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2023 Arnold Classic Mens Divisions Predictions

Arnold Week has finally arrived! The 2023 Arnold Classic weekend will take place on Mar. 3rd-5th in Columbus, Ohio, and it will be the first major bodybuilding/fitness event of the year for many fans and athletes. Seven IFBB Pro League divisions will hold contests, and they are all going to be interesting shows for the fans. Predicting winners for these contests is always a challenge, but Muscle Insider did just that, and our picks are below.

 

Arnold Classic (Men’s Open)

The projections of the main event went from sub-par to one of the intriguing lineups ever. Two former champions, a former Mr. Olympia, and two 212-Olympia champions. Ten different people may have ten different ways this contest could go.

That said, it’s hard to go against “The Mutant” Nick Walker. The 2021 winner of this contest has beaten every men’s open man in this field. He’s never faced Shaun Clarida or Kamal Elgargni, but Walker is still considered the favorite, and we see him becoming a two-time champion.

  • Nick Walker
  • Mamdouh Elssbiay
  • Samson Dauda
  • Andrew Jacked
  • Shaun Clarida

 

Arnold Classic Physique

Ramon “Dino” Rocha Querioz took a giant leap in the Classic Physique division when he stood alongside Canada’s own Chris Bumstead at the 2022 Olympia. Bumstead won, but Querioz showed why he was the top challenger. Now, he has to prove himself worthy of being compared to Bumstead again in 2023. That journey begins at this contest against the likes of Urs Kalecinski and former Arnold winner Alex Cambronero. We see him standing tall at the end and cementing himself as Bumstead’s next Olympia rival.

  • Ramon Rocha Queiroz
  • Urs Kalecinski
  • Alex Cambronero
  • Mike Sommerfeld
  • Courage Opara

 

Men’s Physique

Erin Banks became the number one man in Men’s Physique when he defeated three-time Brandon Hendrickson to take his first Olympia win. Banks is also the reigning Men’s Physique winner at the Arnold Classic. Banks has shared sneak peeks during his prep, and he looks like he will be better in Columbus than he was in Las Vegas. In Banks’ eyes, the battle is for second. We see Diogo Montenegro taking that spot with Banks repeating as champion.

  • Erin Banks
  • Diogo Montenegro
  • Carlos DeOliveira
  • Emanual Hunter
  • Antoine Weatherspoon

 

Wheelchair

One year ago, Harold Kelley suffered his first loss on the Arnold stage when Gabriele Andriulli shocked the bodybuilding world and took first in this contest. Kelley got his revenge by winning his fifth Wheelchair Olympia title in December 2022. That made Kelley the first man to have five Arnold wins and five Olympia wins.

Now, Kelley looks for Arnold win number six, and we don’t see lightning striking twice. Two Canadians, Tory Jones and Woody Belfort will join Kelley in the top five, but “King Kong” will win again in Ohio.

  • Harold Kelley
  • Antoni Khadraoui
  • Tory Jones
  • Bradley Betts
  • Woody Belfort

Muscle Insider will provide 2023 Arnold Classic coverage throughout the big weekend in Ohio. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter @muscleinsider for developments and news.

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