With only eight days before the 2026 Arnold Classic, talks of who will dominate are gaining traction. On Feb. 23, 2026, Chris Aceto discussed whether any contender has a posing edge. He also argued Chinedu Andrew ‘Jacked’ Obiekea has better abs than Hadi Choopan and laid out Derek Lunsford’s off-season plan.
Hype around the 2026 Arnold Classic is at an all-time high. The Men’s Open champion will earn a staggering $750,000 cash prize, the highest payout in bodybuilding history. The on-paper favorites are Choopan and Jacked, but the lineup is strong, with plenty of upsets possible.
Martin Fitzwater, Nick Walker, Rafael Brandao, and Brandon Curry have all shown the ability to stand against the best. The show is approaching fast, leading Aceto to give his thoughts on a handful of top Men’s Open stars.
Chris Aceto Talks Best Posers at 2026 Arnold Classic & Derek Lunsford’s Off-Season Plan
In the video, Aceto emphasized that there is not one Arnold Classic contender who dominates all of the mandatory poses.
“I don’t think any one person wins all the poses. That’s for damn sure. Hadi does not win all the poses. Andrew does not win all the poses. By definition, you have a close, tight race, and factor in Martin and factor in Nick, they have strong poses that are just impressive. I think, as usual, it’s going to be somewhat of a challenge to judge.”
As for who has the best abs, Aceto said that honor goes to Jacked.
“Andrew, for sure. The answer is this: they both have incredible abs and one is on someone who is 6’2″. Andrew’s abs take up Hadi’s chest to his navel.”
Looking at Lunsford’s off-season plan, Aceto shared that rest is their primary concern.
“The strategy has been rest because when you do back-to-back-to-back shows, you need the rest. The good thing is that Derek is good at taking advice and took that advice. I’m sure you got it from him when you did the interview. He’s up, he’s energetic, he’s up. He’s ready to blast out of the gate and get going for 2026.”
“I said, go enjoy life, which he has,” adds Aceto. “It’s a mental break.”
The 2026 Arnold Classic is coming up fast, and bodybuilding veterans have shared predictions. During a recent The Menace Podcast, Chris Cormier argued Choopan would pull off the victory. In contrast, John Hansen believes Jacked has the tools to win. Ahead of the show, Jay Cutler has backed Jacked to win the Arnold Classic and the 2026 Mr. Olympia.
In just a few days, the second-biggest show of the year will kick off. The 2026 Arnold Classic is set for March 5-8 in Columbus, Ohio. Fitness Volt will have live coverage of the action.
Watch the full video from the Rx Muscle – Truth in Bodybuilding YouTube channel below:
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