{"id":16552,"date":"2026-03-27T20:07:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T20:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=16552"},"modified":"2026-03-27T20:07:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T20:07:00","slug":"wesley-vissers-mike-sommerfeld-square-off-at-the-2026-arnold-classic-uk-who-will-win-pre-judging-recap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=16552","title":{"rendered":"Wesley Vissers & Mike Sommerfeld Square Off at the 2026 Arnold Classic UK: Who Will Win? | Pre-Judging Recap"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Wesley Vissers & Mike Sommerfeld lead the pack in an intensely close battle for first place at the 2026 Arnold Classic<\/h2>\n

Wesley Vissers of the Netherlands and Mike Sommerfeld of Germany unquestionably are the two leading competitors at the Arnold Classic U.K. Classic Physique division \u2013 which got underway earlier on Friday.<\/p>\n

Vissers is looking to make it two straight wins at the U.K. event being held this weekend at the National Exhibition Center (NEC) in Birmingham, England. Sommerfeld has other ideas after making weight, thus setting up the highly anticipated competitions between the Classic Physique division\u2019s top competitors and rivals.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Arnold Classic UK Put Vissers And Sommerfeld Squarely In A Battle For First<\/h2>\n

Wesley Vissers won the Classic Physique division<\/a> at the 2026 Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio, earlier in March, while Sommerfeld failed to make weight<\/a> and could not compete in the prestigious event. His weight was not a problem this time as Sommerfeld and Visser engaged in what appears to be a friendly rivalry between two of the division\u2019s best on Friday.<\/p>\n

Prejudging showed both are in good form as they generally outclassed other prominent competitors.\u00a0With the final callout featuring Vissers and Sommerfeld alone to battle it out with each other.<\/p>\n

Both did very well in the glutes portion of the prejudging, but Sommerfeld held a distinct advantage with the abs as the competitors proceeded through the various mandatory poses. Vissers and Sommerfeld have very impressive physiques, including well-developed legs, backs, lats and biceps.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The prejudging set the stage for a nail bitter of a final later tonight. Be sure to check out our official 2026 Arnold Classic UK results page<\/a> for updates as they become available.<\/p>\n

Wesley Vissers\u2019 Size is an Advantage<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Because he is several inches taller at 6\u20192\u201d than Mike Sommerfeld and virtually all other competitors, Wesley Vissers has an edge with a heavier weight cap, though.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Vissers typically competes at about 245 pounds, while Sommerfeld, who shoots for a height of 5\u20199\u201d but often is listed as 5\u201d7\u201d to 5\u201d8\u201d, often has a weight disadvantage of between 30 and 40 pounds when competing against Visser. His larger body does account for much of the weight discrepancy, but Visser still has more room to bulk up when compared to Sommerfeld\u2019s about 205 pounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Others competing in the Physique Classic division on Friday are:<\/p>\n