Former strongman competitors Eddie Hall and Mariusz Pudzianowski are set to compete in a super-heavyweight MMA bout this Saturday.
The matchup features the 37-year-old Hall against the 48-year-old Pudzianowski and will serve as the co-main event for KSW 105, taking place in Poland.
Hall is considered the underdog, largely because Pudzianowski has significantly more experience in MMA, having started in 2009, and also holds four more World`s Strongest Man titles. However, Hall does have the advantage of being younger.
The British fighter has been training with UFC champion Tom Aspinall and mentioned in an interview that he plans to weigh between 350 and 355 lbs for the fight.
Pudzianowski commented on Hall`s weight, telling a Polish outlet that such a size “won`t be easy to oxygenate,” suggesting a potential cardio advantage for himself.
The fight will consist of rounds lasting four minutes, separated by 90-second breaks.
Who is Mariusz Pudzianowski?
Mariusz Pudzianowski is widely regarded as one of the top strength athletes ever, holding five World`s Strongest Man titles won in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2008.
Standing 6ft 1in tall with a 77-inch reach, he is slightly shorter than Hall and has a three-inch reach disadvantage.
His early strongman career was briefly interrupted when he served a 19-month prison sentence following an altercation with a local mafia figure.
Having trained in karate and boxing during his youth, Pudzianowski transitioned to mixed martial arts in 2009 after securing his final strongman title.
Known as `The Dominator` during his strongman career, Pudzianowski is also a celebrity in Poland, having ventured into dancing and singing alongside his athletic achievements.
He competed in the Polish edition of Dancing with the Stars in 2008, finishing as the runner-up, and participated in the brief Polish singing competition show Just the Two of Us in 2010.
What is Mariusz Pudzianowski`s MMA record?
Mariusz Pudzianowski enters the fight against Eddie Hall with a professional MMA record of 17 wins, 9 losses, and 1 no contest.
His most recent victory was against Michal Materla in 2022; he has since suffered two consecutive defeats.
His last bout was a second-round loss to Artur Szpilka in June 2023. A loss to Hall would mark his longest losing streak in MMA, totaling three consecutive defeats.
These two recent losses followed a strong period where the Polish fighter had a five-fight winning streak spanning nearly three years.
Notable victories in Pudzianowski`s career include a quick 76-second knockout win over Eric `Butterbean` Esch and a victory against K1 legend Bob Sapp.
When is Eddie Hall vs Mariusz Pudzianowski and how can I watch it?
- The fight is scheduled for Saturday, April 26 in Poland.
- Hall and Pudzianowski are expected to enter the ring around 9:30 PM BST, with the fight starting at approximately 9:45 PM BST.
- These times are subject to change based on the length of previous bouts.
- Preliminary fights are set to begin at 5:00 PM BST.
- KSW 105 will not be broadcast on standard UK television channels.
- The preliminary card will be available for free on YouTube, but the main event requires a pay-per-view purchase.
- The pay-per-view can be bought for £10 on the KSW website.
- After purchasing, viewers can stream the fight on various devices, including smart TVs.
- Alternatively, follow live updates and commentary from SunSport`s live blog.
