The risks of starting a fight with the strongest men in the world were highlighted last week, when strongman Eddie Hall sent gymnast Nilo Wilson flying through the air after the Olympic athlete was punched hard in the chest.
This show of strength, however, did not stop another unbalanced fight from happening this week, when UFC champion Dustin Poirier showed up for a sparring session with the four-time strongest man in the world Brian Shaw, who Shaw just posted on his YouTube channel.
On paper, the confrontation looks surprisingly similar to the Wilson-Hall feat: depending on where you look, Shaw is listed at around 6’8 “440 pounds, while the relatively tiny Poirier weighs in at 5’9, 155 pounds. Wilson, however, Poirier happens to be one of the most dominant fighters in the UFC, currently listed as UFC number one in the lightweight division after knocking out Conor McGregor at UFC 257. (Coincidentally, the controversial Irish fighter also fought with strong men, as footage of him and Hafthor Björnsson’s sparring went viral in 2015.)
It didn’t take long for Poirier to establish his credibility. In the opening minute of the video, “the Diamond” is already opening a clinic – literally teaching Shaw how to pack heavy bags. After that, they start working on the block, with Shaw happily inviting Poirier to kick the block as hard as he can. (He barely moves.) When Shaw returns the favor, you can begin to see shadows from the Wilson-Hall encounter, with even Poirier flying backwards due to the brute force of Shaw’s attack.
Finally, the two begin to work, practicing the submissions – specifically, some lateral and posterior positions. “I’ll see if I can keep it on the ground, move it around, maybe finish it,” says Poirier. Comically, he pauses to add, “But I just saw this guy lifting a dumbbell that weighs as much as I do.”
In the ensuing fight, it is impressive to see Poirier use his formidable MMA skills to deal with Shaw’s size and strength. On the other hand, you can’t help but wonder what kind of destruction someone blessed with Shaw’s genetic gifts can be capable of, even with a basic level of MMA training.
At the very least, he could be the referee for the long-awaited boxing match between Eddie Hall and Thor Bjornsson later this year.
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