Forget Lunsford! Dauda grinds his teeth at Mr. Olympia for a brutal battle with Jacked!

Samson Dauda's journey back to the Sandow statue this year is defined by a desire for redemption. Although he entered the 2025 edition as the reigning champion, he ultimately left Las Vegas without a crown. Now "The Nigerian Lion" is back with a new mind set and a clear goal for Mr. Olympia 2026.

But when Olympia returns this fall, Dauda will be in for an extremely tough battle. Chinedu Andrew "Jacked" Obiekea is currently enjoying incredible momentum after scoring massive triumphs at the 2026 Arnold Classic in both Ohio and the UK. In addition, reigning champion Derek Lunsford and the always dangerous Hadi Choopan will join the hunt for the top rungs.

Samson Dauda and his "gladiator mindset"

In a recent video, Dauda spoke candidly about his current mindset, which he calls gladiatorial. He acknowledged the huge hype currently swirling around Andrew Jacked, but also added that athletes who work in silence tend to be the biggest threat.

"We know the task ahead of us and we are fully focused on it. We understand the hype and everything around it, but at the same time we keep a close eye on the guys who are quietly working in the background. They are the ones you must never take your eyes off."

Dauda hopes that Mr. Olympia 2026 will be the year he finally gets to see a direct "two-man battle" with Jacked specifically. However, he emphatically added that he certainly doesn't intend to underestimate the reigning champion Lunsford the next time they meet on stage.

Clash of the Giants: Dauda vs. Jacked

Andrew Jacked himself, often referred to as the "Mona Lisa of bodybuilding", has previously stressed that he is also very interested in a direct comparison with Dauda. He believes they share similar weapons - most notably extreme height and symmetry that evokes the proportions of the Greek gods and defies current Open division standards.

The bodybuilding community increasingly believes that the next Mr. Olympia winner could be decided by this Nigerian duel.

• Experts and legends of the sport such as Shawn Ray and Bob Cicherillo have suggested in recent podcasts that Jacked and Dauda will most likely battle for first and second place this year.
• Ray has even pointed out Lunsford's weaknesses, saying that his arm simply can't match the two giants in a direct comparison.

Fans are curious to see if Dauda's new confidence and tactical approach to preparation will bear fruit when he faces the toughest possible competition in the fall.

We'll find out if we'll see a historic battle and a new (or old) king of world bodybuilding on September 24-27, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.