Chris Bumstead, better known as "Cbum," surprised everyone after "lodged"He confirms he will be competing in the Prague Pro, but not in the way we are used to."
Bumstead is the biggest name in Classic Physique, the greatest athlete of the last decade, and now, by venturing into the Open category, promises to raise the level of competition even further. His participation encourages the public to want to see names like Horse, Clarida, Rafael Brandão, and Ramon Dino competing as well.
In his announcement, the Canadian made it clear that he will compete for fun, not aiming to win, but truly testing himself and experiencing what it's like to be an Open athlete, which was his initial plan. He competed as an amateur for a long time aiming for the Open, but with the creation of the Classic in 2016, this horizon opened up, which he not only explored but mastered.
Horse wants his chance to beat him.
Marcello Horse, also known as "Horse MD" in bodybuilding, is a Brazilian Open athlete who has been attracting attention and, motivated by the desire to compete in the Cbum, has confirmed his presence at the Praga Pro.
A few years ago, the Brazilian tried to qualify for the Classic Physique category, lost a lot of weight, but still couldn't make weight.
At the time, he was often compared to Chris, who on several occasions was pointed out as a threat to the champion should he manage to make weight. Unfortunately, that never happened, but now Horse will have his chance to face the 6x Classic champion.
Another champion enters the fray.
Another big name that has entered this "game" is the American Shaun Clarida, nicknamed "The Giant Killer".
He is a legend in the 212 category, having won the Mr. Olympia title twice, and with an extremely dense and detailed physique, Clarida constantly challenges and defeats larger athletes.
His participation in events like the Praga Pro always brings an extra level of competition and interest, as he is an athlete who has already made history for being competitive even in the Open category.
How does this influence the competition?
With the confirmation of these two athletes at the Praga Pro, the event promises to be one of the highlights of the year in bodybuilding, attracting attention from both fans and critics of the sport, as well as more big names who may also want to be present and further elevate the show.
For bodybuilding enthusiasts, this year's Praga Pro is an event to watch closely, not only for the spectacle but also for the big names in attendance.
The public is asking for Ramon Dino and Brandão.
As soon as Cbum confirmed he would be competing in this event, there was a huge public outcry. Both in Brazil and abroad, fans began to request the presence of Brazilians Ramon Dino and Rafael Brandão.
Ramon Dino and Cbum have already had great battles in Classic Physique, but unfortunately, the "Dinosaur" didn't have the opportunity to have one last showdown with the champion due to his slip-up at Mr. Olympia.
This event could be an excellent opportunity to immortalize this rivalry. Another reason is that, without the weight limit, experts believe that the Brazilian could approach Cbum's performance, since weight is a major limitation for him.
Thus, it would be the ultimate test of what would happen if both competed on equal terms, without weight as an excuse. Ramon has not yet given a definitive answer about his interest in competing in the Prague Pro, but an athlete made a post suggesting his participation, to which he responded. Although it is not a confirmation, it shows that he saw and considered the idea.
As for Rafael, his name was mentioned because he has been compared to Chris before in the past. Even competing in the Open category, he has always been a very aesthetically pleasing athlete, and for a long time there have been suggestions that he should switch to Classic Physique.
However, unlike Horse, Rafael never embraced the idea and remained focused on the Open. Now, the situation would be him competing in Chris's "territory." So far, Brandão has not shown any reaction, and although he is competing a few weeks before the Praga Pro date, he is not expected to change his schedule to participate in that event.
Should Brandão compete alongside Cbum?
Despite popular pressure, competing against Cbum would be of little advantage to Rafael. A victory against the Canadian would be seen as an obligation, after all, he would be facing a Classic Physique athlete, while a defeat would fuel criticism, with many considering it a shame to lose to a Classic. It would be a high risk for a small reward.
It is most likely that Rafael will focus on securing his spot for Mr. Olympia at the Romania Muscle Fest and then begin an off-season to improve and come back even better in 2025.
Who is the favorite to win?
Even with big names heading into this competition, don't be fooled, because there's already a clear favorite, and his name is Martin Fitzwater. Despite not having as many followers or as much hype as the names mentioned above, he shocked the world by making his debut at the 2024 Mr. Olympia in the Open category, finishing in fourth place.
For comparison, Brandão finished in eighth place, which shows how impressive Martin's achievement was, considering he's only 26 years old, while the peak age for an Open athlete is around 35. This means he still has easily another 10 years to reach his peak. It will be a great competition, but despite the stars, he will be the favorite to win, and interestingly, he's a friend of Cbum and they will be preparing very closely together.
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