Former strongman Eddie Hall recently made a surprising professional mixed martial arts debut in Poland, catching the MMA world`s attention.
Just a few months prior, Hall, a former World`s Strongest Man winner, announced his intention to step into professional MMA. He was set to face fellow strongman veteran, Mariusz Pudzianowski, at the KSW 105 event.
Known as ‘The Beast,’ Hall had hinted at entering MMA for several years. Following an unusual 2-on-1 fight where he achieved two decisive knockouts, he publicly challenged Pudzianowski to what he dubbed the “World`s Strongest fight.”
Unlike Hall, Pudzianowski transitioned to MMA after his strongman career and built a considerable record, including knockout victories over fighters like Bob Sapp and Butterbean.
However, despite his significant experience advantage, Pudzianowski was swiftly defeated by Hall in a rapid 30-second exchange, resulting in a knockout win for Hall in his debut bout.
Pudzianowski Comments on His Loss to Eddie Hall
Although Hall`s victory was dominant, it wasn`t without controversy. Immediately after the fight was stopped, Pudzianowski protested, claiming he had been struck illegally multiple times in the back of the head.
Hall later confirmed that he had unintentionally hit the back of Pudzianowski’s head and offered what appeared to be a sincere apology for the accidental foul.
In a somewhat bizarre turn, ‘The Beast’ also expressed interest in a potential “freakshow” fight against Conor McGregor, despite the vast weight difference between the two athletes.
Several days following their super heavyweight clash, Pudzianowski has now responded publicly to Hall’s apology regarding the illegal strikes.
On his Instagram story, Pudzianowski commented, “He was better, he won. This is not chess. It happens like that sometimes.”
Eddie Hall Considers Bare-Knuckle Boxing Future
Ahead of their fight in Poland, the 48-year-old Pudzianowski had indicated that he might be nearing retirement from combat sports.
Hall, conversely, appears to be just embarking on his combat sports journey. He has mentioned that he would consider competing in Conor McGregor’s Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) if a substantial financial offer was presented.
BKFC is establishing itself as a prominent combat sports promotion, often considered second in popularity after the UFC, distinct from organizations like PFL, Bellator, or ONE Championship, and frequently signs notable fighters.
A significant challenge for Hall should he pursue bare-knuckle boxing would be finding an opponent of comparable size willing to potentially absorb powerful strikes from someone renowned as one of the strongest men in history.
