Arnold Classic 2023 Contest Report

This years Arnold Classic had all the drama of a prize fight going into the show. You had the favorite posting vids online of his training progress as the show approached. You had the 212 Olympia champ posting training pics & vids as he going through his prep and getting bigger than he was at the Olympia. Their was the Olympia 2021 winner in videos online show that he was improving on the faults that kept him from securing his third title in a row. Then there was the 2 new comers ( one allot newer than all the others ) both vowing to be much improved and at their best of the year for this show. Yeah it was gonna be one of the best Arnold Classic in a very long time!

The Show:

Pre-Judging: Pre-judging started out with all 5 of the pre-contest favorites center stage. The judges did their usual thing of moving them around to get as many comparisons possible before substuting in & out. The biggest thing tha caugh our eyes as it did with most people is the fact as to how fast they moved on from the former Mr.Olympia winner. That in it self sent waves across social media. As thing progressed with the top 3 we got a very good glimpse at what they were thinking when the last iteration had the top 3 in their final placing order before moving on to judging the rest of the feild. One thing we didn't like was the comparison of the 212 Olympia champ with the past open winner. That was bullshit because pure size doesn't mean shit! If it did you would have worlds stongest man competitors winning these shows! TOTAL JUDGING BULLSHIT!!!!

How They & We saw it:

1^st Place: Samson Duada - We had Samson #1 after pre-judging and he came back the next day a little sharper as he was fading a little as the pre-judging lagged on through the night. Legs (both quads & Hamstrings) were improved over the Olympia and his back was MORE defined. He has all the muscle to beat anybody but tend to hold that last little bit of either fat or fluid right under his skin. Allot of the was gone at this show. Improvements: needs more back width in his lower lats and lat roundness(dumbbell pullovers), and keep his fat levels lower.

2^nd Place: Nick Walker - Nick looked ridiculous in all his shots leading up to the show and did not disappoint. From all the stuff on social media he been upset with the decision but you can't live in the past. His conditioning was spot on and he did achieve a more streamlined midsection, but as we looked at it to what cost? We don't want a streamlined Nick Walker we want a powerful Nick Walker and he lost some of that power playing into the streamline game. Your waist is FINE!! Concentrate on delts, lower back thickness and quad mass - Bring the Monster Back!

3^rd Place: Chinedu Andrew Obiekea - The most improved over their Olympia conditioning then all the other top 5 contestants. At the Olympia he was said to have been sick for weeks prior to the competition but suffered through and managed to get a solid 8th place finish. Here at the Arnold Classic his conditioning and overall shape & symmetry were vastly improved. Gone were the puffy lines of a armature-professional. Now your starting to see the line of a professional bodybuilder. Lower back was in and had feathering across the quads. Abet streamlined from the past 3 previous shows, but was improved on shape symmetry and conditioning. Needs more overall size even though he weighs in the high 280's / low 290's. At 6'2" he needs to be at least the high 290's low 300's with added size in the triceps, hamstrings, forearms and traps. He makes these improvements he will be untouchable - PERIOD!!!

4^th Place: Mamdouh "Big Ramy" Elssbiay - Much improved from the Olympia 2022. Gone were the knots in his thighs, and his triceps seemed to be on the mend as well. The appeared fuller and thicker from the side. His back and lower lats were also improved. The only problem we had with him was the damn judges. They moved him quickly through the prejudging and that was BULLSHIT. The guy deserved allot better treatment than what he go at this damn show. People need to be aware that his is how THE IFBB OPERATES! Deserved more respect but was actually place correct. We hope he keep the stem cell treatment going because the shit is working. If they got mad about him talking about the treatment the fuck them - KEEP PUSHING FORWARD!

5^th Place: Shaun Clarida - The most complete & conditioned bodybuilder in the IFBB RIGHT NOW!This guy is complete from head to toe, his only problem in his height (5'3") and weight (low 190's) other than that very complete. Being this small in the open class is not an easy thing to due and the judges playing BS games comparing him to one of the largest of the show by themselves was BS! We agreed that he was out matched in the show but did very well holding his own on shape conditioning and symmetry with all the competitors. Venturing into other open competitions we think is a must for Shaun just not one as large as th Arnold Classic Ohio.

6^th Place: Akim Williams - Pound for pound one of the biggest guys of the show. Much improved in conditioning and presentation. One of his best looks ever. He needs to continue on this path with at least 1 or 2 of these spring shows and he will get his Olympia qualification.