Arnold Classic UK 2022 - Pre-Competition Special | Who is the favourite to win?

Author: Ondra Marienka

23.09.2022

4 minuty čtení

The Arnold Classic UK 2022 takes place this weekend 23-25 September 2022 at Birmingham NEC in the UK. It will return for the second year and will host eight bodybuilding categories, with the Men's Open division taking centre stage.

Arnold Classic UK 2021 winner Nathan De Asha will not be competing, leaving room for a new champion to be crowned. This event is among the other qualifying heats to take part in Mr. Olympia 2022, which will be held from December 15-18 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Our pro Josef Květoň was also invited to the race, but he declined the invitation. He summed up the whole situation in our interview as follows:

Well, since I'm very busy now, we decided not to use this opportunity because I wouldn't have had enough time to prepare and I wouldn't have been 100%. Unfortunately, I'm sorry too, but I don't want to show up for the first time among the pros with an unfinished form and the feeling that I couldn't give it my all. So.

But now let's take a look together at the hottest favorites in the Men's Open Bodybuilding division and then at the other competitors in each category.

Men's Open Bodybuilding

Lionel Beyeke
Rob Cannon
Maxx Charles
Vlad Alfred Chiriac
Jamie Christian-Johal
Martin Fitzwater
Marc Hector
James Hollingshead
Patrick Johnson
Claudio Sergio
Chinedu Andrew Obiekea

Andrew Jacked

Among the biggest favourites to win the Arnold Classic UK 2022 is clearly Chinedu Andrew Obiekea, aka Andrew Jacked. He earned his invitation to Mr. Olympia by winning the 2022 Texas Pro, which he was able to dominate. Many experts are predicting that Andrew will be the one to record his second professional win at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre.

Andrew Jacked

Martin Fitzwater

This fighter finished second to Andrew at the Texas Pro 2022 and will be looking to improve on his last result and win the event at the Arnold Clasic UK. We'll find out if he can do that over the weekend.

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A post shared by Martin “The Martian” Fitzwater (@martfitzh2o)

James Hollingshead

The other big favourite is definitely the local James Hollingshead, who is going for a clear victory in the domestic race. This will be James' first start of the year and he will do everything he can to win this event and qualify for Olympia.

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James Hollingshead and Jamie Christian-Johal a few days before the Arnold Classic UK 2022

Kulturistika / Fitness Osobnosti

21.09.2022

2 minuty čtení

Marc Hector

Another horse that will not leave any competitor quiet, however, is Marc Hecto. His full striped chest is one of his best weapons, which he certainly intends to use.

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A post shared by Marc Hector - IFBB PRO (@marc__hector)

Maxx Charles

Another top name in the Men's Open division returning to the scene is Maxx Charles. Charles brought an impressive physique to the 2022 Arnold Classic, but ultimately finished the show in eighth place. A week later, he returned to the Boston Pro podium, where he finished fifth. He'll certainly be looking to improve his results at the upcoming event, but we'll see how he fares.