Table of Contents
“You need to put those legs to work.”
That one line flipped the switch for Rafael Brandão—and, in a way, set the direction for his entire career.
Speaking on Cutlercast with Jay Cutler, the Brazilian bodybuilder looked back on the moment when his first coach pushed him to take bodybuilding seriously. At the time, Brandão wasn’t a dedicated fan of the sport. He wasn’t studying training splits, comparing physiques, or dreaming about Olympia stages. He was just a talented athlete who needed a clear challenge—and a reason to commit.
That reason came in the simplest form: a blunt reminder that legs matter. And in bodybuilding, they matter a lot.
Ronnie Coleman And Jay Cutler Sparked The Obsession
Once Brandão started paying attention, the rabbit hole opened fast. He began watching videos and learning from the biggest names in the game—Ronnie Coleman, Jay Cutler, and others who helped define what elite bodybuilding looks like.
“I didn’t know anything about bodybuilding,” Brandão admitted. As he described it, he initially believed men’s physiques looked appealing because they felt more attainable. In his mind, it was a hard look—but not a career-defining hard look.
Then he watched what bodybuilding demands at the highest level.
Suddenly, the gap between “looking good” and “being one of the best in the world” became painfully clear.
Men’s physique, he noted, is impressive too—but bodybuilding is a different universe. More muscle. More detail. More years of building. And far less margin for error.
When Brandão saw athletes like Cutler and Coleman, he realized the sport wasn’t just difficult—it was brutally difficult.
“But when I saw bodybuilders like you and Ronnie Coleman… I was like, ‘Oh, this could be really, really hard,’” he said.
That realization didn’t scare him away. It pulled him in.
“And then I found my passion.”
From Inspiration To Identity
It’s one thing to admire legends on a screen. It’s another thing to turn that inspiration into a lifestyle. Brandão didn’t just become a fan—he built his identity around chasing that same standard: freaky size, complete development, and the kind of presence that reads “bodybuilder” before you even step onstage.
That’s the influence Coleman and Cutler have had on generations of competitors. They didn’t just win titles. They made the goal feel real—while also showing the price it takes to earn it: relentless training, consistency, recovery, eating like it’s your job, and showing up even when you don’t feel like it.
And for Brandão, that challenge was the hook.
A Breakout 2024 Season
Brandão’s passion has translated into results, too. In 2024, he stayed active on the competitive circuit and delivered one of his strongest showings at the Arnold Classic—earning bronze behind Samson Dauda and champion Hadi Choopan.
That placement mattered for two reasons:
- It proved he can hang with the very top tier of the division.
- It gave him a clear picture of what the next jump needs to look like.
At that level, the differences between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd aren’t about effort. Everyone trains hard, everyone diets. Everyone sacrifices. The separation is usually detailed: thickness, structure, conditioning, and how complete your physique looks from every angle.
Brandão showed he’s close—but “close” in bodybuilding can be a long road.
Why He Took Time Off
After a packed year, Brandão stepped back to focus on improvement instead of constantly peaking for shows. That’s a smart move for many bodybuilders: competing often keeps you sharp, but it can also limit how much new muscle you can build, because you’re always cutting down, recovering from prep, and trying to maintain rather than grow.
Time away gives him what every top contender needs:
- a longer runway to add size
- more room to improve weak points
- a chance to come back with a noticeably upgraded look
And based on what he shared with Cutler, that’s exactly what he’s chasing.
Rafael Brandão’s 2026 Plan
Brandão made it clear: his off-season has been productive—and heavier than ever.
“I had a good off-season. It’s the first time I hit 300 pounds,” he said.
That’s a big milestone, especially for someone who struggles to keep weight on.
“It was hard for me because I’m the guy who loses weight really fast,” he added.
That detail is important because it speaks to the kind of athlete he is. Some competitors can eat big and stay big year-round. Others have to fight for every pound, and once prep starts, the weight falls off quickly. If Brandão can push his off-season bodyweight up while keeping quality muscle, it gives him more to “spend” when he starts dieting for a show.
And he doesn’t sound intimidated by the competition. In fact, he sounds motivated by it.
“I think we’re going to bring something different,” he said, mentioning the stacked lineup of names fans expect to see around the top—Hadi Choopan, Samson Dauda, and others. Then he added the mindset that makes contenders dangerous:
“I’m going there, and I have nothing to lose.”
The Arnold Classic Target
Brandão’s focus is already locked on the Arnold Classic, scheduled for March. The goal is simple: show up with a new version of himself—bigger, sharper, and more complete—and challenge the guys who were ahead of him last time.
Can he close the gap? That depends on what “something different” looks like when he hits the stage:
- Does he bring noticeably more thickness?
- Has his conditioning improved?
- Does he show better balance—especially from the back and through the legs?
- And does he peak perfectly when it counts?
One thing is clear: the spark that started with a coach telling him to train legs has turned into a full-on pursuit of bodybuilding greatness—fueled by the example set by Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler.
And now, Brandão’s trying to add his own chapter to that same legacy.
