There is plenty of heat heading into the sport’s greatest showcase. On October 1, judge Terrick El Guindy broke down the top five rivalries set to light up the 2025 Mr. Olympia stage.
We are just eight days from witnessing the 61st Joe Weider’s Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend. The action-packed gathering will take over Las Vegas, Nevada, from October 9-12, where Dan Solomon has already teased historic prize money.
A total of 11 bodybuilding divisions will vie for supremacy. To shed some light on what’s likely to transpire, El Guindy previewed some of the biggest battles set for the prestigious stage.
Terrick El Guindy Ranks the Top Rivalries Heading into 2025 Mr. Olympia
Find his selections from the video below:
#1 Derek Lunsford & Nick Walker
El Guindy’s first selection was an obvious one — the hostility between Lunsford and Walker has been palpable since their battle in Pittsburgh.
“They have a rivalry. That culminated in Pittsburgh when Steve Weinberger brought both of them for the final callout.
There were elbows, there was a hostility, an aggression, and then the results came out, and Derek Lunsford prevailed. Nick Walker said publicly, I won the show. I don’t care what anybody says, I won that show.”
El Guindy expects them to settle the score on the Mr. Olympia stage, making for arguably the most exciting storyline heading into the show.
“Derek Lunsford laughed, and he said he should thank me because it was an honor for him to compete against me after I won the Arnold, and Nick Walker said that’s BS. Well, this rivalry will come to an end when both of them collide at the Mr. Olympia. If there’s a callout where they are next to each other, boy, this is going to be amazing.”
#2 Ramon Queiroz & Logan Franklin
After Logan Franklin questioned Ramon Queiroz‘s ability to make weight, the two have traded barbs online.
“Ramon Dino versus Logan Franklin. Ramon has always been quiet on his own, but this time, he responded. Logan Franklin said hey, I don’t believe he’s going to make the weight; I don’t even think he’s ever made the weight. Ramon took it personally. He said, you think you know it all? Let’s see if I see you in the first callout.”
#3 Eduarda Bezerra vs Isa Perreira
Perreira did the improbable in 2024 and defeated reigning Wellness queen Francielle Mattos. Despite being a big favorite at the 2025 Arnold Classic, Perreira narrowly took second behind Eduarda Bezerra, who brought her all-time best. El Guindy expects an all-out war between the two.
“Isa Perreira won the Olympia last year — she defeated the champion, the queen, Francielle Mattos, and everything was set up for her to start her own dynasty, but it didn’t happen. At the Arnold Classic, the newcomer, Eduarda Bezerra, came at her best and defeated her in front of everybody. Now, they are both set to meet at the Mr. Olympia.”
“This is going to be total war,” said Terrick El Guindy.
#4 Ryan Terry & Ali Bilal
His fourth selection was Ryan Terry and Ali Bilal. Bilal took runner-up to Terry on the Olympia stage last year and followed that up with a huge win at the Arnold Classic. He boasts one of the best midsections in the division and hasn’t lacked confidence weeks before the contest.
“Ryan Terry — the British colonizer versus Ali Bilal — the rebel fighting for his rights. This is going to be incredible. Ryan Terry is the two-time champion. He’s the all-nice guy; everybody loves him. Ali Bilal is the rebel, the outspoken figure in Men’s Physique.”
El Guindy believes Terry will answer to Bilal with a physique he’s never seen before.
“At the 2025 Mr. Olympia, every single one of them has promised to bring their best and to come out as a winner.
Ali Bilal has publicly said I’m winning this thing. It’s not even a question. Ryan Terry says I’ve been the nice guy, but I’m going to deliver something to this guy that he’s never seen before.”
#5 Sarah Villegas & Natalia Coelho
Lastly, El Guindy highlighted the heated rematch between Sarah Villegas and Natalia Coelho, who have gone back and forth on the Olympia stage for years. History is on the line for Villegas, adding to the stakes. Should she pull off the victory, she’ll become the winningest Women’s Physique Olympia in the history of the sport.
“They are not going to have dinner in Las Vegas before the Olympia or after. For that matter, I don’t think they’ve ever come around and really had a conversation. The dislike is there. They don’t like losing to each other. They don’t like even battling with each other. Sarah Villegas wants to be considered the best Women’s Physique ever.”
Massive implications and heated rivalries are brewing days from this year’s Mr. Olympia. It won’t be one to miss. Fitness Volt will have live, comprehensive coverage of the action.
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