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Head-to-Head History

Bodybuilding Rivalries

IFBB Pro rivalries ranked by record closeness and high-stakes meetings, not raw meeting count. Open any rivalry for the meeting-by-meeting breakdown.

How rivalry rankings work

Our highest-ranked rivalry is Phil Heath vs Dexter Jackson: a 11-4 split across 15 meetings.

36 Top Rivalries Shown
6+ Min Meetings
Query-derived Compiled from contest-result records and cached for performance; community flags are reviewed before any change. Updated August 8, 2026
How this list is built

Ranked by closeness, stakes, and meeting count

A meeting requires both athletes to have recorded placements in the same contest and the same division. A pairing needs at least six meetings, at least two decisions for each athlete, and a trailing share of at least 25%.

The trailing share is the athlete behind in the record divided by all non-tied decisions; 50% is dead even. Ties remain in the meeting count but not that share.

The ranking score is the trailing share times 40, plus six points per Olympia meeting, three per flagship Arnold Classic meeting, and up to 20 points for meeting count. High-volume lopsided pairs appear under Most Frequent Matchups.

Legendary Rivalries

The closest records on the sport's biggest stages.

  1. Phil Heath Dexter Jackson
    11 4

    Phil Heath leads 11-4

    27% contested
    • 15 meetings
    • 12 at the Olympia
    • 3 at the Arnold
    • 2007–2020
  2. William Bonac Brandon Curry
    12 8

    William Bonac leads 12-8

    40% contested
    • 20 meetings
    • 10 at the Olympia
    • 3 at the Arnold
    • 2015–2025 (active)
  3. Kevin Levrone Ronnie Coleman
    19 14

    Kevin Levrone leads 19-14

    42% contested
    • 33 meetings
    • 10 at the Olympia
    • 1 at the Arnold
    • 1991–2003

Classic Rivalries

Hard-fought, repeated head-to-heads.

  1. Dexter Jackson Branch Warren
    13 5

    Dexter Jackson leads 13-5

    28% contested
    • 18 meetings
    • 8 at the Olympia
    • 7 at the Arnold
    • 2006–2015
  2. Toney Freeman Johnnie O. Jackson
    22 11

    Toney Freeman leads 22-11

    33% contested
    • 33 meetings
    • 7 at the Olympia
    • 7 at the Arnold
    • 2003–2016
  3. Dexter Jackson Dennis James
    16 7

    Dexter Jackson leads 16-7

    30% contested
    • 23 meetings
    • 9 at the Olympia
    • 3 at the Arnold
    • 1999–2012
  4. Jessica Reyes Padilla Natalia Soltero
    12 5

    Jessica Reyes Padilla leads 12-5

    29% contested
    • 17 meetings
    • 9 at the Olympia
    • 4 at the Arnold
    • 2017–2025 (active)
  5. Ronnie Coleman Chris Cormier
    27 9

    Ronnie Coleman leads 27-9

    25% contested
    • 36 meetings
    • 10 at the Olympia
    • 1 at the Arnold
    • 1991–2005
  6. Dexter Jackson Dennis Wolf
    11 8

    Dexter Jackson leads 11-8

    42% contested
    • 19 meetings
    • 8 at the Olympia
    • 3 at the Arnold
    • 2007–2018
  7. Kevin Levrone Nasser El Sonbaty
    23 10

    Kevin Levrone leads 23-10

    30% contested
    • 33 meetings
    • 8 at the Olympia
    • 3 at the Arnold
    • 1992–2002
  8. Branch Warren Victor Martinez
    7 6

    Branch Warren leads 7-6

    46% contested
    • 13 meetings
    • 7 at the Olympia
    • 5 at the Arnold
    • 2004–2015
  9. Kevin Levrone Shawn Ray
    7 4

    Kevin Levrone leads 7-4

    36% contested
    • 11 meetings
    • 10 at the Olympia
    • 1 at the Arnold
    • 1992–2001

Notable Rivalries

Genuinely contested pairings worth a look.

  1. Nasser El Sonbaty Ronnie Coleman
    20 14

    Nasser El Sonbaty leads 20-14

    41% contested
    • 34 meetings
    • 8 at the Olympia
    • 1 at the Arnold
    • 1992–2002
  2. Ryan Terry Brandon Hendrickson
    5 5

    Dead even, 5 each

    50% contested
    • 10 meetings
    • 9 at the Olympia
    • 1 at the Arnold
    • 2015–2025 (active)
  3. Johnnie O. Jackson Ronny Rockel
    18 10

    Johnnie O. Jackson leads 18-10

    36% contested
    • 28 meetings
    • 6 at the Olympia
    • 5 at the Arnold
    • 2003–2016
  4. Dexter Jackson Shawn Rhoden
    13 7

    Dexter Jackson leads 13-7

    35% contested
    • 20 meetings
    • 8 at the Olympia
    • 1 at the Arnold
    • 2011–2018
  5. Flex Wheeler Kevin Levrone
    8 7

    Flex Wheeler leads 8-7

    47% contested
    • 15 meetings
    • 7 at the Olympia
    • 3 at the Arnold
    • 1991–2002
  6. William Bonac Roelly Winklaar
    14 10

    William Bonac leads 14-10

    42% contested
    • 24 meetings
    • 7 at the Olympia
    • 2 at the Arnold
    • 2014–2021
  7. Günter Schlierkamp Darrem Charles
    9 7

    Günter Schlierkamp leads 9-7

    44% contested
    • 16 meetings
    • 7 at the Olympia
    • 3 at the Arnold
    • 1996–2006
  8. Toney Freeman Ronny Rockel
    20 7

    Toney Freeman leads 20-7

    26% contested
    • 27 meetings
    • 6 at the Olympia
    • 6 at the Arnold
    • 2003–2016
  9. Dexter Jackson William Bonac
    14 9

    Dexter Jackson leads 14-9

    39% contested
    • 23 meetings
    • 7 at the Olympia
    • 2 at the Arnold
    • 2013–2020
  10. Brandon Hendrickson Andre Ferguson
    8 4

    Brandon Hendrickson leads 8-4

    33% contested
    • 12 meetings
    • 9 at the Olympia
    • 1 at the Arnold
    • 2015–2023 (active)
  11. Melvin Anthony Darrem Charles
    11 7

    Melvin Anthony leads 11-7

    39% contested
    • 18 meetings
    • 6 at the Olympia
    • 4 at the Arnold
    • 2001–2008
  12. Kevin Levrone Dexter Jackson
    9 7

    Kevin Levrone leads 9-7

    44% contested
    • 16 meetings
    • 6 at the Olympia
    • 4 at the Arnold
    • 1999–2018
  13. Jessica Reyes Padilla Sandra Grajales
    12 5

    Jessica Reyes Padilla leads 12-5

    29% contested
    • 17 meetings
    • 7 at the Olympia
    • 3 at the Arnold
    • 2016–2025 (active)
  14. Dexter Jackson Markus Rühl
    12 5

    Dexter Jackson leads 12-5

    29% contested
    • 17 meetings
    • 7 at the Olympia
    • 3 at the Arnold
    • 1999–2009
  15. Breon Ansley Terrence Ruffin
    5 4

    Breon Ansley leads 5-4

    44% contested
    • 9 meetings
    • 8 at the Olympia
    • 1 at the Arnold
    • 2016–2025 (active)
  16. Yaxeni Oriquen Dayana Cadeau
    14 5

    Yaxeni Oriquen leads 14-5

    26% contested
    • 19 meetings
    • 8 at the Olympia
    • 1997–2011
  17. Darrem Charles Johnnie O. Jackson
    16 9

    Darrem Charles leads 16-9

    36% contested
    • 25 meetings
    • 6 at the Olympia
    • 2 at the Arnold
    • 2003–2013
  18. Ronnie Coleman Jay Cutler
    10 5

    Ronnie Coleman leads 10-5

    33% contested
    • 15 meetings
    • 8 at the Olympia
    • 1998–2007
  19. Ronnie Coleman Shawn Ray
    4 4

    Dead even, 4 each

    50% contested
    • 8 meetings
    • 8 at the Olympia
    • 1994–2001
  20. Natalia Soltero Bojana Vasiljevic
    8 3

    Natalia Soltero leads 8-3

    27% contested
    • 11 meetings
    • 7 at the Olympia
    • 4 at the Arnold
    • 2017–2023 (active)
  21. Bojana Vasiljevic Wendy Fortino
    12 11

    Bojana Vasiljevic leads 12-11

    48% contested
    • 25 meetings
    • 5 at the Olympia
    • 2 at the Arnold
    • 2013–2023 (active)
  22. Dennis Wolf Branch Warren
    6 5

    Dennis Wolf leads 6-5

    45% contested
    • 11 meetings
    • 6 at the Olympia
    • 3 at the Arnold
    • 2007–2015
  23. Markus Rühl Dennis James
    6 6

    Dead even, 6 each

    50% contested
    • 12 meetings
    • 7 at the Olympia
    • 1999–2009
  24. Natalia Soltero Sandra Grajales
    11 5

    Natalia Soltero leads 11-5

    31% contested
    • 16 meetings
    • 6 at the Olympia
    • 3 at the Arnold
    • 2017–2025 (active)

Most Frequent Matchups

The pairings that shared a stage the most times. Many of these were one-sided, so we list them by frequency, separately from the contested rivalries above.

  1. Kevin Levrone Chris Cormier
    31 5

    Kevin Levrone leads 31-5

    • 36 meetings
    • 8 at the Olympia
    • 5 at the Arnold
    • 1991–2003
  2. Ronnie Coleman Chris Cormier
    27 9

    Ronnie Coleman leads 27-9

    • 36 meetings
    • 10 at the Olympia
    • 1 at the Arnold
    • 1991–2005
  3. Kevin Levrone Miloš Šarčev
    33 1

    Kevin Levrone leads 33-1

    • 34 meetings
    • 5 at the Olympia
    • 1 at the Arnold
    • 1992–1999
  4. Nasser El Sonbaty Chris Cormier
    26 8

    Nasser El Sonbaty leads 26-8

    • 34 meetings
    • 7 at the Olympia
    • 3 at the Arnold
    • 1994–2002
  5. Ron Love Albert Beckles
    24 10

    Ron Love leads 24-10

    • 34 meetings
    • 4 at the Olympia
    • 1 at the Arnold
    • 1986–1991
  6. Nasser El Sonbaty Ronnie Coleman
    20 14

    Nasser El Sonbaty leads 20-14

    • 34 meetings
    • 8 at the Olympia
    • 1 at the Arnold
    • 1992–2002
  7. Kevin Levrone Nasser El Sonbaty
    23 10

    Kevin Levrone leads 23-10

    • 33 meetings
    • 8 at the Olympia
    • 3 at the Arnold
    • 1992–2002
  8. Thierry Pastel Ron Love
    22 11

    Thierry Pastel leads 22-11

    • 33 meetings
    • 2 at the Olympia
    • 3 at the Arnold
    • 1989–1993

Explore More

Compare Athletes Build any head-to-head matchup and see the full breakdown. Rankings The all-time and division rankings behind these rivalries. Mr. Olympia History Where the biggest rivalries were settled on the sport's biggest stage.
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