The 2026 Mr. Olympia takes over Vegas in less than three weeks, and bodybuilders are laying out their predictions. In a September 7 video, Sergio Oliva explained why he thinks Samson Dauda will claim his second Sandow trophy.
Last year was a huge setback season for Dauda. He entered the 2025 Mr. Olympia as the reigning champion but left empty-handed. He brought sharper conditioning and sacrificed size, which cost him against stockier contenders like Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford. Ultimately, “The Nigerian Lion” finished fourth.
He attempted to rebound at the Prague Pro against Martin Fitzwater. However, Dauda still hadn’t regained the size and fullness he lost since the Olympia. He finished second, prompting a long off-season to make improvements. Dauda isn’t playing it safe; he’s jumping into the Europa Pro as a warm-up. With the prestigious show set to kick off soon, Oliva laid out how Dauda could recapture gold.
“I Think It’s Just Done” – Sergio Oliva Backs Samson Dauda to Win 2026 Mr. Olympia
In the video, Oliva was blunt about his Olympia prediction. He sees Samson Dauda winning the event unless he ‘shits the bed’ in the final stretch of preparations.
“Honestly, I just think Samson is winning. I think it’s just done. I think unless he shits the bed because he’s trying to be so big that somehow he messes it up between now and then.”
Oliva shared that Dauda aims to play to his strengths rather than only focusing on achieving a lean look:
“I think what he was saying last year, he’s like, I’m done doing everybody else’s game. They’re always ripping on him to get tighter, tighter, tighter, and he did. He slimmed down and he hated that look and clearly the judges did.”
“The next day, he’s still dieting pretty much. I’m going to come back like a freakin monster, and he’s only done that. Everything he said he was going to do. No one believed him.”
Having conquered the Olympia stage in 2024, bodybuilding veterans favor Dauda’s chances looking ahead. Former seven-time champ Phil Heath recently argued that if Dauda gets peeled for the Olympia, ‘it’s a wrap’ for his rivals in Sin City.
Dauda stands out as a clear frontrunner to challenge Derek Lunsford onstage. The 2026 Mr. Olympia is set for September 24-27 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fitness Volt will have comprehensive previews and live coverage!
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