Mariusz Pudzianowski Discusses His Upcoming MMA Debut
by Anton Tabuena on Dec 7, 2009 9:02 AM EST
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The World's Strongest Man, Mariusz Pudzianowski talks to Artur Przybysz at ProMMA.info about preparing for his MMA debut against pro-boxer, Marcin Najman this December 12:
"I can safely say that I have trained really hard for these last nine weeks. Three, four trainings a day, six days a week. At the beginning I also had some strength workouts, but then I left it out... Every morning I have grappling trainings with elements of wrestling and judo. In the evenings I have 40-minutes-long boxing work-outs. I join both these areas and I really enjoy it. After all the mixture of style is what MMA is all about".
"If Najman wants to exchange punches with me I wish him luck (laughing). I won’t be as slow as an ox and I won’t let him beat me up. My mother didn’t feed me to be a bum. These hands can hurt, believe me"!
"I’m at 127 kilograms now and I’m not the same Pudzian as a few weeks ago. I’m quicker and more agile. There are even wrestlers with a few years experience who are not able to do what I can".
Mariusz, who began training in Karate at a very young age, also talked about the kick that broke his training partner's leg:
"I 100% agree with Maciek that karate fighters are really precise with their punches and kicks. As for this unfortunate kick, indeed I hurt his leg, but I didn’t kick with my full power. I used about 30% of my ability".
Mariusz Puzianowki is a very unique specimen which makes his MMA debut very interesting. Most people assume that he will gas early with those huge muscles, but attaining five World's Strongest Man titles really require cardio as much as power, and if reports from his camp are true, he could go through 3x5 rounds just fine.
Before competing in strongman competitions, he trained karate (fourth Kyu green belt) and boxing for several years, so it will be interesting to see how he handles himself standing, especially going against a pro-boxer. He will most likely still be very green on the ground, but his size and strength should make up for it.
Also, Mariusz says he said he currently weighed 279 lbs which is a lot lighter from his usual 310 lbs. Could this mean there’s a possibility that he will make the 265 lbs heavyweight limit one day?
HT: promma.info
The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.
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I can’t believe how intrigued I am to see him fight, even though the odds are his abilities will lie somewhere between Kimbo and Canseco.
by John Nash on Dec 7, 2009 3:16 AM EST via mobile reply actions
With all that musculature, he's going to gas in about five seconds.
He’ll make Monson and the recent TUF heavyweights look like cardio machines.
Although detractors decry (MMA) as a brutal, bloody form of human cockfighting, aficionados know it is a brutal, bloody, totally fucking awesome form of human cockfighting. -The Onion
by The Kittitas Kid on Dec 7, 2009 11:15 AM EST up reply actions
Compelling.
I didn’t think of it that way.
Although detractors decry (MMA) as a brutal, bloody form of human cockfighting, aficionados know it is a brutal, bloody, totally fucking awesome form of human cockfighting. -The Onion
by The Kittitas Kid on Dec 7, 2009 1:06 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
hes gassing in training. you can see him. he alternates between holding his breath and fishmouthing for air.
The path to my fixed purpose is laid with iron rails, whereon my soul is grooved to run. Towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering BROCKLESNAR; to the last I grapple with thee.
I remember
watching this guy in strongman competitions years ago, was one of the smallest competitors but did very well in pretty much every event. This guys a real talent, and I wouldn’t question his cardio considering many of the strongman events require a good bit of cardio to mark highly in.
Visit my new blog at http://mmacesspool.wordpress.com/
Different kind of cardio.
Strongman events require muscular endurance, which Pudz has in spades, but they don’t really test cardiovascular endurance all that much.
What made Mariusz great at strongman was that he was quicker, more coordinated, and more agile than everyone else while still being competitive in terms of raw strength. He murdered everyone in events that required athletic movement (farmers walk, Atlas stones, carry and drag, etc.) and held his own in the pure power events (squat, deadlift, overhead press). He didn’t fare nearly as well at the Arnolds, which emphasize power events, as he did in WSM, which emphasized athletic events.
His opponent is a “pro boxer”, eh? Well, he’s 13-4 but barely has a win against a fighter with a winning record. He also was KO’d in the 1st round by som guy with a 0-11 record. Yeah, good luck with that!
It's no different from Marcus Davis "former pro boxer"
or James McSweeney “former pro kickboxer”
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by Brent Brookhouse on Dec 7, 2009 9:44 AM EST up reply actions
Najman is actually worse than McSweeney the kickboxer or Davis the boxer.
http://www.mmarocks.pl
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Right...
and Mariusz is worse than anyone they’re going to face
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MMA Editor - SBNation.com
by Brent Brookhouse on Dec 7, 2009 10:27 AM EST up reply actions
Point taken about the boxing. Marcus had a little better reputation than this cat but I’m with you on your premise that neither was any kind of factor. I’d like to see Mariusz do well. If he can take some abuse then he could be dangerous. He shouldn’t have to in this particular fight, though. I’ve got to think thta his boxing is better than the 0-11 guy that recently knocked this opponent out.
Anyone notice the kangaroo footwork?
How about the Western-Union telegraph before each punch?
I’m not saying I want to get hit with one of those clubs, but even a bad boxer should be able to handle that business.
I want to see the guy in top position on the ground. That would be nasty.
by casey manrique on Dec 8, 2009 1:32 PM EST up reply actions
I really doubt Mariusz can go 3 × 5 minutes. He’s really tired after few minutes of hitting the pads http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2009/12/7/1189190/worlds-strongest-man-mariusz
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agreed
I’d be willling to bet kimbo can do three fives in training, coleman too. However, I imagine ifghting is dfferent. More adrenaline, faster pace, fear, etc. I have never fought so this is speculation.
"I want to tell me what you see, let's go ahead and see by the fight what you saw, in the ring"
you're probably right.
but to be fair, the video was cut and edited, so we don’t know how many rounds of the mits were there.. The fight will probably not get past one round so I guess that’s all the tank he needs for now. haha.
by Anton Tabuena on Dec 7, 2009 3:03 PM EST up reply actions
Wait a sec.....
Did I read this right?
Also, Mariusz says he said he currently weighed 279 lbs which is a lot lighter from his usual 310 lbs. Could this mean there’s a possibility that he could make the 265 lbs heavyweight limit one day?
Why wouldn’t he be able to cut 14 pounds? I’m on my phone so don’t know if something regarding that was mentioned in the vids.
He’s a not wrestler and he’s 32. He has never cut weight in his life, so dropping 14 lbs won’t be that easy.
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At that size?
With a dietician and proper coaching, a 14 lbs cut will not be an issue. Cutting 5% body weight is nothing compared to the cut that people like Sherk or Diego do (conservative estimate: 9%). Obviously he has less experience with it, but he only has to do about half of what they do.
by pdl on Dec 7, 2009 2:21 PM EST up reply actions
This dude is a walking muscle ill be shocked if he is not breathing out his mouth from the first minute of the fight. Im sure if he does well we will get Pudzi vs Brock or Pudzi needs to be signed to the UFC or Strikeforce but i really can’t see this guy being mobile enough to do much of anything. That sparring vid isnt a good look. He look exhausted. Maybe he can fight Kimbo lol
"Frank Mir had a horseshoe up his ass. I told him a year ago. I pulled it out of him and I beat him over the head with it." Brock Lesnar
My fear is he’ll sap the oxygen from the whole arena
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by greco-roman airlines on Dec 7, 2009 9:39 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
He is like a real life Zangief!
for all intents and purposes, just consider all my posts as works of satire.
then there is one fight that has to happen
"Frank Mir had a horseshoe up his ass. I told him a year ago. I pulled it out of him and I beat him over the head with it." Brock Lesnar
by pitbull187 on Dec 7, 2009 9:39 AM EST up reply actions 4 recs
he doesn’t look great hitting the pads, he’s all arm. I’m thinking he’s a karate/boxing guy just like Cheick Kongo is a Greco Roman guy. Not that intrigued to see him fight now.
A guy with Mariusz’s size and strength could potentially grab hold of another fighter and force a takedown or slam with just brute force. I can imagine Mariusz doing that in this fight. I am skeptical that Mariusz will try to stand and trade in hsi fight, but who knows.
Oh I just meant overall – he’s got a background in a legitimate martial art (not street fighting) going into a debut fight. He should probably do the safe thing and put this boxer on his back and just look to overwhelm him.
The thing with just using “brute force” to muscle guys into takedowns, rather than use of technique and skill, is that he will gas out markedly faster using the first (which I’m sure you’re aware of) so I don’t know if he wants to be relying on that gameplan unless he can finish his opponent(s) pretty quickly.
Since when is street fighting not a legitimate mixed martial art?
All else being equal, I’d put my money on the guy who has been in actual fights rather than the guy who spends his time practicing kata in the dojo.
Did Pudz actual earn his belt through demonstrating mastery of techniques during live sparring or did he get it off the back of a cereal box like Jose Canseco did? I have no idea. But until we see him fight, I’ll put more faith in the guy with a background in actually kicking ass versus a background in training in his pajamas and never actually throwing down with bad intentions.
I don’t mean to belittle TMA’s. Some of them can be incredibly effective in a real fight.
But without knowing the background of the instructor who trained him or that instructor’s training and belt promotion philosophy, TMA credentials are meaningless. I could go down to my local McDojo and buy a blackbelt from a disreputable instructor any time I want one.
Trumpeting ‘Karate credentials’ and ‘boxing experience’ without any further evidence to back up those credentials is meaningless.
Since when is street fighting not a legitimate mixed martial art?
I’ll assume my sarcasm detector is just on the fritz today.
For all we know Pudz has been in “actual fights” AND practicing kata in the dojos…he just didn’t up it onto the ’net.
I was being totally serious.
Street fighting might not be a formal martial art, but it certainly is a martial activity that utilizes certain techniques and learned skills. That makes a martial art. Granted, it is a haphazard, decentralized ‘art’ with no set form or guiding infrastructure like traditional martial arts, but that doesn’t make it any less of an art.
Martial art means
‘military discipline’. Street fighting is not a military or martial discipline. If you don’t have a set of specific engagments and attributions, then you don’t have a martial art.
Even if his belt is from a reputable karate dojo and instructor and he earned it, it’s still just a green belt. It’s not like he’s a nationally ranked karateka. Kimbo Slice may not be an elite heavyweight but he’d murder your average green belt (or even most well-above-average ones).
true,
but what makes this guy interesting, is that he’s huge and powerful so he might make up for his lack in skills.
PS
Vitor is a blue belt in karate. Just saying.
by Anton Tabuena on Dec 8, 2009 3:10 AM EST up reply actions
he was nationally ranked
if I remember righ when he was 17 he came up 2 in national championships in junior cathegory, he lost that figft becous of illegal puch (hit opponent in the face)
I hope he gets layed out fast.
Too many people believe that huge muscles means instant slaughter. There’s a border between bodybuilding / powerlifting and combat sports.
You might be missing one of the best dramatic storylines that martial arts
(mixed or otherwise) can offer. The big muscular man is supposed to win because of his strength and size, but enough skill can overcome that particular physical advantage quite handily. Just recall Royce’s insane run to start off the UFC for all the proof you need.
Promoters are perfectly aware that the big muscular man gets people talking about how he’ll dominate based on his physical attributes, but at the end of the day it’s often a guy like Forrest Grififin or Lyoto Machida who gets to decapitate them with skill and precision, which is (often, maybe even usually) what the promoter wanted all along.
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.
I know that
But I’m talking about regular people. They take size for granted, and it’s never stopped bothering me.
Right, and I think the promoters feed off of both sides
of the phenomenon you’re talking about. They hook new fans with the skill vs. size shtick, and they gratify you (and other die-hard MMA fans) by delivering an outcome most of us know before the fighters step into the ring.
I wasn’t, and am not currently, talking down to you about this. I’m just suggesting that this is a major part of how organizations promote these fights. The Freak Shows on Japanese cards kind of capitalize on these perceptions and expectations.
For the martial artist, or intent observer, it’s pretty frustrating that we’ve had forty plus years of Bruce Lee & Co. showing that skill beats size most every time, but the Size Trumps All principle never leaves the public consciousness.
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.
Marius isn’t just about size , he’s no Bob Sapp or Hong Man Choi , he’s unbelievably strong . No one in the mma world , or any other sports , comes close in pure strength , not Brock Lesnar and not anyone. He’s a special and rare athlete .
With that being said , how well this translates to mma , when you don’t need to pull a truck but a resisting human being , and other things like cardio , timing , dexterity and yes , SKILL , comes into play is unknown .
But I would bet my money Marius can take this guy down and grind a decision or a tko. Against better fighters …who knows . Let’s see this one first :)
Forrest? why not Fedor?
Forrest IS one of the biggest guys in LHW, and far from the most skilled.
by Anton Tabuena on Dec 8, 2009 3:13 AM EST up reply actions
He’ one of the biggest and one of the most (if not most) powerless LHWs.
by dancingChicken on Dec 8, 2009 12:42 PM EST up reply actions
Forrest might have been a bad example,
I was blurring popular org guys with guys who are true artists, rather than physical specimens. Although I maintain that Forrest doesn’t go places simply because of his physicality, it’s because of how he uses it. His leg kicks are among the best in the business, and as everyone knows he doesn’t have Houston Alexander’s raw power, so when he fights he has to put together a superior gameplan to win, like when he fought Rampage.
Still, yeah, Forrest is 6’4" or something, and I should have picked someone a little smaller like BJ Penn, whose success (while certainly tied to his unique physical gifts) relies more on honing his skills and maximizing his advantages. That’s why he’s able to fight such larger opponents and make it interesting.
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.
Mariusz is a beast
WAR MARIUSZ
I am considering heading down to the facility to watch him train next year if he does well in this fight.
'He built his whole reputation as a waffle house chef. They’ve been serving him up ham and eggs with a side of canned tomatoes' - Don Frye on Fedor Emelianenko
you live near him?
why not watch this fight on the weekend then?
by Anton Tabuena on Dec 8, 2009 5:21 AM EST up reply actions
No
I’m in London for now, but will be moving to Warsaw for a few months mid next year.
Would love to watch the fight this weekend, but alas, flights anywhere at this time of year in Europe are a nightmare.
'He built his whole reputation as a waffle house chef. They’ve been serving him up ham and eggs with a side of canned tomatoes' - Don Frye on Fedor Emelianenko
by Well Read Idiot on Dec 8, 2009 10:02 AM EST reply actions
Reply fail. This is for you Weo
'He built his whole reputation as a waffle house chef. They’ve been serving him up ham and eggs with a side of canned tomatoes' - Don Frye on Fedor Emelianenko
by Well Read Idiot on Dec 8, 2009 10:02 AM EST up reply actions
There’s a good chance that this event will have a legal stream.
http://www.mmarocks.pl/ & http://twitter.com/mmarocks_pl
by greco-roman airlines on Dec 8, 2009 4:45 PM EST up reply actions
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