Mr. Olympia 2025

[adrenalytic]

So who's gonna be tuning in this weekend? Who ya got? I like Mike Sommerfeld for Men's Classic Physique and Nick Walker for Open. Nick has gotten freaky deaky this offseason but watch out for Hadi too, he's doesn't have as much of social media presence as the other guys so people tend to forget about him but he is as yoked and peeled as ever.

 

[newguy2]

I'm pulling for Nick, but if Samson comes in lights out he has a good chance at repeating I think.

 

[adrenalytic]

I'm pulling for Nick, but if Samson comes in lights out he has a good chance at repeating I think.

Ya I think losing to Derek at the Arnold really lit a fire under his ass.

 

[IndividualMan]

Samson clears, he looks to be around 300lbs, if he comes in shredded he takes it all.
Hadi is always on point. he has been at his best every time the last few years. It is not enough to beat a peeled Lunsford same for a peeled Samson Choopan/walker is a tossup, since nick does look freaky as life itself.
Samson takes it if peeled, Lunsford, Walker and Choopan could be 2,3 or 4, it heavily depends on lunsfords conditioning.
All of the new younger guys will probably enter the top10, kalecinski might crack top10, but there are too many seasoned vets for him to move too far up the ranks (this year)

Matt greggo is top4 for classic for me, Ruffin top 4 as well. If sommerfeld makes weight, he takes it, if not, Dino takes the classic.

212 only has one answer, and it is the peak of humanlety.

 

[Banana Joe]

I had just thought there is no topic about this yet, between all this drama and name calling unfolding...

Mike Sommerfeld for Men's Classic Physique

Not sure if they will let him pass the weigh-in again, but this is the IFBB...
I don't need to see any videos for that, I can tell you first hand that he is 170cm the most, if you had asked me before all this controversy, I would have even said something more like 168cm.
I don't really care for that class, they all look great, but thats about it for me. Though I always like how Dino looks, he has such a nice and balanced physique, super round muscle bellies, while still having that "slim" guy muscular look. Still wanna see him move to the open as well.

Samson will win again, his face never even remotely looked like that. I don't see anyone beating Hadi but Samson, assuming Hadi will come in shape.
I'd like to see Andrew Jacked coming in third, but he looks like always, aka winging it, because he can. I hope Martin Fitzwater comes in sliced, but he seems to have trouble nailing his condition almost every time.
Nick and Derek are the kind of guys that IMO deserve their placings, they just don't wow me personally. Maybe Nick would actually do so in person.
Behrouz is my dark horse, I hope he places Top 6, but not sure how his legs will fare against the others.

That aside, Keon looks like he could win literally every single men's class if he wanted to. I have rarely seen something, like his latest update, in over two decades following this sport. If he just comes in 3-4kg heavier next year, I cam't see him not fighting for the open title.
I would have not thought for this to happen.


Couldn't care less about any of the other classes. Some of them are still cool though, the other ones are just an absolute joke and a disgrace for this sport.

the peak of humanlety.

Almost didn't catch this, good one!

 

[RockyP]

I think it will be Nick, Samson, or Hadi, but who i'm most interested in seeing perform is Behrouz. I think he can get top 5 if he's on. Also, if Urs can fill out and not spill over, he might get top 10. First call out for him prob not in the cards, but anything is possible. He's going to be a threat for the years to come.

But I still think Keon looks the best out of anyone. Jaw dropping. A more compact, rounder, fuller Flex Wheeler (and flex was plenty round and full).

 

[Banana Joe]

if Urs can fill out and not spill over, he might get top 10. ... He's going to be a threat for the years to come.

I can't see that happen with that back he has, but I have admittedly underestimated him before.
Also, if he shows nerve damage (left calf) that early, I am unsure about his capability for longevity in the open class.

 

[RockyP]

I can't see that happen with that back he has, but I have admittedly underestimated him before.
Also, if he shows nerve damage (left calf) that early, I am unsure about his capability for longevity in the open class.

He may end up last for all we know - but he hasn't had a proper off season yet. Next year will be his first real showing.

 

[AlexDavis43]

But I still think Keon looks the best out of anyone. Jaw dropping. A more compact, rounder, fuller Flex Wheeler (and flex was plenty round and full).

Keone's last update on IG is fucking insane... his back, he's gonna beat everyone on back poses

 

[AlexDavis43]

I thought it was going to be the Nick & Hadi show until Behrooz got his visa

Now Behrooz is a top contender and I think him and Derek will *maybe* push Samson out of the top 5

Who else could beat Samson? I don't know, I don't have a great eye for this when it's so close

 

[IndividualMan]

assuming Hadi will come in shape

when has he not? I geniunely cannot recall Hadi ever missing the mark. There is something about him that does not miss when it comes to conditioning.

If he just comes in 3-4kg heavier next year, I cam't see him not fighting for the open title.

every additional 3-4kg on his frame would drastically change his physique, but I genuinely do not know where those kilos would go. His arms? on par with winklaar. his chest? crazy big. his Legs? Outrageous. His back? we all saw the updates. your assumption is very spot on, I could not even imagine how an extra kilo would look on him, so an extra 3-4 would definitely make him an Open Olympia contender. if not outright THE winner.

Samson will win again, his face never even remotely looked like that.

true that. he looked 2-3 weeks out (in the face) in the training vlogs with Quentin Eriya, back last month.

, they just don't wow me personally

I second this for Derek. I really do not enjoy his look, I cant pinpoint why. It just looks so Bubbly to me, I cant unsee it ever since the last Olympia (or whatever show he went to with the excessive water retention, i think it was the O 2024)
Nick however grew on me over the years. Nowadays he even has a nice overall shape, which I find looks great on him

 

[Eddie.]

I like Nick as personality but physique wise looks bad to me, unless freak factor is the Nr1 criteria. One of the best back double and lat spread with great arms too but no matter how much he controls his midsection it looks bad in transitions. The worst part though aesthetically is his legs, I can't stand looking em.

So for me open i hope to see a more shredded Samson and a killer Hadi for the top 2. Top 4-5 I'm not so eager to see how it goes, I'm rooting for Behrooz to go as high as possible because that man has the perfect package, also i like Sasan very much and want to see him placing well.

As far as classic goes, Mike will get it easily if nothing unexpected happens with the height/weight thing. TBH i know many people saying that classic is just open category with weight restriction, i don't agree with this logic. At least rename the division. Calling it classic if it doesn't look classic is such a awkward thing. I'm a Logan Franklin fan and he resembles classic so much. Mike looks like a open bodybuilder or at least 212.

Keone is the most ridiculous thing I've seen in the past years, he's disgustingly good, untouchable for the 212. That Turkish kid Nihat Kaya is also exceptional, hard to believe he's only 22-23. He looks nuts.

 

[Banana Joe]

when has he not? I geniunely cannot recall Hadi ever missing the mark. There is something about him that does not miss when it comes to conditioning.

I'd say Hadi has been a bit off since he first won, some years more than others I guess. By "off" I mean off from the Hadi condition we have already seen, that is simply just mental. I just wish he would find a way to make give his back more depth or 3D.

every additional 3-4kg on his frame would drastically change his physique, but I genuinely do not know where those kilos would go. His arms? on par with winklaar. his chest? crazy big. his Legs? Outrageous. His back? we all saw the updates. your assumption is very spot on, I could not even imagine how an extra kilo would look on him, so an extra 3-4 would definitely make him an Open Olympia contender. if not outright THE winner.

I must admit, that I didn't think Keone would fullfill his potential, and even if he did, I did not see THIS coming. And THIS is probably just the beginning of what we will see.
I saw an interview in IFBBAMA with his girlfriend, and then I understood why he developed so much, so evenly and so fast. Having Tuor as your nutritionist is one thing, but this girl is really smart is on his ass 24/7. She is like Samson's wife on Tren and a high dose of stims.
And with her on his side I don't foresee any noteworthy injuries happen in the gym, and we can assume that Tuor is on top of his health. I can't even see traces of SEOs.
This means he will another 10y of growth and refinement. I don't see anyone but another tall Nigerian or another Justin Compton being able to beat this.

true that. he looked 2-3 weeks out (in the face) in the training vlogs with Quentin Eriya, back last month.

Yes, I just wish he would have less "training" effort in his arms and shoulders since around a year before he stopped working with Milos.
What is done is done, I guess. We haven't seen guys being able to rpoperly "detrain" such bodyparts afterwards.

I second this for Derek. I really do not enjoy his look, I cant pinpoint why. It just looks so Bubbly to me, I cant unsee it ever since the last Olympia (or whatever show he went to with the excessive water retention, i think it was the O 2024)
Nick however grew on me over the years. Nowadays he even has a nice overall shape, which I find looks great on him

Derek has great round shape when you just look at him in his silhouette.
His entire back is crazy good, some of the best glutes in the entire line up. The rest of his backside is good, but not mindblowing. From the front it is again his silhouette, but of you look at each bodypart in isolation, nothing really impresses.
Arms? Not gonna comment. Chest? Looks like he uses the same pump focussed training for this chest as he does for the arms. Front lats, same issue as with arms and shoulders. Midsection is great, no doubt, but when he stands next to granite midsection Hadi, or a vacuum pulling Samson it becomes all relative again. Legs? You can't oudadductor and outpose not much quad sweep. That is why they always look so much better in the gym.
Still deservedly a Top5 athlete, but if we compare him, with a super conditioned Behrouz, would he still win >4 of 8 mandatory poses?

Nick, he looks amazing given the cards he was given, but, while being improved tremendously, I don't like the shape of his back, there just isn't enough 3D in it.
Midsection is what its, and legs just don't look good IMO. Look great from the side, but no sweep, actually similar problem as Derrick, but a bit worse.
I am not even sure if he is that unhealthy, but come on - the guy looks pretty pedal to the metal oversauced.

 

[Banana Joe]

He may end up last for all we know - but he hasn't had a proper off season yet. Next year will be his first real showing.

I can't see him ever having having a back where something is going on in the rear lat spread or back double biceps.
If you look at the recent 2 shows, there is just nothing moving. Surprisingly it looks kinda good in the 3/4 Arnold pose.
Otherwise tremendous presentation and ability to highlight his strengths.

But I will say it again, the left calf is not a good foreshadowing. And this is just after one year of (kinda) focussing on growth. Have we ever seen someone being able to bring a calf (or both back)?

I thought it was going to be the Nick & Hadi show until Behrooz got his visa

Now Behrooz is a top contender and I think him and Derek will *maybe* push Samson out of the top 5

Who else could beat Samson? I don't know, I don't have a great eye for this when it's so close

I don't what you were or are looking at, but last year Samson beat half a dozen people, that were in better shape than him.
How could he be pushed out of the Top5, if he comes in shape? And judging by his face, and a few very recent gym shots he will.
As much as I like Behrouz's physique, I don't see him in the Top3.

I like Nick as personality but physique wise looks bad to me, unless freak factor is the Nr1 criteria. One of the best back double and lat spread with great arms too but no matter how much he controls his midsection it looks bad in transitions. The worst part though aesthetically is his legs, I can't stand looking em.

Yeah, but legs and midsection are kinda like 2/3 of your front and 1/3 of your back. So with half of your body just looking unaesthetic, how will you overcome this? I'd also argue that his back is still not as great. Maybe the overall pose is (so glutes, legs, arms), but his back viewed in isolation is not that great either in terms of overall shape. Viewed from the back, I would even say his clavicles look rather narrow(-ish). Pair that with the missing "pop" and I just can't see a great back.

So for me open i hope to see a more shredded Samson and a killer Hadi for the top 2. Top 4-5 I'm not so eager to see how it goes, I'm rooting for Behrooz to go as high as possible because that man has the perfect package, also i like Sasan very much and want to see him placing well.

Yeah, pretty much this. But I think hoping for Behrrouz to place Top6 is more realistic. No way he beats Derek, no matter both look, so he could be 5th place at best, because 3rd and 4th place will be Nick and Derek, not sure which order though. Or one of the 2 moves up if Hadi is coming in a bit off, which I seriously doubt.

As far as classic goes, Mike will get it easily if nothing unexpected happens with the height/weight thing. TBH i know many people saying that classic is just open category with weight restriction, i don't agree with this logic. At least rename the division. Calling it classic if it doesn't look classic is such a awkward thing. I'm a Logan Franklin fan and he resembles classic so much. Mike looks like a open bodybuilder or at least 212.

I still don't see appeal with Franklin. Yeah, he is in great shape, but his shape is just not great IMO.
Mike actually IS a 212 athlete, that happened to have a lot of lucky weigh-ins, where they must have forgotten to calibrate their stadiometer beforehand.

Keone is the most ridiculous thing I've seen in the past years, he's disgustingly good, untouchable for the 212. That Turkish kid Nihat Kaya is also exceptional, hard to believe he's only 22-23. He looks nuts.

Yeah, forgot about this guy. I agree he looks crazy, but I am still unsure how he will compare to the other top guys in the line up. If nothing happens, he surely has a great future ahead of him!

 

[urmumsurdad30]

Im keen to see where Urs place tbh. He looks really good as a open bber compared to classic.

I got Samson to win followed by Hadi and Nick.

For 212, piss easy - its keone no debate there

 

[abz94]

1. Samson
2. Hadi
3. Nick

 

[Banana Joe]

Mike passed the weigh in for 212 Classic Physique!

Everyone: How?
IFBB: Trust me bro!

 

[Eddie.]

Ramon Dino too. I read somewhere that 10 classic competitors didn’t make it. I believe they have 2 hours to weigh again.

 

[Banana Joe]

Ramon Dino too. I read somewhere that 10 classic competitors didn’t make it. I believe they have 2 hours to weigh again.

Apparently that live streaming of the weigh ins, was showing the athletes sitting there, and then measuring and weighing them in the corner of the room behind a 5m wide screen. See the video on Nicks Strength and Screen

And then at least Mike and Dino passed. In Mike's case certainly miraculously!

I just see that Michael Dabull was apparently 7lbs over, but I had already expected, that a few second call out guys will have to take the fall for the IFBB's new transparency charade.

 

[AlexDavis43]

assuming Hadi will come in shape

when has he not? I geniunely cannot recall Hadi ever missing the mark. There is something about him that does not miss when it comes to conditioning.

Every single bodybuilding commentator on social media now prefaces all their predictions with "if they come in shape" so if their pick loses, they can say they weren't wrong bc they didn't come in shape

Come on guys grow a fucking pair, can also predict who you think will not come in shape... every top competitor posts updates on IG