Nick Walker and Samson Dauda have now become two of the most closely watched competitors in men's open bodybuilding, and their rivalry has received a new chapter at the 2026 Mr. Olympia, in which Walker won his first Sandow trophy, and Dauda took second place.
The outcome was very close indeed. Walker scored 18 points, Dauda 20. Even though Walker won the competition as a whole, Dauda had the better performance in the final round, which shows why he can still be one of Walker's main rivals when 2027 arrives.
The fact that he finished second in 2026 shows that he has a real chance of winning the championship. Yet it is not merely his size that will decide the winner. Dauda has to keep his muscles full as he provides the conditioning, definition, and balance needed to overcome an elite field.
The fact that Nick Walker has a slim, highly muscular build poses a different kind of challenge. The contrast between their builds makes the comparison between them especially interesting to bodybuilding enthusiasts and judges.
He won at the Arnold Classic by coming in second that year and also secured a victory at the Tampa Pro; these results showed that he was capable of giving strong performances in major competitions.
Walker also gained a significant advantage during the 2026 Olympia prejudging, earning eight points against Dauda's 15, a lead which in the end proved decisive. At the finals, Dauda obtained five points while Walker scored 10, but it was Walker's early advantage that secured him the title.
It is clear that Dauda has the ability to beat Walker in a single round, but he has to maintain a consistent performance over the entire competition if he is to win the overall championship. [Source: Fitness Volt](https://fitnessvolt.com/2026-mr-olympia-scorecard-explained/)
The fact that Dauda gave a strong performance in the finals was encouraging, but the gap that had been assumed beforehand eventually cost him the championship. For 2027, it would be just as important to improve his performance in the first round of comparisons as it is to have an impressive physique for the finals.
The fact also shows that minor variations in the judging can decide the result of a contest at the Olympia. Neither of the athletes can afford to depend on a single exceptional round.
Compared to Walker, Dauda has a different appearance due to his overall build and considerable muscle mass. When his conditioning is good, his physique becomes noticeable because of the combination of his size, shape, and muscular fullness.
The fact that he won his last Olympia competition also shows that he has the experience and capability of becoming the top-ranked athlete in bodybuilding.
In order to make the most of these advantages, Dauda should keep improving his conditioning and muscular definition without giving up the size which sets him apart. The fact that he finished as runner-up in 2026 shows that he is still capable of challenging the champion, even if it does not ensure that he will achieve the same result in 2027.
His next challenge will be to keep up the combination of density, conditioning, and stage presentation that helped him to win; the 2026 results also show how important it is to gain an advantage early in the contest rather than putting all your hopes on the finals to decide the outcome.
Since Dauda has shown that he is capable of closing the gap in the final races, Walker will have to be ready to defend his title against both Dauda and the other top competitors in the division.
In 2026, Derek Lunsford came in third, Andrew Jacked fourth, and Tonio Burton completed the top five. Since each athlete has his own particular strengths, the Men's Open field presents a considerable challenge to anyone who is aiming to win the title.
The way the rivalry unfolds could be affected by Lunsford's championship experience, Andrew Jacked's excellent physique, and the strength of the division.
In 2026, he finished in second place, being just two points short of the champion. This small gap gives him a reasonable basis for launching another challenge for the title, on the condition that he improves his performance in both the prejudging and the finals.
At the same time, Walker has already demonstrated that he is capable of beating Sandow when competing against other strong contenders. The champion defending the title will have every reason to build on that success.
Walker is in a better position for the next season since he is the current champion, while Dauda will have to show a more consistent performance throughout the competition if he is to turn his close second-place finish into another win at Olympia.
The encounter between them in 2026 has set out a definite storyline for 2027: can Dauda close the remaining gap or will Walker retain his title? The outcome will be determined by their condition, preparation, and performance when they again return to the Olympia stage.
The outcome was very close indeed. Walker scored 18 points, Dauda 20. Even though Walker won the competition as a whole, Dauda had the better performance in the final round, which shows why he can still be one of Walker's main rivals when 2027 arrives.
Samson Dauda Has the Size and Structure to Challenge Nick Walker
Because of his size, muscular build, and general shape, Dauda is a serious competitor in the Men's Open class. The former Mr. Olympia winner has shown that he is capable of competing at the top level since he won the title in 2024, came fourth in 2025, and then finished in second place again in 2026.The fact that he finished second in 2026 shows that he has a real chance of winning the championship. Yet it is not merely his size that will decide the winner. Dauda has to keep his muscles full as he provides the conditioning, definition, and balance needed to overcome an elite field.
The fact that Nick Walker has a slim, highly muscular build poses a different kind of challenge. The contrast between their builds makes the comparison between them especially interesting to bodybuilding enthusiasts and judges.
Nick Walker Has Already Proved He Can Win the Olympia
Walker is not just a dangerous competitor any longer; he is the current Mr. Olympia champion of 2026, having greatly improved on his sixth-place result in 2025.He won at the Arnold Classic by coming in second that year and also secured a victory at the Tampa Pro; these results showed that he was capable of giving strong performances in major competitions.
Walker also gained a significant advantage during the 2026 Olympia prejudging, earning eight points against Dauda's 15, a lead which in the end proved decisive. At the finals, Dauda obtained five points while Walker scored 10, but it was Walker's early advantage that secured him the title.
It is clear that Dauda has the ability to beat Walker in a single round, but he has to maintain a consistent performance over the entire competition if he is to win the overall championship. [Source: Fitness Volt](https://fitnessvolt.com/2026-mr-olympia-scorecard-explained/)
The insights provided by the 2026 Mr. Olympia regarding their rivalry.
In the 2026 contest, it became clearer just how closely matched the athletes were, with Walker coming first, scoring 18 points, Dauda securing second place with 20, and Derek Lunsford taking third with 24.The fact that Dauda gave a strong performance in the finals was encouraging, but the gap that had been assumed beforehand eventually cost him the championship. For 2027, it would be just as important to improve his performance in the first round of comparisons as it is to have an impressive physique for the finals.
The fact also shows that minor variations in the judging can decide the result of a contest at the Olympia. Neither of the athletes can afford to depend on a single exceptional round.
Samson Dauda's Biggest Advantages Over Nick Walker
Compared to Walker, Dauda has a different appearance due to his overall build and considerable muscle mass. When his conditioning is good, his physique becomes noticeable because of the combination of his size, shape, and muscular fullness.
The fact that he won his last Olympia competition also shows that he has the experience and capability of becoming the top-ranked athlete in bodybuilding.
In order to make the most of these advantages, Dauda should keep improving his conditioning and muscular definition without giving up the size which sets him apart. The fact that he finished as runner-up in 2026 shows that he is still capable of challenging the champion, even if it does not ensure that he will achieve the same result in 2027.
What Nick Walker Must Do to Stay Ahead
With his first Men's Open Mr. Olympia title to his credit, Walker starts the next season of Olympia.His next challenge will be to keep up the combination of density, conditioning, and stage presentation that helped him to win; the 2026 results also show how important it is to gain an advantage early in the contest rather than putting all your hopes on the finals to decide the outcome.
Since Dauda has shown that he is capable of closing the gap in the final races, Walker will have to be ready to defend his title against both Dauda and the other top competitors in the division.
Other Bodybuilders Who Could Influence the 2027 Olympia
The Mr. Olympia competition in 2027 won't definitely be decided just between Walker and Dauda.In 2026, Derek Lunsford came in third, Andrew Jacked fourth, and Tonio Burton completed the top five. Since each athlete has his own particular strengths, the Men's Open field presents a considerable challenge to anyone who is aiming to win the title.
The way the rivalry unfolds could be affected by Lunsford's championship experience, Andrew Jacked's excellent physique, and the strength of the division.
Could Samson Dauda defeat Nick Walker at the 2027 Mr. Olympia?
It is true that Dauda has shown that he is capable of challenging Walker, but simply having that potential is not enough to secure victory at the 2027 Mr. Olympia.In 2026, he finished in second place, being just two points short of the champion. This small gap gives him a reasonable basis for launching another challenge for the title, on the condition that he improves his performance in both the prejudging and the finals.
At the same time, Walker has already demonstrated that he is capable of beating Sandow when competing against other strong contenders. The champion defending the title will have every reason to build on that success.
Is Samson Dauda Nick Walker's Biggest Threat in 2027?
Samson Dauda is among Nick Walker's most serious contenders for the title of Mr. Olympia in 2027. The fact that he finished as runner-up in 2026, had previously won the Olympia championship, and performed well in the finals makes a strong argument for him remaining a relevant competitor in the title race.Walker is in a better position for the next season since he is the current champion, while Dauda will have to show a more consistent performance throughout the competition if he is to turn his close second-place finish into another win at Olympia.
The encounter between them in 2026 has set out a definite storyline for 2027: can Dauda close the remaining gap or will Walker retain his title? The outcome will be determined by their condition, preparation, and performance when they again return to the Olympia stage.
