Over 20 of the world’s best Men’s 212 bodybuilding competitors will clash at the 2025 Mr. Olympia, set for Oct 9–12 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Men’s 212 bodybuilding division is essentially a mini version of the Men’s Open. It features competitors with less height, but they make up for it with muscle density and detailed conditioning.
The category has housed legendary names of the sport, like former seven-time Olympia kingpin Flex Lewis. Today, Keone Pearson is the reigning champion, a distinction he earned after dethroning former two-time titleholder Shaun Clarida in 2023.
A year later, “The Prodigy” further distanced himself from the roster, laying claim to his second consecutive title. With Clarida in the hunt, along with top contenders Vitor Alves Porto De Oliveira and Kerrith Bajjo gunning for gold, predicting the next winner is a challenge.
2025 Men’s 212 Olympia Roster
- Zhaofeng He (China)
- Giuseppe Zagarella (Italy)
- Keone Pearson (USA)
- Shaun Clarida (USA)
Angel Calderon Frias (Spain)(Out Due To Triceps Injury)- Vitor Alves Porto De Oliveira (Brazil)
- Iurii Sologub (Russia)
- Radoslav Angelov (Bulgaria)
- Ahmad Ashkanani (Kuwait)
- Kerrith Bajjo (USA)
- Sung Yeop Jang (South Korea)
- Ching Chieh Lin (Taiwan)
- Lucas Coelho (Brazil)
- Francisco Barrios Zlk (Brazil)
- Courage Opara (USA)
- Luiz Esteves (Brazil)
- Nihat Kaya (Turkey)
- Jose Maria Mete Bueriberi (Spain)
- Mazin Al Rahbi (Oman)
- Frankie Mercado (USA)
- Lucas Garcia (Brazil)
- Samir Troudi (Sweden)
- Marco Ruz (France)
- Roman Iushchenko (Ukraine)
Top Contenders to Watch
Keone Pearson
Two-time defending champ Pearson is aiming to establish the first dynasty since Lewis’ reign. He hasn’t let the success go to his head—he knows the only route to winning again lies in discomfort and discipline. Having won gold in his last two outings at Olympia, Pearson is the clear favorite.
While he has teased a move up to the Men’s Open at the upcoming Prague Pro, Pearson made it clear that his sole focus is the 212 category. Nevertheless, some bodybuilding veterans, including Dennis James, believe he could win the Open Mr. Olympia right now.
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Shaun Clarida
Shaun Clarida has already shown he has the ability to win back his title after losing it. He accomplished this feat in 2022 after dropping the honor to then-212 competitor Derek Lunsford. Clarida always brings dry, vascular condition, and he’s typically the hardest competitor onstage.
Clarida kept busy after failing to win back his Olympia title in 2024. He jumped into the Prague Pro as an Open competitor and took third place right behind Chris Bumstead. He followed that up with a seventh-place finish at the stacked 2025 Arnold Classic. Although Clarida has struggled with Pearson’s aesthetics, should he bring enough fullness to match his condition, he could win back the title.
Vitor Alves Porto De Oliveira
Vitor Alves Porto De Oliveira made a calculated move in 2024; he jumped into the Musclecontest Brazil Pro and won first place. As a result, he stamped his early qualification for the 2025 Mr. Olympia contest.
Oliveira is a top threat, as he carved out fifth place last year. He doesn’t have any weak body parts and poses to his strengths. For continued success, he doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel — with minor refinements, he could find himself on the podium this year.
Kerrith Bajjo
Just like Oliveira, Bajjo decided to compete in an early qualifier for the 2025 Mr. Olympia. He traveled overseas to the 2024 Japan Pro, and the decision paid off. He bested top contender Sung Yeop Jang by three points on the official scorecards.
Bajjo’s last contest saw him jump into the Men’s Open class at the 2025 Texas Pro. While he ultimately took seventh place, he proved he could stand against bigger competitors. With enough back fullness and detail, Bajjo could make waves onstage and rearrange the final 212 standings.
Dark Horses & Wildcards
Giuseppe Zagarella
To ensure his entry for the Olympia, Zagarella dominated at the 2024 Balkan Grand Prix Pro. His top-to-bottom symmetry and muscularity give him the perfect look for Men’s 212 bodybuilding. While he’s gone under the radar leading into this event, he’s always a threat at any contest he enters.
Francisco Barrios Zlk
Francisco Barrios Zlk’s consistency against top-level competition earned him a spot on the dark horse list. Zlk didn’t just go after a low-level qualifier; he wanted to test himself against the strongest competition possible. This meant entering the 2025 New York Pro.
Even though he faced a tough test against Angel Calderon, who took third at last year’s Mr. Olympia, Zlk still managed to pull off the big win, proof that he could easily find himself on the podium when the event kicks off this year.
Ahmad Ashkanani
Ashkanani is one of the most battle-tested athletes competing in the Men’s 212 bodybuilding division. He’s well accustomed to facing off against big-name bodybuilders and has found huge success throughout the years. To make it to the Olympia stage in 2025, he was triumphant at the EVLS Prague Pro in the Czech Republic.
Between his consistency and experience, Ashkanani has everything needed to pull off a big upset, just as long as his conditioning is on par with other competitors onstage.
Mazin Al Rahbi
In July, Mazin Al Rahbi proved himself at the 2025 World of Monsterzym Korea Pro, commanding first place with a stunning look. His cartoonish proportions and muscle density have been a lethal combination, allowing him to stand out, especially in direct one-versus-one comparisons. Fans aren’t dismissing his chances heading into the biggest show of the year.
History of All 212 Olympia Winners
- Keone Pearson (2023) (2024)
- Shaun Clarida (2022, 2020)
- Derek Lunsford (2021)
- Kamal Elgargni (2019)
- Flex Lewis (2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012)
- Kevin English (2011, 2010, 2009)
- David Henry (2008)
How to Watch
Sign up to watch the live stream for the 2025 Mr. Olympia on the official Mr. Olympia website, which can be found here.
Friday OLYMPIA PRE-JUDGING (9:30 a.m.)
Location: Las Vegas Convention Center (South Hall, Floors 1 & 2)
- Fitness Olympia
- 212 Olympia
- Figure Olympia
- Women’s Physique Olympia
- Ms. Olympia
- Wellness Olympia
Friday OLYMPIA FINALS (6:00 p.m.)
Location: Resorts World Theatre
- 212 Olympia
- Fitness Olympia
- Figure Olympia
- Women’s Physique Olympia
- Ms. Olympia
- Wellness Olympia
- PLUS Mr. Olympia Pre-Judging
The 61st Joe Weider’s Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend has history written all over it. It will have more than bragging rights and Olympia glory on the line, as Olympia President Dan Solomon confirmed that the prize money will be higher than ever before.
Fitness Volt will have previews and live coverage of the event. You can buy the pay-per-view by visiting the official Mr. Olympia website for $74.99.
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