The race to become the Mr. Olympia champion of 2024 is on, leading Jay Cutler to dissect the Open lineup. In a recent YouTube video shared on September 6, 2024, Cutler revealed that Derek Lunsford’s roundness and better back are his greatest weapons against Hadi Choopan at the biggest show of the year.
In retirement, Cutler has watched the Sandow trophy trade hands multiple times. In 2022, Hadi Choopan won the prestigious title after defeating Derek Lunsford in a tight contest. Although he entered last year’s gathering with momentum, Lunsford brought up his back to levels that were near-impossible to contend against. As a result, he became the sport’s first two-division Mr. Olympia champion.
Choopan and Lunsford are both coached by FST-7 training founder Hany Rambod, who boasts extensive experience in guiding high-caliber talents, including Cutler, Phil Heath, and the current reigning five-time Classic Physique Olympia Chris Bumstead. With Rambod promising that Lunsford and Choopan would be at their ‘all-time best,‘ Cutler decided to give his two cents on the impending battle.
Jay Cutler Discusses Hadi Choopan’s Momentum and Derek Lunsford’s Physique Strengths Weeks from 2024 Mr. Olympia
After watching Hadi Choopan squat six plates five weeks before the Olympia contest, Cutler underlined that it’s going to be ‘hard to go against someone like that.’
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“We talk about Hadi versus Derek who’s training harder right now? I just saw Hadi squat six plates. It’s five weeks [out]. He did six plates, five reps, take a plate off, five reps, five plates, take a plate off, five reps, four plates, insane. Who’s doing that right now?”
Cutler often assesses bodybuilders with the phrase “What have you done for me lately?” In Choopan’s case, he believes ‘The Persian Wolf’ has done a lot, referencing his wins at the 2024 Arnold Classic Ohio and UK shows.
“Who is doing that right now? So Hany, what is going on over there in Texas man? If you guys haven’t seen it, it was Hadi’s or Hany’s Instagram,” explains Cutler. “Six plates bro! Five weeks out. It’s hard to go against someone like that because what he brought to the Arnold. What have you done for me lately? He’s done a lot lately.”
Think about, I had to deal with that with Ronnie Coleman,” adds Cutler.
Cutler highlighted that Lunsford’s roundness and better back were his greatest weapons against Choopan.
“I feel like Derek and Hadi are very similar in a sense where I don’t think one, it’s going to come down to condition with them.
Because one is not going to be oh he’s way bigger than the other, they are going to trade poses and Derek probably has a little more roundness if that makes sense and his back is better. But if Hadi comes in that razor condition he beats Derek if Derek isn’t conditioned enough.”
He also thinks Lunsford will need to find the proper balance of hardness with hydration to come out on top in Las Vegas.
“We can’t judge Derek on last year. He does [look harder]. And if he can hold that when he drains that water out and not lose that pop, that might be a hydration thing where he’s got to find that balance but right now, Hadi is coming man.”
In addition to high expectations of Lunsford, Cutler is eager to see how Nick Walker and Martin Fitzwater perform on the Mr. Olympia stage. He’s unsure of how different Samson Dauda will look and believes Brandon Curry is another ‘big question mark.’ Ultimately, he believes Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan are in the ‘driver’s seat’ to win gold.
“I’m expecting a lot from Lunsford. I am. Just like I’m expecting from Nick Walker, I’m expecting from Martin Fitzwater. I don’t know what my expectations are for Samson. I don’t know how much of a different package he’s going to bring in. He may shock us and bring crazy condition. Brandon Curry is a big question mark. Andrew Jacked we kind of know what we’re looking for. Hunter… we kind of know after this weekend.”
“Walker is a huge question mark because he missed last year, we can’t compare him and we can’t look two years ago to what he looked like,” adds Cutler. “I wouldn’t count against him. I really think Hadi or Derek are in the driver’s seat for a victory right now. But I don’t want to make any predictions this year because it’s just way too close.”
Although Jay Cutler is staying away from concrete predictions for this year’s Olympia, he couldn’t help but offer some insight into the massive contest. He believes the first call-out will be made up of five or six contenders, and envisions Brandon Curry placing in the top five.
After their close encounter in 2023, Cutler is ready to see Lunsford and Choopan battle it out for gold. Don’t miss the 2024 Mr. Olympia contest from October 10-13 next month!
Watch the full video from the Cutler Cast YouTube channel below:
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