The 2025 bodybuilding season is here, prompting Lee Priest to assess the lineups of two of the IFBB Pro League’s most important shows. On January 8, 2025, Priest discussed if Nick Walker’s varicose veins could hold him back against Martin Fitzwater and Vitaliy ‘Good Vito’ Ugolnikov at the 2025 Pittsburgh Pro. In addition, he touched on Akim Williams possibly upsetting some top contenders at the upcoming Arnold Classic event.
All eyes are on Nick Walker as he aims to come back successfully after missing his last two Mr. Olympias. He won the 2024 New York Pro against Martin Fitzwater but hasn’t competed since. However, that’ll change when he makes his way back to the 2025 Pittsburgh Pro, which is set to host the Men’s Open division for the first time and will feature an impressive cash prize of $100,000. But if he wants to emerge victorious, he’ll also have to get through a host of threats including Vitaliy ‘Good Vito’ Ugolnikov.
Before the Pittsburgh Pro takes over the IFBB calendar, fans are anxiously awaiting the Arnold Classic from February 27 to March 2. Reigning Mr. Olympia Samson Dauda and Derek Lunsford have received much of the attention heading into the contest, but Priest says it wouldn’t be wise to count out James Hollingshead or Akim Williams.
Lee Priest Discusses 2025 Pittsburgh Pro Frontrunners and Akim Williams’ Chances at the Arnold Classic
In a recent YouTube video, Priest was unsure how the Pittsburgh Pro would shake out between Walker, Good Vito, and Fitzwater. He believes judges might favor the shape and symmetry of Fitzwater or they could prefer the freaky muscle density of Walker and Good Vito.
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“It’s going to be hard because Martin is a bit more symmetrical and that sort of thing and Vito and Nick, similar on the freaky muscle size… it’s going to be interesting to see.
People always talk about Nick’s varicose veins, when you’re looking at the legs, Good Vito’s legs just look a lot cleaner lines because he hasn’t got the veins. I think it’s going to be very very close between the three of them.”
If they all come in at their best, it’s anyone’s title.
“If they’re all at their best, I wouldn’t like to be judging it. So, who knows? Maybe they are like Nick and Vito are the same, maybe they are one and two, but you know what, Martin is different and we like shape, so he’s first and one of the other two is going to be second and third.
It’s going to be very very interesting. I’m sure they are going to be put through their paces very hard if they are all in their best condition,” explains Priest.
Given Akim Williams’ track record of improvements, Priest refused to count him out at the Arnold Classic, even against the likes of Lunsford. He believes if Lunsford is comparable to what he brought at Olympia, Williams could push or even defeat him.
“The last time we saw Akim I think that was his all-time best. Yes, people are talking about Samson and Derek and everyone else at the Arnold Classic but I think if Akim can repeat that condition or he’s better, I think Akim can probably be pushing up there in the top five, fourth spot.
If any one of those guys, if Derek was to bring that similar shape he was at the Olympia, I think Akim could look better than him and maybe push him out. So it’s going to be very interesting come the Arnold Classic too,” Lee Priest shared.
Lee Priest isn’t the only voice of bodybuilding questioning how well Walker will perform in Pittsburgh. Bodybuilding coach Chris Aceto believes ‘The Mutant’ will ‘have his hands full’ with Good Vito when they meet on May 10.
With the 2025 Arnold Classic and Pittsburgh Pro set to shake up the Men’s Open class, we could have a better idea of how the next Olympia will play out in due time. Don’t miss coverage of both of these marquee events later this year!
Watch the full video from the IFBB AMA YouTube channel below:
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