It’s not every day that you find a bodybuilder who wins over fans without making his mark in competition. Yet, Classic Physique sensation Stephane Matala earned the nickname ‘The French Ramon Dino’ even before turning pro. Now, he is only weeks away from earning a potential shot at competing with the two-time Classic Physique Olympia runner-up.

Matala earned immense praise as fans compared him to the Brazilian bodybuilding icon. Mr. Unchained possesses some uncanny similarities with Dino, with incredible fullness in his muscle bellies. The Classic Physique prodigy showed he has enhanced those long muscle bellies while ready to compete at the Mr. Big Evolution Pro in Portugal. However, Matala is feeling the squeeze.

“To be honest, it’s not easy to make the weight but I’m very close, without having to dehydrate my body,” wrote Mr. Unchained. While the prepping for a show may start off easy, champions would tell how difficult the final few weeks feel. Legends like Jay Cutler, Dorian Yates, and others have told stories that may scare many aspiring pro bodybuilders.

The fact that the bodybuilding sensation is relatively new to elite-level contests makes it harder. “It’s a first for me. I hope that my body, my soul, and my faith will hold out for the next 2 weeks,” he added. Yet, all bets are off when the reward on the other end of the tunnel is a Mr. Olympia qualification. So despite the difficulties, Matala is not complaining.

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“The battle is violent and inexplicable. Strength and honor!” wrote the bodybuilding icon. Besides sharing similar genetics with Ramon Dino, the bodybuilding competitor is also working to match the Brazilian’s trademark conditioning. If the physique update is to be believed then he is succeeding on that front as well. However, winning in Portugal would only mark the beginning.

Is Classic Physique bodybuilding’s most stacked division?

While all divisions at Mr. Olympia are stacked with elite competitors, the Classic Physique division may be the most stacked one. While no one has successfully dethroned five-time champion Chris Bumstead, it seems the King of Classic Physique has no dearth of challengers. Former champion Breon Ansley continues to compete although he is no one the top contender.

For the last two years, Urs Kalecinski, and especially Ramon Dino, have challenged the Canadian bodybuilding icon. However, The Dutch Oak Wesley Vissers established himself among the top contenders with an upset victory at the Arnold Classic. Another former Arnold Classic Physique champion, Terrance Ruffin, is also looking to make a comeback in October. You may say that the division is so full of elite-level bodybuilders that Bumstead seems to have a new rival every year.

Hence, despite his promising potential, winning the Mr. Big Evolution Pro would only make things more difficult for Stepahen Matala. Only time will tell whether The French Ramon Dino has what it takes to compete alongside his namesake on the Olympia stage.