Eddie Hall vs Mariusz Pudzianowski LIVE: UK start time, rules and how to follow as strongmen rivals clash
Eddie Hall is set to continue his combat sports career this weekend when he takes on rival Mariusz Pudzianowski. The two are former strongmen and are set to clash in a super-heavyweight MMA encounter. Hall is confident heading into his second MMA bout on April 26KSW Hall was crowned the World Strongest Man in 2017, but that is nothing compared to his opponent. Pudzianowski claimed that honour five times throughout his career, but both men have retired from that to progress in combat sports. Hall started off with a defeat in a boxing match against Thor Bjornsson before switching to MMA and getting the better of the Neffati Brothers, knocking them both out. However, this will be the toughest test of his career to date, given that this will be his Polish opponent’s 27th MMA contest. Hall vs Pudzianowski: Date and how to follow This MMA fight is set to take place on Saturday, April 26. It is going to be held at the Prezero Arena in Gliwice, Poland. There isn’t a confirmed start time as of yet, but it is expected the duo will be in the ring at around 9:45pm UK time. The event will headline the bill for KSW 105, which is the main MMA franchise in Europe, and can be streamed via PlayLive on a PPV basis. talkSPORT will be right across the action during fight week, and talkSPORT.com will have all the reaction as well. The talkSPORT MMA YouTube channel will have content right up until fight night as well. To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM. This is a true heavyweight clashInstagram - Eddie Hall Hall vs Pudzianowski: Rules After months of negotiations between the two men, it was agreed that this contest would be competed over two four-minute rounds. It isn’t going to be a crossover event, it will be a strict MMA fight. This means that there can be no headbutting, biting, eye-gouging, hair pulling and several other banned moves. In terms of the rounds, Hall had wanted shorter ones, and he feels he’ll be at a disadvantage. Speaking about the rounds, he said: “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. “Obviously, when you get that adrenaline dump, all that cardio goes out the window as well. “So four-minute rounds is a big ask for me, but it was literally, I say yes to that or the fight is off. I had no choice. “This is one of Mariusz’s demands, and we all know why. “Obviously, he’s going to get the advantage in the cardio aspect, so I can’t really blame him for wanting that, but it’s definitely giving him a massive advantage going into this fight.” Hall fights Pudzianowski at the Prezero Arena in Gliwice, Poland on April 26KSW Hall vs Pudzianowski: Fight card Subject to change… MAIN EVENT: Adrian Bartosinski v Andrzej Grzebyk – KSW welterweight championship Eddie Hall vs Mariusz Pudzianowski – super-heavyweight Artur Szpilka v Errol Zimmerman Igor Michaliszyn v Artur Szczepaniak Kacper Koziorzebski v Madars Fleminas Laura Grzyb v Gabriela Hristea Augusto Sakai v Szymon Bajor Hall vs Pudzianowski: What has been said? During an exclusive interview with talkSPORT.com, Hall claimed he is ‘fully prepared’ for every scenario when he returns to the cage. “The standing and banging is obviously my favourite,” Hall said, laying out his game plan. “And I think that’s where I better him—the standing and banging, if I’m being honest. “I’ve got the power, I’ve got the speed, and I’ve got a good chin. I know I’ve got a good chin.” “The grappling is all new to me,” Hall added. “Although I’m not going to sit here and say, ‘I’m going to beat a black belt…’ “But I’ve got a good understanding of what grappling entails. I’ve been grappling with purple belts, black belts, good size and stature and no one, not a single person has submitted me. “That’s not to say it’s been hard work, and I haven’t done many submissions myself. It’s always been: when he gets to the floor, it’s fists. “And people forget with all these jiu-jitsu guys, you get them in these positions on the floor and they’ll hug it out a lot, and you just bang, I’ll just smash you in the face. “It’s been cool to sort of have a go at everything and have no stone unturned. If it goes to the floor, I’m fully prepared. “It’s not not going to be like, ‘Oh s*** I’m going to panic.’ I’m fully prepared for every scenario.”
Eddie Hall is set to continue his combat sports career this weekend when he takes on rival Mariusz Pudzianowski.
The two are former strongmen and are set to clash in a super-heavyweight MMA encounter.
Hall was crowned the World Strongest Man in 2017, but that is nothing compared to his opponent.
Pudzianowski claimed that honour five times throughout his career, but both men have retired from that to progress in combat sports.
Hall started off with a defeat in a boxing match against Thor Bjornsson before switching to MMA and getting the better of the Neffati Brothers, knocking them both out.
However, this will be the toughest test of his career to date, given that this will be his Polish opponent’s 27th MMA contest.
Hall vs Pudzianowski: Date and how to follow
This MMA fight is set to take place on Saturday, April 26.
It is going to be held at the Prezero Arena in Gliwice, Poland.
There isn’t a confirmed start time as of yet, but it is expected the duo will be in the ring at around 9:45pm UK time.
The event will headline the bill for KSW 105, which is the main MMA franchise in Europe, and can be streamed via PlayLive on a PPV basis.
talkSPORT will be right across the action during fight week, and talkSPORT.com will have all the reaction as well.
The talkSPORT MMA YouTube channel will have content right up until fight night as well.
To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
Hall vs Pudzianowski: Rules
After months of negotiations between the two men, it was agreed that this contest would be competed over two four-minute rounds.
It isn’t going to be a crossover event, it will be a strict MMA fight.
This means that there can be no headbutting, biting, eye-gouging, hair pulling and several other banned moves.
In terms of the rounds, Hall had wanted shorter ones, and he feels he’ll be at a disadvantage.
Speaking about the rounds, he said: “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.
“Obviously, when you get that adrenaline dump, all that cardio goes out the window as well.
“So four-minute rounds is a big ask for me, but it was literally, I say yes to that or the fight is off. I had no choice.
“This is one of Mariusz’s demands, and we all know why.
“Obviously, he’s going to get the advantage in the cardio aspect, so I can’t really blame him for wanting that, but it’s definitely giving him a massive advantage going into this fight.”
Hall vs Pudzianowski: Fight card
Subject to change…
- MAIN EVENT: Adrian Bartosinski v Andrzej Grzebyk – KSW welterweight championship
- Eddie Hall vs Mariusz Pudzianowski – super-heavyweight
- Artur Szpilka v Errol Zimmerman
- Igor Michaliszyn v Artur Szczepaniak
- Kacper Koziorzebski v Madars Fleminas
- Laura Grzyb v Gabriela Hristea
- Augusto Sakai v Szymon Bajor
Hall vs Pudzianowski: What has been said?
During an exclusive interview with talkSPORT.com, Hall claimed he is ‘fully prepared’ for every scenario when he returns to the cage.
“The standing and banging is obviously my favourite,” Hall said, laying out his game plan.
“And I think that’s where I better him—the standing and banging, if I’m being honest.
“I’ve got the power, I’ve got the speed, and I’ve got a good chin. I know I’ve got a good chin.”
“The grappling is all new to me,” Hall added. “Although I’m not going to sit here and say, ‘I’m going to beat a black belt…’
“But I’ve got a good understanding of what grappling entails. I’ve been grappling with purple belts, black belts, good size and stature and no one, not a single person has submitted me.
“That’s not to say it’s been hard work, and I haven’t done many submissions myself. It’s always been: when he gets to the floor, it’s fists.
“And people forget with all these jiu-jitsu guys, you get them in these positions on the floor and they’ll hug it out a lot, and you just bang, I’ll just smash you in the face.
“It’s been cool to sort of have a go at everything and have no stone unturned. If it goes to the floor, I’m fully prepared.
“It’s not not going to be like, ‘Oh s*** I’m going to panic.’ I’m fully prepared for every scenario.”
