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8 Rising IFBB Stars Destined for a 2018 Breakout

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By: 
Branden Liezert

The IFBB is filled with athletes who turned pro with the world at their fingertips. At every pro qualifier, you see lineups loaded with people that scream potential, but for the overwhelming majority, that potential is never realized. With more pro cards being handed out than ever, expect to see an increased number of athletes doing only a handful of shows before dropping to a less competitive division or just falling off the face of the Earth. Here are eight athletes who I think are going to break free from the mass of weak-to-mediocre young pros.

Zane Watson: The Hamilton, Ontario native won his pro card at the 2012 CBBF Nationals. He entered the pro ranks as a heavyweight and has since won a pro show and qualified for two Mr. Olympia competitions. Right now, hardcore bodybuilding fans may argue that Watson has already had a breakout performance at last year’s Arnold Classic in Ohio, where he left Columbus with a fifth-place finish. My argument would be that Watson’s potential would leave the door open for a real statement in 2018. Watson with five or six pounds of pure muscle mass is a threat for anyone minus Flex Lewis, Ahmad Ashkanani and the 212 Mr. Olympia top five in my opinion. Whatever show(s) he chooses to compete at in 2018, don’t sleep on Team Watson.

Sergio Oliva Jr.: A disciple of Team Aceto, Oliva Jr. is arguably the most high-profile bodybuilder that didn’t compete at the Mr. Olympia competition or any Arnold Classic festivals in 2017. Although Oliva did win a show last year (the New York Pro), it was tainted by a toss-up decision between him and Jon De La Rosa. Personally, I had De La Rosa as the “King of New York” last year. Chris Aceto was able to pull young Sergio into good condition in New York and for Oliva’s 2015 NPC Nationals overall win. I will certainly say that Oliva is still a while away from challenging Heath and Ramy in Las Vegas, but don’t be surprised if the son of “The Myth” grabs a podium-position finish in Columbus or Vegas in 2018 (image courtesy of Youtube.com)

Seth Shaw: Shaw turned pro this year at the IFBB North Americans in a stacked men’s open bodybuilding super-heavyweight class. Shaw hit the stage at 250-plus pounds and brought a very classic, clean, aesthetic look to the stage. Shaw has the size and structure to immediately jump into the IFBB and be extremely competitive if he hits his conditioning. To be fair, Shaw does have a few body parts that need some work before I consider him an elite IFBB pro, but with the overall mass and aesthetics with which he hit the North Americans stage, I would expect a top-five finish in his first IFBB pro league show. In 2018, the sky is the limit for Shaw, and I hope to see him multiple times in the IFBB circuit and eventually onto the Mr. Olympia lineup in his rookie season.

Natalia Coelho: I have been following Coelho for a long time. Now, I should mention that Coelho isn’t even necessarily in need of a breakout. However, she is on a sharp rise through the IFBB ranks. To end 2017, she dipped her toes into the WPD after a couple of seasons as a figure competitor in the IFBB. It turns out it was a correct decision, as she took home first place at the IFBB Ultimate Warrior Pro. The knock on Coelho was that she was simply too hard and conditioned for figure, but her physique is a dead-on match for what judges are looking for in the IFBB Women’s Physique Division. She needs to improve muscle tissue in a few places, but at 21 years old, she has time on her side. I expect a huge breakout performance in Las Vegas in 2018 for Ms. Coelho. (Image courtesy of Instagram)

Lloyd Herford: Another new IFBB pro, Lloyd Herford had a wildly successful showing at the 2017 NPC Nationals. After hearing from judges that he needed to bring up his legs to match his upper-body development in 2014, Herford sported noticeable changes in his lower body that helped propel him into qualifying to the IFBB Pro league. What I think we will see here is another Chris Bumstead type of situation. Herford competed as an open bodybuilder in the amateur ranks, but has a physique that epitomizes what the Classic Physique Division demands: aesthetics over mass, a classical/golden-era structure, proportionality and development, and a silhouette that inspires bodybuilders from all over the globe. I think that Herford could immediately be a threat for any top callout in any show in that division in the new year. Before you think that is an outlandish statement, go look at comparison photos of the first callout in Vegas this year for CPD. In my opinion, Herford compares favourably to many from almost every angle. Now, Herford definitely has improvements to make before he knocks off the likes of Bumstead, George Peterson, or Breon Ansley. However, if 2014 to 2017 was any indication of the strides Herford can make going forward, he may be a major player in classic physique sooner than later. Herford is under the watchful eye of elite prep coach Matt Jansen. We are all very aware of the potential any Jansen client has to progress in a short amount of time, so I wouldn’t say it’s out of the question that Herford adds enough tissue in a short time to outgrow the CPD division and brings something I’ve personally wanted to the open division for a long time: an aesthetics-, proportions- and presentation-centric physique, something that the open division has lacked severely in the past decade or more. I fully expect Herford to win a show in 2018 if he can even simply replicate his look from 2017. He has the total package and will be a prominent IFBB bodybuilder sooner rather than later.

Iain Valliere: Yet another Camp Jansen athlete, Valliere had a very quiet 2017 all the while sneaking out progress pictures via social media sporting a consistently progressed physique. Valliere is a big name in Canada, but will look to really make a splash in the IFBB in 2018. His biggest flaw in his physique in previous years has was a lack of front-to-back thickness, but Valliere has been packing on mass in his absence from the stage. You can find him bench pressing 495 for a few reps on a recent Instagram post. He approached 300 pounds in his past off-season and is poised to bring a revamped physique this year. (Image courtesy of Instagram)

Samir Troudi: Troudi racked up a few Olympia qualification points last year, but was missing a few things to really cement his place in the upper echelon of the 212-pound division last year in his rookie season. Troudi turned pro at the Amateur Olympia Spain in 2016 and quickly jumped into the fire at the 212 Charlotte Pro in 2017. He brought his best package (in my opinion) at the 2017 Toronto Pro SuperShow. At that show, he brought a very polished, clean-lined, hard, and dry physique that just screamed potential to the fans and judges. This Team Aceto member could be winning shows in 2018 if his competition leaves the door open.

Kevin Jordan: IFBB men’s open bodybuilder Kevin Jordan went on a journey through the pro circuit last year. He competed first in the Muscle Mayhem show, then the Chicago Wings of Strength and wrapped up his competition season in Vancouver. He’s the first to acknowledge there is a lot to improve on before he can call himself an IFBB Pro champion, but he’s adamant he’s putting in the work this off-season. The big knock on Jordan was a lack of leg development. We already saw a marked improvement from Jordan from 2015 to 2016, and again from 2016 to 2017, especially in the leg department. If that is any indication of continued progress into next season, I believe we will see “The Protein Papi” in the winner’s circle in 2018. (Image courtesy of Instagram)

LAST YEAR’S PREDICITION HITS AND MISSES

Cody Montgomery: MISS. Montgomery didn’t get onstage last year (except for a handful of guest posing routines). I still stand behind the potential of this super-young athlete.

Regan Grimes: HIT. Grimes built momentum on a number of shows last season, racking up a few Olympia qualification points. He is now in Kuwait working with The Camel Crew and approaching a 300-pound off-season.

Chris Bumstead: HUGE HIT. Bumstead won pro shows leading into the Olympia last year where his breakout season culminated in a second-place finish in the Classic Physique Division.

Jeff Beckham: HIT. Beckham was yet another athlete that hit several shows throughout last season and looked his best at the Toronto Pro SuperShow. He ended up making it to the Olympia for the first time.

Melissa Bumstead: HIT. Bumstead won a pro show and qualified for the Figure Olympia. To me, she was overlooked in Vegas. Nonetheless, look for her to make a splash in Vegas this year.

Brooke Walker: SLIGHT MISS. Walker had good showings at the St. Louis Pro and the Arnold Classic Ohio, but sort of wandered into oblivion afterwards. A bit more tissue to her back though, and she’ll be a top contender in the division.

Roman Fritz: MISS. Fritz took a full year off to add tissue for 2018. According to his Instagram, he is at 276 pounds now and still appears to be in pretty good condition.

Billie Cavalier: MISS. Cavalier competed a few times last year, but just didn’t bring the condition the judges were looking for. If she comes in harder, she can still do a lot of damage in 2018.