Former strongman Eddie Hall made a memorable and brutal debut in mixed martial arts, achieving a knockout win over fellow strongman Mariusz Pudzianowski in a mere 30 seconds.
Hall, a British competitor, wasted no time in the bout. Just moments after the fight began, he visibly rocked Pudzianowski before executing a takedown. Once on the ground, Hall unleashed a series of powerful punches to his opponent`s head, which led to the quick stoppage. However, in the process of delivering these blows, Hall sustained a broken hand.
This marks another victory for Hall in combat sports, following his previous win against the Neffati brothers, Jamil and Jamel.
Reflecting on the fight afterward, Hall commented on the toughness of his opponent. He stated, “The fight was Mariusz was harder.” He clarified the injury, saying, “I didn`t break my hand on the Neffati Brothers. But I broke my hand on Mariusz`s face.” Despite the swift finish against Pudzianowski, Hall maintained, “I`d say Mariusz is a much harder fight than the Neffatti Brothers.” He also offered praise to the Neffati brothers for their recent improvement in a two-on-one bout.
The 38-year-old fighter underwent medical assessment following the impressive, albeit injurious, performance.
Hall certainly lived up to his moniker, “The Beast,” completely overwhelming Pudzianowski, who appeared to land very few strikes in return.
This transition to combat sports highlights a significant physical change for Hall, who has shed 45kg since his peak strongman career. His only other appearance in a one-on-one combat setting was a boxing match in 2022, which he lost to rival Hafþór Björnsson.
Elton Marrow