Brandon Curry is speaking out ahead of his big return at the 2025 Arnold Classic. On January 17, 2025, he discussed being doubted, his leg-dominant training split, and how he plans to defeat Derek Lunsford as well as Samson Dauda on stage.
Brandon Curry is a former 2019 Mr. Olympia and a two-time Arnold Classic champion. His bubbly muscle volume and aesthetic shape have helped him remain one of the most consistent Open Pros in the league. However, in his last outing at the biggest event of the year, he was forced to compete without his long-time coach Abdullah Alotaibi. In the end, he took ninth place.
Looking to become a three-time Arnold Classic champion, Curry has the chance to re-insert himself into the upper echelon of the Open class. To do so, he’ll have a stacked roster of threats to deal with. In addition to Samson Dauda and Derek Lunsford, Curry will have to soundly beat Andrew Jacked, Carlos Thomas Jr., Akim Williams, and many others.
Brandon Curry Talks Being Doubted, Leg-Dominant Training Split, and How He Plans to Defeat Derek Lunsford, Samson Dauda
In a recent YouTube video, Curry spoke about fans and competitors doubting him ahead of the Arnold Classic.
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“A lot of times they sleep on me, or they forget about me, and then I show up and they are like okay, he’s in the mix. I want to get them talking at some point to let them know that I’m definitely showing up and it was a couple of years ago 2022 that I won that show.”
He plans to replicate his 2019 Arnold Classic look, which saw him compete around the low 240s.
“Weight is pretty good. I’m pretty close to where I would compete stage-wise,” he shared. “It’s just a matter of just a little bit more fat coming off. I tend to reach a state in my prep where no matter what I don’t really fluctuate a lot. I think though, the goal, talking to my coach, we want to come more of that 2019 Arnold look.”
“That’s going to be the priority [conditioning]. I’m not chasing the scale weight. That will put me around I think I was around the low 240s for that show,” he shared. “That will be the strategy for us.”
Given that Curry has struggled with separation and fullness in his lower body, he prioritized leg training this prep with a specialized split.
“Training-wise, I’ve prioritized my leg training. A little bit more because I know my upper body responds really well really fast. Typically, on a Sunday, I’ll have a quad hamstring day dominant. Monday, I’ll have a hip-dominant day.
Then I do some isolation for quads and hams, so less compound movements, more hip-dominant work. Come Thursday, which is usually my high day, I do another quad hamstring-dominant session. So far my recovery has been great.”
While leg training makes up a large portion of his split, Curry still makes it a point to hit his upper body at least twice a week.
“I have two basically — I train upper body splits two other days a week and I’ll add a third day probably this week. We do I call it a horizontal push-and-pull day.
Basically horizontal pressing, horizontal pulling. My chest and back are pretty strong body parts. They don’t need a lot. The other day, I do do some biceps and I do some triceps and I do rear delts on that day.”
As for his showdown with Dauda, Curry believes muscle maturity will be key.
“I know the areas of detail and separation that I need to bring against a guy like Samson. He’s very big in stature.
He’s a big overall body and he’s been improving in his look over the years, getting more lines, more separation but I think with my muscle maturity, if I can get shredded enough, I can have some separation that he doesn’t.”
Against Lunsford, Curry said his density will be crucial for success.
“I want to have some density on Derek. I want to have that muscle maturity. I know he’s in a new situation as well so we don’t know how that’s really going to pan out as much. I think I’m in a good spot. That’s why I decided to do the show,” he shared.
Judging by his recent physique update, Curry is on track to bring one of his most impressive physiques to date. Don’t miss the nearing 2025 Arnold Classic, set for February 27 to March 2 in Columbus, Ohio!
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