The Goob Show breaks down the controversy behind Derek’s win, Lee Haney’s latest proposal, Nick Walker’s next move, and the Masters Olympia payout drama.
In the latest episode of The Goob Show, John “Goob” Dorsey and Vlad dissect why Derek Lunsford is getting so much hate after reclaiming his 2025 Mr. Olympia title, react to Lee Haney’s height-division idea, weigh in on Nick Walker’s Arnold Classic plans, and unpack the Masters Olympia prize money scandal.
Here’s a brief breakdown of the topics discussed in this week’s episode:
- Derek Lunsford’s 2025 Mr. Olympia win – Goob and Vlad congratulate Derek, admit their wrong predictions, and discuss why fans are hating on him despite his victory.
- Lee Haney’s height-division proposal – Goob reacts to Haney’s idea of splitting Men’s Open by height, calling it unnecessary since the 212 division already fills that role.
- Nick Walker’s Arnold Classic announcement – Goob supports Nick’s plan to compete at the Arnold, calling it a smart move for prize money and Olympia qualification.
- Masters Olympia prize money controversy – Goob criticizes the delayed athlete payments, praises Jake Wood for stepping in to cover the costs, and calls it a lesson in promoter accountability.
- Goob vs. Sadia Khan’s husband – Goob recounts a heated online exchange and fake meet-up after exposing what he believed was a scam tied to Sadia Khan’s event.
The episode kicks off with Goob and Vlad congratulating Derek Lunsford for winning back his Mr. Olympia title. Both admit that their predictions on the previous episode were completely wrong – and they’re happy to eat crow over it.
Still, despite his dominant showing, Derek has faced an unexpected wave of hate from fans online. The question driving the first half of the show: why are so many people hating on Derek Lunsford after his 2025 Mr. Olympia win?
Why So Many Fans Are Hating on Derek Lunsford
Derek Lunsford has earned universal respect among pros for his physique and work ethic. But the fanbase is split, some praise his conditioning and composure, while others flood comment sections with negativity.
Goob and Vlad try to unpack it from different angles.
Goob’s Take: “He Looks Like the Guy Who Bullied You in High School”
Goob believes people’s dislike has less to do with Derek’s character and more with perception. He argues that Derek looks like the stereotypical “high-school jock” – the kind of guy who might’ve bullied kids back in the day. Fans, consciously or not, project those old resentments onto him.
The irony, Goob adds, is that Derek is one of the kindest, most humble bodybuilders around. His interviews and appearances show a polite, grounded person – the exact opposite of what people imagine.
Vlad’s Take: He’s Not Exciting and That Bothers People
Vlad counters that fans may simply find Derek Lunsford’s personality too quiet or “boring.” In an era when athletes build massive followings through controversy or charisma, Derek’s calm, no-drama attitude doesn’t excite the crowd.
Still, Vlad laughs off the idea that personality should matter at all: “Bodybuilders aren’t judged on how entertaining they are – they’re judged on their physiques.”
Goob’s Conclusion: “He Won. That’s What Matters”
Goob agrees that perception plays a role, but ultimately shrugs it off. “At the end of the day, he’s the victor. He won. That’s the end of it.”
To Goob, the hate says more about the fans than Derek himself. People project bias, crave drama, and confuse likability with legitimacy.
Lee Haney Suggests Splitting Men’s Open by Height — Goob Thinks It’s Silly
Vlad then asks Goob if he’s heard Lee Haney’s latest suggestion: splitting the Men’s Open into two divisions based on height. Goob doesn’t mince words. He thinks it’s a bad idea.
Goob argues that a shorter-athlete class already exists in bodybuilding: the Men’s 212 division. While it’s based on weight rather than height, the result is essentially the same. Creating new “tall” and “short” categories in the Open would just add confusion.
Sports Are Built on Height Differences
Goob also points out that every sport includes natural advantages and disadvantages tied to height. “Basketball doesn’t separate tall and short players. Some dunk, some shoot threes. It balances out.”
In bodybuilding, he says, it’s the same: shorter athletes can look more compact and dense, taller athletes can showcase longer lines and frames. It’s part of the challenge.
The hosts agree: the Men’s Open should stay unified. The diversity of physiques – tall, short, massive, aesthetic – is what makes it compelling.
Nick Walker’s Arnold Classic Plan: Smart Move or Risky?
Next up: Nick Walker announced he’s competing in the next Arnold Classic.
Goob’s verdict? Smart move. He sees no downside. Competing at the Arnold gives Walker another big payday and a chance to automatically qualify for the 2026 Mr. Olympia. Plus, it offers another opportunity to refine his physique under real contest pressure.
Goob notes that Derek Lunsford himself won both the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia this year – proof that the path works. For Goob, the formula is simple: “More stage time, more feedback, more cash – why not?”
Masters Olympia Prize Money Controversy: Why Jake Wood Had to Step In
The podcast then turns serious as Goob breaks down the recent Masters Olympia prize money delay that sparked outrage across the bodybuilding community.
After the show, several Masters competitors revealed they hadn’t been paid. Promoters cited “administrative issues” and delays with international tax forms. Then they admitted that due to rising costs and exchange-rate changes, they couldn’t pay the full prize pool.
Goob calls the excuses “ridiculous.” To him, every bodybuilding event is like running a small business – and failing to pay your athletes is inexcusable.
Jake Wood’s Role
Jake Wood, owner of the Olympia brand, eventually stepped up and paid the athletes himself to protect the reputation of the Olympia name.
Goob praises the move as honorable and necessary. “It’s his respect on the line,” Goob says. “You can’t let the Olympia name get dragged because someone else mismanaged an event.”
He also predicts Jake won’t work again with whoever ran the Japan Masters Olympia.
Goob finishes this segment by saying that Jake Wood treats the Olympia as a passion project, not just a revenue source. Unlike the previous corporate ownership under AMI, Wood’s goal is to uphold the sport’s integrity first.
Goob vs. Sadia Khan’s Husband: “Come Break My Nose”
To close out the episode, Goob tells a wild story involving influencer Sadia Khan.
Goob had planned to attend one of Sadia’s events undercover, using a fake ID so her team wouldn’t recognize him. He says Sadia has repeatedly harassed him online, and he wanted to see her operation firsthand.
In the event’s group chat, Goob noticed something odd: promoters claimed the event was sold out, but also encouraged ticket holders to bring friends. When Goob questioned it, his messages were deleted. He assumed the “sellout” claim was fake hype.
“Meet Me So I Can Break Your Nose”
Soon after, Goob received a DM from someone claiming to be Sadia’s husband, demanding to meet up and threatening to “break his nose.”
Goob called the bluff and gave them his address. The next day, they messaged that they were outside – Goob said he’d come out, but they vanished.
He later gave them a fake hotel location, let them go there, and then revealed it was a setup. “They wasted my time, I wasted theirs,” he laughed.
The story capped off the episode on a comedic, if slightly chaotic, note.
Wrap Up
This week’s The Goob Show episode covered everything from Derek Lunsford’s 2025 Mr. Olympia backlash to Lee Haney’s height-division proposal, Nick Walker’s next move, and the Masters Olympia prize-money fiasco – with a bit of personal drama for flavor.
The overarching message?
- Winning doesn’t guarantee love. Derek Lunsford’s hate proves perception still beats logic in fan culture.
- Bodybuilding should stay unified. Height splits won’t solve anything.
- Integrity matters. Jake Wood’s decision to step up shows the right leadership still exists in the sport.
Goob’s mix of blunt honesty and insider insight makes this one of the show’s most entertaining episodes of the year.
