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Eddie Hall Is Pissed About Rule Change For His Upcoming Fight
The much-anticipated collision between two titans of strength—Eddie Hall and Mariusz Pudzianowski—is heating up before fists even fly. Set to headline KSW 105 on April 26 in Gliwice, Poland, this clash of former World's Strongest Man champions has hit a stumbling block over a rule change that Eddie Hall says tilts the playing field.
🚨 The Dispute: Round Length
The source of controversy? The duration of each round.
Hall, a 160 kg (352 lbs) powerhouse making his MMA debut, requested 2-minute rounds, citing his lack of experience and the cardiovascular toll of fighting at his size.
Pudzianowski, with 26 MMA fights under his belt since turning pro in 2009, pushed for full 5-minute rounds, standard in professional MMA.
After back-and-forth negotiations, the fighters settled on a compromise: 4-minute rounds.
But for Hall, it still feels like a loss.
“It’s not what I wanted,” Hall said. “I agreed because I want the fight to happen—but make no mistake, this favors him.”
💥 David vs. Goliath… But Both Are Goliaths
While both men are massive, this isn’t just a battle of size—it’s a battle of conditioning, skill, and strategy. And in Hall’s view, the longer rounds will stretch his stamina thin while playing directly into Pudzianowski’s wheelhouse.
🤔 How the Rules Favor Mariusz Pudzianowski
Let’s break it down:
🧠 1. Experience in Longer Rounds
Pudzianowski has fought numerous 3-round MMA fights, each round lasting five minutes. He's been in deep waters and knows how to pace himself, manage adrenaline, and conserve energy for later flurries. Hall, on the other hand, is untested in live MMA pacing.
🫁 2. Cardio and Fight IQ
Even though he’s also a former strongman, Pudzianowski has trained MMA cardio for over a decade. That means knowing when to clinch, when to rest, when to explode—and how to recover between rounds. Hall, new to the sport, may gas out trying to match that tempo in a 4-minute round.
🥋 3. Grappling Advantage
Longer rounds give grapplers time to wear down opponents. If Pudzianowski decides to take Hall down or lean on him in the clinch, four minutes gives him more than enough time to grind away at Hall’s energy reserves.
🔥 4. Psychological Warfare
Hall openly expressing frustration about the rule change gives Pudzianowski a mental edge. Fighters thrive on mindset, and knowing your opponent is already uncomfortable with the terms can be a psychological weapon.
FIGHT.TV Is Here For It!
The Strongman vs. Strongman matchup is already unique—but the drama adds even more fire to what will surely be a heavyweight slugfest. Whether Eddie Hall can overcome the stacked odds remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: KSW 105 is must-watch MMA.
Stay tuned to FIGHT.TV for full coverage, analysis, and fight night reactions.