Eddie Hall’s foray into combat sports continues to draw attention — and now, new challengers.
The 2017 World’s Strongest Man has stated that he is currently cutting weight in order to step into the cage with Dillon Danis.
However, that decision has been publicly called out by former WWE and NXT tag team champion Gzim Selmani – better known to wrestling fans as Rezar of the Authors of Pain.
Selmani, nicknamed “The Albanian Psycho”, was unimpressed by Hall’s decision to confront Danis after his 15-second submission victory at Misfits 22: Ring of Thrones in Manchester.
While Hall — who weighed in at over 430lbs during his strongman career — shook hands on a future fight with decorated jiu-jitsu specialist Danis under the condition that he drops below 300lbs, Selmani believes the Stoke powerhouse should be targeting opponents closer to his own size – given that Danis currently weighs in at 178lbs.
“I’m returning to my roots as a fighter and I have unfinished business in the world of combat sports,” Selmani said. “I’ve been watching Eddie Hall trying to pick a fight with a welterweight and that doesn’t sit right with me.
“He thinks he is the big man coming in to fight sports, well why doesn’t he take on someone who can actually knock him out… Someone like me.
“This is a message for Eddie Hall, I challenge you to fist fight on any Misfits Boxing card. I need to remind & teach everyone that I am the world’s most dangerous professional wrestler.”
Selmani captioned his post: “Yo! @eddiehallwsm, you clown, I challenge you!”
Before his WWE career, Selmani was an active MMA fighter on the UK and European scene. His most notable win came in just 18 seconds, when he submitted former UFC fighter and Britain’s Strongest Man winner Oli Thompson at a BAMMA event. He later fought under the Bellator banner before signing with WWE, where he captured tag team gold on both Monday Night Raw and NXT. He was also involved in high-profile storylines with the likes of Seth Rollins, Killer Kross, and competed at WrestleMania.
Now, he’s returning to combat sports under the guidance of boxing manager Shane Watson, who has worked with names such as Abdul Khan and heavyweight contender Joe Joyce.
Selmani’s challenge comes as Hall continues to make headlines in the fight world. Earlier this year, Hall obliterated strongman rival Mariusz Pudzianowski in a 30-second MMA debut. Then in Manchester, he squared up to Danis, agreeing to shed around 64lbs in just 12 weeks to make their potential clash feasible.
“He wanted me to get under 400lb, which I am, so I said I’d get under 300 if he shakes my hand there and then, which he did. So give me 12 weeks to lose 64lb and I will come in and rock his f***ing chin,” Hall told Bloody Elbow.
He also insists that size and power remain his biggest assets, telling Fred Talks Fighting: “The main thing is, I can hit hard. I’ve got the world’s hardest recorded punch — that’s a fact. Above everything else, I can f***ing hit hard.”
For now, Hall vs Danis remains a handshake agreement. But Selmani’s public callout has thrown another option into the mix: a showdown between two legitimate heavyweights that would be a far fairer contest on paper than Hall vs Danis.
Whether Misfits opts to stage Hall against the brash submission artist or the ex-WWE powerhouse, one thing is certain: Eddie Hall is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about names in crossover combat sports.
Featured image credit: Instagram/@eddiehallwsm/WWE
