The 2025 Mr. Olympia kicked off on Friday, October 10, in Las Vegas, marking the first day of the competition. The Men’s Open division prejudging took place that evening, featuring a strong lineup of athletes competing for the crown.
Samson Dauda walked onto the 2025 Olympia stage with the unmistakable swagger of a defending champion who knew exactly what he brought to the battle. In a lights-out performance, he silenced any doubts about his readiness following his Arnold Classic loss to Derek Lunsford earlier this year.
While the ‘Nigerian Lion’ remained silent in the lead-up to the Olympia, his physique roared volumes during the Friday prejudging round.
From the moment Dauda hit his first pose, it became clear he had taken his physique to another level. His legs, already a strong point, displayed unprecedented graininess and conditioning, revealing individual muscle fibers during transitions between poses.
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The defending champ worked the crowd masterfully, who in turn backed up his every move with thunderous support. He soaked up all that energy and held onto each pose just a tad longer to display all the improvement he had made to his physique.
This was a 10/10 performance from Dauda that may have effectively shut the door on his competition before Saturday’s finals even begin.
The Challengers
The final callout saw Andrew Jacked, Derek Lunsford, and Hadi Choopan joining Dauda center stage, making them the biggest threat to the British bodybuilder’s throne.
This grouping represented one of the most balanced comparisons in recent Olympia history, with two distinct body types paired against each other – Choopan and Lunsford sharing similar compact, dense structures while Dauda and Jacked brought larger frames with sweeping lines.
Andrew Jacked delivered what many considered his career-best showing. The criticisms about his lower-body development that had plagued previous outings were answered fully. His glute and hamstring tie-ins appeared flawless, creating the balanced physique that had been missing.
Jacked’s front double biceps remained world-class, and his signature abdominals and thigh shot continued to set the standard for the pose. He also appeared to be the most shredded guy in the front relaxed pose, as you could see all the definition in his shoulders, chest, and abs, without him even trying.
On the other hand, 2023 Mr. Olympia champ, Derek Lunsford, looked noticeably bigger and better than his 2024 package, bringing the mass necessary to stand with anyone while maintaining the conditioning that made him a double champion.
Hadi Choopan, the 2022 champion and perpetual bridesmaid, brought his trademark granite conditioning that has made him a judge’s favorite for years.
The Dark Horse Factor
While the final four commanded attention, Nick Walker and Martin Fitzwater’s presence loomed large, and they were also a part of the first callout but dropped a few places as the evening progressed.
Since the Men’s Open Olympia is a multi-day event, it’s not uncommon for athletes to go back and make significant changes to their bodies overnight and bring a better package to the stage during Finals and break into the top four.
While Walker made improvements to his physique compared to the previous time he stepped on the Mr. Olympia stage, Fitzwater potentially edged Walker in their direct comparisons, showing the completeness that earned him fourth place last year.
The Narrative Heading to Finals
As prejudging concluded, Samson Dauda’s championship defense appeared on track, but the margin for error remains razor-thin.
The final callout’s competitive balance, with each of the top four athletes potentially winning two of the eight mandatory poses, suggests Saturday’s finals could swing on the smallest details.
Judges worked the athletes extensively, with head judge Steve Weinberger putting them through multiple comparison rounds that revealed both the depth of this year’s field and the difficulty in separating the top tier.
For Dauda, the mission for the Finals is clear: maintain or exceed this prejudging performance, and the title remains his. For Jacked, Lunsford, and Choopan, the path to victory requires finding another gear while hoping the champion shows any sign of vulnerability.
The 2025 Olympia couldn’t have gotten any more exciting.
Friday Night Results
- Men’s 212 Olympia Results
- Figure Olympia Results
- Women’s Physique Olympia Results
- Fitness Olympia Results
- Ms. Olympia Results
- Wellness Results
Friday Prejudging
- Mr. Olympia Prejudging
- 212 Olympia Prejudging Report
- Fitness Prejudging Report
- Figure Prejudging Report
- Women’s Physique Prejudging Report
- Ms. Olympia Prejudging Report
- Wellness Prejudging Report
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