A powerful head kick landed squarely on Eddie Hall`s chin, sending the strongman to the ground during a recent sparring session captured on video.
Having established his legendary status by winning the 2017 World`s Strongest Man competition, the British athlete is undeniably a formidable figure. Known for his incredible power, Hall even holds the world record for the hardest punch, surpassing the previous mark held by Alex Pereira.
While he possesses awe-inspiring strength, the transition of his unique skill set to the sport of mixed martial arts is a complex process requiring significant dedication and adaptation, a challenge he encountered firsthand during a demanding training session.
In a candid moment from the footage, the strongman icon was seen needing to recover and regain his footing after being knocked down.
Head Kick Knocks Down Hall During Sparring Footage
Eddie Hall had previously been expected to make his mixed martial arts debut on February 17, 2024, in a planned contest against Mitchell Hooper, but that particular matchup ultimately did not take place.
Nevertheless, the strongman continued to invest considerable time training in the gym, focused on refining his developing MMA abilities.
From this period, he shared a video on his YouTube channel which featured a sparring session against a tall, skilled Russian opponent known for his dangerous strikes.
In his commentary accompanying the sparring footage, Hall described his initial approach: “I was very cautious with this guy, didn’t want to attack him to be honest, just wanted to feel each other out.”
He even seemed to anticipate the incoming strike, adding, “And you’ll wait and see, I get a nice little kick to the face in a second.”
True to his words, the opponent moments later landed a thunderous left high kick that connected directly with Hall`s head, causing him to fall towards the canvas.
Hall was quick to confirm he was unharmed, reacting to the strike by saying, “That`s Okay. That was a good one! F— my life, someone could have told me about that back leg!”
Hall eventually made his official MMA appearance later, participating in a unique two-on-one bout against the Neffati Brothers, where he secured a dominant victory by finishing both opponents.
Looking ahead from the time the sparring footage was shared, Hall was scheduled to face a considerably tougher challenge at KSW 105 against five-time World`s Strongest Man Mariusz Pudzianowski.
Another Notable Knockdown: Sparring with Kickboxing Champion Rico Verhoeven
The strongman`s experience absorbing powerful strikes is not limited to the tall Russian sparring partner. Hall also had a significant training session with renowned kickboxing world champion Rico Verhoeven.
As Verhoeven prepared for his rematch against Levi Rigters, he welcomed Hall into his training camp, providing the Englishman with insight into the rigorous daily regimen of a Glory champion.
During Hall`s visit, the Dutch champion guided the powerhouse through his typical training activities.
The intensity of their session eventually escalated, leading to Verhoeven landing a powerful kick that resulted in Hall also being knocked down in that instance.
