Andrew Jacked (Chinedu Andrew Obiekea) already has his next contest lined up. In a September 28 Instagram post, he confirmed his entry for the 2027 Arnold Classic, which is scheduled for March 4-7 in Columbus, Ohio.
At the 2026 Arnold Classic, Jacked took down Nick Walker to claim the historic $750,000 winner’s purse. He eclipsed the $1 million mark in prize earnings after dominating the Arnold Classic UK. In light of his success, most considered Jacked the frontrunner to defeat Derek Lunsford at the Mr. Olympia. They got into a heated rivalry weeks out from the contest, setting the stage for their highly anticipated showdown.
In the end, Nick Walker won the Sandow trophy, with Jacked sliding down to fourth place. Despite Jacked’s busy season, the Men’s Open star plans to continue competing. With Walker hinting at entering the 2027 Arnold Classic, fans could be in store for another thrilling battle between the two in Ohio.
Andrew Jacked to Defend Title at the 2027 Arnold Classic
In the post, Andrew Jacked and Arnold Sports confirmed his participation in the second-biggest show on the bodybuilding calendar.
“THE CHAMP IS COMING BACK! 🏆🔥 Reigning Arnold Classic Champion @andrewjacked has CONFIRMED his return to Columbus for the 2027 Arnold Classic — and he’s coming back to defend the title on bodybuilding’s biggest stage!The road to Columbus just got a whole lot bigger! 💪 ” Arnold Sports posted.
With “The Mutant” expressing interest in the Arnold Classic, fans could see our new Mr. Olympia hit the stage in just a few months. Walker and Jacked aren’t the only high-profile Open stars eyeing the event. Hunter Labrada, who has placed as high as fourth at the Mr. Olympia, shared that he’s seriously considering the contest. He explained that his shoulder recovery will decide whether he can return in March or not.
“It’s not a secret, but lord willing, my shoulder cooperates for me. Then, it’s going to be the 2027 Arnold. Come back, do an Arnold,” he said.
“I still haven’t done one. I figured it’s time. Things are firing in the gym again. Mentally, I feel refreshed. I am not done. I will be back. I will be better than I’ve ever been before.”
Having taken fourth at the 2026 Mr. Olympia, Jacked is eager to re-establish himself as a number one title contender for the Mr. Olympia. The 2027 Arnold Classic will take place from March 4-7 in Columbus, Ohio.
RELATED: Samson Dauda Came Back About 30 Pounds Heavier and Missed the 2026 Mr. Olympia Title by Two Points
Follow the 2026 Arnold Classic live – prejudging breakdowns, event recaps, expert analysis, and complete results as they happen. Get full coverage at our Arnold Classic hub: FitnessVolt.com/arnold-classic
