The 2025 Pittsburgh Pro has turned into one of the most highly anticipated events of the bodybuilding season. This is a breakdown of the top Men’s Open contenders set for battle onstage, along with a guide on how to watch the contest in real-time.
The 2025 Pittsburgh Pro takes place from May 10-11 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The lineup is packed with top-tier Open threats, including Derek Lunsford, Nick Walker, Martin Fitzwater, William Bonac, and Michal ‘Krizo’ Krizanek. Whoever emerges victorious will stamp their ticket to this year’s Mr. Olympia event and take home a substantial $100,000 prize.
LIVE UPDATE: 2025 Pittsburgh Pro Results
2025 Pittsburgh Pro Men’s Open Roster
- Joe Ballinger – UK
- Pavel Beran – Czech Republic
- William Bonac – Netherlands
- Douglas Connor – USA
- Marcelo Pedro Da Cruz – Brazil
- Martin Fitzwater – USA
- Ron Gordon – USA
- Michal Krizanek – Slovakia
- Derek Lunsford – USA
- Vincenzo Masone – USA
- Justin Musiol – Germany
- Leandro Sencini Peres – Brazil
Vitalii Ugolnikov – Brazil(Out due to injury)- Nicholas Walker – USA
- Bartley Weaver IV – USA
Pittsburgh Pro Preview of Top Contenders
Check out our breakdown for the Pittsburgh Pro below:
Derek Lunsford
Derek Lunsford enters this contest as one of the biggest favorites. He’s a former 2023 Mr. Olympia champion and gained considerable momentum in his last outing. He defeated the reigning Olympia titleholder Samson Dauda at the 2025 Arnold Classic, proving that his third-place showing on the Las Vegas stage last October might have come down to an improper peak.
Lunsford arguably has the strongest back double biceps in the entire IFBB Pro League. His package in Ohio was powerful, and he displayed zero weaknesses. While his leg size and definition have been issues in the past, it looks like he’s improved them drastically in the lead-up to this show.
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Nick Walker
Nick Walker has the most question marks of anyone in the lineup. He bowed out of the 2023 Olympia due to a hamstring and calf tear. He’s proven he can defeat Martin Fitzwater, which he accomplished at the 2024 New York Pro. While he qualified for Olympia last year, he didn’t make it to the show after prep issues plagued him.
Walker’s mass, freak factor, and conditioning could put him ahead on the scorecards in Pittsburgh. However, he’ll need to ensure his back is on point to stand against Lunsford. Some in the community, including 1983 Mr. Olympia Samir Bannout, believe that it won’t be an issue, arguing he has one of the freakiest back doubles in the Open. Additionally, Walker’s legs have also been under scrutiny, so if they appear full and shredded, he could end up achieving redemption.
Martin Fitzwater
Fitzwater is a surging Open threat and continues to transform before fans’ eyes. In his debut on the Mr. Olympia stage last year, ‘The Martian’ exceeded expectations, turning in a fourth-place finish. His confidence soared after claiming gold over Chris Bumstead at the highly competitive 2024 Prague Pro.
He enters this competition with less pressure on his shoulders compared to Walker. Fitzwater is already Olympia-qualified but wants to test himself against elite talent like Lunsford and Walker, two men he’s yet to defeat in competition. Fitzwater’s aesthetics and shape are notable strengths, which could factor into the judges’ final tallies.
Michal ‘Krizo’ Krizanek
Mystery also surrounds Michal Krizo this weekend. He’s bouncing back from tearing two tendons in his shoulder. While surgery was successful, fans are curious if his upper body will have the mass and balance needed to push into the final callout. In 2023, Krizo secured eighth place on the Mr. Olympia stage.
His last outing saw him attempt to defend his crown at the 2024 Empro Classic Pro in Spain. He presented a solid package but struggled with the density and conditioning of Behrooz Tabani and the winner, William Bonac. One area Krizo has needed to improve is his back. If the thickness and conditioning are there, he stands a shot at pulling off a massive upset.
William Bonac
William Bonac’s been on a roll. He secured seventh place on the 2024 Mr. Olympia stage and didn’t stop there. He delivered a strong performance at the stacked 2025 Arnold Classic, where he took home fifth place. To qualify for this year’s Olympia, Bonac competed and won the Detroit Pro impressively.
Bonac has come razor close to winning the Mr. Olympia and has more experience than any other Open contender competing this weekend. If his conditioning is at his best-ever and his mass is on par with other threats onstage, he could find himself earning a spot on the podium.
How to Watch
The Pittsburgh Pro is set to kick off Saturday morning, starting with prejudging for the Men’s Open, Classic Physique, and Men’s Physique. Finals will occur on Saturday night; the remaining categories will compete on Sunday.
For those who can’t make it to the show in person, a live stream can be purchased on the official Pittsburgh Power & Fitness Festival website. The stream on Saturday is $29.99, and Sunday’s event is $24.99.
The 2025 Pittsburgh Pro is easily one of the most talent-stacked contests on the IFBB Pro League calendar. Our dedicated team at Fitness Volt looks forward to providing you with in-depth coverage of the results.
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