A strange hypothetical battle has taken over the internet: Could 100 unarmed men defeat a single adult male gorilla in a fight? The debate has spawned countless memes, with social media users passionately arguing both sides. While the scenario is purely speculative, examining the real-world capabilities of gorillas and humans reveals some surprising truths.

An adult male silverback gorilla typically weighs between 300-500 pounds and possesses immense strength, with the ability to lift over 1,000 pounds. Their bite force measures approximately 1,300 PSI—stronger than a lion’s—and their long arms can deliver powerful strikes. Gorillas also have thick skin and dense muscle, making them highly resistant to injury. In a one-on-one confrontation, even a trained human fighter would stand no chance against a gorilla’s raw power and aggression.

However, 100 men present a completely different scenario. While the gorilla could certainly kill or severely injure multiple attackers in the initial moments, human advantages in endurance, coordination, and sheer numbers would likely prove decisive. Unlike gorillas, which rely on short bursts of explosive strength, humans are among the best long-distance runners in the animal kingdom, capable of sustained physical exertion. A coordinated group could theoretically surround, exhaust, and eventually overpower the gorilla—though casualties would be extreme.

On the other side of the debate, some fans—especially in gaming and anime circles—treat the gorilla like a video game boss with infinite stamina, arguing it could fight at full strength for hours. “Power scaling” discussions have run wild, with some even comparing the gorilla to mythical creatures. But biologists dismiss this as pure fantasy. In reality, like all animals, gorillas fatigue after intense exertion. Their massive muscle mass requires significant oxygen, meaning they cannot maintain peak combat performance indefinitely.

While the debate is entertaining, it’s worth remembering that gorillas are generally peaceful animals that avoid conflict when possible. They are also critically endangered, making the hypothetical scenario even more ethically questionable. In the end, the internet’s bizarre fixation on this battle says more about human curiosity than actual animal behavior.