The heavyweight spectacle everyone had circled didn’t disappoint.
At East Vs West 23 in Germany, two giants from completely different worlds collided — and it delivered tension, controversy, and a decisive final moment that left one of the sport’s biggest names visibly frustrated.
Brian Shaw vs Leonidas Arkona had all the ingredients before it even began.
A four-time World’s Strongest Man versus one of Germany’s most recognisable bodybuilding influencers. A near 100lb weight difference. Experience versus raw power.
From the moment they stepped to the table, it was clear this wasn’t going to be straightforward. With the strap coming out before round one, both athletes were locked in — and it was Arkona who struck first.
ROUND 1
Arkona wins round 1 with a flash pin. A fast, controlled start from the German, who looked sharp and composed against the vastly heavier and stronger opponent.
ROUND 2
The match quickly turned chaotic.
Arkona gets a foul in round two after staring at Shaw mid-match and pulling the elbow. After yet another foul from Arkona, the round goes to Shaw. Suddenly, it was level — but not without frustration creeping into the contest.
ROUND 3
Arkona wasted no time regaining control.
Arkona took control quick and earned another flash pin for round 3. A reminder that despite Shaw’s size, Arkona’s arm wrestling experience was a serious factor.
ROUND 4
Momentum swung again — and so did the fouls.
Shaw pulls the elbow for a foul. Arkona then earns an elbow foul, as Shaw set up for a flop – his strength clearly overwhelming for Arkona. After yet another elbow foul from Arkona, it is now 2-2.
Everything came down to one final round.
ROUND 5
This is it. The decider.
Despite a strong shoulder by Shaw, Arkona fought hard against a flop for a quick pin via a toproll.
And just like that, it was over.
Shaw was visibly disappointed and challenged the call – but was unsuccessful. The result caps a fascinating clash that had been brewing all week.
Heading into the event, the contrast between the two couldn’t have been clearer.
Four-time World’s Strongest Man winner Brian Shaw towered over the massive influencer Leonidas Arkona as they faced off ahead of their arm wrestling match.
Arkonas – one of the most popular bodybuilding influencers in Germany – is a giant in his own right at 6’1″ and tipping the scales at 295lb which makes him bigger than any MMA heavyweight. But Shaw is a marvel of an athlete, standing at 6’6″ and weighing in at 403lb.
Despite the size difference, many backed Arkona due to his greater experience in the sport — while others, including Eddie Hall, supported Shaw.
The pre-match build-up only added to the intrigue.
After a week of limited appearances and a late arrival for the day’s press conference, Leonida Arkonas finally came face-to-face with Brian Shaw at Friday’s East vs West 23 press conference in Cologne, Germany.
“I’ve been in Germany since Tuesday night and today was the first time I’ve seen him,” Shaw told Bloody Elbow in an exclusive chat. “You would think he will show up… At this point, I’m here and whenever he shows up I have my same game plan.
“It’s not going to phase me at all, and if anything I feel like he’s creating more stress for himself by not showing up and now everybody is going to be questioning why and where he is and all of that?”
Arkona, for his part, even attempted to get under Shaw’s skin by doing push-ups during the press conference.
But after all his games, the night belonged to Arkona… but only just. Against one of the strongest men to ever walk the planet, he held his nerve when it mattered most. And in a five-round battle that swung back and forth, it was precision, not just power, that made the difference.
Elsewhere on the East Vs West 23 card, the official results played out as follows:
D. Bornman def. Andre Nykonenko (3-1)
Aleksi Zavrashvili def. Artem Orianbinskyi (3-0)
Zurab Tavberidze def. Maayan Shterengas (3-2)
Riekard Bornman def. Lars Rorbakken (3-0)
Egle Vaitkute def. Azra Sari (3-0)
Rustam Babayev def. Betkili Oniani (3-1)
Aymric Pradines def. Matt Mask (3-0)
Ayane Takenaka def. Melek Sahin (4-0)
Alizhan Muratov def. Artyom Morozov (3-0)
Mindaugas Tarasaitis def. Arthur Makarov (4-0)
Davit Samushia def. Alexander Teliatnik (4-0)
Ivan Matyushenko def. Dave Chaffee (4-1)
Leonidas Arkona def. Brian Shaw (3-2)
Devon Larratt def Vitaly Laletin (4-1)
Featured image credit: Instagram/east_vs_west_armwrestling_ (screenshots)
