Chaos erupted just before the highly anticipated MMA bout between strongman legends Eddie Hall and Mariusz Pudzianowski, leaving many fans unable to view the event as the official pay-per-view website crashed.
The two former World`s Strongest Man competitors faced off in an intriguing mixed martial arts contest held in Gliwice, Poland.
The website operated by KSW, the promotion hosting the event, appeared unable to handle the overwhelming demand from viewers attempting to purchase and stream the fight minutes before it was scheduled to begin.
Live Event Challenges
A message displayed on the site informed frustrated fans: “We have temporarily limited the number of simultaneous connections. Please be patient and try again in a few minutes. Thank you for your understanding.”
Fighter Preparation and The Bout
To prepare optimally for his KSW 105 fight debut, Eddie Hall underwent a significant physical transformation. He shed 45kg from the massive 195kg he weighed when he was crowned World`s Strongest Man in 2017, focusing on achieving peak condition for MMA.
Mariusz Pudzianowski, who has always maintained a relatively leaner physique compared to Hall during their strongman careers, weighed in at a substantial 120kg for the fight.
However, despite Pudzianowski`s extensive MMA experience, it was Hall who ultimately dominated the contest on the night.
He surprised the Polish fighter, securing a quick victory by stopping Pudzianowski just 30 seconds into the first round.
Hall landed a powerful right hand early on that visibly hurt Pudzianowski, following up with a barrage of strikes until the referee intervened to stop the fight, awarding Hall a stunning debut knockout win.
Pudzianowski`s Strongman Legacy
Mariusz Pudzianowski is renowned for his strongman career, holding the unique record of winning the World`s Strongest Man title five times – in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2008, before transitioning successfully into mixed martial arts.
Hall`s Diet and Training
Commenting on his preparation for the bout, Hall discussed his dietary approach. He told Bloody Elbow: “I just eat nothing but meat, eggs and dairy on the carnivore diet for this fight prep. It’s been a pretty good diet, helped me to maintain all of my muscle mass and I’ve dropped body fat.”
He continued, “My energy levels are through the roof, my endurance is insane so that’s pretty much been the diet. I’ve not restricted what I eat at all, I eat as much of it as I want.”
Hall emphasized his focus on fitness over just weight: “I feel good and the main thing about it is that with my training, it’s not about the weight but how fit I am. Am I doing these four-minute rounds and being able to recover within 90 seconds to go again? At the minute, I can say yes. I’ve got no intention to lose too much weight because the cardio is there.”
Elton Marrow