Fitness Volt
  • News
    • Bodybuilding
    • Strongman
    • Powerlifting
    • Armwrestling
    • CrossFit
    • Results
    • Arnold Classic
    • Mr. Olympia
    • 2025 WSM
  • Workouts
    • Training
    • Workout Plans
    • Celebrity Workouts
    • Training Programs
    • Mastering The Deadlift
  • Exercise Guides
    • Muscle Groups
    • Arms
    • Back
    • Chest
    • Core
    • Legs and Glutes
    • Mobility & Stretching
    • Shoulders
    • Yoga
  • Nutrition
    • Diet
    • Fasting
    • Diet Plans
    • Nutrition Tips
    • Supplements
    • Reviews
    • Food Facts
  • Calculators
  • More
    • Forum
    • Strength Standards
    • DIY
    • Profiles
    • Motivation
    • Videos
    • MMA
No Result
View All Result
Fitness Volt
  • News
    • Bodybuilding
    • Strongman
    • Powerlifting
    • Armwrestling
    • CrossFit
    • Results
    • Arnold Classic
    • Mr. Olympia
    • 2025 WSM
  • Workouts
    • Training
    • Workout Plans
    • Celebrity Workouts
    • Training Programs
    • Mastering The Deadlift
  • Exercise Guides
    • Muscle Groups
    • Arms
    • Back
    • Chest
    • Core
    • Legs and Glutes
    • Mobility & Stretching
    • Shoulders
    • Yoga
  • Nutrition
    • Diet
    • Fasting
    • Diet Plans
    • Nutrition Tips
    • Supplements
    • Reviews
    • Food Facts
  • Calculators
  • More
    • Forum
    • Strength Standards
    • DIY
    • Profiles
    • Motivation
    • Videos
    • MMA
No Result
View All Result
Fitness Volt
No Result
View All Result
Home » Bodybuilding

Derek Lunsford Brushes Off Fear of Nick Walker at 2023 Arnold Classic, Says 212 Should Stay

Lunsford touched on media outlets saying he's scared of Nick Walker ahead of the 2023 Arnold Classic: 'I'm staying in my lane... yeah I just laughed about it.'

Written by Doug Murray

Published on3 February, 2023 | 2:38 PM EDT

Ask Question?
Derek Lunsford On Nick Walker

Derek Lunsford On Nick Walker - Image via @nick_walker39 Instagram/@Musculardevelopment Youtube

Bodybuilder Derek Lunsford sidestepped the upcoming 2023 Arnold Classic in favor of improving his physique for the next Olympia contest. Speaking with Ron Harris of Muscular Development, Lunsford discussed his goal for the season, Nick Walker, and whether or not the 212 division should stick around. 

Lunsford enjoyed a wild ride in the IFBB Pro League last year. It started with an off-season guest posing appearance at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro. He stood on stage with Walker, Brandon Curry, and Hunter Labrada without appearing undersized. Weeks later, his coach Hany Rambod began questioning his ability to safely make weight for the 212 category, however. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Fitness Volt (@fitnessvoltnetwork)

In September, Lunsford accepted a special invitation to compete in the Open class at 2022 Olympia, an honor that was being held for retired seven-time 212 Olympia kingpin Flex Lewis. Fans and veterans alike labeled Derek a title contender within minutes of walking out on stage in Las Vegas.  And while he wasn’t able to stop his teammate Hadi Choopan from winning gold, Lunsford came exceptionally close in an Open class debut. 

During the recent interview, Lunsford addressed a number of topics including his improvements for 2023 Olympia, Nick Walker, and why he believes 212 should remain a division in the IFBB Pro League. 

Get Fitter, Faster

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!

Please wait...
You're In! Let's Crush Your Fitness Goals Together

Expect expert-backed workouts, nutrition advice, the latest in strength sports, and a whole lot of motivation heading your way.

Derek Lunsford Plans to Improve Chest, Shoulders, Arms, and Quads for 2023 Mr. Olympia 

In preparation for his next Olympia show, Lunsford laid out which areas of his body he wants to improve the most. 

“Right now, my focus is to yeah – bring up my upper body, like my chest area. Chest, shoulders, arms, and my quads, my legs from the front. So, I think that’s where I can definitely make improvements. Look, I’m not just focused on one area. I’m training my entire physique to be better next year. It’s not like I’m not training my back or my back shots. 

I want to be better in every shot next year. So, you better believe I’m in the gym working for that right now and it’s going to be all year long. If I had to pinpoint one area it would be the chest area, a little bit more density and hardness – muscle maturity there. If I can fill out my quads a little bit more too, icing on the cake, I think,” says Derek Lunsford. 

Fans hoped Lunsford would jump into the Arnold Classic in March, but the former 212 champion decided against it after careful consideration. He’s excited to see how his peers from 212 bodybuilding fare against other Open class talents like Shaun Clarida and Kamal Elgargni. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Derek Lunsford (@dereklunsford_)

“I’m excited to watch these guys battle it out. I see Nick training hard, he looks good. Everybody is talking about [Shaun] Clarida coming up from the 212, which I’m excited to see him and Kamal [Elgargni] next to each other because I see Kamal here and he’s looking really good. I’m super excited.” 

You got Samson Dauda coming in strong, Andrew Jacked coming in strong, and everybody is sleeping on William Bonac. It’s going to be a really good show,” says Lunsford. 

Lunsford on 212 Division: Without 212 ‘Would You Even Know’ Flex Lewis or Derek Lunsford

Unlike Iain Valliere and Lee Pirest, Lunsford believes 212 should remain a division in the IFBB Pro League. 

“I think it’s [the 212 division] is just fine, to be honest with you. I can see why people would say, ‘these 212 guys are doing the Open, why don’t you just take that money and put it into the Open,’ but look — if there wasn’t a 212, would you even know Derek Lunsford or Flex Lewis or any of these other guys that competed in the 212.

I mean, now I did the Open, but thank God, I had five years to be in that division to continue to work on myself as a bodybuilder, human being, as a man. I got to grow up in this sport essentially. Being able to make an impact without having to go straight to the Open, if you’re like a shorter bodybuilder, it’s better to have that 212 division to continue to compete and develop your physique that way eventually if you ever want to move to the Open, your kind of already established as a top pro in the sport,” Lunsford explained. 

Lunsford Laughs Off Media Saying He’s Scared of Nick Walker 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nick "the Mutant" Walker (@nick_walker39)

After a YouTube channel suggested Lunsford was afraid of Nick Walker ahead of the Arnold Classic, Lunsford had the following to say: 

“Yeah, I thought it was pretty funny [when media mentioned I was scared of Nick Walker]. I had a bunch of people messaging me, ‘oh did you hear what Olympia TV said, oh, did you hear what Nick Trigili said,’ I just laughed at it all. Look man — I get it. They want to be polarizing with what they’re saying and create some controversy, some drama. That’s exciting, entertaining, but like I said, me, I’m staying in my lane. Yeah… I just laughed about it,” Lunsford shared. 

Nick Walker recently discussed Lunsford’s potential as an Open class competitor. He’s curious how much quality muscle tissue Derek can acquire in the off-season for the next Olympia. ‘The Mutant’ jumped into the 2023 Arnold Classic shortly after the organizers pumped the prize money up for the Open winner to $300,000. Fans would love to see him rematch Lunsford, but it appears that won’t happen until November. 

RELATED: Jay Cutler: ‘Limited’ Derek Lunsford Isn’t Guaranteed to Beat Nick Walker If He Enters 2023 Arnold Classic

Given his success as a 212 athlete, Lunsford would like to see the division thrive in the future. Instead of competing in Columbus, Ohio, Lunsford hopes to improve his chest shoulders, arms, and quads with the extra time. 

Watch the full video 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!


If you have any questions about this news, please feel free to contact Doug by leaving a comment below.

Stay on top of the latest fitness news and updates by adding Fitness Volt to your Google News feed: Follow us on Google News You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for even more content.
Facebook Twitter Reddit Flipboard LinkedIn Pinterest
Categories: Bodybuilding News Videos
Previous Post

‘Disappointed’ Chris Cormier Questions Big Ramy’s Olympia Showing, Points at Training, Nerves, and Posing

Next Post

63-Year-Old Grandma Transforms Physique, Drops 55 Lbs, Becomes Figure Bodybuilder

Doug Murray

Doug Murray

Doug Murray is a News Editor for Fitness Volt with a focus on strength sports, including bodybuilding and powerlifting. His experience covering diverse sports, including MMA, for publications like Sportskeeda and CagesidePress informs his in-depth reporting.

Related

Shawn Ray
Bodybuilding

Shawn Ray Says Site Enhancements Ruining Striations in Men’s Open, Believes Competitors Look Like Balloon Animals Today

Victor Martinez
Bodybuilding

Bodybuilding Veteran Victor Martinez Gives Health Update After Emergency Surgery

Dorian Yates
Bodybuilding

Dorian Yates Breaks Down 3 Phases of a Rep to Maximize Peak Contractions

Nick Walker
Bodybuilding

Nick Walker Defends 50-Year-Old Competitor After Viral Routine Gets Mocked: “You Guys Should Be Ashamed”

Kevin Levrone
Bodybuilding

Kevin Levrone Shows Off Ripped Physique for 61st Birthday With ‘A Clean Bill of Health’

Nick Walker
Bodybuilding

Nick Walker Discusses Rep Ranges & Intensifiers During Quad-Focused Leg Workout 13 Weeks from 2025 Mr. Olympia

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest

Shawn Ray Says Site Enhancements Ruining Striations in Men’s Open, Believes Competitors Look Like Balloon Animals Today

Bodybuilding Veteran Victor Martinez Gives Health Update After Emergency Surgery

I’m a Trainer: The ONE Exercise I Never Let Clients Skip (Even on Rest Days)

Dorian Yates Breaks Down 3 Phases of a Rep to Maximize Peak Contractions

Nick Walker Defends 50-Year-Old Competitor After Viral Routine Gets Mocked: “You Guys Should Be Ashamed”

Kevin Levrone Shows Off Ripped Physique for 61st Birthday With ‘A Clean Bill of Health’

Fitness Volt

At Fitness Volt, our mission is to empower every individual on their fitness journey by providing expert advice, the latest research, and comprehensive resources. Whether you are a beginner or an elite athlete, we are here to support your goals with trustworthy and up-to-date information in strength, fitness, and nutrition. Read more.

For inquiries, please contact us at:
Email: [email protected]

About Us | Careers | Contact Form

Topics

  • Mr. Olympia
  • Bodybuilding
  • Strongman
  • WSM
  • Powerlifting
  • CrossFit
  • Workouts
  • Exercises
  • Training
  • Reviews
  • Nutrition
  • Discussion Forum

More

  • Calculators
  • Fasting
  • Mastering The Deadlift
  • Workout Plans
  • At-Home Workouts
  • Programs
  • Supplements
  • Newsletter
  • Review Process
  • Accessibility
  • Advertise
  • Syndication
  • Sitemap
  • DMCA
  • Copyrights
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Disclaimer

© Copyright 2010 - 2024 Fitness Volt IBC. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Bodybuilding
    • Powerlifting
    • Strongman
    • Armwrestling
    • CrossFit
    • Results
    • Mr. Olympia
    • 2024 WSM
    • Arnold Classic
  • Forum
  • Workouts
    • Training
    • Workout Plans
    • Muscle Groups
    • Celebrity Workouts
    • Programs
    • Mastering The Deadlift
  • Exercise Guides
    • Arms
    • Back
    • Chest
    • Core
    • Legs and Glutes
    • Shoulders
    • Yoga
  • Nutrition
    • Diet
    • Fasting
    • Diet Plans
    • Supplements
    • Nutrition Tips
    • Reviews
    • Food Facts
  • Fitness Calculator
  • More
    • DIY
    • Strength Standards
    • Motivation
    • Videos

© Copyright 2010 - 2024 Fitness Volt IBC. All Rights Reserved.