The 2023 Mr. Olympia Weekend kicks off in one week, prompting a roundtable of bodybuilding veterans to offer predictions. In a recent Olympia TV YouTube video on October 25, Flex Wheeler, Chris Cormier, and Bob Cicherillo revealed their final picks in the Men’s Open, Classic Physique, and Men’s 212 Bodybuilding divisions for the upcoming competition.
With the sport’s most important event taking place in just a few days, athletes are finalizing the last stages of their preparations. If last year’s Mr. Olympia contest was an indication of the future, fans and the bodybuilding community expect a highly competitive and unpredictable showdown.
The headlining Men’s Open division will see the reigning champion Hadi Choopan look to fend off a crop of motivated contenders. This includes the former 212 Olympia Derek Lunsford who took second in his Open debut last year as well as third-place finisher Nick Walker. Among the favorites, Samson Dauda will aim to continue his success after claiming victory at the 2023 Arnold Classic.
In anticipation of the marquee event, Wheeler was joined by some of the sport’s biggest names to take a closer look at their picks for the nearing clash in Orlando, Florida.
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Men’s Open Predictions
Below, you can find predictions for the Men’s Open division at 2023 Mr. Olympia from Bob Cicherillo, Flex Wheeler, and Chris Cormier:
Bob Cicherillo
- Winner — Derek Lunsford
- Second Place — Samson Dauda
- Third Place — Hadi Choopan
- Fourth Place — Brandon Curry
- Fifth Place — Hunter Labrada
“The pictures he put out last week, especially from the back, good God. I mean, listen, this guy had the best back in the show when he won the 212 a couple of years ago, that should tell you something right there. His back has only gotten bigger and better. It’s the front that he has to contend with that’s where it’s going to get dicey. I said months ago on this program, whoever hits 100% to me, between Derek and Samson will win the Mr. Olympia title.”
“We haven’t seen 100% from Samson, I do believe we will see 100% from Derek,” added Cicherillo. “That’s going to be the deciding factor. I don’t see Hadi repeating.”
Flex Wheeler
- Winner — Samson Dauda
- Second Place — Derek Lunsford
- Third Place — Nick Walker
- Fourth Place — Andrew Jacked
- Fifth Place — Hadi Choopan
“I don’t see the current Mr. Olympia etching out being third place. I think some of the bigger guys are going to usher in better condition. I just haven’t seen enough input right? I haven’t seen really anything from the other guys so.”
Chris Cormier
- Winner — Derek Lunsford
- Second Place — Samson Dauda
- Third Place — Nick Walker
- Fourth Place — Hadi Choopan
- Fifth Place — Andrew Jacked
“Yeah [I have Brandon Curry out of the top five]. I just am going off what I’m seeing on the media man. There will be a new champion in the Open for sure.”
Classic Physique Predictions
Here are the picks for Classic Physique. Interestingly, Chris Cormier and Bob Cicherillo both envision Chris Bumstead losing to either Urs Kalecinski or Breon Ansley.
Bob Cicherillo
- Winner — Urs Kalecinski
- Second Place — Chris Bumstead
- Third Place — Ramon Rocha Queiroz
“This is going to be a real interesting one also because you got some major contenders on that stage. Now the easy pick of course is Cbum, great competitor, multi-time champ, he’s going for what, five this year? And he’s seemingly untouchable except for one thing: I don’t have him winning this year.
I actually got an upset special. I’m going to pick my man Urs Kalecinski who looks like a younger version of Chris Bumstead. I love Ramon Dino so again people, all my fans out of Brazil, don’t start sending me thousands of dinosaurs over the next week, we get it. I love Ramon but he’s a little out of proportion,” said Cicherillo.
Flex Wheeler
- Winner — Chris Bumstead
- Second Place — Urs Kalecinski
- Third Place — Ramon Rocha Queiroz
“It’s going to be an incredible match-up between Urs and Bumstead and I agree with Bob he looks like a younger version.”
“Urs has to level up right, and as far as Dino is concerned, he’s a great athlete but I just don’t feel he’s going to be able to change his physique enough to become champion.”
Chris Cormier
- Winner — Breon Ansley
- Second Place — Chris Bumstead
- Third Place — Terrence Ruffin
“I’m going old-school re-run. Because of the change of the weight… I think the shorter guys are going to get a little bit better. I’m going to go old-school style, Breon Ansley getting the title back.”
Shawn Ray
- Winner — Chris Bumstead
- Second Place — Urs Kalecinski
- Third Place — Ramon Rocha Queiroz
“I think he [Chris Bumstead] can win the Open Olympia. Just based on how he looks, don’t do anything, don’t put on any more weight. He’s my favorite in terms of the physique in all spectrums. If you stand him next to Hadi Choopan, if you stand him next to Urs, Bumstead has everything if he’s healthy.
I’m going to stay with Bumstead. I think Urs is going to challenge for the title and I think Ramon Dino is going to pick up third place. Terrence Ruffin is going to be better than he was last year but I think he’s going to be somewhere around fourth or fifth,” explained Shawn Ray.
Men’s 212 Bodybuilding Predictions
Men’s 212 Bodybuilding predictions can be found below. All veterans are in agreement that Shaun Clarida will pull off a third 212 Olympia title.
Bob Cicherillo
- Winner — Shaun Clarida
- Second Place — Keone Pearson
- Third Place — Ahmad Ashkanani
“Keone is great. I’ll tell you, Keone reminds me of old-school these two guys will back me up on this one, but he reminds me of a smaller Edgar Fletcher. His physique is just absolutely put together. Small waist, beautiful muscle bellies. I don’t think he can get that conditioning, that’s always been his Achille’s heel in the past.”
Flex Wheeler
- Winner — Shaun Clarida
- Second Place — Keone Pearson
- Third Place — Undecided
“It’s going to be Shaun and Keone. My thought is still out on third. I’m just not sure yet. Here’s the thing. Keone is a better competitor simple as that. If you go 100% match-up when both of these gentlemen are on, Keone wins,” said Flex Wheeler.
“Keone still hasn’t nailed his condition. Here’s the great thing about that right, Keone is doing so much damage now and I’ll be hard on him because he’s like a little bro to me. He’s barely at his 90 percetile of conditioning, so imagine if this dude starts popping off 92,93,94%… he’s going to be untouchable.”
Chris Cormier
- Winner — Shaun Clarida
- Second Place — Keone Pearson
- Third Place — Ahmad Ashkanani
“I’m going to go with the same as Bob I think.”
These weren’t the only high-profile names in bodybuilding to dissect the Open lineup. As of late, Ronnie Coleman, Samir Bannout, and Jay Cutler have all backed Derek Lusnford to defeat Choopan next month. However, Zack Khan and Milos Sarcev are both confident Samson Dauda has the tools to win the championship.
The 2023 Mr. Olympia Weekend goes down November 2-5 in Orlando, Florida inside the Orange County Convention Center. You won’t want to miss this event and we’ve got you covered with breakdowns, previews, predictions, and more at Fitness Volt.
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