With just over 11 weeks until the 2025 Mr. Olympia, the Men’s Open division is heating up—and Nick “The Mutant” Walker is sending a clear message to his rivals: he’s not just back… he’s coming for the crown .
After two years of setbacks, withdrawals, and intense scrutiny, Nick Walker has re-emerged with renewed focus, improved conditioning, and a bold new training philosophy —and he’s ready to take down the biggest names in bodybuilding.
In a powerful YouTube video released on July 21, 2025, Walker laid out his Olympia prep strategy, addressed his weaknesses, and made shocking claims about three of the sport’s top champions:
“Samson Dauda is a mass aesthetic monster… but he still just doesn’t have that conditioning factor.”
“Derek Lunsford is extremely beatable.”
“Hadi Choopan would be my biggest rival.”
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These aren’t empty words—they’re the battle plan of a man who believes he can override, out-condition, and outlast the competition in Las Vegas this October.
🔄 The Comeback of “The Mutant”: From Doubt to Dominance
Nick Walker’s journey to the 2025 Mr. Olympia has been anything but smooth. After withdrawing from both the 2023 and 2024 Olympias due to injuries and health concerns, many began to question whether “The Mutant” could ever return to elite form.
But Nick Walker silenced the doubters in 2025 with a dominant showing at the New York Pro , where he claimed victory after narrowly losing to Derek Lunsford at the Pittsburgh Pro just one week prior.
That near-win against Lunsford proved one thing: Walker is back—and he’s dangerous .
Now, with the Olympia stage in sight, he’s not aiming for a comeback story.
He’s aiming for gold.
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💪 Training Reinvented: Higher Reps, Longer Rest, Maximum Growth
One of the most revealing aspects of Walker’s recent update was his shift in training methodology.
Gone are the days of ultra-fast sets and minimal rest. In their place? A more controlled, strategic approach focused on quality over chaos .
Here’s what’s changed in Walker’s routine:
- Rep Range : 12–15 reps across most muscle groups
- Rest Periods : Extended rest to allow full recovery between sets
- Intensity Strategy : Prefers straight sets over forced reps or intensifiers
- Focus : Making every set count—no wasted effort
“What I’m focusing on now is higher rep, longer rest periods, and just making sure every set counts to the fullest.”
This change has led to noticeable improvements in muscle volume, roundness, and overall development —especially in areas critics once questioned.
Even legendary coach Igor Konstantinovich Sarcev took notice, commenting on one of Walker’s Instagram posts:
“That most muscular shot… is fucking unbelievable. There is more volume, more width, more roundness—it’s quite scary.”
🔍 Addressing the Weak Spot: “My Chest Is Still My Weakest Body Part”
Despite his massive frame and freakish genetics, Nick Walker remains brutally honest about his physique.
“I still think my chest is probably my weakest body part for sure.”
This self-awareness is key. By acknowledging his短板 (weak point), he’s able to attack it strategically during prep. And based on recent photos and feedback, the work is paying off.
He’s also experimenting with rest-pause sets during upper-body training , a technique that maximizes time under tension and drives hypertrophy—especially useful when trying to refine stubborn muscle groups like the pecs.
⚔️ Walker’s 2025 Olympia Targets: How He Plans to Beat the Best
Walker didn’t hold back when discussing his competition. In fact, he broke down each threat with surgical precision—revealing exactly how he plans to exploit their perceived weaknesses.
🥇 Target #1: Samson Dauda – “I Can Override Him”
As reigning Mr. Olympia, Samson Dauda is the man to beat. But Walker isn’t intimidated.
“Size for size, height for height, me and him are very comparable… I bring a much tighter package.”
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While praising Samson Dauda as a “mass aesthetic monster” and “freak,” Walker believes conditioning will be the deciding factor .
“He’s getting better year by year—but he still just doesn’t have that conditioning factor.”
By bringing sharper detail, harder cuts, and superior dryness , Walker thinks he can “override” Dauda on stage—even if the size gap is minimal.
🥈 Target #2: Derek Lunsford – “Extremely Beatable”
Despite losing to Derek Lunsford in Pittsburgh, Walker remains confident he can beat him.
“I haven’t beaten Derek yet. We’ll let that one go. But I think Derek is… extremely beatable.”
Why?
Because Walker sees Lunsford not as an untouchable champion, but as a competitor with predictable peaks and vulnerabilities —especially when pushed by someone with equal or greater mass and improved conditioning.
His close loss only fueled his belief:
“That was just showcased. He’s very beatable.”
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🥉 Target #3: Hadi Choopan – “My Biggest Rival”
Of all his competitors, Walker identifies Hadi Choopan as his biggest challenge .
“Hadi I think would be the biggest rival… he brings that grainy, hard conditioned look.”
However, Walker pointed out a critical flaw:
“His backside hasn’t been really able to match the front side.”
Whether it’s a peaking issue or age-related, this imbalance could be exploited on stage—where judges scrutinize 360-degree presentation .
If Walker brings full, symmetrical conditioning from all angles, he may have the edge.
🧠 Mindset of a Champion: “Fighting for a Top-Three Position”
Walker isn’t just talking—he’s training with purpose.
Every meal, every rep, every drop of sweat is aimed at one goal: standing on the Olympia podium .
“I’d be fighting for a top-three position against the best in the world.”
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And given his recent performances and physical transformation, that’s no exaggeration.
At 39 years old, Walker is defying expectations—not just surviving in a younger, faster-evolving division, but thriving.
📅 Countdown to the 2025 Mr. Olympia
- Event Dates : October 9–12, 2025
- Location : Las Vegas, Nevada
- Division : Men’s Open Bodybuilding
With less than three months to go , the final stages of prep will determine everything.
For Walker, it’s about:
- Peaking conditioning without losing mass
- Perfecting posing and transitions
- Maintaining mental toughness
If he brings his best-ever package , the Sandow Trophy could finally be within reach.
🔥 Final Thoughts: The Mutant’s Moment Has Arrived?
Nick Walker has always been a polarizing figure—admired for his size, criticized for his conditioning. But in 2025, something feels different.
He’s smarter.
He’s leaner.
He’s hungrier.
And most importantly—he believes .
Whether he can follow through on his bold predictions remains to be seen. But one thing is certain:
The 2025 Mr. Olympia just got a lot more interesting.
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Because when “The Mutant” steps on stage in Vegas…
He won’t just be competing.
He’ll be declaring war.
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