Mariusz Zbigniew Pudzianowski is a Polish former strongman and current mixed martial artist. His father was a weightlifter and Mariusz wanted to follow his father's footsteps from a young age. He started training at the age of 11 and began strength training in particular when he was 13. He took up boxing at 15 and quit after seven years of it.
When he was 16 he began taking part professionally in the weightlifting circuits. During his career as a strongman, Pudzianowski won five World's Strongest Man titles; more than any other athlete, as well as two runner-up titles. In 2000 and 2001, Pudzianowski spent 19 months in Łowicz prison for assault.
In an interview, he said he wanted to stop a "local mafia boss",and he got accused of assault and stealing his golden chain. Pudzianowski was incarcerated in prison in Łowicz. Several years later he arranged a resocialization meeting for the prisoners at the same penal institution. In 2009, Pudzianowski debuted as a mixed martial artist.