Eddie Hall anticipated a significantly tougher challenge when he stepped into the cage against Mariusz Pudzianowski for his mixed martial arts debut on Saturday night.
Hall, the 2017 World’s Strongest Man, needed only 30 seconds to defeat the five-time WSM champion Pudzianowski at KSW 105 in Gliwce, Poland. Although the Polish strongman possessed considerably more experience in combat sports, he was 48 years old and had been out of competition for almost two years.
Video content related to the fight would appear here.
- Who is Eddie Hall? The former World`s Strongest Man begins his MMA journey.
Eddie Hall: Pudzianowski Fight Was `Easier Than Expected`
From the moment the opening bell rang, Eddie Hall and Mariusz Pudzianowski met in the center of the cage. This strategy worked perfectly for the Brit, who landed a powerful punch early that completely disrupted his opponent`s balance.
Following the strike, he easily took Pudzianowski down, despite the Pole weighing 267lb, and finished the fight with ground and pound strikes, some of which were close to the back of the head. When asked by Polish media after the fight if it was easier than he expected, Hall replied, “Of course.”
He elaborated, “I expected it to go eight minutes [the fight was scheduled for two four-minute rounds]. I dedicated so much training to ground work, wrestling, and striking, so I was anticipating a much longer battle.”
Hall concluded, “But don’t get me wrong, I am incredibly happy to claim that win. The 30 seconds of madness? I’m pleased with that, and I’ll take it… I hold the record for the hardest recorded punch on the planet, and if that connects with your face, I don’t care who you are, you’re going down.”
Eddie Hall Open to Mariusz Pudzianowski Rematch – With a Key Modification
Despite securing a relatively easy win in his debut, Hall expressed interest in facing Pudzianowski again in a rematch. The clash between the two former World’s Strongest Man champions generated significant global interest.
However, Hall proposed a significant rule change: two-minute rounds instead of four. As a man weighing over 330lb, he believes shorter bursts would make for a more exciting fight. He stated, “Perhaps Mariusz would agree to a rematch with two-minute rounds.”
Clarifying his intentions in the sport, Hall added, “I have no ambition to become the number one fighter in KSW. That path isn`t for me. I want to participate and have fun. I want to fight my heroes. I want to fight the world`s freaks.”
