Eddie Hall, the 2017 World`s Strongest Man, has confessed to experiencing fear as he approaches his first professional MMA fight. His opponent will be Mariusz Pudzianowski, a fellow World’s Strongest Man titleholder and seasoned MMA fighter.
Hall is set to face Pudzianowski, a five-time WSM champion with a significant MMA career spanning 27 fights over 16 years, on April 26th at KSW 105 in Gilwice, Poland. In contrast, Hall`s MMA experience is limited to a single 2-on-1 `freak fight` and a boxing match.
Despite Pudzianowski being 11 years older at 47, he is still considered the favorite against Hall. Hall, while a very athletic fighter, weighs around 330lb. The match will consist of two four-minute rounds with a 90-second break in between.
Hall Acknowledges Fear Facing Pudzianowski
Taking on a 27-fight veteran for his MMA debut is a significant challenge for Eddie Hall, given the considerable difference in MMA expertise. Hall`s cage time is minimal, mostly spent defending against two opponents.
Hall acknowledged the gravity of the situation in a Polish media interview: “I think being scared is natural. Even in strongman competitions, you feel fear and nervousness.”
“If you`re not scared or nervous, something is wrong. I`m facing Mariusz Pudzianowski – 26 professional fights, five-time World`s Strongest Man, a formidable opponent. Stepping into the cage to fight someone with 26 fights when I`ve only had one is daunting.”
“The four-minute rounds are also a challenge for me to accept. He has many advantages, but I decided to face it head-on. Let him have four-minute rounds, let`s just do this.”
Pudzianowski Outlines Strategy for Hall Fight
Pudzianowski, with his extensive MMA background, understands how to handle Hall`s power. Hall has mentioned his fighting style involves short bursts of power followed by movement. Pudzianowski believes the key is to withstand Hall`s initial attacks and then capitalize.
“Eddie is not just a barroom brawler,” Pudzianowski stated after their face-off in Poland. “He is a very strong man, weighing around 160kg (over 352lb) now, and I expect him to be around 150kg (over 330lb) on April 26th.”
“I understand his strength because we come from a similar background. For the first couple of minutes, he will be like an unstoppable force. My advantage is my experience over youth and some tactical knowledge.”
“If I avoid falling for any simple tricks, I should be okay. But we shouldn`t underestimate him; he`s a heavyweight, and his punches carry significant weight.”
