"Ronnie would have destroyed Arnold." Dorian Yates made an uncompromising call on the showdowns between the legends
Author: Debates over who is the greatest bodybuilder of all time have been going on since the sport’s inception. The legendary Dorian Yates, a six-time Mr. Olympia champion, recently (January 7, 2026) took to his Instagram to explore hypothetical showdowns between icons from different eras.
The Open division is the premier division of the IFBB Pro League. It is here that the biggest stars are born, and for decades, various body types have taken the Mr. Olympia stage—from the aesthetics of the Golden Era to the “mass monsters” of the modern era.
Arnold Schwarzenegger dominated the Golden Era, followed by Lee Haney, who cemented his legendary status with eight titles. Then came Dorian Yates, ushering in a new era of extreme muscle mass; Ronnie Coleman took up the torch after him, followed by Jay Cutler and Phil Heath. But what would happen if these giants faced off against each other in the prime of their careers?
Dorian Yates took a close look at these “fantasy matchups,” and here are his verdicts.
Jay Cutler vs. Frank Zane
Yates was brief and clear on this matchup. In the clash between the massive Cutler and the king of aesthetics, Frank Zane, he has no doubts.
Jay Cutler vs. Sergio Oliva
Here, the answer was more complicated. Although Yates acknowledged that Sergio “The Myth” Oliva was ahead of everyone else in his day, in a direct “best vs. best” matchup, modern bodybuilding would prevail.
“It’s hard to compare; it’s not like boxing. Frank Zane and Sergio Oliva are from an older era, while Jay is from the modern one. If they stood side by side in peak condition, Jay Cutler would win because he was simply more advanced. But Sergio was unrivaled in his day,” Yates explained. Winner: Jay Cutler
Jay Cutler vs. Phil Heath
With a slight hesitation, “The Shadow” sided with seven-time champion Phil Heath.
“That’s a tough one, because they competed against each other and both won. But my personal preference? Overall, I’d go with Phil Heath.”
Phil Heath vs. Chris Bumstead
Here, Yates has no doubts. A matchup between the king of the modern Open division and the Classic Physique icon wouldn’t be even. “Phil Heath, easily,” said Yates.
Phil Heath vs. Lee Haney
Although Yates personally prefers Lee Haney’s physique, he believes that in a hypothetical on-stage matchup, Heath would win thanks to his muscle definition and density.
“Again, we’re talking about two different eras. If we put them side by side at their peak, I think Phil Heath would win. But I like Haney’s physique better.”
Lee Haney vs. Dorian Yates
Even though Yates lost to Haney in 1991, he believes that his later self would have beaten Haney.
“It depends on the circumstances. I competed against him in ’91 and he beat me, and rightly so. But I beat him in one out of three rounds. If we were to take Dorian in the best shape of his life and Haney in the best shape of his life, then yes, I would beat him.”
Dorian Yates vs. Ronnie Coleman
There’s only one person Yates admits would have beaten him. That person is “The King” Ronnie Coleman.
“Probably Ronnie. He’s the only person I’d say that about. My competitive ego doesn’t like it, but he’d probably beat me.”
Ronnie Coleman vs. Arnold Schwarzenegger
If Coleman and Schwarzenegger were to face off in their prime, Yates is clear—Arnold wouldn’t stand a chance due to the massive difference in size and conditioning.
“Ronnie. Arnold was great; he towered over everyone else and had amazing genetics. But when you look at what Ronnie achieved 40 years later… of course Ronnie would destroy him.”
Building monstrous muscle mass like Ronnie? It won’t work without extreme fuel!
But there’s one catch. Wanting Arnold’s aesthetics is one thing, but building the massive, granite-like mass that Ronnie Coleman possessed is in a whole different league. It sounds great on paper, but in practice, the desire for brutal size and lifting the heaviest weights without proper support will literally chew you up and spit you out. If you want to break through a plateau and instead shock your muscles into unprecedented growth, sheer willpower and shouting “Light weight, baby!” simply won’t be enough.
The solution, however, is straightforward—give your body the best possible building blocks so that even the toughest workout leads to growth, not the destruction of your nervous system. To hit your workout with legendary drive, fuel up with an uncompromising pre-workout packed with stimulants and citrulline. It’ll put you in a zone of absolute focus and ensure blood flow that will literally tear through your sleeves.
To push your weight limits, you’ll absolutely need the undisputed king of raw strength and muscle fullness— 100% pure creatine monohydrate ( ideally with the Creapure® trademark). It will fill your muscle cells with ATP energy, increase their volume, and prepare you to lift weights you’ve only ever dreamed of.
And once you’ve thrown down the last dumbbell, completely exhausted? That’s exactly when your body is screaming for calories the most. Building mass like Ronnie means consuming massive amounts of nutrients. If you just can’t stuff another kilo of meat and rice into your system right now, immediately reach for a premium weight gainer or an All-in-One blend. In a single serving, it’ll deliver a massive dose of the highest-quality protein, carbohydrates, and ergogenic aids to your muscles, shorten your recovery time, and immediately kickstart the building of real, massive muscle mass.
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