Could Hadi Choopan’s game plan for more size be a mistake? In a YouTube video from July 13, 2026, Chris Aceto opened up on whether Choopan’s wider waist could hurt his chances at the upcoming Mr. Olympia.
In 2022, “The Persian Wolf” etched his name into bodybuilding history. He defeated the former two-time champ Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay to earn the Sandow trophy. However, since that night, Choopan has struggled to stay on top.
For the last three years, he finished in second place at the Mr. Olympia, once to Samson Dauda, and twice to Derek Lunsford. In his last outing at the 2026 Arnold Classic, Choopan missed the mark and secured third place behind Nick Walker and Chinedu Andrew “Jacked” Obiekea. To reclaim momentum, Choopan has teamed up with Milos Sarcev ahead of his comeback, but some have concerns about the recent size he’s packed on.
Chris Aceto Breaks Down Whether Hadi Choopan’s New Size Will Hurt His 2026 Mr. Olympia Chances
In the video, Aceto looked at Choopan’s latest physique update and pointed out that his larger midsection is the first area the eyes go to:
“The first thing you notice, the very first thing, midsection,” shared Aceto.
Aceto emphasized that a tight, detailed midsection is one of Choopan’s signature strengths. Without it, he believes judges could mark him down.
“If you go to an Olympia, and you don’t have, at the Olympia, what you’re known for… the impact on the judges and the critics is monumental. It’s like Lee Haney going to the Mr. Olympia with, ‘My back is weaker than it’s been in the past.'”
“Bigger is better if the midsection stays noticeably the same.”
Before wrapping up the discussion, Aceto also teased Ramon Dino’s potential in a future Men’s Open contest.
“I think Ramon Dino, if he was Open, could probably… one off-season, be a… he’s big here, that’s my answer.”
“No [I haven’t talked to Ramon Dino about doing the Open], I just know he looks big here, he’s lean here,” said Aceto. “He’s got to be 103 [kilograms], maybe 106. No, no, no, he’s about 18 pounds over here [in latest update].”
Despite his new size, reigning two-time Mr. Olympia Derek Lunsford has doubts about Choopan’s return. He argued that if Choopan did manage to bring up his leg fullness, it would help his back poses, but he believes it could water down the quality of his front shots.
With “The Mind” guiding his preparations, fans are curious if Choopan can bring an improved look back to the stage. The 2026 Mr. Olympia is scheduled for September 24-27 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
