The bodybuilding community’s focus has shifted to the nearing 2024 Arnold Classic taking place from February 29 to March 3. Taking part in a recent Rx Muscle YouTube video, coach Chris Aceto evaluated the mandatory poses of frontrunners Samson Dauda and Hadi Choopan weeks from the big show.
From the moment the Arnold Classic Ohio competitors list was released, fans quickly realized that Samson Dauda and Hadi Choopan would be vying for supremacy. The 2023 Olympia competition served as a prelude to their upcoming showdown. When they shared the stage last, Choopan lost his Mr. Olympia title but still positioned himself ahead of ‘The Nigerian Lion’ who scored third place in his sophomore appearance.
While Choopan has largely worked in silence since that night, Dauda took an entirely different approach to his season. He claimed gold at the 2023 Romania Muscle Fest Pro and EVLS Prague Pro in a show of dominance. Dauda, who won the last Arnold Classic, hopes to become a two-time champion when the dust settles next month.
Chris Aceto Compares Mandatory Poses of Samson Dauda and Hadi Choopan Weeks from 2024 Arnold Classic
According to Aceto, Dauda might have used a filter on one of his more recent physique updates.
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“Yeah, that’s not that’s – you’re looking at some filtering going on there for sure,” said Chris Aceto. “Last time I saw him he was a lot darker than this. I’m serious. His skin color was darker than this so they probably lightened it.”
“He looks ridiculous in this video!” adds Aceto. “He looks ridiculous in the video. Oh by miles [his best conditioning of career].”
Given that Derek Lunsford won’t be on stage in Ohio, Aceto believes that will work in Dauda’s favor against Choopan.
“He’s a lot to handle for Hadi because as I said we’re not looking at Derek. So, you can concentrate easier on the contrast between the two and he’s going to look I think – he’s going to take up more space on stage.
He’s got, Hadi’s got fabulous legs but Samson has a better looking fabulous leg, it’s got more roundness to it. Hadi has got a fantastic most muscular with the crazy cross-striations but there’s more wow to Samson right now.”
Aceto underscored the strength of Dauda’s front double biceps and front lat spread poses.
“Obviously, this is definitely his best for sure,” adds Aceto. “Front double is pretty impressive too. Yeah, the front lat spread is better. You know it’s hard to say, that’s the thing. I mean he looks outstanding here and I would bet on him looking at these videos but you know, Hadi does his homework you know, he’s the homework king.”
Just like last year’s 2023 Arnold Classic, Chris Aceto anticipates a close contest between the finalists.
“He’s never been anything but diced out of his mind. Sometimes diced out of your mind beats rock-hard and big. You don’t know [until they are on stage]. It’s probably going to be after prejudging it’s probably going to go right back to where it always goes, you’re going to have fans who love Hadi saying Hadi and the fans who love Samson are saying Samson.”
As for Hadi Choopan, Aceto mentioned that he had a better back lat spread than Dauda, despite the Nigerian’s overbearing size.
“He certainly doesn’t look as just as overwhelming in that video as Samson does,” shares Aceto. “I think he’ll beat Samson in the back lat spread.”
When it comes to front poses, Aceto shared that Dauda might have the upper hand.
“That stance, there’s a lot to Samson. I know Hadi will beat him on the back lat spread. But just standing there when he stood from the front and Samson standing from the front, Samson is just a big dude man.
That’s a crazy back lat spread [on Choopan]. It’s funny the back, he’s got a very good back double too but you’d think how much the back lat spread – how much muscle looks like it’s there.”
This hasn’t been the first instance in which Aceto assessed Dauda’s capabilities. Recently, the veteran coach assessed the UK star’s activity levels given the success he enjoyed at European shows last year. In addition to expressing concern over Dauda possibly burning out, Aceto highlighted that fans have yet to see ‘The Nigerian Lion’ hit ‘lights out’ conditioning.
Hadi Choopan, on the other hand, will aim to bring his best to the Ohio event, which will serve as his debut on the Arnold Classic stage. Ever since the AC lineup went public, Choopan and Dauda have traded barbs with consistent physique updates presented on social media.
There’s no denying the intensity between Choopan and Dauda as we head into the 2024 Arnold Classic. The live stream will be free of charge, courtesy of bodybuilding legend and former seven-time Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger.
RELATED: Lee Priest Discusses 2023 Mr. Olympia w/ Chris Aceto, Talks Hadi Choopan’s Vulnerabilities
Watch the full video from the Rx Muscle YouTube channel below:
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