One of the last Men’s Open Mr. Olympia qualifiers is taking place this weekend. In a July 30 YouTube video, Iain Valliere and Seth Feroce shared their top three Men’s Open predictions for the 2026 Tampa Pro.
IFBB Pro League competitors are running out of time to ensure their Mr. Olympia entries. The August 30 deadline is approaching fast, and the Tampa Pro lineup is loaded with top-tier threats. Nick Walker, the on-paper favorite, has considerable momentum leading into the show.
After mistiming his peak and taking sixth at the 2025 Olympia, Walker regained momentum at the 2026 Arnold Classic. He pushed Andrew Jacked (Chinedu Andrew Obiekea) to claim second place, and defeated Hadi Choopan for the first time in his career.
Walker will have a few high-profile threats to watch out for in Tampa. Mass monster James Hollingshead is fresh off back-to-back second place finishes at the Mr. Big Evolution Pro and Huanji China Pro.
Additionally, rising star Jo Palacios will be onstage, who has continued to improve from season to season. Palacios claimed third at the Tampa Pro last year, and competed at the Texas Pro, where he secured a runner-up finish. With the contest approaching, these bodybuilding veterans revealed what’s likely to unfold.
Bodybuilding Veterans Share Top 3 Men’s Open Predictions for the 2026 Tampa Pro
Find their predictions from the video below:
Iain Valliere
- Winner — Nick Walker
- Second Place — Jo Palacios
- Third Place — James Hollingshead
Seth Feroce
- Winner — Nick Walker
- Second Place — James Hollingshead
- Third Place — Jo Palacios
Retired Pros have been candid about Walker’s chances in Florida. According to Bob Cicherillo and Shawn Ray, Walker’s year-round low body fat positions him as a massive favorite.
“He’s had the time to make the corrections. He’s going to be in a lineup that he should win. On paper, these guys shouldn’t be able to stand next to him. It shouldn’t be close. He should win this running away, and he shouldn’t take it lightly,” shared Shawn Ray.
Cicherillo also pointed out Walker’s structural limitations, like his blocky waist and lack of leg sweep.
“He does have an issue with blockiness, the way he’s structured, but he doesn’t have a whole lot of sweep to his legs either. He’s not old by any stretch in terms of bodybuilding, but his front shots, there’s no sweeps on his legs. From the back, he looks like a whole different person.”
Should Walker secure the victory, he will be poised to make his fourth appearance at the Mr. Olympia. The 2026 Tampa Pro takes place this weekend from July 30 to August 1.
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