Eddie Hall, having significantly expanded his athletic pursuits beyond strongman competitions in recent years, possesses enough understanding of combat sports to recognize that a potential fight against Francis Ngannou represents a truly terrifying challenge.
Hall has been active in various disciplines. In 2022, he participated in an exhibition boxing match against fellow World’s Strongest Man Hafthor Bjornsson. Last year, he stepped into what could loosely be called an MMA environment with a unique 2-on-1 bout that produced a widely circulated highlight. Recently, Hall made his official mixed martial arts debut just weeks ago, needing only 30 seconds to defeat five-time World’s Strongest Man Mariusz Pudzianowski. Following this quick victory, “The Beast” indicated that his time competing with four-ounce gloves is far from over.
“I`m hoping for one of two things,” Hall stated on his YouTube channel. “Either I secure another fight for November/December, or I`ll embark on a bodybuilding cut. I`m undecided at this point. It`s contingent on whether a fight promotion presents a sufficiently appealing offer. There`s been talk about potential fights with Francis Ngannou, Ben Rothwell… some truly incredible opportunities are emerging. Misfits has initiated discussions. Offers are coming in rapidly, but the crucial step is getting something solidified and signed. Conversations are vastly different from actually making something happen. However, I`m open to these possibilities.”
A matchup with Francis Ngannou appears to have particularly captured the public`s imagination; KSW CEO Martin Lewandowski even floated the idea before Hall and Pudzianowski competed. Considering Ngannou is the lineal heavyweight champion and arguably the most devastating knockout artist in MMA history, Hall would understandably approach such a fight with considerable apprehension if it were to materialize.
“Stepping into the ring with Francis Ngannou genuinely scares the living sh*t out of me,” Hall confessed. “I`m about 99 percent certain he would beat me. But there`s that one percent. That tiny one percent. And I believe I possess that. Having that kind of power means you only need to land one shot to potentially win.”
“Ben Rothwell, the bareknuckle champion, also scares the sh*t out of me,” he added. “But again, if the financial terms are right, I`ll accept any fight. That`s the essence of it. It`s about providing for my family for generations, and I can only hope and pray that nothing severely detrimental happens to me in the process.”
Ngannou`s last fight was his PFL debut in October, where he secured a first-round knockout victory over Renan Ferreira. However, “The Predator” currently faces personal challenges. Ngannou was recently involved in a tragic incident in Cameroon resulting in the death of a young woman following an alleged collision while he was riding his motorcycle. The impact of this event on a potential Ngannou return is uncertain, making a fight with Hall unlikely in the immediate future.
Fortunately for Hall, he has several alternative ideas, including a novel concept involving his recent opponent, Mariusz Pudzianowski.
“Maybe Mariusz Pudzianowski and I could team up for a 2-on-4,” Hall proposed. “That would be incredible! Two World’s Strongest Men against four competent fighters. That`s pure entertainment, and that`s the direction I want to head in with this.”
