Eddie Hall has disclosed that training with a UFC champion significantly impacted his remarkable mixed martial arts debut.
The British strongman made his professional MMA debut last Saturday at KSW 105 in Poland, facing off against fellow World`s Strongest Man winner Mariusz Pudzianowski.
Hall, 37, needed only 30 SECONDS to finish the five-time WSM champion and KSW veteran, overwhelming him with a barrage of unanswered ground and pound strikes.
`The Beast` sought guidance from interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall and his father, Andy, in the months leading up to his bout with Pudzianowski in Poland.
He expressed immense gratitude for their help in securing the victory.
Hall commented: “I believe Tom and Andy would be very pleased with that performance. I`ve done a bit of training with Tom, and as I`ve mentioned before, sparring with him is incredibly humbling. You might think you know how to fight or wrestle, but then you get in the ring with Tom, and he makes you feel like a child.”
He continued: “Tom sent me his best wishes; he messaged me this morning saying, `Good luck with the fight, don`t forget to enjoy it.` Their presence was invaluable – Andy Aspinall is also a phenomenal coach. Andy can explain something just once, you see it, and you immediately understand what to do. So, those few training sessions with Tom and Andy definitely paid off. They made a huge difference.”
Despite his quick victory over KSW veteran Pudzianowski, Hall indicated that he doesn`t plan to become a regular competitor in the Polish promotion`s heavyweight division.
When asked about his future plans, he stated: “Perhaps Mariusz would agree to a rematch with two-minute rounds. I don`t aspire to be the top fighter in KSW; that`s not my goal. I just want to participate and have fun. I`m interested in fighting my heroes, facing off against the `freaks` of the fighting world.”
