A co-creator of the rules governing mixed martial arts contends that Eddie Hall employed prohibited strikes during his victorious debut fight last night.
The 2017 World`s Strongest Man winner, Eddie Hall, delivered a stunning knockout victory over five-time WSM champion Mariusz Pudzianowski at KSW 105 in Poland. Hall landed a significant early blow and quickly overwhelmed the veteran Polish competitor, securing the win in under 30 seconds.
Following the bout, Pudzianowski lodged a complaint, claiming illegal punches were responsible for the fight`s conclusion. Hall has expressed interest in a rematch, proposing two-minute rounds to potentially encourage more dynamic exchanges.
Legendary Referee John McCarthy Suggests Eddie Hall Landed Illegal Blows Against Mariusz Pudzianowski
After connecting with what he described as an exceptionally powerful early punch, it was evident Mariusz Pudzianowski was in trouble against Eddie Hall. Hall`s significant weight advantage (67lb heavier) was apparent as he controlled the fight, taking Pudzianowski down and finishing with ground strikes.
However, numerous ground strikes appeared questionable, a point noted by highly respected referee John McCarthy. Discussing the fight on his `Weighing In` podcast with Josh Thomson, McCarthy stated:
He hit Pudzianowski with a double right and the second one hurt him. It kind of put him back a little bit, he was a little bit wild and he did have some illegal strikes in there. But he got the job done… Not the cleanest of wins but hey, he got the win.
Eddie Hall Offers Apology to Mariusz Pudzianowski Regarding Potential Strikes to the Back of the Head
Post-fight, Pudzianowski attributed his loss partly to several illegal blows to the back of his head. He wrote in Polish:
I lost!!! 5 hammers to the back of the head were enough and I blacked out. A hit to the back of the head was enough!!!
Hall, to his credit, acknowledged the possibility of landing illegal strikes, explaining the difficulty of choosing shots when an opponent turns away and exposes their back. He told reporters post-fight:
I do hold my hands up when I say, `I`m sorry for hitting you in the back of the head`. I don`t condone that and I wouldn`t want it done to me.
