Branch Warren, a two-time Arnold Classic winner and prominent figure in the Men’s Open class, recently discussed the 2023 Mr. Olympia with Ron Harris on YouTube. Their conversation focused on Derek Lunsford’s historic victory at the event. However, controversies marred Lunsford’s win, including negative fan reactions and threats directed at him, overshadowing the celebration.
The aftermath of the November 4 event prompted discussions about the future of bodybuilding. Warren offered insights into the post-event discourse, addressing complexities such as Lunsford’s reconciled relationship with former champion Hadi Choopan. Additionally, Warren highlighted rising star Samson Dauda as a potential future contender for the Mr. Olympia title.
Warren’s discussion not only analyzed the immediate aftermath of the 2023 Mr. Olympia but also explored broader implications for the sport and its key figures. By shedding light on emerging talents like Dauda, Warren contributed valuable insights to ongoing conversations within the bodybuilding community.
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The conversation explored sport challenges, like fan debates and athlete scrutiny. Social media’s influence was also discussed, reflecting evolving dynamics.
Branch Warren Supports Derek Lunsford’s 2023 Mr. Olympia Win -“I Agree With Derek Winning”
Furthermore, Warren has voiced his agreement with Derek Lunsford’s victory at the 2023 Mr. Olympia, citing Choopan’s perceived flatness during the finals and acknowledging Lunsford’s improvements from prejudging.
“So Friday night, I thought Hadi had it by a very slim margin. I thought he looked better, a little tighter, I thought he was on point. I think when I went to the show Saturday, as soon as I came out, I went, ‘You know what, Derek looks a lot better.’
In my opinion, I think Hadi flattened just a little bit, maybe he didn’t eat enough or something, I don’t think he was watery, but I just don’t think he was quite as full as he was on Friday and I think that was the difference. I think it was a razor-thin margin. I agree with Derek winning.
Branch Warren underscored Derek Lunsford’s comprehensive attributes, noting his conditioning and shape as pivotal factors in his victory.
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“From the back, he’s got the best back double biceps in the business. From the front, he’s got some weaknesses, Hadi’s got a better chest and better legs I think but overall, the overall package, conditioning, shape, and everything, I think Derek won by the skin of his teeth and I agreed with it, so,” said Branch Warren.
When questioned about the influence of political factors, race, ethnicity, or nationalities on the Olympia stage, Warren promptly dismissed such notions:
“I think as bodybuilding fans go, they want the best person to win. I mean, I’ve seen all races and nationalities across the world win the Arnold and the Olympia over the years and the crowd gets behind them. If someone deserves to win, the crowd gets behind them no matter who they are. They want to see freaks and they want to see the best person win.
And sometimes it’s a close call like it was this weekend between Derek and Hadi and I mean if Hadi would have won, I get it. You could definitely argue that case and I’m one of those people that can… I get it, it was that close. Sometimes there’s just cases when somebody stands out and blows everybody off the stage but I never once in my 36 years of the sport heard the judges talk about where somebody is from or the nationality, nothing like that, nobody really cares,” explains Warren.
Warren Outlines Samson Dauda’s Path to Olympia Victory: “He Just Needs to Be Hard”
According to Warren, Samson Dauda possesses the genetic advantages to reign supreme in the Mr. Olympia competition for an extended period. However, he emphasizes that this success hinges on Dauda achieving “grainy paper-thin skin.”
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“He needs to get hard by hard I mean striated glutes. That grainy paper-thin skin, if he can do that, he’s the champ for years. Right now, Hadi and Derek can beat him, but if he had Derek’s conditioning or Hadi’s conditioning, he wins.”
“With his structure, his size, he’s 290 pounds or something on stage. If he can get hard, nobody touches him for a while. I don’t see who can actually beat him for a minute if he can get hard because he’s got that overwhelming size and good shape and those big full muscle bellies, and he’s just imposing,” said Warren. “My eyes kept going to him.”
“He’s already third and he’s not that hard. He doesn’t need to be as hard as Derek or Hadi, but he just needs to be hard.”
In the scrutiny of the 2023 Mr. Olympia, high-profile figures like Branch Warren, Jay Cutler, and Milos Sarcev contribute their perspectives, stressing the importance of maintaining fairness. Bob Cicherillo, representing athletes, condemns death threats directed at Derek Lunsford and dissects the factors behind his win.
With the 60th anniversary of the Mr. Olympia approaching, anticipation grows amid the aftermath of the 2023 event. Branch Warren maintains faith in the judges’ commitment to impartiality, irrespective of contestants’ backgrounds.
For a comprehensive exploration of these insights, the Muscular Development YouTube channel features the full video below:
Overview
In a recent YouTube discussion, Branch Warren shared insights on the 2023 Mr. Olympia, focusing on Derek Lunsford’s victory. The aftermath, marked by controversies, prompted Warren to address Samson Dauda’s potential. Throughout the conversation, Warren navigated challenges facing the sport, including online arguments. Emphasizing Lunsford’s win, Warren underscored the importance of conditioning.
Featured Image @moriauphoto (Instagram), @Musculardevelopment (Youtube)