Hany Rambod, a coach with 25 Olympia wins under his belt, dropped a game-changing idea on his podcast, The Truth, on March 24, 2025. He thinks bodybuilding needs a new division below Men’s Physique to let smaller guys get on stage without needing massive muscle. Known for training champs like Phil Heath and Jay Cutler, Rambod sees the sport getting tougher and wants to fix that.
Muscle Boom in Bodybuilding
Rambod sees a shift.
“What’s very nice is now you have this other division, something that is more attainable but a lot of people are threatened by it. I don’t understand why. I still think that they should do it for the Men’s. The men have gotten super muscular. Again, back when Jeremy was winning, that 165-170 pound physique is way different than what you’re seeing now. It’s much more muscular now than when it first started,” he said on his podcast.
Jeremy Buendia won Men’s Physique Olympia from 2014 to 2017 at 165-170 pounds. Today’s champs carry way more mass.
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A New Path for Newcomers
Rambod wants an easier start.
“If somebody has that look and they can get on stage in a shorter time frame than we still have the ability to bring them up. If we want to build and move up, they still can, if they so desire or can genetically grow, they can go to another division. Where you’re at now, I feel like the bar is too high on the men’s side,” he said.
Picture a lighter category. Men’s Physique sits below Classic Physique and Men’s Open, focusing on shape over raw size. Rambod’s idea goes slimmer, maybe around 165-170 pounds like Buendia’s era. It’d reward a fit look and balance, not bulk.
The NPC is already set to launch a Fit Model division in 2025, hitting NPC Worldwide too, with the IFBB Pro League joining in 2026. It’s not like Bikini, which is for women—this one’s got its own rules to let guys hit the stage with less extreme prep. Rambod, who’s coached stars to victory, thinks it’s a way to grow talent.
Why It’s a Fit
The sport’s gotten brutal. Men’s Physique winners now edge closer to Classic Physique’s bulk, far from its lean roots. Rambod’s seen this coaching champs across divisions. A fit model division would lower the entry bar. Newcomers often struggle to pack on enough muscle, especially if genetics limit them. This could keep them competing and expand the sport’s reach.
Rambod’s idea could bring important changes to bodybuilding. If a new division is created, it could help competitors who do not fit into the current categories. It could also give the sport more variety, making it more exciting for fans.
Many people in bodybuilding respect Rambod’s opinions, so his thoughts on this topic could start discussions in the industry. Whether or not the sport adds a new division, his comments highlight how much men’s physique has changed since it first began.
Watch the full video below: [timestamp from 32 min -34 min]
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