One point. That’s what separated Ramon Queiroz from Mike Sommerfeld in Las Vegas last October — the closest finish in any division on the card.
They meet again on September 25, and this time Sommerfeld comes in with a victory over the man who defeated them both at the Arnold Classic. Ramón “Dino” Queiroz enters as champion, and has spent the entire year in top form.
Classic Physique is decided during Friday evening’s show at the Orleans Arena. Here’s where it stands.
Ramon Dino: The Champion Who Waited
Queiroz was the division’s perennial runner-up for years. Two silver medals behind Chris Bumstead, a fourth place in 2024, four top-five Olympia finishes without the win.
When Bumstead retired and the title went vacant, he took it — beating Sommerfeld and Terrence Ruffin to become only the fourth Classic Physique Olympia champion in history. The crowd came off their feet when his name was called. The prize was $100,000, double what the division paid the year before.
What set him apart in the final wasn’t his size, but his physique and presentation. He appeared more defined and muscular than in the earlier morning’s evaluation, and the judges rewarded him for it.
His approach to 2026 has been different from most defending champions. Instead of building muscle mass and then cutting it, he has maintained a lean physique throughout the season. During preparation, he measured his forearms at 43 centimeters (17 inches), and on August 19, he posted an update showing minimal body fat with approximately five and a half weeks to go before the competition.
Furthermore, head judge Steve Weinberger formally evaluated his physique and posing, a wise decision that demonstrates he is serious about his rematch against Sommerfeld.
Case for: Reigning champion, world-class arms, and a poser whose front double biceps and lat spread hold up against shorter, thicker rivals. Case against: Weinberger has indicated back improvements will decide this defense, and Wesley Vissers claims Ramon is carrying more weight right now than he should be this close in.
Mike Sommerfeld: Twice Second, and the Weight Cap Problem
Nobody in the division has been closer to a title without winning one. Runner-up in 2024, runner-up in 2025, and that second one by a single point.
He earned it in brutal circumstances. Sommerfeld had to drop 14 pounds in two days before the 2025 show to make the Classic Physique weight cap — and still brought what commentators called his best-ever package. Veins visible, hamstrings sharp, a front lat spread that was the single best shot of the round.
That weight cap is the recurring theme of his career, and in 2026 it cost him outright. He missed the limit at the Arnold Classic in Columbus and had to withdraw before stepping onstage.
For those who don’t closely follow this division: Classic Physique establishes a maximum competition weight based on each athlete’s height. This rule prevents the division from becoming an open competition. Tall, powerfully built athletes like Sommerfeld are always at a disadvantage.
He bounced back in Birmingham, defeating Wesley Vissers at the Arnold Classic UK. And, interestingly, Vissers later stated that Sommerfeld’s physique there was the best he had ever shown, more defined than when he faced Bumstead, and a step above Ramon’s.
Arguments for: Two years of missed opportunities, the best physique of his career, and the psychological advantage of the Birmingham victory. Arguments against: The weight cut. He has to make weight before he can prove his worth.
Wesley Vissers: The Wildcard
The Dutchman rebuilt his year and inserted himself straight back into the conversation.
After a poor 2025, he added leg thickness and definition in the off-season and cashed it in immediately — winning the 2026 Arnold Classic in Columbus, then the Detroit Pro decisively. He lost narrowly to Sommerfeld at the Arnold UK, but the momentum is real.
He’s also beaten Ramon before, at the 2024 Arnold Classic, which nobody saw coming at the time.
Dennis James rates his chances but set a hard condition: Vissers needs to be 100%, because 99% isn’t enough. The reasoning is structural — Vissers is one of the tallest men in the division, and while his waist isn’t the smallest, the way he displays his physique is about as classic as the division gets. Height and width only work if the conditioning is flawless.
Vissers himself has been more measured than his rivals, saying he’s confident of winning an Olympia within the next three years rather than claiming this one.
The Rest of the Field
Terrence Ruffin finished third in 2025 after a year away from the stage, looking polished and arguably at his peak. He is widely considered the best poser in the IFBB Pro League, a division where presentation is a crucial factor, especially compared to other categories.
Josema Munoz was fourth, and brought the hardest condition outside the top three. Niall Darwen was fifth with the fine, tapered line a lot of purists prefer.
Beyond them, Andrea Mammoli, Terrence Ruffin, Piotr Wojtowicz and Wesley Vissers are all through, along with around twenty others — and because Classic Physique is a points division, the field grows again when standings lock on 30 August.
The Verdict
This is the most closely contested fight for the top two spots in the sport right now, and the subplot is minimal.
If Sommerfeld makes weight without issue, he’ll be fresher than he was in 2025 and with a victory over the Arnold Classic champion under his belt. This is a completely different Sommerfeld than the one who lost by a point after a two-day water restriction.
If he struggles again, Ramon has already proven he can win from the middle of a three-way contest, and he’s had a full year to recover from the back injury Weinberger pointed out.
Keep an eye on the pre-judgment comparisons for Friday. In 2025, the judges rotated Ramon, Sommerfeld, and Ruffin around the center repeatedly without revealing their intentions, and the title wasn’t decided until late in the evening. Expect the same thing to happen again.
Read More: Mr. Olympia 2026 Men’s Physique Preview
Quick Answers
Who is the reigning Classic Physique Olympia champion? Ramon Rocha “Dino” Queiroz of Brazil, who won his first title in 2025.
How close was the 2025 Classic Physique Olympia? Ramon Queiroz beat Mike Sommerfeld by one point — the narrowest result on the card.
Why did Mike Sommerfeld miss the 2026 Arnold Classic? He failed to make the Classic Physique weight cap and withdrew before competing. He won the Arnold Classic UK later in the season.
Who won the 2026 Arnold Classic in Classic Physique? Wesley Vissers, who followed it with a win at the Detroit Pro.
When is the Classic Physique final? Friday 25 September at the Orleans Arena, as part of the evening show.
Contest results and athlete updates verified across multiple reports on 22 August 2026. The Classic Physique field is not final until qualification closes on 30 August — we’ll update this preview then.