The narrative, journey, and milestones of Samson Dauda
With the 2024 Mr. Olympia competition swiftly approaching, it’s essential to spotlight an emerging talent in the world of bodybuilding. His impressive and well-balanced muscular build and definition helped him secure a 6th place finish at the 2022 Mr. Olympia, trailing just behind the former titleholder Big Ramy. Samson Dauda, known as the “Nigerian Lion,” has demonstrated his potential as a significant contender, especially since 2022 marked his debut at Mr. Olympia, making a top ten finish quite a noteworthy accomplishment.
Here’s a detailed overview of Samson Dauda’s profile, statistics, background, workout routines, and nutrition plans.
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Full Name: Samson Dauda (IFBB Bodybuilder) |
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| Weight | Height | Date Of Birth |
| 275-330lbs | 5’11” | Unknown |
| Division | Era | Nationality |
| Men’s Bodybuilding | 2020 | Nigerian |
Samson Dauda Biography
Originating from Nigeria, Samson Dauda currently resides in the UK. He exemplifies how bodybuilding is a truly global sport that continues to expand. Initially, a career in bodybuilding wasn’t on his radar until several rugby peers encouraged him to compete. This prompted him to consult Chris Jones, a local gym owner, about the sport. Despite initially declining Jones’s explanation of the prep process, witnessing Phil Heath’s victory at the 2013 Olympia ignited Dauda’s passion for bodybuilding.
In April 2014, Samson Dauda entered his first bodybuilding competition. He initially competed in a novice event, but the promoter later invited him to partake in the main show, believing he had a winning potential. To Samson’s astonishment, he secured first place, marking the beginning of his journey.
Samson Dauda’s Competitive Journey
Samson Dauda’s 2022 Mr. Olympia debut proved his resilience and talent, eventually claiming third place in the 2023 Olympia after years of striving for a spot on the grand stage.
Let’s review the previous competitions in which Samson Dauda has participated.
| Year | Federation | Contest name | Class | Place |
| 2023 | IFBB Pro League | Olympia | Men’s Bodybuilding – Open | 3 |
| 2022 | IFBB Pro League | Olympia | Men’s Bodybuilding – Open | 6 |
| 2022 | IFBB Pro League | Boston Pro | Men’s Bodybuilding | 4 |
| 2022 | IFBB Pro League | Arnold Classic USA Pro | Men’s Bodybuilding | 4 |
| 2021 | IFBB Pro League | Romania Muscle Fest Pro | Men’s Bodybuilding – Open | 2 |
| 2021 | IFBB Pro League | EVLS Prague Pro | Men’s Bodybuilding – Open | 1 |
| 2021 | IFBB Pro League | KO Egypt Pro | Men’s Bodybuilding – Open | 3 |
| 2021 | IFBB Pro League | Yamamoto Cup Pro | Men’s Bodybuilding | 3 |
| 2021 | IFBB Pro League | Arnold Classic UK Pro | Men’s Bodybuilding | 2 |
| 2020 | IFBB Pro League | British Grand Prix Pro | Men’s Bodybuilding | 6 |
| 2020 | IFBB Pro League | Europa Pro | Men’s Bodybuilding – Open | 5 |
| 2020 | IFBB Pro League | Monsterzym Pro | Men’s Bodybuilding – Open | 2 |
| 2019 | IFBB Pro League | Portugal Pro (“Mr. Big Evolution”) | Men’s Bodybuilding | 5 |
| 2019 | IFBB Pro League | Vancouver Pro | Men’s Bodybuilding – Open | 8 |
| 2019 | IFBB Pro League | Chicago Pro | Men’s Bodybuilding – open | 7 |
| 2019 | IFBB Pro League | British Grand Prix | Men’s Bodybuilding | 2 |
| 2018 | IFBB Pro League | Romania Muscle Fest Pro | Men’s Bodybuilding – open | 11 |
| 2018 | IFBB Pro League | George Farah Classic Pro Italy | Men’s Bodybuilding | 9 |
| 2018 | IFBB Pro League | EVLS Prague Showdown | Men’s Bodybuilding – open | 5 |
| 2017 | IFBB (Amateur) | Diamond Cup Rome | Men’s Bodybuilding – over 90 kg | 1 |
| 2017 | IFBB (Amateur) | Diamond Cup Rome | Men’s Bodybuilding – overall | 1 |
| 2017 | UKBFF | British Championships | Men’s Bodybuilding – over 100 kg | 2 |
| 2017 | IFBB (Amateur) | Arnold Classic Europe (Amateur) | Men’s Bodybuilding – over 100 kg | 5 |
| 2015 | IFBB (Amateur) | Olympia Amateur UK | Men’s Bodybuilding – over 100 kg | 8 |
As previously noted, 2022 was Samson Dauda’s debut at Olympia, and securing a place within the top ten is extraordinary. Following that up with a third-place finish is even more impressive.
Training
Samson Dauda’s workouts are unique in the sense that they are typically very high volume. He segments his sessions to target specific muscle groups and does minimal exercises, but his rep ranges are elevated. Usually, Dauda performs about 3-5 exercises for each muscle group. Let’s explore some of his various workouts.
Legs
Samson Dauda’s leg routine is incredibly intense. Despite consisting of just a few exercises, he ensures he gets the maximum benefit from each one.
Leg Extension: 5 sets of 15-20 reps
Seated Leg Curl: 5 sets of 20 reps
Leg Press: 5 sets of 15-20 reps
Smith Machine Squats: 5 sets of 12-15 reps
Even though the rep ranges are elevated, Dauda squeezes hard on each rep, making sure to get a solid mind-muscle connection, and lifts significant weights for each movement.
Back
Samson Dauda’s back reflects the heavy, intense, and high volume training he commits to. He hits the muscle groups effectively and keeps his back day rigorous.
Wide Grip Neutral Pulldown: 3-4 sets of 8-10 reps with a two-second hold for each rep, and a drop set on the last set
Cable Row: 3-4 sets of 10 reps with two-second holds each rep, followed by two sets to the point of failure
Rack Pulls: 3-4 sets of 10 reps, increasing weight for each set, controlling the weight on the descent, and ensuring muscular failure for the last set of 10 reps
Hammer Strength Low Row: 3-4 sets of 10 reps, with a second hold at the peak of contraction, and ensuring the last set of 10 reps reaches absolute failure
Narrow Grip Pulldown x Rope Pullovers: This final exercise is a super-set and extremely grueling. 10 reps of narrow grip pulldown, super-setted with 10 reps of rope pullovers, repeated for 3-4 sets with only 60 seconds of rest between each set.
These are just some examples of how Samson Dauda trains, showing the dedication he puts in. Examining these routines, it’s no surprise that he’s rapidly rising to the top of the bodybuilding world.
Nutrition
The diet of Samson Dauda is nothing short of impressive. To maintain such a physique, keeping his body mass between 275 pounds on stage and 330 pounds during the offseason, requires a substantial amount of high-quality food. Let’s explore what a typical day of eating looks like for Dauda both in season and off-season.
Offseason Diet
Meal 1:
- 130 grams rolled oats
- 1 scoop Hosstile ISO grass-fed whey protein isolate
- 5 whole eggs fried in butter with a splash of whole milk, topped with Reggae and Nando’s sauce
- 1.5 scoops of Hosstile SILO essential amino acids plus hydration support in water
Meal 2:
- 400 grams sweet potato
- 200 grams steak
- 1 apple and kiwi smoothie
Meal 3 (pre-workout:meal):
- 200 grams of pasta
- 200 grams of ground beef with bolognese sauce
Intra-workout Shake:
- 1 scoop Hosstile INTRA intra-exercise
- 1 tablespoon of Hosstile BLOODSHOT pre-exercise pump
Post-workout Shake (immediately after exercising):
- 2 scoops of Hosstile ISO grass-fed whey protein isolate
- 1 large banana
Meal 4 (1 hour following post-exercise shake):
- 2 cups of white rice
- 250 grams of chicken breast
- A drizzle of olive oil on rice with Reggae and Nando’s sauce
- 2 scoops of Hosstile ISO grass-fed whey protein isolate 20 minutes after finishing this meal
Meal 5:
- 200 grams of lean minced beef
- 2 cups of white rice
- Tomato sauce
- 2 scoops of Hosstile ISO grass-fed whey protein isolate 20 minutes after finishing this meal
Meal 6:
- 200 grams of steak
- 1 pack of Uncle Ben’s Mexican rice
- 1 YOP yogurt
Prep Diet
Meal 1:
- 90 grams of oatmeal
- 2 scoops of ISO[H1] grass-fed whey protein isolate
- 5 whole eggs
Samson consumes his second meal of the day before taking his dog Cerberus to the park for some playtime.
Meal 2:
- 250 grams of sweet potato
- 200 grams of steak
Upon returning from the park, Samson eats the next meal and prepares his intra- and post-exercise supplements for the gym.
Meal 3:
- 1 ½ cups of rice
- 250 grams of chicken breast
- Topped with jerk sauce
Intra-Workout Supplement Stack:
- 1 scoop of BLOODSHOT pump pre-workout powder
- 1 scoop of INTRA[R3] intra-exercise powder
- 1 scoop of Beta Alanine powder
- 1 scoop of Creatine monohydrate powder
- 1 scoop of Glutamine powder
- 1 scoop of Citrulline powder
Post-Workout Supplement Stack:
- 1 scoop of ISO[H1] grass-fed whey protein isolate powder
- 1 scoop of CDX Cluster Dextrin carb powder
Meal 4:
- 1 ½ cups of rice
- 250 grams of chicken breast
Next, Samson assembles an outdoor light for Cerberus and talks about his previous career as a contractor.
Meal 5:
- 1 ½ cups of rice
- 250 grams of chicken breast
Before winding down for the night, Samson has his final meal consisting of 200 grams of salmon.
Meal 6:
- 200 grams of salmon
Samson Dauda Personal Life
In his life away from bodybuilding, Samson Dauda has a spouse, Marlenka. She enjoys cooking healthy dishes for her husband and continually motivates Samson Dauda to achieve the next level in bodybuilding. She is a great support in all aspects of their private life, and they currently do not have any children. The couple aspires to bring the Mr. Olympia title to their home.
In addition, Samson owns a dog named Cerberus. He also collaborates with Hosstile athlete, Sam Sulek, who is an emerging figure in the fitness world.
Samson Dauda Wrap Up
Samson Dauda is swiftly rising in the bodybuilding realm. With two Olympias under his belt and a top-ten finish in both, his future appears promising. His regimen is intensely rigorous, and he undoubtedly has a bright future in the sport.
Do you think Samson Dauda will obtain the Mr. Olympia title someday?
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