Former World`s Strongest Man Eddie Hall had a jarring moment during his preparation for a mixed martial arts debut, taking a significant head kick during a sparring session that sent him to the canvas.
Hall, renowned for winning the 2017 World`s Strongest Man title and possessing immense physical power, is currently transitioning his skillset into the demanding world of MMA. This shift requires more than just strength, as he discovered during a particularly tough training round.
Sparring Footage Shows the Knockdown
Although an initial scheduled MMA bout in early 2024 against Mitchell Hooper did not proceed, Hall remained committed to honing his combat skills in the gym.
He shared footage from this period on his YouTube channel, showing him sparring with a tall, skilled Russian opponent known for effective striking. Hall commented on his cautious approach during this specific session, stating his intention was primarily to feel out his opponent.
In his narration over the video, Hall foreshadowed the event, saying, “And you`ll wait and see, I get a nice little kick to the face in a second.”
Moments later, the sparring partner landed a potent left high kick squarely on Hall`s head, causing the strongman to fall. Hall quickly recovered from the blow, showing resilience, and reacted lightheartedly: “That’s Okay. That was a good one! F— my life, someone could have told me about that back leg!”
Eddie Hall eventually made his first appearance in MMA later that year, competing in a unique two-on-one contest against the Neffati Brothers, where he secured a dominant victory.
His next, and arguably much tougher, challenge awaits him at KSW 105, where he is set to face fellow strongman legend, five-time World’s Strongest Man Mariusz Pudzianowski.
Another Heavy Kick From Rico Verhoeven
The Russian sparring partner isn`t the only elite striker to have landed a significant kick on Hall. While visiting the training camp of acclaimed kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven ahead of one of Verhoeven`s fights, Hall also felt the power of a world-class kick.
During his time training with Verhoeven, the Dutch champion demonstrated various techniques, including a powerful kick that also resulted in Hall being visibly rocked or dropped, underscoring the difference in striking expertise between strongmen and professional combat athletes.
