Attention has turned to the next marquee event on the IFBB Pro League calendar. On June 19, 2026, bodybuilding veteran Iain Valliere laid out his top eight Men’s Open predictions for the upcoming 2026 Empro Classic Spain Pro.
The opportunity to qualify for the 2026 Mr. Olympia is closing fast. Competitors have from September 15, 2025, to August 30, 2026, to secure their entries. Men’s Open stars will have another shot this weekend, as they finalize preparations.
In 2025, Sasan Heirati claimed gold at the Empro Classic, thanks to his vascular conditioning and dominant lower body. He’s set his sights on a successful title defense. This season, he picked up gold at two events: the FIBO Championships and the California State Pro. He finished runner-up in his last outing at the Tsunami Nutrition Showdown France Pro.
It won’t be an easy win for Heirati. He faces William Bonac, a former two-time Arnold Classic champion. “The Conqueror” just defeated Heirati in France, and fans expect another intense showdown when they meet in Spain.
Iain Valliere’s Top 8 Men’s Open Predictions for the 2026 Empro Classic Spain Pro
Find his picks from the video below:
- Winner — William Bonac
- Second Place — Sasan Heirati
- Third Place — Emir Omeragic
- Fourth Place — Edward Kargbo
- Fifth Place — Justin Musiol
- Sixth Place — Roman Fritz
- Seventh Place — Lorenzo Leeuwe
- Eighth Place — Andy Scott
Valliere sees the contest boiling down to a few competitors. He predicted Bonac to emerge victorious, with Heirati taking runner-up and Emir Omeragic settling for bronze.
Having won the Empro Classic Spain Pro back in 2024, Bonac is a clear frontrunner. However, he revealed that his passion for the sport is fading, stressing that the ‘brotherhood’ among competitors no longer exists. Bonac has gone so far as to say that he’s considering retirement:
“10 years ago or maybe six or seven years ago, if you told me do you want to retire, I’d say hell no. If you ask me right now, William, do you want to retire? I can’t wait,” he shared. “I even get emotional talking about this. I love bodybuilding. Bodybuilding saved my life.”
Given their history, the scorecards between Bonac and Heirati could be extremely close. They have also both qualified for the 2026 Mr. Olympia, so if either contender wins, they prevent other athletes from making it to ‘The Super Bowl of Bodybuilding.’
The 2026 Empro Classic Spain Pro is set for June 21 in Alicante, Spain. Our Fitness Volt team will have live coverage of the action.
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