The 2026 Arnold Classic takes place in less than three weeks. Ahead of the show, Branch Warren appeared in a YouTube video on Feb. 15 to discuss who might find themselves vying for gold.
The 2026 Arnold Classic roster is loaded with big-name bodybuilders. Public consensus has labeled Hadi Choopan and Chinedu Andrew ‘Jacked’ Obiekea as the clear top-two favorites. Their statuses are backed up by placing second and third at the recent Mr. Olympia, behind champion Derek Lunsford.
Martin Fitzwater stands tall as another threat to the Arnold Classic title. He took fifth at the Olympia, but defeated Samson Dauda at the Prague Pro. The victory gave him momentum and confidence heading into the second biggest contest of the year.
With a $750,000 winner’s purse reserved for the champ, other top Open stars were enticed to compete. Nick Walker has a chip on his shoulder. He fell to sixth place at the Mr. Olympia, the lowest finish of his career. Coaching himself, he intends to resurrect the hype he held prior to his Vegas letdown.
Beyond those mentioned, former Mr. Olympia Brandon Curry shouldn’t be forgotten about. He remains the only athlete on this roster to have beaten Choopan onstage. Wildcard names could turn this into an unpredictable show, as well. Rafael Brandao, Akim Williams, and Mohamed Foda could spoil plans, assuming they nail their peak at 100 percent.
Branch Warren’s Top 3 Picks for the 2026 Arnold Classic
Find his picks from the video below (in no particular order):
- Chinedu Andrew ‘Jacked’ Obiekea
- Martin Fitzwater
- Hadi Choopan
When asked explicitly who he thought could win the 2026 Arnold Classic, Warren only mentioned Jacked, Fitzwater, and Choopan, leaving Walker out. However, some bodybuilding veterans aren’t dismissing Walker’s chances. Lee Priest suggested that “The Mutant” could beat Hadi Choopan if he peaks properly.
Some voices in the sport have a much different read on Walker. Shawn Ray and Bob Cicherillo both dismissed his odds of claiming gold. They believe, at best, Walker could place fourth. Moreover, they added that if Walker chose to compete in Ohio, he’d be guaranteed 10th place at the 2026 Olympia.
Meanwhile, Iain Valliere issued his top three picks and also warned that Walker could pull off a surprise upset. However, he firmly predicted Choopan to emerge victorious with Jacked taking silver, and Fitzwater rounding out the podium in third place.
The 2026 Arnold Classic is shaping up to be an unpredictable event. Don’t miss Fitness Volt‘s full coverage of the weekend from March 5-8 in Columbus, Ohio.
RELATED: 284-Lb Nick Walker Talks 2026 Arnold Classic Prep: “The End Goal Is To Win”
Watch the full video from the Overcome Cast YouTube channel below:
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