Eddie Hall is preparing for his next challenge in mixed martial arts, set to face off against fellow former World`s Strongest Man competitor, Mariusz Pudzianowski.
This super-heavyweight showdown is scheduled to take place in Poland. It represents only Hall`s second professional MMA bout, highlighting a significant gap in cage experience compared to his opponent from Poland, who has a well-established career in combat sports.
Fight Details and Background
Despite being 37 years old, Eddie Hall benefits from a notable age difference, being 11 years younger than the 48-year-old Pudzianowski.
The upcoming fight at KSW 105 in Gliwice, Poland, will be Hall`s first standard MMA format contest, following his previous appearance in a 2-on-1 exhibition match. Hall`s prior combat sports venture included a boxing match where he suffered a defeat against another strongman rival, Thor Bjornsson.
While Hall is celebrated for winning the World`s Strongest Man title in 2017, Pudzianowski holds a more dominant record in the strongman world, having claimed the prestigious title five times before transitioning into mixed martial arts.
Pudzianowski has carved out a respectable MMA career, accumulating a record of 17 wins in 25 fights, which translates to a win rate of roughly 67%.
Negotiations regarding the structure of the fight reportedly saw Pudzianowski gain an advantage concerning round length. The fight is set for four-minute rounds, double the duration Hall had initially preferred.
Hall openly shared his dissatisfaction regarding the four-minute rounds, stating: “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 wanted the two-minute rounds because I`m so big. I`m 160 kg [352lbs]. 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.”
Betting Odds Analysis
Pudzianowski`s extensive background in MMA is strongly reflected in the current betting odds, positioning him as the favorite.
However, the outcome is far from a certainty, partly due to the unknown potential and performance of Hall in a competitive MMA environment.
Latest odds:
- Eddie Hall – 14/5
- Mariusz Pudzianowski – 2/9
Predictions
This matchup presents significant difficulties for Eddie Hall, which is perhaps an understatement.
Despite these challenges, his substantial underdog status could potentially work to his advantage, lessening the pressure and increasing the element of surprise.
Hall`s younger age compared to Pudzianowski, combined with the lack of clear data on his MMA capabilities, introduces an element of unpredictability to the bout.
His own comments about the longer rounds underscore his concerns regarding his conditioning and its potential impact on the fight`s progression.
Nevertheless, given the attractive odds available, discounting Eddie Hall as a potential winner would be unwise.
Prediction: Eddie Hall to win at odds of 9/2.
