The clock for the biggest show of the year is ticking and bodybuilding veterans have ignited discussions about who could win it all. Dennis James and Milos Sarcev took to a recent The Menace Podcast on August 18, 2024, to compare Samson Dauda and Andrew Jacked before previewing the rematch between Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford.
Soon, we’ll find out who will be the 19th man to win the Mr. Olympia. Shortly after dropping the prestigious title to Derek Lunsford last year, Hadi Choopan registered a bounce-back season with consecutive victories at the Arnold Classic Ohio and UK contests, which saw him handily defeat Samson Dauda in both outings.
Dauda’s mass and knack for making crucial improvements to his physique could spell trouble for the lineup. Meanwhile, Andrew Jacked is another top threat to keep an eye on. He delivered gold with perhaps the most dominant victory of any competitor this year after clinching the 2024 Texas Pro title.
Other contenders are waiting to showcase their best in Las Vegas, Nevada, like ‘The Mutant’ Nick Walker, who won the 2024 New York Pro, and former champion Brandon Curry. With the showdown on deck in less than two months, Dennis James and Milos Sarcev gave their thoughts on who could put forth a compelling case for the Sandow trophy.
Level Up Your Fitness: Join our 💪 strong community in Fitness Volt Newsletter. Get daily inspiration, expert-backed workouts, nutrition tips, the latest in strength sports, and the support you need to reach your goals. Subscribe for free!
Dennis James, Milos Sarcev, Talk ‘Beatable’ Derek Lunsford vs Hadi Choopan, and Samson Dauda/Andrew Jacked Showdown at 2024 Mr. Olympia
Milos Sarcev believes the ‘new version’ of Andrew Jacked could pose problems for the entire lineup, and especially Samson Dauda, thanks to his powerful poses such as the front relaxed, front lat spread, and front double biceps.
“Samson is so much thicker lower body and then every time I turn to the side, that was really noticeable. Frontally, Andrew is wider, crazy shoulders, chest, I mean, oh my god. Taper, legs are bigger. So, this new version of Andrew I don’t know who is going to beat him in the frontal poses. Front relaxed, front lat spread, front double biceps, abdominals, and thighs, Hadi is going to beat him still even though I love Andrew’s shape,” said Milos Sarcev.
He adds that Jacked could struggle with the size of Dauda’s legs.
“This is how good Andrew is. Would that be enough, there is eight mandatory poses. There’s still a symmetry round. The many views of the same body. When he turns to the side, yeah legs are bigger but still not big enough.”
Sarcev, who once coached Samson Dauda, believes he’s ‘closing the gap’ with improvements to his back double biceps, Derek Lunsford’s strongest pose.
“Samson is improving his back double biceps, he is closing the gap. Samson is a hard-working guy that is improving and has the shape,” shares Sarcev.
Chris Cormier concurs, mentioning that Dauda will have a winning physique if he can pull out more detail in his lower back and abs.
“Yeah, I mean, Samson has improved all the little areas that he needed as far as the upper back all the way through there. It’s going to be up to him, like you say, he is really big and all he has to do is get that lower ab tight, lower back comparable to the front and he’s going to have a winning-looking physique to me,” explains Chris Cormier.
According to Milos Sarcev and Dennis James, Hadi Choopan is still the favorite to win. While size was his winning formula in 2022, the bodybuilding veterans believe his key to another victory this season is coming in ‘slice and diced rock-hard.’
“I see Hadi as a major favorite to win,” says Sarcev. “His legs are peeled out of his mind, that’s nine weeks out! So the message is he’s coming sliced and diced rock-hard, he has to. The formula that he won bigger in 2022 Olympia didn’t work in 2023. But formula worked to be ripped in 2024.”
After Choopan’s back-to-back wins earlier in the season, Dennis James sees him taking home the title despite a lack of shape comparable to Lunsford.
“I totally agree with you. Hadi for me is the frontrunner. Even though I’m not trying to disrespect Derek, Derek is the reigning Mr. Olympia, but I see Hadi, especially after Columbus, beating Derek. We don’t know what Derek is going to look like this year so I expect Derek to be improved,” said Dennis James.
“The legs could still be fuller. So until we see that, I see him beatable. Hadi has all that. Hadi doesn’t have Derek’s shape but I don’t think he needs that shape if he comes with that big I mean super grainy just nasty. If Andrew would come in peeled, he would be a Derek at six-foot-three or whatever he is.”
James believes Hadi Choopan will showcase ‘something we haven’t seen’ yet.
“I still believe Hadi is going to win, he’s going to show us something we haven’t seen from him,” adds Dennis James.
Sarcev doesn’t think Hadi Choopan has caught up to Derek Lunsford’s patented back double biceps pose.
“I think that Derek’s back double biceps is above Hadi. That’s the pose that he beats everybody. The detail, the width, the v-taper, the striated glutes, I think there’s no question that last year he beat Hadi in the back double biceps.”
Dennis James and Milos Sarcev envision the Mr. Olympia contest coming down to Choopan and Lunsford, but a crop of highly talented Pros await the marquee stage. Don’t miss the historic 2024 Mr. Olympia celebrate its 60th anniversary later this year from October 10-13 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Watch the full video from the Muscle and Fitness YouTube channel below:
Experience the thrill of the 2024 Mr. Olympia with our complete coverage! From prejudging highlights and event recaps to expert analysis and results, find it all at our Olympia hub: FitnessVolt.com/olympia. Follow our Live Blog for real-time event updates. Stay tuned for every moment of the action!
You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and
YouTube for even more content.
