The 2025 Mr. Olympia Weekend was full of shock-and-awe moments, especially in the star-studded Men’s Open division. Former champion Samson Dauda issued his first statement since his drop to fourth place a day after the event, on October 12.
“Sometimes doing everything right still doesn’t give you the result you hoped for,” Dauda shared.
Muscle-bound athletes spanning all 11 IFBB Pro League divisions squared off to be named the number one bodybuilder in their class. The top of the ticket was teeming with Open Bodybuilding stars like Dauda, Derek Lunsford, Hadi Choopan, Andrew Jacked, Martin Fitzwater, and more. In the end, it was Lunsford who reclaimed his Mr. Olympia title, joining Jay Cutler as only the second Open talent in history to pull that off.
Known for taking gambles (like competing at the 2025 Arnold Classic as the Mr. Olympia), Dauda guest posed just weeks before heading to Vegas. His condition was all the bodybuilding world was talking about, yet his package didn’t translate like he thought it would on stage. Dauda seemed a little soft and smaller during prejudging but tightened up for the finals. Despite the adjustments, it was too much ground to make up for him.
This result puts Dauda in a peculiar spot. For so long, judges and the community have urged him to bring better condition, but when he finally did so, it threw off the size and fullness that he’s been known for. With time to reflect on the drop, he gave fans some insight into his mentality on social media.
Samson Dauda Reacts to 4th-Place Drop at 2025 Mr. Olympia: “It Hurts”
In the Instagram post, Dauda, still processing the results fully, expressed disappointment. While he heeded the judges’ feedback to come in leaner and sharper, he said he paid the price for not being a ‘bigger version.’
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“We came in 4th this year at the Olympia. I won’t lie, it hurts. I listened, adjusted, and brought the best version of myself to the stage… leaner, sharper and in the best condition of my life. But in chasing perfection, I paid the price for not being the bigger version.”
Holding his head high, “The Nigerian Lion” congratulates Lunsford on once again making history, achieving his ‘Triple Crown’ goal of winning the Arnold Classic, Pittsburgh Pro, and Mr. Olympia consecutively in 2025, a feat that’s never been done. In addition, he eclipsed over $1 million in earnings this year.
“Still, I hold my head high. Because what we achieved what Mel and I built together was something special. The journey, the growth, the resilience… that’s what defines a true athlete.”
Massive congratulations to Derek on winning his 2nd title, and to all the incredible competitors who brought their absolute best this weekend, sharing the stage with you all is an honour every single time.”
Looking ahead, a broken-but-not-beaten Dauda stressed that it ‘isn’t the end,’ promising to come back better and stronger.
“This isn’t the end, it’s a chapter. The fire burns even brighter now. Thank you all for the love, support, and belief. We’ll be back… and we’ll make sure I’ll be better and stronger,” Samson Dauda said.
With Dauda’s drop from the top three, it will be interesting if he decides to get some sort of vengeance at the 2026 Arnold Classic. Next year’s Arnold will hand out a historic $750,000 purse for the winner, the biggest check set to be awarded in bodybuilding history.
Whether Dauda decides to compete soon or take some time away remains in question. He’s led one of the most active contest schedules of any top-tier Open Bodybuilder over the years, even as a reigning Olympia titleholder. If it were up to his fans, I’m sure they’d love to see him battle it out at the 2026 Arnold Classic in March.
Related: Behrouz Tabani’s Long Road to Olympia: “Today Is the Best Day of My Life”
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