Bodybuilding veterans have begun dissecting the 2026 Arnold Classic results. On March 12, Dennis James explained why he thought Hadi Choopan could have won the event.
Columbus, Ohio, turned into a battleground from March 5-8. In the headlining Men’s Open class, Chinedu Andrew ‘Jacked’ Obiekea, Nick Walker, and Hadi Choopan were in the running for gold. After a tense showdown in the finals, Jacked emerged victorious, with Walker settling for silver, and Choopan securing bronze.
As with most high-profile bodybuilding contests, the results have been debated. Shawn Ray, a 1990s standout known for his aesthetics, thought Choopan deserved the nod over ‘The Mutant.’ The latest to unpack the top placings was Dennis James, who gave his unfiltered opinion on the competition below.
Dennis James Thought Choopan Could Have Won 2026 Arnold Classic, Had Walker Fighting for 3rd
In the video, James shared that he didn’t have an issue with Jacked winning. He also acknowledged that Walker was on, but thought Choopan could have won.
“First, let’s just say this: Andrew winning the Arnold, absolutely okay for me. I have no issues with this. I’m just a little… I mean Nick looked fucking great. Don’t get me wrong. Nick was on. I had Hadi… I had Hadi in a spot where I wouldn’t be surprised if he would have won, especially Saturday night.”
“I guess the score sheets tell a totally different story,” he adds.
In his opinion, Walker and Brandon Curry were battling for third place.
“For me, it would have been Andrew, Hadi one and two, Nick, and then Brandon. Nick and Brandon would have battled for third place.”
According to Nick Walker, his victory over Choopan was made possible thanks to his midsection control, posing, and dry conditioning. He described it as a ‘milestone’ moment for his career since this was his first time beating Choopan onstage.
Attention has quickly turned to the upcoming 2026 Arnold Classic UK, set for March 27-29 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. While Walker doesn’t plan to compete, fans are excited to see a rematch between Jacked, Choopan, and Martin Fitzwater, who are all currently on the roster list.
Moving forward, Walker will need to win a Pro show to secure his qualification for the 2026 Mr. Olympia. The 2026 Mr. Olympia will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, from September 24-27.
Watch the full video from the Muscle and Fitness YouTube channel below:
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