{"id":26872,"date":"2026-08-14T15:06:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T15:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=26872"},"modified":"2026-08-14T15:06:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T15:06:00","slug":"phil-heath-says-if-samson-dauda-gets-peeled-its-a-wrap-at-2026-mr-olympia-fitness-volt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=26872","title":{"rendered":"Phil Heath Says If Samson Dauda Gets Peeled ‘It’s a Wrap’ at 2026 Mr. Olympia \u2013 Fitness Volt"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Having supersized to 350 pounds, Samson Dauda<\/a> is the biggest question mark heading into the Mr. Olympia. In an August 13 video, Phil Heath<\/a> revealed that if Dauda manages to get peeled, he will recapture the Sandow trophy in Las Vegas.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2024, Samson Dauda shocked the world and defeated Derek Lunsford<\/a> at the Mr. Olympia<\/a>. His bigger stature and comparable conditioning helped him on his way to gold. However, a year later, \u201cThe Nigerian Lion\u201d dropped the title and fell to fourth place<\/a> with a downsized look.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dauda attempted to rebound at the Prague Pro<\/a> but lost to Martin Fitzwater<\/a>. His struggles continued at the 2025 Arnold Classic<\/a>, where he lost to Lunsford, which prompted a long off-season. Now, the bodybuilding community is curious if he can bring a winning physique after packing on significant size.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Phil Heath Believes Samson Dauda Will Win 2026 Mr. Olympia If He\u2019s \u2018Inside-Out Shredded\u2019<\/h2>\n

During the Olympia Instagram live video, Heath explained that Dauda still had visible abs despite weighing over 330 pounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u201cI don\u2019t see anyone dominant, and that\u2019s just how I look at it because I saw Samson at the Arnold UK, and I was like good lord, this guy is massive. Arnold asked him to lift his shirt up, and he had abs. Wow, I\u2019ve never seen that from him. He said he weighed over 330 or something like that. This is insane. This is another level.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He believes Dauda\u2019s size is a gamble, and questions what he\u2019ll do after the Mr. Olympia:\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u201cWith that said, it\u2019s a gamble. In my opinion, you can\u2019t get that big in the off-season and then you lose to a smaller guy like Derek.<\/p>\n

If that person can make up that much ground on you, then was the 350 really enough? Because, then, what do you do after that? Is it getting bigger or just getting leaner? I think it\u2019s a combination,\u201d said<\/a> Phil Heath.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

According to Heath, if Dauda is peeled, it\u2019s going to be a short night for his competition.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u201cIf he gets peeled, it\u2019s a wrap. Let\u2019s just call it how it is. But how hard is it to do that, to get inside-out shredded? I always feel like the Mr. Olympia needs two deadly shots that they don\u2019t lose to anyone. In this lineup, you have to have it, or it can go either way.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Heath isn\u2019t the only bodybuilding veteran airing concerns about Dauda\u2019s size. Shawn Ray<\/a> argued that Dauda\u2019s extra weight could backfire<\/a> when he steps back onstage.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u201cI don\u2019t know if he\u2019s got the right strategy. I don\u2019t know if being 340-350 pounds and bringing it down, trying to stay above 300, is going to be his winning ticket. I think being leaner is what got him the Olympia.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Less than six weeks remain before the biggest bodybuilding show of the year. The 2026 Mr. Olympia will take place from September 24-27 in Las Vegas, Nevada.\u00a0<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong>\u00a0Samson Dauda Slows Down 2026 Mr. Olympia Prep After His Body Responds Faster Than Expected<\/a><\/p>\n\n