Eddie Hall, renowned as the 2017 World’s Strongest Man, has openly acknowledged experiencing fear as he approaches his inaugural professional MMA fight. His opponent is none other than Mariusz Pudzianowski, a five-time World`s Strongest Man winner and a seasoned MMA fighter.
The showdown is scheduled for April 26 at KSW 105 in Gilwice, Poland. Hall, who is British, has minimal MMA experience, consisting of a single 2-on-1 `freak fight` and a boxing match. In stark contrast, Pudzianowski boasts an extensive 16-year MMA career with 27 fights under his belt.
Despite being 11 years younger than Pudzianowski, who is 47, Hall is considered the underdog. However, Hall is known for his athleticism, even at a weight of 330lb. The fight will feature modified rules: two four-minute rounds with a 90-second break in between.
Hall`s Acknowledgment of Fear Facing Pudzianowski
Taking on a fighter with 27 professional bouts for his first official MMA fight is a significant challenge for Eddie Hall, especially considering the experience gap. He has only spent six minutes in a cage previously, mostly defending against two opponents simultaneously.
Hall understands the magnitude of the challenge. Speaking to the media in Poland, he stated, “I think being scared is natural. Even in strongman competitions, you feel fear and nerves.”
He elaborated, “If you`re not scared or nervous, something is wrong. I am facing Mariusz Pudzianowski, who has 26 professional fights, is a five-time World’s Strongest Man, and is a formidable opponent. Stepping into the cage to fight someone with 26 fights when I`ve only had one is daunting.”
Hall also mentioned the four-minute rounds as a challenging aspect to accept. “He has many advantages, but I thought, `why not accept the four-minute rounds? Let`s just get this done.`”
Pudzianowski`s Strategy for the Hall Fight
Pudzianowski, with his extensive MMA experience, is aware of how to handle Hall`s initial power. Hall himself has mentioned relying on short bursts of power followed by movement. Pudzianowski believes the key is to weather Hall`s early attacks to secure a victory.
“Eddie is not just a random brawler,” Pudzianowski commented after their face-off in Poland. “He is incredibly strong and weighs 160kg (over 352lb) currently, and I expect him to be around 150kg (over 330lb) on April 26.”
“I understand his background, coming from a similar strength sport. For the first couple of minutes, he will be like an unstoppable engine. My advantage is my experience and cunning over youth and raw strength.”
“If I avoid being caught by a lucky shot, I should be fine. But we shouldn`t underestimate him; he’s a heavyweight, and his punches carry significant weight.”
