Samson Dauda: One step away from the top.
Samson Dauda is one of the best bodybuilders in the world, placing third at the 2023 Mr. Olympia and winning the 2023 Arnold Classic.
Going into the 2024 bodybuilding contest season, Samson was focused on defending his Arnold Classic title in Columbus, Ohio, and then challenged for the Arnold Classic title on his home turf in the UK.
Unfortunately for Samson, there was one major factor that would deny him his victory in Columbus, Ohio, and in the UK, and that would be Hadi Choopan.
Hadi Choopan wanted to show the world that he should have won the Mr. Olympia title in 2023, and that he is still the best bodybuilder in the world.
Hadi was invited to the Arnold Classic USA and UK, and this was a great opportunity to show the world that he is the best bodybuilder and the rightful winner of the Mr. Olympia title.
Hadi dominated the Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio, and the UK, leaving everybody behind, and fighting for second place.
Chasing Hadi Choopan was Samson Dauda. Samson is the taller bodybuilder, but Hadi Choopan arrived in razer sharp condition, blowing away the competition.
Samson is the better-structured bodybuilder, but he did not arrive in the condition, that would give him the chance to challenge Hadi Choopan.
The perfect balance between condition and size
In the last couple of years, bodybuilding has moved away from total size and towards a more balanced and conditioned physique.
Bodybuilders such as Hadi Choopan are defeating bodybuilders twice his size. It’s useless for a bodybuilder such as Samson Dauda to be 300 pounds weeks before a competition.
The mentality that a bodybuilder has to be the biggest on stage to win is wrong. If bodybuilders are going to play the size game, especially in the modern era, they are not going to win shows.
The Men’s Classic Physique division is another great example of how a balanced physique with great condition defeats the bigger and fuller competitor.
At the 2024 Arnold Classic USA, Wesley Vissers arrived in incredible condition, and he went on to defeat the defending champion Ramon Dino. Wesley has a more blocky physique, compared to the more aesthetic Ramon Dino, but Wesley’s condition was the difference to award him victory.
Samson’s former coach of almost three years, Milos Sarcev, has allegedly said that Samson has to dig deeper if he wants to defeat bodybuilders such as Hadi Choopan.
On the last few episodes of the Menace Podcast, Dennis James, Chris Cormier, and Milos Sarcev, discussed how Samson has to dig deeper and suffer to achieve the condition that will win him major titles, such as another Arnold Classic title, and possibly the Mr. Olympia.
At the 2023 Mr. Olympia, Samson placed third, behind Hadi Choopan and the winner Derek Lunsford.
Samson has a more aesthetic and balanced physique when compared to Lunsford and Choopan, but he does not have the condition, and that was the difference between a third-place finish, and winning the Mr. Olympia title.
While working with his former coach Milos Sarcev, Samson Dauda has moved up to become a favorite to challenge for the Mr. Olympia title. It remains to be seen what improvements will be made until he steps on stage at the 2024 Mr. Olympia.
Samson has made incredible improvements in recent years, he has the foundation, and now he has to sculpt his physique to achieve the greatness that awaits him.
Learn from constructive criticism
In the days following the Arnold Classic USA and UK, it is evident that Samson does not take criticism very lightly.
After the Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio, Samson went on to block RxMuscle after Dave Palumbo allegedly said that he had no chance of beating Hadi Choopan, during prejudging.
Samson went on to publish a rant, criticizing the media outlets that that something to say about him after the event.
Other media outlets, such as the Menace Podcast, also were critical about Samson, in regards to criticizing his physique, and what needs to be done to improve.
Samson must remember that nobody hates him, and the sport of bodybuilding is based on constructive criticism, and pointing out what the athlete needs to do, to improve their physique.
Samson needs to listen to what respected bodybuilding pundits need to say, and use that as motivation to improve his physique for the next event.
It’s useless to block every channel that has an opinion, as he will end up being ignored and put to the side by the media.
