on episode 290 of The Menace Podcast, Host Dennis “The Menace” James was joined by regular panelists Milos Saracev and Jose Raymond and the gang discussed Nick Walker’s chances of winning the 2026 IFBB Tampa Pro against popular contenders like Joe Palacios.
The Tampa Pro will take place from July 30 to August 1, 2026, and is a proving ground where the winner in the Open Division will qualify for this year’s Mr. Olympia Finals in Las Vegas. One guy who has always been considered an easy choice is Nick Walker, but he will face some stiff competition in Florida. that’s because Last year’s Tampa Pro finalist, Joe Palacioswho came third, There is no intention of losing this year. So, who will come out on top? Dennis James reported that despite Palacios’ recent progress, Walker is still the favorite to win this year. But Miloš Sarčev countered that it would be no “walk in the park”.
Could overconfidence cost Nick Walker the win at Tampa Pro?
Milos Saracev feels that the reason Nick Walker is “the most popular bodybuilder in the world right now” is because he was not necessarily gifted with the best natural genetics, which makes him highly dependable. The man they call “The Mutant” has driven himself to become one of the best bodybuilders on the planet, regardless of his physical challenges, and has inspired others to follow in his footsteps.
“But isn’t Joe the perfect competition for Nick?” asked James. Saracev responded that Walker’s pre-match approach, which has seen him dismiss his competition, could prove to be a big mistake. The host agreed, saying that underestimating the competition and then losing could make Walker look bad in the long run. James also said that being too cocky could cause the crowd to root for the underdog ahead of the finals in Tampa. Jose Raymond suggested, “This will definitely be a fun show to watch.” “The two strangest people in bodybuilding.” The Tampa Pro could definitely be a closer fight than Walker would like to believe. “They compare very well,” James said of what could be an exciting fight.
To watch the full episode of The Menace Podcast on the Muscle & Fitness YouTube channel, where the crew also analyzes the latest bodybuilding trends, watch below.
