all encounters — including that between Hafthor Bjornsson and Eddie Hall. Ford, who is close to Hall, spoke on Bjornsson’s performance and the two have been linked as potential opponents. Bjornsson also does not have a future opponent in the ring and a rematch with Hall is not scheduled just yet.
Martyn Ford continues to prepare for his MMA debut. He has said he is “one hundred percent planning on getting involved in MMA.” Ford has been linked to KSW, a Polish promotion which signed him to a contract in the past. Ford did not make his debut but might have a chance this time around.
Regardless of his status in the ring, it is clear that Martyn Ford is training and staying in shape for his inevitable debut.
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PNBA Natural Bodybuilder Jon Tsui Interview: “Off-season, I Definitely Don’t Count Calories”

PNBA Natural Bodybuilder Jon Tsui Interview: “Off-season, I Definitely Don’t Count Calories”

Image via Instagram @pnbapro_jontsui
Natural Olympia champ Jon Tsui discusses incorporating CrossFit, not counting calories during the off-season, and consuming three protein shakes daily during the INBA PNBA natural bodybuilding season. 
Natural bodybuilders have their unique training style and diet regimen they follow to build the best natural physique in the world. But, of course, whether a competitor is in-season or off-season determines the workouts and diet they follow. Generation Iron (GI) talked with Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (PNBA) bodybuilder Jon Tsui to get insight into his training and diet. 
Jon Tsui is a PNBA Hall of Fame Inductee and Pro Men’s Physique Natural Olympia champion. However, his entrance into natural bodybuilding came out of luck. When asked if he’d ever consider bodybuilding, Tsui was getting his body fat measured. Before that conversation, bodybuilding had never crossed his mind. But soon after, he found himself at an NPC show, then joined lNBA PNBA competitions. 
When GI asked Jon Tsui questions regarding his training and nutrition, Tsui had some eye-opening answers, highlighting some of the different training and nutrition protocols natural bodybuilders endure. Jon Tsui claims that he incorporates CrossFit as part of his training, but his reasoning will surprise you. He also noted that he doesn’t count calories during the off-season and will have three protein shakes a day during the season. 
Training
Jon Tsui’s workout routine is typically a 5-day split. He’ll do chest Monday, biceps and triceps Tuesday, back Wednesday, shoulders Thursday, and legs Friday. And he’s been incorporating CrossFit this season. Although, he connotated that it was to workout with his girlfriend. Tsui stated:
“This season, I’ve been incorporating CrossFit (I know, but don’t worry, haven’t gone completely to the Dark Side…just affords me time to workout with my GF…Not trying to break any speed or weight records, just trying to survive…we’ll see what it actually does to my physique).”
You can view what a typical training schedule looks like for Jon Tsui here. 
Nutrition
When the GI team asked about his nutrition, Tsui indicated that he has a pretty flexible diet during the off-season. Tsui said:
“Off-season, i definitely don’t count calories or measure out my foods…i actually have a tendency of not eating enough…but i will enjoy my holidays and social events…certainly more fat, carb, and alcohol calories.”
Conversely, he’s strict regarding the PNBA natural bodybuilding season, and he’ll consume three protein shakes a day. Tsui expressed:
“In-season, i simplify everything down to two basic meals that i alternate through the day, while also carb cycling. it basically looks like a shake for meals 1, 3, 5 (breakfast, post-job/pre-workout, and before bed). meals 2, 4 are real food, whole grain + lean protein meals.”
Natural Bodybuilding and Bulking 
Natural bodybuilders don’t use performance-enhancing drugs to enhance their physique. Instead, they go through an extensive bulking period to gain as much muscle as possible before cutting for the bodybuilding season. Some athletes take years off from competing between bodybuilding seasons since that’s how long it can take to naturally add a solid amount of muscle to your frame. And many are more flexible with their diet during the offseason, allowing their body to recover from the extremes of contest prep. 
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Tony Huge Responds To Dennis James Over Big Ramy’s Deal With Enhanced Labs

Tony Huge Responds To Dennis James Over Big Ramy’s Deal With Enhanced Labs

Tony Huge responds to Dennis James recent comments on the Big Ramy and Enhanced Labs controversy
Former IFBB Pro and current coach Dennis James recently made comments about Big Ramy’s deal with Enhanced Labs. When the two-time Olympia champion was allegedly offered a new contract behind the back of his coach, James called the company “unprofessional” and a “clusterf**k.”
In an exclusive conversation with Generation Iron, Tony Huge responded to the comments made by James regarding business with Enhanced Labs.
“Dennis was brought on simply to be the liaison to help get content. But it didn’t happen. That’s fine. Ramy is a Middle East A-list celebrity with more money and influence than he ever could’ve imagined. He’s a super nice guy and a bodybuilding and success story champion. I think it’s fantastic that Enhanced supported him. But Enhanced marketing is based on cutting edge honest and revolutionary educational content. Ramy could be a tremendous benefit to Enhanced if he was interested in giving value to the American audience.”

Tony Huge Expresses Interest In Continuing Business If Done Right
The allure of working with Big Ramy was there for Huge and Enhanced Labs if it was done right. Huge continued to discuss how business is done in 2022. It might be different than how it was done years ago.
“As for the Dennis thing, I would love to work more with Ramy. I used to talk to him at every expo and even met up with him at Oxygen Gym in Kuwait years ago when he was training for Olympia. So I was excited to work with him and produce some next level content.
I don’t see any meaningful content on YouTube or Instagram. Enhanced isn’t asking for a refund but it also can’t continue paying a liaison who isn’t able to liaison. But also understand I’m not a party to the contract, I didn’t have any business communication with Dennis or Ramy. The only contact I had was trying to get content for which I was unable to get from them.”
Big Ramy has turned into a superstar in the Middle East and this is the reason he might be working on different projects in his home country. If there is time to contribute in other ways, Huge would be open to working with the duo once again.
“If Ramy is ready to rock and roll and do some content for the American audience then I am also ready and I’d love to work with him. But I also understand he has a lot of other projects that take his attention so I think if I was in his position I would also focus on the Middle East and also not waste time on America.”

Tony Huge: “Content Is King In 2022”
Having big-name sponsors is important for any company in any area but in the media today, there has to be content provided. The name alone is not as important as the content being put out anymore.
After Dennis James made his comments, Tony Huge decided to inquire about sales within Enhanced.
“I asked Enhanced what the effect of Dennis complaining was and it resulted in a bigger boost in sales than when he was sponsored. Which goes to prove exactly what I try to tell Enhanced and the community that you can’t just stick someone’s picture on a bottle. Content is king in 2022. If Dennis would have done content like this before then he would’ve been able to produce a lot of sales.”
They say that there is no such thing as bad publicity and this recent engagement between James and Enhanced is a prime example. Even if the content provided is negative toward one side, the publicity gets the name out there and could boost sales or engagement in a big way.
Tony Huge continued by explaining how this could continue if James put the energy in producing content for Enhanced and promoting different sales.
“If Dennis put that same energy into promoting sales before then he would’ve been a good investment and he still could. He still could get on board with Enhanced and increase sales. He just needs to understand again that a bodybuilder reputation isn’t alone valuable enough to increase sales. In 2022, it takes work. The old generation of bodybuilders are going to really need to learn to adapt or become obsolete.
In the end, Tony Huge reiterated his claim that he would still be open to working with Dennis James and Big Ramy if they have the time and desire.
“I love helping bodybuilders get exposure and produce content. And I’m still here to help Dennis if he wants. And I would still love to do content with Ramy if any of his time and energy gets freed up from his obligations in the Middle East.
“Anyways I stand ready to help Dennis and Ramy if they have the time, energy, and desire.”
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Seth Feroce Responds to Fans After Suffering Backlash for Recent Bear Hunt

Seth Feroce Responds to Fans After Suffering Backlash for Recent Bear Hunt

Seth Feroce responds to bear hunt backlash.
Outspoken bodybuilder Seth Feroce responds to the backlash he’s received after posting about his recent bear hunt. The veteran bodybuilder and rugged outdoorsman addressed the followers who denounced his recent hunt.
Not everyone is going to agree with people’s methods of food consumption. We’ve all seen different movements pop up over the last several years dictating the best ways and approaches to eating. Some have denounced the consumption of meat as well as hunting. That brings us to Seth Feroce.
It appears that brash and outspoken bodybuilder Seth Feroce has come under fire by his own fans. The controversial bodybuilder. Recently posted a picture of himself on social media after hunting a bear much to the ire of many of his followers. In the picture you can see Feroce holding up the bear’s paw in triumph. This display apparently angered many people and now for Feroce is suffering the backlash.
But Seth Feroce is not one to take things lying down. While he may be dealing with the backlash, Feroce is not backing down. In fact, the bodybuilder doubled down, posting another series of photos highlighting the recent hunt. Feroce would go on to explain that he was hunting the animal, not for sport, but to utilize it for food. As such, Feroce made it a point to call out those in his audience who eat meat upset with this display. The bodybuilder essentially called them hypocritical for criticizing his hunt when they do the very same without the dirty work involved.
Feroce Responds
My first Big Game Animal.Black Bear in Idaho
This was a Bucket List Item for me.Something I dreamed of doing for years.
To Hunt, Kill, Skin, Quarter, Pack Out and EAT!
I have always loved watching nature shows, hunting shows, and recently over the past year hunting shows are all I watched.And I wanted to make Hunting and Harvesting part of my life.
I wanted the feelings of it all.Killing an animal. Skinning it. Cutting the meat off the body. Packing it out on my back. Eating the meat back at camp with my friends. And talking about the experience, the feelings and emotions and how beautiful nature is.Then bring home that meat to feed my family.The meat that I killed, that I cut up, that I harvested, and packed out of the mountains.
So my friend @beyond_the_backcountry brought me out to experience his part of the West!And Make it Happen!
And It did.I killed a LARGE black bear. Skinned it. Quartered it. Packed it out off a mountain and ate it at camp with my friends.And I will be bringing home the meat for my family.
I am Proud of This!And I know that some out there may not like this.And that’s ok.Maybe some just need some education and a little perspective.So here is a small piece.
Black Bears are not endangered, they are heavily hunted in the west.They need to be managed. Controlling the population is important for all the other animals hunted, elk, deer, etc.Black bears and other predators will kill the population of elk, deer, and other animals. In fact male bears will kill bear cubs of the females just so they can mate with them. Wild!Nature is intense.
So Hunters help control this, by hunting them, so that we can hunt and harvest those other animals.
And also, bears are delicious! You can eat them.Bear back strap on the mountain was awesome.I will be making Bear sausage and some Bear burger from the rest of my meat.The Fat will be rendered down to cook with. Bear Tallow!This is the pinnacle of Quality.
I loved everything about this!
This is what we humans have done forever and it will continue to be a big part of my Life.

Clearly Seth Feroce is passionate about hunting and wouldn’t frivolously hunt any animal that crossed his path. While there may be those out there who are opposed to hunting animals for food, if you partake in eating meat yourself then it’s a bit of a moot point. Feroce plans on using all the parts of the bear and not wasting it. That shows that he at least respects the animal enough to utilize it in a proper way.
What do you think of Seth Feroce and his recent bear hunt?
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.

Nick Walker On Blessing Awodibu Finishing Higher At Olympia: ‘It’s Not Going To Happen This Year, There’s No Way’

Nick Walker On Blessing Awodibu Finishing Higher At Olympia: ‘It’s Not Going To Happen This Year, There’s No Way’

Nick Walker claims that Blessing Awodibu is “not even in my vision” heading into the Olympia.
Is the rivalry between Nick Walker and Blessing Awodibu back? We caught a glimpse of it following Awodibu’s victory at the 2022 New York Pro. Recently, Walker appeared on Hany Rambod’s The Truth podcast to discuss his current mindset heading into the Olympia.
Walker completely burst onto the scene last year winning both the New York Pro and Arnold Classic. He ended up fifth at the Olympia in 2021 and vowed for a better performance this time around. Walker has put all of his effort in the offseason on the biggest show in the sport.
As for Awodibu, he appeared on stage twice this season, winning both New York and the Indy Pro. Following his victory in New York (or New Jersey), Walker went on stage to speak with Awodibu. This is when Awodibu claims that he would “whoop” Walker’s ass come the Olympia. Of course, Walker denied the claim and the rivalry is back on.
The original storyline between the two bodybuilders began when Walker defeated Awodibu at the 2021 New York Pro. From that moment on, the two began training together and smoothed things over. Now, there is some extra fire coming from both sides.
Nick Walker On Blessing Awodibu: “He’s Not Even In My Vision”
Nick Walker finished behind Hadi Choopan, Brandon Curry, Hunter Labrada, and of course two-time reigning champ Big Ramy last year. He believes that he has to focus on moving up in the rankings first before anything else.
“I was trying to be polite, say good job and congrats and he’s like, ‘where’s the microphone, I need the microphone.’ Yeah basically from that, that’s when he started it. We had a nice little banter. I love Blessing but there’s no way. It’s not going to happen this year. No. He’s not even in my vision,” Walker said with a smile.
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Blessing Awodibu began working with George Farah heading into the season. It is clear that he has made improvements this season but Walker still believes that he is not on his level.
“He has a very good physique, very good symmetry, wide back, little waist but I don’t think his legs are going to be where they need to be by the Olympia. I don’t think his hamstrings are going to be where they need to be, his glutes won’t be where it needs to be. He has the upper body right; he just doesn’t have the lower half.”
READ MORE: PHOTOS: Nick Walker Looks Massive Guest Posing At The 2022 Pittsburgh Pro

Nick Walker On Rivalry: “It Is Fun. I Certainly Enjoy Doing It”
Hany Rambod continued the interview by diving into the rivalry a bit and asking it if was ever personal. Nick Walker explains that he is enjoys the back-and-forth and believes that it is good for the sport.
“It is fun. I certainly enjoy doing it. Honestly, I think it’s good for the sport to have that. I mean, obviously, there’s limitations here, you don’t want to go too far. Other people that will try to do it, it won’t be the same. Me and Blessing have a good connection to where we are able to do things like that.”
Walker continues to explain how he was unaware of Awodibu when he was being called out in 2021.
“I didn’t know who this guy was and he started to call me out. Even how it started before New York, right?”
“So, I’m looking at my phone and there’s this guy, and I’m like, ‘who the f**k is Blessing?’ I have no idea who this kid is. I’m listening, he’s calling me out and shit. At first, I’m laughing, ‘oh this is cool.’ Then, he just kept going. I was like, ‘who the f**k is this guy man?’ We haven’t spoke and I didn’t know who he is, nothing.”
The Olympia is full of storylines in all divisions but is highlighted by Men’s Open. Now, Nick Walker and Blessing Awodibu will add another element for fans to keep an eye on.
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