Eddie Hall, having ventured into combat sports, understands the magnitude of facing a fighter like Francis Ngannou and finds the prospect daunting.
Over the past few years, Hall has expanded his athletic pursuits beyond strongman competitions. This included an exhibition boxing match against fellow World`s Strongest Man Hafthor Bjornsson in 2022, and a unique 2-on-1 `MMA` rules spectacle last year which produced a viral highlight. Just weeks ago, Hall made his official mixed martial arts debut, making quick work of five-time World`s Strongest Man Mariusz Pudzianowski, defeating him in only 30 seconds. Having now tasted competitive MMA, `The Beast` has made it clear he intends to continue in the sport.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Hall discussed his immediate future: “I`m hoping two things. It`s either I get another fight booked for November/December, or I`m going to… cut for a bodybuilding show.” He stated that his decision hinges on securing a favorable deal from a fight promotion. Hall revealed that potential matchups against significant names like Francis Ngannou and Ben Rothwell have been discussed. He acknowledged that while these conversations are happening, getting a contract signed is a different matter, but affirmed he is prepared for such challenges.
A potential bout with Francis Ngannou has particularly captured the public`s imagination, with even KSW CEO Martin Lewandowski publicly suggesting the matchup. Ngannou is widely recognized as the lineal heavyweight champion and possesses arguably the most devastating knockout power in MMA history, making him a fearsome opponent for anyone.
Hall was notably transparent about his apprehension regarding a fight with Ngannou, admitting, “Getting in the ring with Francis Ngannou, it scares the living shit out of me.” Despite this fear, he acknowledged the slight possibility his power gives him: “I`m 99 percent certain he will beat me. But it`s that one percent. That one percent. And I`ve got that one percent. Having that power, you`ve only got to land one shot and you`ve got it.”
He expressed a similar level of fear towards bareknuckle champion Ben Rothwell, stating, “Ben Rothwell, the bareknuckle champion, scares the shit out of me.” However, Hall clarified his motivation for considering such risky fights: “But again, if the money is right, I`ll take any fight. That`s what it`s about. It`s about putting food on the table for my family for generations, and I`ll just pray to god nothing bad happens to me in the process.”
Ngannou`s fighting career is currently on hold. He has not fought since his PFL debut win in October and was recently involved in a tragic incident in Cameroon related to a motorcycle accident. The impact of this event on Ngannou`s return to competition is uncertain, making a fight with Hall unlikely in the immediate future.
Fortunately for Hall, he has no shortage of other unique ideas for future appearances, including one that involves his recent adversary, Mariusz Pudzianowski.
Hall proposed an unconventional spectacle: “Hell, maybe me and Mariusz Pudzianowski team up and we do a 2-v-4,” he suggested. He sees this as a form of high-level entertainment: “That would just be awesome! Two World’s Strongest Men against four good level fighters. That is entertainment, and that’s where I want to go with this.”
