{"id":18150,"date":"2026-04-13T20:14:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T20:14:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=18150"},"modified":"2026-04-13T20:14:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T20:14:09","slug":"samir-bannout-calls-nick-walkers-contest-break-a-very-smart-move-predicts-he-comes-back-even-better-fitness-volt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=18150","title":{"rendered":"Samir Bannout Calls Nick Walker’s Contest Break ‘a Very Smart Move,’ Predicts He Comes Back Even Better \u2013 Fitness Volt"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Samir Bannout believes a break in competition might be best for bodybuilder Nick Walker. On April 11, 2026, he supported Walker taking a rest and shared that Dorian Yates adopted a similar approach throughout his career.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nick Walker<\/a> is coming off a string of shows, some successful, others not so much. At the 2025 Pittsburgh Pro<\/a>, he battled Derek Lunsford<\/a> in a sudden-death tie-breaker but ended up on the losing end. He won the New York Pro to requalify for the Mr. Olympia. However, his aspirations were shot down in Vegas after he mistimed his peak and placed sixth.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Despite public doubt, Walker brought a dramatically improved package to the 2026 Arnold Classic<\/a>. He ultimately lost to Chinedu Andrew \u2018Jacked\u2019 Obiekea<\/a>, but restored his momentum with the strong performance. Walker has since hinted at taking a break from contests, prompting discussions online about his future.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Samir Bannout on Nick Walker\u2019s Strategic Break: \u2018Very Good Move\u2019\u00a0<\/h2>\n

In the latest Muscle Maturity<\/em> podcast, Bannout called Nick Walker intelligent for taking a break and predicted he\u2019ll come back even better.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt is true, it is true that he\u2019s going to take it. In my opinion, I think that\u2019s a very smart move and I really applaud him because you always have to think about your health, not about the check. With some of those guys, they think oh, half a million, $750,000, you know, sometimes, they are not very cautious about the severe consequences that are going to come their way.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cNick Walker is intelligent. In fact, what he\u2019s doing now is wonderful. I think he is going to come back even better. That\u2019s a good move, a very good move,\u201d said Bannout. \u201cIt\u2019s not a mental thing, mentally he\u2019s on,\u201d Samir Bannout said<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Bannout supported the decision wholeheartedly, noting that the body\u2019s receptors need time to recover. He added that this is a strategy former six-time Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates<\/a> implemented.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u201cI think he\u2019s driven and he\u2019s capable of competing but no, in bodybuilding, it\u2019s very, very important to take this time off because your receptors, as we all know, we don\u2019t have to hide. When we compete at a high level, we use some anabolics, yes.<\/p>\n

By taking that long break, it\u2019s actually going to help your body. The receptors in the body won\u2019t work if you continue to compete. The body literally shuts down. Taking that five, six, seven months is very intelligent. This is what Dorian Yates was doing. He was competing once a year.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Some bodybuilding veterans disagree with Walker taking a break from contests. Shawn Ray, a notable 1990s Men\u2019s Open standout, argued that Walker made a mistake by not competing at the Detroit Pro<\/a>, which took place a week after the Arnold Classic Ohio.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Walker hasn\u2019t announced a concrete plan to take an extended rest from contests. The qualification period for the 2026 Mr. Olympia<\/a> runs from September 15, 2025, to August 30, 2026.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong>\u00a0Milos Sarcev Calls Out Nick Walker\u2019s Stomach Distention: \u201cIt Cannot Be Tolerated\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

Watch the full video from the Old School Labs YouTube channel below:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n