
Eddie Hall reveals UFC champ made ‘big difference' in stunning 30-second KO of Mariusz Pudzianowski in MMA debut
EDDIE HALL has revealed how training with a UFC champion made a "big difference" in his stunning mixed martial arts debut.
The Brit strongman made his pro-MMA debut last Saturday at KSW 105 in
Poland
against fellow World's Strongest Man winner Mariusz Pudzianowski.
Advertisement
4
Eddie Hall won his professional MMA debut in 30 seconds at KSW 105
Credit: KSW
4
Hall obliterated fellow World's Strongest Man winner Mariusz Pudzianowski in 30 seconds
Credit: KSW
4
'The Beast' claims his training with interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall made a 'big difference' in the fight
Credit: YOUTUBE@TOMASPINALL
Hall, 37,
'The Beast' sought the advice and wisdom of
And he can't help them enough for helping him have his hand raised.
He said: "I think Tom and Andy would be very happy with that performance.
Advertisement
READ MORE ON EDDIE HALL
"I've done little bits of training with Tom and, like I've said in the past, getting in the ring with Tom is very humbling.
"You think you can fight, you think you can wrestle and then you get in the ring with Tom and he just treats you like a little girl.
"Tom wished me best [of luck]. He messaged me
this morning
and said, 'Good luck with the fight, don't forget to enjoy it.'
"Being in their presence - Andy Aspinall, as well, is a phenomenal coach.
Advertisement
Most read in MMA
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS
4
Eddie Hall admits he doesn't know who he wants to fight next
Credit: KSW
"Andy can explain something once and you'll watch it and you know what to do.
"So, you know, just those little few sessions of having Tom and Andy definitely paid dividends. They made a big difference."
Advertisement
Eddie Hall has hilarious staredown with Mariusz Pudzianowski ahead of MMA debut
Despite decimating KSW icon Pudzianowski, Hall has no intention of becoming a standout in the Polish promotion's heavyweight division.
When asked what's
next
for him, he said: "Maybe Mariusz will do the rematch with two-minute rounds.
"I've got no aspirations to be number one in KSW.
"That's just not for me. I want to come and have fun.
Advertisement
"I want to fight my heroes. I want to fight the freaks of the world."

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Independent
21 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Perfect Ireland win five-star La Baule Nations Cup on zero score
Michael Blake's team, fresh from a dominant four-star victory in Langley, Canada last Sunday, were ruthless in France, finishing on a perfect zero score under immense pressure to continue their sparkling run of form. It was a blend of experience and emerging talent in the Irish team as Cian O'Connor and Bertram Allen were joined by young guns Seamus Hughes Kennedy and Tom Wachman, with all four contributing clear rounds to keep Belgium at bay, with Brazil finishing in third. Horse Sport Ireland High Performance Show Jumping Manager Blake was understandably delighted after the result, saying: 'That was phenomenal. We came here with really high expectations but when we saw the start list, with some of the world's biggest names in opposition, it put us back in our box a little bit. 'We knew how good we were, though, and we knew that if we kept jumping clear Belgium would have to match us and so would everybody else. The lads were magnificent and kept on ramping up the pressure on the rest, and eventually they couldn't live with us. 'This is one that's escaped us for a few years and I had it on my bucket list so I'm thrilled. Obviously, it's been a great week, having won last Sunday in Canada and I couldn't be happier. 'These lads are just brilliant – Cian and Bertram are incredible riders who have seen it all and know when to deliver, and I'm especially proud of Tom and Seamus – the two lads have come through our youth programme and have gained valuable experience through the EEF Series, and that showed today as they delivered at the highest level. "The last time we won here, in 2011, Seamus was eight years old and Tom was six! It shows how strong this programme is that these two lads performed so well and we could have Shane Sweetnam here as our fifth rider." Allen was double clear on Qonquest De Rigo, and he echoed Blake's sentiments. 'Coming to La Baule is a highlight of the season, it's great to win here. It's a traditional show, one of the Rolex Series, which are always the best shows and are where all the best riders want to be. 'As Michael said, when we saw the start list yesterday, we knew it would be difficult but we knew we had a good team, good riders and good horses, so we were confident of a good result.' It was the perfect start for Ireland as pathfinder Allen and Qonquest De Rigo, jumping first of the 40 combinations from 10 nations competing after Ireland were drawn number one to jump, delivered a sparkling clear round inside the time. It was never in doubt for the Wexford rider and his nine-year-old, and paved the way for Ireland's second rider Hughes Kennedy. The 23-year-old Kilkenny man and the Ennisnag Stud-bred Irish Sport Horse ESI Rocky, owned by his mother Clare Hughes, also produced the goods for chef d'equipe Blake and the Irish team, putting in a performance in the saddle beyond his years on the 10-year-old. With two riders clear, it was Tipperary's Wachman and Tabasco De Toxandria Z next in for the boys in green, with the youngster having already won a class earlier in the week. It wasn't the round they had hoped for and they finished on a score of eight faults, which would prove to be Ireland's discard score at the break as a nerveless O'Connor and his 14-year-old, did the business for another Irish clear round just when they needed it most, ensuring a zero score after round one. Joining them at the head of affairs at the break was Belgium, with Olympic champions Britain in third on four faults and the likes of Sweden, France and Brazil on eight. After the restart, Allen was required to do what he and Qonquest De Rigo had done in round one and go clear. He duly obliged to put pressure on the Belgians, as the pair began to trade blows at the top of the leaderboard. Nicola Philippaerts and Katanga v/d Dingeshof held up their end of the bargain to keep both nations on clean scores, with Hughes Kennedy next in for Ireland with ESI Rocky (ISH). Once again, the pair were imperious and delivered a crucial double clear to really ramp up the pressure on Belgium, who had Pieter Devos and Casual DV Z to jump as their second combination. They couldn't add their own double clear and it gave the Irish a glimpse of the finish line, with a clear round from either Wachman or O'Connor guaranteeing at least a jump-off to win gold. Coolness personified, Wachman was superb in the saddle on Tabasco De Toxandria Z to secure a faultless finish for Blake's team, meaning that Abdel Said and Bonne Amie simply could not afford any slip-ups. They kept their calm to go clear and with Ireland guaranteed a zero score, O'Connor's services were not required in round two, with just Belgian anchor Giles Thomas and Ermitage Kalone to come, themselves with no room for error. They couldn't rise to the occasion, however, with one pole down handing the victory to Ireland to cap a magical week following the Langley success.


Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Shauna Bannon: "With the good and the bad days, I still have my son"
Irish UFC fighter Shauna Bannon has cited her son Jayce as her biggest motivator as she pushes for success in the UFC strawweight division. "Mama B" is 7-1 in professional MMA, with the 31-year-old's only loss coming in her UFC debut against Bruna Brasil. She told the Irish Mirror: "I thought I was motivated before I had him, but now it's just on a different level. I could be having such a bad day, a bad training session, or I'm injured or whatever, and I still get to go home and he's there, making me laugh and joke. "I remember when I lost my debut, I felt like s***. And then I got to go home to him, and he just put a smile back on my face. "With the good and the bad days, I still have him, and that's huge to me." While providing for her son is now Bannon's biggest motivation, it was her father who sparked her love for kickboxing. "Only the other day, my main kickboxing gym, Tallaght Martial Arts, my Dad's gym, was moving to a new location and clearing up, and I was looking at the collages on the walls of photos from all over the years. "I actually got so emotional seeing those photos. I was crying because I was thinking that I don't know where I'd be today if my Dad had never got me into kickboxing. "Normally young girls go into dancing or singing or something completely different. So, I'm so grateful that my Dad put me on that journey, and it led me to the path that I'm on now. "I can't imagine what my life would be like if I didn't do kickboxing. I literally get to live every day doing what I love. And I couldn't imagine it being any different. "My Dad is still in my corner now when I fight in the UFC and it's really special to have him there." Bannon is unsure whether kickboxing or jiu jitsu is her main discipline, as she practised so much jiu jitsu during her early career that she is now used to both styles. She explained: "When I first started, I soon realised that I needed to learn how to do jujitsu, because I had no background in it. I'd never even watched it. So, it wasn't like I even had a slight idea about it. I had to learn everything from scratch. "I remember my first sparring session, I was like, kick, kick, kick, and I just got double-legged [a jiu jitsu takedown]. And then I was on the ground and I didn't know what to do there. "So, I spent a good chunk of the first, probably year and a half, just doing jujitsu. I actually stopped doing striking completely. "Sometimes I'd take a half day from work to make the lunchtime class. I was sometimes doing jujitsu three times a day, because I just felt like I really needed to catch up. But now, to be honest, if you had to make me choose, and I got paid the same for striking or jujitsu, I'd probably do jujitsu." She revealed that by the time she turned pro, the Dubliner had a multitude of suitors for promotions, before settling on Invicta Fighting Championships, which is an all-women's series. She said: "I had one from Ares, I had one from Cage Warriors, I had one from Oktagon, I had one from KSW. And then I had one from Invicta. And there was PSL [as well]. "I had to do the pros and cons, and I wrote out. It wasn't even about the money at that stage because I had to think long term, you know, I was offered more money with different promotions. "But I went with Invicta because I did see it as the stepping stone to get into the UFC. And luckily it worked out. "I was originally offered an opportunity for the Contender Series, and then they actually just contacted me again, said they watched more of my fights and they wanted to sign me straight away. "Then they had an opponent for me and then I fought on the UFC London, so it all happened very, very fast. "There wasn't a lot of time to kind of digest it, but I'm so grateful for the opportunity that the UFC has given me and Invicta because they were an amazing promotion to fight with as well. Bannon thanked OnlyFans for the ability to pursue a fighting career as funding can be limited without sponsorship, especially at lower levels. "The sponsorship that I have with OnlyFans has given me that financial security because fighters don't get paid a lot, especially at the start. "And since my last fight and the partnership with OnlyFans, I'm financially secure, which takes a huge weight off my shoulders because I'm a single mother. I still have bills to pay. "It's a good way of getting closer to my fans as well because sometimes on other platforms, I wouldn't be able to connect with them in that way. "So it kind of gives that other connection with the fans as well that you're not normally able to give." She is hoping for two more UFC fights before the end of the year. "I'm hoping to fight again this summer. I'm just waiting on confirmation. And then if I do fight in the summer, I'd love to fight again before the end of the year. "I like to keep the momentum going and be active, as active as I can." OnlyFans has a huge range of sport creators offering exclusive behind the scenes content and insights into their training, including boxers, tennis stars, and MMA fighters. Fans can check out Shauna Bannon's OnlyFans at:


The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Jon Jones trolls Dana White and UFC fans as he finally reveals fight plans after leaving Tom Aspinall in limbo
JON JONES has finally given clarity on his fighting future. The former pound-for-pound king has ummed and ahhed with the prospect of retirement since his maiden defence of the heavyweight title last November. 6 Jon Jones has summed and ahhed over the prospect of retirement in recent months Credit: GETTY 6 His indecision has kept Brit bruiser and interim heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall in limbo Credit: GETTY 6 Jones has been lapping up the fan fury at his failure ti provide clarity on his fighting future Credit: GETTY 6 But the former pound-for-pound king has finally hinted that he'll vacate his heavyweight crown Credit: X That's despite the UFC brass meeting his demands to be paid "F**K YOU MONEY " for a mammoth unification bout with interim titleholder UFC supremo Dana White has faced a deluge of calls to strip Jones of his heavyweight crown and breathe new life into the stagnating division. But Hall of Famer Jones has hinted that he'll give up the belt before White and Co. bite the bullet and relieve him of it. In an impromptu posting spree on X, Jones wrote: 'I spoke to the UFC a long time ago about what my future plans were. READ MORE ON JONES VS ASPINALL "I haven't really worked out since my last fight in New York City. 'Honestly, I believe it's been in the UFC's best interest to keep presenting me as the company's champion—not Tom. "I've just been playing the role of the company man by doing nothing at all… and holding the position. 'And truthfully, it's been incredibly lucrative. I've made more money off of Tom being the interim champ than Tom has himself. Most read in MMA JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 6 "It sucks to see the rest of the division get slowed down like this, but that has nothing to do with me. I don't pull the strings. 'And remember, you can't strip a guy like me at this point. I give the belt up freely . Veni, vidi, vici.' Jon Jones Blasts UFC Rival Tom Aspinall In X-Rated Rant The MMA masses have accused Jones of "ducking" Aspinall, with several going as far as to say he'll damage his legacy if he doesn't fight the Brit. But the former long-reigning light-heavyweight champion could care little about his detractors' thoughts on his impact in the sport. He said: "That's the problem with some young men, you think your last outcome is your legacy. "That's why when many of you fall short, you can't find the strength to return. "But here's the truth: your legacy isn't your last move. Legacy is what no one can take from you. You can't strip a guy like me at this point. I give the belt up freely. Veni, vidi, vici.' Jon Jones "It's built over time, not defined by a single win or loss. "If you're reading this, your legacy is far from over. "We wake up each day with a chance to build, to add, to rise. Make yours beautiful." Fan favourite Aspinall has been sat twiddling his thumbs on the sidelines The Wigan warrior has been frustrated by his inactivity, although SunSport understands an announcement for his next fight will be made imminently. 6 Tom Aspinall has a date for his next fight in the books Credit: GETTY