The first World Freak Fight League event lived up to its name with a series of outlandish bouts across MMA and other disciplines.
Between dwarf kickboxing fights, a multi-discipline bout and a boxing match with one continuous round, there were multiple big moments on the night. The show was headlined by 2017 ‘World’s Strongest Man’ winner Eddie Hall’s 2v1 bout against British influencers The Neffati Brothers.
The card was opened with a clash between Jacob Wisniewski and Krzytsztof Lanik, which ended within seconds due to a freak injury. 31-year-old Lanik went for a couple of leg kicks to open the fight, but appeared to injure his knee in a bout-ending moment just seconds after the first bell.
Ed Sheeran lookalike taps to strikes as he loses MMA debut within seconds to Stormzy lookalike
The second prelim of the night saw 29-year-old Ty Jones, who works as an Ed Sheeran impersonator, in an MMA fight with Papa Sow, who bares a striking resemblance to rapper Stormzy. There was a clear size discrepancy between the two, and their weights were a massive 18.5kg or 40lb apart.
And it was another quick-fire finish as Jones was immediately floored by a flying knee from his massive rival. While on the ground he attempted to defend himself from the punches landing above him, but when it appeared that the referee wasn’t going to stop the bout he was forced to tap to strikes.
Jones had his nose bloodied almost instantly, and appeared unfazed by the stoppage as he got back to his feet immediately after the fight was called. There had been a clear friendship between the pair pre-fight, and they maintained it after the fight.
In his post-fight interview, Sow said: “Mate, there’s nothing but love, I love this guy and there’s so much respect between me and him. I’m so sorry about what happened, it’s business, but hey, he’s a good lad, I love him.”
Jones was similarly complimentary, telling commentator Fuad Abdul-Aziz: “He’s a beast, the guy’s a beast, he’s a Stormzy lookalike for God’s sake! You know what? I respect him too, it’s business and we can also be professionals. We have been tonight and I love that, there’s nothing personal.”
It was ten announced that Jones is due to get married in a few days, which received a rapturous applause from the Blackburn crowd.
Eddie Hall stops two men in one fight in brutal main event
The gigantic strongman Eddie Hall was the star attraction of the night, facing social media siblings The Neffati Brothers in a 2v1 ‘freak fight’ main event. Towering over his rivals at 6’3″ and weighing over 366lb, he carried fearsome power into the cage for his MMA debut.
The brothers attempted to bamboozle him by steering clear and running around the cage in the opening rounds, only briefly engaging to throw leg kicks. But when they attempted to attack in the dying seconds of the third, things started to go wrong for the pair.
As they both went for Hall’s legs, the strongman tossed them around with ease, before eventually flattening one with the first punch he threw. After the first brother was removed from the cage, Hall was left with just one.
And with an over 200lb size difference between the two, the Neffati Brother made the right call in staying well clear of his rival. However, once Hall got near him he ended up on the ground and the bout was shortly thereafter called off.
- MONSTROUS: ‘World’s Strongest Man’ Eddie Hall weighs in over 62lb heavier than both opponents put together