The 2025 Arnold Classic saw Men’s Physique talent clash on March 1 in Columbus, Ohio, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Ali Bilal, Diogo Montenegro, Emmanuel Costa, and Erin Banks are fighting for first place following the prejudging rounds on Day 2.
The Men’s Physique lineup at this year’s Arnold Classic made for the perfect showdown. Former two-time Arnold Classic champion (2022-2023) Erin Banks was on a mission to pull off a third win. He faced familiar foes on stage, including 2024 Olympia runner-up Alil Bilal, who looks to be reaching his prime. Bilal’s impressive midsection and conditioning levels commanded the stage early.
In addition, Diogo Montenegro was the defending champion and appeared confident throughout the contest. He got harder and more detailed as he adjusted to the atmosphere. Meanwhile, Banks was dominant from the back. His width was unmatched, with many believing he could regain the Men’s Physique AC title later tonight. Costa also received a huge pop from the crowd, especially when he hit poses from the front.
The final callout saw Ali Bilal, Diogo Montenegro, Emmanuel Costa, and Erin Banks battling for gold. Montenegro displayed improved conditioning in this event, leading to extremely close comparisons. With this refined package, fans expect him to make a push for glory when the night show rolls around.
Check the callout reports below:
2025 Arnold Classic Men’s Physique Prejudging:
First Callout
- Ali Bilal
- Diogo Montenegro
- Emmanuel Costa
- Erin Banks
Second Callout
- Jason Huynh
- Sidy Pouye
- Alessandro Cavagnola
- Dmytro Voievodchuk
- Rafael Oliveira
- Guilherme Gualberto
- Rhyan Clark
Final Callout
- Ali Bilal
- Diogo Montenegro
- Emmanuel Costa
- Erin Banks
2025 Arnold Classic Men’s Physique Highlights:
2025 Arnold Classic Schedule
Friday, February 28, 2025
Prejudging: (12:30 pm – 2:00 pm EST)
Finals: (7:00 pm – 9:30 pm EST)
Saturday, Mar 1, 2025
Prejudging: (10:00 am – 12:00 pm EST)
Finals: (7:00 pm – 10:00 pm EST)
Catch comprehensive coverage of the 2025 Arnold Classic, including pre-judging, event recaps, analyses, and complete Arnold Classic results at our Arnold Classic coverage hub: FitnessVolt.com/arnold-classic
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