UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall believes fellow strongman Brian Shaw would be an ideal next opponent for Eddie Hall. This suggestion comes after Hall made a significant impact with a stunning 30-second knockout victory in his professional mixed martial arts debut.
Last Saturday at KSW 105, Eddie Hall, known globally as a former World`s Strongest Man, competed in his first professional MMA fight against strongman veteran Mariusz Pudzianowski. Hall achieved a spectacular first-round knockout just half a minute into the bout. However, the win was accompanied by some controversy, as Pudzianowski alleged Hall landed illegal blows to the back of his head. Hall later conceded he had unintentionally struck the back of his opponent`s head but stated it was not on purpose. Pudzianowski eventually accepted Hall`s apology, acknowledging that despite his own extensive MMA background, Hall was simply better on the day.
Aspinall Discusses Hall`s Future in the Cage
Aspinall, who spent time training with Hall in preparation for his debut, responded to the dominant performance online with humor and congratulations for his teammate. Following Hall`s performance, which quickly went viral, speculation has been rife regarding who he might face next. Potential opponents mentioned have ranged from highly improbable matchups like Francis Ngannou to more expected `freakshow` style fights, including challenges from influencers Hall previously defeated in a novelty bout.
Further elaborating on his reaction to Hall`s quick win, Aspinall shared additional thoughts on his YouTube channel about potential future opponents. He highlighted Hall`s immense punching power, noting from personal experience that being struck by someone weighing around 150 kilograms (330 lbs) is “not very pleasant.” While stating he prefers technical MMA fights as a purist, Aspinall admitted he still watches the more entertainment-focused bouts. Based on this, he put forward Brian Shaw`s name as a potential challenger. Aspinall commented, “Someone like that, some big beast that’s gonna swing as well,” suggesting a matchup between two powerful, hard-hitting individuals.
Understanding Brian Shaw
Brian Shaw is another renowned figure in the strongman world, holding multiple World`s Strongest Man titles and widely considered among the greatest strength athletes ever. After retiring from strongman competition, Shaw announced a goal to become the “Most Dangerous Man on Earth” and transitioned into training for MMA several years ago. Although he has not yet had a professional fight, a bout between Hall and Shaw was reportedly scheduled for a strongman-themed MMA tournament planned for 2024, which was subsequently canceled.
