Lunsford’s Triple Wild Strike: The Strategic Apocalypse of Bodybuilding Unleashed

 

Mr. Olympia weekend has delivered more than a few surprises. Some of them, we already saw coming, Samson Dauda’s title defense, for instance, was always going to be nearly impossible after Derek Lunsford defeated him at the Arnold Classic back in March. This was a historic opportunity for Lunsford, Dauda, and Hadi Choopan to reclaim the title twice,  something increasingly rare in the last decade. For Lunsford, motivation burned brighter than ever: to reclaim his crown, repeat his victory, defeat the reigning Mr. Olympia twice, and capture bodybuilding’s three most prestigious titles in a single year, 2025.

From the very start, it was clear that Lunsford and Choopan were the two best bodybuilders on stage. Two titans who had both reached the top before, yet still showed remarkable improvements. Riding his winning streak, Lunsford was the favorite,  though many refused to admit it. As for Dauda, his strategy was hard to grasp. He failed to grow and instead gambled on a more classic look, but among the mass monsters, he lost his direction. Two competitors became the night’s biggest surprises: the underrated Andrew Jacked, who fine-tuned every detail to show an astonishing mix of size and symmetry, even putting Dauda under serious pressure; and the overrated Nick Walker, who believed that almost beating Lunsford months ago meant the title was within reach. But that was the trap, he got close to Lunsford because Lunsford was experimenting, testing his physique, not yet at 100%. Once on the Olympia stage, Walker was annihilated by Lunsford and Choopan, left fighting for scraps against Dauda and Jacked.

In the Classic Physique division, controversy struck early over height measurements, raising the tension. Still, it was obvious that Ramon Rocha and Mike Sommerfeld came in fiercely motivated. Rocha was determined to reclaim his position as the true successor to CBUM, while Sommerfeld aimed to continue his streak of victories,  runner-up at Mr. Olympia 2024, champion of the 2025 Arnold Classic, and one of the top favorites for Olympia 2025. With Urs Kalecinski absent from the stage, the real battle was clearly for third place: Terrence Ruffin vs. Josema Muñoz. Both arrived sharp and fearless. In the end, Rocha prevailed, as many expected. Diesel and Muñoz tried to push a more classic and less extreme aesthetic, hoping to steer the division’s direction. Ultimately, Dino achieved what many saw as his destiny,  driven by massive fan support and backed by undeniable stage presence and experience.

Many believed Keone Pearson, the 2024 Olympia 212 champion, was untouchable. Huge mistake, massive shock. Shaun Clarida stepped in with razor-sharp conditioning, pushing Pearson to the edge. On stage, Clarida looked unstoppable, arguably the best of the night, defeated only by Pearson’s prestige. The revelation was clear: Pearson isn’t invincible, and Clarida is capable of faster, more dramatic improvements. It was also refreshing to see Lucas Garcia approaching his best-ever form, while Nihat Kaya disappointed, failing to meet expectations. Those who called him the future of the 212 division were simply inflating a fantasy that never existed.