Eddie Hall’s MMA career got off to the perfect start at KSW 105 on Saturday night.
‘The Beast’ obliterated five-time World’s Strongest Man, Mariusz Pudzianowski, in a 30-second knockout win at the PreZero Arena in Gliwice, Poland.
Post-fight, the 37-year-old Englishman ruled out fighting Francis Ngannou as he issued a hilariously X-rated response to reports linking him to a scrap with the former UFC heavyweight champion.
Eddie Hall says he wants to face his ‘heroes’ and the ‘freaks of the world’. With his future in MMA certain, Bloody Elbow takes a look a five fighters who could be next for the 360lb behemoth.
Mariusz Pudzianowski
A rematch with Mariusz Pudzianowski was the first thing on Eddie Hall’s mind after his MMA debut win.
“Maybe Mariusz will do the rematch with two minutes rounds,” he said.
“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.”
Pudzianowski hinted at retirement before and after his third consecutive defeat.
Still, the 48-year-old could be tempted to stay in MMA for a chance at revenge.
Conor McGregor
UFC legend Conor McGregor is about 100lbs lighter than the 2017 World’s Strongest Man.
Despite that, Hall expressed an interest in fighting McGregor during a recent fan Q&A session.
“I would love to fight Conor McGregor,” he admitted.
“I think the weight difference would be absolutely comical.
“There is weight classes for that reason. It would be dangerous, on Conor’s behalf.”
McGregor hasn’t fought in four years. There are certainly easier opponents he could take on in his comeback bout, but none of them would generate more interest than a ‘Freak Show’ fight with Hall.
Brock Lesnar
WWE and UFC icon Brock Lesnar is someone who falls into the same category as Ngannou.
Hall would prefer not to fight ‘The Beast Incarnate’, but he could be convinced by a big bag of cash.
“Brock Lesnar is one of the scariest men on this planet,” the 1-0 MMA star told talkSPORT.
“He’s fought world champions and he’s done bloody good. Brock Lesnar is a phenomenal athlete.
“His jujitsu is through the roof. He’s probably one of the last men on the planet I’d want to fight.
“Again, though, if the money was right, you would take a chance.”
Logan Paul & Jake Paul
In the same interview, Hall discussed the possibility of a 2vs1 handicap fight against Logan and Jake Paul.
He said: “Jake Paul can do his boxing matches with his 16oz gloves and he can get away with it. But when you get punched in the face with 4oz gloves by a man who is 360lbs, it’s a different f—— world.
“That’s why I’d be quite confident going into a fight with those two. It’s just a couple of shots on that chin and they a f—— out.
Jake Paul beat Mike Tyson at heavyweight in his last fight, but Hall thinks he’s too big for YouTuber-turned-boxer. That’s why he’s not particularly interested in facing him in a traditional one-on-one fight.
Hall continued: “It would be a bit unfair.
“He’s such a small guy compared to me and there is weight classes for that reason.
“You’ve gotta give them a fighting chance. You’d have to stick them both in together.”
Thor Bjornsson
Hall’s first taste of combat sports came in 2022 when he squared off against Thor Bjornsson in a boxing match, which ended with the Game of Thrones star winning by decision, despite being dropped during the bout.
Thor ignored Hall’s epic MMA debut win as he talked up the ‘Fight of the Year’ between Chris Eubank and Conor Benn instead.
The rivalry clearly runs deep on both sides, but Hall doubts Thor would ever do a rematch.
“I think it’s done,” he told Bloody Elbow’s Donagh Corby. “I got to punch the man in the face which for me was a delight. He’s gone back to strongman because he’s got nothing going for him so let him crack on.
“I don’t think he’ll ever come back to do the rematch so let him crack on. I’m done with that f—ing d—head… I think doing business or doing sport with a man that you hate that much is a bad idea and I just feel there were such bad omens.”
Fight fans know to never say never about anything in MMA. A potential rematch between Thor and Hall just got even bigger, so don’t be surprised to see the gigantic duo clashing again in the not-too-distant future.