Shaun Clarida is ready to battle the field at the 2023 Arnold Classic including Samson Dauda.
Two-time 212 Olympia champion Shaun Clarida recently teased a showdown with Samson Dauda at the 2023 Arnold Classic. The reigning 212 champion chose not to compete at the 2022 Olympia in the open weight division and instead decided to return to the 212 category. He secured an impressive victory as a result, but is still clearly chomping at the bit to compete in the open category.
Dubbed ‘The Giant Killer’ for his smaller stature yet impressive physique, Shaun Clarida appears poised to make good on his moniker. After skipping out on competing in the open division at the Olympia, Clarida is choosing to make his return to the category at the Arnold Classic. When he does make his return he’ll have to face off against a group of talented competitors. Amongst those athletes is the vastly improved Samson Dauda who took sixth at the 2022 Olympia in the open division.
Samson Dauda is proving to become a major force in the open division after his impressive Olympia performance. For that reason Shaun Clarida views Dauda as his main competition at the upcoming Arnold Classic. In a recent interview Clarida stated that facing Dauda is a challenge he would like to take on.
“Yeah, I think [a call-out between me and Samson Dauda] would be fun,” said Shaun Clarida. “It’d be great. I think we have very similar physiques. Obviously, he’s a bigger version. But as far as round muscle bellies, things popping, I think it would be a great call-out. I’m excited for it. I’m going to have to out-pose him a little bit, so we’ll see.”
View this post on Instagram
Clarida’s Greatest Strength
While Samson Dauda outsizes Shaun Clarida, the reigning 212 Olympia champion understands what his greatest strengths are as a bodybuilder.
“Listen, I know what my strengths are — and it’s conditioning. I push. I work my ass off to make sure I’m the most conditioned guy on that stage, whether it’s 212 or the Open. In this past year, we really stepped it up because we knew what the goal was. We knew that title was wide open. Obviously, still being in 212, I’m not going to be the biggest guy there.
“But what can I beat these guys on… presentation, symmetry, and of course, my conditioning. Obviously I believe having a combination of that plus the fullness I bring to the stage is what carries me to that championship. I believe that’s what’s going to carry me to, God willing fingers crossed, an Arnold Classic champion this year.”
View this post on Instagram
Do you think Shaun Clarida can win the 2023 Arnold Classic?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
News and Editorial Writer at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
