Does Size Matter?

[Chad W. Getz]

Does size and strength matter in a fight? Not "can a smaller guy beat a big guy", because any one on any day can get lucky. The question is do size and strength matter enough to make a huge difference in a fight? Streetfight or competition.

[Ronin]

Of course they matter, Chad.

What are you getting at?

[Chad W. Getz]

Well, we were just woking out last night and theres two guys that range between 100 to 115 lbs with us, and they asked me. I'm not sure where I stand on this though. I'm 6'0" and 210 lbs or so, but I don't try to use my strength as major advantages. I do instinctively, but it's not what I work on. You can't really work on frame size, but you can lift weights and increase your size and weight there, but what about someone at 100 lbs. Should he just take up cricket?

[Shimora]

?

The belief that size doesnt matter is a phallacy.
Sure an experienced little guy can beat an inexperienced big guy but if they have equal skills the big guy will win 9 times out of ten.
A classic example is Helio Vs Kimura.

There aint no subsitute for size and weight.

[GinSueDog]

If size didn't matter then there wouldn't be weight divisions. The only way a person with poor attributes can beat a person with superior attributes is to be more experienced and skilled. This is especially the case if the opponent is larger and stronger. In this case I have to agree with Shimora. Hollywood has only made this worst over time with all the Van Damn and karate kid movies.-ED

[Hookah Smokin Caterpillar]

Two words, weight classes.

Think of it this way, in their respected sports, Roy Jones, Jr. and Kazushi Sakuraba are considered the best pound for pound fighters. Not saying they couldn't lose, but theoratically they would be the best fighter in the world if they were heavyweights. But they're not, and if they tried to be heavyweights they will lose. Sakuraba may have had a tough fight against Royce Gracie before he fought Igor, but Igor took some mean, mean shots from Big Daddy. Say what you will about Goodridge, but the man sure will knock your head off if he hits you. So its not like Igor had a huge advantage on Sak; but not many people would argue for Sak against Igor. Size matters, but it doesn't matter in grappling if you're significantly better then your opponent. By grappling I mean Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and not wrestling by the way

[david a]

Size doesn't matter.

Speed and strength do.(as well as skill)
Conditioning can be a factor too.
examples:

these fights were won by striking speed + strength
Frye vs. Goodridge
Frye vs, sam Atkins
Tank vs. Paul Varelens
Tank vs. Tua
Maurice smith vs. Coleman
Pete W. vs. Coleman
Gourdeau vs. Sumo guy in UFC 1
Kerr vs. Bobbish
Ruas vs. Varelans





These were won by speed:

Vitor B. vs. Tank
Vitor B. vs. Ferrozzo
Vitor B. vs. Hess


The helio Kumura eg. is a bad analogy. If Helio was as strong as Kimura it would have been a different fight regardless of his size.

[Hookah Smokin Caterpillar]

If Helio was as strong as Kimura, he would've been the same size.

By the way, all the fights you mentioned were Heavys vs. Heavys, except the Vitor fights which were Talent vs. Non Talent and no one will argue that a medium/large guy with tons of talent will beat a large guy with no talent anyday. Not that those guys have no talent, its just Vitor is better. Helio and Kimura were even grapplers, the reason Kimura won was because he was bigger. So size matters

[Chad W. Getz]

Pete W. vs. Coleman

Which UFC was this?

[Mad Dog]

Shimora, "phallacy", good one!

[Mad Dog]

Oh ya, the question! Although size is just one of many important considerations, it absolutely does matter. This isn't even arquable....

[Chad W. Getz]

Does anyone have some experiences with this? Sparring, or working out with a smaller or larger opponent that was stronger or not stronger either way, that made a difference?

[Hookah Smokin Caterpillar]

Originally posted by Chad W. Getz
Pete W. vs. Coleman

Which UFC was this?

UFC 17

Originally posted by Chad W. Getz
Does anyone have some experiences with this? Sparring, or working out with a smaller or larger opponent that was stronger or not stronger either way, that made a difference?

I have some experience in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or just basic grappling. I'm not flexible, but I'm good enough to last a mistake where I give up top position to a guy up to 200 lbs. more then me [I'm around 168-171 lbs.] or even an uncomfortable position. It takes forever to escape and its almost impossible to sweep them, but its really a challange. I win everytime, but the only challange I really see is submitting my opponent because they're stronger then me so I can't arm lock them [forget leg locks then as well] and chokes are pretty impossible too although not out of the question. A fight wouldn't be any different I think unless the guy was near my level in fighting then he should win. The two guys that outweight me by that much are a guy thats completely inexperienced, and a guy that started doing Jiu Jitsu a few weeks later then me. Both give me trouble, but nothing I couldn't beat.

[Shimora]

Maddog, thanks I wondered if anyone would notice

David A, thanks for telling me Helio vs Kimura is a bad analogy of size winning out when skills are equal.

So was your analogy of

Frye vs. Goodridge
Frye vs, sam Atkins
Tank vs. Paul Varelens
Tank vs. Tua
Maurice smith vs. Coleman
Pete W. vs. Coleman
Gourdeau vs. Sumo guy in UFC 1
Kerr vs. Bobbish
Ruas vs. Varelans

Have a nice day.

[dan downard]

I asked my wife.She said yes.




Now as far as a real fight,It makes a lot of differance.
That is why a guy who is only 100 lbs is the perfect candidate for Jiu Jitsu training.
He doesnt have much chance if taken to the ground without it.