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Brandon Curry Reflects on His Historic Mr. Olympia Win as the Olympia Returns to the Orleans Arena

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19 men have held the title of Mr. Olympia since the competition’s creation in 1965. It is considered the most elite club in bodybuilding and perhaps in any strength or physique sport. From 2005 until 2019, the Olympia called the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada its home. That is 15 editions of bodybuilding’s biggest weekend. No other venue has hosted the Olympia as many times in its illustrious history. The Orleans Arena was where the legacies of several champions were cemented, including Ronnie Coleman (who won his eighth and final title there), Jay Cutler, Dexter Jackson, Phil Heath, the late Shawn Rhoden, and the most recent man to hold up the Sandow in the Orleans, Brandon Curry. Curry Looks Back At a Historic Night When the Olympia returns to the Orleans Arena on Sept. 25-26 , Curry will make his 14th career Olympia appearance, the most of any Men’s Open competitor in the lineup. Curry is in a very unique position because he is the only former champion crowned at the Orlean...
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Howard Charles Went from Cruiserweight to Heavyweight for ‘Fightland’

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Fightland is the new big-budget drama that blurs the line between boxing and organized crime, but while some of the tightly choreographed action uses clever camera angles, you’d be forgiven for thinking that many of the punches landed hard—because they really did. To get a feeling for how the show’s star, Howard Charles, went the distance on his biggest project yet, M&F stepped between the ropes to talk to the actor, his on-screen opponent, and the stunt-coordinator who brought it all to life for the new Starz show, which premieres Friday, July 31. Signing up to play Maduka “Duke” Kilroy, a former boxing champion who seeks revenge against the criminal outfit that he believes murdered his brother, Charles tells M&F that didn’t need to crash diet to get defined. “Fortunately, I was already in pretty good shape,” says the London-born actor, whose previous credits include Top Boy and Shadow and Bone. “I only had two weeks to prepare before we started shooting, so I always say...
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How Craig Robinson Lost 50 Pounds: The Simple Weight Loss Strategy That Changed His Life

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Craig Robinson knows how quick a casual conversation can turn into something much more memorable. For nine seasons on The Office, Robinson’s Darryl Philbin was mainly one of the calmest personalities within the Dunder Mifflin paper company. Now, the actor and comedian is drawing on that workplace persona through a partnership with Svedka for the launch of Svedka Water and its limited-edition Svedka Water Cooler—a more adult interpretation of the familiar office gathering spot. SVEDKA The five-foot cooler functions as a traditional water dispenser but also includes a concealed tap designed to dispense chilled Svedka Water after the workday. For Robinson, the collaboration feels familiar. “It’s super cool,” Robinson told Muscle and Fitness . “Being a part of The Office, this kind of adds onto that legacy. It’s centered around the workplace. It’s water-cooler talk, and it’s familiar. So, it just kind of goes with my brand.” Robinson’s current happy hour philosophy looks a lot dif...
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SUMO WRESTLING RETURNS TO THE 2026 OLYMPIA, AND IT’S BIGGER THAN EVER

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For over 60 years, the Olympia has been the cornerstone of bodybuilding, but there is another sport with multiple decades of greatness in association with the iconic “O” that may come as a surprise to many, sumo wrestling. The kind of physique that comes to mind for sumo is a stark contrast from those typically associated with bodybuilding; power belly versus six-packs, a mawashi instead of posing trunks, and pure mass and power versus symmetry and presentation. But since 2005, the Olympia Sumo championships have been held annually at the Olympia World Fitness Expo under the leadership of multi-time national champion “Sumo Dan” Kalbfleisch. They celebrated 20 years in 2025 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and Kalbfleisch reported that it was another tremendous event for his sport. Kalbfleisch said, “Last year was another great year, and I’m even more excited about going back to be a part of the Olympia this year, which will be our 21st.” The 2026 edition will be at the Las Vegas...
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Samson Dauda’s Brutal Arm Workout: The Mr. Olympia Champion’s Blueprint for Bigger Biceps and Triceps

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Samson Dauda has made his intentions clear as he sets about earning a second Mr. Olympia title . The British bodybuilder intends to bring his biggest and best conditioned physique ever to Las Vegas. To that end, the 2024 trophy winner shared a brutal arm workout designed to seriously exhaust his arms. Dauda is apparently upbeat as he readies himself to share the stage with the likes of current champion Derek Lunsford, Hadi Coopan, and Andrew Jacked in around eight weeks’ time. “I couldn’t be more happier, in my life, than I am at this moment,” said the big man in an audio track accompanying his epic arm workout. So, if you too are in the mood for a brutal, sleeve busting workout, here’s the full session. Interviews Samson Dauda Shares His Bodybuilding Origin Story The Nigerian Lion knew nothing about the sport when he first competed. Read article Samson Duada’s Arm Annihilation Workout Cable Triceps Pushdow...
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Protein Timing Is Overrated… Except When It Isn’t

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For years, gym culture treated the so-called anabolic window like a physiological emergency. Miss your post-workout protein by 30 minutes, and supposedly your gains disappeared into thin air. Lifters sprinted from the squat rack to suck down protein believing muscle growth depended on its immediate intake. The reality is that science does not support this extreme view. Protein timing is not meaningless, but it is often misunderstood. For most lifters, the biggest driver of muscle growth is not whether protein is consumed immediately after training, but whether enough high-quality protein is consumed consistently across the entire day. That said, timing still matters in certain situations. If your goal is to build a lean, muscular, bodybuilder-like physique, understanding when timing matters (and when it does not) can help you focus on the habits that move the needle. Alex Saks Let’s start with the foundation: total daily protein intake. Research consistently shows that adequate pro...
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The Triceps Exercise That Builds Bigger Arms Without Hurting Your Back

Weighted triceps extensions offer a great way to grow your triceps, but the overhead nature of this movement, whether standing or even seated, can place stress on your back. Fortunately, fitness and transformation coach Travis Smith has a safe solution. Quick point: we’re not here to throw shade at traditional overhead triceps extensions. This tried and tested move hits all three heads of the triceps, exhausting the medial, lateral, and especially the long head — that’s the inner part of arm. Still, for many people, the overhead triceps extension can be uncomfortable. Straightening the arms while performing triceps extensions stretches the muscle effectively, but as the weight goes up, the ability to remain stable can decrease, bringing the back into play. Even while seated, there is a vertical load to bear. So, to target the triceps effectively in a way that relieves your spine, you can get horizontal, explained Travis Smith in a recent demonstration via Instagram. “Lying on the be...
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Joceyln Thomas Shares Her Journey from Alabama to the Army and ESPN

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Jocelyn Thomas calls herself a woman of faith and credits God for guiding her throughout her life, from her beginnings in Montgomery, Alabama to her current role as a Crewing Coordinator for ESPN. Thomas is involved with women’s professional soccer, college football, and college basketball, but the journey she has been on between her childhood and today is why she gives the glory to her higher power. “I’m a woman of faith.” That faith has been a cornerstone in her life, and it can likely be connected to her upbringing in Alabama. Thomas’ mother lived with cancer for most of her life until her eventual passing three years ago. Her maternal grandparents also died from cancer, which is why health and fitness are so important for her today as well. “It’s an equalizer for me,” Thomas said. “I work out four times a week when I’m not traveling, and I still play tennis.” Joceyln Thomas From Alabama to the Army Another lesson Thomas’ mother taught here was that she could do anything she s...
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Built for the Role, Grounded by the Land: Jill Wagner’s Strongest Chapter Yet

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There is a difference between looking strong and carrying yourself like someone who has earned it. Jill Wagner knows the difference because becoming Bobby for Lioness demanded more than getting lean enough for the camera. It required her to build a body with believable muscle, athleticism, and physical authority, while navigating two pregnancies, two postpartum recoveries, and the very real possibility that the role might have to move forward without her. “Becoming Bobby physically has been the hardest transformation I have had as an actress,” Wagner says. That transformation became the first chapter of a much larger story. Jill Wagner Chapter One: Building Bobby When Lioness was greenlit, Wagner was pregnant. She delivered her baby, began rebuilding her body, and then became pregnant again before filming started. She called Taylor Sheridan and told him he might need to recast Bobby. The character required a physical presence Wagner did not believe she could create quickly eno...
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2026 IFBB Pro League Chicago Pro Winners

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FLEX’s Coverage of the 2026 IFBB Pro League Chicago Pro is brought to you by Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals. Follow @hitechpharma for more information and all their latest updates and make sure to visit  www.HiTechPharma.com  NOW to shop the incredible lineup from the Hi-Tech family of brands! IFBB Pro League Chicago Pro 2026 Winners Women’s Physique Division – Brooke Walker- @walkerbrooke TLR Seven-Nine Photography Women’s Wellness – Sara Gabriele @saragabrielepro TLR Seven-Nine Photography Women’s Figure Winner – Brittne Pence @bhardbody TLR Seven-Nine Photography Men’s Classic Physique – Matt Greggo – @mattgreggo TLR Seven-Nine Photography Women’s Fitness – Anya Fomina – @anyafominaa_ TLR Seven-Nine Photography Men’s 212- Esteban Fuquene Bravo – @fuquenepro TLR Seven-Nine Photography Women’s Bikini – Elisa Pecini – @isapecini TLR Seven-Nine Photography Men’s Physique – Sidy Pouye – @sidypouye_ TLR Seven-Nine Photography Visit the IFBB Pro League Chicago Pro website...
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