by Christian Duque
The 2025 EVLS Prague Professional represents a elementary change of the guard within the pecking order of Males’s Open Bodybuilding. This can be a important improvement in and of itself as a result of this can be a non Large 3 present. In bodybuilding, the three greatest contests (the Olympia, Arnold Basic, and NY Professional [formerly the Night of Champions]) are the place issues like this normally occur. The Prague Professional, nonetheless, marks the primary time that Martin Fitzwater positioned forward of 2024 Mr. Olympia Samson Dauda. And it was no fluke. Martin was chomping at his heels in Vegas, inserting only one spot behind him on the 2025 Olympia.
Then Dauda – foolishly in my view – determined to throw his hat into Prague. On the Prague present, Fitzwater was defending his title, and driving excessive from his fifth place end on the O. He’d lastly defeated Nick Walker and the bodybuilding press was lastly giving him the love he deserved. Samson, who clearly discovered nothing from dropping the Arnold to Derek simply months after successful the Sandow, jumped into Prague after getting annihilated in Las Vegas. Simply as I stated once I reported on the announcement, “Samson is making a mistake.” And a mistake is strictly what he made. However the mistake for Dauda proved to be a blessing for Fitzwater. And right here’s why.
It’s one factor to be higher within the followers’ eyes, however it’s fairly one other to really place greater and win reveals. Again in 2024 when Martin received robbed at that 12 months’s New York Professional, everybody knew he beat Nick Walker. I stated it, Shawn Ray stated it, Bob Cicherillo stated it, too. And there have been so many extra pundits that couldn’t make heads or tails why the judges gave Walker the third greatest title in bodybuilding when Martin was a lot extra deserving. In one other article I simply wrote for IronMag titled “Is Nick Walker A Paper Tiger?” I delve deeper into the concept that “The Mutant” is pumped up and propped up by the game for monetary achieve. In actuality, he’s not that harmful.
No matter might have occurred on the 2024 NY Professional, its significance is essential as a result of it reveals simply how arduous beating sure opponents is. In any occasion, the rivalry was born as a result of Nick didn’t wish to hear a couple of man who was higher than him taking 2nd to him. I may inform that it pissed Walker off to continually be requested about Fitzwater. It kind of stole his thunder, however I didn’t really feel unhealthy for him as a result of he walked away with the title and the bag. The subsequent 12 months, after many enhancements, Nick and Martin confronted off on the Pittsburgh Professional. Once more, Nick positioned forward of Martin. That stated, the 2025 Pittsburgh was one of the best Nick has ever introduced. Later that 12 months, Martin positioned forward of Nick on the 2025 Olympia. Lastly, he beat him and one thing tells me, Nick won’t ever place forward of Martin once more.
The 2025 Olympia marked a change of the guard between Fitzwater and Walker. Walker’s greatness, the phantasm of his dominance was utterly achieved away with. And never at some random present, both. This occurred on the Olympia stage. That just about sealed the deal. And what’s attention-grabbing is that in a really possible way the 2025 EVLS Prague Professional was one other symbolic change of the guard as a result of I think Samson won’t ever place forward of Martin once more, both. One man’s star is rising, whereas one other man’s star is plummeting. It’s unhappy as a result of they’re each Hosstile sponsored athletes they usually’re each pals. That stated, Martin is pals with all people. He’d prolly be pals with Nick, if Nick Walker wasn’t such an asshole.
The Martian is a super-likeable man and he’s real. It’s arduous to hate a man like that. And that’s another excuse why I believe it makes him so extremely harmful. Only a few months in the past, Martin was seen as a robust Prime 10 competitor with super potential, however the final two reveals have solidified him as a prime contender for the 2026 Olympia title. I’m undecided if he’s confirmed for the 2026 Arnold Basic, however I may see him getting a robust Prime 3 there – if not successful it outright. At this level, all Martin must do is place very well in Columbus or NY and he’ll proceed to be a prime contender for the 2026 O. Guys like Nick Walker are yesterday’s information, and on the price Samson’s going, he’s not too far behind. He insists upon not getting with a prime coach and he appears content material competing to the purpose he might doubtlessly burnout.
The subsequent man Martin must greatest in open competitors could be Derek and it could occur in Columbus. I completely suppose Martin can beat Derek and/or Hadi. Andrew Jacked will current a special problem, however Martin can beat him, too. Proper now, there’s nobody that stands in The Martian’s method and that’s very important as a result of it means he may win a Sandow as early 2026. Think about if Martin was in a position to be Mr. O.
I wrote about this in an article for StrengthAddicts the place I raised a degree made by Joe Pietaro of MuscleSport Magazine. In a latest interview with Phil Heath, Pietaro raised the purpose that bodybuilding had not had a dominant Mr. Olympia since Heath’s day. He identified how the title handed by single-year winners in 2018 and 2019. He then pointed to Ramy’s brief reign, adopted by extra single-year winners in Choopan, Lunsford, and Dauda. With Derek successful again the title, who’s to say how lengthy he’ll maintain on to it. The game misses the times of getting a dominant Mr. O.
Martin is structurally flawless, has nice steadiness and symmetry, and brings in nice muscularity. He’s additionally a conditioning freak. I believe if Martin gained the Sandow, he’d maintain the title for years. He’s that good now and could be even higher. I believe the wins towards Walker on the Olympia and Dauda in Prague will set Martin aside from these guys for good.
Do you suppose we’ll ever see Nick Walker or Samson Dauda place greater than The Martian in energetic competitors once more? I say no. I say Martin’s star will proceed to soar. However what do you say? As at all times, thanks for studying my article, right here, at IronMag. I sit up for studying your suggestions within the feedback. I additionally hope you’ll copy and paste a hyperlink to this text on all of your social media feeds. It’s certain to generate energetic dialog.