We are just a few days away from witnessing history at the 2025 Mr. Olympia. On Sept. 30, 2025, bodybuilding veteran Guy Cisternino revealed his picks for the prestigious event, set for its return from Oct. 9–12 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
From debutants to former titleholders, this year’s Olympia lineup is full of threats. Samson Dauda is the reigning champion, but if he hopes to extend his time on top, he’ll face resistance—especially from former two-division Olympia winner Derek Lunsford.
After Lunsford took third behind Dauda in Vegas last year, he’s been on a revenge tour. He challenged Dauda at the 2025 Arnold Classic and defeated him, taking away the champ’s much-needed momentum heading into Olympia. Lunsford has kept an extremely busy schedule and managed to defeat an all-time best Nick Walker at the Pittsburgh Pro.
Since their encounter, the rivalry has become more intense. Lunsford said Walker should have thanked him for the Pittsburgh defeat. In response, “The Mutant” called him ‘disrespectful as fu**’ and said he knows what’s coming when they battle it out in Sin City.
Meanwhile, Hadi Choopan, who earned the Sandow trophy in 2022, has been quiet for most of the season. He opted to use the time to grow his physique and correct weaknesses. Although there were doubts about whether Choopan would make it to the US, he finally arrived three weeks before the show. Despite being jet-lagged, he pushed through a brutal FST-7 workout with Hany Rambod.
Beyond these big-name talents, there’s a handful of bodybuilders making their Pro debuts. Among those aiming for statement performances are Ugolnikov “Good Vito” Vitalii, Rubiel “Neckzilla” Mosquera, Brett Wilkin, and Classic Physique-turned Open Pro Urs Kalecinski.
Guy Cisternino’s Top-5 Picks for the 2025 Mr. Olympia
Find his picks from the YouTube video below:
- Winner — Nick Walker
- Second Place — Samson Dauda
- Third Place — Hadi Choopan
- Fourth Place — Derek Lunsford
- Fifth Place — Martin Fitzwater
Since Walker missed out on the Mr. Olympia for the past two years (once due to injury and again because his body wouldn’t respond to prep), some in the sport have serious doubts about whether he’ll actually make it on the 2025 Mr. Olympia stage. Namely, Shawn Ray, who emphasized that there is no guarantee Walker will compete.
Bodybuilding coach Neil Hill also discussed Walker’s potential in the show. He believes that if the top contenders slip and Walker brings his absolute best, he can win the Mr. Olympia title. Historically, Walker has never dropped placings at Olympia, so excitement is building fast for next weekend’s showdown.
Watch the full video from the Fouad Abiad Media YouTube channel below:
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