Shahriar Kamali, affectionately known as King Kamali, joined Kamal Elgargni to discuss the 2026 Mr. Olympia contest. During a YouTube video from May 18, they revealed their top two Men’s Open predictions ahead of the blockbuster event.
In 2025, the Mr. Olympia reshaped the Open class. Derek Lunsford became only the second bodybuilder since Jay Cutler to reclaim the title after losing it onstage. Meanwhile, Hadi Choopan earned runner-up for a third consecutive year, with Chinedu Andrew ‘Jacked’ Obiekea making a statement in third place.
Thus far, the 2026 bodybuilding season has been unpredictable. At the recent Arnold Classic Ohio, Jacked secured gold and a massive $750,000 cash prize. He also won the Arnold UK show and solidified himself as a top Mr. Olympia contender. However, fans were surprised to find out that Jacked lost Kamal Elgargni as his trainer over payment disputes.
Samson Dauda backstepped into fourth place at the last Mr. Olympia. He focused on tighter conditioning, and it backfired. Now, the Nigerian mass monster has packed on substantial weight in hopes of earning back his crown. With the event around four months away, these bodybuilding veterans predicted how it would unfold.
King Kamali & Elgargni Predict ‘100%’ Jacked and Dauda Fight for Top 2 at 2026 Olympia
Find Kamali and Elgargni’s picks from the video below:
- Andrew Jacked
- Samson Dauda
In the latest Iron OG‘s podcast, Kamali asked Elgargni who has the edge if all competitors hit the Olympia stage at 100%.
“Answer this question honestly. Samson 100%, Andrew 100%, Derek 100%, Hadi 100%, and Nick Walker 100%, all of them come in 100% at the Olympia this year, who’s winning?” asks King Kamali.
According to Elgargni, the competition will likely come down to Jacked and Dauda.
“I will say between Andrew and Samson,” replied Kamal Elgargni.
“We’re talking bodybuilding. Whatever is happening is happening. Even this weekend, at the Pittsburgh guest pose, he looked great. He was maybe more conditioned than anyone. Okay, maybe a little downsized, but Samson is huge and big. He looked great. I’m not going to lie. The truth is the truth.”
Kamali agreed with Elgargni’s predictions:
“You answered it correctly. It is between the two monsters, in my opinion,” added Kamali.
Though there is still time before the Olympia, that hasn’t stopped big names in the sport from offering their predictions. Bodybuilding veterans Dennis James and Jay Cutler have both backed Jacked to win the 2026 Mr. Olympia.
Fans look forward to seeing if Lunsford can hold on to his title at the 2026 Mr. Olympia. The event is set for September 24-27 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
RELATED: King Kamali Advises Samson Dauda to Join Forces With Dorian Yates: “You’ll Get Your Title Back”
