Eddie Hall thought he’d landed the kind of deal that changes everything. Instead, it left him six months deep into a brutal transition, with no payment, and wondering what could’ve been.
The former World’s Strongest Man, who has since made a thunderous impact in MMA, has opened up on a collapsed mega-fight agreement that promised staggering money — but ultimately delivered nothing.
And the numbers involved are eye-watering.
Hall had agreed to take part in a four-man heavyweight showdown under the Finishers Championship banner, with fellow strongmen Mitchell Hooper, Brian Shaw, and Martyn Ford all lined up.
The format was simple: two fights, winners advance, and a blockbuster final later in the year.
For Hall, it was too big to ignore. “The challenge came along to fight Brian Shaw, Mitchell Hooper, and Martyn Ford in a four-way MMA fight,” Hall explained to Rob Moore on the Disruptors podcast.
“I think I was going to fight Mitchell Hooper, and the winner of that one would fight the winner of Martyn Ford and Brian Shaw in a four-man eliminator,” Hall recalled. “So, I signed this deal [for] life-changing money, stupid money, and I went on this quest to become an MMA fighter.”
What followed was a full commitment.
Hall threw himself into training, reshaping his body and learning an entirely new discipline after dominating the world of strongman.
It wasn’t just a casual switch — it was a complete lifestyle overhaul.
“During that six-month period, I just really enjoyed myself. You know, I lost a lot of weight learning something new every day. Then that fight got cancelled,” Hall said. And just like that, it was gone.
No event. No fights. No payday.
“And that big pay cheque f***ing fell through. Six months of my life down the f***ing drain,” Hall told Moore. “My contract was for 20 million. I never got a f***ing penny.”
It’s a brutal admission from Hall, who had effectively built his entire year around the opportunity. But while that chapter closed in frustration, it didn’t stop his move into MMA — if anything, it accelerated it.
Hall made his unofficial debut in June 2024 in a chaotic 2v1 bout against the Neffati Brothers, knocking out both opponents in a spectacle that instantly grabbed attention.
Less than a year later, he made his professional debut in April 2025 — and needed just 30 seconds to announce himself properly. Taking on fellow strongman Mariusz Pudzianowski at KSW 105 in Poland, Hall delivered a devastating knockout that showed he was far more than a novelty act.
Now, attention turns to what comes next — and, true to form, Hall isn’t thinking small. Last year, he had several heated back-and-forths with Dillon Danis – but no date has been set yet.
But beyond Danis, Hall has made it crystal clear what really motivates him at this stage of his fighting career.
It’s not rankings. It’s not titles. It’s spectacle… and serious money.
Speaking about his ideal opponents, Hall didn’t hesitate to call out one of the biggest names imaginable.
“Brock Lesnar, f***ing bring those gloves back up, buddy. Me and you. ‘The Beast’ versus ‘The Beast’, let’s go,” Hall said. It’s the kind of headline-grabbing challenge that perfectly sums up Hall’s approach to MMA.
He knows the risks — and he doesn’t shy away from them.
“‘They always say, ‘Be careful what you wish for.’ That’s definitely one of those moments,” he admitted. “He’s a hard b*****d.”
But for Hall, that’s exactly the point. He’s not trying to grind through the traditional MMA ladder or chase championship belts – He’s here for the biggest stages and the biggest paydays.
“I perhaps want one, maybe two more fights, and that’ll do me,” Hall said. “It’s the money fights to put it blankly. I want to fight the Mariusz Pudzianowskis’. I want to fight the Bob Sapps’. I wanna get paid. I’m not here to get a fight ranking. I don’t care about being the UFC number one. I don’t care.”
That mindset makes the collapsed $20 million deal sting even more.
For a fighter openly chasing “life-changing money,” it wasn’t just another opportunity — it was the opportunity.
Instead, it became six months of sacrifice with nothing to show for it financially.
I guess we’ll just have to wait and see who Hall stands across from next… and no doubt the prize purse will be a pretty penny.
Featured Image Credit: YouTube/RobMoore/Instagram/EddieHall (screenshots)
