Mariusz Pudzianowski: “The Challenge of Shifting from Weightlifting to MMA”

It’s gonna be wild, it seems, when Mariusz Pudzianowski reenters the ring. At 17-9, this five-time World’s Strongest Man—and the beast, yes, that legend of strength—is set to take on Eddie Hall. Yep, big Eddie, another WSM champion. This particular brawl (or maybe dance-off? Who gets to say?) happens on April 26 at the PreZero Arena in Gliwice, Poland. Oh, that sounds fancy, doesn’t it? XTB KSW 105 is where you’ll want your eyes glued.

The buzz, man, the buzz is palpable. Pudzian, well, he sat down for a little candid chit-chat—or monologue, maybe? Ha—and unpacked his approach, which, side note, feels like peeling an onion. I’m not crying, you’re crying.

Let’s see, KSW 105 is frontlined by some welterweight chaos—Adrian Bartosiński versus Andrzej Grzebyk—is that proper hype? And, don’t forget Artur Szpilka, a Polish boxing gem, versus Errol Zimmerman, a Dutch K1 icon. It’s like a melting pot of fists and ambitions.

For us, the distant fans (hello, world!), it’s available live on PPV, with a 7-day rewind option at KSWTV.com. Ain’t technology grand?

So, how did Pudzian get fight-ready for this showdown with Hall? Starting from October, it seems, he devoted himself to some serious prep. Think dedicated gym time—two gyms, actually—where he grilled those parts of performance that needed tweaking. It’s hard not to picture him grunting away on a mat six days a week with a break for massages and recovery. Getting older is a cruel mistress; muscles won’t bounce back on a whim anymore. It’s rough, he admits—sometimes downright unbearable—but welcome to pro sports. No free rides here.

And when the Hall fight landed on the table? You could say Pudzian got a bit misty-eyed, seeing a solid match-up unfold. Eddie, after all, nabbed that glorious WSM crown back in 2017. What a face-off! Two former world titans of grit swapping weightlifting for MMA gloves. Echoes of past competitions mix with future anticipation, testing muscles in new ways.

For Pudzian, the fight? It’s about wearing new skins of challenge, about testing limits with a formidable, albeit younger, rival. Years of MMA give him an edge, no sugarcoating it, but underestimating Hall isn’t in his playbook. Stronger, younger foes—let’s see what they bring.

Comparing beasts of the past to Eddie? Ah, Pudzian approaches it as though Eddie’s the reigning world champ. That’s a mental level-up! Those first couple of minutes? Prepped for an undiluted storm of power and drive. A younger Pudzian in reverse. He still leans on that remnant strength—MMA’s great enigma.

Is Eddie a unique adversary in this MMA realm for Pudzian? Indeed, yes! An enigma wrapped in muscle. Past opportunities to clash never came, so it boils down to a cage decision: seasoned cunning versus youthful vigor.

Advice for Eddie? Well, transitioning from raw weightlifting to the MMA realm isn’t your regular jog in the park. Get ready for oceans of energy spent and grit built over mats, not muscle. He should buckle up for the long haul; it’s a bumpy ride.

What mindset does one carry into a brawl like this? Pudzian’s got a simple compass—victory. When that cage door slams behind him, the script’s already writ: win.

Advantages over Eddie, if you pry? Experience, maybe? Or that proverbial wisdom-strategy cocktail, the “old fox” vibe. Stamina’s likely tilted in Pudzian’s favor too. Size-wise, though—120 kgs versus Eddie’s monstrous—what?—155, 160 kgs? He wonders if it might just be Eddie’s Achilles’ heel.

If he had words for Eddie pre-fight? A firm handshake (figuratively) and a nod—“you’ll sweat, mate.” MMA demands more than boxing’s rhythm; oxygen becomes a rare gem fast.

Should Mariusz claim victory, what’s next on the slate? He’s etched a legacy already, he figures. Beating Eddie might just sign the canvas off. Satisfaction full circle without a doubt.

Future plans? Sporting destiny tapers to an end, eyes fixed on that April bout. Beyond? A chapter shifts from professional highs to, oh, what? Normal life. Training remains, more as passion than profession. Unwritten pages waiting—for now.