April 26th was a significant date for combat sports fans, featuring numerous events taking place within a brief timeframe.
Before the UFC`s return to Kansas City, where Ian Machado Garry was victorious over Carlos Prates, there were several other notable attractions scheduled throughout the day.
While London hosted a keenly watched boxing match between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn, ultimately won by Eubank Jr, a considerable amount of attention was directed towards Poland.
In a high-profile heavyweight contest at KSW 105, Eddie Hall secured a rapid victory, stopping Mariusz Pudzianowski in just 28 seconds after both powerful athletes began exchanging heavy blows.
The fight was intensely exciting for its short duration, but a key point of discussion emerged immediately after the dramatic conclusion.
Eddie Hall Apologizes to Mariusz Pudzianowski for Blows to the Back of the Head
Following his third consecutive knockout defeat, Mariusz Pudzianowski expressed some concerns regarding how the fight unfolded at the PreZero Arena in Gliwice, Poland.
The former five-time World’s Strongest Man appeared hurt early in the bout. Eddie Hall utilized his formidable strength to control his unsteady opponent while attempting to land subsequent strikes.
Pudzianowski was seen holding the back of his head moments after the fight was halted, later posting his issues on his Instagram story.
He wrote, “I lost!!! 5 hammers to the back of the head were enough and I blacked out. A hit to the back of the head was enough!!!”
Upon reviewing footage of the fight, it is evident that several of Hall’s ground strikes landed on the back of an already compromised Pudzianowski`s head as Hall sought to finish the fight.
Given the chaotic nature of the contest and Pudzianowski’s limited MMA experience, this isn`t entirely unexpected, though his complaint certainly seems valid.
Regardless of whether it would have altered the outcome, there did not appear to be any warning issued by the referee concerning strikes to the back of the head.
Hall did not address this specific issue in his initial post-fight social media comments, but he did demonstrate respect towards Pudzianowski by apologizing for his actions when speaking to the media afterwards.
“I do hold my hands up when I say, ‘I’m sorry for hitting you in the back of the head.’ I don’t condone that and I wouldn’t want it done to me,” Hall stated.
Rematch Prospects Discussed After the Fight
In his post-fight interview, Eddie Hall mentioned that he is not focused on pursuing world titles or similar accolades in MMA.
However, he did indicate he would be willing to participate in a rematch following Mariusz Pudzianowski’s complaints. Pudzianowski, conversely, seemed less enthusiastic about the idea.
Pudzianowski had been contemplating retirement even before the fight, reflecting on his numerous accomplishments, and the 28-second loss hasn`t altered his position.
The 48-year-old indicated he is not currently considering future plans in the sport.
“I turned 48, almost 49. The sport is for young people. What’s next? I don’t know,” Pudzianowski commented.
