The 2026 Huanji China Pro results have the bodybuilding community talking. In a July 26 Instagram post, Lee Priest said James Hollingshead was robbed against Behrooz Tabani and warned other competitors about judging in the IFBB Pro League.
The Huanji China Pro was one of the closer contests of the bodybuilding season. Hollingshead’s mass and conditioning were pitted against Behrooz Tabani‘s aesthetics and tight waist. Ultimately, the judges awarded the Iranian star the victory, prompting heated online debates about the rightful winner.
Lee Priest Calls 2026 China Pro a ‘Daylight Robbery,’ Says James Hollingshead Should’ve Won
In the Instagram post, Priest called the China Pro results a ‘daylight robbery.’ Despite qualifying, he explained that Tabani likely won’t compete at the Mr. Olympia due to visa issues.
“Bullshit. Bodybuilding has gone down the fucking toilet that’s daylight robbery. Give me a break. I can’t wait to hear Tyler’s breakdown of this. Listen to all his fucking bullshit. Besides, he won’t get to Olympia anyway cause he won’t get a Visa,” shared Lee Priest.
Priest argued Hollingshead looked his best and said Tabani wasn’t in shape.
“James looked his best, great condition, muscle mass, his shape, the tan even,” shared Lee Priest. “To have him come in second to that, he wasn’t in shape, no, the Chinese kid; if he had a bit bigger upper body, he was in better shape than Behrooz. I don’t get it. Who was the head judge? A Manion? Say no more.”
He added that the vast majority of people online had Hollingshead winning.
“99 percent had James winning. Explain that, Tyler, in your next breakdown. It’ll probably be as good as how Derek won the double bicep in the Olympia. Once you said that, you lost all fucking credibility.”
After the event, Priest warned other pros that they could face similar challenges at bodybuilding contests:
“Remember people, you Pros out there, you just watched James get fucked, next it will be you. Until you all stand together, it won’t change.”
“Why do you need the IFBB? You don’t need anything,” he shared.
This wasn’t Priest’s first time calling for a judging overhaul. He believes the sport desperately needs new, younger judges. He noted that the same judges from the 1990s are still scoring contests today and compared them to lifelong politicians. Bodybuilding legend Lee Haney, a former eight-time Mr. Olympia, has also said that judging needs a change.
The 2026 Huanji China Pro scorecards had Tabani leading Hollingshead by six points, so the judges didn’t see the contest as razor close. Do you agree with Priest’s take or do you believe the judges got it right?
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