{"id":15401,"date":"2026-03-10T01:04:37","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T01:04:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=15401"},"modified":"2026-03-10T01:04:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T01:04:37","slug":"jay-cutler-says-martin-fitzwater-and-nick-walker-could-pull-off-upsets-at-the-2026-arnold-classic-fitness-volt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=15401","title":{"rendered":"Jay Cutler Says Martin Fitzwater and Nick Walker Could Pull Off Upsets at the 2026 Arnold Classic \u2013 Fitness Volt"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The 2026 Arnold Classic is taking place from March 5-8 in Columbus, Ohio. Ahead of the event, Jay Cutler<\/a> took to a YouTube video on March 5 to discuss the Hadi Choopan vs Andrew Jacked battle. He also suggested that Martin Fitzwater and Nick Walker could pull off upsets.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

A historic $750,000 winner\u2019s purse<\/a> awaits the new Men\u2019s Open champion at the Arnold Classic. The roster is stacked with world-class talent, including frontrunner Hadi Choopan<\/a>. He secured second place for a third time at the recent Mr. Olympia contest. \u201cThe Persian Wolf\u201d laid claim to his lone Arnold Classic title back in 2024<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Chinedu Andrew \u2018Jacked\u2019 Obiekea<\/a> also has momentum, having earned bronze in Vegas, and then quickly turning around to win the Romania Pro. Additionally, Martin Fitzwater<\/a> and Nick Walker<\/a> are two wildcard contenders who could spoil the party with all-time best packages.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jay Cutler Not Counting Out Fitzwater & Walker, Breaks Down Choopan vs Jacked 2026 Arnold Classic Battle\u00a0<\/h2>\n

In the video, Cutler touched on how Choopan and Jacked are feeling before their showdown.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Level Up Your Fitness: Join our \ud83d\udcaa strong community in Fitness Volt Newsletter. Get daily inspiration, expert-backed workouts, nutrition tips, the latest in strength sports, and the support you need to reach your goals. Subscribe for free!<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s a crazy time for Hadi right now. He\u2019s the guy. Former Mr. Olympia, second place. I don\u2019t think any of these guys have beaten Hadi. I think it\u2019d be a really great achievement for him at this point. I\u2019m sure there\u2019s a lot of uncertainty. I know how strong he is and what he represents. We talk about training and who trains the hardest, and I think guys who say oh it\u2019s me, but Hadi is definitely a machine.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He noted Jacked\u2019s momentum and genetics, which could pay dividends against Choopan.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u201cHe\u2019s up against the genetics of Andrew Jacked. We talk about\u00a0 Mr. Olympia, shoulder-width, height, weight ratio; he\u2019s coming into his own. He had a lot of momentum from the Olympia. I feel like there\u2019s a lot of pressure on him to win it,\u201d he said<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Cutler also shared that Walker is under immense pressure for a big performance after a lackluster Olympia showing:\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u201cThere\u2019s also a lot of pressure on Nick Walker to win it. Obviously, Nick Walker has been absent. We haven\u2019t seen the best of Nick Walker in a little bit of time,\u201d he shared. \u201cWe always talk about Nick\u2019s physique being the most muscular body up there.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He added that Fitzwater has been counted out in the lead-up to the show, and bodybuilding predictions<\/a> reflect that.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u201cMartin is on a tear right now. I think people are counting him out, which I think he has the ability to show up here and kind of shock the world a little bit. A lot of other guys in this lineup that people are excited about.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

According to Cutler, fans shouldn\u2019t be surprised if Fitzwater or Walker pull off upsets.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Get Fitter, Faster<\/em><\/h3>\n

Level Up Your Fitness: Join our \ud83d\udcaa strong community in Fitness Volt Newsletter. Get daily inspiration, expert-backed workouts, nutrition tips, the latest in strength sports, and the support you need to reach your goals. Subscribe for free!<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cListen, Andrew, Hadi, it\u2019s kind of like a show that you might see those two battle at, but you know what? Don\u2019t be surprised if a Martin or a Nick Walker upsets what everyone thinks is going to happen and ruins it for both those guys.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

While most bodybuilding veterans don\u2019t have Walker winning the Arnold Classic, not everyone has lost hope. Lee Priest recently argued that Walker could defeat Choopan when they square off, emphasizing that his best days are not behind him<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s grind time for athletes, who are focused on presenting their best in just two days. Don\u2019t miss Fitness Volt\u2019s full coverage of the 2026 Arnold Classic, set for March 5-8 in Columbus, Ohio.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Watch the full video from the Beyond the Stage TV YouTube channel below:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n