The highly anticipated Ultimate Night of Champions—also known as the Ultimate Classic—made a spectacular return this year, marking its first staging in three years. Organized by the Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation of Nigeria (ABBFN), the prestigious event was held over the weekend of October 3rd to 5th and showcased the deep talent pool within the Nigerian physical culture space. The championship was hosted at the D.S.P. Alameiyesegha Banquet Hall in Yenagoa, the capital city of Bayelsa State in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region. Crucially, the competition served as a vital national qualifier for the upcoming IFBB Mr. Universe Nigeria, which is scheduled to take place in Lagos the following weekend on October 11th. This year’s successful staging was organized under the esteemed patronage of Sentor Douye Diri, the current Governor of Bayelsa State.
The weekend’s activities commenced on Friday, the 3rd, with the Arrival and Weigh-in of athletes. The main competitive event took place on Saturday, the 4th, which also included a pre-show meeting between the organizers and athletes. The turnout was excellent, once again highlighting the depth of talent and potential within the Nigerian bodybuilding community. Competition was fierce across the three main divisions:
Men’s Physique: The title was secured by Hammed Badmus of Oyo State. He was followed by Zacchaeus David of Kaduna in the first runner-up position, with ‘homeboy’ Alfred Sogomote taking second runner-up.
Classic Physique: Emmanuel Nwobodo of Imo State delivered a dominant performance to claim the gold. He bested Samuel Agobi from Lagos and Michael Nabes from Kwara, who finished second and third, respectively.
Open Bodybuilding: The top prize went to Samuel Akinrolabu of Rivers State. He edged out the veteran cop bodybuilder from Kano, Edward “Bawo” Achi, who took second place, while Lagos-based debutant Goodness Emmanuel made a strong impression by securing third.
In addition, to spice up the evening, there were guest pose appearances from the likes of Olalekan Ibrahim and Andrew Eyo, two IFBB Elite Pro athletes who have done the nation proud in recent years.
The successful return of the Ultimate Night of Champions is a potent reminder of the burgeoning Nigerian physical culture space and the massive potential it holds, particularly as the sport continues to gain greater official acceptance. With this major qualifying event concluded, the Nigerian 2025 competitive season is now officially underway. All eyes now turn to the aforementioned IFBB show in Lagos, followed by a couple of other competitions scheduled in the coming weeks. Congratulations are extended to all athletes who participated in the 2025 ABBFN Senator Douye Diri Ultimate Night of Champions, and best of luck to those preparing for the remaining shows of the season!
The NBD
