
Eddie Hall reveals UFC champ made ‘big difference' in stunning 30-second KO of Mariusz Pudzianowski in MMA debut
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
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.
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, needed a mere 30 SECONDS to stop the five-time WSM and KSW veteran, who he finished with a barrage of unanswered ground and pound.
'The Beast' sought the advice and wisdom of Tom Aspinall and the interim UFC heavyweight champion's dad, Andy, in the months that preceded his Polish punch-up with Pudzianowski.
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.
READ MORE ON EDDIE HALL
BEAST MODE Eddie Hall KNOCKS OUT Pudzianowski in stunning upset in MMA debut at KSW 105
"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.
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."
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.
"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


Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Sean O'Malley to beat Merab Dvalishvili by TKO/KO is BOOSTED to 11/2 ahead of UFC 318 - as American star looks to avenge defeat last year
After months of build-up, Sean O'Malley and Merab Dvalishvili will meet inside the octagon once again on Saturday night. The UFC bantamweight stars faced off inside the cage back in September when Dvalishvili dethroned his American counterpart over a five-round contest at the Las Vegas Sphere. It marked the second professional defeat in O'Malley's mixed martial arts career and the American sensation has vowed that he's put in the work since then to avenge the defeat. With that in mind, Sky Bet are offering a Price Boost on O'Malley to re-claim his bantamweight title via TKO/KO with odds standing at 11/2 - previously 4/1. Dvalishvili, meanwhile, is priced at 4/11 to retain his title - which he since defended on one occasion against Umar Nurmagomedov back in January. The bookmakers have priced a TKO/KO win for the Georgian at 17/2. The last time he won via that method was against Marlon Moraes back in 2021. Sky Bet are offering the same odds for Dvalishvili to submit O'Malley - with the American given 22/1 odds to do the same to his rival. UFC 218 Price Boost Sean O'Malley to Win by TKO/KO WAS 4/1 NOW 11/2 Fight Outright Merab Dvalishvili 4/11 Sean O'Malley 9/4


Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'My grandad was Muhammad Ali - he couldn't believe what I said about Mayweather'
Biaggio Ali Walsh has explained that his grandfather, Muhammad Ali, couldn't believe what he was hearing when he found out how much Floyd Mayweather Jr was making for boxing fights Muhammad Ali refused to believe it when his grandson told him how much Floyd Mayweather Jr was making per boxing match. Arguably the greatest to ever step into the squared-circle, Ali enjoyed an incredible 21-year career in the world of prizefighting. The People's Champ lifted three heavyweight titles between 1960 and 1981, clinched Olympic gold for the United states, and shared the ring with a number of top-tier opponents during the sport's golden age. And while Ali found worldwide acclaim for his endeavours in the ring, the paychecks that he received for besting the world's top talent will undoubtedly pale in comparison to what the heavyweights of the sport make today. For example, it is thought that Ali's biggest-ever purse came in the form of a £5.9million payday for fighting former sparring partner Larry Holmes back in October 1980 - while his 1975 Thrilla in Manilla with Joe Frazier, which is arguably the biggest boxing fight of all time, earned him a reported £4.4m. And while these figures were unprecedented for their time, they are but a drop in the ocean when compared the mega amounts that Mayweather Jr has received for some of his own bouts - something which Ali himself failed to comprehend. Speaking exclusively to Mirror Fighting, Ali's grandson - Biaggio Ali Walsh - explained: "You know, years ago when he was still alive, we were telling him how much Floyd was getting paid for his fights because Floyd was making a lot of money. "He was making over 100 million for his fights. And my grandpa was sitting in the chair. He's like, 'No, no, no.' 'Oh, yeah. Yeah, bro. He's making 100 million.' And he's like, 'No, no way.' I'm like, 'Yeah, dude, that's where boxing is now.'" With a flawless professional record of 50-0, Mayweather Jr is arguably the greatest pugilist of the 1990s and 2000s - racking up 15 major world championships across five weight classes, from super featherweight to light middleweight. Having adopted the moniker 'Money,' it comes as little-to-no-surprise that the 48-year-old racked up a significant bank balance during his nights in the squared-circle. As per reports, Mayweather's 2017 fight with UFC double champion Conor McGregor landed him a whopping £203m - which remains as the largest boxing purse of all time if correct. Meanwhile, his long-awaited 'Fight of the Century' with Manny Pacquiao two years earlier reportedly saw him walk away £184m richer. And that's not to mention the £59m that Mayweather Jr is said to have saw for his 2013 win over Canelo Alvarez either. All things considered, it is estimated that Mayweather Jr sits with an estimated net worth of £295m in 2025, and is thought to have made more than £839m ($1billion) over the course of his career. It comes as Walsh is currently crafting his own legacy within the world of combat sports. A skilled mixed martial artist with a record of 2-0 at present, the 26-year-old's next challenge comes in the form of Ronnie Gibbs under the Professional Fighters League banner come June 27. However, the pugilist - who fights out of Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, Nevada - insists that his grandfather didn't inspire him to seek a career in prizefighting. He explained: "You know, what's crazy is he didn't inspire me to go into combat sports. He inspires me to live the way he was as a person is how he inspires me the most. "You know, he had the platform and he had the fame and he used that platform to help people. You know, he…he's done so much good in his life as a person and he's helped so many people. You know, he never said no to an autograph. He made so many people smile. "People would hand him their kids, [he would] hug them and kiss them and sign autographs. And he was funny too - he'd do magic tricks on people on the street, have no bodyguards walking, you know, not like…like Floyd today. You know, he just walks around with 10 foot bodyguards and just acting like he's better than you. "Papi was a people's champion, you know? And the people loved him. You know, he didn't have no bodyguards. He walked down the street and just signed autographs, take pictures with you, he loved the people. "So it wasn't his combat talent that made me want to go into combat sports. It was who he was as a person that inspired me more. You know, if I ever get to a platform, you know, to even get kind of close to that level is almost impossible. He inspires me to try to use my platform to be able to do that and help people. "So, yeah, but to even get close to his level of fame is I feel like it's impossible. I mean, he just treated people so good. Like choosing the combat route was…that was my own choice. I was always a fight fan my whole life, especially boxing before MMA. Like when I was 14, that's when I kind of started watching MMA. "But the combat route was like that was my own choice. But the biggest thing he inspires me with is who he was as a person and his faith in God. You know, so that's what inspires me most about him."


Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
British F1 driver apologises to Max Verstappen over Spanish GP controversy
Oliver Bearman has owned up to potentially impacting Max Verstappen's race in Spain after the Red Bull driver tried to lap the Haas before his George Russell controversy Oliver Bearman has apologised to Max Verstappen if he interfered with his race during last weekend's Spanish Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver finished tenth after a time penalty, but originally came home in fifth. For a period he was looking to break the McLaren 1-2 stranglehold and went after Lando Norris with the pair having to negotiate back markers as they lapped those further down the field. Bearman was among them, but he was also involved in a tussle with Liam Lawson. The respective battles occurred at the same corner and Lawson found enough space to go down the inside of Bearman at Turn 1, with the Haas driver taking to the run-off and following the route back onto the circuit. Norris was first on the scene as he looked to slalom his way through the two cars. He quickly got past Lawson, but had to wait until Turn 5 before he got past Bearman. Verstappen also dived through down the inside, but felt he'd been hampered and waved a hand in anger at the rookie. He was asked about Verstappen seeming frustration as Bearman replied: 'Yeah, I'm not sure why. I need to have a look. But, I am sorry if I did anything bad to him. It's tough to manage everything that's going on in the race, and he just went on my inside. I wasn't trying to do anything bad, of course, but I'm sorry if I held him up.' Verstappen himself would apologise the day after the race after being involved in a highly controversial incident with George Russell. He was told to let the Mercedes past as his Red Bull team deemed that he may have kept fourth illegally as the pair tussled. The Dutchman eased off to allow Russell past, before accelerating into the side of the Brit. He eventually let him past, but his act looked deliberate and it earned him a ten second penalty which tumbled him down the order. In the aftermath of the incident Verstappen asked "does it matter" whether he deliberately drove in to Russell - with the Mercedes driver admitting the fiery world champion has those moments in him, which detract from his brilliance. Once the dust had settled the Red Bull driver came out and said on social media: 'We had an exciting strategy and good race in Barcelona, till the safety car came out. Our tyre choice to the end and some moves after the safety car restart fuelled my frustration, leading to a move that was not right and shouldn't have happened. 'I always give everything out there for the team and emotions can run high. You win some together, you lose some together. See you [at the next race] in Montreal.'