Can't work out if they're supposed to be fighting each other, dancing, tickling each other? Weird.

There's no intent from either of them. When Björnsson get hold of hi at 15 seconds in he just does nothing and then lets go.

It's a friendly sparring match. Did you think he was going to crush his head or something?

I've no doubt that McGregor could beat people a lot bigger than him, but there's a limit.

McGregor is 1.75 m and 66 kg (that's 5' 9 and 145 lb for the people still living in the 1800s), and Björnsson is 2.06 m and 190 kg (6' 9, 420 lb). He's nearly 3 times his size!

100%

I'm sure if by luck, or by skill, The Mountain landed a full blow on him, there would be some big damage involved. I acknowledge that skill is the factor in most fights, but the man could probably eat McGregor's weight for lunch. =)

That's why they have weight classes in fighting sports. You can't rule anything out, but quite clearly early on the big guy had hold of him and let go, he was playing.

Knowing Connor, he'd have asked if the guy wanted to spar a little, just for fun; and consider what Connor - an tough, egotistical (yet lovable), pro fighter - finds fun He definitely wanted to carry that on longer than was comfortable for the big fella after he got grabbed early on... let him know who would win a real fight. Cheeky bugger, but definitely the archetypal lovable rogue.

Agreed. Even in a "real" fight, although McGregor is a trained fighter and knows how to seriously injure someone and Björnsson (to the best of my knowledge) isn't, he's just too big.

He could probably lie down, let Connor put an arm bar on him, and still just break the arm bar and get up.

The only way to beat him would be at range with a spear or something. You'd be fine as long as you weren't stupid enough to get too close

I really doubt that. If they were having a real fight I'd bet on the trained fighter (above a certain level of training anyway). Size isn't as important in fighting like this as technique.

If the little fella can take him to the floor in a grapple I think it would be game over for the mountain. Just being able to squeeze hard wouldn't be enough, and an arm or leg in the right place would give the little guy the leverage he'd need to overcome the strength.

Plus, in a real fight I'm guessing there'd be a hail of punches like hammers from McGregor. The mountain is big, but one good punch in the right place and he'll drop the same as anyone.

Most of the time, I'd agree with you. If they were 90 and 130 kgs, I'd bet on McGregor.

I recall Royce Gracie taking on people more than twice his size...and winning. His style was very hands (and legs) on, up close, and personal. Granted, he was an insanely talented freak who, as far as I know, is still unequaled in grappling. I'm just saying that, with enough skill and technique, size is much less of a factor than you might think.

Royce Gracie fought at 80kg. Are you telling me he beat someone who was 160kg+?

Remember, I'm not talking about just some big guy, this is the guy that carried a 640kg (1443lb) log!
*related=http://videosift.com/video/the-Mountain-lifts-and-carries-a-1433-pound-log

I'm not saying he's unbeatable (clearly he's not *related=http://videosift.com/video/The-Mountain-learns-true-power-from-champion-armwrestler ).

Again, I'm not saying a smaller guy can beat a bigger guy; I get beaten up by smaller people every week!
I'm saying a 66kg guy will have a very hard time hurting a 190kg guy.

the Mountain lifts and carries a 1433 pound log has been added as a related post - related requested by ChaosEngine.

The Mountain learns true power from champion armwrestler has been added as a related post - related requested by ChaosEngine.

I always spell his name wrong...

Yes...see this fight VS Akebono...weighs were 180 lbs VS 486 lbs


EDIT: Granted, Akebono has a way to go before he's going to carry any 640 kg logs, but he is a 'professional fighter'...of a kind.

Hardly the same though, is it?

Akebono only won 1 fight in his MMA career. He's strong, but the gap between him and Gracie is nothing like the gap between McGregor and Björnsson.

Absolutely. Akebono has hardly any flexibility and far less strength than Björnsson ....but it was the best I could find on short notice and was a good example of the weight difference not being the deciding factor. That was my only point...that skill CAN 'outweigh' weight as a factor.
I mean...Max beat Blaster...didn't he?

Totally!

Again, I'm not saying a smaller guy can't beat a bigger guy (Jackie Chan does it all the time!).

In fact, 99.99% of the time, I'll be on training, speed and ability against power.

This instance is the 0.01%.

Just my opinion, but it depends on what we all mean by "real" fight. There's two ways about it. Either in some kind of ring (i.e. small boundaries) or open terrain (no boundaries).

With boundaries big guys can catch hold of a smaller guy and use their weight and strength (so we need weight classes). Without boundaries there's nothing to stop small guys out running and chipping a bigger guy down over hours/days if necessary sapping their energy. Without the boundary of the room, Connor wouldn't have been caught. That's what i meant by a "real" fight (i.e. to the death), which i think Connor would win.

Wikipedia says
Height 2.05 m (6 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Weight 180 kg (397 lb)

The page I first saw the fight listed him as 2.06 and 190.

His page on strongman.org lists him as 2.06m and 200kg.

Either way, he's a big dude!