Who would win in a fight, 100 guys or a gorilla?

This has been one of the most thought-provoking questions plaguing our society recently- which would win, humans’ desire for glory or, rather, mother nature? This question is akin to the previous battle between all the Pokémon and one billion lions or one trillion lions and the sun. Despite the power of man, a gorilla would be a formidable foe, and the only conceivable way to gauge each side’s chances of winning would be to compare and contrast their strengths and weaknesses.

On one side of the court, we have…… ONE HUNDRED GUYS!

Strengths

• These one hundred guys have got the gorilla beat in terms of intelligence. As stated by the Gorilla Foundation, “Different tests administered between 1972 and 1977 yielded an average IQ of 80.3.” This is an awe-inspiring level of intellect for the animal world. However, humans still have gorillas beat. Mental Up, an educational platform focused on children, explains, “If you are wondering, ‘What is the average IQ of a person?’ the score is 100 with a standard deviation of 15. However, this can vary slightly depending on the individual and the testing method.” Now what, specifically, do these numbers mean? While humans with an IQ of 100 would “have average thinking skills… manage daily tasks, and learn new things easily,” with a score of 80, the gorilla would be in the range of low average and below average, as Mental Up states that in this range, “they [could] have learning problems or intellectual disabilities, so they often need extra help and adjustments to do well.”

• Another clear advantage humanity holds is sheer numbers. Simply put, 100 of anything outweighs just one of another. Whether this numerical superiority translates into better group tactics or strategic success remains debatable, but in terms of quantity, humans come out ahead. As Tara Stoinski, president and chief scientific officer of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, noted in an April 30 interview with USA TODAY, “the numbers game works in favor of the people.” With over 20 years of experience studying great apes, Stoinski is a credible and authoritative voice in this discussion.

Now on the other side we have…. THE GORILLA!

Strengths

• In terms of physical strength, gorillas are vastly more powerful than the average human. According to Wild Gorilla Safaris, “Gorilla strength is estimated to be about 10 times their body weight. Fully grown silverbacks are actually stronger than 20 adult humans combined.” With the ability to lift and throw objects weighing over 815 kilograms and a bite force estimated at around 1,300 pounds per square inch, gorillas possess a level of raw power that humans simply cannot match.

• Additionally, a gorilla’s large size gives it a significant advantage in a fight. As many powerlifters and wrestlers understand, building strength often starts with sheer size. While a gorilla’s weight can vary by species, they typically range from 310 to 450 pounds, with silverbacks reaching up to 500 pounds. Based on size alone, a gorilla would far exceed any human weight class in rowing, weightlifting, or boxing—where heavyweight and super heavyweight categories generally top out at 179–201 pounds and 201+ pounds, respectively.

The Actual Fight

Now when it comes down to the actual fight, there are many variables that must be accounted for to make this fight the most fair for both parties.

• First, I believe it’s only fair that we have the strongest gorilla representing their species, that being the silverback gorilla.

  

• Second, the scenario pertains to 100 guys, and specifically, those guys are an average of all the guys around the world. Therefore, we must account for different statistics, such as the global rate of obesity, which is 16%, as reported by the World Health Organization. That means at least 10 of the guys would be considered obese (with 43% of adults considered overweight) and at least 1 of them being morbidly obese. While some would believe this statistic would definitely hinder the 100 guys’ fighting capabilities, rather, it’s only a small piece of the pie.
• Third, with there being 100 guys, there is a wide range of strategies and war plans they could utilize to overcome the gorilla. Resources like Newsweek, NPR, and USA Today all suggest different strategies the 100 men could use, such as encirclement and a swarm attack, distraction and diversion, taking turns and utilizing endurance, and even attempting to restrain the gorilla. While some strategies may work better than others, the possibilities are endless for 100 guys, an advantage the gorilla simply just lacks.

Final Results

Wanting to avoid judging on my own personal basis, I wanted to ask the greater community their opinion on the matter.

“Here we are with Sam Carly, an expert in all gorilla and human warfare.”

Um, yeah, I actually did my PhD in, um… gorilla warfare with gorillas. Um, anyway, but no, I think I think certainly 100 men, 100 average regular guys, are okay. So are we saying that they’re all regular or an average of a hundred random people?

“a hundred random people”

“

Okay. So random men … I guess we put the short people in the front as a supposed distraction tactic, and we have the bigger men almost form a cavalry in the back as they charge, okay? And I think if we got a good dog powder, I say if we get 15 guys on the gorilla at once, just absolutely pounding him, dude. I certainly think that there’s no doubt in my mind. Um, no, I really live in that fight. I don’t even need 100. I think I could take the gorilla by myself.”

So you don’t even think it’s a numbers game?

“

It’s just like by the sheer willpower of the men? That’s what I would consider it. You know, I think—no, no, I knno gorilla could beat the sheer will of men. And also, people often forget about the power of friendship. I mean, people often forget that there’s humanity in us. What do they have? What? Uga oga, you know? Humans, we have communication; we can say, George, RUN, George!
 And we can hear the gorilla in the background, but really, I think, I think no doubt we win that fight!”

But, hey, that’s just one man’s opinion! Read the facts and let us know what you think!