The 2025 Arnold Classic Mega Thread

[specter]

I think Samson needs an actual coach. He struggles to bring that dry crisp look. He also has very slight gyno but wasn’t bad enough to detract.

Derek is fair and square winner. He brought the total package and improved greatly under aceto.

Andrew has the coolest physique per say but I don’t see him adding enough size to his gaint frame to ever be mr O.

I was thinkin maybe Samson just had to much oil on and it made him too shiny ?
Derek was deff the true winner here no doubt.

 

[gauge22-v2]

In some shots Samsons shoulders display some funky angles.

I cant stand that shit.

 

[gauge22-v2]

Ugh.

 

[Sectør]

Happy for Derek. I just didn’t see him losing with that level of conditioning. Dude was shredded

 

[KingOfSushi]

Maybe this can give Samson the slap in the face he needs that he can’t keep slacking on conditioning

 

[Mute]

Samson did bring it during the finals but you could see he began to fade as Steve was putting them through the mandatories. Derek stayed sharp if not got harder. Much deserved win for him..I had a feeling it was going to be a dog fight.

 

[Fleezy]

I guess Derek and Aceto figured out the formula pretty quickly

Wild how it seemed like Derek threw some shade at Hany during that small interview

 

[madg]

I guess Derek and Aceto figured out the formula pretty quickly

Wild how it seemed like Derek threw some shade at Hany during that small interview

Aceto is OG

 

[Biggerp73]

Ugh.

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Those aren't funky angles those are just absolutely massive delts bro

 

[aDw32]

2 judges had Samson first on finals, it was great battle

 

[AllOkJumpmaster]

Derek was the deserving winner. Not a fan of Samson, I think Andrew can overtake him in the future

Very happy for Andrew in 3rd, and for Akim, and Brandon's showing.

I thought Akim should have been ahead of Bonac.

 

[AllOkJumpmaster]

The classic physique category is drunk and has no idea what it is doing...

yes, Mike was the best in that lineup, and well deserving of his win, but the category is still anything but "classic"

 

[AllOkJumpmaster]

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Aceto gets guys peeled. period.

 

[Sectør]

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Aceto gets guys peeled. period.

The hamstring sweep is disgustingly good. There’s lines there I didnt even know existed

 

[Elvia1023]

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Aceto gets guys peeled. period.

He likes to hit diuretics early on and for some it can create a fantastic look and for others it can go the opposite way. You have Derek who looked incredible and had a great prep and he has been slating his old coach Hany after this show. Then you have the likes of Patrick Moore who was also coached by Chris Aceto for this show and he has really thrown him under the bus. Stating post show how he looked really good but Aceto had him start diuretics on Sunday for this Friday show. How he knew it would fuck up but he stuck to the plan 100% and he looked worse for it. How Aceto didn't even reply to his messages after prejudging.

Patrick seems to have issues with many people so I don't think is the best person to go from. I actually think it was pretty weak what he done after this show. It wasn't long ago that everyone was talking about Patrick's fight and he was getting spoken about negatively and Chris was the first to defend him and spoke out again the hate. He goes from that to this. Patrick should have just kept his mount shut and moved on.

 

[Elvia1023]

Ugh.

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Most of them have stuff in them for the shows but that doesn't look bad at all. Granted he probably used some HA before the show. One of the guys who has started using too much SEO is Andrew. He has been putting too much in his arms recently. Although I preferred Andrew's look to Samson's but he won't win a big show unless he brings up his posterior chain.

 

[Elvia1023]

The classic physique category is drunk and has no idea what it is doing...

yes, Mike was the best in that lineup, and well deserving of his win, but the category is still anything but "classic"

It's a weird one. In one way Logan looked perfect and he is the epitome of classic physique. Although no one really knows just what that means. I don't even think the judges quite do and it's an evolving look. When I think of classic I think of Arnold but they can't have an Arnold lookalike contest were they give the best tall guy the trophy each year. It's basically bodybuilding with aesthetics and a weight cap. Wesley is very classical but his legs need to be bigger to win in this division now and that's why he fell short this year. Logan had the perfect look in many ways. However when Mike is on stage whilst I agree he has more of an "open bodybuilder" look he definitely makes it look classical with his posing. The guy looked incredible on stage and his shape is so rare and stands out and I can see why he won. He also has no weaknesses and is extremely balanced. He is shorter so he looks thicker than the rest of the guys and that shows on stage.

 

[FrenchBench22]

He likes to hit diuretics early on and for some it can create a fantastic look and for others it can go the opposite way. You have Derek who looked incredible and had a great prep and he has been slating his old coach Hany after this show. Then you have the likes of Patrick Moore who was also coached by Chris Aceto for this show and he has really thrown him under the bus. Stating post show how he looked really good but Aceto had him start diuretics on Sunday for this Friday show. How he knew it would fuck up but he stuck to the plan 100% and he looked worse for it. How Aceto didn't even reply to his messages after prejudging.

In a discussion with Dave Palumbo yesterday, Chris Aceto explains that he prefers to see his athletes several times a day for the final days to make final adjustments and that Patrick arrived too late and didn't make any time to see Chris on Friday (the day of prejudging).

The discussion begins at 30:50

 

[aDw32]

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[Sectør]

He likes to hit diuretics early on and for some it can create a fantastic look and for others it can go the opposite way. You have Derek who looked incredible and had a great prep and he has been slating his old coach Hany after this show. Then you have the likes of Patrick Moore who was also coached by Chris Aceto for this show and he has really thrown him under the bus. Stating post show how he looked really good but Aceto had him start diuretics on Sunday for this Friday show. How he knew it would fuck up but he stuck to the plan 100% and he looked worse for it. How Aceto didn't even reply to his messages after prejudging.

Patrick seems to have issues with many people so I don't think is the best person to go from. I actually think it was pretty weak what he done after this show. It wasn't long ago that everyone was talking about Patrick's fight and he was getting spoken about negatively and Chris was the first to defend him and spoke out again the hate. He goes from that to this. Patrick should have just kept his mount shut and moved on.

I think bad mouthing your coach is never a good look, especially a top coach like aceto. I doubt other coaches are going to be lining up to help Patrick after that

side note: I need to start watching some Chris aceto videos and figure out his philosophy. He seems to be doing a lot of good stuff