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‘I Play Rocky’ Trailer Hits 20 Million Views: First Look at Anthony Ippolito as a Young Sylvester Stallone

There may already be six Rocky movies and three Creed spin-offs out there for your viewing pleasure, but if like us, you just can’t get enough of the “Italian Stallion,” the news that Anthony Ippolito is set to channel Sylvester Stallone—to tell the fabled story of how the original movie got the green light, will be welcome news. And, if the newly released trailer is anything to go by, the box office can take our money right now. What Is the ‘I Play Rocky’ Movie About? Stallone fans already know that he was a struggling actor, failing to find his footing in Hollywood before taking matters into his own hands and writing a winning script, but not everyone knows the challenges that Sly faced to play the starring role of his own creation. While producers loved the underdog story of a no-named challenger who is given a million-to-one-shot chance at the heavyweight title, they wanted anyone but Stallone on the poster. Instead, the young actor was offered increasing sums of money to sell th...
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He Once Trained to Play in the NFL. Now, JB Copeland Works as a Voice for Mental Health

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In the last four years, JB Copeland has cemented himself as an encouraging presence in the mental health advocacy space, especially among young men. But this was never his Plan A. From adolescence into early adulthood, the 31-year-old had envisioned a future that looked much different. In his mind, football had always been the ultimate goal. “Football had been my life since I was 6 years old. When I thought about what I wanted to do, it was always, ‘play in the NFL,’” he told Muscle & Fitness. “There was no Plan B. I’d made up my mind that this is why I’m here and this is what I’m going to do.” However, during his junior year of college at University of North Carolina, Copeland was forced to adapt to a new, unprecedented reality. A Promising Trajectory Born Dec. 6, 1994, John Byron Copeland grew up in Southlake, TX, later attending Southlake Carroll High School, where he proved to be a gifted linebacker. Copeland completed 90 total tackles his junior year (with 45 solo sto...
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World-Class Powerlifters Set Records at 2026 American Pro

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The Henrico Sports and Events Center in Glen Allen, VA served as the venue for Powerlifting United’s (PLU) American Pro on August 7th and 8th. The first day of the American Pro was an “Open Day,” meaning that any PLU member could register to compete. Saturday, August 8th was the Invitational Day that included 28 of the best powerlifters in the world stepping onto the platform to attempt breaking records and earning part of the $25,000 purse that was on the line. Best Lifter Winners Women’s Best Lifter – Brittany Bowles Brittany Bowles earned Best Lifter honors on the women’s side of the stage thanks to her 215-kilogram (474-pound) squat, 137.5-kilogram (303-pound) bench press, and 228.5-kilogram (504-pound) deadlift. Her 581-kilogram (1,281-pound) total makes her the new all-time world record holder for the total in the 60-kilogram (132-pound) division. Bowles 646.109 DOTS score, which used gender, bodyweight, age, and weight lifted to determine an overall score was not only the b...
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The Ultimate Preacher Curl Setup Guide: 6 Steps to Isolate Your Biceps and Force Max Growth

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The preacher curl is a fantastic biceps builder. By supporting the upper arms on a pad, it minimizes momentum and requires the biceps to do most of the work. But there’s a catch. The preacher curl is only as effective as your setup. It’s not as simple as sitting down, then gripping and ripping, but it’s about creating the necessary tension in the biceps while eliminating everything else. Now, whether you’re using an EZ-curl bar, a straight bar, or a preacher curl machine, the setup principles remain the same. This checklist breaks down those fundamentals step by step. The setup may feel slow at first, but once it becomes second nature, every rep will be far more effective at achieving the preacher curl’s intended purpose—improving flex time. Let’s dive in.   How to Set Up the Preacher Curl for Maximum Biceps Isolation It may seem overboard to set up an isolation exercise like this, but the biceps are just that important. Step 1: Adjust the Seat and Pad Height Before gripping...
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Can Nick Walker Win the 2026 Mr. Olympia? Milos Sarcev and Panel Break Down His Tampa Pro Dominance

On Episode 296 of The Menace Podcast, host Dennis James was joined by Milos Sarcev and Jose Raymond, and a top talking point was Nick Walker’s dominant Olympia qualification at the 2026 Tampa Pro. Can “The Mutant” lift the Sandow trophy in just a few weeks’ time? The panel weighed in. Did Nick Walker Qualify for the 2026 Mr. Olympia? Nick Walker left the Tampa Pro  as the clear victor, beating his nearest challenger, James Hollingshead by ten points and punching his ticket to the Mr. Olympia final in Las Vegas. Following his highly impressive showing, Walker said that he was now “coming to embarrass” the other competitors in Sin City. There’s no denying that Walker has made excellent progress with his physique, and this was acknowledged by The Menace Podcast panel. Providing his take, Milos Sarcev said that Walker’s performance in Tampa was so good because he appeared effortless on stage. Indeed, “The Mutant” displayed much better control of his midsection, which is a huge plus fac...
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How to Evaluate Joint Health Supplements: What Clinicians Should Look for in the Research

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Active adults want to keep moving, and someone in their fifties who hikes, cycles, or plays tennis twice a week wants to know whether a daily capsule is worth taking. A label claim can guide individuals, but it isn’t evidence. For clinicians, the research behind a joint supplement is valuable information used to make a recommendation. The category is crowded, and the evidence behind individual products varies widely, so knowing how to read that research comes first. What the Evidence Says About Legacy Ingredients Glucosamine and chondroitin have anchored joint supplementation for decades, and roughly 6.5 million Americans take glucosamine annually. Both are naturally present in the cartilage matrix, and supplementation has a plausible mechanistic rationale, since the ingredients supply raw material the tissue uses. Trials haven’t consistently shown that supplying that raw material changes outcomes. Multiple meta-analyses, including reviews published in JAMA , Inflammopharmacology ...
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Lukas Gage Is Finding a Way to Stay Fit during His ‘Prison Break’ Reboot

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For Lukas Gage, preparing for the reboot of Prison Brea k hasn’t been about building a penitentiary physique or chasing a dramatic physical transformation. The goal was to become durable.  Gage plays Jackson, a congressional candidate. While he remains careful not to reveal any intricate plot details, he says the role requires him to maintain the energy and physical readiness necessary to handle long production days, overnight shoots, repeated takes, and the heat of West Virginia summers.  The actor spoke with Muscle & Fitness through his partnership with Training Mate , the Australian-inspired group fitness concept that has become an important part of his weekly routine. It’s a combination of strength work, conditioning, and community.  “Jackson is someone who’s constantly operating under pressure, so there is a real physicality to the role,” Gage says. “He is running for Congress and constantly trying to keep up with staying fit for the campaign.” Rather than training for a ...
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Hafthor Bjornsson’s Coach Shares 3 Keys to Deadlift More Weight Safely

Deadlifts are a tried and tested move for building your glutes, hamstrings, quads, traps, lats, arms, core and so much more. But despite the relatively simple concept of pulling a barbell up from the ground, mastering a sound technique can seem like a science. Bad habits can lead to diminished results, and even the risk of injury, so it’s good to know that a world-class trainer like “The Australian Strength Coach” Sebastian Oreb is willing to share the same techniques that took his client, Hafþór “Thor” Björnsson’s to several world deadlifting records (and counting!). Whether you are new to this exercise, or want to finally beat a personal record, don’t do another deadlift until you’ve read his advice. “This is the exact technical system used by the world’s greatest deadlifter, Hafþór Björnsson’s. And before you think, ‘He’s a 200 kg, 6-feet-9-inch Icelandic giant, so it doesn’t apply to me,’ think again,” encouraged Oreb, while breaking down his elite technique via Instagram. “The t...
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Brock Lesnar Retires at 49: Former UFC and WWE Champion Reveals Why He’s Walking Away

Former UFC and WWE champion, Brock Lesnar has confirmed his retirement at 49, while appearing as a guest on the Pat McAfee show, and has lifted the curtain back on his motivation to retire, and what he intends to do next. Those in the know have often called Brock Lesnar a “ one in a million athlete ,” and he’s certainly earned that praise. Lesnar is a two-time NCAA Division I All American and  Heavyweight Champion, in collegiate wrestling, and is the only person to win both the UFC and WWE heavyweight titles In WWE, Lesnar was the youngest performer ever to win a world title at 25, and was even signed by the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, although he didn’t participate in a game. This super-athlete’s combination of strength and explosive power, coupled with his magazine-cover-worthy physique, has made the man they call “The Beast Incarnate,” a must-watch attraction for the past 25 years. But all good things must come to an end, as the big man confirmed on August 4, 2026. Vie...
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Free Olympia Tickets for the Military: Everything Active Duty Service Members Need To Know

For a quarter-century, the Olympia has shown support for the brave men and women that wear the nation’s uniform by offering free tickets to the Friday and Saturday night finals as well as the World Fitness Expo. That tradition will continue at the 2026 Olympia, set for September 25th and 26th in Las Vegas, NV. The tradition began in 2001 following the terrorist attacks of September 11th thanks to IFBB co-founder Ben Weider with the help of the IFBB’s military liaison, Rob Wilkins, who is currently M&F’s Military Editor. Wilkins feels that continuing to offer this gesture not only honors those who are on active duty but the memory of the late Ben and Joe Weider as well. “With Ben having been a military person himself, he understood the importance of showing support for recognizing military people,” Wilkins said. “I’m honored that Jake (Wood) and Dan (Solomon) see the importance of continuing this tradition.” Solomon, who serves as Olympia President, also expressed appreciation o...
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