Subsequent to his transition from competitive strength sports to boxing in 2020, Eddie Hall is now ardently preparing for his foray into the realm of mixed martial arts. The esteemed British strongman is approximately five weeks away from his inaugural MMA bout in Qatar, where he will compete against the current World’s Strongest Man, Mitchell Hooper. Additionally, Hall is slated to contend with his friend and fellow WSM alumnus, Brian Shaw, as well as the formidable bodybuilder-turned-boxer, Martyn Ford.
In a recent upload on his YouTube channel, Hall documents a day dedicated to training with a cadre of professional MMA fighters, including UFC heavyweight Tom Aspinall, who has previously assisted him with fight preparation.
“The transition has been markedly challenging,” Hall remarks. “The extended period I spent in boxing, though informative, ingrained some habits that are less than ideal for MMA.”
The training session commences with a series of warmup drills, after which Hall engages in sparring, initially with a 6’9″ Russian MMA fighter, whom his colleagues regard as a formidable opponent. “I approached him with considerable caution,” Hall admits. “My intent was not to attack but to mutually gauge each other’s techniques.”
However, the sparring quickly took an unexpected turn when Hall’s opponent executed a head kick that resulted in Hall being momentarily incapacitated.
“That was a substantial blow,” Hall concedes once he regains his composure. “It was a startling experience. I had anticipated maintaining distance, gradually finding opportunities to engage, but his rapid back leg technique was unforeseen.”
Despite this disconcerting moment, Hall retains a positive demeanour, perceiving it as a valuable learning experience and an essential reminder for future sparring sessions.
