Midnight Mania! Gunnar Grapples ‘The Mountain’

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Thor Bjornsson is likely still best known for his role as Ser Gregor Clegane, also known as “The Mountain That Rides,” from HBO’s megahit production of Game Of Thrones. He’s also one of the strongest men alive, and he’s dabbled quite a bit in combat sports already. Bjornsson has moved around with McGregor, competed in a professional boxing match, and is still scheduled to eventually step into the ring with fellow strongman Eddie Hall.

Though the experience was unlikely to aid his boxing pursuit, Bjornsson also stepped onto the mats with UFC Welterweight Gunnar Nelson. Besides being a longtime standout at 170 lbs., Nelson is a decorated jiu-jitsu black belt with wins in Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC).

In the video above, Bjornsson explained his interest in grappling the nearly 200 lbs. lighter man.

“I’ve been wanting for a long time, because a lot of my friends have been saying, I have no chance against you on the floor,” Bjornsson said (via MMAFighting). “I’m just interested. To see if the technique and the experience is going to overcome the strength. Not only the strength but also the body weight.”

There is something of a belief in the jiu-jitsu community that size and strength don’t matter if there is a difference in technique, but Bjornsson’s ability to represent himself well on that mat against a far, far more experienced grappler certainly argues otherwise! If there’s a lesson to be learned here, it’s that regardless of jiu-jitsu experience, wrestling (nearly) 400-pound strong men is going to be difficult.

Insomnia

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Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.