Arnold Classic 2019: Top 6 Open Bodybuilding Predictions

Arnold Classic 2019 bodybuilding predictions and athlete breakdowns.

Come early March, we’re all going to witness an incredible event where several elite bodybuilders will compete for the prestigious crown of Arnold Classic champion. It’s a significant competition (The next biggest one after the Olympia) and this year, the athletes are looking bigger and better than ever.

Last year (2018) William Bonac won the title with his super impressive conditioning and size but it’s a new year and we can’t help but to break down and discuss all the possibilities for 2019 competition.

Now, as far as the top 6 athletes go, we’ll likely see the same guys again (With a surprise wild card) but the order of their placings will likely be much different. The prize money is attractive for the top guys at the Arnold (As it usually is) and we’ll provide those details followed by who we think will place accordingly…

Here are the prize money details:

1^st: $130,000

2^nd: $75,000

3^rd: $50,000

4^th: $30,000

5^th: $15,000

6^th: $10,000

7^th-10^th: $2,000

11^th-above: $1,000

Most Muscular Award – $10,000

Ed Corney Best Poser Award – $10,000

The Most Muscular and Best Poser awards have a pretty large payout as well, which is a good opportunity for any competitor to take home a hefty paycheck!

Arnold Schwarzenegger changed the name of the best poser award to the “ED Corney Best Poser Award” in honor of his good friend and bodybuilding legend Ed Corney who recently passed away. Corney appeared alongside him in the movie “Pumping Iron” and he was of course known for his amazing and unique posing style.

Here are our top 6 bodybuilder predictions for the 2019 Arnold Classic…

6^th Place – Victor Martinez

We bet you never saw this coming! But we felt the need to add Victor Martinez only because he knows what it takes to bring an amazing physique to a big show. He finished second to Jay Cutler in 2007 (Which he should have won) at the Olympia, while winning the Arnold Classic in Ohio the same year.

We don’t expect him to place any higher than 6th and heck… he may not even crack the top 6 but he’s our wildcard and we’re sticking to it. Problematic areas for him are going to be his legs because of his age, and also his conditioning of course; which has long been a weak point for him. Hopefully, Victor Martinez can work a little magic since he’s decided to compete at the Arnold this year.

5^th Place – Steve Kuclo

So Steve Kuclo finished 5^th in the 2018 Arnold Classic competition in Columbus, Ohio and he definitely has the physique to keep him there. His full muscle bellies and large structure are a great combination for bodybuilding. However, he just doesn’t quite have that freakiness you see with the very top guys. His back can use some improvements as well but for now, he deserves a 5^th place finish.

4^th Place – Cedric McMillan

Ok, so this was a hard one… it’s a toss-up between McMillan and Brandon Curry this year. McMillan can jump up one spot to 3^rd place if his conditioning is up to par but let’s assume he still comes up a little short. In this case, he places no lower than 4^th and Brandon Curry edges him out due to better conditioning.

He has the size and the shape but if he can improve his back and quads, it can go either way between him and Curry. Cedric McMillan has so much potential but he hasn’t exactly been able to display a complete package. He did win the Arnold Classic in Ohio two years ago (2017) but to do it again maybe a far-fetched dream.

3^rd Place – Brandon Curry

Curry has been looking phenomenal lately. He had his best Mr. Olympia finish last year (5^th place) and he’s starting 2019 strong… and quite big too. Of course, he’s always had an impressive physique and is now finally showing what he is capable of.

After going through a big transformation in Kuwait (Oxygen Gym) Curry has improved drastically and could actually be a big threat for a second place takeover! His legs and back may have been weak points before but now he looks really quite put together. He’s a mass monster but he will definitely need to be on is “A game”, otherwise Cedric McMillan is coming for him!

2^nd Place – William Bonac

Bonac is an impressive specimen and it showed with his 2018 Arnold Classic win in Columbus, Ohio and a 4^th place 2018 Olympia finish. He literally has everything a champion bodybuilder could have physically and his conditioning is as good as anyone’s.

His biggest weak point may be his narrow structure but he has great muscle bellies and symmetry. He will likely place second this year though because there’s one “Super Freak” who has impressed so many people as of recently and if he comes in perfect, he’s taking the title.

1^st Place – Roelly Winklaar

Yep… Roelly Winklaar is a genetic superhuman and if he shows up as good as he did at the Olympia (Or better) he will no doubt win the show. He placed third at the 2018 Olympia (His highest placing) and won the Peoples Champ Award being an obvious favorite in the show. His muscle bellies are nearly perfect because they are so full and long; which gives him that 3D look, and he can only get better if he nails his conditioning more consistently.

He’s improved so much since his start in the sport and is now right up there with the elite athletes of the sport. He has the most desirable genetics you can ask for in a bodybuilder and it’s a great thing he can use this blessing to his advantage. He’s never won an Arnold Classic Ohio before and it would be great for his legacy to make it happen this year. We hope Roelly Winklaar doesn’t disappoint because he is a strong favorite to win the Arnold Classic 2019.

You can watch the Arnold Classic 2019 live stream here!

So what’s your prediction, do you think Roelly Winklaar will win his first Arnold Classic in Ohio? What are your predictions on how the athletes will stack up?

Published: 29 January, 2019 | 8:56 AM EDT

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