Arnold Classic 2025 – The Results

The results are here. Find all the results of the Arnold Classic USA 2025 below.

Derek Lunsford Shocks the World: Arnold Classic 2025 Champion!

Derek Lunsford takes the victory! In a historic showdown, he outperforms Samson Dauda with flawless conditioning and a world-class back double biceps.

An Epic Battle: The British Athlete Dauda, the reigning Mr. Olympia, had to settle for 2nd place. He delivered a strong performance and energized the crowd, but Lunsford’s precision and muscle quality made the difference. After a nail-biting decision, Derek Lunsford lifts the 2025 Arnold Classic trophy high!

Additional Award: Best Posing Award
Alongside his overall victory, Lunsford also secures the Best Posing Award. His commanding stage presence and perfectly executed poses made him the standout performer of the night.

Samson Dauda Wins the Most Muscular Award
Even though he narrowly missed the overall win, Dauda takes home the Most Muscular Award – a testament to his incredible muscle mass and presence on stage.

James Hollingshead, another UK athlete, secures a respectable 8th place.

Results Men's Open

Men’s Open Final: Derek Lunsford Wins the 2025 Arnold Classic

Derek Lunsford – Power and Precision in Perfection
Lunsford is in just as great shape today as he was yesterday in the prejudging. His upper body is full, and his legs are deeply striated—exactly what the judges want to see. Especially in his signature pose, the "Back Double Biceps," he plays to his strengths relentlessly. He won’t give up the title without a fight.

Samson Dauda – The Experts’ Favorite?
He was already strong in the prejudging, but today, he takes it to another level. Tighter than yesterday, with a better waistline and a more refined midsection—Dauda looks even more impressive today. He delivers a top-tier posing performance and convinces the experts: "He’s taking it again," says David Hoffmann—a prediction that may very well come true.

James Hollingshead – A Solid Performance, 8th Place Finish
UK’s James Hollingshead brought size, conditioning, and his signature intensity to the Arnold Classic 2025 stage. His impressive muscle fullness and sharp conditioning were undeniable, but in a stacked lineup, he landed in 8th place. Despite not cracking the top spots, his dedication and work ethic were evident, solidifying his status as one of the hardest-working athletes in the sport.

Akim Williams – Stronger Than in the Prejudging, as Expected
It’s well known that Williams always improves on the second day, and once again, this proves true. The cuts in his legs are deeper than in the prejudging, and his mass is impressive. If it weren’t for his high lats as a limiting factor, he would be even higher in the rankings—because the rest of his physique is simply spectacular.

Brandon Curry – A Champion Remains a Champion
Curry has presented himself smartly: After some critiques on his left biceps on the first day, today, he only showcases his right arm—a clever move. His conditioning remains consistent, and his round muscle bellies give him the aesthetic look that both fans and judges admire.

Andrew "Jacked" – Aesthetics Meets Showmanship
Wearing a Terminator mask and blindfold to Madonna’s "Like a Prayer"—Andrew "Jacked" knows how to put on a show. Physically, he looks the same as yesterday, but his immense shoulder width and flawless posing routine stand out. The highlight: He finishes his performance with a full split!

Shaun Clarida – The Definition of Endlevel
Reger sums it up perfectly: "If he stands alone and doesn’t look smaller than the others—that’s endlevel." Clarida displays incredible density and muscle maturity, though the sheer mass of his competitors might work against him.

William Bonac – The 3D Freak Show
Bonac presents himself with a brutal back shot: The separation between his hamstrings and quads from the rear is simply outstanding, and his "ultra-crazy 3D look" makes him stand out from the crowd.

Patrick Moore – The Aesthetic Among the Mass Monsters
There’s no doubt—Moore looks spectacular. However, in terms of muscle mass, he can’t quite keep up with the top contenders. His waist-to-lat ratio is unique, but in this competition, it won’t be the decisive factor.

Justin Rodriguez – A Solid Performance
Compared to previous years, Rodriguez looks significantly improved. However, a possible triceps injury could slow him down. Despite his solid form, he remains in the shadow of the absolute elite.

Carlos Thomas Jr. – Hardness Makes the Difference
His side leg conditioning doesn’t match Lunsford’s, and overall, he lacks the final level of sharpness. In a lineup of this caliber, that could be crucial.

Results – Friday – Arnold Classic 2025

Results – Saturday – Arnold Classic 2025

New Classic Physique Champion at the Arnold Classic 2025

The Classic Physique finals delivered an incredible show and crowned a new champion: Mike Sommerfeld. Experts praise: “When Mike is in shape like today, you’ll struggle to find a weakness.” His thick calves, rock-hard quads, and perfectly defined separation between quads, hamstrings, and glutes set new standards. Add to that a full chest, thick arms, and exceptional posing. His lat muscles start almost at his waist—rare in this category. Arnold Schwarzenegger personally honors him with a selfie.

Logan Franklin delivers a stellar performance, earning the Best Posing Award and securing a well-deserved second place. Known for his flawless posing routine, he impresses with a “Captain America face” and a “certain arrogance” in his stage presence—in a good way. David Hoffmann comments: “It’s always amazing when everything comes together—just like it did for him today.”

Matthew Greggo claims third place, showing an outstanding physique with a narrow waist and strong poses. Compared to Michael Daboul, he excels in side poses, while Daboul appears stronger from the back. Daboul’s conditioning is extreme, with muscles visible even without flexing. Luca Reger notes: “Not quite the X-frame you see in others, not the waist like Mike.” Still, an impressive performance earns him fourth place.

Wesley Vissers excites the crowd with his classic presentation and once again receives a knighting moment, as Arnold Schwarzenegger takes a selfie with him. His shoulders are the definition of Classic Physique standards, yet he finishes in fifth place this time.

Ji Hoon Bang rounds out the elite lineup, taking sixth place.

Results Classic Physique

Men's Open Prejudging: Dauda or Lunsford?

The Men’s Open category at the Arnold Classic 2025 is stacked with elite athletes. Samson Dauda, the reigning Mr. Olympia, faces fierce competition from Brandon Curry (former Open Mr. Olympia), Derek Lunsford (former Open Mr. Olympia), and Shaun Clarida (former 212 Olympia champion). A high-caliber lineup sets the stage for an intense prejudging showdown.

Derek Lunsford, the 2023 Mr. Olympia, known for his transition from the 212 division to the Open class, makes his Arnold Classic debut. He showcases remarkable improvements, with deep lat striations and a fuller side profile. Experts praise: “That leg is wild; the best Derek I’ve ever seen.” While his shoulder-to-chest separation could be sharper, his balance and conditioning have clearly improved since the 2024 Olympia in October.

Brandon Curry delivers a strong overall package and looks significantly improved from his last Mr. Olympia appearance. His signature muscle mass and vascularity are there, although muscle depth and a possible left biceps injury raise some concerns. While his sharp cuts and conditioning are slightly off this time, he still presents an impressive physique.

Chinedu Andrew "Jacked" Obiekea from Nigeria looks as solid as ever but struggles to match Lunsford’s level of conditioning. Uneven glutes and structural weaknesses from the side affect his overall presentation.

Samson Dauda, the current Mr. Olympia, has the chance to become the first reigning Olympia winner to win the Arnold Classic in the same year. His stage presence and size give him a natural edge over Lunsford. Coach Stefan Kienzl remarks: "If you stand next to his arms, you’d get scared – seriously." While Lunsford appears sharper, Dauda dominates with his imposing physique and stage charisma.

Shaun Clarida, also coached by Kienzl, puts in a solid performance. Meanwhile, William Bonac, another Kienzl athlete, shows great conditioning but struggles with structural challenges and a weaker V-taper due to past injuries.

Carlos Thomas Jr. impresses with his tiny waist-to-leg ratio and insane proportions. His hamstrings stand out, but he still lacks the final details and conditioning needed for a podium finish.

James Hollingshead from the UK brings massive quads but lacks a strong V-taper. His side triceps pose remains one of his best shots.

Call-Out Comparisons

In the first call-out, William Bonac, Derek Lunsford, Samson Dauda, Akim Williams, Brandon Curry, and Chinedu Andrew "Jacked" Obiekea go head-to-head. Lunsford and Dauda take center stage, with Lunsford’s deep cuts and improved legs standing out. Luca Reger exclaims: "He’s never had cuts like this before! What did they do?"

In the second call-out, James Hollingshead moves to the center, while Shaun Clarida is looking like the standout in this round.

For the final comparison, Lunsford, Dauda, Curry, and Jacked battle it out once more. Lunsford’s details outshine Dauda’s, setting up a neck-and-neck race for the title. David Hoffmann sums it up: “This is going to be insanely close.”