“I wanted two-minute rounds. Mariusz wanted five-minute rounds, and somehow we’ve met in the middle—nowhere near the middle at four. I’m not too happy. I’m so big. And I’m 160 kg. My fitness isn’t going to be anywhere near what Mariusz is, and I’ve never fought MMA before — and I know MMA is a lot more taxing on the body.” Former strongman champion Eddie Hall stated this to Uncrowned, ahead of his highly anticipated MMA debut at KSW 105 against 5-time World’s Strongest Man Mariusz Pudzianowski. The 2017 World’s Strongest Man, who famously deadlifted half a ton, didn’t shy away from admitting the challenge that lies ahead.

Hall didn’t just dip his toes into combat sports, he cannonballed in! After dominating the strongman scene, he walked away at the top. Then, he moved into exhibition boxing and squared off against longtime rival Hafthor Bjornsson in 2022. That fight grabbed global attention, and although the Brit lost the bout, he popped back up at World Freak Fight League 1 and made headlines by demolishing two influencers in quick succession. Originally, Hall was supposed to make his MMA debut in a four-man clash alongside Brian Shaw, Martyn Ford, and Mitchell Hoopert. However, that didn’t come into fruition.

Now, the 500kg deadlift legend is gearing up for his inaugural mixed martial arts bout, and surprisingly, he’s loving the grind. Despite tipping the scales at a massive weight, Eddie Hall admitted that martial arts felt far less taxing on his body than boxing ever did. For a guy his size, that’s saying something. The Englishman has embraced the sport fully, praising its variety and intensity

During an interview with Talksport, Hall said, “I mean boxing is a completely it sounds, as I say is completely different sport to MMA. You can jump into boxing and sort of rely on your strengths a little bit more. You haven’t got to worry about someone kicking you in the face. I guess it’s a main thing that takes away a lot of adrenaline and a lot of energy. The MMA is so much more, even though it’s more action. You’ve got to use your feet, your hands, and your grappling.”

He added, “I actually find it a lot less taxing than boxing. Because just leaning in and using your body weight is a lot more efficient for myself. So, it’s been fun. I think it’s more fun learning MMA than boxing. In MMA, you never stop learning. You don’t go to a gym and think ‘I didn’t come away with nothing that session.’ Every single session, you’re learning something. So, it’s been fun in that respect.”

That’s a great twist in the story. For someone like Hall, who is an absolute powerhouse, you’d think MMA would be a steep hill to climb. After all, it’s not just about throwing punches. There’s wrestling, grappling, and the whole chess game that comes with it. But here’s the kicker: Eddie Hall isn’t exactly new to the cage grind. He’s been sharpening his skills alongside none other than interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. The two have trained together several times, with Hall even sharing clips of their sessions online, complete with a bit of classic British banter.

The British powerhouse has pushed himself to meet the sport’s brutal demands. But behind the training and hype, there’s still a shadow from his past as Hall has been tied to a bitter rivalry. Many thought that beef would fade as he stepped into MMA. But now, that ending seems unlikely. The tension still lingers, and fans may never get the closure they hoped for.

Eddie Hall is not interested in running it back with Hafthor Bjornsson inside the cage

Eddie Hall and Hafthor Bjornsson gave fans a wild show when they finally met in the ring. Their boxing match pulled in huge numbers, but before the fight, the Segi TV stream crashed, which added an extra layer of drama to this whole bit. Each was set to earn a seven-figure payday. Moreover, the Brit claimed that this fight was watched by over 30 million people worldwide. A wild claim for sure! But when the dust settled, it was Hall who came up short on the scorecards. The fight may be over, but the rivalry still simmers. Even so, Hall isn’t looking back. While Bjornsson returned to strongman, Hall is chasing a new challenge—his MMA debut.

The Englishman is set to face Mariusz Pudzianowski at KSW 105 in Gliwice, Poland. For Hall, the focus has shifted. The feud may not be dead, but it’s no longer a priority. So, in an interview with Bloody Elbow, Hall said, “I think it’s done, we had our discrepancies, he had a sore loser moment where he couldn’t take a loss, and we had a fight about it. Unfortunately, the wrong man won in that circumstance, but I got to punch the man in the face, which for me was a delight.

He added, “He’s gone back to strongman because he’s got nothing going for him, so let him crack on. I don’t think he’ll ever come back to do the rematch, so let him crack on. I’m done with that f—ing d—head… I think doing business or doing sport with a man that you hate that much is a bad idea. And I just feel there were such bad omens.”

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