Rafael Brandao is leaving the Men’s Open. In an Instagram video posted on October 27, 2026, the Brazilian bodybuilder said he will move to Classic Physique and compete in the division in 2027.

He made the video, he said, because fans kept messaging him to ask whether the news was true.

Rafael Brandao on His Move to Classic Physique

“I’m going to move from Open Division to Classic Physique Division and I’m going to compete next year, 2027,” Brandao said. “I don’t know yet what the championship, but I know I’m going to compete next year.”

He has spent his whole pro career in the Open: “It has been a long journey for me since I turned pro in 2016, this is 10 years as a professional bodybuilder in the Open Division.” He closed the 50-second clip with “See you guys next year at the Classic Physique stage.”

Brandao’s 10 Years in the Men’s Open

His first pro show came a year after he turned pro, at the 2017 San Marino Pro, where he placed eighth. His best season came in 2024. He placed third at the Arnold Classic in Columbus, won the Arnold Classic South America and the Romania Muscle Fest Pro, and finished eighth at the Mr. Olympia. That eighth place is his best Olympia result, two spots better than his tenth-place debut in 2022.

He sat out 2025, then returned in 2026 after the biggest off-season of his career. He told Jay Cutler in January that he had reached 300 pounds for the first time. He placed sixth at the Arnold Classic, third at the New York Pro and sixth at the Pittsburgh Pro, and he ended his season without competing at the 2026 Olympia.

On May 17, he announced a break from competition. In a Portuguese-language post, he said he had faced health issues in 2025 and planned to use the time for an off-season, then come back with a new and bigger physique. His October video doesn’t say why he chose Classic Physique.

What the Classic Physique Weight Cap Means for Brandao

Classic Physique sets a maximum bodyweight for each height. Brandao is listed at 5’11”, which puts his cap at 219 pounds (99.3 kg) under the IFBB Pro League rules. The full height and weight table is in our Classic Physique division guide.

In his January interview with Jay Cutler, Brandao said his heaviest stage weight had been 262 pounds and that he expected to weigh about 266 to 267 pounds on stage at the Arnold Classic. At 5’11”, he would have to compete at least 43 pounds lighter than his heaviest stage weight. If he measures over 5’11” at check-in, the cap rises to 227 pounds for competitors up to 6’0″.

Brandao hasn’t said what weight he is aiming for or how his training will change.

How Brandao Can Reach the 2027 Classic Physique Olympia

Under the 2027 Olympia qualification system, a Classic Physique competitor qualifies by winning two pro shows or by finishing in the top 20 of the division’s point standings. A win at the Arnold Classic USA, Pittsburgh Pro, New York Pro, Romania Muscle Fest Pro or Dubai Pro also qualifies automatically. The window closes on September 12, 2027. Our 2027 Olympia qualified athletes page tracks who is in so far.

Brandao will share the division with fellow Brazilian Ramon Dino, who placed third at the 2026 Classic Physique Olympia behind champion Niall Darwen and runner-up Mike Sommerfeld.