Eddie Hall made a surprising entry into the professional MMA scene in Poland this past weekend, catching the fight world off guard.
Months prior, Hall, known as a former World`s Strongest Man, had announced his intention to debut in professional mixed martial arts, scheduled to face fellow strongman icon Mariusz Pudzianowski at KSW 105.
`The Beast` had hinted at transitioning to MMA for years. After a bizarre 2-on-1 exhibition where he secured two impressive knockouts, he challenged Pudzianowski, setting the stage for a `World`s Strongest` showdown.
In contrast to Hall, Pudzianowski built a successful MMA career after his strongman days, boasting knockout victories against well-known figures like Bob Sapp and Butterbean.
However, despite his significant combat sports experience, Pudzianowski was swiftly defeated by Hall in a rapid 30-second exchange, resulting in a debut win for Hall.
Pudzianowski responds to Eddie Hall loss at KSW 105
While Hall clearly won, the fight wasn`t without controversy. Immediately after the bout, Pudzianowski protested, claiming he received multiple illegal blows to the back of his head.
Hall later acknowledged that he had unintentionally struck Pudzianowski`s head from behind, issuing what appeared to be a genuine apology.
In a rather unexpected statement, `The Beast` also expressed interest in a potential `freak show` bout against Conor McGregor, despite the significant weight disparity between the two athletes.
Several days after their super heavyweight contest, Pudzianowski has now commented on Hall`s apology regarding the disputed strikes.
Responding via his Instagram story, Pudzianowski stated: “He was better, he won. This is not chess. It happens like that sometimes.”
Eddie Hall could fight in Bare-Knuckle Boxing
Prior to their recent fight in Poland, the 48-year-old Pudzianowski had indicated he might be contemplating retirement in the near future.
Hall, however, appears to be just starting out in combat sports and suggested he would consider competing in Conor McGregor`s BKFC promotion if a lucrative offer were made.
BKFC has carved out a significant niche, establishing itself arguably as the second most popular combat sports promotion after the UFC, frequently attracting notable fighters.
The primary challenge for Hall entering bare-knuckle boxing would likely be finding opponents of a comparable size willing to face powerful blows from one of history`s strongest individuals.
