Former Mr. Olympia Samir Bannout spoke out sharply about the current state of professional bodybuilding. This time, his criticism was directed primarily at Samson Dauda and Andrew Jacked, who, according to the legendary champion, lack better stage presence. Furthermore, Bannout disagrees with Lee Haney, who recently warned against competitors being overly defined.<\/p>\n
Samir Bannout did not hold back in his criticism of today\u2019s stars<\/h2>\n
Professional bodybuilding today is bigger, more massive, and more competitive than ever before. Yet former champions are increasingly asking whether, with growing muscle mass, something of the sport\u2019s original essence is being lost.<\/p>\n
Samir Bannout<\/strong>, the 1983 Mr. Olympia winner, has now joined this debate. On the October 31, 2026, episode of *The Ress Podcast*, he openly criticized the posing of some of the most prominent competitors in the current Men\u2019s Open category. And his words were quite harsh. He focused primarily on Samson Dauda and Andrew Jacked, bodybuilders who rank among the absolute world elite.<\/p>\n According to Bannout, muscle mass and definition alone aren\u2019t enough. Equally important is the ability to present one\u2019s physique properly.<\/p>\n Bannout is particularly bothered by the way Dauda and Jacked perform the so-called \u201cfront relaxed\u201d pose. This is a basic stance in which competitors present their physique from the front, allowing judges to evaluate its overall proportions, symmetry, and muscular readiness. According to him, both bodybuilders raise their arms too high during this presentation.<\/p>\n And although he acknowledges that current rules allow for this style of execution, he does not consider it appropriate from an aesthetic standpoint. The legendary champion is convinced that a professional bodybuilder should appear elegant on stage and present his physique in a way that best highlights its strengths.<\/p>\n His criticism, therefore, is not limited to muscle mass.<\/p>\n Bannout points out that bodybuilding is also an art of presenting the body, and the posing itself can influence the overall impression of a competitor.<\/strong><\/p>\n Another part of Bannout\u2019s criticism was directed specifically at Samson Dauda. The former Mr. Olympia explained that if a competitor steps onto the stage with less full muscles, his physique may appear softer. According to him, this is precisely the problem that sometimes plagues Dauda.<\/p>\n Bannout pointed out that both spectators and judges may mistake insufficient muscle fullness for poor competition form. At the same time, he suggested that relatively small changes in preparation and presentation could have a significant impact on Dauda\u2019s score. It is important to note, however, that this is Bannout\u2019s subjective assessment of a competitor\u2019s physique.<\/p>\n Without knowledge of the specific conditions of a competitor\u2019s training, it is impossible to determine why a particular competitor appeared less defined at a specific moment. Nevertheless, his comments raise an interesting question: Can the ability to properly showcase the muscles a competitor has already built also determine a place among the world\u2019s top bodybuilders?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Bannout also devoted an interesting part of the interview to a recent statement by eight-time Mr. Olympia winner Lee Haney. Haney criticized what he sees as an excessive emphasis on extreme competition-level definition and pointed out the health risks that may be associated with the pursuit of ever-more pronounced muscle definition. Bannout, however, disagrees with his view.<\/p>\n In his view, exceptional competition readiness remains one of the fundamental prerequisites for success in professional bodybuilding. At the same time, he asserts that competitors can achieve excellent form without resorting to dangerous practices. In the interview, he mentioned, for example, the problematic use of diuretics\u2014substances that promote the excretion of water from the body.<\/p>\n Their misuse can indeed pose a serious health risk, particularly due to disruptions in fluid and electrolyte balance. However, this does not in itself mean that any extreme practice during competition preparation is safe. Bannout\u2019s opinion should not be confused with professional medical advice.<\/p>\n Both legends thus agree that bodybuilding must take into account the quality of the competition physique.<\/p>\n However, they fundamentally differ in their views on how high the standards judges should set for its definition.<\/strong><\/p>\n Samir Bannout points out that muscle size alone does not necessarily guarantee the best competition presentation. Competitors may have exceptional physical attributes, but if they cannot showcase their strengths properly, they may not come across as convincingly on stage. His criticism of Dauda and Jacked therefore goes beyond the mere evaluation of a single pose.<\/p>\n It opens up a broader debate about the role aesthetics, elegance, and the ability to work with one\u2019s own physique should play in professional bodybuilding. Whether the judges and the competitors themselves will agree with Bannout\u2019s opinion remains to be seen.<\/p>\n One thing, however, is certain.<\/p>\n Even after this year\u2019s Olympia, the discussion about what actually makes the world\u2019s best bodybuilder continues unabated.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n
Samson Dauda and Andrew Jacked? According to Bannout, they lack professionalism when posing<\/h2>\n
According to him, Samson Dauda sometimes appears less defined than he actually is<\/h2>\n
Bannout Disagrees with Lee Haney: Extreme Muscle Definition Doesn’t Necessarily Pose a Health Risk<\/h2>\n
Does modern bodybuilding have a problem with posing?<\/h2>\n