Jay Cutler Names 8 of His Favourite 2023 Mr. Olympia Contenders

Cutler shared his ideas on a stacked group of opponents.

Written by Robert Zeglinski Final up to date on June 29, 2023

On the time of this writing, there’s nonetheless a lot to kind out in regard to the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest. Even with simply over 4 months earlier than bodybuilding’s tentpole competitors, there’s undoubtedly a whole lot of aggressive jostling behind the scenes. For Jay Cutler, four-time Mr. Olympia champion (2006-2007, 2009-2010), the bodybuilding legend likes seeing what a few of the fittest folks on the planet are brewing.

On June 23, 2023, in one of many newest episodes of his podcast, Cutler broke down the place he believes the present Males’s Open division stands earlier than the onset of the 2023 Olympia this early November. To say the least, in a dialog together with his supervisor Matthew M. Daniels, the icon maintained he has his eyes on just a few acquainted names and didn’t mince phrases about potential upstarts.

Whereas Cutler didn’t supply particular ideas on each prime Mr. Olympia competitor  — Nick Walker was talked about in passing however not expanded upon — he did largely contact each nook of the elite bodybuilders of the Males’s Open class. Listed here are a few of Cutler’s ideas on what’s positive to be a loaded Mr. Olympia stage in Orlando, FL:

Michal “Križo” Križánek

Cutler was impressed by Michal Križánek’s recent progress however nonetheless felt he hadn’t closed the hole sufficient on the opposite athletes.

“He [Križánek] was wanting so paper skinny, particularly within the higher physique,” Cutler mentioned. “The arms are a few of the greatest within the enterprise, and it’s regarded like he made enhancements, which, I feel he did enhance from his prior showings. However I don’t know if he got here down in measurement a bit of bit to collect the situation. I nonetheless really feel like he’s nonetheless going to have bother pushing the highest spots on the [2023] Olympia.”

Derek Lunsford and Samson Dauda

To some, after his runner-up Mr. Olympia end in 2022, Derek Lunsford is the subsequent heir-apparent famous person in bodybuilding. Cutler appears to be a type of folks. Nevertheless, after a current mutual coaching session, Cutler ensured he talked up 2023 Arnold Classic (AC) winner Samson Dauda as a possible Olympia champion in his personal proper.

“We simply noticed Derek [Lunsford] and Samson [Dauda], too,” Cutler mentioned. “They skilled collectively a pair days in the past and Derek appears to be like large, which he all the time has, and Samson appears to be like large, which he has for the previous few years. Clearly, he’s the Arnold [Classic] winner. The query is that if Derek would’ve carried out the Arnold [Classic], and we may preserve speaking about that.”

Hadi Choopan and Brandon Curry

Cutler believes that two established titans, Hadi Choopan and Brandon Curry, have considerably been neglected within the fashionable dialog. That could be a mistake for the defending Olympia champion (Choopan) and the 2019 victor (Curry).

“Competition-wise, Hadi’s [Choopan] been type of shouting out ‘don’t overlook about me,’” Cutler defined. “We’re additionally forgetting Brandon Curry.”

Mamdouh “Large Ramy” Elssbiay

After falling wanting a “three-peat” in his Olympia title protection, there have been rumblings that Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay may take a break from bodybuilding to recharge. The Egyptian dynamo has quelled these conversations, sustaining that he’s training “angry” for Olympia redemption within the fall. Cutler believes that is the suitable mentality to have as a result of:

1. Elssbiay doesn’t have time to waste as he nears the age of 40 and
2. Cutler thinks that Elssbiay, at his greatest, can nonetheless win the Olympia.

“Ramy [Elssbiay] appears like he’s going to return again and compete, which I’m all for,” Cutler mentioned ” … The purpose is he [Elssbiay] simply must regroup and do what he does greatest and are available the most effective of his means. There’s no actual timeline on that. He’s 38, he can’t take just a few years off. I hear his well being is actually nice. I hear his coaching is actually nice. He’s had some atrophy in comparison with years prior on the arms, triceps, I feel he’s admitted to having some downsizing there. However he regarded nice on the [2023] Arnold [Classic].”

Chinedu Obiekea aka “Andrew Jacked” and Hunter Labrada

Andrew Jacked completed on the rostrum on the 2023 AC and has already mapped out formidable summer season aggressive plans as a technique to qualify for the 2023 Olympia. In the meantime, Hunter Labrada is in scorching pursuit of his personal Olympia redemption with a streamlined training plan.

Cutler mentioned he appreciated the duo’s expertise however coloured his commentary as if he nonetheless wanted to see extra from each athletes.

“I hear nice issues about Andrew [Jacked], too,” Cutler acknowledged. “The large showdown goes to be Texas [the 2023 Texas Pro]. There’s going to be different guys, too. I do know there’s a whole lot of worldwide exhibits, however that’s going to be, like, who’s not going to qualify there [in Texas]. These two guys [Andrew Jacked and Hunter Labrada] have to be within the [Olympia] lineup as a result of they’re folks we’re speaking about. The query is, can Andrew come and win the [2023] Olympia and shock the world?”