A dare gone wrong at a Dubai slap fighting championship has left Dean Dodd nursing serious injuries after accepting a challenge to take a hit from former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall.
The incident unfolded when Dodd, a 34-year-old Welsh content creator known for his willingness to tackle fan dares, encountered the 350-pound strongman at the event. What started as entertainment quickly escalated into a painful lesson about the raw power possessed by elite strength athletes.
Hall, initially hesitant about delivering a full-force blow, began with what he considered a restrained slap. Even this measured strike was enough to knock Dodd to the ground. However, the YouTuber wasn’t satisfied with the result and made a request that he would soon regret.
“Give me 70 [percent]. Come on! A little bit harder,”
Dodd demanded as he got back to his feet.
The 37-year-old Newcastle-under-Lyme native obliged, delivering a second slap that sent Dodd crashing down once again. This time, the impact caused immediate and severe damage.
“Ahh, my ear’s gone. My eardrum has been burst,”
Dodd exclaimed in the aftermath of Hall’s strike.
Later confirming the extent of his injuries on Instagram, Dodd revealed the full scope of what had occurred:
“Black eye and a popped eardrum.”
Despite the painful outcome, he acknowledged how much worse things could have been, adding,
“Think I’m quite lucky, if he hit me 100% I wouldn’t be able to post this.”
The incident highlights the extraordinary physical capabilities that made Hall a champion in the world of strength sports. The British athlete claimed the World’s Strongest Man title in 2017 after turning professional in strongman competitions in 2010. His most famous achievement came in 2016 when he set a world record by lifting 500 kilograms, a feat that cemented his reputation as one of the most powerful humans on the planet.
Hall retired from strongman competition in 2018 due to health concerns but has remained active in various combat sports. His recent ventures have included professional MMA, where he secured a controversial victory against Mariusz Pudzianowski at KSW 105 in April 2025, winning by TKO in just 30 seconds. He also participated in an unusual exhibition against the Neffati Brothers in a 2v1 format at World Freak Match League 1 in June 2024.
For Dodd, this painful encounter represents another chapter in his ongoing series of bold challenges that have built his substantial following across YouTube and Instagram. The Welsh content creator has made a name for himself by accepting fan dares ranging from consuming extremely spicy foods to attempting various physical stunts, though few have resulted in such serious consequences.
The Dubai event serves as a stark reminder of the genuine risks involved when amateur participants engage with professional athletes whose bodies have been conditioned to generate extraordinary force. While slap competitions have gained popularity in recent years, this incident underscores the potential for serious injury when participants underestimate the power differential between trained athletes and everyday individuals.
Hall‘s journey from strongman champion to combat sports competitor continues to evolve with his recent activities including arm wrestling competitions and planned MMA bouts. Meanwhile, Dodd‘s recovery from his injuries will likely provide material for future content assuming he’s learned his lesson about requesting harder hits from world-class strength athletes.
