Men's 212 vs Men's Open
Men's 212 and Men's Open use the same eight mandatory poses, cloth posing trunks, and finals routines of up to three minutes. Their published scoring differs: 212 judging counts 100%, with optional finals confirmation, while Open splits scoring 50% judging and 50% finals. The current published page does not specify a division weight cap for either division.
What Men's 212 Bodybuilding and Men's Open Bodybuilding are
No federation page publishes judging criteria for Men's 212 Bodybuilding, so this page prints none.
Men's Open Bodybuilding is judged on the total package, meaning a balance of size, symmetry and muscularity across eight mandatory poses that include most muscular.
That wording is the federation's own, read from NPC Worldwide Rules, access date 2026-08-20. Everything below sets the two published rule sets side by side: attire, posing, scoring, the height tables where they exist, and the champions each side has produced.
How the Men's 212 Bodybuilding and Men's Open Bodybuilding rules differ
One published rule at a time, Men's 212 Bodybuilding on the left and Men's Open Bodybuilding on the right. Where a cell says a rule is not specified, the federation's own page does not publish one and we leave the gap open.
| Rule | Men's 212 Bodybuilding | Men's Open Bodybuilding |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Not specified in the published rule page. | Not specified in the published rule page. |
| Attire | Solid, non-distracting cloth posing trunks; shirtless and barefoot. Metallic, shiny rubberized material, padding, advertisements, and endorsements are prohibited. | Solid, non-distracting cloth posing trunks; shirtless and barefoot. Metallic, shiny rubberized material, padding, advertisements, and endorsements are prohibited. |
| Posing | Eight mandatory poses. Judging presentation is up to 60 seconds; the finals routine is up to three minutes, followed by a 60-second posedown. | Eight mandatory poses. Judging presentation is up to 60 seconds; the finals routine is up to three minutes, followed by a 60-second posedown. |
| Judging | Quarter turns, mandatory poses, and callouts. Judging counts 100%; finals callouts may replace the judging score as confirmation. | Quarter turns, mandatory poses, and callouts. Judging counts 50% and Finals count 50%. |
| Caps and classes | Not specified in the published rule page. | Not specified in the published rule page. |
Choosing between Men's 212 Bodybuilding and Men's Open Bodybuilding
These are the questions the published rules actually answer for each side, grouped so the two can be read against each other. None of it is a recommendation: no federation publishes advice on which division suits a competitor, and we do not invent one.
Men's 212 Bodybuilding
- What poses are required in Men's 212 Bodybuilding?
- Front double biceps, front lat spread, side chest, back double biceps, back lat spread, side triceps, abdominals and thighs, and most muscular.
- How long is the Men's 212 posing routine?
- The judging presentation is limited to 60 seconds. The finals routine is limited to three minutes.
- How is Men's 212 scored?
- Judging counts 100%. Finals callouts may be scored as confirmation and replace the judging score.
- Does the published Men's 212 rule page state a 212-pound cap?
- No. The division carries the number in its name, but the published rule page states no weight limit anywhere in the 212 section, so we do not state one either.
Men's Open Bodybuilding
- What poses are required in Men's Open Bodybuilding?
- Front double biceps, front lat spread, side chest, back double biceps, back lat spread, side triceps, abdominals and thighs, and most muscular.
- How long is the Men's Open posing routine?
- The judging presentation is limited to 60 seconds. The finals routine is limited to three minutes.
- How is Men's Open scored?
- Judging counts 50% of the score and Finals count 50%.
- Does Men's Open have a published weight cap?
- No. The IFBB Professional League rule page publishes no weight cap for Men's Open, so we do not state one. Classic Physique and Men's Physique are the only two divisions on that page with a published height and weight table.
Recent Men's 212 Bodybuilding and Men's Open Bodybuilding Olympia champions
The five most recent Olympia champions we hold on record for each side. Rules say what a division asks for; the champion list shows who has been answering it.
Men's 212 Bodybuilding Olympia
2021
Derek Lunsford
United States
2022
Shaun Clarida
United States
2023
Keone Pearson
United States
2024
Keone Pearson
United States
2025
Keone Pearson
United States
View the full Men's 212 Bodybuilding champion history
Men's Open Bodybuilding Olympia
Sources for the Men's 212 Bodybuilding and Men's Open Bodybuilding rules
Every rule and cap on this page was read from the pages below on the dates shown. Nothing here is transcribed from a second-hand summary.
IFBB Professional League Rules. Version and access date: 2026-07-13.
Not published here: a typical winning size for either side. Champion height and contest-day weight are recorded together too rarely in this database to average honestly, and a general profile weight is not a stage weight.