“Neckzilla, I think it’s just all hype” – Michal Krizo

January 25, 2024

“Neckzilla, I think it’s just all hype” – Michal Krizo.

Bodybuilding star, Michal Krizo, is one of the most talked about athletes in the bodybuilding world.

Since switching to the NPC and turning pro in 2022, Michal is a breath of fresh air to a sport that was lacking some excitement in recent years.

In a recent interview, Michal discusses the 2023 bodybuilding season, his injuries, and the new star on the scene, Rubiel Mosquera, better known as “NeckZilla, and Samson Dauda.”

How do you evaluate the 2023 contest season?

“It was a rough year, the whole year since I was prepping basically the entire year.”

“The plan was to compete in the fall, and I would try to qualify sometime before the Olympia, but I ended up not feeling like bulking up anymore, I didn’t have an appetite.”

“My body could not manage the amount of food I was eating, so I decided to compete in spring. I started dieting between February and March.”

“I went on to win the 2023 Empro Classic in June, where I think I looked pretty good, I was happy with my condition.”

“Then the Olympia happened, where I was very happy with my condition, however, it cost me some of my fullness and mass, which I didn’t like”

“But my goal was to show that I could come shredded since I was criticized in 2022, that I was not tight enough and was looking soft. It was because of weariness as well, because that season was harder than last year.”

“Then it was time for the 2023 EVLS Prague Pro, I think that was one of my best looks, because I combined the condition with fullness, I was happy with the condition I brought there.”

“I placed second, which I think was a good result since I only was beaten by a man who finished third at the Mr. Olympia, and he is an Arnold Classic winner.”

“I believe this upcoming year, he (Samson Dauda) will be one of the favorites to win the Mr. Olympia.”

“I think Samson was afraid of the results at the EVLS Prague Pro, that I might get ahead of him.”

How do you compare your physique from 2022 vs 2023?

“I think I improved a lot, even mentally I felt better, this year was definitely better than the last one.”

Do you think the shape you brought this year was the best shape of your life?

I think so, I would say the best shape I was in, was in Prague, based on my preference, everything was there.”

“Maybe I could have been a little drier, but I don’t think it would be that necessary anyway, they don’t seem to prefer the dry conditioning as much, I saw it at the Mr. Olympia.”

“I also talked to the head judge at the Mr. Olympia, he told me, more fullness and less dryness, but it has to have the right look.”

“As for Neckzilla, I think it’s just all hype, I don’t like him as a bodybuilder. He’s big, he’s also special because nobody looks like that, but bodybuilding should be about something else, about the aesthetics.”
“But Rubiel is just big, he has a thick neck and thick legs, I don’t know. As a bodybuilder, it’s not my cup of tea.”

So you liked your shape from the EVLS better than the Empro?

“Yes, I think yes, I was definitely fuller, it looks good on the photos from the Empro, but from the way I felt about the fullness, definitely the EVLS.”

How did you like the EVLS Prague Pro show overall?

It was a banger, the audience and the atmosphere there, it’s like a football match, it was awesome.”

“And even I was surprised, by how much the Czechs cheered me on, sometimes even more than their own athletes. Maybe even because they had no athletes in the top five, if they had one of their own that high, it would have been different.”

Would you like to compete at the EVLS every year?

“Probably yes, I plan to compete there next year as well, it’s close to my heart, it’s a domestic show, and I like competing there.”

Do you know the date of the next EVLS Prague Pro?

No, I think the competition calendar should be coming out soon, maybe it has already, I am not sure, I haven’t checked.”

What do you think about Samson Dauda and Neckzilla?

Samson is very talented, he looks good, and he makes progress not from year to year, but from week to week, Samson is a huge talent”

“to me personally, I only like him from the neck down, I don’t like his head, but he’s an exceptional bodybuilder.”

“If he improves his back shots, if he comes dryer, it’s game over, nobody has a chance, that is my opinion.”

“As for Neckzilla, I think it’s just all hype, I don’t like him as a bodybuilder. He’s big, he’s also special because nobody looks like that, but bodybuilding should be about something else, about the aesthetics.”

“But Rubiel is just big, he has a thick neck and thick legs, I don’t know. As a bodybuilder, it’s not my cup of tea.”

What are your plans for the future? Bulking?

“Now I am in relaxed mode, and starting in January, I would like to begin bulking.”

“I was already checking out some shows, I was going to do something before the Olympia in Europe to qualify. If I can, I will compete between August and September.”

“There is an interesting show, that I noticed, the Dubai Pro. The show is at the end of June, so we will see, I will think about it.”

“There is a lot of prize money at the 2024 Dubai Pro, I can’t leave it for the other competitors.”

Can you explain your bulking phase? Hardcore or quality bulk?

Depending on how it goes, how is my appetite, If I like to eat, then it’s gonna be a hardcore bulk. If not, then within the limits, but gaining as much muscle as possible, of course.”

What is your favorite training day? What muscle groups do you like training?

“I like chest the most, however, I am having some shoulder problems now.”

“My shoulder hurts, it’s probably inflamed, but it’s long-term for me. There are periods when the shoulder hurts, and when they don’t. Now it hurts after the contest season.”

What placing do you expect at the 2024 Mr. Olympia?

I hope better than 2023, I would like to place in the top 6.”