Professional bodybuilder Samson Dauda, shirtless in a weight room, posing with headphones on.

Samson Dauda: the "Nigerian Lion", a massive and talented bodybuilder

Long the preserve of American athletes, bodybuilding is now a global sport. Samson Dauda He was born in Nigeria and grew up in the UK. The man nicknamed "the Nigerian lion "is one of the discipline's rising stars. With his incredible physique massifThere's no doubt he'll be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come.

From rugby to bodybuilding

Samson Dauda was born on March 11, 1992 in Nigeria. 

He moved to the UK with his family during his childhood. It was first on rugby pitches that young Samson distinguished himself.

At the urging of his teammates, he enters a weight room as a teenager. His physique is already impressive!

He then meets Chris Jones, owner of a local gym. Young Samson asks him about the preparation he needs to follow in order to becoming a bodybuilder. But faced with the scale of the task, Dauda decided not to pursue this course of action.

He finally changed his mind when he saw the performance of Phil Heath at Mr Olympia 2013, the event's overall winner. This persuaded him to become a bodybuilder.

Two photos of shirtless bodybuilder Samson Dauda posing.
Admiring the legendary Phil Heath, Dauda embarked on the bodybuilding adventure... To our great delight!

Samson Dauda's career in bodybuilding

A dazzling amateur debut

In April 2014, Samson Dauda took part in his first competition amateur bodybuilding.

Came to compete in the beginnersThe young bodybuilder was finally invited by the organizers to appear in the main show, as they were impressed by Dauda's appearance. The least we can say is that they were right on the money. He finishes in first place, and is already making an impression.

The following year, he competed at the amateur Olympia IFBB in the UK, coming 8th in the over 100kg category.

It finally took off in 2017, after several months of intensive work.

Samson finishes on the second step of the podium at the UKBFF British Championships in September. He then went on to win the Diamond Cup in Rome. Finally, he took a respectable 5th place at the Arnold Classic Europe. These performances earned him his IFBB card and opened the door to professional bodybuilding.

Entering the professional world

As a professional, the Samson Dauda's track record is already full.

In 2018, he failed to do better than 5th place at the IFBB Pro League EVLS Prague Showdown.

In 2019 and 2020, the Nigerian lion "He was up against some formidable rivals, but made good progress. He takes second place at the UK Grand Prix and at the Monsterzym Pro.

It wasn't until the following year that Dauda obtained her first win at the EVLS in Prague. In 2021, he finished on the podium in all the competitions he entered.

In 2022, he takes up the challenge of the Mr Olympia for the very first time. He finished in 6th position in an edition won by the Iranian Hadi Choopan. Derek Lunsford and Nick Walker completed the podium. That day, however, many observers realized Dauda's immense potential, believing that she could play a leading role in future editions.

In early 2023, Dauda wins the Arnold Classic, ahead of Nick Walker and Andrew Jacked. He took 3rd place in the Mr Olympia 2023 organized in Orlando, behind Lunsford and Choopan.

In a memorable 2024 edition, the Nigerian-born athlete lost his duel with Hadi Choopan in the Men's Open category of the Arnold Classic.

Samson Dauda's measurements

Samson Dauda is 1.80 metres tall. His weight fluctuates between 125 and 150 kilosdepending on whether he's in a competition period or not.

Two photos of bodybuilder Samson Dauda shirtless, abs protruding and muscles showing.
Samson Dauda is over 130 kilos of muscle!

There's nothing like a comparison to get a better idea of the physique of such a champion.

Dauda is sponsored by Hosstile, a brand of dietary supplements. This is also the case for Sam Sulekan American fitness influencer with a strong muscle mass and used to posing sessions.

But when the two posed side by side in September 2023, the photos sent the web into a frenzy. Many Internet users were quick to point out the impressive physical difference, showing just how enormous Dauda is. Proof that professional bodybuilders is beyond compare.

Dauda's training program and diet

Forging such a muscular and imposing physique necessarily involves perfectly calibrating one's training program and his nutritional plan. This is what Samson Dauda does on a daily basis, following a meticulous routine.

His bodybuilding program

The British bodybuilder performs between 3 and 5 exercises per session to target each muscle group. He particularly enjoys intensification techniquesincluding supersets.

Without fantasy, his training is both simple and effective. To limit the risk of injury, he always keeps control of the loads he uses.

His favourite exercises for LEG DAY

  • Leg extension: 5 sets of 15 to 20 repetitions
  • Seated leg curl: 5 sets of 20 repetitions
  • Thigh press: 5 sets of 15 to 20 repetitions
  • Hack squat or smith machine squat: 5 sets of 12 to 15 repetitions
  • Calf extension: 5 sets of 15 to 20 repetitions

Her favourite back exercises: 

  • Vertical pull with wide grip: 4 sets of 10 repetitions
  • Horizontal pull: 4 sets of 10 repetitions
  • Rack pull with barbell: 4 sets of 8 repetitions
  • Assisted machine rowing: 4 sets of 12 repetitions
  • Tight grip vertical pull: 4 sets of 10 repetitions
  • High pulley pullover: 4 sets of 10 repetitions
Pro bodybuilder Samson Dauda in a gym, sitting on a weight bench with two dumbbells in his hands.
Intensity, volume and execution technique are the 3 pillars of Dauda's training.

His favorite pectoral exercises: 

  • Dumbbell bench press: 4 sets of 8 repetitions
  • Inclined bench press with smith machine: 4 sets of 10 repetitions
  • Convergent bench press: 4 sets of 10 repetitions
  • Pec deck butterfly: 5 sets of 15 repetitions

Her favourite arm exercises: 

  • Larry scott curl: 4 sets of 12 repetitions
  • Pulley triceps extension: 4 sets of 15 repetitions
  • Dumbbell hammer curl: 4 sets of 10 repetitions
  • Seated machine dips: 4 sets of 12 repetitions
  • Unilateral triceps extension: 4 sets of 15 repetitions

Her favourite shoulder exercises: 

  • Smith machine military bench press: 4 sets of 12 repetitions
  • Seated dumbbell lateral raises: 4 sets of 10 repetitions
  • Chin-up: 4 sets of 12 repetitions
  • Inverted pec deck: 4 sets of 12 repetitions

His meal plan

To maintain such a physique, the Samson Dauda diet involves eating a lot, with 6 meals a day. Of course, he prefers natural, quality foods to industrial products.

Here's what a day on the plate looks like.

Meal 1 : 

  • 130 g rolled oats
  • 5 whole eggs with sauce
  • 30 g whey protein

Meal 2:

  • 400 g sweet potato 
  • 200 g beef steak
  • 1 apple and kiwi smoothie

Meal 3: 

  • 200 g wholegrain pasta
  • 200 g lean ground beef
  • Bolognese sauce

Meal 4: 

  • 200 g white rice
  • 250 g chicken, with sauce and a drizzle of olive oil
  • 40 g whey protein

Meal 5 : 

  • 200 g low-fat ground beef
  • 200 g white rice
  • Tomato sauce
  • 30 g whey protein

Meal 6 : 

  • 200 g steak
  • 200 g Mexican rice
  • 1 yoghurt

Conclusion

On the professional circuit since 2017, Samson Dauda is already one of the all-time greats. best bodybuilders of his generation. Despite a few setbacks, he is always present at the competitions in which he takes part. Endowed with limitless potential, the " Nigerian lion "It's likely to be the talk of the town for years to come.

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