The 2026 Mr. Olympia is less than five weeks away, and bodybuilders have bold opinions on who’s likely to reign supreme. In an August 20 YouTube video, Patrick Moore offered his top six Men’s Open predictions ahead of the prestigious event.
Moore, who recently claimed gold at the 2026 Texas Pro, believes anyone in his top three could win, but said that Lunsford has the greatest chance of success.
Patrick Moore’s Top Men’s Open Predictions for the 2026 Mr. Olympia
Find his predictions from the video below:
- Winner — Derek Lunsford
- Second Place — Andrew Jacked
- Third Place — Samson Dauda
- Fourth Place — Hadi Choopan
- Fifth Place — Martin Fitzwater
- Sixth Place — Nick Walker
The Men’s Open Mr. Olympia Picture
In 2025, Lunsford pulled off one of the most impressive seasons in bodybuilding history. He beat Samson Dauda at the Arnold Classic, then went on to win the Pittsburgh Pro against Nick Walker. The scorecards were razor-close, with Lunsford besting “The Mutant” in a rare sudden-death tie-breaker round.
To cap off his incredible run, Lunsford won the 2025 Mr. Olympia, joining Jay Cutler as one of only two bodybuilders to reclaim the Sandow trophy. If Lunsford wants a third title, he’ll have his hands full in Vegas. Andrew Jacked (Chinedu Andrew Obiekea) emerged victorious at this year’s Arnold Classic Ohio and UK shows, giving him ample momentum for Olympia.
Hadi Choopan will aim to bounce back after taking bronze behind Walker and Jacked at the Arnold. He has teamed up with Milos Sarcev, who intends to bring the ‘perfect’ version of Choopan in just a few weeks. In addition, 2024 Olympia champ Samson Dauda will be back in action. He dropped to fourth at the Olympia last year. Some bodybuilding veterans, like Shawn Ray, believe he’s behind in preparations.
Beyond the names mentioned lie more threats. Nick Walker is hellbent on earning his first Olympia title on his fourth attempt. He recently won the Tampa Pro with a new coach, and continues to garner hype heading into the contest.
Martin Fitzwater is another name that can’t be counted out. He beat Dauda in Prague last year and edged out Walker on the Olympia stage. Given the number of threats on deck, Moore believes it will come down to how each competitor peaks for the event. The 2026 Mr. Olympia is set for September 24-27 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
