The 2026 Arnold Classic UK is coming up fast, prompting Guy Cisternino to assess the competition. On March 18, he gave his top Men’s Open and Classic Physique picks for the event, scheduled for March 27-29 in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
In the headlining Men’s Open division, fan attention has swirled around Chinedu Andrew ‘Jacked’ Obiekea. He won the 2026 Arnold Classic Ohio against runner-up Nick Walker and bronze finisher Hadi Choopan. Public support behind Jacked is high; already, former four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler has predicted him to win the next Mr. Olympia.
Martin Fitzwater is another frontrunner heading into the Arnold UK. He took fourth place in Ohio, but was called out by the bodybuilding community for bad sportsmanship. His behavior came at a cost. All of his sponsors dropped him, though it remains to be seen how that has affected his prep.
Questions remain about whether Choopan will compete in the UK. However, there’s another former Mr. Olympia who could make waves onstage. Brandon Curry, who won the Olympia in 2019, continues to remain relevant in the packed Men’s Open. Many fans believe he was deserving of a higher placement at the last Olympia and the Arnold Ohio contest.
Guy Cisternino Shares His Top Picks for the 2026 Arnold Classic UK
Find his picks from the Bro Chat podcast below:
Open Bodybuilding
- Winner — Andrew Jacked
- Second Place — Brandon Curry
- Third Place — Martin Fitzwater
- Fourth Place — Akim Williams
- Fifth Place — Blessing Awodibu
- Sixth Place — Abou Kanate
- Seventh Place — Hassan Mostafa
Classic Physique
In Classic Physique, it’s the showdown fans have been waiting for. After Mike Sommerfeld missed the Classic Physique weight cap in Ohio, he’s now set for another show. However, he’ll face an all-time best Wesley Vissers. “The Dutch Oak” just secured a second Arnold Classic Ohio title and won the UK crown back in 2024. Meanwhile, Sam Sulek will make a quick turnaround. He managed to place eighth in his Pro debut at the Arnold Ohio.
- Winner — Wesley Vissers
- Second Place — Mike Sommerfeld
- Third Place — Kim Angel
- Fourth Place — Andrea Mammoli
- Fifth Place — Jorge Herrera
- Sixth Place — Sam Sulek
- Seventh Place — Luis Roberto Valenzuela Ramos
- Eighth Place — Vahid Badpei
- Ninth Place — Paul Kanu
- Tenth Place — Angelo Rossi
Andrew Jacked will be tough to beat overseas. He’s got momentum in his corner, and with another dominant performance, he’ll be one step closer to the Mr. Olympia title. The 2026 Mr. Olympia is scheduled for September 24-27 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Don’t miss our live results of the 2026 Arnold Classic UK!
Watch the full video from the Fouad Abiad Media YouTube channel below:
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