Former strongmen Eddie Hall and Mariusz Pudzianowski are set to collide in a super-heavyweight mixed martial arts contest tonight.
The bout, featuring Hall, 37, against Pudzianowski, 48, is scheduled as the co-main event for KSW 105, taking place in Poland.
Hall steps into this fight as the underdog. His opponent has secured four more World`s Strongest Man titles and began his MMA career significantly earlier, in 2009. However, Hall holds the advantage of being younger.
The British athlete has been training with UFC champion Tom Aspinall and indicated to talkSPORT that he plans to compete at a weight between 350 and 355 lbs.
This specific weight range drew a comment from Pudzianowski, who mentioned to the Polish publication myMMA that “it won`t be easy to oxygenate that.”
The fighters will compete in rounds lasting four minutes, separated by 90-second breaks.
Who is Mariusz Pudzianowski?
Mariusz Pudzianowski is recognized as one of the greatest strength athletes ever, having won the World`s Strongest Man title five times (in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2008).
He stands 6 feet 1 inch tall with a reach of 77 inches, making him one inch shorter than Hall and having a three-inch shorter reach.
His early career saw a brief interruption due to a 19-month prison sentence following an incident involving a local mafia figure.
Growing up, Pudzianowski trained in karate and boxing. After winning his final strongman title, he transitioned to mixed martial arts in 2009.
Known as “The Dominator” during his strongman career, he is a popular figure in his native Poland, not just for his athletic achievements but also for participating in dancing and singing competitions.
Pudzianowski finished second on the Polish version of Dancing with the Stars in 2008 and appeared on the short-lived Polish singing show Just the Two of Us in 2010.
What is Mariusz Pudzianowski`s MMA record?
Pudzianowski faces Eddie Hall with a professional MMA record of 17 wins, 9 losses, and one no contest.
His most recent victory was in 2022 against Michal Materla, and he has suffered two losses since then.
He has not fought since June 2023, when he lost in the second round to Artur Szpilka. A loss to Hall would mark the longest consecutive losing streak of his MMA career, at three defeats.
His two recent losses followed a winning streak of five fights that spanned nearly three years.
Notable victories in Pudzianowski`s career include a rapid 76-second knockout of Butterbean (Eric Esch) and a win over K1 legend Bob Sapp.
When is Eddie Hall vs Mariusz Pudzianowski and how can I watch it?
- The fight is scheduled to take place this Saturday, April 26, in Poland.
- Hall and Pudzianowski are expected to enter the ring around 9:30 PM BST, with the fight starting approximately at 9:45 PM BST.
- These times are estimates and could change.
- The preliminary fights are set to begin at 5:00 PM BST.
- KSW 105 will not be broadcast on traditional UK television.
- The preliminary card is available for free on YouTube, but the main event requires pay-per-view access.
- The event can be purchased for £10 directly from the KSW website.
- Viewers can then stream the fight on various devices, including smart TVs.
Elton Marrow