Questions surrounding the 2026 Arnold Classic are gaining traction. On Dec. 16, 2025, via YouTube, Lee Priest predicted Nick Walker could take out Hadi Choopan in Columbus, Ohio, when the event returns from March 5-8.
Nick Walker carried enormous hype heading into the 2025 Mr. Olympia. That fire was fueled after he narrowly finished second place behind Derek Lunsford at the Pittsburgh Pro. To secure his entry for the ‘Super Bowl of Bodybuilding,’ Walker won a third title at the New York Pro.
When pressure was at its highest, Walker missed the mark. He fell to sixth place, the lowest Olympia finish of his career. While his former coach, Kyle Wilkes, took some blame, Walker thought it was best to move on solo. Navigating his career alone, “The Mutant” plans to seek redemption at his next event.
Lee Priest Says Walker Can Beat Choopan at 2026 Arnold Classic
In the video, Priest underscored that the 2026 Arnold Classic will be a make-or-break moment for Walker’s career.
“It’s going to be a make-or-break, I think,” said Priest. “If they [pictures before Olympia] are not photoshopped a lot, if Nick can somehow get that conditioning onstage, his days aren’t behind him. Nick, if you listen, not that you listen to me, but I’ve said this a million times to everyone: when you look that good, do not do peak week.”
He warned Walker to avoid peak week if he’s in shape two weeks before the contest.
Level Up Your Fitness: Join our 💪 strong community in Fitness Volt Newsletter. Get daily inspiration, expert-backed workouts, nutrition tips, the latest in strength sports, and the support you need to reach your goals. Subscribe for free!
“If you look like that Nick, two weeks out, like those photos you posted, the last week, all you should do is keep eating the same, training the same, slowly decrease your water. Don’t cut it out completely. Just decrease it a little bit, and you’ll look like you look in those photos, and you could still win big shows.”
Additionally, Priest examined Choopan’s consistency, noting that he never enters a contest less than 98 percent.
“Hadi is the only one I’d say who is like I said, either 100 or 98 percent. He’s never that far, whereas Andrew, we’ve seen him in Texas, then he went to Olympia. We’ve seen Martin hit and miss. Generally, until this Olympia, Nick has never been really that far off,” Priest shared.
Despite that fact, Priest argued Walker could still defeat Choopan in Ohio.
“I could probably still see Nick taking Hadi out if they are both in great condition,” said Priest.
Walker will face a stacked roster at the 2026 Arnold Classic. Aside from Choopan, the on-paper favorite, Walker will also have to get past Andrew Jacked, Martin Fitzwater, Rafael Brandao, and former Mr. Olympia titleholder Brandon Curry.
While Walker took a huge backstep at the Olympia, Priest isn’t counting him out moving forward. He is adamant that the Men’s Open star still has the tools to win major shows.
Watch the full video from the Serious and Silliness Bodybuilding with John Livia YouTube channel below:
You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and
YouTube for even more content.
