{"id":17186,"date":"2026-04-03T17:06:36","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T17:06:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=17186"},"modified":"2026-04-03T17:06:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T17:06:36","slug":"bob-cicherillo-shawn-ray-believe-samson-dauda-and-andrew-jacked-will-fight-for-1st-2nd-at-2026-mr-olympia-fitness-volt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=17186","title":{"rendered":"Bob Cicherillo, Shawn Ray Believe Samson Dauda and Andrew Jacked Will Fight for 1st\/2nd at 2026 Mr. Olympia \u2013 Fitness Volt"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The 2026 Mr. Olympia is just under six months away. On April 2, Bob Cicherillo and Shawn Ray predicted Andrew Jacked and Samson Dauda to fight for first and second place. In addition, they suggested that Nick Walker and Martin Fitzwater would skip the prestigious contest.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chinedu Andrew \u2018Jacked\u2019 Obiekea<\/a> has been on a roll since taking third place at the Olympia. He turned around and won the Romania Pro<\/a>, but wasn\u2019t finished competing. He pushed all-in at the 2026 Arnold Classic Ohio<\/a> and won the historic $750,000 winner\u2019s purse. Then, secured another $250,000 after dominating the Arnold UK<\/a> event.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The 2026 Mr. Olympia lineup will be loaded with top names. Fans are curious if Samson Dauda<\/a> can reclaim the title against Derek Lunsford<\/a> after dropping it in 2025. Meanwhile, anticipation of seeing Nick Walker and Martin Fitzwater back onstage is growing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Bob Cicherillo, Shawn Ray Predict Andrew Jacked & Samson Dauda to Fight for Gold at 2026 Mr. Olympia\u00a0<\/h2>\n

Speaking on the Voice of Bodybuilding<\/em> podcast, Ray predicted that Jacked and Dauda could contend for the next Olympia crown.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe also know where the chinks in Derek\u2019s armor are. His arms are not worthy of standing next to Andrew or Samson, for that matter, and that\u2019s a big one.<\/p>\n

He does have the back to compete, but he\u2019s a shorter, boxier bodybuilder, Derek. I really think going into Olympia, this could be two Nigerians, one and two, for the very first time in the history of our sport that could lay claim to that Olympia title.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Should Jacked win the 2026 Mr. Olympia, Ray and Cicherillo agree he should skip the next Arnold Classic.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u201cI do not think that if Andrew Jacked goes into the Olympia this year, that he winds up in Columbus, Ohio next year, regardless of what the payout is.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I were Andrew Jacked or I\u2019m running his camp, and he ends up in the winner\u2019s circle at Olympia this year, I would absolutely not go to the Arnold,\u201d said<\/a> Cicherillo. \u201cI\u2019d concentrate on Olympias.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In contrast, they revealed why it might be advantageous for Walker to sit out of the Olympia.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u201cThat rest, actually, Bob, that might extend all the way through the Olympia, which I don\u2019t think is a bad strategy for Nick,\u201d said Ray.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter the Arnold, getting second, I believe he had already mentally burnt himself out, and I don\u2019t think Olympia is even in the plans. That\u2019s enough money to sit on for a year and consider the waiting game.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

They also assessed Martin Fitzwater\u2019s future. Cicherillo wasn\u2019t convinced he\u2019d actually make it back to the Olympia stage in 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u201cI don\u2019t particularly think he\u2019s going to wind up in the Olympia. He continually talks about his mental instability. He\u2019s trying to get his act together. He\u2019s missing his peak, and when he got fourth at the Arnold Classic, we all had him in fifth at the Arnold Classic Ohio. He just got beat by Patrick Moore, who hadn\u2019t busted a grape as a professional bodybuilder.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Public confidence in Jacked is at an all-time high after three consecutive Pro show victories. Bodybuilding legend Phil Heath urged him to \u2018impose his will\u2019 on Lunsford<\/a> when they meet in Vegas. According to \u2018The Gift,\u2019 Jacked has a legitimate shot at winning the Olympia.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The pieces are beginning to fall in place for an action-packed Olympia contest. The event is scheduled for September 24-27 in Las Vegas, Nevada.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0<\/strong>Derek Lunsford Aims for \u2018Almost Flawless\u2019 Physique at 2026 Mr. Olympia, Reveals His Top 2 Threats<\/a><\/p>\n

Watch the full video from the VOB Media YouTube channel below:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n