Victor Martinez breaks down Sam Sulek’s pro bodybuilding debut at the Arnold Classic
On the latest episode of the Generation Iron Podcast, host Victor Martinez shared his full recap and analysis of the 2026 Arnold Classic – from shocking placings to backstage drama and rising new stars, the event created plenty of discussion throughout the industry. Specifically, Victor Martinez weighed in on Martin Fitzwater, Sam Sulek, Mike Sommerfeld, and Hadi Choopan in the fallout from the Arnold Classic.
Below is a brief breakdown of the topics discussed this week:
- Victor Martinez defends himself from fans scrutinizing the cause of his spinal infection
- The dangers of starting a PED cycle in middle age and beyond
- Victor’s take – is Martin Fitzwater cancelled? Should he be?
- Victor rates Sam Sulek’s 2026 Arnold Classic physique and posing
- Mike Sommerfeld‘s constant height and weight drama – Victor’s thoughts
- Should Hadi Choopan retire (whether he really plans to or not)?
You can watch the full episode of the Generation Iron Podcast above. Keep reading for a full breakdown in-depth of this week’s discussion. Let’s dive in!
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Victor Martinez’s Review Of The 2026 Arnold Classic
According to Victor Martinez, the 2026 Arnold Classic was a huge success for both the competition and the sport of bodybuilding as a whole. Martinez noted that the event delivered exciting competition across multiple divisions and generated enormous fan interest. Attendance at the Arnold Sports Festival reportedly reached record levels, both for the live event and the free livestream.
Because of this increased demand, organizers are already expanding the expo portion of the festival into a fourth day moving forward. That type of growth is a strong signal that bodybuilding continues to thrive among fans.
From a competitive standpoint, the headline story of the weekend was the victory of Andrew Jacked. Martinez said he has long believed that Jacked had the potential to become a major champion in the sport. Seeing him finally capture a title at the Arnold Classic confirmed that belief.
At the same time, Martinez was also impressed by the improvement shown by Nick Walker. Compared to his appearance at the 2025 Mr. Olympia, Walker showed up in noticeably better condition and delivered a strong performance on stage.
Another major talking point was the placing of Hadi Choopan, who finished third at the competition. Martinez believes several outside factors may have contributed to Choopan’s performance.
He pointed to the stress Choopan may have been experiencing due to the ongoing crisis in Iran as well as the pressure and negativity he has faced online. Those factors can affect any athlete, no matter how elite they are.
Still, Victor Martinez emphasized that the weekend overall was a major win for bodybuilding and a strong sign that the Arnold Classic remains one of the sport’s premier events.
Sam Sulek’s Arnold Classic Debut
One of the major storylines from the event was the pro debut of Sam Sulek. Sulek ultimately finished eighth out of ten competitors, but Victor Martinez believes the result should be viewed within the proper context.
This was Sulek’s first professional bodybuilding competition. The Arnold Classic is one of the toughest stages a new pro could possibly enter. In a previous episode discussing Sulek’s chances at the event, Martinez had already pointed out that Sulek needed to improve his posing if he wanted to stand out against elite competitors. That prediction proved accurate during the competition.
While Sam Sulek brought a solid physique to the stage, his posing routine appeared stiff and somewhat awkward at times. Good posing is essential in bodybuilding because it highlights strengths and hides weaknesses. Without confident posing, even a strong physique can fail to impress the judges.
Despite that limitation, Martinez still saw positive signs in Sam Sulek’s performance. He even noted that Sulek may have had the best applied tan in the entire division.
If Sulek continues learning the details of professional competition, including posing, conditioning, and stage presentation, Martinez believes he could eventually develop into a standout competitor capable of winning major shows.
Martin Fitzwater Controversy Sparks Debate
One of the biggest controversies surrounding the 2026 Arnold Classic involved Martin Fitzwater. After placing fourth behind Nick Walker, Fitzwater refused to shake Walker’s hand on stage. Witnesses also claimed that Fitzwater reportedly shoved Walker backstage after the competition. Walker himself has stated publicly that the shove did happen.
The situation quickly escalated into a major controversy online. As the drama spread across social media, Fitzwater lost two of his sponsors.
Martinez said he won’t pretend to know every detail about what happened between the two athletes – as much of it is second hand reports. Martinez does note that rivalries and disagreements are common in competitive sports, especially in bodybuilding where athletes dedicate years of work toward winning a title.
However, Martinez believes the line is crossed when disrespectful behavior occurs on stage in front of judges, officials, and fans. Competitors at events like the Arnold Classic are representing the entire sport. When something negative happens in that environment, consequences can follow.
At the same time, Victor Martinez also criticized how other professional bodybuilders reacted to the situation. Many athletes publicly commented on the controversy even though they may not have personally witnessed what happened.
Martinez believes fellow competitors should avoid acting like “police” for the sport unless they truly know the facts. Instead, they should focus on their own preparation, performance, and sportsmanship.
Ultimately, Martinez believes Fitzwater losing sponsors is not necessarily the end of the world. Sponsorships are business decisions, and athletes have been dropped for far less controversial reasons.
If Martin Fitzwater remains committed to competing and improving, Martinez believes he will recover from the situation and continue building his career.
Yudin added that Fitzwater has since issued a public apology and reportedly reached out directly to Jim Manion to apologize as well. Whether that apology came too late remains a topic of debate among fans.
Mike Sommerfeld Misses Weight at the Arnold Classic
Another controversial moment at the 2026 Arnold Classic involved Mike Sommerfeld. The champion Classic Physique bodybuilder missed the weight limit required to compete at the Arnold Classic. As a result, he was unable to step on stage at the event he had been preparing for since the 2025 Mr. Olympia.
The issue reportedly occurred because Sommerfeld expected to be remeasured for his height during the weigh-in process. That remeasurement would have potentially allowed a higher weight limit.
This situation mirrored what happened at the 2025 Olympia, where Sommerfeld narrowly managed to make weight during a second-chance weigh-in.
Victor Martinez found it concerning that the same problem happened again. In his view, Sommerfeld should focus less on trying to gain a competitive advantage through height measurements or weight limits. Instead, Martinez believes the athlete should concentrate fully on improving his physique and preparation.
He made it clear that Sommerfeld is undeniably talented. But repeatedly flirting with weight limits creates unnecessary problems that could easily be avoided. Martinez bluntly advised Sommerfeld to drop what he called the “diva” behavior and keep the focus on training and competition.
Hadi Choopan Retirement Rumors
Finally, the hosts discussed rumors suggesting that Hadi Choopan might retire following his third-place finish at the Arnold Classic. While these initial rumors have not been substantiated and insiders claim Choopan is not retiring – Victor Martinez strongly pushed back against that idea in general.
Choopan has already built an incredible legacy in bodybuilding, but Martinez believes he still has plenty left to offer the sport. Finishing third at a competition like the Arnold Classic does not mean an athlete’s career is over. Bodybuilding is highly competitive, and surprises can happen at any event.
Martinez still considers Choopan one of the top five bodybuilders in the world. Based on his physique and history of performances, there is no reason to believe he cannot continue competing at an elite level.
He also reiterated that the stress surrounding events in Iran and the attention Choopan receives online could have played a role in his performance.
For now, the retirement rumors appear to be unfounded. Martinez expressed hope that Choopan continues competing because fans would certainly welcome seeing him return to the stage again.
During the podcast, Victor Martinez also addressed a fan comment related to his past spine infection and surgery.
The fan suggested that the infection Martinez experienced may have been a secondary infection rather than the primary cause of his spinal surgery. The commenter also noted their background in cardiology and expressed support for Martinez.
Martinez responded respectfully, acknowledging that the fan was making a thoughtful observation. However, he explained that his personal situation involved details that the public may not fully understand.
He admitted that it took a long time for him to publicly discuss the issue at all. According to Martinez, the delay was largely because he simply did not feel ready to share everything that happened.
One important detail he did reveal is that the doctor who administered the stem cell treatment he received is now under investigation. Another patient reportedly developed a spinal infection as well, which raises questions about the procedure.
Victor Martinez clarified that the only injections he received in his back or spine were part of the stem cell treatment itself. Because of that, he finds it difficult to believe that other possible causes were responsible for the infection.
Ultimately, Martinez emphasized that he knows his situation more deeply than what has been shared publicly. While he appreciates fan concern and speculation, some aspects of the situation remain personal.
Victor Martinez Advises a Fan Considering Steroids at Age 44
Another fan asked Victor Martinez for advice about starting a steroid cycle at age 44. The fan explained that they build muscle fairly easily and are considering performance-enhancing drugs but have not yet had bloodwork done.
Martinez began his response by making his position very clear. He does not recommend that people use steroids for bodybuilding or fitness. However, he also acknowledged that some individuals will pursue that path regardless of outside advice. If someone decides to move forward with that decision, Martinez said the first step should always be comprehensive bloodwork.
Understanding your current health condition is essential before introducing powerful substances into your body. Blood tests can reveal potential risks or underlying issues that could become dangerous if steroids are introduced.
Martinez also suggested that people consider medically supervised testosterone replacement therapy, commonly known as TRT, instead of seeking illegal or black market PEDs.
TRT clinics are not designed specifically for bodybuilding goals, but they operate within a controlled medical environment. That makes the process significantly safer than obtaining substances from unregulated sources.
Even so, Martinez stressed that steroids are not necessary to build a strong and impressive physique, especially at 44 years old. With consistent training, nutrition, and dedication, it is still possible to achieve excellent results naturally.
His final message to the fan was simple: seriously consider avoiding PEDs entirely.
RELATED: Bodybuilders Are Dying: An Investigation Into Modern Bodybuilding, Health, & PED Use
Wrap Up
The 2026 Arnold Classic delivered everything fans could ask for: exciting competition, new champions, unexpected controversy, and the emergence of rising talent.
According to Victor Martinez and the hosts of the Generation Iron Podcast, the event ultimately reinforced the strength and growth of bodybuilding as a global sport.
With record-breaking attendance, expanding festival days, and nonstop discussion across the community, the Arnold Classic continues to prove why it remains one of the most important competitions in professional bodybuilding.
And if the conversations sparked by this year’s event are any indication, the sport is heading into an exciting future.
