Martin Fitzwater Outduels a Stacked Field at the 2025 EVLS Prague Pro

Rogue drops its Aberdeen lineups while CrossFit marks a 2026 homecoming to California, and Strongman tees up a $100K Sun City finale.

October 27, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes

Martin Fitzwater held court in Prague, fending off 2024 Mr. Olympia Samson Dauda and an ever‑hungry Michal Krizo to retain his EVLS Prague Pro title. The contest proved that his size and conditioning translate year‑to‑year, as he out‑posed a lineup that also included the Open debut of 212 great Keone Pearson. Fitzwater’s back width and leg fullness sealed the win, while Dauda settled for silver despite improved symmetry, and Krizo rounded out the top three. With the victory, Fitzwater cements momentum heading into the rest of the season and shows he’s more than a one‑hit wonder. [See Full Prague Pro Placings]

Think of vitamin D as the unsung hormone behind every rep: it regulates mitochondrial function, serotonin, and protein synthesis, which together fuel work capacity. Yet over half the world’s adults are deficient, thanks to desk jobs, sunscreen, and restrictive diets, leaving many lifters misdiagnosing fatigue and poor recovery as overtraining. The article explains why optimal levels (30–50 ng/mL) matter, how to test via at‑home kits, and why midday sunlight remains the gold standard. It also offers a quick checklist—do your lifts stall, do you feel drained despite eight hours of sleep?—to assess deficiency and suggests fatty fish and fortified dairy as dietary supports. [Learn How to Fix Your D]

Three days before stepping on the EVLS Prague Pro stage, Michal Krizo hammered an intense back workout and practiced his posing to prime his physique. Coming off a shoulder injury that derailed his 2024 season, the Slovakian juggernaut tore through lat‑pulldowns, Brute Smith bent‑over rows, and chest‑supported machines to maximise thickness and detail. He even upped his carb intake to 750 grams for the day to fill out his muscles, a sign of strategic peaking. [Watch Krizo’s Full Back Assault]

The beloved Arnold press can become a glorified incline press if you lean back too far; a 90‑degree bench keeps your torso vertical and the load on your delts. Excessive lower‑back arching is another common error, shifting stress to your spine and ligaments—tighten your core and press your lumbar into the bench to avoid injury. Trainers also warn against uneven arm paths and rushed rotations, which blunt the exercise’s unique rotational stimulus. Mobility deficits in the thoracic spine often underlie these mistakes, so a smart warm‑up and thoracic‑spine stretches can set you up for better form. [Master the Perfect Arnold Press]

Flex Wheeler Says Conditioning Has Gone Soft

’90s icon Flex Wheeler isn’t impressed by today’s physiques—he argues that his era delivered deeper cuts and drier conditioning than Derek Lunsford and the rest of the current Mr. Olympia crop. In his view, modern judging prioritises size over crisp detail, which has shifted training and nutrition strategies away from razor‑sharp lines. Wheeler suggests the sport has “paused” rather than progressed, citing how the 1990s produced Hall‑of‑Famers with both mass and aesthetics. He acknowledges today’s athletes are larger but questions whether they’re truly better. Love or hate his take, the debate highlights the evolving standards in bodybuilding and keeps fans buzzing ahead of the next Olympia showdown. [Hear Flex’s Full Rant]

Rogue Invitational Lineups Promise a Scottish Showdown

The 2025 Rogue Invitational returns Oct. 31–Nov. 2 in Aberdeen, Scotland, bringing together 20 men and 20 women for one of CrossFit’s premier off‑season battles. Defending champion Jeffrey Adler headlines the men’s field, while past podium finishers Arielle Loewen and Emma Lawson look to dethrone the rookies on the women’s side. The event’s programming is famed for blending strength, endurance, and odd‑object challenges, promising tests that push athletes beyond standard Games workouts. With big names skipping the Games but eyeing Rogue glory, Aberdeen could set the tone for the 2026 season. [Preview the Full Lineups]

CrossFit announced that the 2026 Games will return to California for its 20th anniversary, landing July 24–26 at San Jose’s SAP Center. After several years of moving across the US, the Games will revisit the state that hosted its early editions, a nostalgic nod to the sport’s roots. The announcement stokes speculation about new events, spectator experiences, and whether legends like Tia‑Clair Toomey‑Orr will make comebacks. San Jose’s downtown arena promises a big‑city backdrop while still allowing for classic outdoor tests in nearby venues. Fans are already circling the dates and booking flights—CrossFit’s biggest party is heading back west. [Get the San Jose Details]

The 2025 Strongman Champions League season culminates Nov. 15–17 in Sun City, South Africa, where athletes will carry over points earned across the series. Organizers recently revealed the finals roster and the events via Instagram, confirming a hefty $100,000 prize purse for the season’s champion. Kevin Hazeleger enters with a 12‑point head start thanks to consistent podiums, but three days of heavy presses, deadlifts, and medleys mean the leaderboard could flip. The SCL format rewards season‑long consistency yet still leaves room for a dark horse to steal the crown. South Africa’s scenic Sun City resort adds a vacation vibe to what will otherwise be brutal tests of strength and endurance. [See the Full Finals Breakdown]

Knowing your basal metabolic rate (BMR) helps you tailor calories for cutting, bulking, or maintenance, and Fitness Volt’s calculator makes it simple. By inputting your age, height, weight, and sex, the tool estimates how many calories your body burns at rest using well‑established equations. Understanding this baseline can prevent under‑eating during muscle gain phases or over‑eating during fat‑loss efforts. The article explains the difference between BMR and resting metabolic rate, offers tips on using the calculator effectively, and encourages adjusting macros around training. For lifters obsessed with numbers, this is a quick way to fine‑tune nutrition without guesswork. [Calculate Your BMR in Seconds]

Martin Fitzwater flexes his way to a repeat win at the Prague Pro—gold medal, big grin, and an ominous warning for rivals to bring their A‑game📹💪

Recovery Tip of the Day: Bar Hangs Between Heavy Press Days

Save your shoulders and decompress your spine by adding passive bar hangs between pressing sessions. Simply grip a pull‑up bar with relaxed arms and let your body weight stretch the lats, rotator cuff, and thoracic spine for 20–30 seconds. This gentle traction can relieve joint stress from heavy benching or overhead work, improve shoulder mobility, and even help you refocus on deep breathing. Keep your feet off the floor, brace your core lightly, and repeat for two or three sets during warm‑ups or cooldowns. It’s a low‑effort hack that keeps pressing muscles happy and healthy.

The Strength Bulletin

  • 2025 Musclecontest Philippines Pro: Navid Ali’s razor‑sharp conditioning and confident stage presence earned him the Men’s Physique crown in Manila and an early ticket to the 2026 Mr. Olympia.

  • 2025 Russia Pro: Moscow’s Russia Pro saw Vitaliy Omelycenko claim Classic Physique gold and Lida Khachinyan top the Bikini division, both securing early Olympia qualifications. 

  • 2025 Border States Pro: Jason Huynh brought balanced proportions and stage swagger to San Diego to win the Men’s Physique title and punch his Olympia ticket. 

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