Bodybuilding legend Lee Priest believes that Nick Walker is in for one of his toughest tests at the upcoming 2026 Tampa Pro. In a recent video, he broke down the highly anticipated showdown between Walker and a rising threat named Jo Palacios. His verdict? Fans have a lot to look forward to, because it’s going to be a nail-biter right up to the end.
Walker’s Arduous Journey Back to the Top
Nick “The Mutant” Walker is currently working hard to return to the very top of the Mr. Olympia title race. After the disappointment of Mr. Olympia 2025, where he had to settle for sixth place, he used that setback as fuel. He returned in the best shape of his life at the 2026 Arnold Classic, yet it was “only” enough for second place behind Chinedu Andrew “Jacked” Obiekem. This narrow loss cost Walker not only the prestigious title but also the fabulous $1 million prize.
There had been speculation for a long time about whether “The Mutant” would step into a competition suit again this year. Recently, however, he confirmed his participation in the Tampa Pro. As if that weren’t enough, Walker also announced a major change to his team—coach Prabh Dhaliwal is now overseeing his preparation.
Jo Palacios as the competition’s dark horse
While Walker is now a seasoned pro, Jo Palacios is still at the beginning of his career. But he’s already proving that he’s one of the greatest talents of today. He earned his IFBB Pro card thanks to his overall victory at the 2023 NPC Mr. USA. His professional debut is fast approaching, and Lee Priest has decided to break down what his real chances are against Walker.
What exactly does Lee Priest say?
In a recent video, Priest confirmed that Walker already looks great in his cut and doesn’t need to make any drastic changes.
“We’ll see in Tampa. Nick looks really good right now. He doesn’t need to tweak much. Even my grandma could feed him chicken breasts, rice, and a little protein powder and get him in shape,” Priest joked.
At the same time, however, he warns that Walker’s margin for error is minimal. If he doesn’t hit his peak, Palacios could pull off a huge upset.
“I think Nick has more competitions under his belt, so he has a bit more competitive maturity. We’re only judging Jo based on his last show, and we haven’t seen yet what he’ll look like with his newly gained muscle mass. But it could be a very close call. If Nick messes up, Jo will be right on his heels.”
Priest also pointed out one crucial detail:
“When Nick competes, there’s usually no one who can match him in terms of extreme volume. But Jo and he are very similar in this ‘freak’ size category. It’s going to be really interesting.”
The coaching change is raising questions among other experts as well
Priest isn’t the only veteran who has doubts about Walker’s dominance in Tampa. Renowned guru Chris Aceto also expressed concerns about Walker’s decision to change coaches so close to the competition. He emphasized that the Tampa Pro will definitely not be a walk in the park for Walker.
What’s at stake? The winner of the Tampa Pro will earn a direct qualification to the biggest show of the year— Mr. Olympia 2026, which will take place September 24–27 in Las Vegas.
Will Nick Walker live up to his role as the favorite and secure his ticket to Olympia, or will Jo Palacios pull off one of the biggest and most shocking debuts in the history of Open bodybuilding?
What do you think? Will Nick Walker handle the pressure, or will Jo Palacios surprise him? Let us know in the comments!
Muscle Talk! Can Jo Palacios upset Nick Walker in Tampa?
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