EMPRO CLASSIC SPAIN PRO 2026

The 2026 Empro Classic Spain Pro touched down on June 21 in Alicante, Spain, hosted at VB Spaces and promoted by Emilio Martinez. The event brought together athletes from across the globe for one of the most anticipated IFBB Pro League contests on the European summer calendar, with divisions ranging from Men's Open to Bikini, Classic Physique, Women's Bodybuilding, Wellness, and more. The Men's Open division commanded the most attention heading into the weekend, boasting one of the deepest lineups seen outside of the Olympia and Arnold Classic stages in 2026. With Olympia qualification points on the line and several established contenders battling for momentum and prestige, the contest had generated significant pre-show buzz across the bodybuilding community. Heading into the event, Sasan Heirati was arguably the most decorated competitor on paper, having already secured victories at the California State Pro and FIBO Pro during the 2026 season. However, William Bonac — fresh off a win at the Tsunami Nutrition Showdown Pro in Marseille just two weeks prior — entered Alicante as a firm favourite based on recent form. Edward Kargbo, a rising Open class force and former 212 competitor, was also considered a serious threat to disrupt the top of the lineup. A notable absence loomed over the proceedings as well. Behrouz Tabani, widely regarded as one of the most dangerous Men's Open competitors in the world, was confirmed as a withdrawal just two days before the show on June 19, after once again being denied a visa for entry into Spain. His absence removed what many believed would have been the strongest challenge to Bonac's recent dominance on European soil.

Match Report

William Bonac was simply untouchable in Alicante. The Dutch veteran arrived in Spain carrying the momentum of a victory in Marseille just two weeks earlier and proceeded to deliver what judges scored as a perfect performance, earning six points on the IFBB Pro League scorecard and leaving no doubt about the outcome. At 14 career professional wins, Bonac continues to defy expectations for a competitor in his 40s, combining trademark muscle density, maturity, and polished posing into a package that remains difficult to beat on any stage in the world. The most compelling subplot of the contest centred on Edward Kargbo, whose runner-up finish in Alicante was just the beginning of a remarkable seven-day stretch. The Sierra Leonean standout, a former 212 competitor who has steadily built his Open class credentials, absorbed the loss with evident determination. One week later at the 2026 Flex Pro Weekend Italy, Kargbo flipped the script entirely — defeating Bonac and claiming his first professional win, simultaneously becoming the first Sierra Leonean to earn a Mr. Olympia qualification. His performance in Spain, in hindsight, was the final tuning block before a historic result. Sasan Heirati entered Alicante as arguably the most accomplished competitor in the lineup on seasonal results alone, having already won the California State Pro and FIBO Pro in 2026 while also collecting a Pittsburgh Pro top-four finish. But despite his busy and productive season, Heirati found himself on the wrong side of the Bonac comparison for the second time in three weeks, finishing third. The judging narrative — with a decisive three-way callout isolating Bonac, Heirati, and Kargbo before the eventual expansion to include Goss — told the story clearly: Bonac was operating at a level slightly above the rest, and Heirati could not close the gap. Germany's contingent arrived with genuine aspirations. Emir Omeragic made the first callout and finished sixth, the strongest result among the German entries. Justin Musiol, despite improving on some benchmarks, placed ninth and fell well short of an Olympia qualification. Roman Fritz did not advance past prejudging at all — a disappointing outcome for one of Germany's most established Open competitors. Their collective struggle illustrated how difficult the Men's Open landscape has become even for nationally prominent athletes when elite international competition arrives. The elephant not in the room was Behrouz Tabani. The Iranian star, who defeated Bonac at the 2025 Dubai Pro and is widely regarded as one of the most aesthetically gifted competitors in the division, was confirmed as a withdrawal just 48 hours before the show after visa issues prevented his travel to Spain. His presence would almost certainly have intensified the top of the card, and his absence removed what many observers felt was the one competitor capable of genuinely challenging Bonac's dominance on this particular day. All told, the 2026 Empro Classic Spain Pro delivered exactly what the European bodybuilding calendar needed: a legitimate marquee result from an elite field, a breakthrough narrative in Kargbo's impending rise, and continued evidence that William Bonac remains one of the most reliable forces in Men's Open bodybuilding as the sport marches toward the 2026 Mr. Olympia in Las Vegas.