The second biggest bodybuilding show of the year arrives in just four weeks. On Feb. 5, 2026, bodybuilding veteran Jose Raymond revealed his top 10 Men’s Open picks for the stacked 2026 Arnold Classic.
The last Mr. Olympia set the stage for an explosive 2026 bodybuilding season. Hadi Choopan narrowly took second place behind Derek Lunsford at the event. Though perhaps the biggest shock of the night was Chinedu Andrew “Jacked” Obiekea, whose breakout performance saw him secure third place, a career high finish.
With Choopan and Jacked clear frontrunners, talks of who will win gold are heating up. Former four-time Mr. Olympia champ Jay Cutler predicted that Jacked currently has the tools to win the Arnold Classic and 2026 Mr. Olympia. But it’s not a two-man show. Other strong threats could make statements.
Martin Fitzwater is surging with momentum, having secured fifth place at the Olympia. Moreover, he proved himself with a successful title defense at the Prague Pro, where he took out an extremely motivated Samson Dauda in a shocking upset. Meanwhile, Nick Walker will make his return after a lackluster Olympia showing. He mistimed his peak and took sixth place.
Beyond those heavy hitters, fans expect Brazilian star Rafael Brandao to be in title contention. Additionally, the bodybuilding community refuses to count out Brandon Curry. He has won the Arnold Classic twice (2019, 2022) and claimed the Mr. Olympia title in 2019. Given the lineup, Jose Raymond, a highly-respected 212 bodybuilder, offered his take on what might transpire.
Jose Raymond’s Top 10 Men’s Open Picks for the 2026 Arnold Classic
You can find Jose Raymond’s official 2026 Arnold Classic picks from The Menace Podcast below:
- Winner — Andrew Jacked
- Second Place — Hadi Choopan
- Third Place — Martin Fitzwater
- Fourth Place — Nick Walker
- Fifth Place — Brandon Curry
- Sixth Place — Rafael Brandao
- Seventh Place — Mohammad Foda
- Eighth Place — Anthony Williams
- Ninth Place — Akim Williams
- Tenth Place — Hassan Mostafa
Raymond predicted Jacked would run away with his first Arnold Classic title. Assuming Choopan makes it to the event (doubt exists from Iran’s political unrest), he sees “The Persian Wolf” taking second place. To round out the podium, he picked Fitzwater to take bronze.
The stakes are sky high in Columbus, Ohio. Bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger has confirmed that the Men’s Open champion will rake in a historic $750,000 winner’s purse, the highest payout in bodybuilding history.
Raymond sees Jacked getting his hand raised when the dust settles. The 2026 Arnold Classic is set for March 5-8 in Columbus, Ohio.
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