Joseph Palacios — “Jo The Machine” to everyone in bodybuilding — might be the most consistent nearly-man in the Men’s Open division right now. 💪
Three straight pro podiums, a runner-up finish in a 26-man Texas war, and praise from Lee Priest himself — yet the first pro win, and the Olympia ticket that comes with it, still sits just out of reach.
This is his verified story, updated for 2026: the Classic Physique detour nobody talks about, the overall national title, and the summer he pushed two different champions all the way.
| Full Name | Joseph Palacios |
| Nickname | “Jo The Machine” Palacios |
| Nationality | American |
| Based In | California, USA |
| Division | IFBB Pro League — Men’s Open Bodybuilding (also competes in NPC Classic Physique) |
| Pro Card | 2023 NPC USA Championships — Super-Heavyweight winner and Overall Champion |
| Pro Debut | 2024 IFBB California State Pro — 15th |
| Best Pro Results | 2nd, 2025 Texas Pro · 3rd, 2025 Tampa Pro · 3rd, 2026 Tampa Pro · 3rd, 2026 Atlanta Pro |
| Mr. Olympia | Has not qualified yet — only pro show winners qualify in the Men’s Open |
| Also Known For | Bodybuilding coach; regular guest on bodybuilding podcasts |
| @ifbbpro_jo_palacios | |
| Date of Birth / Height | Not officially published — see the FAQ below |
Early Career: A Classic Physique Champion First 🌱
Palacios has been competing since at least 2018, and his first recorded title was not in Open bodybuilding at all. At the 2018 NPC Iron Games he won his Classic Physique class — a division detour he has returned to more than once.
He stepped up to Open bodybuilding at the same show two years later, taking second place in two classes at the 2020 NPC Iron Games.
The rise gathered pace in June 2022, when he won the Men’s Bodybuilding title at the NPC California State Championships — the win that marked him out as a genuine pro-card threat.
The Pro Card: Overall Champion at the 2023 USAs 🏆
Everything came together in Las Vegas on July 28, 2023. At the NPC USA Championships, Palacios won the Super-Heavyweight class and then beat every other class champion to take the Overall title — first time out at the show.
That overall crown earned him his IFBB Pro card and the nickname that stuck: “The Machine,” a nod to the relentless, no-frills way he competes.
Curiously, his 2023 season did not end there. That December he stepped back into an NPC line-up at the Battle of the Bay and won the Classic Physique division — a rare cross-division cameo for a brand-new Open pro, and one he repeated at the same show in December 2025, finishing second.
The Pro Debut: A Quiet Start in 2024 📉
Palacios made his professional debut close to home, at the IFBB California State Pro in May 2024.
It was a humbling introduction to the pro ranks: he placed 15th in a deep Open line-up. The overall national champion had work to do — and, to his credit, he went away and did it.
2025: The Breakout Summer 🌟
One year later, Palacios returned a different athlete. At the 2025 Tampa Pro on August 2, he placed third in Men’s Open — behind only Jordan Hutchinson and Quinton Eriya, and ahead of established names like John Jewett and Bruno Santos.
Seven days later came the performance of his career. The 2025 Texas Pro drew a huge 26-man Open field, and Palacios battled Hutchinson all the way to the final callout.
The scorecards tell the story: Hutchinson took the title with 6 points, but Palacios was the clear second on 14 — ahead of Eriya, John Jewett and the rest of a stacked field. In the space of eight days he had gone from 15th-place debutant the year before to the man pushing the division’s hottest riser. 🔥
One thing needs saying clearly, because older versions of this page got it wrong: those podium finishes did not qualify Palacios for the Mr. Olympia. In the Men’s Open, only pro show winners earn an Olympia place — and that first win is still the one box left unticked.
2026: Priest’s Tip, Walker’s Shadow 🥉
Palacios carried the momentum straight into 2026. Before the Tampa Pro, veteran great Lee Priest singled him out as the one man built to trouble Nick Walker, saying the two were “pretty comparable in freaky size.”
On August 1, 2026, Palacios proved the point — up to a point. He placed third at the Tampa Pro, behind Walker and James Hollingshead, in a field of twenty.
A week later, on August 9, he did it again: third at the Lenda Murray Atlanta Pro, behind Hollingshead and Regan Grimes. Two shows, two podiums, two champions in front of him.
The Coach Behind the Physique 🎧
Away from his own prep, Palacios works as a bodybuilding coach, guiding both competitors and lifestyle clients — a side of his career he has built over several years alongside his own competing.
He is also a familiar voice in the sport’s media, a regular guest on bodybuilding podcasts where his USA Championships run and his close Texas battle are frequent topics.
Joseph Palacios Contest Record 📋
| Year | Contest | Division | Placing |
| 2018 | NPC Iron Games | Classic Physique | 1st |
| 2020 | NPC Iron Games | Men’s Bodybuilding | 2nd (two classes) |
| 2022 | NPC California State Championships | Men’s Bodybuilding | 1st |
| 2023 | NPC USA Championships | Men’s Bodybuilding — Super-Heavyweight + Overall | 1st 🏆 (earned IFBB Pro card) |
| 2023 | NPC Battle of the Bay | Classic Physique | 1st |
| 2024 | IFBB California State Pro | Men’s Open | 15th |
| 2025 | IFBB Tampa Pro | Men’s Open | 3rd |
| 2025 | IFBB Texas Pro | Men’s Open | 2nd |
| 2025 | NPC Battle of the Bay | Classic Physique | 2nd |
| 2026 | IFBB Tampa Pro | Men’s Open | 3rd |
| 2026 | IFBB Lenda Murray Atlanta Pro | Men’s Open | 3rd |
Contest record per the official NPC News Online athlete database and published pro scorecards.
Frequently Asked Questions ❓
Who is Joseph Palacios?
Joseph “Jo The Machine” Palacios is an American IFBB Pro in Men’s Open bodybuilding. He won the Super-Heavyweight class and the Overall title at the 2023 NPC USA Championships to earn his pro card, and has since collected a string of pro podium finishes.
Has Joseph Palacios qualified for the Mr. Olympia?
Not yet. In the Men’s Open division, only pro show winners qualify for the Olympia. Palacios has finished second once and third three times at pro level, but the win he needs has so far eluded him.
What is Joseph Palacios’s best pro result?
Second place at the 2025 Texas Pro, where he pushed winner Jordan Hutchinson through a 26-man field. He has also placed third at the Tampa Pro twice (2025 and 2026) and third at the 2026 Atlanta Pro.
How old is Joseph Palacios, and how tall is he?
Neither his date of birth nor an official height has been published by the NPC, the IFBB Pro League or any credible outlet. Some websites repeat an unverified birth date and height — this page does not print guesses as facts.
Why is he called “The Machine”?
The nickname “Jo The Machine” Palacios is used across bodybuilding media and podcasts. It reflects his dense, heavily muscled super-heavyweight physique and his relentless, consistent run of podium finishes.
Is Joseph Palacios still competing in 2026?
Yes — very much so. He placed third at both the Tampa Pro and the Atlanta Pro in August 2026, and remains an active pro chasing his first win and Olympia qualification. He also works as a bodybuilding coach.
The Bottom Line ✅
Joseph Palacios has done everything except the last thing. An overall national title, a Classic Physique side-quest, a 15th-place debut rebuilt into three straight pro podiums — the résumé is real, and it is still missing its headline.
When a former Mr. Olympia contender like Lee Priest is warning champions about you, the win usually is not far away. The Machine’s next start is one of the more interesting subplots of the 2027 season. 🏁