Samson Dauda announced he will take the stage in one week!
Men’s Open bodybuilder Samson Dauda will not wait long to take the stage after his disappointing finish at the 2025 Olympia. Last week, Dauda announced that he would be competing at the EVLS Prague Pro this weekend.
During the competition, he will take on the likes of Martin Fitzwater and Keone Pearson, who is making his debut in Open Bodybuilding.
[RELATED: Samson Dauda Speaks on Fourth-Place Finish at 2025 Olympia]
Dauda has proven that he is a true force in Men’s Open and this has been the case since his debut. In 2022, he finished in the Top 10 at his first Olympia competition and shot up the scorecard in 2023 — when he was top three. After his victory last year, it was a surprising drop to No. 4 but Dauda is prepared to move forward and improve.
The Olympia came down to a top four that was established early on. From prejudging, Dauda was among a top four that included Derek Lunsford, Hadi Choopan, and Andrew Jacked. This ended up being the top four in Men’s Open with Lunsford being crowned champion for the second time. Choopan finished as the runner-up once again while Jacked made a jump into the top three.
| Full Name: Samson Dauda (IFBB Bodybuilder) | ||
| Weight | Height | Date Of Birth |
| 275-330lbs | 5’11” | Unknown |
| Division | Era | Nationality |
| Men’s Bodybuilding | 2020 | Nigerian |
Samson Dauda Confirmed in Prague Pro
Dauda will be the latest big-name competitor to take on the quick turnaround and compete in Prague following the Olympia.
In 2024, Classic Physique champion Chris Bumstead made his Men’s Open debut in Prague and finished as the runner-up in the biggest division. He came in second to Fitzwater, who will look to make it two victories in a row. As for Pearson, this appearance in Men’s Open has made many question when he will move to the division full time.
Pearson has emerged as a star in bodybuilding in a short amount of time. His pro career, beginning in 2016, started in Classic Physique before making the move to 212. He spent a few years in the division before going head-to-head and defeating Shaun Clarida. Pearson is now the new face of the 212 division after completing the three-peat at the Olympia.
Many competitors have made the jump up in division and that could be the road map for Pearson moving forward. Pearson could follow the path of Derek Lunsford, who won his first 212 Olympia title in 2021 before making the big jump to Men’s Open. It is unknown if Pearson plans to make the jump permanently just yet but it is a topic that has surrounded him for over a year now.
As for Martin Fitzwater, he is a rising star in Men’s Open. Fitzwater’s breakthrough year was 2024. He won the Detroit Pro Men’s Open, earning his invitation to the 60th Mr. Olympia competition in Las Vegas. At Olympia, Fitzwater placed an impressive fourth in a lineup filled with veteran champions, marking his arrival as a true contender. Shortly after, he competed at the Prague Pro, earning another high placing and establishing himself as one of the most improved athletes on the circuit. He also came within a single point of victory at the 2024 New York Pro, where he placed second to Nick Walker in what was considered one of the most competitive matchups of the season.
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