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Bodybuilder Hadi Choopan reaffirmed his entry for the 2026 Arnold Classic. On Feb. 8, 2026, he shared a rare physique update five weeks from the competition.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Hadi Choopan<\/a> is a big favorite heading into the Arnold Classic (AC). He won the event back in 2024<\/a> and never lost the title, just chose not to compete at the prestigious contest in 2025. He continues to boast some of the best conditioning in the Men\u2019s Open class, which many believe will give him the edge onstage.\u00a0<\/p>\n Having placed second at the Mr. Olympia<\/a> for the last three years, he\u2019s motivated to turn in a statement performance. But it won\u2019t be an easy path to gold. He has to get through Chinedu Andrew \u2018Jacked\u2019 Obiekea<\/a>, who recently surged with momentum, thanks to his third-place Olympia finish and big victory at the Romania Pro<\/a>.<\/p>\n Beyond Jacked, there are other top-tier Open threats to deal with. Martin Fitzwater<\/a> is set for his AC debut. Hype behind him is high, especially after defeating Samson Dauda at the 2025 Prague Pro<\/a>. Former 2019 Mr. Olympia Brandon Curry<\/a> also stands out: he\u2019s the only bodybuilder from the lineup to ever defeat Choopan onstage.<\/p>\n