The clock is ticking, athletes are pushing through preps, and fans are anxiously awaiting their performances. On January 24, 2025, Samson Dauda and Regan Grimes revealed their top 10 Men’s Open picks for the nearing 2025 Arnold Classic, scheduled for February 27 to March 2 in Columbus, Ohio.
The 2025 Arnold Classic will be here before you know it. Atop the headliner stands Samson Dauda, who has been on a contest rampage since last year. He pushed all of his chips in weeks before the biggest event of the season to lay claim to gold at the 2024 Tsunami Pro. Although onlookers criticized his decision, it ended up working in his favor.
When he traveled to the US for Mr. Olympia, Dauda showcased newfound conditioning levels. These improvements alongside his surging confidence proved to be a winning combination. He defeated Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford to win his maiden Sandow trophy. While most athletes would enjoy some time off, Dauda had different plans.
He quickly jumped into the 2025 Arnold Classic in pursuit of his second title. He’ll no doubt face resistance at this show, especially from Derek Lunsford. Lunsford aims to exact revenge against Dauda who took his Olympia title last October. But that’s just two names; many more potential contenders could shake up the competition. Fan attention is also turning to Andrew Jacked, Brandon Curry, Shaun Clarida, Akim Williams, and other dark horses.
Level Up Your Fitness: Join our 💪 strong community in Fitness Volt Newsletter. Get daily inspiration, expert-backed workouts, nutrition tips, the latest in strength sports, and the support you need to reach your goals. Subscribe for free!
Samson Dauda and Regan Grimes Share Top 10 Men’s Open Picks for the 2025 Arnold Classic
Find their picks below, courtesy of YouTube videos shared on the Fouad Abiad Media YouTube channel:
Samson Dauda
- Winner — Samson Dauda
- Second Place — Andrew Jacked
- Third Place — Derek Lunsford
- Fourth Place — William Bonac
- Fifth Place — Brandon Curry
- Sixth Place — James Hollingshead
- Seventh Place — Shaun Clarida
- Eighth Place — Akim Williams
- Ninth Place — Jon Delarosa
- Tenth Place — Carlos Thomas Jr.
Regan Grimes
- Winner — Samson Dauda
- Second Place — Derek Lunsford
- Third Place — Andrew Jacked
- Fourth Place — Brandon Curry
- Fifth Place — James Hollingshead
- Sixth Place — William Bonac
- Seventh Place — Shaun Clarida
- Eighth Place — Carlos Thomas Jr.
- Ninth Place — Jon Delarosa
- Tenth Place — Akim Williams
Unsurprisingly, Dauda picked himself to win. Thus far, bodybuilding veterans agree that he’s likely to walk away as a two-time Arnold Classic champion. Dennis James, Milos Sarcev, Chris Cormier, Jose Raymond, and Samir Bannout have all backed him to come out on top when the smoke clears.
Should Dauda pull off gold in Columbus, Ohio, he’ll be one step closer to a successful title defense at the 2025 Mr. Olympia. Don’t miss his performance in five weeks as he aims to make history as one of the most successful talents to emerge from the United Kingdom!
Watch the full videos from the Fouad Abiad Media YouTube channel below:
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
You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and
YouTube for even more content.
