MuscleContest Debut, Rambod Sighting

It was formerly the Max Muscle Naturals, but the name change to the MuscleContest Bodybuilding, Figure and Bikini Championships certainly didn’t hurt promoter Jon Lindsay last Saturday at the Veterans Auditorium in Culver City.

A total of 152 competitors stepped on stage (in addition to the first ever pro bikini event held in the United States), with a good crowd in attendance supporting their faves.

I co-hosted the show with Gina Silva. You know, the former Gina Allioti; yup, the pro figure standout got married on March 11 and now goes by a different last name.

Congrats to Hans Fritsch and Victoria Dominguez, who captured the Overall crowns in Men’s and Women’s bodybuilding, respectively, and to Novice Men’s Overall winner Mike Brown. Kudos to Figure Overall titlist Kerryne Brown, and to Bikini champion Brooke Mora…who, I predict, will make her mark at a higher level real soon in this division. Perhaps at the USA at the end of July, in fact.

As always, ran into a lot of familiar faces at the event; one of them was Hany Rambod, who was setting up a booth upon the release of his new product line, Evogen Nutrition. I first met Hany in 1998 and urged him to put some people in my just formed California Collegiates Championships down months down the road. The young man did himself—and me—very well. Rambod trained the Men’s Overall winner, Sting Ray Arde, and the Men’s Overall Novice champion, Matt Allen. Sting Ray, of course, eventually moved on the pro ranks, and Matt still ranks as one of the NPC’s better Middleweight contenders.

Of course, the Los Gatos, California resident has been doing some high steppin’ moving of his own since then, going on to establish himself as one of the premier contest prep gurus in the industry: Jay Cutler, Phil Heath, Seth Feroce, Kevin English, Lee Priest, and Mark Alvisi are just a few of the long list of champions that fill Rambod’s resume.

“I have finally introduced by private formula for the first time to the public,” Rambod told me at the prejudging. “Previously it was only available to a select few clients.

“EVP is the product name. It’s an elite pre-workout formula with no carbs and gives an incredible pump, while increasing size and strength….all with no stimulants!” Rambod says there are more products on the way, so give his site a look often to find out the latest news with Evogen.

Say Hany, by the way, getting me anybody for a NPC AmiLean West Coast Classic, but 12 weeks away? Can’t rest on those laurels a decade back any longer!