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The 2026 Arnold Classic was an exciting show with a stacked lineup and some big names battling it out on stage. In the end, Andrew Jacked took the win, followed by Nick Walker in 2nd<\/sup> and Hadi Choopan in 3rd<\/sup>. Martin Fitzwater finished in 4th<\/sup> place, while Brandon Curry rounded out the top 5.<\/p>\n But if you ask me, this is where things get questionable.<\/p>\n I believe Brandon Curry should have been ahead of Martin Fitzwater in that lineup. In my opinion, Brandon Curry deserved 4th<\/sup> place, not 5th<\/sup>. Martin didn\u2019t look great. He knew it. The fans knew it. And Brandon came in full and conditioned.<\/p>\n To be blunt and brutally honest, this isn\u2019t the first time it feels like Brandon Curry has been overlooked. There have been other shows over the last few years that made me question whether they\u2019re trying to push him out to make space for the new guys, or what\u2019s going on.<\/p>\n But let\u2019s dive deeper into this observation about Brandon Curry and see if there\u2019s more to the story.<\/p>\n One thing that cannot be debated is Brandon Curry\u2019s consistency.<\/p>\n For years, Brandon Curry has shown up to competitions in shape and ready to battle. He has remained one of the most reliable competitors in the IFBB. Not to mention, he\u2019s one of the oldest competitors out there at 43.<\/p>\n He could compete at the Master\u2019s Olympia and clean house of anyone on that stage.<\/p>\n Bodybuilding is a sport where athletes come and go. Some guys light the competition scene up for a couple of years and then disappear. Others struggle with consistency and never really reach their full potential.<\/p>\n Brandon Curry hasn\u2019t had that problem.<\/p>\n He has been a staple at the top of the sport for years. Show after show, he brings a competitive physique and stands toe-to-toe with the best in the world.<\/p>\n That kind of longevity deserves respect.<\/p>\n And yet, it feels like Brandon Curry doesn\u2019t always get the same treatment on stage. Not being thrown into first callouts, not being compared with the top guys in a particular show. It leaves me scratching my head. The guy still looks great at 43 and looks better than many of the new up-and-coming competitors.<\/p>\n So, why the shade?<\/p>\n One of the biggest frustrations I\u2019ve noticed is how Brandon Curry is handled during comparisons. If you watch bodybuilding shows closely, the callouts tell you everything.<\/p>\n Who the judges put in the center matters. Who they move around matters. And who gets repeatedly compared against the top guys matters.<\/p>\n It often feels like Brandon Curry doesn\u2019t get the same opportunities to stand next to the athletes he\u2019s competing against. If the judges don\u2019t put you in the mix during those crucial comparisons, it becomes very difficult to move up in the placings.<\/p>\n This is something many fans have noticed over the years. And it\u2019s something that continues to raise questions.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\nBrandon Curry Has Been Consistent for Years<\/h2>\n
Does Brandon Curry Get the Same Looks as Other Competitors?<\/h2>\n