Strongman and former World’s Strongest Man winner Eddie Hall earlier surprised fans by announcing his entry into mixed martial arts. The Englishman is signed to Finishers Championship and will participate in a four-man eliminator on February 17. The unique line-up includes fellow strongman Brian Shaw, strongman Martyn Ford, and bodybuilder Mitchell Hooper.
Brian Shaw recently announced his retirement after winning the title of the Strongest Man on Earth in his final Shaw Classic. Brian Shaw has collaborated with a skilled team in Denver, Colorado, over the past few months, featuring notable figures like trainer Vinnie Lopez, retired jiu-jitsu fighter Cody Donovan, and Denver Broncos strength coach Loren Landow. In a recent YouTube video, Shaw partners with two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir to gain insights into what to anticipate in his upcoming debut fight.
Strongman Legend Brian Shaw Takes MMA Lessons from Former 2x UFC Champ Frank Mir https://t.co/Fu2wykGdmT#fitnessvolt #fitness #bodybuilding
— Fitness Volt (@fitness_volt) December 7, 2023
Eddie Hall gets dropped during sparring; Brian Shaw weighs more than the heavyweight weight cap
In a recent clip on his YouTube channel, Eddie Hall shared the incident where he experienced a brutal head kick during the MMA training for his upcoming debut on February 17. Eddie Hall was sparring with a 6ft 9in professional Russian fighter. Despite being warned about the fighter’s skills, Hall was dropped by a left high kick during the sparring session. He expressed his shock as he commented, “That’s OK. That was a good one! F*** my life, someone could have told me about that back leg!” Though he got up, he needed some time to recover.
Eddie Hall the strongest man in the world gets taught a lesson in MMA informal sparring practice. pic.twitter.com/yToms7QqOg
— Joseph Davidson (Jaco) (@jaco_davidson) January 19, 2024
He has also been training with UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall prior to his debut. They have had some sparring sessions and also were captured, checking their strength.
Eddie Hall and Tom Aspinall
sparring and smashing up the punch machine 💥 🥊 pic.twitter.com/xtatRTKxxJ— MMA UNCENSORED (@MMAUNCENSORED1) January 24, 2024
This incident adds a dramatic element to Hall’s MMA journey, emphasizing the challenges he faces in adapting his strongman background to the technical demands of mixed martial arts. Brian Shaw’s weight is also almost 100 pounds over the heavyweight cap. The weight-cutting will be a real challenge for the former strongman. The February 17 event is anticipated to showcase a blend of strength and skill among these unconventional competitors.
Read more: WATCH: 300-Pound Strongman Eddie Hall’s MMA Sparring Session Ends With Vicious Kick To The Head
