Big Ramy: Phil Heath's 'Biggest' Threat

Could He Be the Man to Stop The Gift From Making History?

For all the talk about aesthetics, symmetry and being “classic,” bodybuilding at its core is all about huge, freaky mass. It’s extreme development of the muscles that instantly distinguishes bodybuilders from all other competitive athletes. You could very well pass a man who was exceptional at tennis, soccer, baseball or even football on the street and have no idea what their chosen endeavor was. Yet you would know right away if you passed a Mr. Olympia competitor. And it’s been said more than a few times that you don’t go to the zoo to see squirrels, rabbits or pigeons— you go to marvel at the elephants, gorillas, lions, tigers and giraffes; big magnificent creatures you can’t spy in your own backyard. Bodybuilding fans have always loved the freaks, men like Sergio, Bertil Fox, Victor Richards, Nasser, Rühl and Ronnie. That tradition lives on today with Mamdouh Elssbiay, known to the world as Big Ramy. Originally from Egypt but now living in Kuwait, it was Ramy who really put Oxygen Gym on the map when he stormed on to the pro scene in 2013 to win his pro debut in New York. “Big” does not do this man justice— he is truly enormous. And in just a few years, he’s racked up five pro wins and moved up the ranks to become runner-up at the Mr. Olympia. Can he be the chosen one to stop Phil Heath dead in his tracks before he can tie the standing record of eight Olympia titles? Let’s look at his chances.

Why Big Ramy Might Beat Phil

Superior Mass and Width

Nobody is going to beat Phil at his own game, so it will take something different to knock him out. Ramy is a larger, wider man— 300 pounds onstage to Phil’s 250. If Ramy lacked shape and aesthetics, he would never have even made it this far. Unlike previous mass monsters like Nasser, Fux and Rühl, Ramy actually has a narrow waist with no gut. He exposes Phil’s relatively narrow clavicles most notably in the front lat spread and even standing in the front relaxed position.

Fans Voting

A major change to the Mr. Olympia contest this year is that for the first time, the fans in attendance will be able to cast their vote for the winner on their smartphones. As of this writing, it has not been announced exactly what percentage of this vote will count toward the final score. However, based on the outraged audience reaction last year when Ramy was announced second place to Phil, at least half the ticket holders favor the giant from Kuwait. If the judges scores are close, Ramy fans could potentially swing the final tally to him.

Why Phil Might Keep His Title

Muscle Maturity and Detail

Phil’s secret weapon against his opponents isn’t his size. Several men on the Olympia stage are his equal in that attribute, and Ramy is clearly bigger than Phil. What Phil has that most of his would-be usurpers lack is muscle maturity: fine details within the muscle groups and deep, clear separation between them. His feathered triceps and quads, his dug-out steel cable hamstrings and Rocky Mountain of a back when flexed in the rear double biceps pose are all testimony to this. When Ramy first arrived on the pro scene over five years ago, the consensus was that all he needed was more time to show this seasoned quality to his physique. As of yet, it still has not manifested. Phil is the king of detail and etched-out condition. Ramy needs much more of that to take him down.

A More Complete Physique

Let me begin by saying that Ramy and his trainer, Abdullah Al-Otaibi, have done a commendable job of improving the thickness of his back and upper chest, both of which were lacking in his early pro days. They still have work to do on his hamstrings from the back, and his calves. Also, I personally would have had him scale back on his quads at some point before they became overpowering, as many feel they are now. Phil Heath keeps on winning because he has the most complete total package of size, shape, condition and proportion/balance. He too had lagging pecs and lats when he turned pro, and has made both, especially his back, a standout body part. Phil is simply more complete and balanced than Ramy, with no weak points.

Confidence

Ramy smiles and has a certain amount of confidence onstage, but Phil Heath projects another level— the aura of a champion. You see not a glimmer of doubt in the man’s eyes up there, only fierce determination to show he is the best in the world. This never wavers, whereas watching Ramy closely, you can see his confidence start to slip at times. Phil is there to win, and he acts as if he’s already won. That type of swagger is tough to deny.

Final Analysis

There is no question that Big Ramy is one of the most impressive specimens the bodybuilding world has ever seen. Of all the men in the world, he is one of only a few that have any chance at defeating the extremely gifted and hardworking seven-time Mr. Olympia, Phil Heath. Can he do the unthinkable this year and beat the reigning champ to become Mr. Olympia? You’ve heard the reasons why he may or may not. We will find out soon enough. May the best man win!

Pro Record

2013 New York Pro Winner

2013 Mr. Olympia Eighth Place

2014 New York Pro Winner

2014 Mr. Olympia Seventh Place

2015 Arnold Classic Brazil Winner

2015 Mr. Olympia Fifth Place

2015 Arnold Classic Europe Fourth Place

2015 Prague Pro Second Place

2016 Mr. Olympia Fourth Place

2016 Arnold Classic Europe Second Place

2016 Prague Pro Second Place