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“From Franco Columbu and [Arnold] Schwarzenegger Days”: 8-Time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman Once Was Credited to Redefine Bodybuilding Scene by Joe Rogan

Published 08/14/2022, 9:30 AM EDT

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Joe Rogan is a martial arts practitioner and enthusiast, but also a fitness freak. The 55-year-old loved bodybuilding growing up. Even though he slid into the world of comedy & calling UFC fights, he kept fitness a priority. Spotify’s biggest podcast host once had 8-time consecutive Mr. Olympia winner Ronnie Coleman on the JRE podcast. The taekwondo and BJJ black-belt hailed The GOAT and compared his time to Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbu’s days of bodybuilding.

On The Joe Rogan Experience podcast episode #1489, the IFBB professional who won 26 titles in his iconic run graced the number one podcast in the world. While greeting Coleman, Rogan revealed he was a big bodybuilding fan early in his life. Besides, he showered praises on The King.

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The veteran UFC commentator said, “I mean, goddamn, you were freakishly huge. You know, I remember, paying attention to bodybuilding from the beginning, like from Franco Columbu and Schwarzenegger days to what you guys had become, you know, when you were in your [prime], [it] just redefined everything. Everything was just so extreme.”

A former cop and retired bodybuilding professional, Coleman said, “We were pretty tough back in the old days. Everything was hard, you know, the guys I was competing against were real good. And I just came out of nowhere, you know, because I got in bodybuilding real late.”

Coleman, later in the episode, revealed the motive behind starting a bodybuilding career.

The Louisiana-born won 8 straight Mr. Olympia titles. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is also considered one of the best, won it 7 times. Whereas Franco Columbu won the title two times (1976 and 1981). Lee Haney (8) and Phil Heath (7) are a few notable names that played a big part in changing the sport as well.

Ronnie Coleman agreed with Joe Rogan about the Hulk!

The JRE podcast host Rogan has been in the sport-entertainment business his entire life. The former Fear Factor host, in an analogy, compared the once-in-a-generation bodybuilder to a Hulk’s nemesis.

Ronnie Coleman, With 13 Surgeries, 14 Screws, 2 Cages & 2 Rods in Hips, Back and Neck, Once Revealed to Joe Rogan the Real Price of Being 8-Time Mr. Olympia

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Rogan said, “You look like a dude, who they invented in a Marvel comic book to kill the Hulk.”

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via Getty

The legend laughed and agreed, “I felt like I probably could have too, like, back in those days.”

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WATCH THIS STORY – “Help Me…” – 71-Year-Old Arnold Schwarzenegger Being Drop-Kicked by a Kid & Not Even Budging Got the Best Reaction from Joe Rogan Once

What do you make of Joe Rogan’s claim that Ronnie Coleman redefined the bodybuilding scene from Franco Columbu & Arnold Schwarzenegger’s era? Share your opinions in the comments below.

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Written by:

Deepak Kumar

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Deepak Kumar is a UFC author at EssentiallySports. His love for MMA comes from the chaos and violence the fight game brings to the table. A BJJ aspirant, Deepak began following the sport as a casual fan when Ronda Rousey was finishing her opponents in seconds.
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Edited by:

Sreeda U M