As the Arnold Classic is just days away, bold predictions are surfacing all over the internet.

On March 2nd, 2026, a YouTube channel called “Nick's Strength and Power” broke down the Classic and Open categories and predicted how the contenders might fare in them.

Let’s deep dive into Nick’s predictions: 

Top 5 Predictions in Classic Physique Category

5. Kim Angel

According to Nick, Kim Angel currently has very sharp conditioning in the overall lineup. He is a 3-time pro winner in 2025, but he still looks less aesthetic than others. Angel’s consistency and experience placed him in the top fifth contenders.

4. Matheus Menegate

In 2025, Matheus Menegate placed 7th in the classic category. Nick placed him in fourth due to his current structure.

Although he is still undersized, especially his lower body and back, compared to his rivals in the lineup. 

3. Andrea Mammoli

Nick considers Mammoli a major wildcard who brings strong back details and a strong lower-body composition, along with aesthetics. Last year, his name was missed in a notable callout, but this year, he is coming even stronger. 

2. Wesley Vissers

Last year, Vissers, the 2024 Arnold Classic Physique winner, finished 8th due to illness, but this year Wesley is preparing hard to reclaim his throne. He is coming out as a serious threat to Mike Sommerfeld in terms of peak conditioning.

1. Mike Sommerfeld

The 2025 Arnold Classic Physique winner, Mike Sommerfeld, was placed at 1st position by Nick. His record shows his reliability under pressure. He is having an overall balanced composure, which gives him a slight edge over Wesley.

Nick also gave predictions for the open category. 

Top 5 predictions in the Men’s open bodybuilding category

5. Brandon Curry

The 2022 Arnold Classic winner, Brandon Curry, is ranked 5th by Nick. Brandon has experience of winning the show before, and according to “musclediscord,” Curry is in “great condition, and you can never count Brandon out”.

4. Nick Walker

The 2021 Arnold Classic winner, Nick Walker, is ranked 4th by Nick. He is getting ready for the competition without any guidance from a coach, which adds unpredictability. In the recent YouTube video by “GASP: THE IRON WORLD,” the IFBB Pro, Jordan Hutchinson, placed Nick Walker in his top 2. 

3. Martin Fitzwater

The winner of the 2025 Pragur Pro, Martin, is ranked 3rd. Even according to the “official_rxmuscle”, Dave Palumbo and Chris Aceto admitted that Fitzwater has worked on his conditioning and legs, which makes him tremendously ahead of the competition.

2. Andrew Jacked 

Nick placed the 2025 Arnold Classic title holder in 2nd place; his body has Olympia-level sharpness and conditioning. He is currently working on his lats and shoulders for the 2026 Arnold festival. His improvements make him a bigger challenge for Hadi. 

1. Hadi Choopan

Nick placed the 2024 Arnold Classic winner as the most favourable participant for the 1st place due to his consistency and physical conditioning. Hadi posted a video on his Instagram on 10 February, in which his details and fullness look spectacular and can easily overwhelm the other participants. 

So, who do you think is going to get the title in the two categories?

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Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Souvik Roy