The Men’s Open division is captained once again by Derek Lunsford. In a recent YouTube video on Nov. 2, 2025, bodybuilding veteran Toney Freeman discussed Lunsford’s cartoonish physique and urged Nick Walker to focus on aesthetics instead of freak factor.
At the 2025 Mr. Olympia, the Men’s Open division was shaken up. Former champion Samson Dauda fell to fourth place, with Lunsford pulling ahead to reclaim the title. Not only did Lunsford overcome a pec tear before the competition, but had to pull himself together in the finals after dealing with a panic attack.
Walker mistimed his peak, which pushed him into sixth place. Since the event wrapped up, Walker and his ex-coach, Kyle Wilkes, have stopped working together. “The Mutant” is now navigating his career alone for the first time in years.
Toney Freeman Wants Nick Walker to Pursue Aesthetics, Says ‘Mutant Thing’ Won’t Win Mr. Olympia Title
In the video, “The X-Man” likened Lunsford’s physique to a cartoon character and thought his muscle hardness sealed the deal in Vegas.
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!
“Derek looked amazing. Towards the end, Derek actually got better as the night went on. He started looking like a cartoon character towards the end when everybody else was kind of normaling out. I don’t know what he did but I saw his density. He got harder.”
He expects Lunsford to improve for the next two years since he’s relatively new as an Open competitor.
“One thing about Derek, he put on so much muscle so fast, it’s still not him yet. That’s why his legs were going away. It wasn’t that he didn’t have them, they just was going away.
This is year three, maybe four of him being this big. Next year, I expect him to be even harder and the year after that, even harder, because he’s still super young,” he said.
On the other hand, Freeman noted that Walker should abandon his mutant persona and pursue aesthetics instead. He believes the switch would put Walker in a stronger position to win the Sandow trophy.
“Nick was just trying to be a monster when he should be trying to be more aesthetic instead of just out-freaking everybody. He’s embodied that whole mutant thing but that’s not going to win him the title.”
He argued that although Walker’s physique is loved by fans, he can’t be number one in the world while growing the sport simultaneously.
“I’m a fan. I love the way he trains, his mentality, all of that, but he can’t be number one and us grow the sport. We love Nick, us bodybuilding fans, we love the freak but if you’re trying to present this thing to the world, then you need someone that’s a little more aesthetically pleasing to get that jump. It’s perception.”
“Disney or Nike is not going to appreciate Nick Walker’s physique. Not that we even have a chance to get those kinds of sponsors, but you know what I’m saying. Somebody like Derek, he’s like Superman. He’s got the classic look in his face, great skin, nice V-taper, well spoken, loves God, that’s the kind of person you put in front.”
Fans and veterans of the sport have been open about what they think Walker should do next. Bob Cicherillo and Shawn Ray believe targeting the last two Open Mr. Olympia qualifiers of the 2026 bodybuilding season is his best course of action.
The Open division continues to keep fans talking, with attention turning to the 2026 Arnold Classic. It takes place March 5-8, and the Open winner will earn a $750,000 prize purse.
RELATED: Samir Bannout Says Nick Walker’s Waist Is ‘Fixable,’ Gives Opinion on His Coaching Fallout
Watch the full video from the Overcome Cast YouTube channel below:
Relive every moment from the 2025 Mr. Olympia, including prejudging, highlights, expert analysis, and full results. Explore our Olympia hub: FitnessVolt.com/olympia. For minute-by-minute coverage, follow our Live Blog.
You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and
YouTube for even more content.
