Only a couple days earlier than Christmas 2025, former Mr. Olympia Samson Dauda and Hosstile Supps introduced they have been parting methods after a five-year relationship. The break appeared amicable with Dauda, Hosstile, and Hosstile Supps proprietor Fouad Abiad all exchanging pleasantries. The break with Dauda, no less than on the floor, regarded very very like the break with 2x EVLS Prague Professional champ and Prime 5 Olympian Martin “The Martian” Fitzwater. The distinction there, nonetheless, is that Abiad has at all times been a vocal supporter of Samson’s. Though Fouad would argue he was at all times supportive of The Martian, I’d disagree. The break with Dauda is completely different. I can’t even examine it to the break with Sam Sulek and even Nick Walker. Of all of the athletes to ever go away the HS model, I might have wager that Samson would have gone down with the ship.
Initially, I used to be even anticipating this to have been some sort of a poorly timed publicity stunt. We’ve seen this occur through the years, however to what finish? And why simply two days earlier than Christmas? The timing of the entire thing suggests to me that the break was just about unilateral, and I’ll converse extra on this level all through the article. That mentioned, as might be anticipated, most followers and media shops took to the socials to tow the proverbial line. Nearly nobody questioned the good-natured theme of the break, however you know the way The Iron Duque will get down. I’m not talking with any diploma of certainty. I don’t have any inside info or confidential sources, however I’ve been doing this for twenty years and issues simply don’t add up.
For starters, we will have a look at the Fitzwater instance and see some obvious variations. In that scenario, Martin had been wanting on the door for some time. He didn’t obtain a lot help from the model. Whereas Fouad’s handicapping included Martin within the Olympia Prime 5, he was persistently underestimating him within the placings. Perhaps that’s him saving face as an influencer in his personal proper, however you may’t pretend help. I additionally discover it attention-grabbing that Fouad did a little bit of Indian giving, taking credit score for giving Martin a deal when nobody knew who he was and placing him on the map. That’s truly not totally true. Martin was very a lot on the ascent whereas he was working with Ryse. He had additionally gained the Detroit Professional and was getting extra consideration on his socials. Fitzwater has at all times been very engaged with the assorted platforms and is taken into account an lively influencer by his rising fanbase. In some ways, Martin is the best candidate for a complement firm to promote merchandise. I imagine Hosstile noticed a chance and earned handsomely for it. That mentioned, the HS narrative makes them look much more favorable and trendsetting than the fact of the matter. Nonetheless, the minute that the break between Fitzwater and Hosstile was introduced, Martin introduced a significant signing to RAW/BUM Vitality. 5 days after Samson and Hosstile broke, the previous Mr. Olympia nonetheless has Hosstile on his varied social media pages and no announcement(s) have been made with regard to a future complement sponsor.
On daily basis that passes from the second the break was introduced the place Dauda makes no formal announcement makes me marvel that this was not a mutual choice. As I said at @STRENGTHADDICTS on Instagram, the longer Samson waits to signal to a brand new firm the extra individuals are going to speak. If this had been a mutual choice, why announce the break two days earlier than Christmas and barely greater than per week earlier than the top of the 12 months? Curiously, I haven’t seen any massive corporations (or medium or small ones for that matter) announce any main signings to return. It’s as if the business is dormant and that’s the conventional state of affairs for this time of 12 months. It’s at all times potential that this was mutual and Dauda didn’t plan forward. In any case, that is a person who hasn’t had a major-name coach in years and now perhaps will transfer ahead with out a complement sponsor, both. He does produce other backers, so he must be okay, proper?
Sure and no.
It’s one factor to be a high bodybuilder with out a coach, but it surely’s fairly one other to be a high bodybuilder with out a complement sponsor. You possibly can have a clothes sponsor, work with a meal prep firm, and/or have backers within the TRT, hair elimination, tanning, or equipment segments, however there’s one thing about having a complement sponsor. Plenty of it has to do with notion. If a high athlete lacks a complement sponsor, it doesn’t look proper. An enormous a part of being profitable in an business obsessive about bells and whistles is in search of the half. Proper now, Samson doesn’t have a look at the half.
If there have been a bodybuilder who wanted an agent – it could be Samson Dauda. As a former Mr. Olympia and former Arnold Basic champion, he stays very marketable, however he must get his head out of the clouds. Proper now, it could appear to be he doesn’t know if he’s on foot or horseback. And whereas most bodybuilding shops are too busy kissing ass and steering away from incomes Abiad’s wrath, I’m merely mentioning realities that others will seize upon sooner or later. As soon as the mud settles and the smoke clears, commentators shall be extra emboldened to start out asking the questions they’re avoiding at the moment. As we’re close to the 2026 Arnold Basic and the start of the 2026 contest season, I hope that Samson hyperlinks up with an organization that believes in him. I hope he will get a coach who can information him again to successful huge reveals.
I additionally hope that the break between Dauda/Abiad/Hosstile gained’t result in any sort of future drama, however I wouldn’t be stunned if it did. I wouldn’t be stunned the least-bit stunned, in actual fact. Why? As a result of I’ve been doing this for twenty years. And since – as I said @STRENGTHADDICTS on Instagram – Samson could also be holding his tongue – for now – as a result of he could also be owed cash. Whether or not that’s again pay, reimbursements for journey, lodging, and/or meals, and/or any profit-sharing income he could have had along with his former sponsor. If he spilled the tea now, he may sabotage himself. Cash is a hell of a motivator to maintain your mouth shut and pressure a plausible smile.
Might it have been an amicable break? Presumably. I’d say 60/40. My 60% hunch is that there’s much more to the story than what we’ve been supplied with. My 40% hunch is that perhaps it’s amicable. That’s not a foul cut up. I’m not completely against the concept, but it surely simply doesn’t make sense to me. It’s simply too bizarre.
As at all times, I like to depart the ultimate phrase to you, the loyal readers of IronMag. I hope you loved studying my article. I look ahead to studying your suggestions within the feedback. As at all times, please copy and paste a hyperlink to this text on all of your social media feeds. It is going to certainly generate full of life dialog.
Creator Bio:
Christian I. Duque is the proprietor StrengthAddicts.com, a physique and power web site based in 2008. He has labored for a variety of bodybuilding web sites, together with RX Muscle and Muscular Improvement. Christian has written almost 1,000 printed articles for Iron Journal, in addition to articles for StrengthAddicts, RX Muscle, and others. By day, he’s additionally a licensed lawyer training within the areas of household legislation, immigration, and prison protection.
