The Men’s Open division will be the headliner of the 2025 Arnold Classic!
The 2025 Arnold Classic is right around the corner and the Men’s Open division is loaded once again. The show will be headlined by a group that features three former champions that know what it takes to win on the Arnold stage. The 2025 Arnold Classic will take place Feb. 28-March 2 at the Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, OH and it is expected to be a loaded show from the opening night.
Generation Iron provide full coverage of the event, including breakdowns of prejudging and finals, for each division.
2025 Arnold Classic Men’s Open Roster
- William Bonac
- Shaun Clarida
- Brandon Curry
- Samson Dauda
- Jonathan Delarosa
- James Hollingshead
- Andrew Jacked
- Derek Lunsford
- Patrick Moore
- Justin Rodriguez
- Carlos Thomas Jr.
- Akim Williams
Top Contenders
Samson Dauda
Dauda returns to Columbus as a former Arnold Classic champion and reigning Olympia champion. In October, he defeated both Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan, who were the last two Olympia champions, to win the title. Dauda has vowed to bring an even better package to the Arnold than he showed at the Olympia.
When looking at Dauda’s rise, it has been a straight arrow up. He first competed at the Olympia in 2022 and finished in the Top 10. This was his first of just three events and he has already risen to the top. He has built the physique to beat in Men’s Open in recent years.
| Full Name: Samson Dauda (IFBB Bodybuilder) | ||
| Weight | Height | Date Of Birth |
| 275-330lbs | 5’11” | Unknown |
| Division | Era | Nationality |
| Men’s Bodybuilding | 2020 | Nigerian |
Andrew Jacked
Andrew Jacked has continued to impress in Men’s Open and is a popular pick to win the Arnold Classic. He won his third consecutive Texas Pro title last year and qualified for the Olympia once again, where he has improved each year. Jacked dropped out of the Arnold Classic last year but went onto finish in the top five during the Olympia — and many believe he could have placed higher. Jacked will be a major contender heading into Columbus.
Andrew Jacked competed in the first-ever EBBF Ajmaan Bodybuilding and Physique Contest in the UAE. This mega event took place in April 2021 in the United Arab Emirates and was reported to have approximately 200 competitors participating. He won this competition, meaning he earned his IFFB Elite pro card at the event. This pushed him from amateur to pro in just a single show. Jacked also competed in, and won, the Arnold Classic Amateur. This put him on track to becoming the next great in bodybuilding.
| Full Name: Chinedu Andrew Obieka (Men’s Open Bodybuilder) | ||
| Weight | Height | Date Of Birth |
| 266 lbs | 6’2″ | 1985 |
| Division | Era | Nationality |
| Men’s Open Bodybuilding | 2020 | Nigerian |
Derek Lunsford
Lunsford’s journey to the apex of bodybuilding is both remarkable and inspiring. He first captured the Olympia 212 title, then transitioned to the Men’s Open category, clinching the title on his second attempt in 2023. Significantly, he became the first athlete to secure titles in two different divisions, marking a historic moment in the competition’s legacy.
Following his victory in 212, Lunsford put on a significant amount of weight, creating a physique that was clearly good enough for Men’s Open. He made the leap and found success right away. During the 2024 Olympia, Lunsford fell to third on the scorecard and he has vowed to make improvements to return to the top. The battle at the top of the Arnold Classic will be a good one and Lunsford will be right in the mix.
| Full Name: Derek Lunsford | ||
| Weight | Height | Date Of Birth |
| 205-215 lbs. | 5’6’’ | 1993 |
| Profession | Era | Nationality |
| Bodybuilder, Fitness Coach | 2010 | American |
Akim Williams
Williams is back and ready to make noise on the biggest stages in bodybuilding. He was shut down in 2023 following shoulder surgery to repair an injury. In April 2023, Williams shared that he had competed at the 2022 Olympia and 2023 Arnold Classic dealing with an injury from a car accident the previous year. He underwent shoulder surgery to fix the issue.
Williams returned during the 2024 Arnold Classic, finishing sixth, before being crowned champion at the 2024 Toronto Pro Supershow in June and punched his ticket to the Olympia. Williams finished in the Top 10 and set up what could be an impressive 2025 season.
| Full Name: Akim Williams (Men’s Open Bodybuilder) | ||
| Weight | Height | Date of Birth |
| (120 kg) 265 lbs | (178 cm) 5’10″ | 08/20/1984 |
| Division | Era | Nationality |
| Men’s Open | 2010s, 2020s | American |
Dark Horses
There is a flurry of talent taking the stage in the Arnold and that includes multiple former champions. Brandon Curry is a two-time winner in Columbus and the latest came in 2022. William Bonac has also won an Arnold Classic title in his career. Both will compete at the event and look to add another to their resume.
Shaun Clarida will also compete in Men’s Open during the event. The former 212 Olympia champion has gone back-and-forth between divisions in recent years. He recently competed in the EVLS Prague Pro and finished third to Martin Fitzwater and Chris Bumstead. He won his first Open competition back in 2021 but opted to remain in the 212 division during the Olympia.
Past Champions
- 1989: Rich Gaspari
- 1990: Mike Ashley
- 1991: Shawn Ray
- 1992: Vince Taylor
- 1993: Flex Wheeler
- 1994: Kevin Levrone
- 1995: Mike Francois
- 1996: Kevin Levrone
- 1997: Flex Wheeler
- 1998: Flex Wheeler
- 1999: Nasser El Sonbaty
- 2000: Flex Wheeler
- 2001: Ronnie Coleman
- 2002: Jay Cutler
- 2003: Jay Cutler
- 2004: Jay Cutler
- 2005: Dexter Jackson
- 2006: Dexter Jackson
- 2007: Victor Martinez
- 2008: Dexter Jackson
- 2009: Kai Greene
- 2010: Kai Greene
- 2011: Branch Warren
- 2012: Branch Warren
- 2013: Dexter Jackson
- 2014: Dennis Wolf
- 2015: Dexter Jackson
- 2016: Kai Greene
- 2017: Cedric McMillan
- 2018: William Bonac
- 2019: Brandon Curry
- 2020: William Bonac
- 2021: Nick Walker
- 2022: Brandon Curry
- 2023: Samson Dauda
- 2024: Hadi Choopan
How to Watch the 2025 Arnold Classic
The prejudging portion of the show on each day will take place on the Arnold Expo Stage before the finals are moved to the Battelle Grand Ballroom at the Columbus Convention Center.
If you wish to attend the event, tickets can be purchased here. VIP, Ultimate Expo, and three-day passes must be purchased in advance. There will also be tickets available at the door as supplies last.
If you wish to watch from home, the action will be available with free livestream, which you can register for on the Arnold website. Once you sign up, you will be able to watch the 2025 Arnold Classic, Arnold Strongman Classic, Arnold Amateur, and MORE.
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