Super League by Dorian Yates - Bodybuilding Meets Performance

Legendary bodybuilder Dorian Yates is about to rock the world of bodybuilding once again, but this time, he's not competing in some physique competition, this one's all about performance.

The 6-time Mr. Olympia has joined forces with Bodybuilding.com and Nike to form a new competitive bodybuilding alliance known as the Super League.

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Debuting in July 2017, the Super League ushers in a new era of bodybuilding that takes the emphasis off of posing and directs it towards each athlete's performance. The era of all show, no go bodybuilder is over with Yates new competition.

Competitors will compete in two rounds of weightlifting, performance-based competition, similar to strongman competitions, but with an aesthetic component to the judging as well.

Details of the Super League Competition

Round 1 - Output Quotient

Round one has been dubbed the Output Quotient round, where athletes are required to perform eight total exercises including:

• Squats
• Military press
• Rack Deadlifts
• Dips
• Leg extensions
• Pulldowns
• Chest Flyes
• And of course Dumbbell curls!

Each competitor will be required to perform 12 reps of each exercise using the heaviest weight they can manage while still maintaining proper form. Maximum points are awarded for successful completion of the 12 reps; however, failure to perform all 12 reps, results in a lower score.

An athlete's score is calculated based on the number of reps performed multiplied by the weight used in the exercise divided by their body weight. As you can see, this round places a premium on a high strength-to-weight ratio. The heavier you can lift at a lighter weight translates to a higher overall score in round one.

Round 2 - The Deltas

Round two is where aesthetics come into play, as each bodybuilder will be analyzed using 3DX Technology to measure their chest, arms, thighs, calves, and hips (for women). This provides a significantly more accurate measurement of important bodybuilding ratios such as upper body to lower body ratio, upper body to waist ratio, and lower body to waist ratio. Additionally, this avoids the subjective element of bodybuilding judging, which often leads to controversial judging decisions.

Based on these ratios, contestants will be given a score, which will then be added to their Output Quotient score to provide their final score.

Notable Contestants

Yates and Co. have attracted some of the biggest names in the bodybuilding and supplement industry to participate in the inaugural Super League competition, including Kris Gethin, CT Fletcher, Rich Piana, Joey Swole, and Larissa Reis.

However, if you're not a big name celebrity, don't worry, as the Super League will be an open competition, and anyone is free to enter for a chance to win their pro card to the league.

The competition kicks off July 29, 2017, in Las Vegas, NV and can be viewed live online in case you can't make it to Sin City.

What do you think of the Super League? Can it serve as a legitimate competitor to the Olympia? Is it the future of bodybuilding?

Leave a comment below with your take!