The bodybuilding community is still wrapping its head around the 2026 Arnold Classic results. On March 8, Jay Cutler discussed Chinedu Andrew ‘Jacked’ Obiekea’s big win, Nick Walker’s performance, and the controversy surrounding the outcome.
In Columbus, Ohio, the 2026 Arnold Classic turned out to be an extremely close contest. After Open prejudging wrapped up, fans and bodybuilders had no idea who was leading. Some thought Walker, and others thought it could have been Jacked or Hadi Choopan.
The finals saw them battle it out, and in the end, Jacked’s structure and improved posing were the difference-makers. He secured a massive $750,000 winner’s purse, narrowly besting Walker by just five points on the official scorecards. With the contest causing a noticeable shakeup in the Open class, Cutler recapped the event’s action.
Jay Cutler on 2026 Arnold Classic Results: “There’s a lot of Controversy”
In the Instagram post, Cutler emphasized that it wasn’t an easy win for Jacked because Nick Walker and Hadi Choopan brought incredible packages.
“$750,000 Andrew Jacked walked away with that money this weekend for the Open class, but he didn’t get it easily without the challenge of Hadi and Nick Walker. Nick Walker… what can I say about him? He just looked incredible. Hadi looked incredible. Brandon Curry looked incredible. Martin, you looked great.”
In the show’s aftermath, Cutler emphasized that there has been controversy about who was truly the rightful winner.
“There’s a lot of controversy out now about who they think should have won. That’s always the case when it’s a close contest, and the guys are so competitive now. And as the money climbs, that challenge gets a little deeper.”
He added that the Arnold Classic has turned into a global brand, all thanks to bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger.
“I came here many, many years ago, and I thought I was winning a really, really large prize, which at the time was, I was winning cars and everything else.
Now, that title has gained so much momentum. It’s such a global brand. What Arnold has created, we all follow the path of Arnold. We all just wanted a piece of what he achieved. Be a part of that whole aura of everything,” said Jay Cutler.
After claiming the highest prize money purse in bodybuilding history, Jacked doesn’t plan to sit on the sidelines. He intends to capture his second Arnold Classic UK title, and if he’s successful, he’ll have collected over $1 million in prize earnings in less than a month.
The 2026 Arnold Classic was a historic event that completely reshaped the Men’s Open class. Time will tell how Andrew Jacked looks when he makes his way to the Arnold Classic UK, scheduled for March 27-29 in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Follow the 2026 Arnold Classic live – prejudging breakdowns, event recaps, expert analysis, and complete results as they happen. Get full coverage at our Arnold Classic hub: FitnessVolt.com/arnold-classic
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