PHILIPPINES’ BET to the Mister World 2016 pageant in Southport, Devon, England, Sam Ajdani, is facing a tough fight as he vies to win the country’s first-ever Mister World title.

That’s a fact we find hard to brush off, seeing this year’s 46 contestants, from which we picked our 10 best hunks earlier today.

Though a lot of pageant websites are betting on Sam, we can only acknowledge that he’s up against some of the world’s most handsome and fittest men ever to grace the London-based competition, now in its 9th edition.

Sam Ajdani competes for Miss World 2016

Based on our personal taste, we’d say he’s particularly up against South Africa’s Armand Du Plessis and India’s Rohit Khandelwal, along with Darren King of Ireland and Lucas Montandon of Brazil, among several other gorgeous men from around the world.

It’s worth noting, though, that unlike other male pageants, the Mister World winner is never chosen on looks and charisma alone, but also on physical strength and the beauty of the heart.

Ahead of tonight’s final competition, the contestants already competed in a number of fast-track events, where winners were picked in several categories, including Mr. World Talent, Multimedia Award, Mr. World Extreme Sports, and Mr. World Sports. Those who scored highest in each preliminary competition stand a good chance of becoming finalists, one step closer to the title.

Should the odds fall in his favor, Sam could bring home the first Mister World title for the Philippines, strengthening the country’s standing in the world of pageantry.

Flag bearers

It can be recalled that three years ago, the country made a name for itself in Mister World’s female counterpart when Megan Young was crowned Miss World 2013. Young has since become a favorite figure in the organization, and is in fact hosting tonight’s event.

The Philippines’ highest finish in Mister World, though, came in 2012, when model-actor Andrew Wolff won first runner-up to Colombia’s Francisco Escobar.

In 2014, model John Spainhour was sent to the competition but only managed to win the sports challenge, in the year reigning Mister World Nicklas Pedersen of Denmark took the title. It was that same year, a week before the competition, that both Spainhour and Ajdani were handpicked by Cory Quirino, owner of the Mister and Miss World franchises in the country, to compete in Mister World wearing the Philippines’ sash.

A lack of preparation kept Spainhour from winning the title, though he managed to snatch a sports competition award, given his military background. Things are different for Sam, though, as he’s had almost two years to prepare. Will the Filipino-Iranian hunk win the Mister World 2016 title? What do you think, folks?

Sam Ajdani showcases his beautiful body in this photo.