UFC fighter Tom Aspinall congratulated his friend Eddie Hall on social media following Hall`s impressive mixed martial arts debut victory.
The 2017 World`s Strongest Man, Eddie Hall, secured a brutal victory against five-time champion Mariusz Pudzianowski in his super-heavyweight MMA debut at KSW 105 on Saturday night. Hall stopped Pudzianowski in a mere 30 seconds, appearing dominant and significantly heavier than his opponent at weigh-ins.
Hall and the interim UFC heavyweight champion Aspinall have previously trained together. Hall famously joked that Aspinall`s grappling prowess made him `feel like a little girl`. The two British athletes have maintained their friendship and were reportedly in contact during Hall`s fight preparation.
Tom Aspinall Reacts to Hall`s Dominant Debut
Video footage of Eddie Hall`s swift 30-second knockout of the seasoned Mariusz Pudzianowski at KSW 105 rapidly spread online. Early in the fight, Hall connected with his powerful right hand, known for setting records at the UFC Performance Institute, which immediately put Pudzianowski in trouble.
When Pudzianowski attempted a desperate takedown, Hall effortlessly threw him to the canvas as if he were much lighter. Hall then followed up with ground and pound, leading to the referee stopping the fight. Pudzianowski appeared to complain about shots to the back of his head after the stoppage.
The night was packed with combat sports events, including a notable fight between Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr, yet the highly anticipated clash featuring the massive Hall garnered significant attention. Among the many viewers was the UFC interim heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall.
Aspinall, who hails from Manchester and has trained extensively with Hall, expressed delight at his friend`s win. He took to social media, a rare occurrence for him, to congratulate Hall, posting a meme depicting Hall as `Me` effortlessly handling `Responsibilities` with the caption: `Go on big Eddie Hall!`
Eddie Hall Eyes Next Challenge After Dominant KSW 105 Win
Eddie Hall was thrilled with his debut win, but he was also realistic about where he stands in the MMA world. Given his weight is far above the standard heavyweight limit of 265lbs, he stated his future likely involves fighting other large individuals or `freaks` of nature.
Speaking to the crowd after his victory, Hall speculated, “Maybe Mariusz will do the rematch with two minutes rounds.” He clarified his goals, saying, “I’ve got no aspirations to be number one in KSW. That’s just not for me. I want to come and have fun. I want to fight my heroes. I want to fight the freaks of the world.”
Mariusz Pudzianowski, however, seemed less enthusiastic about a potential rematch or future fights. In his interview, he commented, “I’m not thinking about the future. I turned 48, almost 49. The sport is for young people. What’s next? I don’t know.”
