Derek Lunsford is the 2025 Arnold Classic champion. After a close round of pre-judging on Feb. 28, 2025, the finals were held in the Battelle Grand of the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, OH, on March 1, 2025. As a result of his efforts, he left the stage with the Arnold trophy and $500,000, the second-largest prize purse in bodybuilding history.
Samson Dauda was the runner-up, and third place went to Andrew Jacked. The top six finishers are as follows:
2025 Arnold Classic Results
- Derek Lunsford
- Samson Dauda
- Andrew Jacked
- Brandon Curry
- William Bonac
- Akim Williams
After pre-judging, Dauda, Lunsford, and Jacked were considered the top three favorites. Come the finals, Jacked fell out of the race and entered the bronze battle against Curry. Dauda and Lunsford clashed through three rounds of head-to-head posing. The fans showed their appreciation for them with a standing ovation.
By the third round, seven-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath, on commentary, said Lunsford’s quads were starting to fade. He and Nick Miller from Nick’s Strength and Power, also on commentary, favored Dauda in most poses. All the competitors then took part in a pose down, which the fans enjoyed even more.
Winner — Derek Lunsford
This was Lunsford’s Arnold Classic debut, and he made the most of it. The 2023 Mr. Olympia winner earned half a million dollars and has regained momentum heading into the 2025 Mr. Olympia.
Second Place — Samson Dauda
The 2024 Sandow Trophy winner showed up respectfully, but it was insufficient to overtake Lunsford. Nonetheless, Dauda now has extra fuel for his fire as he prepares to defend his Olympia championship later this season.
Third Place — Andrew Jacked
Jacked was coming off a fifth-place finish at the 2024 Mr Olympia, and he needed this win to qualify for 2025. To compete in Las Vegas, he must win a pro show before Sept. 14, 2025.
Other Notes
Lunsford received the Ed Corny award as the best poser for this competition and a $10,000 bonus for his efforts. Dauda won the same prize money for earning the Franco Colombu Most Muscular award.
Mike Katz, a former pro bodybuilder, judge, and star of Pumping Iron, received the 2025 Arnold Classic Lifetime Achievement award. Katz was honored during the Saturday night finals in the Battelle Grand room.
If you missed any of the Arnold Classic bodybuilding or strongman events, check out BarBend’s extensive live coverage currently live.
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Featured Image: @arnoldsports on Instagram
